Dear Sisters:

My favorite movie is Julie-Julia... watching it many, many times, laughing each moment. She introduced me to feeling that the journey of blogging is meant to be a thought-provoking opportunity for you and also me! So I will keep this in mind as I am inspired to weave a tapestry of love, progression and glorious living.

How often are you blindsided by the news? The coverage becomes transparent after a while, without realizing the impact it has upon your psyche. I am not speaking positive thinking in any way or law of attraction, though they have benefit. I am speaking a novel idea… what uplifts you and awakens passion verses fears. What might be available to you when you no longer allow diminishing returns within your mental and physical environment?

How do you feel in your home? Is it cozy and inviting or noisy and unpeaceful? The greater the order you have; the greater your peace. Besides you will experience living principles that continue to guide and inspire your every move. What a gift Beauty is. It welcomes you from every corner. You have the opportunity to be fed by color, vibrancy, and things that call to you and delight your senses. For me this includes Italian Opera…especially Andre Bocelli. He has become my best friend as I am taught by his being; blindness ulltimately opens you to exquisite dimensions of life. You may be unaware of these realms until a  sad event occurs. it might be divorce, losing a loved one, unexplainable health issues or you fill in the blanks   ________. Read more ...

Initiating our Girls into Womanhood

Chardi Christian continues in Part II of this fascinating conversation sharing her stories and her understanding of Ceremony and Ritual. She says myth is the greatest Truth a culture knows. So rituals enable a community to share their own living story. She points out that those people not aligned to any particular culture or religion do not have the rituals and ceremonies that bind them together and help make meaning out of their world. So how do people live in a meaningless world? Do they create their own stories and rituals?  Chardi uncovers  the magic and value of Ritual in our lives.

The Woman Wisdom Show  introduces Chardi Christian, Artist, Story Teller and Shaman.

In this three part series Chardi unveils the story of Lilith. She says that the Eve is the part of us that nurtures, cooks, cleans, and cares for others. An important part of us all without doubt, however there is another part, the part that  demands equality, the part that loves to dance and move and passionately embraces life with both arms. 

Chardi invites us to embrace the Lilith in ourselves.

When I was little, up until I was in high school, I danced to the beat of a different drummer. Remember that film, White Men Can't Jump? Well this half Jewish half Black girl; that's what we were called when I was a kid, now referred to as African American; couldn't dance her way out of a paper bag. Mind you, I began working professionally, as a choreographer, when I was eight years old. I was in third grade attending Saint Andrews Elementary, and these girls who attended the attached all girl high school, heard about me, and hired me to choreograph a dance number for them for their talent show. I had an uncanny ability to see every aspect of the piece; the music, the costume, how the hair would flow, utilizing all the elements of dance; time, space and energy, variations, level changes and intra-spacial concepts. Most of my friends thought me strange indeed, because, although I could choreograph, I could not dance. I remember the day I ran to my sister Ri R, crying and lamenting because they, my brother and sister, were making fun of me and calling me names, like, Casper, Honkey, Whitey, red neck, because I didn't dance like them. Below are excerpts from The ORACLE Speaks … just because which explain Why I Dance in the face of adversity and despair.

*Scroll down for the newest installment of The ORACLE Presents Ten Pages of Nothing But The Truth, VOL 1, Truth #5

Excerpts from The Oracle speaks... just because

"my sister Bessie Maria Lyles had muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy. She never walked a day in her life. As a child I danced to the beat of a different drummer. My sister taught me how to dance while sitting in her bed. She would say, “hold on to the door knob. Now, bend your knees, snap your fingers.” Ri Ri taught me to marvel at being able to use my feet, stand on my two legs and dance for joy. I dance forevermore in her name. pg. 125 Read more ...

I lost a friend today. She was one of those rare friends who gave first, who loved unconditionally, who lifted you up, who believed in your best self. She suffered through years of pain and multiple surgeries and serious illnesses. Without fail, however, if you called she sincerely wanted to know how you were. She was cheerful, kind beyond belief, and completely humble. Her giving never expected a return; her love was generously bestowed upon all.

It is so rare to have someone in your life who accepts and loves you unconditionally, someone with whom masques and discretion about self-revelation are unnecessary.

How does a relationship like this happen? It evolves through shared pain and shared survival; shared joys and triumphs.

Long lasting friendships do not require daily contact. Our friendship spanned daily contact to a couple times a month. Throughout our friendship one or the other would call just when hearing the voice was needed. I am so thankful I listened to the inclination to call the day of her death. Little did we know it would be our last conversation, but we were able to express love and hope. There is an empty place in my heart today for the closeness we shared, but I am also greatly relieved that her suffering is over. She died as her family recited the Rosary in the early hours of Pentecost Sunday. Now she will continue to shower her “Happy Day Gift” on all of us.

Dear Friend, you never feared the storm, but taught us to dance in the rain.

Are you taking the time to dance? Are you limping at the end of each day because you are wearing your stilettos and did not take the time to put on your dance shoes?   Get your ballet slippers on and get ready for the dance of your life!                      

Dance through every day. Every day is a new chance to dance or shuffle through the day. To shuffle means to drag through every moment. But dance is a state of mind. Dance is to jump and leap at every opportunity! Learn how to make the choice every day to enjoy your dance!

At the age of 30, Jennifer Hicks found herself spinning into a dangerous habit of over exercising and under eating. Eventually she was diagnosed with an eating disorder - some called it anorexia, others called it exercise bulimia. After being put on a medical leave from work and seeing countless psychiatrists, she was finally diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Discover Jennifer's incredible insights to healing and wellness, how she took charge of her own recovery and how nia dance transformed her body mind soul.