Hugs Nora and Jon. Moving on is bittersweet. I awoke on Saturday to an email giving me 90 day non renewal notice on my apartment. This will make the 3rd unwanted move in under 24 months. Sigh. I am holding on hard to “It always works out”, see our comment on “I don’t know, it’s a mystery?” from a couple weeks ago. In the back of my mind I have been contemplating a cross country move to Indiana to combine finances with my child who is working through a PhD program. Now I am searching to see what pieces fall into place.
I just wanted to wish you and Jon many BLESSINGS moving forward. I love your writing (that I now have time to read). I wish I had had the time before your imminent departure to know you better. This piece made me get to know you so much better. Thank you.
That's so much to hold! Glad you seem to be having numerous opportunities to gather and share time/space with friends and neighbors these last few weeks. I hope the future occupant and/or neighbors get to enjoy the mulberries, lemons, and all of the other growing things, and, for certain, you and Jon have left your mark on the Ojai in love, social justice, community building and so much more - which will continue to grow and flourish in the hearts and minds of those with whom you've connected.
Katie & Thomas visited this weekend and Katie purchased her car, got her permit and drove on roads! It was an exciting weekend - full of connection and activity. I also gave Katie a Reiki 1 attunement to which she said an unequivocal - "Yes!" Mom showed up - surprising us yesterday afternoon.
My body is doing its peri-menopausal thing, which seems to be - whatever the fuck it wants, whenever the fuck it wants to do it, and life, in general, seems to be moving quickly . . . not necessarily bad, but a definite uptick.
I got full body goose bumps when you mentioned the poem someone sent you.
We moved 13 times the first 4 years we were here, from housesitting to 3 one year rentals and constant moving short term, all the while either homeschooling our 6-10 yo Hannah or keeping her consistently enrolled in a great tiny school. 2 months in Mexico and then synchronicitically to our acre and building a house. That was 2000 when we at long last settled. I literally almost lost my mind. I remember one middle of the night going into the living of our very temporary house sit...holding my hands up, balling crying asking why why why, please angels help us get settled. And it happened. ( 1 year later). Not that this story has anything to do with your situation but I understand the grief, I suffered leaving beloved stable Vermont.
Here in Santa Fe we are missing a few things, soil and water... hence, gardening is sooooo impossible. ( well with a Herculean effort, maybe).
Why am I telling you all this?
I am so glad you guys are keeping sane and having the love of the communities acknowledge your love and greatness.
Beautiful share Nora. I can really feel the love and appreciation for the people, places, food, and nature you have to leave behind. As Kelli said, the bittersweet stage of moving on! 🫶
I’m coming back to center, but it’s like my center itself has moved after all the big shifts this past month. I understand that April is the biggest month of this year energetically and astrologically speaking - I’m glad to be at the end of it! So much has moved through me I’ve noticed it’s hard to get back in my body properly, even a walk in nature is not doing what it normally would to help me feel grounded. It’s like I’m missing a density I’m used to and adjusting to this new lighter version of myself. I need some serious integration time. I’ve been such a space cadet that a few days ago after coming home from the grocery store I completely forgot to shut my front door after the cats ran out and I propped it open for them to have a sniff around and a chew on some grass. As a woman living on her own, and normally very safety oriented I was in complete shock when I came back downstairs the next day to find I had left it like that for a full 24 hours!! I thanked my angels for keeping me safe (they have been pretty busy with me the last couple weeks, even driving has been weird! Accidentally hitting the gas instead of the brake pedal lol) and wondered if I might have needed to evict something from my space lol. Hoping for a boring, grounded, and peaceful May!
Best wishes to you for your last moments in Ojai. Trust you will squeeze all the last drops of goodness out of them! 🥰 🫶 🍎 🌈
Thank you so much, Jess. What a wonderful summation of this period of time and the massive changes energetically that are facilitating big moves for us all.
I relate to what you share here so immensely. The energies have been insane and honestly have yet to slow down as I had expected them to. The need for integration is so real as well as figuring out what moving in this new way looks and feels like.
It touches my heart that you and Jon left the land more beautiful and abundant than when you arrived. I haven’t had time to read all of your posts since you found out you would have to relocate. Last I read, your landlord or part of his family would be reclaiming the house. I hope they appreciate all you did to care for the place.
I know good byes to spaces and places can be sad and bittersweet. There have been departures when I packed, barely paused, and drove off. That was my initial move to CA driving a 1966 Dodge Dart without AC alone all across the US in May of 1980. I do think that departure was harder on my mother, but she had left her home state too so she never told me how hard it was until years later.
There were other places when I took the moment to sit alone in the space one last time. The first one I deeply recall was a space where I’d taught sewing classes starting within a few months of landing in LA. The classes were going to continue in another location. Looking back I see why it felt so important to say good bye to the space because it was there that I first met friends who are still my friends to this day.
After the movers and haul away guy have vacated the things, I encourage you and Jon to take a few minutes to honor the space. Laugh, cry, whatever feels right. I trust you will have a marvelous new chapter and thanks to the blessing of the internet you won’t be disappearing.
I send you love and blessings for safe travels and marvelous adventures💕
It’s so beautiful to get to be a witness in your journey through all the stages of this move and transition. I continue to feel honored and grateful for the ways you’re including us in your journey. The beauty and grief and depth in your share was palpable throughout. I’m so glad you are being held and loved on and cared for so deeply.
In my world, things have evened out with Chris in a good way. Glitchiness is gone and the relationship is deepening in some really lovely ways. I’m realizing that this is the first time I’m approaching romantic relationship actually being in my body and doing it as a more integrated person and it’s so good and also so different and challenging too. I have to move much more slowly and care for all my parts, each with lots of different feelings, at each stage.
That said, the heaviness and bigness of the energies today and over the weekend have totally knocked me over. I moved through a ton of stuff around how blocked and closed my womb felt yesterday, lots of anxiety, body stuff, and then today was all sorts of activation around work. This project that totally overwhelms my system everytime I touch it, that I’ve tried to communicate and ask for help with, but I’m realizing I haven’t just said no to it, which is actually what’s true. I’ve still been trying to make it work, be a team player, not create hardship for others, etc, to the detriment of myself.
I guess there’s something about my no’s getting more nuanced and expressed. More permission for them in general which creates more ease in feeling the true nos vs things that maybe activate feelings but aren’t actually a no. The more nos are simply allowed, the less entangled it all becomes, or something like that.
Anyway, I’m sending a lot of love to you and the crew in your journey ahead. May you, and all of us, be guided on our way 💜🙏🏼✨
Thank you so much, Helen, beautiful share from you as always. So happy to hear that you and Chris are finding a healthy and loving rhythm. Sending love right back.
Beautiful 🌿
Thank you :)
Hugs Nora and Jon. Moving on is bittersweet. I awoke on Saturday to an email giving me 90 day non renewal notice on my apartment. This will make the 3rd unwanted move in under 24 months. Sigh. I am holding on hard to “It always works out”, see our comment on “I don’t know, it’s a mystery?” from a couple weeks ago. In the back of my mind I have been contemplating a cross country move to Indiana to combine finances with my child who is working through a PhD program. Now I am searching to see what pieces fall into place.
Wishing you all the best, Kelli. I am so sorry to hear you're having to move again.
Kelli, I send you love and good vibes for all to come together with ease and grace.
I just wanted to wish you and Jon many BLESSINGS moving forward. I love your writing (that I now have time to read). I wish I had had the time before your imminent departure to know you better. This piece made me get to know you so much better. Thank you.
Thank you, Gayle. Much love
That's so much to hold! Glad you seem to be having numerous opportunities to gather and share time/space with friends and neighbors these last few weeks. I hope the future occupant and/or neighbors get to enjoy the mulberries, lemons, and all of the other growing things, and, for certain, you and Jon have left your mark on the Ojai in love, social justice, community building and so much more - which will continue to grow and flourish in the hearts and minds of those with whom you've connected.
Katie & Thomas visited this weekend and Katie purchased her car, got her permit and drove on roads! It was an exciting weekend - full of connection and activity. I also gave Katie a Reiki 1 attunement to which she said an unequivocal - "Yes!" Mom showed up - surprising us yesterday afternoon.
My body is doing its peri-menopausal thing, which seems to be - whatever the fuck it wants, whenever the fuck it wants to do it, and life, in general, seems to be moving quickly . . . not necessarily bad, but a definite uptick.
Much love to you and Jon and all of the pups!!
What a beautiful share, thank you.
Yay for Katie!!! Driving and Reiki I!!!
Love to you and your body
So hard yet so much adventure awaits!
Thank you and yes :)
In a better world, everyone would be able to live without undue hardship wherever their heart lives.
Meanwhile, I'm off to Liverpool for most of May. So at least I can visit where my heart is.
Wishing you the most wonderful adventures, Faith!
Right back atcha.
Tears in my eyes because I know what this is like... to say goodbye in big ways and little ways. Wishing you a smooth journey and happy landing.
PS my dog Lyra knows the word adventure and her whole self perks up when she hears it.
Thank you so much. Oh, I love this about Lyra
I got full body goose bumps when you mentioned the poem someone sent you.
We moved 13 times the first 4 years we were here, from housesitting to 3 one year rentals and constant moving short term, all the while either homeschooling our 6-10 yo Hannah or keeping her consistently enrolled in a great tiny school. 2 months in Mexico and then synchronicitically to our acre and building a house. That was 2000 when we at long last settled. I literally almost lost my mind. I remember one middle of the night going into the living of our very temporary house sit...holding my hands up, balling crying asking why why why, please angels help us get settled. And it happened. ( 1 year later). Not that this story has anything to do with your situation but I understand the grief, I suffered leaving beloved stable Vermont.
Here in Santa Fe we are missing a few things, soil and water... hence, gardening is sooooo impossible. ( well with a Herculean effort, maybe).
Why am I telling you all this?
I am so glad you guys are keeping sane and having the love of the communities acknowledge your love and greatness.
I do.
Thank you so much for sharing. The dogs just finished their last meal in this house as I was reading your beautiful share. See you soon :)
More full body goosebumps
Beautiful share Nora. I can really feel the love and appreciation for the people, places, food, and nature you have to leave behind. As Kelli said, the bittersweet stage of moving on! 🫶
I’m coming back to center, but it’s like my center itself has moved after all the big shifts this past month. I understand that April is the biggest month of this year energetically and astrologically speaking - I’m glad to be at the end of it! So much has moved through me I’ve noticed it’s hard to get back in my body properly, even a walk in nature is not doing what it normally would to help me feel grounded. It’s like I’m missing a density I’m used to and adjusting to this new lighter version of myself. I need some serious integration time. I’ve been such a space cadet that a few days ago after coming home from the grocery store I completely forgot to shut my front door after the cats ran out and I propped it open for them to have a sniff around and a chew on some grass. As a woman living on her own, and normally very safety oriented I was in complete shock when I came back downstairs the next day to find I had left it like that for a full 24 hours!! I thanked my angels for keeping me safe (they have been pretty busy with me the last couple weeks, even driving has been weird! Accidentally hitting the gas instead of the brake pedal lol) and wondered if I might have needed to evict something from my space lol. Hoping for a boring, grounded, and peaceful May!
Best wishes to you for your last moments in Ojai. Trust you will squeeze all the last drops of goodness out of them! 🥰 🫶 🍎 🌈
Thank you so much, Jess. What a wonderful summation of this period of time and the massive changes energetically that are facilitating big moves for us all.
I relate to what you share here so immensely. The energies have been insane and honestly have yet to slow down as I had expected them to. The need for integration is so real as well as figuring out what moving in this new way looks and feels like.
Nice to know we’re not alone in our experiences at this crazy time! 🤪🫶🥰
It touches my heart that you and Jon left the land more beautiful and abundant than when you arrived. I haven’t had time to read all of your posts since you found out you would have to relocate. Last I read, your landlord or part of his family would be reclaiming the house. I hope they appreciate all you did to care for the place.
I know good byes to spaces and places can be sad and bittersweet. There have been departures when I packed, barely paused, and drove off. That was my initial move to CA driving a 1966 Dodge Dart without AC alone all across the US in May of 1980. I do think that departure was harder on my mother, but she had left her home state too so she never told me how hard it was until years later.
There were other places when I took the moment to sit alone in the space one last time. The first one I deeply recall was a space where I’d taught sewing classes starting within a few months of landing in LA. The classes were going to continue in another location. Looking back I see why it felt so important to say good bye to the space because it was there that I first met friends who are still my friends to this day.
After the movers and haul away guy have vacated the things, I encourage you and Jon to take a few minutes to honor the space. Laugh, cry, whatever feels right. I trust you will have a marvelous new chapter and thanks to the blessing of the internet you won’t be disappearing.
I send you love and blessings for safe travels and marvelous adventures💕
Thank you so much, Carol, and thank you for your beautiful share.
It’s so beautiful to get to be a witness in your journey through all the stages of this move and transition. I continue to feel honored and grateful for the ways you’re including us in your journey. The beauty and grief and depth in your share was palpable throughout. I’m so glad you are being held and loved on and cared for so deeply.
In my world, things have evened out with Chris in a good way. Glitchiness is gone and the relationship is deepening in some really lovely ways. I’m realizing that this is the first time I’m approaching romantic relationship actually being in my body and doing it as a more integrated person and it’s so good and also so different and challenging too. I have to move much more slowly and care for all my parts, each with lots of different feelings, at each stage.
That said, the heaviness and bigness of the energies today and over the weekend have totally knocked me over. I moved through a ton of stuff around how blocked and closed my womb felt yesterday, lots of anxiety, body stuff, and then today was all sorts of activation around work. This project that totally overwhelms my system everytime I touch it, that I’ve tried to communicate and ask for help with, but I’m realizing I haven’t just said no to it, which is actually what’s true. I’ve still been trying to make it work, be a team player, not create hardship for others, etc, to the detriment of myself.
I guess there’s something about my no’s getting more nuanced and expressed. More permission for them in general which creates more ease in feeling the true nos vs things that maybe activate feelings but aren’t actually a no. The more nos are simply allowed, the less entangled it all becomes, or something like that.
Anyway, I’m sending a lot of love to you and the crew in your journey ahead. May you, and all of us, be guided on our way 💜🙏🏼✨
Thank you so much, Helen, beautiful share from you as always. So happy to hear that you and Chris are finding a healthy and loving rhythm. Sending love right back.