see before you see

who has inspired you?
share with mE.

we are all connected.

i'll never have that recipe again

my childhood
my song
my memory
rest now
and become
everlasting

hear me, donna
thank you☀

let me inspire you!

visit mE at
www.aboutpebble.weebly.com
for BODyLOve and more!
plus, i am offering you another free fitness program starting memorial day♡

renovations

i am back, my sweet LOves.
i have been -- away, in a way--
doing some life renovations.
this new year has given birth to mucho ::
a new partner,
a new lifestyle, 
a new home.
i moved from my new york city apartment
to a house, yes-a  house, in jersey with my LOve.
though i still work in "the city",
i, NOW, live in a house with many rooms. 
i can hear birds singing from the kitchen.
i can sit in pajamas and embrace my coffee in the backyard at 5am.
when i paint, i worry less about spilling onto my sofa.  
now, i have room.

i have expanded [note:: one of my prayers to GREAT SpiRIT was for EXpanSion in 2012!!].

i, so much, appreciate the life-renovation,
the EXpanSion,
yet with it, i've had to release parts of my former
lifestyle, my former SELF.
some classes cannot continue, my sleep schedule has been overhauled, and i must re-learn how to operate an automobile real soon {it's been 20 years!!}.

when change presents itself, it can be so natural to -UNcOnsciousLY-resist giving up "the life you're used to", right?
i did.  i unconsciously RESISTED.


i unpacked on april 1st and got sick on april 7th (crazy congestion, headache, dizziness).
i haven't been sick since 2006!
the renovation left me Scared SICk.

to heal, i didn't use a pill or liquid or shot or cream.
nah.  i dealt with my FEAR.  (false evidence appearing real)
i dealt with my fear of losing my independence,
losing manhattan, losing my schedule, losing my apartment (new yorkers know what i mean).
i dealt with the vulnerability that Being in LOve can bring.  i dealt with being older and the fear of kinda starting over AGAin!  [jersey is my 5th state of residence!!]
i simply prayed for FLOW, for release, for FAith, and then i went to sleep.
2 days later
the smiling, healthy me went on a cruise with my LOve to celebrate the
renovation.
i appreciate life's many homes.  often change is good.
i accept that.

me, healed- in Cozumel, mexico after my move!

peace is sexy

hey peeps...

i was profiled in a new online mag featuring sexy peaceful stuff, ideas, people, and movements.  here is a snippet of the article i submitted (go to pEACE IS SEXY and check out FULL piece).  if you know anyone/thing that you'd like to submit to pEACE IS SEXY- visit the site and tap on CONTACT US!!!

I am michellebernard, a sculptor of mind, body, and jewel!

I am a transformation teacher for children and adults. I aim to illuminate Self-awareness through movement {exercise and strength training, dance, and yoga} and the creative arts. Through these modalities, I encourage my students to honor their unique life experiences.

I am certain that acquiring the ability to live IN LOVE and GRATITUDE for one’s experience is a process powerful enough to shift the consciousness of humanity.

My credo:

1. There is no perfection, there is balance
2. Let the teacher within have the final word
3. Too much information isn’t always good for you
4. Never stop believing in miracles
5. Let your heart Be your compass/TrueLOve is magnetic

Perhaps my biggest challenge was in seeking perfection, I found out it didn’t exist.  I’ve lived here, there, everywhere–Iowa, Chicago, Los Angeles, Japan, and NYC.  I’ve had dreams sparkle for me, transform, and totally plummet. {read the rest of my article at PEACE IS SEXY (click) !!!}

LOSE YOUR MIND

The biggest opposition to meditation I hear most is::

"I can't sit completely still and silent, and erase my thoughts!"

I suggest that you not try to totally erase your thoughts, but

instead learn how to keep them from racing.

Instead, learn to direct your thoughts toward your deepest 

heartfelt dreams,

intentions, and prayers for your life experience

{and for the world!}.

The day I first TRIED to ERASE MY THOUGHTS {uughh!}

There was a long time in my life when I couldn't even tolerate silence. 

I needed noise from sOMeWHeRE, sOMETHING.  The tv or the radio was on at all times, including overnight.  I called it entertainment, comfort, and company.  

The first time I sat for an extended meditation (30 minutes which I found to be way too long for beginners), I wrestled mad-ZZZZs!

During the first 5 minutes, I listened to my breath, like instructed.  But shortly after, my mind started playing thoughts!  I danced in a disco of thoughts, spinning round in my frickn head, non-stop.  I thought about cleaning my apartment, organized my schedule for work, planned a jaunt for the weekend, imagined what I'd get for lunch, then my apartment popped back up, lunch again, my workout and whether I'd train back or legs (ah, a new thought), then my work schedule...  

Thought after thought flashed, each one blending into the next.  Just ' a dancin' they came, till I got sleepy.  Because  we sat in pin-drop silence, besides the intermittent sounds of shifting and exhales from my fellow meditaters, I fought the urge to succumb to the ZZZZs. 

Frustrated and sleepy, I couldn't do much to relieve myself of the replay in my mind, though I, sho-nuf, tried!  I changed position, wiggled my toes, scratched (the many parts of myself that were suddenly itchy!),  and squinted to see if anyone else was as uncomfortable and I.

(I found out later that they were!!)

My teacher brought us back to our breath, something they did to indicate the close of the meditation.  

HOLLA!  Done!

Okay.  I tried meditation, I thought.  Unfortunately, it didn't groove me.


what did i learn?

1--I learned that I needed to distract myself from being "in my head". There was too much chatter going on up there, and constantly repeating itself!  Same thoughts over and over again - some of them planning my future, some replaying my past, and many of them questioning my life, wondering, hoping.  I had a "monkey mind", as the Buddists call the busy, and uncontrolled nature of the mind!

2--I learned that meditation made me sleepy!

3 --I learned that though I truly wanted to learn meditation, I wasn't ready for such a full-throttle approach.  30 minutes was simply too long for me to do something I really didn't understand.  I was more agitated than relaxed.  Ineeded a gentler method that I could ease into and grow to liking a regular meditation practice.  

4--I learned that I'm not alone with my feelings about #1, #2, and #3!

SO, here's what i have done for you...! join me for 10 days to LOSE YOUR MIND!!

[visit my free online meditation guide by clicking here]

I am grateful for this message, all my life.
REST Whitney.

savouring life

"life is not just about how many breaths you take, 
it's about the moments that take your breath away"
--Will Smith's character, from the movie HITCH

january 2011 - finished my first book [painted the cover, too!]
feb 2011 - a month of processing deep self-LOve~
wrote about it in this blog.

i sought to heal some of my child wounds with prayer and painting

march 2011 - i gazed into the eyes of my LOve for the first time.  it was cool to LOve mySelf so much alone [and it took awhile to really do selfLOve] only to meet-up with a partner who reflected that LOve back.


april 2011 - tax month, uggh! seriously!  still meditating on abundance and surrender.  i've got issues.  i'd rather keep my money instead of mailing it away on the 15th.  (what you need flows back to you, what you need flows back to you... )


may 2011 - launched my 7 weeks to BODyLOve wellness program!

200+ people logged on.  [my dream is to reach 500+ now with its additions and re-launch!]  i want to inspire as many as possible to LOve themselves HEALTHY!

june 2011 - this was a month of pure fun, sangria, comedy clubs, and flowers.

july 2011 [my b-day month] - i had a simple summer.  water everywhere for a girl newly 43!!
there is no greater healer than the warm sun, a smile, and the wind misting water over your skin!


august 2011 - time stood still for reading and journaling from afternoon to dusk.  meditation and prayer kept me whole.

september 2011 - biG awe!  the great falls of niagara took my breath awaaaay.


october 2011 - began studying goddess leonie's business e-course [a b-day gift to myself from summer]! got inspired to plant more dreams.  autumn does that to me every year.

accompanied my awesome, trumpet-playing LOve to newport, RI!


november 2011 - LOved teaching my little kiddies yoga and drama on saturdays.  i got to play and say things i long to say as a grown-up.  the kiddies just laughed and laughed.  i am lucky i get to be a 10-year old once a week.
re-read marianne williamson's masterpiece, A RETURN TO LOVE after 13 years.  found a copy at a lawn sale down the street.  can't wait to re-read it again in 5 years!!
started writing my next free online workshop - this one on meditation (AiM)!
december 2011 - reflected on my goals for january 2012- september 2012.  considered what i needed to release in order to fulfill my dreams.  blogged about it!

saw the magnificent grand canyon, as jo, my LOve affectionately calls GC.  we prayed there, on a mountain peninsula, for 2012 to heal, nurture, and grow LOve in our lives.

may each moment of 2012 LOve YOU so... that it takes your breath away.

now

i am wide
open
and deep with heartsongs
that promise release from the
past
and dis-ease.
i embody poWer from the greaT AutHor
of the sun, moon, and stars ALL
living [living]
in me as
liGht,
as the miracle,
as the pOetry of my NOW.


NOW
i choose to ✧
expand
focus
know
write
create
breathe
slowdown
LOve

NOW
i will receive ✧
comfort
appreciation
kindness
assistance
clients
money

NOW
i release ✧
➙the secret feelings of inferiority
➙my concept of money and earning
➙my past relationships
➙grudges {self-defense}
➙blame
➙paper clutter {i got a kindle to replace the TONS of books in my apt!}

NOW - i trade in WANTing for PRAYer instead.

A moment of happiness,
you and I sitting on the verandah,
apparently two, but one in soul, you and I.
We feel the flowing water of life here,
you and I, with the garden's beauty
and the birds singing.
The stars will be watching us,
and we will show them
what it is to be a thin crescent moon.
You and I unselfed, will be together,
indifferent to idle speculation, you and I.
The parrots of heaven will be cracking sugar
as we laugh together, you and I.
In one form upon this earth,
and in another form in a timeless sweet land.
--rumi

as the Light of this new year shines in you, what does it illuminate?

"what can you be?"

the gift
i offer to you, my dearest LOves,
is a gift of true faiTh ::
that you might believe in LOve deeply AND purely.
accept, have fAiTH that the LOve inside will provide you with glorious
mIRacLEs
mIRacLES you can taste, that you want to share, that you
want others to experience
as you have experienced.
believe✧ believe ✧believe,
no matter what, that miRAcles are for YOU.
expect {with a LOving self} that all you want/need will show up--will take shape●
and want for LOve to exist inside of all that exists in your life experience.
merry
merry
merry

a sweet angel of TRutH, dr. wayne dyer.
just a man, yes---but SpiRit speaks here in this body.
enjoy my LOves--in your world, you are LOved!


i L♡ve sweet YOU.
see also--http://www.thewanderingpebble2.blogspot.com/
for LiGHt

i rest
here


i can dream

Source:  Pinterest

with eyes open


eyes closed 


i rest  
and dream deep 

dream

use your imagination
10 days to LOSE YOUR MIND (click here) coming soon

the changing sky

trust 
that 
you are healed.


there is beauty 
here
for you.

feeling like an alchemist

Like The Morning Breeze

Like the morning breeze, if you bring to the morning good deeds,

The rose of our desire will open and bloom.

Go forward, and make advances down this road of love;

In forward motion, the pain is great.

To beg at the door of the Winehouse is a wonderful alchemy.

If you practice this, soon you will be converting dust into gold.

O heart, if only once you experience the light of purity,

Like a laughing candle, you can abandon the life you live in your head.

But if you are still yearning for cheap wine and a beautiful face,

Don't go out looking for an enlightened job.

Hafiz, if you are listening to this good advice,

The road of Love and its enrichment are right around the curve.

--Hafiz, sufi poet

From: Drunk on the Wind of the Beloved

Translated by Thomas Rain Crowe

ooo-wee, the joy of snuggling with the poetry of Hafiz and RUMI {featured in other posts!} --poetry of divine LOve


{like LOve} niagara falls, one of the great wonders in nature
sept. 2011

every
day

imagine your change

"don't be afraid of change.  
you think staying the same 
means safety or predictability 
in life.
not necessarily, mummie..."

"don't be afraid of change.  use
your imagination to discover the
possibilities, then believe. 
no regret, mummie,"
zen master pup,

mr. porter

evolution:: or :: the change of seasons

i thought i could go on living
but today i know for sure
i am going to die
i am choosing to die
to the haunting illusions
i choose to die to the memory
that cages and claws and strangles
[almost secretly it strangles]
and die
to their words that formed my words thoughts,
words that taste of bitterness,
thoughts that cry with givingup~ness
today
i die
so that i can {finally}
cometolife
here, under this spotlight of surrender
i fling my arms open
like a super~star receiving applause and roses for her prayers
i am bowing
to this light i am bowing
with BIGthanks
that shines within
where sweetLiFe
is created
miraculous, mysteriously profound
this rebirth

they are free!

LOvetruths
or
thinking-and-feeling stuff that can bless
[i call them LOvetruths]
and they're all free
::::
i trust the voice in my Soul

meditation is my mental massage

when LOve is pure: courageous and patient,
it can quell hate's flame

give a hand, a compliment or a smile,
and change the world [if even for a minute]


just believe, anyway {this is one of my favs!!}

thank you matters so frickn much

i am you, you are me

daily exercise will lighten your load

live as a dreamer, a pure imagineer-ist, unafraid to

plunge hardcore into your visions. live so fully you
don't fear death
no regret

do what you say you're gonna do,
and you'll trust yourself
more and more

prayer is a bridge. use it to cross. be safe.

instead of wasting, take less.

i appreciate you, from mE
thewanderer

this morning

hey dearest LOvers of life.  peekin' in on you/
i wish to whisper a gentle message that can keep you
cool through the remainder of this sweet summer.
my morning ritual ::
when i open my eyes

before my bano visit,
before the oatmeal in a wine glass breakfast,
before i qualify how i feel by the hours of sleep i need/got/ or didn't get
[i nap 5 days a week/ 20 minutes a shot--
no matter how much sleep i get at night!]
when i open my eyes
and
take my breath
i say
thank you
thank you
thank you

try this top of the day ritual,
if you would
accept your day 
in the light of gratitude
thanks creates 
LOve
LOve 
creates joy
what else is there?

summer sweetness
my favorite season/cuz my bday is in july!!!
[and yea, i'm one of those who can tolerate lots of heat]
and
i feel another creative project coming to bloom
so i may only post twice a month
{instead of once a week} through august-
so i can meditate

do yoga

smile in the sun
journal
pray
and create my new project

on meditation and present it to you
by autumn


{pix at bread and yoga in NYC}

please visit my website (http://www.aboutpebble.com/)
anytime
for 7 weeks of BODyLOve
the wellness program i am
giving to you for FRee!
click on LOvin' mE wellness studio!!

stay connected,
myLOves