So now as a writer, author, and educator with my own business, I am in a quandary. My book “The Red Glass Ball” is published and ready to be out there. The hardest part is getting it out there – marketing. How do I get it out there without being full of myself or seeming like I am full of myself? I am a person who does not like to be on the stage. I hang back and think that if someone needs/wants me, they will find me. I can put myself out there in small doses. But with a book published, the knowledge that what I do can help others, and the need to manifest, I have to put myself out there. Eeeewwwwwww! Scary! Totally out of my comfort zone.

Is it possible to be a guide on the stage and a sage on the side? Stay tuned…

The actual hand-held book The Red Glass Ball: Touching Lives Through History is available now in select book stores in the Seattle area and on Amazon. It will be available elsewhere and in other formats soon.

Linda www.intuwriting.com

It is always a struggle at the end of the day to get kids to clean up the classroom, pack up their things and be ready to leave on time (especially for those darn buses). Here is my trick. I put fun music on and challenge them. How many songs will it take to be done and ready to leave? I suggest that they can do it in one song, but one and a half is the usual. Then we have time before they rush out the door for a game or a story.

On this particular day, I put on the song “Locomotion” and they headed off to get things done. There was a happy buzz in the room. One has to accept noise when kids are dancing around getting things done quickly. One little guy, usually pokey and rather glum, joined me at the front of the room before Locomotion was over. “I love this song!” he gushed as his little body swayed and moved around me. Being the skeptical teacher, I glanced over at his table. His place was spotless, organized and his backpack was neatly placed under the table as requested. When the song was over, most of the kids had joined us. “Do it again!” they begged excitedly. So I put Locomotion on again and the dancing resumed. Four of the girls made a train, then a few of the boys joined on. I took the hands of the girl at the front and started moving them around the room. Before I knew it, every child in the room was part of the train, dancing individually yet moving together as one long co-operative train. It was very noisy, but I recognized that it was a busy involved noise and resisted the adult urge to tone it down. Towards the end of the song, I led them into one big circle at the front of the room. When the song was over, they all sat quietly with beautiful little smiles where they had stopped at the end of the song looking up at me expectantly. It was almost silent in the room. They were ready to play my “Silent Ball” game…and they were ready to be out the door on time!

The experience blew me away; I had forgotten how much there is to learn from children and how good it feels to allow ourselves some freedom. We cannot constantly be in a quiet subdued serious space. There are times when the need to move and sing and rock and roll just must to take over. Allow it…then the quiet times are much more appreciated and effective. Experiences like this are so needed in our classrooms today…and they are so needed in all of our lives as well.

There is so much more to these two words. We do not necessarily need to wait for their respective seasons. We can spring forward at any time, not just when they tell us to change our clocks. That tight inner spring can be released at any time, allowing us to bounce and jump where we want, when we want. Exhilarating…like the cool fresh water from a bubbling spring.

Fall does not necessarily have to have a negative connotation or be tied to being hurt. It also means to come down. It’s OK to take a fall. It gives us time to rest, recuperate and rejuvenate… so that we can again spring to new heights.

Don’t fall for the expected. Take time to fall into peaceful rest. Put some spring in your step when you feel the urge, no matter what the weather. Be aware that spring fever can hit at any time.

The weather…oh my goodness, it is bizarre. Here in the Pacific Northwest it has been snraining and colindy (snowing and raining, cold and windy).  The dates have moved forward into spring but it is more like sprinter (spring and winter).

Yet the central and east coast of North America is hmmmuggy (hot and muggy) and there are stormadoes (storms and tornadoes) around already. In these locations it is more like sprummer (spring and summer).

No use griporrying (griping and worrying), as there is nothing we can do about it. Take time to be conself (content within yourself). In your mind it can be whatever season you choose.  Makes it easier to flomoture (flow with Mother Nature)!

Proof of this is everywhere.  We all hear of the faux pas of celebrities from their tweeting escapades. Scathing revues of professionals are published, then recanted or blasted with countering thoughts from supporters. Mistakes from “auto corrections” on our devises bring misunderstanding and laughter (see http://www.damnyouautocorrect.com/15802/the-15-funniest-autocorrects-from-december-2011/).  Emotions are released in a flurry in an email with no thought of future consequences. It is just let go into the wilds of the computer…and the inbox of someone else.

I remember a situation from a few years ago. One morning at work (a school) I met a young third-grade teacher who was quite upset. The night before she had received an angry email from a parent about a situation in her classroom. The parent was contacting the PTA, the school board, the principal etc. etc. etc. The teacher had not slept; she spent time planning special activities to help the children in her classroom; she drafted a letter to parents, planning a meeting to discuss the matter; she had already met with the principal. Just before school started, the parent spoke with the teacher in person. The parent apologized for the email. They had met as a family that morning over breakfast and the matter had been cleared up after further discussion with their son. It was a matter that they would deal with at home. There was relief all around, but there was also one tired concerned teacher.

I am a writer, and much of what I write just flows out. I don’t want to stop anyone’s creative flow. However…if something is written from an emotional state (especially anger) I highly suggest that you wait to SEND. Most times what is written from anger and fear is for our own purpose. It is a huge release to let it go out of us. That type of writing is great for reading very loudly releasing it into the air, or printing and burning as a ritual of release. Wait a few hours and re-read it. Hitting the DELETE button may bring you great pleasure. If you still feel strongly, then by all means, SEND. Otherwise re-write in a gentler tone that will be received in the necessary manner.

The technology of our times is a great gift. It brings such wonderful and easy communication into our lives. As with most gifts, there must be responsibilities and consequences. So think before you tweet, and be careful with that SEND button!

LindaZ     www.intuwriting.com

The word leap is a wonderful word that should lead to celebration. At www.thefreedictionary.com three meanings three meanings caught my eye:

1)   to spring or bound upward from

2)   to move quickly or abruptly from one condition or subject to another

3)   to act impulsively

As we continue to move through 2012, there is so much going on. World events, personal experiences, community happenings and the list goes on, swirl around us. Some we see before us in real life; most we see in full view before us as never before on television and computer in as many different versions as we wish to devote time to. I have a vision of a merry-go-round. Sometimes I sit in the middle and watch all going on around me. At other times, I am swirling around on the merry-go-round, as if I have lost all control and am being swept away. It can be intimidating, confusing and down right scary. (Does anyone else get feeling light headed and dizzy these days? Vertigo and anticipation for no apparent reason?)

Now here is where the word leap comes into the picture. Yes the merry-go-round world is moving fast, but I have a choice here. I can sit in the middle to rest. When I am ready, I can take a quantum leap, a leap of faith onto the turning merry-go-round. If I look before I leap, it could be a leap forward, not just a leap on the bandwagon, but also a leap of opportunity. I can grow by leaps and bounds. Then when I am ready, I can take a leap of joy back to the middle of the merry-go-round for quiet contemplation until I am ready to leap again.

The hardest part is getting past the intimidation, the confusion, the fear and take that flying leap on or off the spinning merry-go-round of 2012. My advice is to take a leap day to do what is best for you. Leap into something totally different. It does not have to be February 29, but whenever your little old heart desires.

Our school systems over the last several years have become places to develop academically. Children are tested, taught skills, retested, re-taught, assessed. They are constantly being judged and measured on skill levels that are set out by academic programs. It has become the basis of their success (and failure) in education.

There is so much more to a child (and any person for that matter) than his/her academic/intellectual makeup. Education and development of a person goes well beyond Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. There are the physical, the social, the mental, the spiritual parts that exist as well. And these parts are not separate. They blend together, in different ways and degrees of importance to make a person, each area affecting how and where we are in any of the other areas. They exist and are melded together in each individual, each child of any age.

The “spiritual” part that I mention above does not mean religious. By spiritual I mean the core, the inner essence and natural being of each person.  Each is different; each is unique; each is on his/her own life path.

Education for me is developing on this life path. It is unique to each individual and it never stops. It is important in childhood because children are dependant on others to assist them and guide them. They have needs that must be met as they grow and develop, especially in the physical area. At the same time, all other areas must be honored as well.

Somewhere along the way, formal education has become unbalanced. I am not saying that intellectual development is not important. I am saying that it should not have the highest priority that it has garnered in our society today. Children spend a huge portion of their waking hours in school, with the main focus being their academic development. Some physical development is allowed (phys ed and recess) and some social is there by nature of being in groups. But there needs to be more,

I can sit here and blame and judge. I can lay fault on “No Child’s Behind Left”, our technological society, financial demands on people, the changing idea of family and so on and so on. The fact is that somewhere along the way our school systems have fallen into a commercial form, where assessment and accountability and cost have taken over. The easiest area to look for these is the academic area, so that is the area that has taken attention and importance. It is difficult to assess physical, emotional, social and spiritual on paper. It is difficult to allow for the unique ways of each individual spirit.

For me, the ultimate goal of education is to assist in developing a healthy happy grown individual, manifesting and continuing to develop on their own.  They are valued and value themselves as individuals and are able to happily function in society and move forward on their life path.  This path and the process sre different for each; the final assessment lies in each individual. This is not something that our school systems can do alone; it is not something that a parent, teacher, mentor can do alone. And it is something that each unique individual must have input into, no matter what his/her age.

We need a huge change. We need to stop thinking of education in terms of dollars and cents, money spent, budget cuts and costs, and how our children are doing on tests. We need to see it as development of our most precious resource, our children and ultimately, each one of us.

Today is the February full moon. I have written about this before. Here is some of that writing.

A full moon occurs about every 29.5 days when the moon is opposite the earth from the sun. It gradually becomes visibly bigger to us as the days from the New Moon (about two weeks before) until it becomes a complete circle. During the time of the full moon it appears to us as a completion of the visible process. It has grown and built up to fullness and completion.

Astrologically, the moon governs emotions, feelings, intuitive thinking and past life energy. So as the moon visibly reaches fullness, we energetically and emotionally reach a fullness and culmination as well. Our intuitions are sharp and our feelings are strong. This is usually so subtle that we hardly seem to notice. At other times we notice. It gives credence to the old stories about the full moon crazies. The source of the word lunatic is the Latin word “lunar”.

Today’s full moon in Leo comes with great energy. Use that energy to look at and value our wonderful individual qualities and being. Take some time this week to truly value you. Make lists of things that you like about yourself, what makes you unique and things that you love to do. Then note how you, as unique and special, fit into the collective. How we fit and how we want to fit, may be changing…but that is OK. Let the energy flow!

The February full moon is referred to as the “Wolf Moon”. That fact and my middle of the night moon experience bring to mind one of my favorite quotes from George Carlin.  “There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls”.

Linda       Join me on Sunday Feb. 12, 2012 for a workshop “Developing the Intuitive You”. Details are at www.intuwriting.com .

Sad to say, but, until recently, my most vivid memories of the gong were from a television show of the late seventies.  “The Gong Show” was similar to the “Idol” shows of today, but based more on humor. It was a talent show, where the performers were judged while performing for a certain number of minutes. If the performance was judged to be good, it was allowed to complete and won some silly prize. If the judge felt that the performance was bad during any moment he/she would hit this massive gong. The performer was “gonged” and was done. It was very entertaining! But my impression of getting “gonged” had been tainted.

Last fall I attended a workshop on “Sound” that moved me beyond my limited vision. I came to value the Gong in an entire different way. Historically, the Gong is one of the oldest instruments of Southeast Asia dating back thousands of years. The art of Gong-making was an ancient family secret and required the assistance of higher powers. Yes it was used, as I thought, to draw attention, make announcements and in music; but its’ significance and use went beyond that. It was a sacred instrument and its’ most important use was for meditation and healing. This important use continues today. It is said that the waves of sound from the Gong can access areas of the body and mind not accessible in other ways, opening and allowing balance, peace and much, much more.

Let’s get back to the Gong Meditation that I attended last weekend. It was beautiful. The Gong did indeed attract my attention, but in a much gentler fashion than I expected.  The resonating waves of the sound seemed to change my body rhythm. My energy is different.  I feel peaceful and balanced and able to move forward in this crazy world.

My recommendation to all of you is…get gonged!

Linda  www.intuwriting.com

Margaret McElroy from the Center for Intuitive Arts in Issaquah, WA will be having another “Meditation with the Gong” on Sunday February 26. You can attend in person, or on line. For information go to http://www.margaretmcelroy.com/center/

I was teaching Junior Kindergarten, a classroom of 24 four year olds. The class consisted of one black child, one of mixed race, several of Vietnamese and Chinese heritage and the rest white. The program allowed for long periods of play (which is children’s work) and choice.

Deryk (the only black child) and Amy were sitting across from each other at the craft/writing table. Amy was busy “writing” on a piece of paper. Deryk was cutting a piece of paper into a pile of strips. Amy looked up at Deryk and studied him for a few minutes. Then out of her mouth popped “Look at your eyes!”

I stifled my laughter as Deryk’s eyes did all kinds of funny things as he tried to see them!

“Whaaat?” he asked curiously. “I can’t see them.”

“They’re brown,” Amy stated emphatically. “You are brown like a potato all over.”

“Yeah,” said Deryk, getting back to his cutting.

“So what color are my eyes?” asked Amy.

Deryk looked closely at her. A big grin crossed his face. “Hey they’re brown too!”

Several minute of giggling followed. Then Amy grabbed her paper and pencil and got up. “Let’s go see if the other kids have brown eyes.” And off they went, carefully looking into the eyes of their classmates.

I was distracted for a few minutes with a minor emergency in the room. (Too many children, too few adults in the classroom…but that is a whole other issue  which I will save for another day!) When I returned to Amy and Deryk they were in the building center with several other children. Amy’s paper and pencil were on the floor forgotten. “Amy,” I said, showing her the paper with little squiggly marks on it. “How did it go?”

“Lots-a brown eyes Mrs. Z,” she reported as she kept on building.

I held up the paper again. “Do you want to finish this or put it in your cubby?”

“Nah,” she answered. “It’s not important anymore. Me and Deryk are busy.”

I was amazed and continue to be amazed at the understanding of children. There is so much for us to learn from them. In that classroom there was a natural acceptance of everyone and everything.

Except from two mothers! One asked that I not allow her son to play in the house anymore and especially not wearing the apron. (“After all, we don’t want him to turn out to be that sort of boy, do we?”) The other mother asked that I keep her daughter away from the sandbox. (“It really dirties her dresses. Besides, it’s not the type of training that a little girl needs anyway.”) You can imagine what I had to say about that…although I was very diplomatic in those days!  Just had to add this last paragraph in honor of Betty White’s birthday.

Sure is lots to celebrate this week!