Hair

I recently got my hair chopped off, like a LOT of it. I enjoy having long hair sometimes, it is fun to do different things with it, and I feel somewhat like a hippie, in the 1960's flower-girl sense, especially with a big braid down the back. Fitting, especially for someone who has a blog with the word hippie in the title. But there are many ways to be a hippie...

Then I got it chopped off. And took a shower. And realized how much less water and shampoo this new hair-do requires. As in, shorter hair is actually more eco-friendly! I'd just never thought about it that way before especially since for me, more frequent haircuts equal spending money on said haircuts. But how much money am I spending on the hot water and shampoo? Plus using the blow-dryer during really cold weather?

Even this eco-conscious girl still learns new things.

Now I just need to learn how to style this new 'do.

Happy Solstice

As a family, we try to incorporate rituals into our lives, and we are getting better at doing simple things to celebrate the passing of the seasons. We gathered on the table a glass of water, a candle (fire), fruit (earth), and a crystal (air/energy). Our rose quartz egg signifying our family is in the center. We smudged everything and each other and said blessings for each of the elements and for the light and the dark and what we are thankful for.

We want Il Tonino to grow up with these simple rituals, and learn what they mean. He loves to do the smudge (fire wash). He drank some of the water during the ritual and we had to keep him from blowing out the candle and eating the fruit. Typical three year old, LOL!

Fire Wash

A few days ago Il Tonino signed "fire wash" while pointing to the white sage smudge stick. Every once in a while he'll ask to be smudged, but that was the first time he'd called it "fire wash." We think that is a brilliant and very apt description.

He'd had a tantrum shortly before that and after the smudge was totally calm and happy again. A good reminder of the power of nature in connection with our minds-bodies. I love it that he is so in tune with that, and hope he doesn't lose so much of it as he grows.

In the Nude

Yesterday my friend came over to my house for a photo shoot. She wanted some pregnancy pictures to expand her portfolio. I was more than happy to help out! She does our family photos every September as well, and it's always a treat to see her.

The photo shoot was so much fun -- I wore a pretty skirt and was topless. I truly felt like a pregnant goddess, glowing, nice little (not huge) belly, and breasts that are full and round and preparing to nurse another sweet little babe. I cannot wait to see the pictures, and have plans to frame one of them to hang in my bedroom.

This is not the first time I have done a nude photo shoot. Twice, in college, I was a nude model for an art class, and got paid for it. That was quite the experience! The first time I did it with a group of 3 other women, and the second time with just one other woman. For an hour we did different poses in front of students half-hidden behind their easels, drawing their hearts out. I didn't mind being nude in front of other people -- as long as my toenails were nicely painted!! Strangely, this was the one thing that made me feel relaxed about having no clothes on. The oddest part about the whole thing was then walking around campus and occasionally recognizing an art student for whom you posed...

One other time I did a private photo shoot for a good friend who was taking a photography class. The most memorable shot she did (and the one that her professor thought was AMAZING) was a close-up of my torso, with about 7 knives of various shapes and sizes laid out in a row from my breasts to my pelvis. Talk about a contrast -- the soft curves of my body versus the sharpness of the knives. I still have that photo somewhere.

I really do enjoy those types of opportunities. I think our bodies are meant to be celebrated. Thanks, A, for another opportunity to have fun celebrating!