Emerges the sun

 While I was doing sun salutations in my morning yoga sequence, the sun emerged from the grey that has been omnipresent here for days upon days. 

With the rays my energy and mood lifted. Sun, I salute.

I am feeling activated and engaged, and proud of myself, for I have completed 13 consecutive days of yoga. An accomplishment, and an achievement of personal goals. 

With the yoga I simultaneously look inward, connect to the greater beyond self, and build strength - both of mind and body. 

What are you doing to build your inner and outward strength? 

Be not overwhelmed by the chaos of our current world and its many glaring concerns. Acknowledge them, yes, fight for peace and justice, and the wellness of community and natural world, yes, and be not overwhelmed. 

So - find that balance, that activation of self. 

I do it through activity - yoga and walking mostly - making sustaining tea blends, and writing in my journal. 

Want to talk tea? Journal prompts or ideas? Garden Planning? Let me know. 

Travels of the Heart Enticing Excerpt to Enjoy

I share here, with you dear friend and reader, an excerpt from my soon to release (02-02-2020) collection of short stories and poems celebrating love, "Travels of the Heart".

Feel free to share this post and help spread the love, and the word (wink).

• Excerpt begins with the introduction -

"Welcome,

“If music be the fruit of love, play on,” begins Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, expressing that ever-present longing for love in our lives. The following stories are about discovering love, be it love of other, love of self, friend, family, or lover. Love is a journey, never-ending, and here some some 'Travels of the Heart' for you to enjoy.
I created this compilation of stories, poems, and biographic sketches to explore themes of love, in its many and varied forms.
I am intrigued by the role personal relationships have on the lives and well-being of us all. We each encounter love in a myriad of forms throughout our lives. Some love comes softly and is ever present, other love catches us unawares and in its revelation changes who we are.  Still others frustrate or confound us in the angst and excitement of emotion.
The collection includes excerpts from other of my work, new material, and works in progress. I hope you find a piece that resonates, inspires, entertains, or touches you."

• Next I offer an excerpt from the story "Nate Meets Evelyn" -

    Nate attended the same church each Sunday, yet he never saw the graceful, strong, lovely woman before.  As folks mingled in the sanctuary after the service, sharing weekly updates, Nate scanned the congregation noting what a friendly community they formed. People of all ages gathering weekly to hear the word of god delivered by a passionate preacher, to sing the gospel, and to share the spirit.
He stood next to his long-time friend, Anton, and smiled at the elder couple with whom Anton chatted. The couple were proudly commenting on a young grand-daughter’s recent scholarly accomplishments. Anton and Nate provided an interested and respectful ear.
As he looked past the couple and across the church aisle, towards the vestry, Nate noticed a stunning woman with an infant. The woman wore a cornflower blue sweater hugging her form and highlighting her complexion. He admired the hue of her skin that called to mind the warm, rich browns of pine cones in the sun.  He watched as she swaddled the infant in a flannel blanket, smiling and cooing at the child, her lips moving in intimate conversation with what appeared to be her much-loved son.
Before Nate exited his pew and made his way to the vestry, the woman was gone.

In the next few weeks, Nate met occasionally with Jada, his … how did he classify Jada? He and Jada dated during college. Then, due to the drift of life and the coming to know oneself as an adult, separated.  They dated again, after graduation in that ‘comfortable with each other’ way of former attachments.  Yet they were not a couple, not really; they were more pals who could rely on each other for a partner to an event, or a shared meal and a movie on a lonely Saturday.
Jada commented to Nate on one chummy outing, “I know just the women for you! She recently moved here, and I think you would get along wonderfully. She is smart and caring, and I know you would two would hit it off....” 

• And now, since tomorrow is my (strong, intelligent, creative, beautiful) niece's 16th birthday, I share an excerpt from my short story, "Sweet 16 Never Been Kissed"

“Sweet 16 never be kissed” was true enough to start with. But by seventeen... no longer true. The first kiss was sweet enough, preceded by a very polite, “May I kiss you?”
    Beth, and Eric stood on the road by the back porch, waiting for her dad to back the van out of the garage to drive Eric home. He had no license, and she only had a cinderella license, so they stood and waited. Eric was handsome and smart.  Zoe was intelligent and timid.  They saw each other mostly at school.  Zoe occasionally visits Eric's house, or he visits hers on weekend nights.  Weeks and weeks of blushes, chats in G.A.T.E. (Gifted and Talented Education - talk about an ego builder.  They actually met in G.A.T.E., where else would a junior and a sophomore be in class together? Nowhere.)
Eric opened Zoe to musical variety by playing Simon and Garfunkel, the Cure, and the Cranberries. First love, so all encompassing. They would talk for 6 or 8 hours on the phone. Finch, years later, when making the mental count of past loves, did not fathom how they found so much to talk about.  But in the throes of adolescent love, they talked books, religion, music, movies, people... theirs was a heady dialog.  All the milestones of high school romance – flirtation in the hallway, cuddled close together in the stands of a home football game on Saturday afternoon, listening to records, often actually on vinyl, though many a mixed tape too, in his room with the door open, going on family outings...."


Get your very own print copy to follow the story further and find out what other travels the heart makes. Order now and get the benefit of the celebratory offer of 10% off through Valentines Day, February 14, 2020.

EBook edition also available! Pre-order today

Travels of the Heart soon to release

In time for Valentines Day, 2020, a work of love. Read this collection of stories and poems that celebrate love.
Enjoy a journey through a series of narratives, poems, and stories delving into love in its varied forms You will witness sharing of tender moments, explore unexpected relationships, experience the comfort of happy endings, recall the sweetness of first love, watch the awakening of self for mythic Medusa, follow the life of a young girl growing up in rural Pennsylvania in the 1940's, consider the sensuality of music, and thrill as two soul-mates meet.
Travels of the Heart is available in print and ebook formats.

"What the world needs now, is love, sweet love" Jackie DeShannon song lyrics, and a profound truth. In honor of love, in celebration of love, in invitation for love, I compiled a collection of my poems and short stories into an anthology, "Travels of the Heart", which will release for sale on February 2, 2020 (aka 02022020) Watch for details on where and how to get your copy.
Love
Brooke

As You Wish Bookshop - Hand-Crafted Journals

Beautiful hand-crafted 'As You Wish Bookshop' Artisan Crafted Journals in stock and available for local or internet purchase through BeWell Bohemia Herbs and Things. 

https://bewell-bohemia-herbs-and-things.square.site/shop/as-you-wish-journals/6


To see more of her hand-crafted journals, check out her Etsy store:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/AsYouWishBookShop?ref=pr2018_faveshops

Growth

Summer is a fitting time for growth as a metaphor and reality. BeWell Bohemia Herbs and Things is growing. I have scheduled many in person vending events in the coming months. I am excited to commit to presenting my wares and sharing my knowledge at these in person events. In the words of Little Red Riding Hood from Sondheim's "Into the Woods", "Well, excited and scared." I quit the anxious questions about "what if I don't feel well that day?" or "will I have enough stock" or "how can I be sure to prepare enough food and drink for the day?" or  "will the tent withstand rain?" or.. they go on. I smile, take a deep breath and remind myself to trust. That I am able to problem solve and endure challenge.

Then maybe I make some tea to support calm mind.

The growth extends in different areas, as well. I am leading workshops, applying for a grant to offer workshop series in local communities free of charge, so folks can be exposed to and learn about herbalism with comfort and hands-on activities. Check out the grant application video: (and like and share, too #grants4plants a program offered by Mountain Rose Herbs) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p08xJ44uBx0&t=17s

The workshops, led to completion of a booklet, which I published in both ebook, and print book versions. If you attend the workshop on July 16, 2019 at the Otterbein (IN) Public Library, you receive an ebook edition free. If you aren't able to join us for the workshop, there is an ebook sale in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing, so buy the ebook by July 18 and you get it for $1.69.

ebook: https://books2read.com/u/mv7aw2

print book: http://www.lulu.com/shop/brooke-criswell/tea-of-tranquility-making-herbal-teas-that-support-tranquility-and-nervous-system-function/paperback/product-24173171.html

The online store has grown too, so if. you are not local to Indiana, you can still check out BeWell Bohemia Herbs and Things store, and order fun and practical items to support your wellness and expand your connection to plants. More seed varieties are ready weekly, so check back.

Thanks for being connected to this community and celebrating the many ways of wellness.