The Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Thank you, Peter Stockinger of Stars and Stones, for this award!  I have admired Peter’s work and his excellent blog posts for awhile now, and particularly love his posts on upcoming Solar and Lunar Eclipses, since he takes a more traditional or classical approach.  So really, I am honored to receive this from him! 🙂

In reviewing his list, I happen to notice that I would have also awarded these excellent astrology bloggers, including ElsaElsa and DarkStar Astrology!  It is my hope that I will spotlight other bloggers who are also worthy and deserving.

But before we go further, here are the terms if the nominated bloggers wish to participate (and no, I will not expect participation; this is totally voluntary):

1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. State 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award and link to them.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the awards requirements.

So – why don’t I begin with seven things about me!

1. After living far from my birthplace for most of my life (much of this in California), for the last nine years I have lived less than 2 miles from my remote Western Montana birthplace (which isn’t even a hospital anymore).
2. Favorite cuisines are (not surprisingly) Mexican and Italian, especially in an “al fresco” way – favorite meal is breakfast.  I am not that crazy about fish, and do not care for coconut, candy peppermint, or super hot/spicy foods (and have skin reactions with peanuts – so Thai food is out, since it combines many of these).
3. I taught myself crochet when I was 12, and this talent served me when transitioning from a decade of being a legal secretary toward my eventual profession as an astrologer, author and herbalist.  How?  I made hats with hemp and other yarns for the alternative-lifestyle crowd (and sometimes I still do as the “Crochet Goddess” hehe!)  I started this when I lived in the Raleigh, NC area in the late 1990’s quite by accident: I had won tickets to Lollapalooza and needed good sandals to attend the concert when I ended up in a hippie store.  I was wearing a halter top and necklace I crocheted (that had a vial in it where I kept my aromatherapy blend) and the owner asked me on-the-spot if I could make tams that had hemp yarn since he couldn’t keep them in the store.  That grew to more stores, festivals and eventually the internet by 2000.
4. My deep spiritual awakening happened on the exact date of my first 1993 Saturn Return before I even knew what that was.  It happened through crystals and gemstones, which days later led to astrology deeper than sun signs (and as a Capricorn, I find that amusing).  Regardless of sleepless nights studying as a full-time working single mother with little support, I was hooked and never thought it would become my career by 2000!  For this I am very grateful.
5. In 2005, when visiting San Diego, I took a break from the Comic-Con and decided to visit a belly-dancing event that was next door to a body-mind-spirit event (virtually two-for-one).  I wanted to attend a palm reading class, but read the program wrong – and ended up in a room where the lecturer was showing people how to meet their spirit guides.  After going through the exercise (which turned out for me quite different than her narration of a visual journey), and after becoming a professional astrologer, tarot reader and dowser, I was told to “go back to my roots” where I then had a strong sensation I was underground.  Contemplation told me I needed to learn herbalism as my clients would need this type of healing as well as astrology.  In 2006, spirit allowed me to manifest about $5,000 worth of training for about $1,800 in out-of-pocket costs if I completed the 3-year curriculum in 1 year – and I did!  I got 93% when I tested for my MH (Master Herbalist Diploma) in 2007.  I had to get my head out of the sky and look at the earth to see very similar relationships:  Planets, Plants; As above, so below!
6. I am currently enrolled in vigorous 4-year training as a Student Homeopath through David Little’s highly-esteemed and well-reputed online school, and just like astrology (and just like herbalism), it is changing me on deep levels to where I will not be able to view things the same way ever again.  My enthusiasm after six months of contemplation and research, including a collection of links for resources, allowed me to win 2nd place in a contest for creating (and I quote), “the most useful group for homeopathy students on the internet” through Dr. Manish Bhatia’s awesome homeopathy portal, Hpathy.com!  My prize was several homeopathy books in hard-copy I needed for my studies and I am ever so thankful for this!  He even added our group to his drop-down menu so students could quickly navigate his site and find the group!
7. If you can’t tell, I love learning – and usually end up making whatever I learn part my profession!  I have visited more than 2/3 of the states all over the mainland of the USA and one day hope to visit many countries in Europe, Australia and New Zealand – and maybe even Egypt, India and portions of South America!

And NOW??  The Nominees, in no particular order (Drumroll…..):

1.  Donna Woodwell of Four Moons Astrology @lunalicious

2. April Elliott Kent of Big Sky Astrology @bigskyastrology

3. Eric Francis of PlanetWaves.net @PlanetWaves

4. Kim Falconer and her blog, 11th House @KimFalconer

5. Janet Boyer  @JanetBoyer

6. Brigit of Biddy Tarot @biddytarot

7. Bonnie Cehovet, Tarot Reader and Reviewer @bonnie_cehovet

8. Pip Miller, Energy Healer, Book Reviewer and Paleo Diet Enthusiast @HHandsOfLight

9. Lisa F. Lloyd of Tarotize.com @LisaFLloyd

10. Susun Weed’s eNewsletter and the Wise Women Weblog (not to mention the Forum and University) @susunweed

11. Kiva Rose of Bear Medicine Herbals @TheSpineWitch

12. Kristine Brown of Herbal Roots Zine @herbalrootszine

13. John Gallagher of LearningHerbs.com @herbmentor

14. Katie Gallanti of Cosmic Perspectives @KatieGallanti

The last but not least (though off-topic compared to my other awards):

15. Brian Clark of Copyblogger @copyblogger

PLEASE see the right-hand column (my “blogroll”) for MANY other excellent blogger choices in a variety of subjects!

Thank you for stopping by today – hoping to provide some inspiration for you!