Harvest Of Peace

08/27/2026

As many of you know, Tansy (and blackberry) are the bane of summer in the PNW. During my morning meditation, I tapped into the mycelial network of my field that is being over run by weeds, particularly, Tansy this year.

The soil wanted me to know that Tansy is not just a nuisance plant. It is the forest expressing a nervous system dis-function. Tansy (toxic to the nervous system of humans and animals) grows out of control on land that has been clear cut or disturbed. It does not grow in a healthy forest. (Our farm was clear cut back in the early 1980's.)

The message was loud and clear: The Earth is giving us signs of where she is out of balance. We must learn to listen to her soft voice. Although in the case of Tansy, that voice is quite loud and Nasty (Nasty: chosen for its quality as an anagram).

Our recent fire scare probably brought on some of this reflection.

As a student at Kansas State University, I will never forget the first time I saw ranchers managing the Flint Hills with fire. It was scary and beautiful and wondrous. Without the use of fire, the Flint Hills would be over ridden with Cedar trees.

Long ago, Native Americans managed the entire continent by balancing eco systems and listening to the elemental forces of nature.

Now that I am fully immersed in my shamanic studies, I can envision talks among tribal councils around the communal fire and with traveling traders. I can FEEL the agreements that were made that would support life and build relationships.

PNW tribes would tend the land in cooperation with trees and salmon and water. Planes tribes tended with fire and bison and grass.

These "primitive" people had vast networks of food, medicine, and trade goods that were maintained for countless generations.

Capitalism and colonialism are destroying them in just a few hundred.

I am so grateful to the Foundation for Shamanic Studies for helping me find my voice and develop my shamanic skills. If you are interested in learning more about your shamanic path, my teacher is offering the beginner level workshop over Zoom next weekend.

If you have further questions or are in need of a shamanic healing, I will be at the Ridgefield farmers market on Saturdays through September 9-2pm. Come nerd out on shamanism with me.

08/19/2026

07/15/2026

Skin. Our body's largest organ. The boundary between things.

As a massage therapist, I see alot of skin. Every oil/essential oil product I choose to use in my practice is done with care and attention for my clients well being. Each product has its own profile of health benefits and is organic if i can get it.

As far as skin care regimen is concerned, I use very few products. Like my diet, I choose whole oils. No fancy ingredients i can't pronounce. No fragrances. And no preservatives. Once a week i take an Epsom salt bath to deep clean and reset. Every week or two I do an all natural clay mask with herbs from the garden mixed in. Of course each bath is a ritual of sorts, where by gratitude is given to the elements and creators.

It's common knowledge that the skin is home to millions of nerves that help us sense the world around us. And an ever increasing number of people are becoming aware that the nervous system doesn't end at the skins boundary. When the 🧠 quiet and the ❤️ is open, we can sense things that normally go unnoticed.

Through the power of energy medicine and sound therapy, healing can be offered without even needing to physically touch the body. Why? Because we may be separated by a boundary of skin, but we are all touching the same air. Vibration and frequency is physics. Learning how to harness it is powerful work that I am so grateful to do.

Stay tuned to learn more about the skin! And if you want to make sure we stay in touch 😉, join my email newsletter. You can access it via the website link in my profile.

07/08/2026

Our commander in chief is testing the boundaries of her crown today. We have 2-3 more weeks of her indoor reign. Last week she suffered a melting corneal ulcer. Her ophthalmologist says the prognosis is good. If things continue on their current trajectory she will not need surgery and should recover with full vision. We just need to convince her that climbing the screen door to chase the birds is not in her best interest. Therese Livella

06/23/2026

It pained me to give up my sourdough practice, but i am testing to see if dairy and gluten were causing inflammation. I do think cutting them out has been helpful. And I have lost 5 lbs without doing anything else. Still growing microgreens everyweek since 2018! Food is medicine!

05/11/2026

.porta check it out! Right outside my front door!

05/02/2026

Happy Beltane!