More Not Doing and All Gets Done

Dear Friends of Bluebird Fairies,

A friend of mine often said around this time of year that January is reserved for 'getting over the holidays'.  I find it’s true.  During December there's so much expectation and excitement.  Then we give energy to making the shift into the New Year a positive and hope-filled one.   It's not surprising we're exhausted.

Mid-January I experienced rejuvenation by 'embracing difference'.  I had an opportunity to travel to a cool part of Florida and meet my boyfriend Brian's family.  Along with meeting fascinating people, seeing Florida manatees swimming neighborhood canals and rivers, taking boat rides, staying in a house filled with fine artifacts from around the world, walking roads lined with tropical plants, hearing often the threat of alligators and wild boar, I saw mermaids performing in an aquarium built over a natural spring. 

When I returned I dismantled a studio space that has been my creative home for 8 years.  Since Bluebird Fairies grew up in this space leaving it is allowing new horizons to come into view.

Being still a tad bit exhausted I was delighted when I drew this fairy from my fairy deck. 

Things are moving for Bluebird fairies because people who love what we do have been assisting cool ideas to move into place. 

Here are some of them:

At the suggestion of my dear friend Dr. Ellen I'll be posting a 'Fairy of the Day' daily and weekly connecting a fairy with her Facebook page.  These postings will be either brand new fairies, fairies I've not yet shared with the public, regulars from the Bluebird Fairy Deck and, every now and then, a demon.  So please “friend us” for your daily dose. 

On February 12th, I’ll be setting up the Fairy Booth at the Galentine’s Day Event at O.N.E arts in Burlington’s Old North End.  It’s going to be a fun night with lots of talk about romantic things.  I’ll have some erotic fairies on hand.  There will be a special fairy card reading to inspire love. “Heart Thumping Love” T-Shirts will be available with a nice, sexy fitted cut.  (Contact me if you’d like one and I’ll send one to you for $18.)

Dear friends, please hold images of what you’d like to create in your hearts. If necessary, write them down on pieces of paper.  Let the “Fairy of Not Doing and All Gets done” to take over and assist our dreams to grow.

Be well.

Fondly,

Emily and Bluebird Fairies

What Buoys You as Change Renews You?

Dear Friends of Bluebird Fairies,

Happy New Year to you all!

Here is a little writing inspired by the Fairy I drew on December 18th.

Oh, our lives are always changing.  A beloved shirt wears out. The store down the street closes.  A new co-worker moves in.  Oh, a season ends.  Someone graduates from high school.  The flowers on the table that shared their grace with you are now heading to the compost pile.

Sometimes larger changes arrive on our horizons.  We realize we need to leave a job we’ve had for many years. Or a relationship that serves its purpose fades away.  Sometimes it’s a place that is no longer needed for our growth.  Outside forces can be the inspiration of these changes.  Other times we know deep inside ourselves that the change is needed so we can keep becoming the person we’re destined to be.

The Fairy of rejuvenation with her big curly hair and fun glamourous and spritely body reminds us that though difficult at times these changes in our lives resuscitate us. Especially if we can find ways to buoy ourselves with the things that ground us as we step into the embrace of what’s different. 

The things that buoy me are doing yoga every morning with Brian.  Setting intentions and saying good words with each other before we step into the outdoors.  Taking the time to say our “gratitudes” at night before sleeping. In between these events I hold good, loving energy around things that feel like they might be difficult. 

Take a moment to hold in your mind “what buoys you”.

Breathe in the possibility that change in your life can renew you.

We are wishing you ALL the best as the calendar moves us into 2016. 

Plant your seeds of wishes and tend them through these upcoming cold months.

The sun will come and the growth of all will follow.

Be well.

Fondly,

Emily and Bluebird Fairies

p.s.  The Bluebird Holiday Shop is closed for the season.  It was a wonderful success.  I was so proud we were offering new products (Greeting Cards and Fitted T-Shirts for Curvy People).  The Fairy Card Readings were light-hearted, practical and pretty, often just the perfect thing for the folks receiving them.  I LOVED the vibe my fun, holiday shop partners brought in.  Kara with her Twenty-Three Karat company selling upcycled clothing and accessories.  Alicia and her painted galaxies.  Julie and Oak Knoll Apothecary.

The Fairy of Folding Laundry

Dear Friends of Bluebird Fairies,

This posting will be short and sweet.

The fairy I pulled on the 8th of December is

“The Fairy of Folding Laundry”.  I love seeing her and her practical, easy way of being. Her speech bubble filled with the simple statement of “Ah”.

I spend my mornings with 12 high school students and their 8 supporting teachers.  When we do a “check-in” and share with each other some the activities we've done over the weekend I often admire the similarities I hear between us.  They contain a love of adventure and being outdoors and sweet moments and celebration. 

Where we differ is this-

Teenagers don't yet know the joy of getting to stay home and get on top of house chores.  They don’t yet know these mundane activities can be completed with ease.  That these activities satisfy our enjoyment in using our skills.  And that these repetitive boring things we'll be doing the rest of our lives will, at times, hold us in a gentle rapture. 

These chores are ours.  They connect us to others in our lives.  And, most importantly, they give us a private satisfaction when completed. 

How wonderful to see the laundry neatly hanging in the closet and folded in the chest of drawers. 

Yes, take some moments to put the 'ah' into your housework. 

I will too. 

It’s such a wonderful way to deliver a dose of self-care.

Be well in these busy times, my friends.

Fondly,

Emily and the Bluebird Fairies

Using Our Hearts To Be A Part Of It All

Dear Friends of Bluebird Fairies,

Well, we’ve entered into another holiday season.

I’ve been thinking about how not too long ago I started seriously asking myself when our culture would wear out the wish 'to do' the holidays.  At the time I lived right downtown in the commercial area of our biggest Vermont city.  The buzz of buying and the weary energy of people doing too much started the moment the last pumpkin pie bite was taken.  It grew steadily bigger till the final sales of the season took place.

This yearly conversation with myself grew into a realization.  The only way to quiet all the other people's energy was to find and follow my own traditions of the holiday.

Following my heart is the best route I know. 

I love that this time of darkness inspires us to seek light.  Often I find it in groups that gather together with intention.  I love the ages old music of the holidays of this time.  I love reading holiday cards that connect me to others with just a few words or a whole summary of the year.  And when I get it together, I love sending my own even though I’m usually so excited I say lots of goofy things in them.  I love making agreements with myself about what I'd like to bring into the next year.

What do you love about this time?  Find it and follow it like Alice down the rabbit hole.

And guess who's here to cheer us on?

My work in life is to find my way into my heart and hear its easy 'tick, tick, tick' and sit still enough to hear what it says. 

I believe Bluebird Fairies assist me in sharing this method with others.  Either by having a conversation with me in the fairy stand or using your own fairy deck at home OR inspiring you to take a pen into your 'other' hand to name and draw what comes to mind?

 Please find your way through this season with joy.

And, if you can, stop by the E-1 Collective Holiday Shop in Burlington:

We're a nice stop no matter mood you're in or how much time you have to linger.

Be well.

Fondly,

Emily and the Bluebird Fairies

The Clarity That Comes From Doing It!

As many of you know I created the fairies in the fairy deck with my left hand.  I drew one nightly, every night, during a period of great upheaval in my life.  While I don't remember the genesis of each fairy I definitely remember the story that inspired this one.

I drew this fairy the day I left the full-time, fully-benefited job I’d had for 11 years.  It had come to my attention that I was operating in an environment that wasn't working for my way of being human.  Working on a transformational project shed light on this and once it was completed it was time for me to head to “a new harbor”.  

There was nothing but hopeful ideas for me to step into.  I was in great need of the 'We're Supporting You Forward!' entities that accompany this fairy.  For two years, never letting go of the joy of my liberation, I traveled through uncertainty.   

My arrival in a new full-time job has found me in a big eddy of activity.  The newly formed program I coordinate began 3 weeks after my arrival so I've been treading water quickly to keep afloat.  

Recently pulling the “Fairy of Clarity” from the deck gave me a great feeling of relief. Yes, as the first session of the program nears its end I see how this year will move forward. 

We can always find “The Fairy of Clarity.” by connecting with a space within us that is light.  

Please take a moment to think of the big "You Did It!" moves you've taken in your life.  The ones that took a leap of faith.  Smile at that courage.   

And let the “Fairy of Clarity” live in your life every day while you smile through all the unknowing. 

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The holiday are coming.  Please stop by the E-1 Studio Collective Holiday Shop where the Bluebird Fairies Stand will be up and selling and sharing all kinds of fun things. The hours and details are right here. 

We'd all love to see you!!!

Fondly,

Emily and the Bluebird Fairies