Month: October 2017

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Buddhist Monks, Boxing Classes & Babes

A trifecta of sorts.

Yep:) it’s been quite the week or two..

Writing stories is always a wonderful opportunity to re examine all I have to be grateful for-

So check it out,  I believe in lots of things:)

like fairies and rainbows, mermaids and unicorns

-Believe it or not actually been to the place where the unicorns arrive at the salty sea and enter the ocean and become mermaids for a while- I’ve also sat on the thumbnail moon as she floats in the sky and let my legs dangle over the edge but that is a whole different story to tell 😘😘(and no. in case your wondering acid is not a part of my diet)…I’m high on life 🙂 🙂 🙂 and maybe a bit weird, but life is short, fantasies are fun, and weird is never ever boring. If I dare invite you to walk with me on the wild side, you’ll like it – my only warning is that your face might hurt from nonstop giggles and smiles.

But Back to beliefs. Nothing written in stone, just practicing things I have learned along the way- Defining things that dictate how i live my life- my own personal truths of sorts.

I believe we all are here because we have a story to tell, lessons to learn, love to give and wounds to heal. It has been a big week spanning the spectrum of experience. It’s cool how life comes at you if you stay open. I’m no longer staying in a close minded space or entertaining the idea of feeling “stuck” here- Ive come back around and am open to receiving the opportunities to get grounded, connected and enjoying the blessing of a space to manifest and create- feeling stuck is only a matter of attitude, not a physical manifestation. My life in California has begun to unfold in the absolute perfection of something only in proper alignment with the flow of nature could reveal…
Whew.

Here it goes.
Building on this idea of “perfection” that i was talking about last time. The power of the mind is strong and where you focus your energy your life with follow. This has rang true in my life over and over again- and I’m sure if you create an awareness of your thought and patterns you will see a similar flow in yours. The power of positivity might sound annoying- oh but it’s so real. And SO juicy good—

As I feel the need for a softened heart- I also feel a calling to harden the muscles. Not being able to surf 4 hours every day has left me with an appetite for more fitness and a desire to return to a boxing/kickboxing routine.

After my healing journey and blessing with The llama-
yes- i was fortunate enough to spend some time in the presence of a Tibetan Buddhist Monk who chanted mantras, rang bells, lit incense and preformed a sacred ritual using figurative sparkly effervescent light which he then wrapped up in robes and sent off any negative energy to far away place where it can no longer reach me. Powerful to say the least. Although it may sound far out there to you, it seems to me that any opportunity for growth and healing is worth experiencing- isn’t that what is life about anyways?

IMG_3747

Also being a yoga teacher and reiki practitioner, this was a chance I couldn’t turn down and anyone who had ever had/received energy or body work knows what a wildly powerful exchange this is…

After leaving the monk I found myself drawn to return a distant yet familiar place. The gym of a friend and who I believe to be a legend. Higley fit. Alex Higley is a local man, professional fighter and creature of love, light and positivity. His passion for life and commitment to share his dream is contagious and super uplifting. Often a gym or fitness class can be intimidating, but I would recommend trying out Higley fit to anyone who has boxed for years or is new to the sport. Check out his craft at http://www.higleyfit.com

From there the good vibes ensued, and of course, within the next few days after stopping in to say hey, I found myself w my gloves back on and elbows deep in the bag and mits. Smiling and sweating and stoked to surrounded by other people with the same positive attitude.

Part three of this trifecta is where the babes come into play. Traveling has shaped me beyond most other influences in my life. Not only the places you get to see, but the magical beings you meet along the way. Something special happens when you step outside your comfort zone and Into the wild vast unknown. I met Maya in Costa Rica, but I have known her for millions of years-she has recently returned to the states for a bit and was on a cosmic adventure to Cali:) Being mermaids and lovers of all things it was only natural to host her in my home. Surfing and andventures with the ladies is always rad. Sharing love and light, and stories of adventures and heartbreak and waves never gets old. I’ve said it a million times and I’ll say it again, life about accumulating moments that make your soul sing- and time with mermaid friends and wine and waves is certainly that. Maya Luna love has since left and our lives continue to journey on…

And that’s really all it is. A journey. Not a destination, but appreciating all we have in any given moment and the joy that comes from simply being alive and well… as I posted on my IG yesterday y-

“These flesh suits we wear sure can be deceiving. The universe keeps sending me angels all dressed up a humans. From the grind of LAX, to the grind at the coffee machine at Frazier Farms, to the grind of waves at the beach, and all the way back to my heart with a good old fashioned phone call with a cosmic friend living on the other side of the globe- Authenticity- inspiration- and love. Give love. be love and witness and experience the opening of portals unimaginable by a limited heart or mind. Stay open my friends 🙂 Do not find excuses to shut down or close off- we are all so very connected. The energy and pure love that has come my way in the last 12 hours is mind blowing, humbling and magically beautiful:)✨ Unlimited amounts of love and bliss are everywhere- in the depths of the seas, the space of the galaxies, the vast eternity of every moment- of every sunset- of these magical October skies.
Live with love
Pura Vida.”

San O 🙂 Epitome of Southern California surf lifestyle. Singles fins and sunshine
Epic October skies and Indian summers. San Diego loving

salty and sunkissed besos-
Katie

 

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Back to Cali ☀️

Finding inspiration in the day to day grind can be challenging.
Then I go outside and I am reminded of what a beautiful planet we live on. Backyards vibes are pretty sweet. All kinds rad trees and plants. Succulents are such a trip. And Incredibly brilliant. They can survive, in just about any and all conditions. If you break them off, and replant then, you don’t kill them- they are almost like a Voulenteer for more & more life 🙂 very cool.

I sit and watch the bees enjoy the nectar of the blooming trees, hear the birds and feel the wind. It’s October and I’m writing in a bikini, in a hammock and the waves are just a bike ride away- So I suppose you can say it’s a bit of a paradise.

Making magic with these sweet mermaids
Happy place. Surf and smiles 🙂

It’s easy to get caught up in a desire for “perfection” when sometimes you have to take a step aside and realize that this IS perfection- the perfect day is happening to you right now. It’s all a mater of being present, having a positive mental attitude, and experiencing the joy within the reality of whenever you are at—-
Blah blah blah.
What am I trying to say?
Well 2 things specifically.

The adventure is in your mind. The more time I spend at “home”, in San Diego, the more I tap into my yoga practice and the more I am reminded of “as you think so you become.”

The mind is a powerful tool to create and manifest any and all things we desire. And that everything we are all “searching” for resides inside of us:)

So as life happens we have to remember- everything is temporary- it’s always changing. No matter what phase of life you are experiencing you have to stay grateful- wether you are wandering through tropical jungles and surfing warm epic waves or navigating the concrete jungle, traffic lights, and censorry overload of a high pulsed society of an industrialized nation- this too an adventure. There’s always a lesson to be learned and with the abundance of our lives there are always a millions reason to stay stoked and keep smiling.

The no wave solution
Front yard magic
Making stuff for local art shows 🙂
Ah the joy of the journey
Underground backstage fun at the pepper and Fortunate Youth show at red rocks. Brrrr

The second thing if was trying to get at is importance of remembering that everything is a cycle- and within this cycle all the attributes of nature are always present. In yogic philosophy these attributes are called the gunas. I refer to the guanas to help me stay calm, content and at peace within the center when ever I feel the extremes of nature pulling me in every direction.
So what about Gunas you ask?
It’s pretty simple really- it’s a great tool or reference to use to stay in balance (or at least to be mindful of if we feel our lives being affected by super positive or negative energy or as we encounter times of happiness and sadness). My favorite example is this cycle is the growth of a seed. All seeds (even us a humans) starts in tamas- inertia, stillness, little to none movement or activity is present as the seed planted is in the ground, from here the seed begins to grow- and rajas happens- imagine all the force and activity that is need to be present for a seed to break out of its shell, sprout out of the ground and begin to become a plant. This is where the growth is happening and from human standpoint, this phase may seem overwhelming or consuming or exciting and uncertain. Ah- but what happens next is nothing short of magic. From here sattva occurs. Balance. The flower or tree is in perfect bloom- the fruit is ripe- and any individual looking at this plant would think its a magically beautiful representation of perfection. However, at this point – we must remember what a journey the plant went through to achieve such brilliance, and remember where it is going. The tree then drops its fruit, the flowers die- the soil is replenished and the cycle begins again.

In my life i just returned from the dreamland of tropic jungles and great waves- it was “perfection” however I was living reality that was not sustainable and now back Cali I am realizing (only 4 months later, yes, sometimes I’m slow to get on the bus) that is my time to sow the garden again. To get rooted, grounded, connected- and manifest and create new journeys and adventures. This part of the cycle might not be “glamorous” but we are only as solid as our foundation, only as strong as our roots and so I am finding the joy of this phase of my life because from here all things grow stronger. Also remembering that within this phase there is so much delightful magic that is present and to be grateful for abundance and lessons here and now.

last weekends yoga retreat with rebel & muse up in the mountains of SLO – an early morning shot of the setting full harvest moon:)
Scored some Sunday afternoon waves in Ventura
Stoked to be an ambassador for Avasol skin care:) checks out the ladies and I at Mermaid Mafia to see what it’s all about
The best part of travel the friends you meet along the way- a buddy i met in Nica, from Ventura- party time!!
Surf. Yoga. Music. Create. Travel. This photo says a lot about me

So, these Gunas important to remember because within our entire macro cycle of life this micro cycle is spinning, daily – weekly- monthly- yearly. We must be patient and gentle with ourselves. It’s not necessary to have all the answers. We have to remember we are a part of nature and it’s imperative to trust and surrender to the forces around us. Otherwise we cause avoidable suffering to ourselves and others. The sun will set and rise. The tides will rise and fall and In the end everything is going to be okay:) if it’s not okay. It’s not the end…
These are just a few of the many gems of wisdom I have learned from the yoga tradition that I am oh so happy to share with you.

With all my salty and sunkissed love
Namaste