LEARNING TO LISTEN

I have been thinking lately about noise and silence.  We all have so many questions, but the answers others can offer us are filled with limitations.  The experts can help and guide us—to a point.  Then it is up to us.

Today I realized that the answers are all inside of me.  What I need is less worrying and more meditating.  Fewer questions… and more listening…

Then and Now

The newswires are awash with stories of the old meeting the new, the then banging up against the now:  Kate’s blue engagement ring and impending nuptials to William; modern art at Versailles; introducing classical music to the avant garde…

We’re already half way through the first month of 2011, a new year in a still-pretty-new century, what a beautiful time to consider how we can introduce a fresh slant on old favorites.  so re-upholster your favorite old sofa with a crisp modern fabric; find a new way to walk to work; introduce some new friends to some old friends…

What kind of freshness can you bring to the familiar?

Links:

“modern art at Versailles”:

“introducing classical music to the avant garde…”:

This Old House

As many of you know, in addition to designing projects for clients I also buy properties to renovate and resell.  For the past few months, I’ve been looking at one house in particular.  Just the other day I checked it out again and realized that I truly loves the architecture and would like to give the house a new lease on life.

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Off the Beaten Path

I’ve just returned from a trip to Mount Shasta where I went to see the full moon. I felt drawn to be there.

Astrologically, the planet Pluto (and I believe it is a planet regardless of what NASA says) was directly over Mount Shasta this weekend.

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Assess, Release, Cleanse, Rinse, Repeat

courtesy of Timothy Dahl at CharlesAndHudson.com

Our development project in Maui is well underway. My team and I have approached every facet of it through the filter of the SoulSpace process; deeply and energetically understanding what has been there, clearing out what no longer serves the space and those who will occupy it, and leaving a blank canvas from which to dream about what it can be and put those dreams into action.

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Family Matters

In my last post I shared a cathartic experience I had in a yoga class during my trip to Michigan for my nephew’s high school graduation last month.

Everything about the trip held a lot of emotion for me. I was surprised in some ways and not surprised in others.

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Taking It To The Mat

Last month I visited my hometown in Michigan for my nephew’s graduation.  It was a valuable reminder of the importance of family.

One thing I wanted to share about the trip was an amazing experience I had “on the yoga mat” while I was there.  The yoga class I took in Michigan was one of the most intense I’ve ever had.

The first half of the class was fairly straight forward; allowing the students to do the movements, postures and vinyasas on our own. The instructor would make minor corrections to individuals if necessary. And then something surprising and unexpected happened.

I felt self conscious.  Even a bit embarrassed.

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Beauty – The Soul’s Inspiration

I’ve been going back and forth to Maui and have just returned. Each time I’m there I think about a concept that’s so fundamental to our very existence but we don’t discuss enough.

Beauty.

Both what we’re creating in Maui at the Ke-Ao Lanihuli ranch and my home in Los Feliz remind me how beauty settles the soul and mind – and reminds me that everything is OK in my world. Although I’ve lived in my home for going on 8 years now, I wake up every day with a grateful spirit, thankful for the beauty that I live in and am surrounded by.

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With a Single Step

Perpetual oil spills and never ending wars. Corporate greed. Anger and mistrust with government and each other.

We stand on the brink of our own destruction. We’ve lost a connection with and respect for our planet.

Now, we’re toying with the delicate balance of life, with the very ecosystem of our existence, and the universe will balance the scales whether we like it or not.

The time for restoration is upon us.

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You Win Some, You Lose Some, You Win Some More

“All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.”
-Norma Desmond

It’s Summer 2011. The headlines in the Hollywood trade paper Daily Variety announce the record breaking ratings of an unscripted home improvement program on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).  SoulSpace is the new gospel of home design. And it gets better:

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