Thursday, August 31, 2006

Burn Baby Burn



My body is aching this week
not only from body flu part one and two
where I had my own kinda "cleanse"

but from the changing of my own natural rythym
which for me includes going to burning man
Every year for eight years I made this pilgrimidge
worn the sun on my skin had the dance in my step
burned it away burned it away burned it away


I honor
my friends my community my family
the art the sky the music
the knowing look on the passerby's face
flooded with bliss
waking up in the desert
sunset howls
sunrise snuggles
the slow pace and intentional movement
the joy of a simple meal
the understanding of a community ritual
where we all come to bring our joy our pain our hope our fear
and burn it away burn it away burn it away

making space for all that is new

natural rythms
I am making new ones
creating new cycles
back in the ancient childhood ones
which include the upcoming autumn
which I welcome with open heart open eyes open senses

So I also quit coffee this week
this is my fourth day
started when I couldn't keep any food down
I really had an opportunity to let go of this
one of my last vice
(if you consider sugar a vice, I go back and forth on that one..)
so yes, so far so good

and the next steps are becoming clearer
not ready to put them into any form here yet
but it's coming clearer
and looking different than I expected

Also moved rooms, which is so wonderful
now I have two windows, both looking out onto all green and rocks
got away from the slamityslam flush gurgle gurle of the bathroom
this is my third move since I've been here
a welcome change for this girl who
was in the same apartment for eight years

And tonight
I sing in the talent show
one of my big goals for the summer
Hold On....

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

The Loves



My beautiful friends Katia and Pete are getting married (again) this weekend
I had the honor of attending and participating in their wedding last year on the playa
It was such a beautiful spectacle of abundance and love
One of my most favorite ever

They had their baby Lucia this year
a gorgeous bubbly light in this world
and I was a happy neighbor to be living down the street
and be able to witness the latter part of the process
what a blessing
I learn so much about being pregnant having babies
from these beautiful women in my life who let me in
on the more intimate details of how it really is
thanks my beautiful sister

So they hold ceremony this weekend
for family and friends to witness their love
Katia posted this "Prayer" in honor
and I repost it to hold it true
and I will be holding them close
in my heart and song
I love yous!


Prayer by Lisa Colt
May we reveal our abundance without shame.may we peel back our sleeping wintry layers...like snakeskins, like the silk chrysalis,like clothing cast off during love.May we unravel with abandon like lover’s knotsbefore knitting ourselves back to the heart.May we settle into our own rhythms as tides dowithin the borders of the moon’s calling.May the music of our soulbe accompanied by grand gesturesand the persistent clapping of hummingbirds wings.May the milky fingers of the moonreach down nightly to cherish and unveil us.May we turn our bodies generously in it’s lightlike tranquil fish glinting underwater,like precious stones.When we open our mouths to singmay the seasons pause in their long journeyto listen and applaud.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Safe Journey Sweet Ones



My dearest 'Licians, new, old, and in between~
Wishing you a lucious and beautiful time on the Playa. Please please try to
surrender to all that is beautiful and gorgeous and heart filling and
everything else great or hard and painful that serves you in growth. Please
be safe and know that you are loved. I will dearly miss everything and
everyone. It was a hard choice to not continue my eight year commitment to
this community and everything it stands for in person, but it will be in
spirit that I will be singing Kirtan with Krishna Das and community here at
Omega in New York during that weekend, sending you all my deepest prayers
and love. Have a frikin Hoot and throw something in the fire for me. Big big
love, XT Christie

Monday, August 28, 2006

Fifteen Pinapple Shots Later....



More Birthday Shennanigans
Thank you Julie, my firey co-worker
(her hair matches the walls)
for corralling my arse
to the FireBird, our local Pub
For pool, for the shots, and other libations
Regina, Shelly, Chris and Jerry
celebrated me even more
It was a hoot
They even were so patient with me
while I pretended to play Pool







Sunday, August 27, 2006

Mohonk part Deux








The Birth Day Adventure






















Went to Lake Mohonk on Wednesday for my Birth Day! Lake Mohonk Mountain House is is the mythical place of my childhood. This is where gardens go on for miles , where Labrynths and Towers make incredible hiding places, where the rocking chairs are finding their own rythym on huge sprawling decadent decks. They surround this enchanted and wonderfully haunted Mountain House that was built in the late 1800’s by a family named Smiley. That says it all in itself. This is clearly what this place was meant to have you do. And smile we did. Blissfully all day long.

We set out early morningish, got some incredibly delicious lunch from a local café in New Paltz which is right below Mohonk, and set out on an incredible adventure. From the gorgeous gazebo’s where we had lunch (aptly named The Twins) to swimming in the gorgeous crisp clean water, the day was a feast of decadence. Jerry absolutely spoiled me, and I am so thankful for him and his friendship and his enthusiasm for me to have an incredible birthday. He is truly my birthday Super Hero and I was honored to be there for the birth of his Rapper name, SOURDOH! (Video and CD will be dropping soon so keep an eye out for it! Tee hee hee)
ANYWAY
We ended the night with a huge gorgeous Eggplant Parmigana sandwhich and had a surreal ride home, singing our heads off to Spearhead and then reality: right after nearly missing an oncoming motorcycle (reflexes rock!) Jerry noticed this animal in the middle of the road. We spend some time coaching and trying to be of some help to this Possom pass on to the other world, which really felt in some way as if we were supposed to be there. Birth and Death cycle so plain, so raw, with him or her crawling to the side of the road for some dignity in it's death. Very appropriate on that day that I celebrated my life. I also found out during dinner via a message from Jessica that a man I knew a while ago passed on. They found his body in the park around a month ago. The details are inconclusive but I send my prayers and love to A.C., D., and his family.

I continue to float around from all of the incredible sights, sounds, events, and conversations from that day. One of my favorite days, never mind Birthdays.

THaaaaaaaaaaaanks!

Ps also big love to all for your calls letters prayers and thoughts. It has been a truly transformative shift during this part of my path, and I give it up to you!


Saturday, August 26, 2006

This Great Life


Summer is winding down
We have all traded our skirts and shorts
for rain coats and golashes
The leaves are beginning to turn
And so is the cycle here
The end and the beginning
People come and go all the time
This is no different

teaching us to be present and loving
teaching us to cherish and preserve
teaching us to be thankful grateful humble
with each and every interaction

be it with the dancing butterfly diverting it's life from my windshield
be it singing in a room full of people singing for the very first time
be it in the Pow Wow with the spirit of the plants and fire
be it the possum struggling with every inch of its life to die in dignity
be it watching Deepak Chopra trying to hide in the dining hall in the phone booth
be it with the rain humming down on my window washing and cleaning and making the land fertile and fresh and ready

I am thankful for these moments
I am thankful for the ability to recognize
I am thankful for the way I honor and practice
I am thankful for this time to get right
I am thankful for my friends and family and community
I am thankful for song for prayer for dance for fire
I am thankful
I am

New Moon Intentions for August

To be here to be now to be alive to continue in my strong practice to continue to shine bright to continue to care to laugh out loud at least once a day to love to dance to give to receive to enjoy to cherish to be thankful to share to be thankful and really enjoy what is and not what i think it should be should be.....

Friday, August 25, 2006

"We Have All Been Here Before"






Jerry took me to see an amazing show, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, how amazing. I still cannot believe how these guys can still rock. It's incredible. No ego's , all heart and music. Neil Young is one of my favorite human beings ever, and his new music just speaks it. He had all of us singing along to some of his new songs which just say what really needs to be said these days, about our current state, our administration, war, fear, love, he covered it all. I cannot wait to see his movie that he put out recently, any one seen it?

Stopped by the race track on our way in, had a great lunch from the cafe in town, listened to incredible music, sang a bunch, had some margaritas.We met up with his friends Sam and Diane that he has known from Brooklyn via College foreva ago. Fuggettaboutit. We also bumped into another buncha Jerry's friends from Brooklyn while we were in the hot tub of our hotel. Totally random and lovely we spent the rest of the weekend hanging out and reminicing, what a lovel y group of people. Had such a great time, thanks again J!

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Bag o Balls at Dicks



Sorry no
this is not porn
sad to say
but part of my new job
thats right

I had to buy fifty (fitty Karin)
tennis balls for one of the workshops
as part of my new job
for what, who knows
weird requests
i don't ask questions
JUST PRODUCE

thanks Karin for your drive by
and helping me gettabaggaballs

My favorite Leo


My sweet sista Toni celebrated her birthday recently
I have seen her transform in ways that are boundless
Her love is in the details
Her love is in the way she cares for others, especially when she thinks no one is watching
especially in ways that extend herself to make others know that they are cherished and surrounded and safe
My wishes and prayers for this next year are that she continue to rock on and be the strong woman she continues to become
For her to be patient with herself when she needs to rest
To continue to love and be loved and shine bright
I love you Miboni, I am so glad you were born

Here is this beautiful posting to me that I need to share from her:

Happy Birthday to my favorite virgo

Today is XT's bday... this picture was from 2 years maybe even 3 years prior when we celebrated our birthday together.

Today I'm thinking about her and the paths that has led to our friendship. She's a uniquely powerful and deeply spiritual sister.

I hope she's feeling the love that her west coast sisters are sending her way, so thankful for her friendship and her spirit. We miss her dearly and can't wait to see her again soon.


Birthday wishes for XT:

See the strength of your spirit
See the beauty you create in others around you
Find your love
Bring him home to your heart
Have adventures
Be young again....

Love you XT Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

My 8X8 life


Moved outta my tent
into my room
Started my new job
and today
I celebrated my
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY
of not
SMOKING


Haaaaaazah!

Monday, August 14, 2006

MOre mORe MoRE













More Pictures
I'll let them speak
for themselvezzzzz.....