Ringing in the New Year with an Aha Moment

Once upon a time, this painting changed my life. I call it an "aha moment."

Back in 1999, I was teaching a program that I created called "Ancient Ways" in collaboration with the New Hampshire Teen Institute, NH Court Diversion/Juvenile Justice, and our local Mental Health providers. It was good stuff, teaching the ancient ways to young people - watching them sprout and blossom, grow mighty wings, and fly with great confidence. Heal. Thrive. Live. Give!

As Ancient Ways became noticed and noteworthy I became a program director and then the executive director of several non profits. Within a few years time I wrote similar programming for other agencies, traveled, gave lectures, presentations, workshops, wrote grants, crunched numbers, and I got further and further away from what I really wanted to do - teach the program.

This image -  of a teacher and her students connected to the body and spirit of nature and watched over by the ancestors, both human and non - is my good friend. Over the years it has hung on the walls of my classrooms, in meditation rooms, and at a holistic health center. But it was in the Reiki healing room of a local youth center when it really spoke to me.

As a good friend often does, it reminded me to take a moment to breathe when I began to wonder just what the hell I was doing... and why. It was while I was gazing at this artwork on that one day, exhausted and unfulfilled, that I stopped the madness.

14 years pass quickly.

I found my old friend several weeks ago, after its long absence from my daily awareness, carefully wrapped and tucked away in a box marked 2001 program materials. I was rooting around in the box because I have gone back to teaching a few local programs, and I needed some notes.

As I picked it up, I had another "aha moment." Truth chills and a long exhale.

Hello Old Friend!

It's time to get back to the work I was intended to do. Trust the Universe. Invite the students. Teach the Ancient Ways. I hung the painting on the wall of my office, set my intention, and placed my phone on the table below it. It rang.

Happy New Year - it's going to be a great one!
May we all be blessed,
Susan

There's still time to send the perfect gift!

 Delivery before December 25 Guaranteed!

Choose an Oshun Spirit Gift Certificate! Gift certificates are sent to you via email. You can print them out and tuck into greeting cards (they measure 5 x 3.5"), OR simply attach to your email greeting. Gift certificates are available in $25, $50, $75 and $100 denominations.

Gift Certificates are redeemed by entering the number as a coupon code at checkout at www.oshunspirit.com. Good for products and services, and even sale items! Oshun Spirit Gift Certificates are valid for one year from purchase date, with no cash value.

As you create your own path toward the life transformation you seek, remember that every purchase you make at Oshun Spirit also contributes to the transformation of our world.

End 68 Hours of Hunger: Stuff your stocking with artisan soap, fill a child's backpack with food!

When you stuff your stocking with Winni Soaps you'll feed a hungry child in Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, or Ossipee, NH for an entire weekend. End 68 Hours of Hunger is a private, not-for-profit, effort to confront the approximately 68 hours of hunger that some local school children experience between the free lunch they receive in school on Friday afternoon and the free breakfast they receive in school on Monday morning.

End 68 Hours of Hunger provides weekend food to school children Pre-K to 6th grade. As of June, 2014, 63 children in the Governor Wentworth School District have been identified as having little or no food on the weekends, and the number grows weekly. End 68 Hours provides these children with food. Volunteers purchase food and deliver it to the organization’s storage space located at Huggins Hospital. The food is stocked and inventoried, placed in bags, and delivered to Carpenter School, Crescent Lake School, Ossipee Central School and Tuftonboro Central School. The school guidance counselors distribute the bags to the children on Friday afternoons each week.

Each bag of food costs $10 each week per child and provides two breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners for a child, with some left over to share! When you stuff your stocking through this listing, Winnipesaukee Soap Company will donate $10 to End 68 Hours of Hunger Wolfeboro, Tuftonboro, Ossipee NH

You will receive an assortment of 6 different 5-oz bars of our all natural, handmade soap. Shipping is free in the USA. Just click the button below!

www.winnisoapco.com

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Shop Small Business Saturday, November 29

Thank you! You walk your talk!

When you shop small business, you support people - not corporations. When you shop Oshun Spirit, you help a young woman with her college tuition, you support a non-profit that helps feed local kids, you give your friends and family gifts of wellness and good vibes, and you become the change you wish to see in our world.


We're thanking you for being an Oshun Spirit Friend with 25% OFF
our entire site NOW - Saturday, November 29.

• Enter code: THANKYOU
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• It is our greatest pleasure to help you with your special requests. Just let us know how we can help!

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Spellbinding Savings at Oshun Spirit Today!

Shop Now for Spook-takular Savings!

To fill your bag with treats just click on the moon!
• Take 31% off your order of $31 or more with code TREAT31 at checkout
• Sale ends at midnight tonite!
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Happy Halloween from Oshun Spirit!

Oshun Spirit Annual Autumn Sale

• Take 20% off all your purchases thru 9/23 including previous markdowns (code: FALL20)

• FREE US Shipping on most items

• Enter to win a Legendary Oshun Spirit Mystery Box

New Lines to Love! Fresh Bath and Body! Lots of Markdowns! While you're shopping, please take a few minutes to leave reviews for products and services that you have purchased on our website, Etsy, or Ebay - each review will earn an entry into the Mystery Box Drawing on Wednesday, September 24!

• The more reviews you write, the more chances to win a legendary Mystery Box ($100 value)!
• Each purchase of $25 or more also earns an entry - spend $100 earn 4 chances, etc!
• Enter code FALL20 at checkout to take 20% off your order thru Tuesday, September 23.

Just go to the product listings at www.oshunspirit.com and click the review link next to the stars under the product titles.

Thank you for your kindness and support!
In love and peace,
Susan and Brenna

Attacking the Defender, Defending the Attack

Of course we say there is ABSOLUTE right and absolute wrong.
For instance, "Thou Shall Not Kill" is a basic value.
Right?

Right. Unless you want to... win a war.

It would seem that human values are a moveable feast, depending on who you are and what you want at any given time. So then, how is peace even possible while we are busy attacking each other's religious and cultural values? The stakes are really high today.

I think it may come down to one basic idea - one that we need to chew on for a moment. It's a bitter bite, because no one is going to come out with the winning judgement. And it feels so good to be right, and on the winning side, I know. But at what cost? We're going to need to open our hearts and quiet our minds - and suspend our trigger-happy judgements for a brief moment of reflection.

Here it is: No one does anything innapropriate - given their model of the world.

And we say, "but brutally killing innocent people - now that is very inappropriate!"

And I agree. And I am so very sad that any human being would behave in this way. I do not understand why we choose to feel so separate from all of Creation, and each other - still.

But, I do understand that all attacking is seen by the attacker as a defense, and realizing this may just be the be the crack that lets the light in, and opens a view to peace. If not only in my heart and life, maybe in yours as well. If I can really chew on it long enough to break it down and hold the vibe of understanding maybe, I can suspend my judgements just long enough to begin to imagine new ways of living together peacefully on this planet. Maybe you can, too!

Right and wrong are value judgements depending on what we want to accomplish. Even "Thou Shall Not Kill" or "All Men are Created Equal", or "Freedom" can (and will) be disregarded if we need to defend other values. Truly, everyone that wages war does so believing that they are defenders of something valuable, not attackers, at all. From nations, right down to engagement with family members, and co-workers...

When we see ourselves as one body, called the body of Humanity, we can also see that there is nothing to defend. In the human body, the blood and muscles and bones are very different expressions of the DNA, but work in harmony to to move the body forward. They do not defend their differences. They do not attack each other to get more nutrients, more oxygen, more more.

No part is judged as more or less valuable in the business of walking. Of moving forward.

May we walk toward peace with an open heart. With understanding. Without the need to defend, or attack. As John Lennon wrote - "nothing to kill or die for."

Making the commitment...

OMG... I have not written a meaningful blog post in a year. Once upon a time, I took every Sunday morning to write, or study, or meditate on the beach. For the past year I have had client appointments most Sunday mornings, or spent this time printing labels and packing orders to get a head start on Monday morning, when my appointments will begin at 6 am. Some Sundays I even go to brunch with friends who complain they never see me...

Bangboom - I'm back. This is my year of "commitment." On August 22, I married Bob (after 18 years of his lovely persistence - talk about commitment...). I turned 55 years old on September 11, and at my birthday celebration I was asked what my wish was for this year.

"I want to get back to writing," I said. "I have a book in me and it's time to get it out."

My friends encouraged me and applauded the idea. "You SHOULD have done THAT years ago."
(I should have married Bob years ago too, but that is another onion to peel.)

"I don't even blog anymore," I lamented.

"SO START."

It was an order - from the Universe - disguised as friendly reassurance. But I know the Goddess' voice when she speaks to me. And, I know - that the Fool who does NOT answer the Call the first time, will be called upon again - and that the journey will be a bit trickier for the hesitation...

And so... I make the commitment to get back to my book and to blog about the journey - knowing full well the potential hero in this chapter of my life is me - and not the protaganist that will spring to life on the pages to come.

The Goddess is a trickster in what she inspires - it was a the lovely place to have a wedding ceremony... and is a divine setting in which to write. Thank you Bob. Thank you Oshun. Thank you Life.

Tomorrow morning, I start.

It's time for our Annual Christmas in July Sale! Save 30%!

Who doesn't LOVE a great Summer Clearance Sale?

It starts today!  Oshun Spirit is having a SAVE 30% storewide sale that includes all products and services! Just enter coupon code JULY30 at checkout at www.oshunspirit.com and the discount will be taken automatically!

But, that's just the beginning! We're running BUY ONE GET ONE FREE specials on our Facebook fan page, and yes, today those items are 30% off, too! So be sure to check out these sweet deals while supplies last. http://www.facebook.com/oshunspiritstore

Plus, every time you spend $50 at Oshun Spirit during the month of July, you'll receive one entry to win a $100 Oshun Spirit Gift Certificate. The drawing will be held on August 1!

• Today thru July 31, SAVE 30% storewide by entering coupon code JULY30 at checkout
• Check our Facebook fan page for BOGO specials while they last!
• For every $50 purchase you make during Christmas in July, you'll receive one entry to win a $100 Oshun Spirit Gift Certificate. Enter as many times as you like! Use your Oshun Spirit gift certificate yourself, or give it as a gift. It's good for products and/or services!

Good luck, and ho! ho! ho! Merrrrry Christmas in July!

Bid and Win Oshun Spirit Goodies in Live Online Auctions!

Oshun Spirit is pleased to announce that we will be offering items in LIVE online auctions at the brand new and super-fun Raise Your Paddlez online auction site. Look for handcrafted bath and body items daily at 12pm CST in the Supplies/Handmade Auctions, and artisan jewelry and accessories - and even our legendary Mystery Boxes in the Anything Goes Auctions which begin at 5pm CST.

You'll also discover many of your favorite sellers from the old Good Vibes auctions at the Tophatter and Outbid auction sites, as well as many new friendly faces! Vintage and collectibles, fashion and accessories, craft supplies, edibles, art, home decor...

So come, have some fun and get some great deals on all your Oshun Spirit favorites, and more!

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