Nikki Starcat Shields's Blog, page 37

Health and Care

My family and I have just become part of the “health care system” again after several years on the outside. I hadn’t recalled what a lot of work it is! Endless paperwork serves to generate more paperwork and phone calls and appointments and other tasks to add to the list. Not that I’m not grateful to have health insurance once again – I definitely am.

The adults in our family are all (mostly) self-employed, and have been for about six years now. We haven’t had health insurance during that time...

Why Are These Kids So Happy?

I saw a lot of happy kids up at this year’s Life Rocks! Radical Unschooling Conference in North Conway, NH. Why are they happy? Well, of course, only each individual can know those inner reasons. But my speculation, after years in these types of supportive and freedom-loving communities, is that it’s because the kids are pursuing their own interests. They’re doing what they love.

Unschooled kids can, like adults when we are at our best, organize their own days as they wish. They can create bal...

Starcat on Yoga: Philosophy and Practice

This spring I made a new commitment to my longtime yoga practice, and I’ve been talking about it to everyone who will listen. In response, I’ve had a few different people ask me about yoga. The questions are not so much about the physical routine I use, but more about what’s behind my practice, and the philosophy of yoga. This post is intended as my response. It’s not an academic discussion. I’m not a certified yoga teacher, nor an expert on the subject. What I’d like to share with you is my...

Starcat’s Favorites: Farewell to May

Our lilacs in bloom.

Happy weekend! Hard to believe that it’s the end of May already. How has your spring been going? Mine’s been a bit crazy, but I seem to be settling into the ramped-up energies of this time of year. This week has been filled with creative work on the novel revisions, getting outdoors between raindrops, yoga, and family time. Enjoy the rest of the weekend and remember to take time to rest.

This lovely article is a beautiful reminder to be kind to ourselves, especially when we...

Surfing the Waves

I haven’t been writing much lately. Not as much as I usually do, certainly. I’ve been struggling a bit not to feel bad about myself for it. I was in the midst of a busy patch, and it seemed like the thing that kept getting set aside each day was my most cherished creative work. It felt awful. I may or may not also have been, well, kind of hormonal.

Anyway, today is more settled, both in terms of emotions and sheer amount of things to do. I’m taking a look at the big picture, and what I’m disco...

My Yoga Story

I’m working on a blog post about yoga, both the philosophy of it and some resources for those who wish to try it. I’m not an expert or certified yoga instructor, but rather I’m writing from the perspective of someone who has practiced off and on for about 20 years now. I hope it will be helpful to those who want to get started, or to refresh their practice.

In the process of writing that post, I thought it would be helpful to tell the story of my journey with yoga. Sort of a prologue or preque...

Life and Other Necessities

Ever have one of those weeks when you feel like you didn’t accomplish anything? Here I am on a Friday night, looking at my ever-growing to-do list and wondering what I actually did these past five days.

I gave it some thought, and came up with, well, a lot.

The things that still sit staring at me on my list are mostly writing projects, and tasks for my business, Feline Dreamers.I’m a writer by trade, or avocation at least, so you’d think I could get some writing done, eh?

But I’m well aware that...

The Power of the Observer Within

I find that as I get older, it gets easier and easier to stay in the flow. I used to constantly compare myself to others, and often found myself wanting. Everyone else had more friends, more money, a more beautiful home, or whatever. I didn’t want to be gossiped about, but I didn’t want to be ignored, either. These days I mostly don’t care about that stuff any more.

I have lots of creative interests and plenty to do, so I don’t really have time to worry about what other people have that I don’...

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy happy mama day to all the women reading this! Even if you’re not the mom of another human, you no doubt mother (i.e. nurture, love, and care for) someone or something in your life: friends, family, four-legged friends, a home, ideas and projects, your work, your garden, yourself… Blessings to you on this day of acknowledging your awesome powers of love!

Me and Mom, out for a fancy lunch together.

I am very blessed in the mama department. I have the most wonderful and amazing Mom in the wh...

Starcat’s Favorites: Yoga and Me

Almost a month ago I revived my daily practice of yoga. What a difference it’s making in my world! Not only does my body love it, but yoga helps calm my mind, open up my emotions to flow more freely, and rev up my imagination. Just in the past couple of days, my practice has deepened and expanded. I’m in love with yoga all over again.

Remember, yoga isn’t just the poses you do in class or at home on your yoga mat. It’s a remarkable system for living, one that’s been in place for thousands of y...