Solstice

 I really need to thank my friend, David Sylvester. He has chosen to live in such a way that inspires me deeply. Since 2001, he has ridden his bicycle across the US twice, spanned the African continent from Cairo to Capetown, peddled across Asia, through much of the former Soviet Union all the way into Beijing, and aspires to  move himself to every available region on the planet, I suspect.

David's adventures will be available to re-live when his book, Traveling at the Speed of Life, is published in the near future. I have had the privilege to read many chapters and love the way he connects with the people he encounters, no matter their culture of origin or barrier of language. He thrives on human interaction and the feeling of wind on his body created solely from moving the pedals of his bicycle. He says he doesn't bike to race, he bikes because he loves where it takes him.

After reading so many of David's chapters, I began to feel trapped. I wanted experiences like these. Then, since timing is everything, the Panama Whale Adventure came at the perfect time.  In honor of myself, and my children for whom I want to model a spirit of adventure, I have sent in my deposit for a week in Panama's Pearl Islands, beginning on September 25th, my 42nd birthday. Thank you to all my family and friends who support me in this life of adventure. Thank you Denise, for your encouraging comment from my last blog. I want this experience and much more.

I am going to need help though. If you would like to support me in making this dream happen, I would encourage you to buy a Shelley creation. I have been making therapeutic belly chains for many years now. They have helped many people in many ways. Last summer I made one for a friend who had been trying to conceive for quite a while (possibly a year). It was a chain with stones to aid in fertility, conception, and pregnancy. She became pregnant within two months and delivered twins in May. 

Belly chains can be created for any issue, or in any color family. My intuition is very good, if you would like to just trust me.  The cost for chakra-specific or custom chains are $95-145.

I make oils for the body. They are jojoba based with specific essential oils and therapeutic gemstones for different properties. They soften and heal the skin and infuse loving energy into to the aura. I have gone through many many ounces and know you will love these! $20.

I make soy wax candles in the same way I make oils, using therapeutic essential oils and gemstone crystals that get kerplunked right into the wax.  They are clean burning, long burning, pretty candles. I include a hand painted box of wooded matches with each candle. $14,24, 34 for 4, 8 and 12 oz. sizes.

I can make simple gemstone drop earrings ($15), just specify a color or stone you might want. I also make wire hoop earrings with gemstone drops ($20.)

Leather bracelets with sterling silver wire, clasps and gemstones ($30). 

And check my website for my book and cards.

If you would like to support me by purchasing anything, go to my site:

www.shelleysbellys.com

 e-mail me with specific requests, or just leave it in the comments section!

I Dream About Whales

I dream about whales. I have had about five very memorable, significant dreams in the past year and a half where I am somehow interacting with whales. I take it as sign. Whales are important for me.  A friend of a friend is a psychic and channel. She does guided meditations, toning, energy work, readings and she communicates with whales by toning with them. I have subscribed to her daily meditations, which I LOVE and partook of a remote group session recently and find that her energy is true. I feel nothing but authenticity and power behind the work she is doing.  Night before last, I had another whale dream. There were three enormous humpbacks coming right up to a balcony, where I stood overlooking the ocean, to feed. Their enormous mouths opened to eat, although in the dream it seemed unusual that they should be feeding so close to shore. It was powerful. They were so big and desirous of a closer experience.

I woke up that morning to an e-mail from Aleya, the energy worker, with an invitation to join her in Panama on September 26, the first day of my 42nd year, to tone and interact with whales for five days. I want to go. There is only room for twelve. It will cost $2,000. I want to go. I want to have more magical experiences like this. What do you think?

www.aleyadao.com

I Madonnari 2010

Life as a Kid In Santa Barbara

Summer vacation is here. I am juiced up for some creative adventures with the kids. This summer's big project will be a "show", in episodes, with the name, "Life as a Kid in Santa Barbara". This town is so full of fun and beauty and possibilities for adventure, I just want to eat it up.  While I was napping, I had the kids make a list of possible episodes. They will report, documentary-style, and I will film, edit and produce. They will also create their own commercials.  It will be great fun. I hope you want to share some of it with me. Maybe we will get picked up by channel 17, the local cable station. You never know. We will also be painting, reading, swimming, drawing, and one of us will be playing her sax a lot.

Forces of Nature

Timing. I have seen three of my girls through three graduations in the past ten days. They have worked very hard to get to the places they are now standing. I am so proud of them and also proud of myself for supporting them in their journeys and not tripping them up with my stepmotherly status. I cherish them and the women they are all three becoming. They are forces of nature.

 Cadence is my beautiful storm, commanding, noteworthy, joyful in her every move, messy and real. She is intelligent, articulate and asks for what she wants. She will part waters when she chooses to.

Quinlan is my forest, quiet, still, comforting, cooling, a being who nurtures life. Her joy is like leaves rustling in a warm wind, her beauty is spring blossoms on articulated branches. She is ancient wisdom and will nurture many with her love and continuity.

Faith is my ocean. She is powerful molded waves, inviting dolphins to surf with her, whales to breech, jellies to float. She is strong and gentle at the same time, loving and fierce. At only 13, I can feel her power, her ability to lead and nurture, to flow and meld.

They have graduated from college, high school and jr. high. Now they move on to their next adventures, which I will celebrate with them, each in turn.

Saturday and Sunday at the Mission

Update: Saturday and Sunday were hot, productive and filthy dirty. Kieran finished her image of the constellations Pegasus and Taurus. Tom finished all three faces and two hands. He just has clothes and touch ups to complete this morning. Jill is painting me a beautiful label image. I can just smell the oils/candles that will go with it. So far, it's been a perfect festival.

I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival

This weekend (and right at this very moment) our family engages in an activity of passion. The passion is in the expression of art in chalk on the parking lot asphalt of the Santa Barbara Mission.  Tom, my husband began this activity 24 years ago. He and some friends would re-create the work of the Masters for all to enjoy in the tradition of Italian festivals of the same name.  The year we became engaged, Tom began doing original works. He is a gifted portrait artist and shows his talent for all to see at this festival every year. He is in his 13th year of original works.

Our daughter, Kieran has the passion of expression through art too. Tom has sponsored a square for her for the last three years. I am her roadie. I fill in background color and encourage her, like a stage mom. The work is ALL hers and I make sure to keep it that way.

My best friend, Jill is also an artist at I Madonnari. Her work inspires me. I use it whenever I can in my labels and cards for my candles, oils and whatever else I come up with.

Here are a few pics- just to show rather than tell.

Tom in 2007

Tom's drawing in 2008

Jill's painting 2009

Kierans work, 2007- she was seven!

Kieran 2008

Jill 2008

Kieran 2009

Tom 2009.

You can imagine how busy I am.

Tom 2005 (I think)

I Know This Is Bold But...

I try to understand the body/soul relationship. I realize that my body is a vessel. I feel that my soul is luminous. I see myself reflected in so many people. I know that I am seen. I know that I am a being of beauty, but the reality is that I am over weight. My husband and I discussed it last night. He doesn't have the nerve to come right out and say it, but in a roundabout way of not denying my suggestive phrases,  I am too overweight for his liking and he would like it more if I were more fit, and less fluff. Now, I struggle with this whole concept because every day, since I was 15, I have looked at myself in the mirror and seen at least something that I could choose to focus on in a negative light. Even when I was young, firm, fit, and seemingly perfect, I couldn't see it. At 41, I have learned to love my body, the strong, capable, malleable vessel that it is, as it is, whatever that may be from day to day. Now, just like the Bonnie Rait song says, I say to my husband, "I can't make you love me if you don't".  I can keep up with my hiking and circuit training, dancing, walking fast on the beach because I love it and because my body loves to be pushed, but this may be as good as it gets. If it's not good enough, then dearest husband, I beg you to look deeper into my eyes until you see the luminous being that is inside. Maybe then you will love my body, be it fat, thin, saggy, firm, blotchy, whatever not because of it's shape but because of what it holds.

Full Circle

Henney came to us because of a baby quail and a windy day, completely out of the blue. I had a love/hate relationship with this creature. She ripped up my garden, pecked a hole in my screen door and pooped all over, everywhere. She also gave us beautiful eggs; one a day for nine out of 12 months a year. She fertilized our yard and added life to our space, using every inch for her pleasure. I loved her demeanor, fearless and feisty. She appeared to be smart and she was very brave. She knew us as individuals and would get very excited when Tom would appear to her from the window. She knew he would give her dry dog food, her favorite treat.  She was our pet, and in our own ways, we all love her. 

A big bird of prey swooped into our yard today and took our hen's life but couldn't carry her away because she was too big. She had a great life and I can say with confidence that she was a happy bird.

We now have two chicks, Sandy and Luna. 'Cause, I guess now we are chicken people.