Nikki Starcat Shields's Blog, page 28
July 4, 2015
Starcat’s Favorites: Freedom and Fun
It’s Independence Day today in the U.S., where I live. Independence and freedom are words that get bandied about a lot, and getting into a political discussion really isn’t my thing. But I’ve noticed lately that I’ve been enjoying my personal freedom, and so I’m celebrating that.
My kids are teens. My son, Dryst, has just graduated from our wholeschool (we didn’t just stay home…even though it’s popularly known as homeschooling). My daughter ElvenTiger is 16 and has her first real boyfriend. T...
June 27, 2015
A Cosmic Dance
“By knowing yourself as the awareness in which phenomenal existence happens, you become free of dependency on phenomena and free of self-seeking in situations, places, and conditions. In other words: what happens or doesn’t happen is not that important anymore. Things lose their heaviness, their seriousness. A playfulness comes into your life. You recognize this world as a cosmic dance, the dance of form – no more and no less.” – Eckhart Tolle
June 24, 2015
My Heart’s Bucket List
One of the prompts in a Play Nexus online workshop was to write your heart’s bucket list. Since I’m about to head off on a retreat with these amazing folk, I thought I’d share my list with you here.
It was wonderful to write a bucket list that had nothing to do with what I thought “should” be on it, but rather to just let it flow from the heart. Sound inspiring? I challenge you to write your own! Share some of your list items in the comments, if you like.
My Heart’s Bucket List
Feed and play...
June 19, 2015
What Is Productivity, and Why Should You Care About It?
Do you consider yourself a productive person?
I guess it’s not really fair to ask you this question right off the bat, because it relies on defining what we each mean by “productivity.” The basic dictionary.com definition says: “the quality, state, or fact of being able to generate, create, enhance, orbring forth goods and services.” In this case, though, what I’m trying to get at is more about the connotation. What does productivity mean to you, in your life?
We live in a world that values b...
June 17, 2015
You Already Know the Answer (Decisions Redux)
A while back I wrote about how hard it can beto make decisions. Aftersome further musing on decision making, I’ve come to the realization that most of the time when you’re faced with a choice, you already know the answer. By “the answer,” of course, I mean that you know the choice that will work best for you in this situation. There are often several choices that will be perfectly fine.
At the moment when you’re faced with picking from two or more options, though, you already have the answer...
June 13, 2015
Starcat’s Favorites: Summer Mode
Just one more week and it’ll be Summer Solstice. The evenings are long and everything is in bloom. Our weekly homeschool co-op is done for the summer, lacrosse season is over, and we’re shifting into summer mode around here.
Gatheringsat our friends’ camp on the lake, potato salad, and road trips. More fireside time in the backyard, reading in the hammock, bare feet. Outdoor work, the screen door slamming, and fresh local veggies.
Just like every year, I’m in love with summer.
Here are some l...
June 9, 2015
Are You Getting Enough Play Time?
Your first response to the title of this post might be something like: “Are you kidding? With all the work I have to do? My list is a mile long!” The question still stands. You’re not going to do quality work without plenty of time to play. Of course, the ideal thing is when your work and play line up, and you spend your time doing what you love best.
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”– Confucius
Even when that’s the case, it’s still important to take...
May 29, 2015
Hospital Visits: A Guide for Sensitive Souls
In the past ten years or so, I’ve spent a lot of time in the hospital. Not because I was ill or hurt, but in support of family members and friends who were patients.
Before I had kids, this would have been completely unthinkable. I’ve always been a really sensitive soul, an empath, and this came with a huge phobia of hospitals, doctors, and pretty much anything medical. Seeing (and feeling) other people in pain was the worst thing I could imagine. The sensations would overwhelm my entire cons...
May 26, 2015
How to Encourage Lifelong Learning in Your Family (and Yourself)
This morning I was excitedly detailing in my journal the curriculum I have lined up for the rest of 2015. Nope, not for the kids – for myself. Nope, I’m not kidding or being sarcastic.
I have a stack of books and notebooks ready, along with e-books and videos. My topics of study range from novel-writing techniques and ethical marketing for authors to sacred geometry, desire mapping, and advanced meditation techniques.
To get right to the point of this post, I think the best way to encourage y...
May 23, 2015
Starcat’s Favorites: Lilac Season
Lovely lilacs at our place. Photo by BlackLion.
The lilacs are blooming! I love their lavenderbeauty and that delightful smell. Ah, full spring, with summer right behind it. I love it! This weekend I’ll be spending some time in our new hammock, reveling in the gorgeous weather and this lovely place where I live. I’m so very grateful!
Here’s some good reading (and watching) for your weekend. Enjoy!
Speaking of gratitude, here’s the start to a whole alphabet of gratitude. Thanks!
I’m not usuall...
