They are a revelation, they are a delight, they are also beautifully addictive.

I am of course talking about the  trilogy of erotic novels written so well by Londoner – EL James, a woman, a mother and a storyteller of skill.

When I first heard about these books I was a little skeptical then I thought, if these books are getting couples re-interested or even talking about sex, if they are getting women out of  their comfort zones and thinking well then I gotta get me some of that.

The first one arrived and I devoured it, much like Christian devoured Ana. I loved it, the points of connection/attraction reflected my own, it was a full sensory attraction.

He appealed to her intellect ( I say it again MEN – stimulate my mind and you got me)

He knew what he wanted – None of those ‘I don’t know, what do you want to do” conversations.

He took charge in the bedroom  to ensure they both got pleasure – BOTH!!! Gasp!

O the Orgasms- cataclysmic, earth shattering and for the Love of God where can I get me one of them!

Now I didn’t know much about BDSM, apart from the odd flutter with a partner from years back but what I read was…shall we say.. interesting? Parts I definitely want to try – others eeek, not for me.

I learned that I have hard limits! Wow, I never knew. Thanks Ms James

I realised I still have things I want to experience sexually. Oh Ms James – what have you done?

By the second and third books I was utterly hooked, totally invested in what happened to the characters and oh so sad when I read the last chapter – what next?

It has opened up a whole new set of posts yet to be written as I have gone into serious research mode.

Please Ms James – tell me you are busy writing some more…? I and I’m sure many others are sitting here waiting waiting….

What a delight, to have intelligent, sexy and erotic literature that has got the world looking at what goes on in their bedrooms,playrooms and relationships.

Bravo Ms James Bravo!

Per my earlier post on my 50th year I am now ready to share what I hope is a bloody good belly laugh with you. Get the kettle on girls and boys, it’s a good ‘un.

I got it into my head that I wanted to learn the art of Burlesque, the tease. Fun and frolics – what better for my year of experiencing new things.

Living through my 8th Perth summer you would think I might have timed it better……My first lesson began at the beginning of February when the temperatures were around 38 Celsius at 8pm when the classes started it might have dropped to around 30.

There were about 10 women in the class and we each introduced ourselves and said why we were there. Turns out I was the oldest and when I shared my mantra for the year “Fuck it I’m 50″ I got a rather nice round of applause.

Without further ado – we were straight into it, here’s a run down:

Week One

OK girls grab a chair from the back of the room! Which we did. we then proceeded to gyrate, throw our legs in places mine had not been since my son was conceived!!! We straddled it, stood on it and splayed out our legs on it… with our bums tucked at the bottom of the chair seat we even wrapped our legs over it. Somehow, God was smiling on me at this stage I think,  I managed to do all of that. I was sweating profusely by the end of the class and had gone way beyond red faced to a sort of purple breathless – in need of a defibrillator- heap!

The rest of the class was pale by comparison, walking to a particular musical number and doing the bottom pout, you know where you half bend and stick your bum out pertly – well at 50 ‘pert’ is a distant memory…..However I tried

You know it – woke up the next day and could not move – could   NOT    move. Let me say it again COULD NOT MOVE

It took approximately 3 days before I could move freely again, just enough time for my internal 30 year old mind to convinve my 50 year old body – Go for IT! Oh Dear…….so on we go to:

Week Two

Yes this was the 40+ temp week and I rocked up for week two’s lesson already hot and bothered. Week two was all about the floor, swishing legs and resting back on your forearms and sort of cycling your legs provocatively, well I tried to look provocative, I think it ended up more like, apopletic, hot sweaty and slippery, at one stage my arms were so wet I kept slipping on the floor, which roughly translated to  my not being able to hold my legs up for long enough (as the actress said to the Bishop -boom tish! ) So a supposed provocative cycle and knee bending circle ending up looking like a  fish that has just been tossed into the back of the boat!

As I left I felt really sore, I knew I was going to pay for it later….and yep right again Jane!

At the chiropractor a few days later….after he had adjusted my back, neck, arms, shoulders and yes, even my thumb I was reconsidering my decision on Burlesque, it was clearly trying to kill me!

After a sheepish email to the teacher I have deferred class until :

a) the temperature is low enough to not melt the tyres on the car

b) I finally learn to do things to MY level of ability which may not match the class and that’s OK.

Hopefully I can complete very soon, yep that’s it – Burlesque or Bust baby!!

Well here we are May already and I see how long it is since I have written and am amazed at how life can sometimes take over.

Last May as I celebrated turning 50 I set myself the challenge of doing things I had never done before. This last year has seen me:

Take classes in Burlesque – OMG I will never look at a chair the same way a very funny blog to come…

Get my first ever spray tan – I love brown and tanned boobies, especially my own! (more to follow)

Sort out friends from not friends (that deserves a blog on its own…..)

Get really clear on me and my life direction (more to follow.)

Such a short list yet it has been such a year of learning, accepting, letting go, surrendering and reflection.

Being 50 has been fabulous, I feel like I have really come into my own. Empowered in my Divine Feminine – Wow! what better way to mark this milestone year than……a NUDE (Yes Ethel she said NUDE!!!) photoshoot.

I wanted all of my 50th year experiences captured in a series of shots that showed ME, my 50 year old body that has  as you would imagine been through a fair bit. No airbrushing, just me, claiming my Goddess Within…phew!

I know a great photographer, Gillian Berry, (check out www.dragancaor.net or on facebook Gillian B Photography)  I was speaking to her about my ideas on this and after taking a deep breath and shouting YES to her offer I drove to her home where she has a studio set up and after being put so at ease by her – I did it!! We got some great shots of ME, just me, a tastefully draped chiffon scarf and my authentic self. It was fantastic.

What a liberating and empowering experience. Fun, laughter and some great shots that may never see the light of day except to the ‘chosen few.’

But – I WILL KNOW!

Not bad eh? 50 and still pushing the boat out. Gotta love that!

Applications to become on of the ‘chosen few’ will be considered but not necessarily accepted

Is that a strange question? Or would it be better phrased as ‘who do you think you are’?

I used to think I knew then I studied archetypes and I got me at a whole other level. If any of you have ever read any of Caroline Myss’ work you will know she is a lady of high intelligence and integrity. She is also an amazing teacher.

What I learned from her is that to  truly know who you are is a on going and inward journey. It takes stamina and honesty and is sprinkled with humility and gratitude. The journey in takes you to your soul, your innermost space.

So what  else do you need for such a journey? You need commitment. This isn’t something you can start and then walk away from, its like once you have opened the lid you can’t unopen it. The contents will not fit back in.

This quest will take you on a rollercoaster, a road that twists and turns and takes you down deep valleys and will see you crest peaks of knowledge that give you dominion of yourself.

It is not for the faint of heart,iIt is for those of you who want to know yourself fully and without censorship.

Once you do you will never look at anything the same way again – that’s a fact!

If you want to learn what your personal suite of 12 archetypes are further information can be found on www.integralarchetypes.com where you will have access to a listing of archetypes.

Alternatively you can email me for a free 10 minute consult to find out more about this amazing process.

Well is it? A duck that is…

I’m asking coz for a while now I have been observing Facebook traffic and Twitter posts and wondering if I am the only person in the whole wide world that sees lots of quacking from things purporting to be ducks but that are  not actually ducks…..?

I pondered long and hard on whether to write this post then thought what I see lacking in a lot of other posts is the integrity that is my number one value and driver in all I do.

If I f**k up I normally share that! If I succeed I share that too, what I will never do is claim things I have not either done or had experience of. Nor will I promote myself to a level that I am not genuinely working from. Does that make me odd? Does it put me at a disadvantage from those who would? I would like to believe that the average person who views my posts and blogs would have the heart to know the difference.

Will those that don’t know the difference and those that get attracted by the ‘bright shiny’ find the person that they need to learn from in order to understand discernment?

Am I naive? – don’t think so, maybe I am.  What do you reckon?

Do I want to change my approach and start saying things that are not an outright untruth but certainly a ‘stretch’ ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! What I do is personal and professional and the personal is heavily emphasized.

So over to you dear reader – what are your thoughts on the ‘traffic’ of Facebook and Twitter and more importantly how do you find what you want within its content?

Would love to know

Thought that was a better title than ‘The Hanged Man” For that is the card I picked at random for this weeks card.

It is asking you to look at a situation from every conceivable angle, not just ‘head on’, upside, downside, left, right, you name it, check out the situation from it. It highlights to us that things often need to be turned on their heads to make sense. When you do, the light of illumination appears at your head, (this is the same that is shown in the Hermits lamp )

It warns that if you do not look at every angle, you will stagnate and that can lead to depression, as you begin to think there is no way to change. No way out as it were.You know the old saying of doing the same thing and expecting different results?  Well that is what the Hanged Man can signify.

When this card appears in a reading I often ask the client what they are not seeing, or choosing not to deal with, that can open the dialogue to what is going on for them and in that way I can help them see possibility that may have escaped them for the moment.

You know how that can be right? Can’t see the wood for the trees…good way to describe this card.

Until the next time

I drew a card today that is very appropriate for me today, don;t you love it when that happens. Its like you are being told what you secretly know inside but are a little unsure to say out loud!

The card in question is the Queen of Pentacles, pentacles, or coins as some people prefer to call them, represent money.  This Queen is all about providing for others, often at the cost of themselves. In this day and age, Super Mum would totally identify with this Queen.

You know those women who have rosters on the fridge for lunches and wehre the kids have to be, works in the home and at an office, cooks up a storm and keeps on top of everything – except her own needs. this can and often leads to burn out and if left unattended to for too long, resentment.

When I see this card in a reading I know I am dealing with a nurturing, caring and compassionate soul, I just need to remind her to put herself on her list of ‘things to do’. She is a great and supportive friend, there is a sensuousness to her as well. What’s not to love about the Queen of Pentacles

Why was it a gift for me to see it today? Made me realise that I have been neglecting myself recently so today I did the opposite. I looked after myself and boy do I feel better for it!

Gotta love tarot..

Question for you – What is your preferred method of learning? Huh?

Do you like to read books (shock horror ) or instruction manuals before attempting a task?

Do you prefer to watch someone complete a task then copy them?

Do you like to do the task yourself with someone instructing you verbally when you felt it necessary?

Do you need to see a blueprint/diagram and then copy it?

There is no right or wrong way to learn anything, however we do all have a leaning to a more specific way of receiving information. This is called our Preferred Representational System. Yep that’s a mouthful…

In simple terms it means we each have a way of processing data input that allows us to act on the information in a timely manner. To break it down further:

Those who devour books and read every letter of an instruction manual before creating your own action steps you would be Audio Digital, that is whilst you are reading the words you are re processing them into your own interpretation (that makes sense to you) and acting accordingly. You can tend to live in your head, analysing and rationalizing are second nature to you.

For those who like to complete the task yourself with instructions being given as necessary are Kinesthetic, that is you like to ‘feel’ what it is you are completing. You process your information by how it makes you feel. You can tend to live in your heart.

The Watchers are Visual, they need to see it done and copy it. They can be great map readers! As they are able to visualise the route clearly. They need to see to believe.

For those who need to hear the instructions whilst following them would be Audio, the need for guidance is there and once it is received and acted on they are happy to proceed. They can tend to need confirmation of their role.

OK that’s all well and good I hear you say….but just think about it…if you are a Manager or Team Leader or about to employ more staff….

What would it be like to “know” how your new team member processed their information?

You would know exactly how to train them to get the maximum results in the minimum amount of time….

Sound good?

Want to know more? then email me for more information.

I got the idea for a series of blogs the other day whilst sipping coffee in the food court of my local shopping mall.

What I plan to do over the coming months is to share stories of what it truly means to be of service and to share with you what an impact even a small act of service can make to any given situation.

I also think it’s about time we got to share positives in regard to service as so many times its only the negatives that get a mention. Don’t you?

So there I was sipping coffee, quietly anonymous, or so I thought. Sitting on the table next to me were two elderly ladies, chatting away. One was ever so frail in stature, the other more substantial. The cleaning lady for the food court came along and interrupted their chat by asking the frailer of the two if she wanted to have curly hair she ought to eat her crusts! This made both of them smile. The she said to her, ‘If you don’t finish all your sandwich you can’t have a cake’ This made her laugh out loud. “I mean it” she threatened as she cleaned tables, “You’ll never be big and strong if you don’t eat all your sandwich”

As she turned to another table the elderly lady poked her tongue out and in that instance I saw the mischievous child in her, alive and well and brought out to play by the cleaners gentle way.

I laughed with the ladies and she said to me, about the cleaner, ‘She is so kind, she always stops for a chat; I really appreciate that”

So did I. The cleaner was smiling the whole time she did her job, chatting to several people, smiling at Mum and kids, she had a word for everyone.

It showed me that no matter what job you have, however lofty you think you are in your role, nothing beats good old fashioned one on one contact. The simple act of saying hello, of asking how are you today? can be the difference that makes a difference to someone’s otherwise troublesome or weary day.

Now that’s what I call service.

Until the next time – would love for you to start sharing your good service experiences, even just noting them will make a difference to you.

Here’s a kicker…how about you start practicing great service yourself???

Jeez – controversial or what!

FEAR – false emotions appearing real and many other euphemisms that try and explain away  this very real emotion. The cause of fear can be as many as grains of sand on a beach

What do you do when you wake up at 3 in the morning, your heart racing and your mind going a million miles an hour? What does it take for you to settle yourself back down and get back to sleep?

For myself I take a few deep breaths, place my hands over my heart and solar plexus chakras and give myself reiki until the thoughts slow and stop and the calming energy and heat settles me. I also pray, giving thanks for my life and all those in it. I pray for others I know may be going through a tough time and I pray for the world.

Prayer…..! I hear you gasp, where’s the exit button? But you know what? the power of prayer is quite amazing. God, Buddha, Goddess, Divinity, whatever name or word connects you to that which you sense is bigger than yourself, something your inner knowing recognizes as Sacred.

It leads on nicely into FAITH – have we lost it? When we turned our backs on religion did we turn our backs on faith too? What have we learned from the political correctness that plagues our lives? That we dilute and remove to soothe others rather than standing for what we have faith in?

What do you believe in, I mean truly with all your heart believe in? What does Faith mean to you? I would LOVE you to start thinking about and discussing it here or with friends and family.

I recently read a great book by Gregg Braden called the Secrets of the Lost Mode of Prayer, a small book with huge information. I highly recommend it  as an addition to your bookshelf.

Ask and ye shall receive – what have you got to lose? What could you gain?

Interesting………