The Brilliance of Pooh

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Laurie Buchanan

Regardless of what you do (artist, chef, teacher, writer, hair stylist, gardener) there are countless times during the day when just be-ing is imperative.

It’s typically in the be-ing space that I join the esteemed ranks of Winnie the Pooh and think, Think, THINK.

In autumn I’m speaking in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico at the Women with Sacred Souls International Gathering and Retreat. My topic is keys—keys that help us open our emotional baggage, examine it, and offload it.

In my desire to leave each listener with something tangible from the presentation, I had colorful mini-cards made with a skeleton key on one side, and my quote “Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing” on the other.

Next to HolEssence people made a vertical garden in a discarded pallet – brilliant!

What’s your brilliant idea?

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Discovering the Seven Selves Life Harmony Facebook

To Sling or Not to Sling

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Laurie Buchanan

Recently after teaching a class at HolEssence, my attention was caught on the drive home by four pairs of what appeared to be rather new tennis shoes hanging from telephone lines. Looking at the shoes silhouetted against the sunlit blue sky, the first thing that popped into my head was the song, “Waking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves.

Grabbing my camera to capture the free-spirited moment, the second thought that crossed my mind was “Luke Skywalker,” and the third was, “Walking Tall” (really tall)!

When I got home I checked Snopes to see what the story behind this practice might be. As it turns out, it could mean anything from exuberance at passing a sexual milestone, to gangs marking their territorial boundaries, and everything in-between, including just plain old fun!

I also learned that the Southwest has a similar practice of placing boots upside down on fenceposts by the side of a road. And in the military, some soldiers pitch their boots over wires when leaving a post.

Have you ever been a shoe slinger?

If I Only had a Heart

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Laurie Buchanan

Without question, my favorite character in the Wizard of Oz is the Tin Man:

When a man’s an empty kettle
He should be on his mettle
And yet I’m torn apart
Just because I’m presumin’
That I could be a human
If I only had a heart

Where we live in Crystal Lake, Illinois our home is about three blocks—as the crow flies—from a family owned muffler shop, so we tend to pass their congenial “Tin Man” on a regular basis. For me, his presence serves as a thoughtful reminder to pause and reflect…what condition is my heart in?

I’d be tender, I’d be gentle
And awful sentimental
Regarding love and art
I’d be friends with the sparrows
And the boy that shoots the arrows
If I only had a heart

What condition is your heart in?

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Please visit HolEssence and our Facebook page

I’m a Basket Case!

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Laurie Buchanan

A few years ago when the economy took an interesting turn, we made the decision to change the store/product part of HolEssence (our small healing studio) to sacred space for Yoga. In doing so, we hosted a large sale event to eliminate product, and we put the display-type pieces down in the basement for safekeeping.

With summer upon us, we’ve taken advantage of the weather (no rain, snow, or ice) to clean said basement. Much to our surprise, we discovered that I’m a basket case! We knew that I’d used a lot of baskets to showcase various products to their best advantage, but we were amazed at the actual number!

Do you have an accidental or intentional collection of something whose size has unwittingly crept up on you?

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Please visit HolEssence and our Facebook page

I Ran Away!

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Laurie Buchanan

Periodically I run away from home to get some good, solid writing accomplished. Most recently my destination was George Williams College in William’s Bay in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

An unexpected guest, they treated me like royalty! I was escorted to what seemed like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise with a commanding, second-floor view of the campus and William’s Bay.

I broke for lunch at noon. The dining hall at the Beasley Campus Center served up a wonderful meal they packed in a to-go box so I could enjoy it down on the shore.

Mesmerized by the hypnotic comings and goings of sailboats and yachts as they glided past on the shimmering bay, I admired the nautical skill of the day sailors.

This adventure was the exception, rather than the rule. I usually run away to the library, a coffee shop, or a bookstore. But trying to hide in your own town is difficult because inevitably you’re recognized.

The next time you see someone with a mustache, the bill of their cap pulled low over dark glasses, hunkered over a laptop with their fingers smokin’ the keys,
it’s not me...

When was the last time you ran away from home?

Discovering the Seven Selves

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Laurie Buchanan

For those of you who’ve already shared with me in my excitement via the HolEssence newsletter or Facebook, thank you!

For those of you who haven’t seen it yet…

Last week the trailer for my up-and-coming book was completed and it’s available for viewing. Simply click on the “play” button below.

Discovering the Seven Selves:
Your Key to Offloading Baggage and Increasing Joy – Now!

The Buzz…

“An invaluable resource to help individuals transform life’s obstacles into opportunities, develop a healthier level of self-esteem, and cultivate a splendid sense of joy, now!”

— Sheila Glazov, author of What Color Is Your Brain? A Fun and Fascinating Approach to Understanding Yourself and Others

“Laurie walks you through the web of your own life and gives you practical exercises to explore your deepest desires, fears, and motivations, and shows you how to move past yourself to create the life you want now!”

— Julie Murphy Casserly, author of The Emotion Behind Money: Building Wealth from the Inside Out

“This book is unique in that it goes beyond the usual simplistic discussion of the chakra system to a comprehensive but practical understanding of the seven dimensions of identity.”

— Susan Wisehart, author of Soul Visioning: Clear the Past, Create Your Future

Are you ready to offload baggage?

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Please visit HolEssence, Discovering the Seven Selves, and our Facebook page

Prickly Personalities

Posted on July 31, 2012 by Laurie Buchanan

Have you ever encountered a person with a prickly personality? Maybe they’re self-centered, quick-tempered, impatient, or maybe they’ve got a “quirk” that grates on your nerves…

The thing that jams a thorn in my side is someone who’s in a perpetual state of gloom and doom; whose cup is always half empty:

Look at that rainbow!
Yea, but it rained.

You won the lottery!
Yea, but think of the taxes.

When I encounter a person who rubs me the wrong way, I know it’s time to take a good hard look in the mirror. And while I’d like to think I’m always sweet, loving, kind, and thoughtful—that’s simply not the case.

As an extremely high energy person, I tend to talk with my hands and either bounce my knee or kick my foot when sitting (the human version of wagging a tail). Oh my gosh, what if I’m the prickly person’s prickly person?!

What’s it like to be on the receiving end of you?

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Please visit HolEssence and our Facebook page

The Safest Distance Between Two Points

Posted on July 24, 2012 by Laurie Buchanan

Many of you know that Len and I are avid bicyclists. One of our favorite bicycle paths in Crystal Lake, Illinois had a heavily trafficked roadway to cross. A clear case of “the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.”

Over time and tragedy the city decided to build a bicycle bridge that takes peddlers above the traffic. They found that the safest distance between two points—at least in this case—is a curved line: up and over!

There are times when taking risks is not a good idea. There are, however, times when a little risk taking is healthy.

When was the last time you took a risk?

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Please visit HolEssence and our Facebook page

Removing Self from the Anger Equation

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Laurie Buchanan

A few weeks ago I called in to Evolving Your Spirit radio where host Debbie Mackall was interviewing her guest, Maggie Wilkins, who was speaking from Thailand. One of the many things she said that spoke to my heart was:

“The Thai people believe that when you lose your temper, you lose face. They believe that if they engage with someone who’s lost their temper they not only disrespect that person, but themselves as well, so they simply walk away—remove themselves from the equation—a position of respect for self and others.”

I contacted Maggie to confirm I’d accurately captured the spirit of what she’d said before posting it on my Facebook wall. Later she wrote:

“It is amazing to witness the first time you see it. When you know what is happening, it is to witness grace at work.”

How do you respond to anger in others?

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Please visit HolEssence and our Facebook page

Dawg Daze of Summer

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Laurie Buchanan

In the northern hemisphere, the “dog days of summer” take place between Jul 3 and Aug 11—the hottest, muggiest part of the calendar.

In our neck of the woods — Crystal Lake, Illinois — it’s been a bit more generous this year. It started earlier and we’re told it’s going to last longer.

Back when the evening sky wasn’t obscured by artificial lights and smog, people all over the globe drew mental pictures on the nighttime canvas by connecting the dots…stars. The images they saw were based on their geographic location. Today we call these pictures “constellations.”

Canis Major—the big dog—is Sirius. In the summer Sirius rises and sets with the sun. Back in the day, people felt that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating this stretch of hot, sultry weather. As such, they named it “dog days” after the dog star.

Do the dog days of summer have you howling at the moon?

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Please visit HolEssence and our Facebook page

Tuesdays with Laurie

"Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing." —Laurie Buchanan

Tag Archives: postaweek2012

The Brilliance of Pooh

To Sling or Not to Sling

If I Only had a Heart

I’m a Basket Case!

I Ran Away!

Discovering the Seven Selves

Discovering the Seven Selves:
Your Key to Offloading Baggage and Increasing Joy – Now!

“An invaluable resource to help individuals transform life’s obstacles into opportunities, develop a healthier level of self-esteem, and cultivate a splendid sense of joy, now!”

“Laurie walks you through the web of your own life and gives you practical exercises to explore your deepest desires, fears, and motivations, and shows you how to move past yourself to create the life you want now!”

“This book is unique in that it goes beyond the usual simplistic discussion of the chakra system to a comprehensive but practical understanding of the seven dimensions of identity.”

Prickly Personalities

The Safest Distance Between Two Points

Removing Self from the Anger Equation

Dawg Daze of Summer

Discovering the Seven Selves: Your Key to Offloading Baggage and Increasing Joy – Now!

“An invaluable resource to help individuals transform life’s obstacles into opportunities, develop a healthier level of self-esteem, and cultivate a splendid sense of joy, now!”

“Laurie walks you through the web of your own life and gives you practical exercises to explore your deepest desires, fears, and motivations, and shows you how to move past yourself to create the life you want now!”

“This book is unique in that it goes beyond the usual simplistic discussion of the chakra system to a comprehensive but practical understanding of the seven dimensions of identity.”

Discovering the Seven Selves:
Your Key to Offloading Baggage and Increasing Joy – Now!