Meredith Kendall's Blog, page 35
April 13, 2015
Rita Dove
Discovering and enjoying her poetry.
April 12, 2015
healing circle
Reiki. Tones. Tarot.
Sage smoke, stones, and sound.
Mushroom risotto and fresh asparagus.
Curry, couscous, and chocolate.
It was healing circle day. I met friends in a home full of beautiful stones, located on the high bank of a small stream. We had lunch and then took turns on the table.
I saw T as a river goddess, smooth grey mud and rippling water. D got a bilateral stereo shoulder massage and a vibrating tuning fork on her forehead; she said she saw pineal calcifications shatter and fall away. During my time on the table I felt comforted by memories of my ancestors.
Then we did Tarot and all the cards were good ones.
Sage smoke, stones, and sound.
Mushroom risotto and fresh asparagus.
Curry, couscous, and chocolate.
It was healing circle day. I met friends in a home full of beautiful stones, located on the high bank of a small stream. We had lunch and then took turns on the table.
I saw T as a river goddess, smooth grey mud and rippling water. D got a bilateral stereo shoulder massage and a vibrating tuning fork on her forehead; she said she saw pineal calcifications shatter and fall away. During my time on the table I felt comforted by memories of my ancestors.
Then we did Tarot and all the cards were good ones.
April 8, 2015
bedbugs
Heard a story on the radio* about bedbugs. So of course I worried about an infestation.
Just like back in nursing school, when we all thought we had every disease we studied.
I learned a lot about bedbugs. They get excited when they detect your breath, or the warmth of your skin. They can adjust their feeding schedules to your sleep schedules. They can walk from your apartment to mine: across the hall or through the walls, entering in tiny cracks. They poop, and their poop can look like black mold (Borel, 2015).
So of course I went on a search. I looked online for photos and more information. I pulled back the sheets and inspected my mattress. Got down on the floor and peered at the baseboards. I cleaned and investigated. No critters. Nothing that looked like black mold. Nothing.
Just like nursing school. Guess I'm going to live another day.
* Dave Davies interviewed Brooke Borel, author of Infested on Fresh Air, 4-8-15 Fresh Air
Just like back in nursing school, when we all thought we had every disease we studied.
I learned a lot about bedbugs. They get excited when they detect your breath, or the warmth of your skin. They can adjust their feeding schedules to your sleep schedules. They can walk from your apartment to mine: across the hall or through the walls, entering in tiny cracks. They poop, and their poop can look like black mold (Borel, 2015).
So of course I went on a search. I looked online for photos and more information. I pulled back the sheets and inspected my mattress. Got down on the floor and peered at the baseboards. I cleaned and investigated. No critters. Nothing that looked like black mold. Nothing.
Just like nursing school. Guess I'm going to live another day.
* Dave Davies interviewed Brooke Borel, author of Infested on Fresh Air, 4-8-15 Fresh Air
April 6, 2015
Reiki in the hospital
Another meeting today about our new program: Reiki at the infusion center. That's a place where people walk in and relax in a recliner while a nurse administers an intravenous medication. We're hoping to share Reiki with the clients and staff there.
We have policies and procedures, we have administrative approval and a fabulous Reiki practitioner who's ready to start. Next step is an educational presentation for the staff.
It takes a long time to start a new program; but it's good to do it thoughtfully, carefully, mindfully, and respectfully. Soon, hopefully, clients can have Reiki with their chemotherapy or antibiotic medication.
We have policies and procedures, we have administrative approval and a fabulous Reiki practitioner who's ready to start. Next step is an educational presentation for the staff.
It takes a long time to start a new program; but it's good to do it thoughtfully, carefully, mindfully, and respectfully. Soon, hopefully, clients can have Reiki with their chemotherapy or antibiotic medication.
it's in the details
sometimes the most important nursing happens in the smallest moments
April 5, 2015
It's Easter, the stores are closed
Saw a lot of pagans circling around grocery store parking lots today.
"The parking lot's empty."
"Really need that thing."
"Are the lights on?"
"Maybe it will open in half an hour."
"Drive up to the door and look at the sign."
"Try that other store down the street."
I finally found an open market and got some coffee beans and cremini mushrooms and a pint of potato leek soup.
"The parking lot's empty."
"Really need that thing."
"Are the lights on?"
"Maybe it will open in half an hour."
"Drive up to the door and look at the sign."
"Try that other store down the street."
I finally found an open market and got some coffee beans and cremini mushrooms and a pint of potato leek soup.
Easter
A cold and windy winter. Now spring is late, 3 weeks late.
Snowflakes swirled as I drove down to see my grandson and his parents.
His mom filled plastic eggs with small pieces of tangerine, metal cars, and chocolate kisses. He crawled around and opened the eggs. His dad made us tiny breakfast sandwiches: miniature bagels stuffed with pepper and onion omelets; topped with pickled onion, greens, and spicy mustard.
Snow is predicted all week; daffodils are budding along the south wall.
A long winter, but love and flowers renew my heart.
Snowflakes swirled as I drove down to see my grandson and his parents.
His mom filled plastic eggs with small pieces of tangerine, metal cars, and chocolate kisses. He crawled around and opened the eggs. His dad made us tiny breakfast sandwiches: miniature bagels stuffed with pepper and onion omelets; topped with pickled onion, greens, and spicy mustard.
Snow is predicted all week; daffodils are budding along the south wall.
A long winter, but love and flowers renew my heart.
April 2, 2015
changes
Full moon, lunar eclipse or two, and planetary alignments are influencing change and release.
This is a time to let go of situations that no longer serve you. Release anger and pain in healthy ways that don't harm or demean others. Do some yoga. Be Reiki, share Reiki. Meditate... shhhh.... listen.
This is the perfect time to ask questions and receive answers.
Now do what feels right. This is a good time to make healthy changes. This is a time of opportunity. Shift a little or make a leap. Fill out that job application, talk to that person, go to that job interview, sign up for that class, make plans for that trip. Spend time with dear family and friends; people who hear, nourish, and support you.
Be well.
This is a time to let go of situations that no longer serve you. Release anger and pain in healthy ways that don't harm or demean others. Do some yoga. Be Reiki, share Reiki. Meditate... shhhh.... listen.
This is the perfect time to ask questions and receive answers.
Now do what feels right. This is a good time to make healthy changes. This is a time of opportunity. Shift a little or make a leap. Fill out that job application, talk to that person, go to that job interview, sign up for that class, make plans for that trip. Spend time with dear family and friends; people who hear, nourish, and support you.
Be well.
March 30, 2015
soup
Sleep late because you stayed up late, reading a good book. Still Alice; The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks the night before.
Sleep late. Get up and do a few asanas. Grind coffee beans, pour them into the French press; sip thick dark coffee and read Anne Lamott's Small Victories. It's starting to snow, even though it's nearly April.
Make soup, lunch for the week. What's in the frig? Three enormous yams, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, cabbage, carrots, grapefruit.
Wash the yams, cut into large chunks. I used the big knife and my biggest cutting board, the one my brother sliced out of a tree. It has bark on one side. Dump the chunks into the big soup pot and add fresh spring water. Turn on high. Boil for 5 minutes. Turn off heat.
As the water heats and boils, scrape the outer layer off a large chunk of ginger root. Turmeric root too. Peel 6 garlic cloves. Toss the ginger, garlic, and turmeric into the pot as it cools. Crumble in 3 dried hot peppers, the ones from the Farmer's Market. Don't touch your face after crumbling the peppers. Set the pot out in the snow to cool faster.
Bring the cooled pot back inside and puree the mixture. Add a can of coconut milk. Note the white coating on the inside of the can, BPA? Oh no, guess I won't buy that again. Add water to desired consistency. Add curry powder and smoky paprika.
Try it. It's spicy hot, orange, creamy, nourishing. It's still snowing. Start a new book. Watch the snow.
Sleep late. Get up and do a few asanas. Grind coffee beans, pour them into the French press; sip thick dark coffee and read Anne Lamott's Small Victories. It's starting to snow, even though it's nearly April.
Make soup, lunch for the week. What's in the frig? Three enormous yams, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, cabbage, carrots, grapefruit.
Wash the yams, cut into large chunks. I used the big knife and my biggest cutting board, the one my brother sliced out of a tree. It has bark on one side. Dump the chunks into the big soup pot and add fresh spring water. Turn on high. Boil for 5 minutes. Turn off heat.
As the water heats and boils, scrape the outer layer off a large chunk of ginger root. Turmeric root too. Peel 6 garlic cloves. Toss the ginger, garlic, and turmeric into the pot as it cools. Crumble in 3 dried hot peppers, the ones from the Farmer's Market. Don't touch your face after crumbling the peppers. Set the pot out in the snow to cool faster.
Bring the cooled pot back inside and puree the mixture. Add a can of coconut milk. Note the white coating on the inside of the can, BPA? Oh no, guess I won't buy that again. Add water to desired consistency. Add curry powder and smoky paprika.
Try it. It's spicy hot, orange, creamy, nourishing. It's still snowing. Start a new book. Watch the snow.
February 27, 2015
anxiety and anti-depressants
a client shared with me her history of anxiety and use of psych meds since childhood. "I'm so nervous all the time, I don't think Reiki will work on me." When she emerged from deep relaxation after her session, amazed, she asked me how often she should have Reiki. I suggested she take a Reiki class or study some other mindfulness practice like meditation or yoga. I told her that self-Reiki is the foundation of our practice.
