Nikki Starcat Shields's Blog, page 42

Starcat’s Favorites: Settle In…

…with a cup of your favorite beverage. Starcat’s Favorites is back! Even through the busy times and the grief, I’ve been reading and gathering links. Reading is my lifelong refuge, my favorite comfort food, my natural state of being.

The last time I shared favorites was in late August, so I have a lot of links for you today! I’ve pored through them and uncovered the best-of-the-best. As an added treat for my fellow bookworms, I’ve added a list, below, of the books I’ve read since then, just fo...

Ah, November…

I’m so glad that November has arrived. That’s not something I would normally say. I’m a summer girl, and I also love early fall, but when the skies get really grey and the days are so short, that’s not necessarily when I’m in my element.

But it is this year.

August was busy, as it usually is – perhaps even more so, since we were traveling. But I didn’t get a chance to catch my breath afterwards.

September was all for Jenn, and I don’t regret a moment of it. I’m so thankful that her passing was a...

In This Moment…

My sweet soul sister V. over at Gypsy Om put up a writing prompt on her Facebook page, a lovely sky picture with the words “in this moment…” So I spontaneously decided to use it to write a blog post. Here goes.

In this moment, I’m thankful for so many things: homemade split pea soup on a chilly day, the Merlin cat snuggles I received last night, the first royalty payment for my new e-book (small right now, but just the beginning), my parents (whose 50th anniversary is in two days), being part...

An Old Practice, New Again

I think I’ve mentioned before that I’ve had an “on again, off again” relationship with my yoga practice. I first started taking yoga classes back in the early 90s, before having kids. I kept up with the classes, and sometimes summer yoga retreats, throughout most of the 90s and all the way through 2008 or so. I even took yoga during both my pregnancies.

Funnily enough, I only developed a consistent home yoga practice around 2005 or so, because I’d always had the impression you “had to” get up...

It’s Alright

I’m having a hard time getting back into some of my usual creative outlets, like blogging, since my friend passed away. It’s odd how grief shows up in different ways for each person. The other thing that’s dropped away is my usual talent for planning and scheduling – which may be a good thing, though somehow I’m still in the midst of ineptly trying to plan two gatherings.

My emotions are up and down. Being around lots of people is hard. Some days I just want to stay in bed, while other times y...

Death, Loss, Healing

My dear friend Jenn passed away on Tuesday, very peacefully, surrounded by family and friends. I was honored to be there with her, and I could feel, very powerfully, the energies of her guides as they helped her cross to the other side.

There is much more that I could say, but the feelings are still too fresh and raw. I do want to share a useful tool with you, though.

I was talking with a friend today, one who knew Jenn and is part of her community too. We were sharing how we, as empaths, seeme...

Walking Between the Worlds

I see that I haven’t written here for quite some time. The past two weeks have been rather intense. A good friend of mine, the same age as me, has terminal cancer, which she’s been living with for over a year. She just went into hospice care on September 6th. As well as being a friend, I am also working with her as a priestess and Reiki practitioner.

Despite the fact that I knew this was coming, it felt like a ton of bricks landed on me.

I’m full of emotions that I want to express but I fear I...

Keeping Faith

We’re back from our wonderful Rethinking Everything conference adventure, and it was as fantastic and life-changing as I suspected it would be! A giant wave of gratitude to everyone who helped us by donating, spreading the word, and sending good vibes!!! I’m still integrating the ideas, inspirations, and lessons I brought back with me, and will write about those in due time.

However, I do have something to share with you right now, on my second day home (which has, by the way, been filled with...

Starcat’s Favorites: Transformation

As you read this, BlackLion, ElvenTiger and I are fully immersed in our Rethinking Everything Conference adventure. We’re so excited and thankful for all the community support that enabled us to attend this life-changing, transformative event! I’ll be writing more about it when we get back.

In the meantime, here are some links for your weekend reading pleasure. Enjoy!

Here’s a great post by one of the other presenters at Rethinking Everything.

I feel like some of my own boulders have become pebb...

Starcat’s Corner: Transformation

As you read this, BlackLion, ElvenTiger and I are fully immersed in our Rethinking Everything Conference adventure. We’re so excited and thankful for all the community support that enabled us to attend this life-changing, transformative event! I’ll be writing more about it when we get back.

In the meantime, here are some links for your weekend reading pleasure. Enjoy!

Here’s a great post by one of the other presenters at Rethinking Everything.

I feel like some of my own boulders have become pebb...