leahbrier.com

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I received the miraculous gift of being trained and attuned to practice Reiki Healing yesterday and I am so incredibly humbled and grateful for the experience. The magnificent Lisa Levine trained a group of 5 of us and it was just an amazing day. Here are some highlights:

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1. I can now properly describe what Reiki really is (which is a HUGE relief!)

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2. I can now practice Reiki on myself and others

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3. The universal life energy is forever sealed in me, I will be able to carry this life force, and share it for the rest of my life (and maybe lives to come!?)

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4. Atole, the sweetest, Reiki attuned, dog in the whole world spent much of the day learning with us

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If you are interested in being a guinea pig in my first few weeks of practicing and playing with Reiki energy, please let me know. I would love to set up some appointments and see this baby fly! If you have any questions about Reiki pleasefeel free to ask — I am open to help and share as much as possible about this powerful healing tool and universal life energy!

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I am starting to take a more active approach to my health and happiness. Doctors, some forms of therapy and even my yoga practice has become a more passive experience to becoming healthier and more fulfilled. In an effort to take control I have started going to Lisa Levine, an incredible Reiki master, for both Reiki and breath work. Lisa is helping me unlock my highest self, the person inside all of us that can help us get through the rough times and who shines though during the easy, breezy moments of life. Lisa is also an incredibly talented artist, above is some of her work from her site. You can also buy t-shirts with her art!

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I’m going for Reiki 1 training this weekend so I will be able work on my own healing and begin to share my knowledge with other people. I am so excited!

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Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) is an ancient laying-on of hands healing technique that uses the life force energy to heal, balancing the subtle energies within our bodies. Reiki addresses physical, emotional, mental and spiritual imbalances. The Reiki practitioner serves as a vessel that supplies healing energies where they are most needed by flowing out of the practitioner’s body through the palms of the hands and sent through to the recipient.

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I have a blue wall in my bedroom (it was supposed to turn out navy blue, but it actually more closely what I call “painter’s tape blue” ICKY!) that has been looking uglier than usual lately. Low and behold, I was struck with a brilliant idea. I am going to repaint the wall with chalkboard paint, they now make it in all colors and hopefully the blue they have will dry and look much darker than my current color, and use the wall for inspiration, ideas, doodles and little pieces of happiness.

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Above are some chalkboard inspirations from one my all time favorite movies 500 Days of Summer and the Coldplay video for their song Strawberry Swing.

It’s my birthday and I can’t sleep — story of my life! Call me crazy, but this seemed like the perfect time to do what I had to do — read my horoscope. The scary part? Some of it really resonates me and sounds like me, while some is complete hooey. Who cares though, this is what birthdays are about!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY also goes out to my brother from another mother Jeff Hughes, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Patrick Dempsey, Orlando Bloom and Connie Lui‘s brother!

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Sun in Capricorn, Moon in Pisces

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Your astrological combination indicates a quiet, undemonstrative individual. You are retiring by nature and prefer domestic activities. A somewhat passive person, you require a stronger force or person to move you out of your state of psychological inertia. Much about you is concentrated and inner-directed.

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You seek integrity of self. You make a good friend and confidant, for you never reveal a secret that has been told to you. But you don’t allow friends and associates to penetrate beneath your outermost mask. You deal well with people in unfortunate positions, because they arouse the compassion inherent in your Moon influence. Under favorable circumstances, your psychic and mystic tendencies could be awakened. The key to a more harmonious existence lies in using your organizing ability to establish a more active life. You possess a high degree of innate ambition and perseverance.

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Read the rest of this entry »

Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung is a healing mantra that means “I am Total”, or literally translates to “I am Thou”.

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Ra is sun
Ma is moon
Da is earth
Sa is self.

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So you are finishing the cycle of the earth, moon and sun — You are whole. You are Total.

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I think the word grace sums up how I would like to live my life in the year 2010!

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grace |grās|

noun

simple elegance or refinement of movement : she moved through the water with effortless grace.

• courteous goodwill : at least he has the grace to admit his debt to her.

• (graces) an attractively polite manner of behaving : she has all the social graces.

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1. Wear high heels
When I restarted leahbrier.com I wrote a post about adding heels into my everyday wardrobe. I haven’t been really successful, but I’m hoping the new year will kick me into high-heeled gear. Its great for my legs, my butt, my posture and my overall confidence!

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2. Find a man who buys me flowers
It can’t possibly be that hard. I like Hydrangeas, they’re my favorite!

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3. Add to my collection of (read 2) Buddhas
I have had a fuzzy pink buddha for years and my best friend Liz added to my collection this year (coincidentally on the same day I decided to start a collection). The big belly makes me happy and aspects of Buddhism really speak to me.

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4. Concentrate, meditate, negotiate
Its my way of saying that I need to do things that let me make choices for myself that are both well thought out and thought provoking. These include yoga, spending more time outdoors, continuing to blog, consider writing a book, reading more and begin taking photos again.

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5. Buy a proper vacuum
I have a part chia pet carpet that sheds more than a long haired cat. The old Dyson isn’t cutting it anymore and I would be doing most of my wardrobe (75% of which is black) a huge favor!

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6. Floss
Noah, Leila and I all go to the same dentist (Dr. Debbie Lee — I highly recommend her) but going has become worse than the normal dentist visit. Dr. Lee, and the rest of the seeing world, realizes Leila has some of the most gorgeous teeth. Consequently all Noah and I hear about while in her chair is about how Leila’s pearly whites are the best in the family. At my last appointment I finally I asked, in my competitive younger sibling way, who had better teeth between my brother and me. She didn’t want to say flat out that mine are better, but its clearly what she meant, but she did say Noah won the best flossing award. I guess this is more of a race/bet/wager with myself that in the next 6 months my flossing will kick his flossing ass!

I was privileged to see the amazing mannequins of Adel Rootstein during their most recent showing at their NYC gallery. Just like my first time seeing these magnificent works of art, I was completely blown me away. The intricate detail and beauty in these mannequins is hard to describe.

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(Thank you Leonard Wiltshire, my fashion mentor, for the pictures)

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I learned about Adel and her amazing mannequins during a visual merchandising class in college. For those of you who don’t know much this industry may need some background:

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“Continuing Adel Rootstein‘s philosophy of constant innovation and boundless creativity, we at Rootstein create mannequins which embrace and translate the spirit of fashion for a commercial audience, providing the key visual merchandising tools for truly inspirational visual theatre.”

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Pictures after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Two things that never cease to inspire me to dream and fantasize about the future — the great outdoors and great art.

“There is nothing like a dream to create the future” — Victor Hugo

I have been feeling restless and having trouble finding inspiration. I decided to cheer myself up, and get out of the little pouty hole I have fallen into, by looking at some pictures that make me smile, make me happy and remind me of the beauty and art all around us!

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It’s a gloomy day, perfect for a photo pick-me-up. Enjoy!

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PS: Have I mentioned my current obsession with Poladroid?

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Photo creds:
Give and Receive
Pretty Dresses
Heartland
John Simonelli