whims + gold with Amy Oscar

Amy Oscar is many things: writer, soul caller, encourager of love—to name a few. We first met in Amy's online course, Soul Caller Training, and then really got deep in the Pennsylvania hills this summer.

Here, we talk about following whims: and how, sometimes, a whim comes as a part of conscious reflection. That is, some whims take time in the making. And then, when we follow them, beautiful opportunities arise, opportunities that we could never have dreamed up. Amy also talks about the other kind of "good ideas:" ideas that seem good, but are more fantastical—and she suggests how to tell them apart. We talk about feeling and knowing. Questioning and allowing. Word definitions. In Amy, there is limitless love, and it's pure gold.

Coming up this weekend, Amy is offering her Soul Caller Virtual Retreat—on Sunday, September 20th. This is a one day online gathering, in Amy's words, "to touch your soul and renew your spirit." Sign up here, at the closed Facebook group. 

In a few weeks, Amy offers her next Soul Caller Training—starting on October 6, 2015. This course is an absolute opening to love—for yourself, from the universe, and as it relates to all relationships. 

Now, find yourself a warm drink, carve out fifteen minutes, and nestle in. I invite you to join us while Amy and I talk whims, renovations, and gold. 

whims + ideas with Laureen Marchand

Laureen Marchand is a painter from southern Saskatchewan. She is represented in several galleries, holds many awards for her work, and is celebrated locally, provincially, and nationally.

Through her work, Laureen explores the relationship of appearance to reality. In our whim-talk, she thoughtfully examines where whims arise. They are "like good ideas that float by" and Laureen knows a good one when she sees it. She says that "it has to 'feel right,'" which I agree with one hundred percent.  

Laureen refers early on to Arthur Rackham illustrations. These are the fairies that you might have seen in your children's books (and been scared nearly to death of, like me). Further, Laureen introduces another definition of "whim" for me: that of a tool for pulling ore from the ground. Watch as I process all of that, in relation to how Laureen creates.

What I'll surely carry with me from Laureen is her comments on artistic process. She says, "Nothing happens until I'm done, and I never know where I'm going for sure. When it's right, I stop. And then I do it again, until the painting is right." 

Why I Still Love You Like I Do, (oil/board, "24" x 30") —Laureen Marchand, 2015

Laureen Marchand's work can be found at galleries in Val Marie, in Galway, Ireland, and in several other galleries in Saskatchewan. At laureenmarchand.com, you can see her paintings and  mentoring and other services for artists.

on why I run

I have been running now for one hundred and eleven days straight, and it feels really good.

I'm marking this occasion, in part, to remind myself that it does feel good. It feels great! I have written before about my former unhealthy body obsession, and simply being at the pool, after years of always training for something. The work of swimming without counting or timing has created a space for me to be meditative while moving: for me, it is bliss. I'm learning that I feel better when I have certain routines or habits. 

I like to feel good.

I wanted to do something every day: to have a daily habit. So, if swimming is so great, then why am I running? The small town where I live has a pool: for this, I am grateful beyond words. And, it's a small town. The pool isn't open for lane swimming every day. When it is open for lane swimming, there's often a struggle to get lane ropes actually in the pool (many mysteries simply defy logic, I'm also learning). So. . . no daily swim for me. I love the trails in our forest, so running seemed like a good idea.  

And now I run.

It's not always easy, but it feels good, and I like that. Today, I run for my head. I run for my spirit to be with nature. I run for that meditative feeling. I run to let the good ideas come in. And when I'm finished, I stop. Sometimes I walk half of the distance. Sometimes I wonder if my "run" is slower than my true walking pace. And really, none of it matters. I run for me, and for my connection to all that is. 

So I wonder, what do you do that is strictly for you: for your sense of connection? For your sense of deep-seated feeling good? Can it really feel easy? What could change for the better if that were a real possibility for you?

whims + purpose with Andrea Menard

Andrea Menard is a firecracker of positivity and beautiful sounds. She is a singer, speaker, writer, and an actor. You might have heard her voice at a live event or recording, or know her from the APTN series Blackstone and Hard Rock Medical. She currentlly plays a transgender cop on The Switch, and has been in numerous other productions.

Andrea Menard inspires. She wins awards and she leads with her positive vision.  

Here, we talk about listening to what fires you up. Andrea riffs on how we must follow what delights us—our whims—in order to find our purpose. (Hint, from Andrea, on finding your purpose: "You're not going to get a manual!" Or. . . most of us won't.) Andrea refers to that "still, small voice" and "the answer that is invisible." These all could be a "call:" and they may come from higher wisdom.

To help celebrate Aboriginal Music Week in Winnipeg this week, Andrea featured on the APTN National News yesterday (August 18th, 2015: see, roughly, 15:20 to 21:00 minutes in). Here, she talks about positive music, healing, and voting in the upcoming federal election.  

Hear Andrea Menard's music on Bandcamp. Check out "Answer the Call," the song we talk about around 4:44 on our whim-talk. Or, listen to one of my favourites—the title song on Andrea's latest recording, Lift—"Lift (A Tribute to Gordon Tootoosis)." 

See all things Andrea Menard here:
https://www.facebook.com/andreamenardmusic/

whims + spinning with Gemma Stone

Gemma Stone is a psychologist, author, speaker, mentor, event designer, and all around delightful human being. We met in snowy Athabasca in 2013 over sketched-out ideas, scribbled notebooks, and deep play with our mutual friend Alexandra Franzen. And there, whims came and hatched into being. 

Gemma describes a whim as an unexpected turn: as a space where clarity can come; where freedom exists; and where surrender and trusting the moment of the whim, regardless of what logic might say, leads us out of suffering. Listen in to hear how the spinning that could quite possibly cause confusion can actually yield good guidance and strong moments of knowing. 

See all things that Gemma is up to at gemmastone.org. In the spirit of more happiness, more joy, and more play, Gemma and I will both be presenting at Melsha Shea's second SHIFT on October 23-25, 2015 in Edmonton. Tickets go on sale August 1!