It surprises me that each month’s theme for the calendar has proven so completely accurate through the year!

This last little while, I have spent quite a bit of time “not knowing”. 

And yes, it is an uncomfortable place at times, but also can be quite interesting. Surrender to what is, seems to be the only way for me to move through times like this. Also, spending a good deal of time just being quiet and letting things percolate. 

It has felt a lot like being on the edge of a new discovery … just this close …
but not being able to put your finger on it. 

The other imagery that came up recently was, a box of words spilled on the ground, hundreds and hundreds of words. As I stare at them, I know they can be arranged to make a million different messages …
but I remain stuck on how to do that. 

MY ANSWER … go back to working with my hands. Do things like fold paper for journals and figure out how random pieces of cover stock can be turned into beautiful journal covers.

And work on mandalas.
This always seems to be the one that grounds me and makes me feel “put together” again. 

It’s good to know what makes you feel whole … and to spend time not knowing!

The image above is designed to use as your desktop wallpaper. Just click to download!

I am getting ready for a show/sale at the end of the month, and I find myself preparing in a completely different way this time.

Instead of focussing on volume of things and thinking that I have to “mass produce” things, I am taking my time and working in a very calm and lovely way.

I have set down ideas of what is reasonable for me to accomplish and am enjoying the process of creating in this very intentional way. Perhaps this will encourage me to do more shows, I don’t know. 

And … while working on some new small mandala plaques, which I chose to do with coloured pencil, I discovered a whole case of pencils I forgot I had.

YIKES and HOORAY.

The small joys, as it turns out, are really quite big.

And now it’s time for me to return to the hands-on, studio side of my world and commune with some soon-to-be journals!

May your drinks be cold, your pencils sharp and your mind open to what is!

I am discovering just how much happens when you slow down …
it truly is expansive!

Time to think. Moments of important pondering. Empty space in my head. 

These are all things that I am more in need of now than I have been in awhile. It turns out, there is a lot going on in my head, some of it feels really, really important, but I haven’t made time to BE with those thoughts, as others take over quickly. 

This past week I took a day of pondering, where I had no expectation or need to think about income or how that might happen. I needed time to clear away the debris rattling around in my noggin, and try to let the “good” stuff align into cohesive thought.

It was a lovely day. I need more days like that!

Alas, I am no closer to fomulating the rattling thoughts into anything that makes sense outside the boundaries of my cranium, but at least I know that stopping for a day is a good decision and something to incorporate into my life much more often!

The image above can be used for your desktop wallpaper. Just click to download!

If you haven’t taken the opportunity to explore these four wonderful poetry connections, I emcourage you to click on over to house of appleton and read all about them.

They are all a deep and rich reading experience.

As we shift into this new season of what I always refer to as chaos (no structure whatsoever), I wish you all the delights that you can handle!!

May the sun bring many blessings, 

The seasonal shift has been dramatic in many ways. 

I’ve known this all along, but every once in awhile it’s good to remind myself to treat
ME as I would a cherished friend. 

As many things are shifting with a certain dramatic overtone, I remind myself to be gentle during times of transition and tension. We are never meant to stay static, but sometimes the shifts we are required to make are larger than anything that feels in a comfort zone. 

Last Thursday, in the middle of the night, our neighbour’s house burned to the ground. We were wakened by another neighbour, when the house was already fully ablaze. It was terrifying for everyone. All human occupants of the house escaped, a cherished pet gerbil perished.

There was no time to do anything, they could only get out. 

As all of us stood around watching things unfold, we were faced with the vulnerability and helplessness of a natural disaster. We stood, looking out at all the trees that surround us, and felt blessed it was not August, when the damage would have been so much worse. Counting blessings in that moment was all we could do. 

Yes, we are officially in FIRE SEASON now, and it is rattling me in deep ways. How do I deal with my own helplessness? Perhaps my father’s words come forth now … plan for the worst, hope for the best.
So I plan and prepare.

Although I stayed calm that night, I have not slept well at all since. The smoke from fires burning hundreds of miles away permeates the air here and I am constantly reminded of the danger. 

So, I will treat myself gently as I would a good friend and guide myself back from the feeling of being helpless, to a place where I feel prepared for the inevitable and unexpected realities of life.

Photo of Diana Hayes
by Ramona Lam

house of appleton is thrilled to announce Language of Light,
poems by Diana Hayes

You may wonder how I can go from talking about vulnerability and helplessness, to introducing you to Diana’s beautiful new work … but the transition is natural.

Language of Light is a tribute and honouring of  Frances Mary Hayes, Diana’s beloved mother and best friend. Within these pages you feel the depth of love and loss, how Diana found navigated one of the most difficult journey’s of our lives.

After she passed away, I found myself unprepared for what death and grief required of me. To navigate this barren field, I sought far-away places and ancient traditions––for solace, for healing, for soul-connection. These journeys took me to the Temple of Good Will and the Fulni-ô ceremonies in Brazil, to Meteora, the Oracle of Delphi, the Corycean Caves, and Skala Eresou in Greece. I was assisted by a blind monk at the Buddhist stupa in Pā’ia, Maui. Ultimately, it was poetry that lifted the veil for my inconsolable heart and revealed the indisputable oneness of our true nature. ~ Diana Hayes

This book is a LIMITED EDITION of 80 copies.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE and ORDER

My profound and enduring thanks to Diana for asking me to be a part of this project. It was such a rich journey and to now be able to share it with the world, feels tremendous!

May the connections you make to yourself and others this month, be rich and deep and life-affirming!

Wishing you a wonder-filled June.

~sarah

The planets are playing nice with me …

Even though the astrology forecast sounds a bit daunting, as planets do their thing, I am feeling in a lovely flow. 

When I look back to last year at this time, I hardly recognize myself. So much has changed and awakened in me in these last few months. So much. More than I can possibly describe really. 

I put it down to stopping and taking a look at all the elements in my life, to see how I might move forward in the way that best supports my values, beliefs, skills and abilities. 

Everything is focussed on creating the most sustainable life in every single way. Starting with  my thinking and  how I take that into the world. What is most important? 

And yes, that obviously flows right into the phrase for this month: Be the JOY you want to FEEL in the world. 

Above is May’s desktop wallpaper for your computer … click on it and upload it, and let it guide the unfolding of the joy of May.

compendium 11 … a beautiful and natural shift is emerging.

Yes, I have started the process of creating compendium 11 and I love how it is redesigning itself!

It seems to wish to be better focussed and to be the official publication of house of appleton.
Who knew that was coming?!

It is flowing along with all the other changes and “coming together” of the bits and pieces of my world.

It feels very supportive in so many ways.

There is no specific timeline on it … but of course if I’d thought about it, I might have sped things up to get it out for May 3rd … since that will be the 5th Anniversary of its arrival in the world.

Alas, it has always had its own timing and I appreciate and respect that. So, it will come out when it’s ready and no sooner.

Stay tuned!

May you make the time this month to sit with yourself and ask some deep questions about what is most important to you.

To leave nothing off the table.

To examine things with the eye to using your gifts and talents to improve your life, and in doing that, automatically improving the lives of others.

Happy May!

~sarah

Spring is in the air, and in me!

There is an unfolding happening in me that is quite a surprise and certainly a delight. 

There seem to be moments in life where a large shift happens. That’s what life for me feels like right now. 

Setting out on yet another new path with house of appleton, I have given myself “permission” to expand and explore in ways that I don’t think I was capable of, even a year ago. 

Nothing is off the table right now. Everything gets its due consideration … how might this fit with other things that are going on? It’s all about seeing each piece in a new way, and maybe giving it in a different place.

Yes, I have puzzles on the brain. Mary Ann has been doing them lately and I even see those differently than when I did them with my dad. I like seeing how my brain connects with them in a way it didn’t before. 

Today I have three completely clean and clear work surfaces in my studio … and that gives me such a great feeling of a fresh and open beginning to all that is next. 

I must say, I don’t remember a spring that has done what this one is doing for me … WOW!

“OFFICIAL LAUNCH” SUCCESS!

On April 3rd, the official launch of house of appleton and its first three books took place at the North Branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library. It was nothing short of completely and totally AMAZING! 

The space was perfect. Our host, Librarian Darby Love, had set everything up just right. It was a large enough room and it was quiet. When the poets each read, there was a joyful silence, as everyone was listening and there were no distractions.

If we had planned each and every moment of that day, we could not have made it more perfect than it was.

Thank you to MJ Burrows, Sea-Washed Stones, Marlene Dean, Because Things Are, and Mary Ann Moore, Mending, for the most enjoyable poetry reading that anyone has ever been to! And for raising the bar on all future house of appleton events!

This is me on the Official Launch Day for the three chapbooks … and here is the picture of my grandfather standing behind and fussing with his White Circle Series books … sometime in the 1940s.

I felt him standing with me on the big launch day, and every day since.

I am so grateful for all the loving support I am receiving with the launch of house of appleton … I am so very, very blessed.

~sarah