Everyday Bliss For Women In Leadership

The below is reposted from my original entry at: Andy’s EasyBake Weblogs

My husband, J. Random WonderBear and I went to the hinterlands of northern California at Inverness to relax last weekend. It’s where we go to let the sea zephyrs blow through our heads and air our brains out thoroughly. We do this on Drake’s Beach, North Beach and the improbably difficult-to-access McClure’s Beach. McClure’s is down a twisting, windy and rockstrewn path, four miles to the ocean from parking. But worth it for the view and privacy. After which ravenous hunger ensued. We drove off to Point Reyes Station, dining at the Station Cafe. Myself on a beautiful roasted wild Alaskan salmon with spanking fresh pesto, and the JBear on Niman Ranch organic steak and oysters from Drake’s estero. While thus engaged, we chanced to overhear the following conversation at a nearby table:

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Someone recently wrote me: Do you think you’re a sage? That’s pretty presumptuous, don’t you think?

Well happy Boxing Day! And no friend, I don’t think it’s at all presumptuous. All people are saints and sages to some degree - you and I included. To be fair, you said you had never actually read my blog. So to clarify, the title of this blog comes from the many and varied sources of Sage Wisdom that I draw upon as I share my thoughts here. Sometimes the source is myself, more often it is one of my many amazing teachers or the greatest teacher of all - life itself.

Does that answer your question?

Bright Blessings… Maryam, the Occasional Sage

White musk,

Rich marrow spilling…

Survival is assured.

I have formed a mild mania for White Truffle Oil. Well, to Il Fornaio’s Proscuitto, Arugula, Grana Padano parmesan and Porcini laden Pizza Cristina. This delightful concoction is liberally drizzled with White Truffle Oil that smells like roasted ox marrow - buttery, rich and sustaining. A hint of extreme luxury rich in beneficial nutrients that there is never enough of for the entire tribe to share - an honor to savor. I am certain white truffle oil must have medicinal properties. "It hath the power to cheer and mellow the disposition" to quote Mrs. Grieve. Hie thee to a grocery store and try some.

Tonight I made a happy but tired J-Bear the gift of a small quantity of white truffle oil infused roasted pecans. He had made me a gift of the oil after his earlier trip to the shops. Such decadence. ("Land sake!" Grandmother Mimi exclaims inside my head, deeply whiffing the bottle and wiping clean hands on her apron.)  Dr. Mercola preaches the values of mineral-rich Celtic sea salt as does Dr. Batman. I just happened to have some on hand that I use for cooking (it’s nice to know periodically that we’re doing something right, unawares). I ground sea salt in a mortar and sprinkled the pecans with it.  Foodies: Toss pecans thoroughly in walnut or almond oil with salt and broil on a cookie sheet at 250F for ten or fifteen minutes. Resist the temptation to use flavored salts - the pecans are richness enough on their own. Drizzle sparingly with white truffle oil and toss again. Eat, trying very hard to constrain portion size. Heavenly.

This collation was a really nice treat after a whole lot of unremitting toil that’s left us wanting Minor Indulgences. We felt most luxurious consuming those Roasted Pecans  - the only one of my Mother’s holiday delicacies it’s relatively safe for healthy people to eat. White truffle oil. Mmmm…

We have plans to lay in some arugula and prosciutto and make our own pizza dough, though Dr. Mercola does preach quite voiciferously against grains lately, and now, perilously, about the dangerous mycotoxins in my beloved truffles! Okay Doc, but I’m not ready yet. A few more artisan pizzas and sprouted flaxseed rolls. I’m going to work on getting rid of sensitivities to grains, though I will probably eventually cease eating them as my body purifies. But not quite yet!

I still want to have the odd luxury, having given up all the vices I thought I had and being rudely informed that there are others - many, many others that will need to go for perfect health. Well thanks a lot Doc, thanks a lot. I appreciate the advice, but jimminy crickets, what a bummer! I’m going to keep affirming all things healthy and positive in my life anyway - a great Practice at any time. And in the right time, these things too shall pass…

One by one, the pleasures of the past are replaced by greater knowledge, the awareness of decisions and opportunity of Choice. As I have made decisions to forego certain foods and beverages, I have also made decisions to exit certain environments and relationships for healthier ones. Wheat is largely gone in my life but for special treat moments such as the ever-yummy Pizza Cristina and Mom’s holiday pecans.  Spiritual communities that were rife with chaos and politics have been released for a smaller fellowship of rare but very special individuals who lift me up, consistently. I’ve chosen to eschew the corporate environment in favor of running my own consulting business which is a thousand times more rewarding both to me and to those I work with. In these small ways and others, I am turning my life into a life that makes more of a difference and helps both myself and everyone I can touch.

We all touch each and every person that even peripherally crosses our lives. Even a friend heard-of but never met is having impact and influence on you, and you upon them. Now that influence may be small, but you are connected by the thread of your mutual friend, so it still impacts. So it is throughout The Field. Think about it.

Morel of the Story: When in doubt as to what you can do to move forward and upward, look for what can shift, and in Joy, shift it. Food, people, environments, whatever, as long as you remain in Joy. The Joy is your filter and indicator flag that lets you know that you are moving towards the right thing. Whatever that may be for you. Trying to shift without engaging your passion and your love is like trying to move the Sphinx by yourself. Sure, it can be done but it’s going to take all your energy, and for what? Consider deeply the role of Joy in Moving the Universe…

I am the editor of CoachVille’s Innovation Team blog, “Innovatoblitz”. I added a fun entry today on the growing market of coaching retreats which has resources for you to access, just to give you an idea of the possibilities. Who’s up for an Energy Coaching Retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains or on the beach? It’s something I’m considering… This is the post I refer to:

“The most successful contemporary spas not only offer unique treatments, they also focus on your health and fitness IQ. You can follow your herbal wrap with a class on anything from power yoga and meditation to stress management and ayurvedic nutrition. In today’s work-hard/play-hard world, such healthy escapes seem like less of an indulgence and more like a necessity. And an ever-growing number of spas are meeting this increased demand with programs that build up a sagging psyche as well as a depleted body…

In recent months we have noticed a hot trend in marrying life coaching with spa style “coaching retreats”, either for singles, couples or the entire family. . .

Read more at “Innovatoblitz: CoachVille’s Innovation Blog“

The Gamut Point of Fashion < -- click here for a thought provoking photo of differences in Iraqi fashion

Anyone who has fixed ideas about the state of hijab (veiling, hair and body covering) in Iraq needs to get themselves on over to Iraqi dentist Zeyad's awesome “Healing Iraq” blog for consistently provocative, informative content and check out his photo blogs, one of which is of a several radical Women’s Groups holding events in Fardus Square, Baghdad where the photo above was taken. This particular photo shows a stunningly attractive, fashionably dressed young Iraqi woman in spangled high heels looking at the camera from a crowd scene. She is wearing a chic burgundy blouse-set and black trousers. Her makeup is flawless, her nails manicured. She wears a golden ring, silver watch and necklace and her hair is loose, bound only by sunglasses perched atop her head. She could have stepped off the corner at Hollywood and Vine. Her look is bold, challenging. She is nobody’s fool, slave or property. Standing in front of her with her face turned in profile from the camera is another woman, perhaps in her mid-40’s wearing a dark but fashionable pants suit, with a sage green flowing scarf wrapped securely around her head. The front of her hairline shows by a few inches. She’s modern, but not taking any chances (like many of my Muslim girlfriends who lived overseas). The aura about her speaks of quiet certainty, she is intent upon a speaker, or a scene in front of her. She appears to know exactly what she’s doing and where she’s going.

Or how about this one, my favorite picture of all. I love the grey haired lady shouting into the microphone. I don’t know what this is all about, but she’s giving some issue the what-for alright. Man, what a granny she must be! What a mom, what a daughter, what a leader…
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Here is my darling kitty Anoushka. She is also known as The Noush Cat, Noushie Numpkins, Noushel-Bushel, ‘Nou Shoes’ and was recently diagnosed with a non-serious form of feline epilepsy. I’m posting her (darling, intelligent - a cat with two hands!) picture in response to an assignment for Andy Wibbels “50 Coaches 50 Weblogs 50 Days” teleclass which is a total hoot. You’ve got to go visit Andy, he’s a real fun guy. Here’s a link to Andy’s EasyBake Weblogs in which he is educating the world of Life and Executive Coaches about Blogging with a mission to get 50 Coaches all blogging in 50 Days. So far we’ve all signed up at TypePad (which I love much better than my previous Blogspot location) and are learning about all the bells and whistles available. Currently we’re checking out “Audio Blogger” (I’m the one shouting “Howdy!” at Andy’s blog here) Blogging has risen in prominence in the Coaching community in the last year. Some of us have been blogging for several years (sporadically, in my case) and some of us are new at it. All of the coaches I’ve read who blog vend amazingly rich content and a beauty of personhood that you’ll love getting to know. If you want to read some cool coaches, log into The 50 Coaches in 50 Days Blog and check out the “Participant Blogs” list. Riches galore!

Good stuff, Maynard… (okay, who’s old enough to remember that sub-reference?)

As regular readers may have noticed, the name of this blog has changed from “Garden of the Growing Green” to “Sage Wisdom”. With a new year shortly upon us, a refocusing is in order. Sage has always been special to me. When I was in training with the Missouri medicine man Corliss “d” deLarm, we burnt sage continually in purification and sacred ceremonies. The sage plant has a wisdom to it that is special and unique. Its smoke or essential oil purifies and makes sacred everything it touches. It is our American equivalent of the Eastern church’s frankincense and myrrh.

Herbs2000.com, a great site for herbal information has this to say: “Sage is one of the most valued herbs of antiquity. Sage is highly antiseptic, an excellent remedy for colds, fevers and sore throats and should be taken at the first signs of any respiratory infections. Sage relieves tonsilitis, bronchitis, asthma, catarrh, and sinusitis. Its astringent and expectorant properties help expel phlegm from the chest and reduce catarrh. The tea can be used in inhalation to disinfect the airways. Sage will enhance the immune system and help to prevent infections and auto-immune problems.” Visit the entry on Sage (and scroll down below the advertisements) to read the entire article on the many, many properties of this wonderful herb.

Secondly, as I have grown older, I’ve passed the Motherhood stage into the stage that shamanic cultures refer to as “Saging”, meaning to wax in wisdom. What a wonderful way to look at the way we age - instead of putting down the older wo/man for their loss of youth, to regard them as the storehouse of accumulated wisdom and experience that they are. I am at the very beginning of this journey, and will continue joyfully sharing with you what I’ve found that works, what I’ve learned and all the short-cuts and tips I know that can help you.

So welcome to “Sage Wisdom”, a place of clarity, learning and occasional introspection.

Enjoy!

My name is Maryam Webster (yes, like the dictionary - only different) and I invite you to join me in my lush, beautiful garden where all things are possible. In working life, I am a business psychologist, energy therapist and Life Coach for Women Visionaries and Community Leaders. I first started writing a blog as a means of communicating my thoughts-in-the-moment to my friends, family and clients, without the hassle of doing a newsletter. Then I started a newsletter, and dropped the blog. I’ve had requests to reinstate the blog as some folks found it amusing. I missed the anytime format of my beloved blog, so here I am, back in the potting shed, putting new plants to soil. To start off, am posting the partial contents of my previous bloggateria. A bit dated, but still a cool. I write sometimes as Maryam the Seeker of Mysteries, sometimes as “Auntie M.”, my innately Wise and Far-Seeing self and very occasionally, other potentially entertaining guest authors such as Mavis, the Maven of Make-Do. (why be mundane? access your whole brain…)

Enjoy…

With Love and Blessings,
Maryam “Auntie M” Webster

Dear Ones,
Hello and Welcome to my Garden! This is the place where I share miscellaneous news, notes and healing information with you. I am very much into Energy Psychology and am constantly searching out new references on the web to share with you. For something really nifty, go to Caroline Myss’s Website and click on “Chakras”. You’ll need the latest Flash plugin to view this startling tutorial on the Spiritual, Mental and Physical aspects of the seven main Chakrum, or energy centers in the bodymind. Nifty wireframe, cool scripting and the message is both accurate and highly educational - this is cutting edge information you should know. Enjoy!

Much Love To You,
Auntie M.