I heard a Raven calling from high up in the tall Fir tree just before this picture was taken. I love the many different vocalizations that Ravens have, these sounds and calls that will literally stop me in my tracks to listen. 
How often do we let ourselves listen to the sounds of nature?
The sounds from nature tend to get lost amongst the din of the human landscape of sounds.
Here is where I offer an invitation. 
An invitation, an encouragement, an offering, a suggestion.....with hopes that you may find a way to invite a moment each day where you are able to focus and listen to sounds from nature. 

The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) light up our northern hemisphere sky and appear alive as they dance across the night sky. The truth of the matter is, that dance is a protective one, that speaks of the invisible shield at the upper most layer of our atmosphere that the charged particles from the Sun collides with.
Two nights ago the Aurora Borealis display brought me to thinking about how we each have our own shields of protection. It may be in the form of visible "armour" (clothes etc.) or a shield that is invisible to the eye, one that is worn within us. Our protective mechanisms are created (and evolve) over the course of our lifetime, some discarded when the need is no longer apparent, others are held onto. 
How do we know when our protective "armour" no longer serves in a positive way and in fact has become a barrier to our being able to live a healthy balanced life?
A question that can be pondered over a cup of tea while looking at the many amazing photos of the recent Aurora Borealis display!

The Bottom floor with the rounded windows is the soon to be opened new location
for Solstice Moon Counselling & Art Therapy!!
I'm soooo excited to be creating this space
where clients can meet me for
Counselling and/or Art Therapy!
It will be by appointment only
with new hours for the summer months!

July & August Appointment hours:
3pm- 8:30pm Monday - Thursday
2pm-4pm Saturdays
To book an appointment 
Phone: 778-608-3895
​Email: solsticemooncounselling@gmail.com

I went to one of the local garden centres yesterday to purchase seeds for my garden. This is a welcome return to gardening, and done with intent and contentment. I've missed gardening to this degree, and look forward to the process.
This particular garden centre is lovely as it is set back from the road and you wind around a twisty little path to get to the parking area and the main building.
I was greeted by a lively group of chickens happily walking through the parking area looking for gravel and bugs.
The photo above was my attempt to capture how this particular chicken was quite content roosting in the tree cooing quietly watching the others move about on the ground. I find that the soft cooing sounds that chickens make when content is soothing and for lack of better words "earthy" and reminds me of farms and rural areas. 
I'm writing this blog post in homage to all of those that are getting ready for garden season, whether this involves patio container gardening, raised bed gardening or large scale gardens, there is something inherently therapeutic about working with soil, seedlings and plants.
I would encourage anyone to find a way to explore gardening. Connecting with the earth, nurturing plants as they grow and taking time to breath outdoor fresh air.

Just to be clear...this isn't a blog post debating the pros and cons of mask wearing. Nope not at all!
I had a realization this week that there may be individuals who might be seeking counselling services, are looking through my website and they may be curious about how I look with and without a mask. 
So I thought I would do a quick blog post and share!
I love seeing people's faces, but it's also amazing to see just how expressive our eyes, eyebrows, brows and cheeks can be (any facial part that is not covered by a mask).
Our voices, body posture, hand gestures all add into the many ways that we express ourselves to others. Add in Art Therapy and there is an additional way for self-expression!
So whether you choose to seek in person counselling (mask on) or online counselling (mask off)...you will be met with my smiling eyes!

     How do we re-engage our senses after lengthy times spent in front of a screen and technology?
        One sure fire way is to get outside.
               Surround yourself in the natural world.
Give yourself space and time to engage all of your senses.
Sight, Touch, Smell, Hearing, Taste.

• Leave technology behind. (Yes, this means your phone & music) and unplug for a few moments. 
• Give yourself a moment to pause.                                     (You'll be surprised at how many sounds you will hear when you are still versus when you are on the move).
• Invite curiosity along.
• The natural world is filled with different textures.           (When was the last time you held a smooth pebble?)
• Take a deep intentional breath.                                         (Is there a subtle scent that you had yet to notice?)
• Change your viewpoint & perspective.                               (What happens when you are up close to something small on the ground? What do you notice that you may have missed?)

If finding lengthy amounts of time to reconnect with the natural world is an issue, aim for smaller moments.

      An art journal can be constructed and created using a blank sketchbook, created by building a handmade book or by altering a pre-existing book. Even the notions of what a "book" may look like is wide open for personal interpretation. An art journal can be a visual record of  ideas, a place for dreams, for questions, for musings, your inner thoughts and for recording your life experiences. Art journals hold limitless possibilities for your creative exploration and self-expression.
       Watch for future blog posts about different materials that can be used for art journaling.