Keeping Abreast of Ellen

It's Christmas Eve! Well it was when I wrote this post. It really doesn’t bother me that I didn’t get to publish it yesterday as soon as my last sentence was typed. It is also no skin off my wrinkly nose that I was only able to do one very quick edit at 11:55 p.m., thereby ensuring this message would not reach you on Christmas Eve, given that it wasn’t travelling on Santa’s sleigh. Not.a.problem. My message is out now, and you are reading it, and that is all that matters in the end, right? So here it is, my Christmas message to you.  Note: While it is unarguably Christmas-related, it has been, as with all of my writings, scripted with every human, animal, spirit and holder of space in mind, so applicable to all. I just have a bone to pick with Christmas and it’s been simmering into the perfect storm of a broth for years…so get ready for a tasty yet powerful punch!  Let’s restart… It's Christmas Day! I am sending so much love and light to all of you, my family, friends and once...

On Sunday I attended a Fireside Teaching and Healing Workshop with Jenny (Sâwanohk) Sutherland. Jenny is the visionary and owner of the Misiwe Ni Relations Healing Lodge , an Indigenous Healer, and a registered psychotherapist. During our workshop she took our small circle of four through a smudging ceremony and a fireside chat on how being in the winter season and especially the stress of December's expectations depletes our energy and increases our anxiety. Sunday's session was all about restoring our energy through the power of connectedness, intention and a guided journey which left me filled with euphoria and peace, not to mention, more energy than I've felt in many moons! Two lasting pieces of wisdom stood out from our morning together: First, we all come from water and we must constantly work to replenish it. This is more than the futile promise I've made to myself all these years, "I really need to drink more water". No, I need to actually DO it, not j...

To quote Lady Whistledown, and because I feel strongly that this update (though far from gossip), is worthy of your time and readership, I will lead with: Dear Gentle Reader, Sequels are generally overrated. Mine is no exception. I have been toiling for months over how best and when to communicate this difficult news to you. I settled on today as I am now seven months in, have dusted off my figurative pen, and truly have cause to give thanks.  For those who need me to cut to the chase, here goes: Cancer has come knocking again. In fact it didn't knock, it let itself in through an open window and has taken up residence. Although it's contained to a few adjoining rooms (abdominal lymph nodes, ribs and pelvis), uninvited guests can travel in packs, so my awesome medical team and I are keeping a watchful eye for new squatters.  Those interested in how this story unfolds can  follow my new Facebook Page , Keeping Abreast of Ellen, where I'll soon post updates on key milestones...