Doors & Windows of San Miguel de Allende

During the month of November I’ll share photographs from my recent trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where I was one of the speakers at the First Annual Wellness and Spirituality Expo.

While there, my heart was touched—particularly by the work of two non-profit organizations. The purpose of this first blog is to set the stage by asking:

What do you find when you open the door of your heart?
What do you see when you look through the windows of your soul?

Laurie Buchanan

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

Discovering the Seven Selves     Life Harmony     Facebook

© 2012 Laurie Buchanan– All Rights Reserved

Day of the Dead

Saludos—greetings—from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where preparations are excitedly underway for Dia de los Muertos—Day of the Dead—in which the many of the local people remember and honor their deceased loved ones.

Though it may sound somber or macabre, it’s not!

The view from my room in the hacienda where I’m staying

Between Oct 31 and Nov 2 it’s a festivo—festive holiday—with eye-popping, colores vivos—vivid colors—everywhere to welcome departed loved ones, believing that their espíritu—spirits—return to earth for a single day each year to spend time with familia—family.

Day of the Dead is celebrado—celebrated—differently all over the world. In Mexico many of the cemetery lápidas—headstones—have elaborate decorations because it’s thought that the spirits stop there first on their way home. The casas—homes—have intricately decorated ofrendas—altars—to welcome departed loved ones.

Stairwell in hacienda – my room’s at the top

It’s believed that the spirits of bebés y niños—babies and children—arrive at midnight on Oct 31 to spend a full day with their families then leave, and the spirits of adultos—adults—arrive the following day.

Bedroom Ceiling in Hacienda by Laurie Buchanan

¿Alguna vez se celebra el día de los muertos
Have you ever celebrated Day of the Dead?

Escuchar con el corazónlisten with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Lo que no va a cambiar, está eligiendo.”
Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan

Discovering the Seven Selves     Life Harmony     Facebook

© 2012 Laurie Buchanan– All Rights Reserved

The Brilliance of Pooh

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

© 2012 Laurie Buchanan– All Rights Reserved

Tuesdays with Laurie


This year—2012—is like a shiny new penny. Not being one to spend time, I took New Year’s Eve and day to think about how I’m going to invest time this year.

Recently, one of my Life Harmony students wistfully said, “I wish that our mid-week check-ins were done at HolEssence. Like Mitch did with his college professor in the book ‘Tuesdays with Morrie,’ I’d like to come here each week to answer your Internal Inventory questions in person—sort of like Tuesdays with Laurie.”
And with that play on words, she laughed.

In addition to my regular energy medicine practice, Life Harmony program, article commitments, and 16 classes and workshops that I’m presenting at HolEssence this year, I’ve been gifted with two dream-come-true opportunities:

–  I’m speaking at The Writers’ Institute at UW-Madison in April.
–  I’m speaking at the first annual Women with Sacred Souls International Gathering and Retreat in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico in October.

Each of these commitments requires a significant investment of thought-filled time. With that in mind, this year I’m taking a more Zen-like approach and streamlining my blogging schedule to one post per week—remaining simple, yet full.

Your place is ready and waiting with a delicious cuppa hot tea. Please consider this an open invitation to invest Tuesdays with Laurie.

Are you modifying anything this year?

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

© 2012 Laurie Buchanan – All Rights Reserved