WRITING: Titles....how does an author choose one?

Hi Everyone!


Titles....

Ever wonder how a title gets on an author’s book?

My editors, over the years, have always had a good laugh with me because it’s not a problem to write a book. But ask me to give it a great title, and I fall flat on my face! Usually.

A great title does so many things. First, it captures the ESSENCE of the book. Secondly, it snags (we hope) a passing reader’s interest as she walks up and down the book shelf aisles of a bookstore. Thirdly, it must EXCITE the reader (not to mention, the author, too).

Since I’m so bad at titles, my editor can do one of several things. They go to editorial meetings and during it, my editor may give the gist of my book and ask all these creative editors to throw some titles up to her--and she writes them down. Or, my editor may go door-to-door with other editors telling them she needs a title for my book. Lastly,the editor may not consult anyone, but sit there and create a list of titles herself. In the end, whatever titles and however they got created and by whom, eventually are sent to me in either an email or a phone call or both.

I always get a choice of several--sometimes six or seven title ideas. I choose the one that feels best to me--it resonates in my heart--and I also try to choose one that best identifies with the gestalt of the book.

Let me give you two examples here. First, my December , 2006 novel for HQN, BEYOND THE LIMIT, was not called that at first. All authors have what is known as a ‘working title’ on a book they’re writing. In my case, I just called this book, “Pete’s Book.” This book is about Morgan and Laura’s second son, Pete Trayhern. And since I’m so lousy at titles, I just called it “Pete’s book,” for lack of a better one! By the time the book is finished and I send it to my editor, she reads it. And my editor knows how bad I am at titles, so she’s looking and scanning the gestalt of the book for a better title than I came up with! My editor called me one morning and told me she thought she had the perfect title for Pete’s book. I said, “Oh, good!” with relief in my voice.

My editor suggested BEYOND THE LIMIT and explained that the whole book is about two people unwillingly falling in love in a dangerous environment of Afghanistan. Further, their jobs, both as engineers on a construction project forbade any kind of personal relationship or romantic entanglements. Both the hero, Major Pete Trayhern, a heroic US Marine and head of the coal fired electric power plant as the manager, and Cali Rowland, the head of the construction consortium to build it, cannot fall in love with one another. But they do....and they fight it tooth, hammer and nail....literally and figuratively. And so, they go ‘beyond the limit’ of the rules of engagement at a construction site and fall helplessly in love with one another...but of course, neither will admit it to the other or even to themselves....until something tragic and shocking occurs. Then, all bets are off. And we watch both the hero and heroine go ‘beyond the limits’ of their own, personal reality, of their being in uncharted territory with themselves and one another.

It was the perfect title! And I loved it. And I raved enthusiastically about this title and profusely thanked my brilliant editor for her insight and understanding of the book. Dodged the bullet on that one! haha. I was relieved because titles, usually, are just such a pickle for me. I’m too close to my work, to my book, to see the core of it and come up with some catchy, zingy title.

Let me tell you about UNFORGIVEN and how it got its title. The hero loses his family. And he wants revenge. And on a larger, more symbolic level, there is what is known as the Emerald Key. It is a necklace, fashioned by hand, by the Incas thousands of years earlier. Each golf-ball size emerald sphere has a word inscribed upon it. And the first one that is found has written on it: Forgiveness. And so, the first book is about two people, the hero and heroine, who have both tragically lost everything they loved. And each is UNFORGIVEN. Toward their nemesis, as well as to themselves. And so, the greater layer of this book is about what forgiveness is about and how it can free us in the long term. It was easy to come up with a title on this one! And when I suggested to my editor, she agreed. And so, this was one of the few times that I named one of my books!

In Spirit...

Part 2: Grandmother Bell Rock Hike, Sedona, Arizona

Hi Everyone

Well, let's continue our virtual hike with me and Linda Metzler around Grandma Bell Rock. We started out early Saturday morning, 9.9.06 and the skies were threatening rain. But, Grandma Bell pushed the storms to the east of us although the clouds were wreathing the area. That was good because it kept Father Sun and his heat from baking us on the trail--so it was a coolish, delightful morning to do this hike half way around what is known as the "Courthouse Butte Trail."

So, come on along! We are still hiking around Grandma Bell.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here are some more Slender Gaillardia that was in the western grassy field next to Grandmother Bell Rock


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This was a REAL discovery! Indian Tobacco! Natural and wild. On the southwest side of Grandmother Bell.





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This was a beautiful Tufted Four O'Clock near the trail. It looks so fragile and ethereal.



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Here is a lovely view of Red Rock Country taken from Grandmother Bell. You can see why we like living here. No matter what direction you look, there is a painting of Nature in all her brilliant regalia.


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I thought this was an 'arty' shot looking north toward Sedona through the limbs of the dead tree.


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Here is one of many signs in and around on the trail. The Forest Service is asking hikers to stay on the path. The sign struck me on a broader note--all of us should be wearing one, too!



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Here is some Purple Nightshade which is very prolific around Grandma Bell. It's truly beautiful.



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On the north side of Grandma Bell as I traversed a bike path, I saw this wonderful Blackfoot Daisy growing out of a crack in the sandstone! What a tough little plant spirit! Kind of reminds me of some people who get a tough lot in life--they can still bloom and become beautiful, anyway.



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Here is a beautiful Century Plant with yellow blooms. Notice Grandmother Bell in the background.


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Here is a cute group of Button Bush flowers. They always remind me of children playing gaily and whim to any breeze that comes by.




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Here is Cathedral Rock....they say the three buttes symbolize the father, mother and child. Indeed, the energy up there (I've climbed it several times) is very nurturing and feminine.






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On the bike path on the northern side of Grandmother Bell Rock was this fantastic Century Plant in bloom.


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Here are some bright, nodding Sunflowers in a field on the north side of Grandma Bell.




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Imagine my utter surprise as the trail is about to end and here is a huge group of BLUE Morning Glories right next to the fence! What a wonderful gift!




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And right next to the patch of blue morning glories were a patch of RED Morning Glories! Amazing!


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It seems fitting to leave you with two breath taking photos of the Sacred Datura. As we hiked away from Grandmother Bell Rock and toward Courthouse Butte on the path, I discovered these incredible purpled-edged white datura. Just looking at this photo puts you into a medatative state. This is a plant that has one of the strongest spirits that I know. Many want to work with this plant spirit but they must know how to approach her in order to earn her trust so that she will share her secrets with you.


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And so, as we leave Grandmother Bell behind, this 'gate' between the two buttes and vortexes have the Sacred Datura as the gatekeeper and guard. We gave cornmeal to this powerful plant spirit and thanked it for its inescapable beauty.

Tomorrow, we move on to Courthouse Butte and a whole other exciting group of experiences and photographs!

In Spirit....

Grandmother Bell Rock Hike, Sedona, Arizona

Hi Everyone

Linda Metzler and I got up early Saturday morning, drove over to our favorite local vortex,Grandmother Bell Rock, and took a hike. We want to share it with you! And if you ever get out our way, you truly need to take this hike!


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Here is the hiking map of trails around Grandmother Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. It is called "Munds Mountain Wilderness" on the map, but in reality, it is the two buttes that sit next to one another. In the coming days, I'm going to cover our hike. There's just too many photos for one or two blogs. So sit back and enjoy the virtual hike with us!



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Let me introduce you to Grandmother Bell Rock! She's a vortex and is often known for physical healings that she bestows upon people who karmically are ready to give up their ailment or symptoms. She is feminine and nurturing. I often come here to drum. In Linda's case, she has her flute. Grandma Bell loves both! She is made of red sandstone with lots of quartz crystal embedded into her bones. You can see little circles of crystals just about everywhere on her. But nowhere as many as her 'womb' which I'll share with you later on this hike.



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Here is Nolina or Bear Grass. As we started to walk around Grandma Bell after offering her a handful of cornmeal, and asking permission to trod upon her sacred land, this was nestled on her lowest 'skirt' of red sandstone.



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Here is Linda Metzler. You can see she's wearing a rain coat. When we left my house there was dark,threatening clouds from the south coming toward us--as monsoon was still very active. I told her it was going to rain. We drove through Page Springs and Cornville where it rained. And then, once we turned onto Beaver Flats Road and headed north toward Grandmother Bell, we eventually outran the rain. But it was coming. I asked, mentally, if Grandma Bell would PART the coming rain so it went around us so that we could have a dry hike around her. And that's exactly what she did!


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Because the Thunder Beings have been so generous to the area this monsoon season, we have recieved record amounts of rain throughout the summer--and Spring of this year was dry as a bone. So, all the wildflowers that normally bloom in the Spring--are blooming now! It is just a palette of colors. Here is Coulter's Spiderling; a very fragile, teeny tiny lavender/pinkish blossom on a very fine, thin almost weblike stem. She was seen in many places around Grandma Bell. Can you FEEL the energy around her? You see, what we do is we sit with a plant and invite the spirit of the plant to tell us something about itself. It is very healing connection with any plant and they are wonderful teachers.





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You can see how turbulent and threatening the sky is. It remained cloud covered for our entire hike. There is Linda walking the trail and you can see Courthouse Butte on your left--but that is an other blog for another day!


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On the west side of Grandma Bell is a wonderful field of green grass and it has lots of hidden treasures if you take the time to slowly walk through the red, sandy soil. One of these treasures is Scarlet Gaura.



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Here is Slender Gaillardia (Gaillardia pinntifida)with a beautiful yellow and black bug on it! What a lovely combo. It too, was out in this grass field on the west side of Grandma Bell. I felt like a treasure hunter discovering all these beautiful jewel-like flowers...but the pretty bug was a wonderful addition!



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Here is the bright, happy little Button Bush flower that we saw all around Grandma Bell.


And this will be the end of part one of Grandma Bell. We hope you've enjoyed the virtual hike with us. Come back for Part 2 tomorrow.

In Spirit....

Kitties, Dogs, Squirrel, oh my!!

Hi Everyone

Well, I finally got DARK TRUTH edit finished. Hooray! I love the book and I hope my readers will too. Time will tell!


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Here are our 'canes' in bloom--they are so beautiful and delicate

Yesterday I couldn't go hiking out of the canyon because we had a terrific monsoon downpour (yippeee--the plants were singing and thanking the thunder beings).


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Our Cattleya orchid, which is a gorgeous kelly green color and so fragrant in the evening--has bloomed 2 months early! Generally, she blooms in mid-December or around Christmas. Her flowers are so gorgeous that I just look forward to going out to the greenhouse every morning to smell the scent hanging everywhere within it. Wow.


I got to stay home and catch up on a lot of work, a lot of thank you cards and other things that really had to be done.


Coyright Eileen Nauman 2006
I went over to visit Mark and Sue in the afternoon and Prancer was allowing their two new kittens to nurse. I thought that was so sweet! Prancer is 12 years old. What a mommy she is!


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Here's Rossalyn's Rose blooming once more. She was a wonderful Canadian friend of mine who died of breast cancer about six years ago--and before she left for the last time, she bought me this rose bush. And I cherish it. And the blooms remind me so much of her--she was such a bright light in the world. Blessings upon her always.



This afternoon I noticed one of the few pears, a beauty, from Grandmother Dwarf Bartlett pear tree, was on the ground. I thought that was strange and I knew there were 4 pears way high that I couldn't reach even with a ladder. I was waiting for them to drop. These pears are so sweet and juicy....you don't know what pears taste like until you've had organic ones and not the ones you get in a grocery store. Anyway, I look up--and there she is!


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What do you see in my pear tree????!!! Do you see IT???? How good are your eyes?

A doggone ground squirrel!! She's in the very stop of the pear tree--looking down at me. And I'm looking up at her. And I realize how my rare pear got to the ground--she climbed up and was trying to eat at it and it dropped!

I told her: "You get down from there! You go over and eat the bird seed. You can NOT have my pears!"

She looked at me defiantly.

Rocky was looking up at her, too.

I thought: Okay, this is WAR!!! I went and got the hose and dragged it over to the pear tree and turned the water on. I squirted at her--but she barely got wet because the water wouldn't go that high. She stared down at me. I stared up at her.


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This is a female Ground Squirrel and you can tell she's nursing babies. So, I didn't want to get too mean with her. She has to feed her babies, after all. But, she can go swipe bird seed from the bird feeder in the back yard and leave my pears alone!


Grimly determined, I went and got a special water nozzle that would send a strong, slender stream of water high enough to reach her. I told her she'd better get down and off that tree before I got back.

I came back and she's still sitting up there looking at me. I screwed on the special nozzle and turned the water on. One good spray and down she came! Rocky was shocked at the speed of the squirrel. She leaped half way down to the lawn, up and over our fence and down another fence and raced up into the myrtle tree. Rocky was going bonkers (don't worry--he's never caught anything--he'd starve if he had to hunt for himself...) and was following her scent all over the place.

So, I got my pear! Triumphant, I went into the house, glad to have saved it. I have those pears counted and I know the color of ripeness and just about when they're going to fall. The only real culprit to getting to them before me is Cinnamon, the horse. She loves pears, the stinker. But now, I have a ground squirrel who thinks she can have them. Not that this squirrels don't eat their weight in bird seed from my bird feeder in the back yard. Not to mention that pesty peacock who think it should live at our place and suck up ALL the birdseed. Between that bird and this squirrel...seesh! But, I saved my pear and it will ripen on my window sill and I will eat it in a few days and savor every bite with such joy and gratefulness.


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Here are a group of monsoon thunder beings in the southeast looking pretty nice near sunset.


Tonight, the monsoon was around, the thunder rumbling, but it went around us. By the time I went for my walk, there was a dark anvil shaped cloud on the western horizon. Rocky is fine and was more than happy to get out and run and sniff and pee as per what a dog does. When we got to the top of Cardiac Hill tonight, there were lots of monsoon clouds on the southeastern wall of the canyon. I spotted a snippet of a rainbow and took a photo. I just love rainbows. They are always a blessing when you see one--it's a 'high sign' from the Cosmos that you are doing fine and things are in order within yourself.

Then, Jon, from the vineyard drove up and we chatted and caught up on canyon news. Then, he handed me a bottle of his wine. They are bringing in the grapes right now--so what a lovely surprise from him! It's a red table wine and fairly dry, he told me. He grows organic grapes and he's a wonderful person. I see a rainbow and moments later--I get a gift. Wow.

In the cut, I spotted our fall blooming Broom Snakeweed plant with teeny, tiny four-petaled yellow flowers just strutting its stuff on the wall near the road. I made a flower essence from this plant many years ago and found out that if you take it, that it's good for fears of all kinds--even fear of flying. It's incredible for claustrophobia, known or unknown fears. This humble little plant has such strength and can help us so much!


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Here is the lowly, considered a 'weed', Broom Snakeweed. As a flower essence,it is powerful and stops fears from consuming people--even the fear of flying. A remarkable and powerful plant spirit.


I noticed the sky in the west turning long before I got out of the cut and took a photo...it didn't know if it wanted to be gold, a pale orange or a murky color, I noticed. But when there's clouds on the horizon, you're never sure WHAT you'll get on a given sunset!


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Here is our sunset beginning.


When I got to the top of Sunset Point, there was an interesting wedge-shaped sunset and that was it.


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The sky got a tad more dramatic and deepened in color but not the normal clean, clear colors. Tonight, they were what I call 'muddled' looking
There were no other colors. So, it was a one person act and that was all there was. I fed my ants and noticed that the monsoon of the other day had washed out my other ant hill. Either that or the water poured in and the mud has filled up their main hole. If it isn't open by tomorrow night,I'm going to dig a little to see if I can open it up for them so they won't be trapped.


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This was not a dramatic or changing sunset. It was a one shot deal. What you see is what you got. And then...bam...it was gone!


On the way back, the clouds in the southeast turned a luscious cotton candy pink color and in fact, as far as I was concerned, they were far more beautiful--cleaner colors--more dramatic, than the one-shot sunset in the east! But you judge for yourself.


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And here's the reverse sunset--one I feel that's even better; perhaps more uplifting feeling, than the 'real' sunset tonight. What do you feel?

In Spirit....

West Fork Trail, Sedona, Arizona experience!

On 9.6.06, Yolande Grill, Janet C and myself went to West Fork Trail.


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Here is what I refer to as "Goddess HQ" area. This is a highly sacred area for the sacred feminine. It is a place to heal one's feminine side (left side) of a man or woman. There is a flat, red sandstone 'table' not far away where I love to go eat my lunch, give part of it away to the elementals, insects and animals, and just look at the awe inspiring red sandstone that has vertical colorations of white, red, black and other colors. Not to mention the reflective Oak Creek that once more tells us, "As above, so below...."

This is an incredibly beautiful, other worldly, magical spot about twenty miles up into Oak Creek Canyon, north of Sedona, Arizona.


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This morning, as I was getting packed for our hike to West Fork,this beautiful fuschia morning glory peeked up and out of the foliage of one of my tropical plants that has varigated green with yellow spots on its leaves--makes for a pretty picture!


You might recall, on one of my first blogs, it was on the Brin Fire, which started just north of Sedona earlier this year--and our greatest fear was that magnificent one-of-a-kind Oak Creek Canyon, would go up in flames. Did you know that this lovely canyon, which is fifty miles long and climbs from 4,500 feet to 7,000 feet at Flagstaff, is our #2 tourist attraction in our state right behind the Grand Canyon. THAT is how beautiful, awe-inspiring and breath stealing it is.


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Here are the beautiful yellow daiseys that proliferated the main trail head into the Oak Creek area of West Fork.


And West Fork, literally, is the crown jewel of this canyon. The Tibetan lamas from overseas, when they come to Sedona, go first up into the canyon, to West Fork and then to a secret place up on the trail where they hold secret and sacred ceremonies. That is how special this place is.


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Here is lovely Oak Creek from the bridge that spans it along the West Fork Trail.


I take all my students up to West Fork a number of times over the years to get in touch with the magic of the area. Many medicine people, men and women, bring their students here, too, to train them. It is a major spiritual center no matter what your belief system.


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Here is Janet C. (left) and Yolande Grill (right) at the trail head sign of West Fork.



And so, the three of us packed our lunch and took off in Yolande’s Honda. As we drove up 89A north, heading for Sedona, you could see the red rocks ahead. And, even more exciting, the monsoon thunder clouds/beings were already amassing at 10:00 a.m. in the morning and I told Yolande she should bring her wet gear--which she did.


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Here we are driving toward Sedona. You can see the Red Rocks that comprise the Mogollon Rim area. And, look at those Thunder Being gathering so early in the morning. I knew we'd get rain at West Fork sometime in the afternoon!


Yolande and I have traversed West Fork over the years many times and we fall in love with it all over again. This was Janet’s first foray into this incredible gift of Nature. We were already: we had our cameras, our journals, pens and hats and white long sleeved cotton shirts to ward off the intense Arizona sunlight.


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Here is Janet standing on the trail head leading into West Fork. Look at the rolling carpet of yellow daiseys surrounding her! Notice the Rim which is composed of white dolomite rock and red sandstone. It is a magnificent palette of colors that surround Janet.


I’m going to go through a series of photos and they will tell the rest of the story for the day which was more than just magical!


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These are scarlet morning glories that were all over the place! It was an amazing thing to see all these little red heads nestled and climbing among the fields of yellow daisies.


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Here is a honeybee working with Scarlet Bugler. These red flowers were intermixed with the yellow daisies and the red Morning Glories.


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Down a little ways on the West Fork Trail there were a whole bunch of bustling, big black Carpenter Bees who were working over the Scarlet Bugler as well. I love the Carpenter Bees--they are so gentle. You can actually telepathically communicate with them and they'll respond. They are gentle giants.


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Here is Fall color already occuring at West Fork....in October, the leaves will turn and this place becomes a breathtaking display that will rival the East Coast/New England area. I intend to get up to West Fork when the leaves are turning to prove it to you!


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There was a huge stand of lovely Goldenrod along the trail. As a flower essence, Goldenrod lifts the spirit, removes the heaviness you carry on your shoulder and in your soul. I love this as a flower essence because it looks like an explosion of light and joy showering up and outward. It's great for depression and for those who carry heavy loads who have lost hope of ever seeing light at the end of the gauntlet they must trod.


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As I was admiring the happy Goldenrod I saw one was decorated like a Christmas tree with ornaments--BUG ornaments! Aren't they pretty? A red bug and a black and yellow caterpiller!



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And, hidden and almost out of view is our shy little Fleabane Daisy from the Aster Family. Her purple petals are a lovely contrast to all the blaring red and yellow colors that surround her.



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Here Janet is jotting down some notes from her observation of the Goldenrods



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We are just about to get to Oak Creek when we see this lovely little wild Geranium in all her magenta glory!


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Here is another view of Goddess HQ on Oak Creek on the West Fork Trail. Look at how secluded it is. When you look at it, do you get a sense of peace, calmness and nurturing? You should because those are the major energies that are there and greet you when you step into Her Office.



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Yolande Grill is entering another sacred area known as Mother Earth's womb. This place reminds me of a Japanese garden--one boulder--a lot of sand, quiet, curving, reflective water and the massive red sandstone cliffs that curve upward with white, black, gray colorations. And it is in those sandstone cliffs that come alive, magically, with faces, creatures and things you need to see that reflect something within you. This is one of the most sacred areas along the trail. You can come in carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, but if you will give yourself the gift of meditating by the boulder or on top of it (with the rock spirit's permission), you will float, not walk, away back to the trail afterward. Such is the nurturing, feminine healing power of this very special spot. While we were there, it began to rain--there had been thunder carooming all around us all afternoon but it never rained. Only when we arrived at Mom Earth's womb,did the soft, gentle fall of rain begin. And then, as I sat on the boulder and meditated, my palms up, the drops would fall into my hands like the tears I was releasing and giving back to Mother Earth. Such a beautiful moment....



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All day long, Yolande was seeing snakes. She is at a fulcrum point in her life and ready to close one chapter and open a new one. Whenever we reach this point, a person often feels strung up by their heels, like the Hangman from the Tarot deck, and indecision wars with fears, hopes, dreams and desires. The first snake she saw was a Coachwhip snake, a small brown colored one and it was slithering West, which is the direction of death and dying. And of course, snakes are about death and shedding of the old skin or ways and rebirthing with a brand new more beautiful, colorful skin. Her second snake was a Coral Snake! These red, yellow and black snakes are from the Cobra family and their venom contains a neurotoxin that paralyzes a person and they stop breathing and suffocate as a result. We have Coral Snakes in Arizona. And they are usually very small, thin snakes. Yolande was walking along, saw the snake coming out of its hole near a fallen log and heard it call to her. She went back, looked at it, amazed, and it raised up on its front end to look at her. Then, some hikers went by and the snake dived back in its hole before she could get a photo of it. I asked her what snakes meant to her. Then, we went to Mother Earth's womb and I happen to look up in admiration and study the faces and figures in the sandstone cliff when I spotted--a SNAKE. I chuckled to myself and called Yolande over. I pointed at it and asked her, "What do you see?" She gasped. Yep, there it was--and you can see it too--a snake, big, dark brown raising up and her head coming forward, her eye white and you can see her tongue coming out of her mouth. So, that was three snakes for Yolande today and she 'got it.' She was having a "Snake Day."


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Coming out of our meditation and healing time with Mother Earth at Oak Creek along the West Fork Trail,we ambled back toward the parking lot. The sky was a churning gray, black and white because it had just rained. Everything had gotten a drink and you could literally hear the singing joy of all the plants and beings who thanked Father Sky and the Thunder Beings for the gift of their life-giving rain.



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Along the trail back to the car, I spied something white among the field of yellow. There it was: A sacred Datura! And at 3:00 p.m. it was open and blooming which is unheard of! They open at night and close in the morning dawn. But here she was, strutting her stuff like the queen plant she is. Datura is a hallucinogenic plant and can kill you if you eat it. Her blooms, however, are other wordly and mystical and if you look at it for a bit, you feel somewhere else, too. I pointed all this out to Yolande and Janet. I told them that where ever you find Datura growing, that is sacred ground because this plant spirit, one of the strongest and most self-reliant of all, knows where good energy resides. Also, she looked incredibly queenly with the rain drops still on her petals. I told the girls she was open for them. And we took photos of some of the buds that would most likely bloom that night after everyone had left the park. I also told them that Datura plant spirit is a tough teacher and you can ask to sit with her, to be taught, but you had better know the protocols on how to deal with her or she'll tell you in no uncertain terms to buzz off and leave her alone. One of the wonderful things about knowing the protocols is having the honor of sitting with this Queen Plant being. She is so wise and knowing. And you don't have to eat her to recieve her knowledge which she will share with those who are humble, patient and will sit and meditate with her.


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Here is a Sacred Datura bloom that will, in all likliehood, bloom tonight after we leave. Notice the 'symbol' in it--the top of the bud. What does it remind you of? For me, it reminds me of a spiral armed galaxy spinning out in space. Or, a chakra in our etheric body spinning its propeller petals bringing in life-giving prana to our aura and self.



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This is a lovely photo to end our hike to West Fork for the day. Janet spied this apple tree--there are many around, the apples dropping, bright red and green. The deer, peccary (wild pigs), skunks and racoons will come around after dark to gobble them up--a true dessert and feast for all of them. What caught Janet's artistic eye (she has an art degree from UCLA and a math degree), was the one red apple left on this gnarled, old apple tree. Sort of a bansai kind of photo. So, we took it and I hope she enjoys seeing it on the blog. The tree, which is probably near seventy years old, is still bearing fruit. Seventy is VERY old for any fruit tree and at that age, they are pretty beat up and over their fruit bearing years. But not this old grandmother...she was still trucking. We stood and admired her for many minutes because we knew that someday, we'd look just like her and feel like her. We hope that we are still able to bear fruit at that age and I believe we will--she's proof of it.


We hope you've enjoyed coming along with us on our sacred hike to a sacred area. One of these days, I hope you can come to magical Oak Creek Canyon and see the everyday magic that exists with every step along the West Fork Trail.

In Spirit....

WRITING: Book Title--how do we create them?

Hi Everyone!


Titles....

Ever wonder how a title gets on an author’s book?

My editors, over the years, have always had a good laugh with me because it’s not a problem to write a book. But ask me to give it a great title, and I fall flat on my face! Usually.

A great title does so many things. First, it captures the ESSENCE of the book. Secondly, it snags (we hope) a passing reader’s interest as she walks up and down the book shelf aisles of a bookstore. Thirdly, it must EXCITE the reader (not to mention, the author, too).

Since I’m so bad at titles, my editor can do one of several things. They go to editorial meetings and during it, my editor may give the gist of my book and ask all these creative editors to throw some titles up to her--and she writes them down. Or, my editor may go door-to-door with other editors telling them she needs a title for my book. Lastly,the editor may not consult anyone, but sit there and create a list of titles herself. In the end, whatever titles and however they got created and by whom, eventually are sent to me in either an email or a phone call or both.

I always get a choice of several--sometimes six or seven title ideas. I choose the one that feels best to me--it resonates in my heart--and I also try to choose one that best identifies with the gestalt of the book.

Let me give you two examples here. First, my December , 2006 novel for HQN, BEYOND THE LIMIT, was not called that at first. All authors have what is known as a ‘working title’ on a book they’re writing. In my case, I just called this book, “Pete’s Book.” This book is about Morgan and Laura’s second son, Pete Trayhern. And since I’m so lousy at titles, I just called it “Pete’s book,” for lack of a better one! By the time the book is finished and I send it to my editor, she reads it. And my editor knows how bad I am at titles, so she’s looking and scanning the gestalt of the book for a better title than I came up with! My editor called me one morning and told me she thought she had the perfect title for Pete’s book. I said, “Oh, good!” with relief in my voice.

My editor suggested BEYOND THE LIMIT and explained that the whole book is about two people unwillingly falling in love in a dangerous environment of Afghanistan. Further, their jobs, both as engineers on a construction project forbade any kind of personal relationship or romantic entanglements. Both the hero, Major Pete Trayhern, a heroic US Marine and head of the coal fired electric power plant as the manager, and Cali Rowland, the head of the construction consortium to build it, cannot fall in love with one another. But they do....and they fight it tooth, hammer and nail....literally and figuratively. And so, they go ‘beyond the limit’ of the rules of engagement at a construction site and fall helplessly in love with one another...but of course, neither will admit it to the other or even to themselves....until something tragic and shocking occurs. Then, all bets are off. And we watch both the hero and heroine go ‘beyond the limits’ of their own, personal reality, of their being in uncharted territory with themselves and one another.

It was the perfect title! And I loved it. And I raved enthusiastically about this title and profusely thanked my brilliant editor for her insight and understanding of the book. Dodged the bullet on that one! haha. I was relieved because titles, usually, are just such a pickle for me. I’m too close to my work, to my book, to see the core of it and come up with some catchy, zingy title.

Let me tell you about UNFORGIVEN and how it got its title. The hero loses his family. And he wants revenge. And on a larger, more symbolic level, there is what is known as the Emerald Key. It is a necklace, fashioned by hand, by the Incas thousands of years earlier. Each golf-ball size emerald sphere has a word inscribed upon it. And the first one that is found has written on it: Forgiveness. And so, the first book is about two people, the hero and heroine, who have both tragically lost everything they loved. And each is UNFORGIVEN. Toward their nemesis, as well as to themselves. And so, the greater layer of this book is about what forgiveness is about and how it can free us in the long term. It was easy to come up with a title on this one! And when I suggested to my editor, she agreed. And so, this was one of the few times that I named one of my books!

In Spirit...

Give and Take.....

Hi Everyone

Have we gone so far from our center point of balance as human beings to one another that we have become thoughtless and centered only on ourselves in this time of chaotic energy? I see it all the time in the younger generations, unfortunately. There is no care, no thoughtfulness, no sense or sensitivity toward another person of what they might be going through, what their needs may be or to be--gosh--just socially aware of more than one’s self. And we all go through this stage of learning give and take--every last one of us without exception. The only way we ‘get it’ is to do it. That’s how life evolves down here on Earth for us two-leggeds.

As we treat others like this, that is how we really feel INSIDE ourselves. Imagine that you take, take, take, but never give or reciprocate in return to those who give to you. That is how this person feels unconsciously on an every day basis--everything and everyone is taking from her or him--and so when you feel that depleted, that EMPTY, of course you’re not going to be able to GIVE anything else to anyone else, as a result. No wonder they don’t think to give out of love or generosity, or kindness or thoughtfulness.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here are some of our bright little glads


Give and Take. You know, there’s a Spiritual Law about this: what you put out, you get in return. I call this “Rubber band Karma” in action. Let’s look at some examples:

1. If you take, take, take, then Spirit will ensure that others will take, take, take from you to balance out this extreme imbalance. There’s nothing wrong with taking. We all need to learn to grab the brass ring of life, to reach out for our dreams, to roll up our sleeves and take. It is the extreme of taking that I’m referring to here.

2. If you give, give, give, then Spirit will ensure that others will give to you in return. Of course, there’s a balance to this giving too (as there is with taking). You should not give until you are giving yourself, your time, energy, lifeblood energy, to another person or situation. Balance asks us to know when to stop giving and to receive back so that we may refresh and invigorate ourselves. Balance is about strong boundaries, the ability to say NO and ENOUGH (giving).


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is our tree peony in full bloom--she's just incredibly paper thin petals, so fragile and yet, gorgeous in all her glory for about five days--not to mention that delightful fragrance she shares with all who sniff her.


For every energy of giving (but not in the extreme), Spirit will reward you in kind, in equal measure, back to yourself. Give and take. When you realize this, it might go better in realizing that instead of taking greedily or needy all the time--that you might consider giving something out, if a little, instead.

Why do people take to the extreme?

Psychologically it’s because they are NEEDY. Their motto is: “I want....”

Why are they needy?

Because something of value (on a usually unconscious level) was taken from them. They have lost it, are in a void or vacuum without it, inwardly speaking and feel ‘it’ is missing, or that it was stolen from them. Usually it’s a parent or a spouse or life in general--take your pick of the culprit here--who has robbed or stolen this energy or part of themselves, from them. When you rob a child of their individuality, their uniqueness, squash their spontaneity, their creativity, make fun of them, or shame them, they feel unloved and unwanted. This sets up an energy of NEEDINESS in order to resupply themselves some how and in some way with what was taken from them. Nature abhors a vacuum. So, if you feel empty inside, then you are NEEDY and you will do something to fill yourself up again--even at the expense of another person or people/place/situation or event. That is the way we are until we learn better.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is a double Hollyhock that grows on the north side of our greenhouse. Ruffles and flourishes!


This is all usually done on an unconscious level within ourselves. What we fill ourselves up with, of course, remains to be determined by each individual. Free will choice falls into this pattern. From an unhealthy standpoint, it runs the gamut from smoking, to alcohol, drug addiction, sugarholic, gambling addict, ect, ect. Or, we hang around ‘stronger’ people (we perceive them as powerful than ourselves) and suck off them unconsciously, to remain in their aura of presence and power (because the needy person feels they have none of the above qualities personally--so they attach themselves to someone who, in their mind, does).

Needy people often have learned how to survive in life by becoming manipulators, play the game of triangulation (play two people and themselves in a triangle of energy and manipulation), and may have passive-aggressive behavior. They become the beta dog, rolling over on its belly to appease the alpha dog so that they won’t be bitten, killed or driven off; so that they remain part of the ‘pack.’

Why are people greedy?

Their motto is: “I take...”

Because they have been pushed aside, told they aren’t of value, are worthless or second best, and so they try to make up for it by getting in there to make SURE they get their share of whatever it is that they need to supply it to themselves. Greed implies a loss of VALUE in the person. What of value was lost? Self-esteem? Importance? Being valuable? Greed doesn’t always imply that a person is just greedy for money. Although money can be the outer projection of the inner loss. More importantly--it is about VALUE. Your value. Being valued by others. Valuing yourself regardless of how others treat you. It’s about self-esteem on a deep level, too.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 200w
These are gorgeous Fuschia in St. Nectan's Glen in Cornwall, England. I visited this magical place that is full of fairy folk in 2002.



Forms of greediness can range from:

1. Energy Vampire: greed for energy (you unconsciously ‘drain’ another person’s aura of energy and greedily suck it up into your own aura and you walk away feeling like a million dollars while the other person feels like a limp piece of spaghetti after contact with you).

2. Me, Me, Me: Center of attention (and so you elbow, push and shove to get to the front where this powerful or important person is so that you can bask in their aura of power) to be ‘seen’ with them.

3. I Want To Be Famous: Fame (making sure you hang around with powerful people, becoming a sycophant who nibbles at the edges of their power which was never yours in the first place--but you think it is because the mantle of that person’s importance is like an umbrella over you--so you naturally assume their power and never your own). Fame casts a shadow, all right....but it’s a very dark one and not healthy.

4. I Need to Be Recognized As Important: Importance (being noticed by those in authority is important to you because to be noticed IS to be important in your reality). Because you have been told some previous time or some old family tape that you are not important, this drives you to become so.

5. Gangs: Being recognized by a certain element (think of gang bangers) because you share unconsciously, a common bond of ethnicity, similar backgrounds or wounding.

6. I Have to be Rich: Money becomes this person’s god. Or possessions can play the same role. The more money one has, the more possessions, obviously, the more power and important they are to the world’s eyes. Sadly, our greatest riches are the inward journey we take into ourselves--and that no money can ever buy. But this treasure chest remains unopened to this individual at this time of learning.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is our Rock Rose bush in our center planter. Dr. Bach of the Bach Flower Remedy fame, has this as one of his flower essences. It is part of a 5-flower essence combo that creates "Rescue Remedy." Rock Rose is for shock.


Behavior: Long ago, a greedy person found out if he or she doesn’t get assertive or aggressive in TAKING what they NEED, that they will get nothing. Fighting to get what you want is part of a greedy person’s attack pattern. They see life as either aggressively moving against them or they against it to attain what they feel they need and/or deserve. Again, an ‘old pattern’ that started long ago and usually took root in our childhood.

We can all remember--maybe today, yesterday, a week or month ago, when we did one of these things, too. We were takers instead of being givers. We got greedy about something because we thought we were going to be passed over and get nothing.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2002
Here is a beautiful, unidentified flower I saw on a cottage fence on my way to St. Nectan's Glen in Cornwall, England. Isn't it beautiful? Fairy-like?



This all comes down to balance of knowing when to give and take. And realizing greed is really an open wound in us that needs to be tended, cleaned out, and closed. Then, greed no longer runs you or is around to cause havoc in your life.

And what I really hope is that while I go through these phases, these lifetimes of learning these things, that others, who have already passed through these phases or schools of education, will see where I’m at--not judge me--but continue to love me despite myself.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here are two pink water lilies in my aquatic tank. Aren't we just like them? Water is emotions. The mud of our lives is what their roots are in. And yet, despite the turmoil and inability to see through the emotions of our life at time, we, like them, are still beautiful. They are proof of this process.

In Spirit.....

A Time of Transformation...

Hi Everyone!

I’m teaching all this coming week so won’t have a whole lot of time to blog as I might want. I love teaching metaphysics to people; it’s a delight and joy to see the light go on in their eyes and to seem them expand, grow, get ‘aha’s’ and make connections deep within themselves.


Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is the big thunder being on the eastern horizon as the sun set tonight.


You know, life isn’t about the outer journey, really. It is about the one we take within ourselves. From my Native American roots, we are taught from birth that our best teachers are inside ourselves. We know what we need to know. The only problem is that early in life, many children have this taken from them and are taught to defer to things outside themselves. That’s ashamed.

Most of the people I teach and do workshops for are people who are in search of themselves--who want to go in after realizing that what they are searching for is not out there--but in here. In each of us.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is the multicolor horizontal striations of color beginning with tonight's sunset. Magnificent!


I love to pass on the ‘tools’ I’ve been cross trained with and be able to share them with those who are ready to take off or go deeper into their internal journey of themselves.

And in my greenhouse, one of my spectacular orchids, a green blooming one, bloomed today! She has THREE blooms on her. And she never opens at this time of year--she is a Christmas orchid--blooms in mid-December. But, here she is--strutting her magnificent stuff--and she bloomed ahead of time for these four women students. She is green, the color of the heart chakra, of love and compassion. And she was opening for them. It was pretty impressive and I showed them the flower. What a lovely synchronicity.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is my Christmas orchid blooming in September for the four students who came for teaching today in my hogan.


Pluto went direct this afternoon and it was a grueling day on all my avid students. Each wanted to be here and be taught in my hogan where I had trained my shamanic students in earlier years. And of course, Pluto is the god of Transformation and three out of the four made a breakthrough on this first day--which is amazing. Usually, there is one breakthrough in a week. But these women were so ready and primed for their own inner journey that they leaped hurdles, scaled skyscrapers and went for broke--and made the breakthrough. It is an amazing and beautiful process to see unfold before my eyes. I am always amazed, always grateful to be a Witness to their pain and years of struggle being transformed into a gift that they give themselves. It is like watching a baby being born. And Pluto is the god of life and death, of rebirth and transformation. We sure did that today.

I was glad, to meditate afterward and come down--I run the energy of spirit through me all day long. The trick is getting out of the way and allowing it to come through to the students unhindered and without prejudice or blocking some of it with my own wounds and imperfections. Meditation is a wonderful way for me to come down and just ‘be’ in the quiet of myself.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is the sunset in full glory.


And the walk tonight was quiet, too. Mark didn’t come on his ATV, so it was just me and Rocky. By the way, Rocky is completely over his Black Widow spider bite. On Sunday Dave and I tore our couch system apart because I had an intuition that the black widow spider that bit him was in our couch--somewhere. Sure enough--as we vacuumed every inch of it, we found the spider. It happened to be on the portion of the couch I sit on every night! I was vacuuming under one of the armrests and up popped the black widow! She ran and scurried across the material but I sucked her up in the vacuum in a blink of the eye. I yelled, “aha! I got her!” Afterwards, I took the vacuum sack outside and set it down by the bank of the stream so that she could climb out of it and make a new life on the bank--far away from our house.

The sunset was incredible tonight. There were ragged, dark clouds hanging around the horizon and later on, they turned a bright red lining. Another interesting facet to this sunset tonight was one cloud that looked like a teddy bear with big ears cloud with white lining around it staring at the sunset.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is that "teddy bear" cloud with the white outline--which is highly unusual to see at sunset, but the rays of Father Sun were just right and shot through and outlined this cumulus cloud just right!

I thought that was spectacular. And then, as I walked back, the colors deepened and began to spread like a red-orange stain across the huge thunder being that was resting on the western horizon. Most interesting was a ‘cauldron’ like effect in the center of the clouds--as if someone were stirring a pot of bubbling stew--it was beautiful, round, and active.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is the boiling cauldron effect in the sunset cloud--an invisible hand is stirring the cosmic pot in the sky!

As I walked back through the cut and looked back toward Sunset Point, the orange had deepened even more and it was breathtaking with some yellow down below it.

And, as I came down Cardiac Hill and was going around the corner I almost stepped on a baby, seven inch long KING SNAKE! Wow! It just laid there in the rut of the road. The other night, on 9.3, I had seen a Milk Snake, which is red/black, about six inches long, in the same area.

It was pretty dark and I couldn’t see much so I turned on my camera with flash to see who and what it was. As it flashed, I saw it was a yellow/cream color and black striped snake and recognized it as a baby King Snake. You know, King and Bull snakes are the only ones who can take on a rattlesnake and kill it. They are the natural balancers to Rattlers. And, as you know, we have our fair share of rattlesnakes in Echo Canyon!

Well, this little guy was so beautiful and I was so thrilled to see a King Snake after living here nearly 20 years, that I reached down and stroked it’s tail.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is the baby King Snake--only about 7 inches long and pencil thin. But what a cutie!!

It was so soft, buttery leather-like and warm. Instantly, the little guy wiggled quick as a wink--and went to my boot--and almost went up my pant leg! I laughed with delight and eased my boot away from him and he turned around the wriggled right up to my right boot and nearly went up my right pant leg! Laughing, I told him he couldn’t hitch a ride home with me!


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here's a close up of the King Snake--see his black tongue? Such a cutie-pie!!
I gently removed my foot from him and then he scurried up out of the rut and into the vineyard. What a lovely snake!


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is the Milk Snake I ran into the other night in just about the same place that the baby King Snake showed up tonight.

And a lovely end to a day of snakelike transformation where my four students worked hard to shed their old snake skin off of themselves to allow a new and more beautiful skin to rise to the surface so that they could continue their inner journey into the treasure chest of themselves.





Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
As I walked through the Cut and turned back and looked toward Sunset Point as it darkened, this was a brilliant red-orange sunset now.



Aho. And tonight's sunset photo....


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here's my favorite choice for tonight's sunset on 9.4.06, the day Pluto went direct.


In Spirit....

Catching Up....

Hi Everyone

As you well know when a crisis occurs in the family, a lot of things get let go to focus on it/the person/the situation. In our case, Rocky was bitten by a Black Widow Spider on 8.27 (Sunday) and we've had to drop a lot of things to attend to him. Luckily, he is doing fine now and seems to be back to his 'old self'. I have not given him another dose of Latrodectus mactans 200C (Black Widow homeopathic remedy) in 2 days and he's continuing to improve. So long as he improves one does not dose again. We just wait and watch.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here are the monsoons coming over Echo Canyon on 8.29.06


An update on CINNAMON, the horse. Her leg continues to be swollen in the same areas. The vet took 4 x-rays and found nothing. He suspects it was a cactus spine that entered the back of her knee area, worked its way in and now, the body has encapsulated it into a harden tumor. He can feel the hard little nub about 1/4 of an inch into her leg and so can I. He can't cut or do surgery. Our plan is to continue using Unna's boot (Gelocast), scrubbing and cleaning out the two open wounds that are there to take out discharge with soap/water, and then putting antibiotic ointment in them, placing clean, sterile gauze on each of them and rewrapping her leg--every 2 days. And that's what we've been doing since the last update. I then use kelly green vet wrap to put around the Unna's Boot to protect it. Linda Metzler, my friend and PaC (physician's assistant) has said that it may take up to a year for the Boot to draw out the cactus spine. And so, we are patient and we do our job and Cinnamon, bless her, is very good and stands still.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here are some fascinating "mushrooms hanging upside down clouds" that I saw on 8.30.06 at sunset


The good news is that the Boot draws out the excess fluids down below the knee about 50% so that they are no longer oozing out of her pastern and corona band (just above the top of the hoof) like it did before. Having a lot of open sores in those areas was a prescription for disaster--because eventually--one way or another, they would get infected and we’d have a battle on our hands in another way. The skin is about 95% closed and only a few leaks--so that’s good news. One takes relief in the small steps toward health. Cinnamon is fine. She looks pretty with her bright green leg wrap and her fly mask. She’s happy, eating her grass, stealing figs off our tree when we’re not looking. Life is good.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here is a lovely sunset time with a blue 'eye' in the middle of it all on 8.31.06


BOOK/READER GOOD NEWS: Despite this past week of Rocky being ill, several good things have occurred in regards to my writing career as Lindsay McKenna!

1. UNFORGIVEN, launch book for Silhouette Nocturne, the new paranormal series, will be offered to readers as an e-book at the same time the paperback version becomes available October 1, 2006. So, if you’re an ebook fan, just go over to Harlequin (the link is over on the right of my blog--just press it and go to ebooks). For those who have ebook readers--just think--you can download UNFORGIVEN into your computer and be one of the FIRST people to read it! And of course, I love feedback from my readers, so if you’re one of these people, just put your COMMENTS on the story in my blog!

2. Barnes and Nobel website has a number of newsletters.

Barnes and Nobel Newsletters

My “Dear Reader” letter on UNFORGIVEN being launched for Silhouette Nocturne will be in their “Explorer” and “Heart to Heart” newsletters--if you want to sign up for them. I’m really jazzed about this! It just spreads the word a little more on UNFORGIVEN and that’s exciting :-).


I’m going to put a whole bunch of photos below to sort of encapsulate the last week. Things I think you might like to see and enjoy. Thank you for all your emails about where the blog went. Sometimes, life happens and I can’t do the ‘other’ things I might like to do but can’t. I’m sure you all understand!


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
I met my friend, the Gopher Snake again just about dark as I was coming down through the vineyard on Cardiac Hill on 8.29.06. I almost step on him! I screeched to a halt and thought: "Oh no, someone's run over it and killed it!" It didn't move. It was stretched out to 4 feet and so I felt sad. I couldn't really see it because it was so dark and the rest of his body looked okay, so I figured a car had run over his head and killed him. I reached down to see how cold or warm the body was because I was going to pick it up and lift it off the road and put it on the berm. I touched his cool, soft tail. No movement. Then, I thought: I'd better make sure it's dead and I took out my camera and put it on flash because I couldn't see anything. When I flashed and took it's picture to see if the head was smashed and run over, I saw his tail barely move. Then, I thought, "Oh no, it's still alive and suffering!" Then, ditz that I am, I remembered Dave had given me a small flashlight to carry because when I wait for the sunset, its usually dark by the time I get home and he didn't want me stumbling and falling on the hill. So, I flashed the light on the head of the Gopher Snake and voila! It was alive! And then it started to move. I laughed out loud: he was playing 'dead' on me! And that's something a snake will do when threatened. Last time, as you recall, he hissed and rattled (earlier blog). This time, he just lay still. So, you could say he knew me and he wasn't all that threatened or he'd done the same thing. Also,I'd TOUCHED him; and he hadn't moved! That was another good sign of a burgeoning friendship. I took out my camera and took a few more photos of him as he slithered off. I noticed his neck was swelled up (it has to be to make those hissing/rattling sounds) but he never started making the sounds. So, there was some trust between us and that felt good. I told him good-bye, it was great meeting him again and I hoped we met again in the future.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here's another close up photo of my 'dead' Gopher Snake who was very much alive!


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here's another photo of my Gopher Snake friend--must find a name for him--I'm sure he has one...and next time he meets me, I'll ask him what he calls himself! He's heading off in the rut of the road on Cardiac Hill in a southwesterly direction.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here's a beautiful sunset photo looking toward Sunset Point as it grow dark and this was on 9.30.06


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
On 8.31.06, it was dark coming down Cardiac Hill and I heard a 'flutter, flutter, flutter' in the grape vineyard--a bird was caught in the netting again. Luckily, even though it was dark,I had my small flashlight with me. I divested myself of my camera and other unessentials and followed the sound. I finally found the bird--and it was either a Western Kingbird or a female Oriole--but I couldn't tell which because she was fluttering in the grape leaves/vines and it was just too dark to identify her. I finally caught her and brought her out. She was a beautiful female oriole! They are a puce yellow-green color. When I first caught her, she pecked at me and I soothed her told her I wasn't going to hurt her--then she stopped fighting.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here's the beautiful female Oriole I rescued from the grape netting. As I opened my hand, she sat in my palm. I told her: "You're free now..." and off she flew. And as she flew away she said CHEEP! as a way to thank me. It was a lovely, everyday magical moment.

So,that pretty much catches us up until today, 9.2.06

I trust you're having a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

In Spirit....

Dog Bit By Black Widow Spider

HI Everyone

Been a very busy, hectic, stressful few days since I blogged. Sometime Sunday night (8.27.06), after we went to bed,Rocky was bitten by a Black Widow Spider. I don't know if he got bit when he went outside to do his thing before we went to bed, or if he got bit inside our house, in the living room where he sleeps on his rug.


Copyright Eileen Nauman 2006
Here's the Black Widow I saw that told me Rocky had been bit by a spider--not a scorpion. Today (9.1.06) I will gently remove her from her web and take her down to the creek and explain to her she cannot live on our back porch.....

Anyway, when we got up on Monday morning we had an appointment we couldn’t get out of and would be unable to deal with Rocky all day as a result--until the evening hours.

When I got up on Monday morning, Rocky had vomited three different times on our carpet--and it was a mess to clean up. And he was staggering around,his eyes dull and he was panting heavily. I thought at first maybe it was an impaction in his intestines. He also refused to eat--and this is a ‘foody’ dog--food is his world and life--except for Dave, who he loves unequivocally. We put him outside for the day and he went over to an earthen depression in his back yard, under the tree in the shade and laid down and didn’t want to move.

When we got home at 5:30 pm, Rocky was looking the same. It was very hard for him to get up and when he did--he’d stagger a little. And he’d take a couple of steps and start heavy panting again. I intuitively felt he’d been poisoned--probably by a Bark Scorpion, which we have in droves out here. So, homeopathy to the rescue. I gave Rocky a Lachesis 200C in water.

About five minutes after taking the remedy, he heaved again. I felt that was a good sign. He refused to eat. And his eyes remained dull. And his walking was unsteady and very little. He continued to pant with very little exertion. We were very worried. I called Linda Metzler, who is a shaman and a PaC and asked her to take a journey to see what had happened to Rocky. Being a shaman, you can move into nonordinary reality and check it out. She called me back later and said she saw Rocky bit behind the left ear by a scorpion--but she also said something ‘else’, a dark shadow, was nearby and she couldn’t make out exactly what it was.

That was confirmation for me--so I continued to give Rocky Lachesis 200C three ti