More Solar Plexus Fun!!

I have a few more images and inspirations I want to add to my previous blog on the Solar Plexus. This is a dynamic and intriguing energy centre to be exploring. Because it does connect directly to our digestive system on a physical level, that includes the liver -- which tends to be a place where many of us hold our unexpressed anger. So, the unleashing of that Inner Volcano that is the Solar Plexus will free up the passion that drives us. At the same time it can also free up the anger that many of us have buried deep within our liver. If we can welcome that pent up energy and express it creatively, perhaps in Artwork or Dance or in Song or Sounding, we may find not only a wonderful catharsis and release from that previously stuck energy, we may also find we have created an explosively dynamic Dance or Art or....

And to balance that explosive energy, I recently read, in Judith Anodea's book, "Eastern Body Western Mind" that the Solar Plexus is also the centre for our sense of humour. I never knew that before, but it balances nicely with all of that dynamic Warrior energy. After all we want to be in our Power, but I think sometimes our greatest power may be in not taking ourselves so seriously. And there is nothing like a good belly laugh to energize those digestive organs. A little Laughter Yoga anyone? There are Laughter Yoga classes available. Here in Toronto, google Lynn Himmelman to find out about her wonderful Laughter Yoga classes.

If you are still looking to free that Inner Warrior, Martial Arts are great. Personally I love the movements, music and power of Capoeira -- a Brazilian Martial Art. You may want to take a few lessons before you attempt these moves!! (Check out the Bavia Arts Studio link at the left side of the blog). Just creating your own Martial Art Dance to Capoeira music can be fun and energizing. Even just watching a Capoeira performance can stir that Solar Plexus energy.

And lastly (for now) the vibration of the Solar Plexus is in harmony with the vibration of horns. Some wonderful horn music can be had in Mexican Mariachi Music. The Mexican Hat Dance (Jarabe Tapatio) is a great piece to do some Solar Plexus Dancing.

May the Sun shine warm upon you and may it fill your Solar Plexus with fire and light!

Barbara

Solar Plexus Passion!

What are you really passionate about? What "lights your fire"?

These are good questions to ask yourself as we explore the Solar Plexus energy centre. Often we associate passion with the Sacral Chakra because it is also the sexual centre. Certainly because it is the centre of intimacy, passion can begin to awaken here -- the passion of a new love; the passion for beauty; passion for fulfilling physical desire.

Deep in the Solar Plexus, our Personal Power centre, that energy centre just above the navel, lies our "Inner Fire" just waiting to be fanned to life. When that energy centre gets "fired up", there is no stopping us from moving forward into the full passionate expression of who we are. When we are really energized in the Solar Plexus, we can totally step "out of the box" and become the unique, dynamic beings that we are all meant to be; that we are all capable of being. Solar Plexus energy is about expressing ourselves as the totally unique beings that we each are. If we can think of ourselves as each being an individual spark from the same creative fire, then we can honor our connectedness even as we explore our uniqueness. Just as every single snowflake is unique and different, so too is every human spark from the Divine Flame completely unique and individual.

This puts me in mind of a quote from Rob Breszny's (http://www.freewillastrology.com/) book, PRONOIA which says, "Philosopher Robert Anton Wilson has proposed that the single greatest contribution to World Peace would come from there being six billion different religions -- a unique spiritual path for each person on the planet." Imagine a world where we could all explore and discover our own deep inner truth and live our lives from that place. That is definitely my Solar Plexus Dream.

Movement and dance can be a wonderful way to begin to take that step out of the box. In our Solar Plexus class on Wed. Feb. 17, we began by thoroughly warming up the body with gentle flowing movement and stretches. Then we danced to a piece called "Chaos" with the suggestion that we explore ways of moving that we haven't done before and if we find ourselves moving into a predictable, rhythmic pattern of moving, to step back, shake it out and begin a new unfamiliar way of moving. I suspect that most of us have been pretty intensely conditioned to "maintain the status quo" and to keep that inner volcano dampened down. But is that really any way to live? I would like to propose that we each take the time for some deep Solar Plexus reflection and really start to explore those things that "Light the Inner Fire". Whatever small step or movement each of us can begin to take towards our dreams and our desires and our freedom will not only free up our own energy, but will benefit and inspire those around us.

I shall leave with with this little image of personal power being well expressed!!

Or in case you prefer to think of a little softer or slightly more laid back image of potential power, how about this one?

Til next time,

Keep dreaming your beautiful dreams,

Barbara

Sacral Chakra and Intimacy

Perhaps intimacy has to begin "at home" with ourselves. How "intimate" are we with all parts of ourselves. Although the Sacral Chakra does definitely relate to the intimacy of sexuality, it also embodies a much greater intimacy. That is not to downplay the beauty and power and sacredness of physical loving -- it is to say that there is that and there is more -- much more. Certainly as we continue this fascinating Journey Through the Chakras, we'll discover and experience more. But for now, let's get to know those parts of us that are desperately wanting our attention. Within most (if not all) of us, whatever our age, there are parts of us that are hidden inside feeling ignored, unsatisfied, unfulfilled. If those parts of us continue to be ignored or oppressed, we can be certain that they will find an outlet -- be it in unhealthy relationships, inability to develop intimacy, perhaps in ways that may be hurtful to ourselves or others. What if, as adults, we could develop intimate relationships with those younger (and still very much alive and active) parts of ourselves that are still craving the attention or fulfillment of needs and desires that didn't happen then.

A number of years ago, the big rage was "Inner Child" work. What about the "Inner Adolescent", the "Inner Teenager", the "Inner Young Adult". Sacral Chakra qualities include being able to develop healthy relationships, healthy expression of sexuality, emotional health and stability, feelings of passion and zest for life and the ability to create new life (since it does relate to organs of reproduction). The Sacral Chakra is also the place where attraction to others originates. And of course it relates our ability to attract others to us. That may bring up all kinds of issues about how attractive (or not) that we feel, how deserving of love and attention we feel. In other words it may bring up many of the same insecurities, desires, dreams and hopes that we may have had as adolescents, as teenagers, as young adults. Those long term insecurities and those unfulfilled dreams and desires could be wrecking havoc on our ability to develop healthy intimate relationships.

Since the Sacral Chakra is also the beginning of the awakening Creative Energy, can we find a creative way to re-connect -- intimately -- with those long denied parts of ourselves and allow them to express themselves creatively? Can we tune in to those memories of ourselves as a young teenager and offer that part of ourselves unconditional love and acceptance? Can we allow that part of ourselves to sing his or her song, to dance his/her dance, to tell his/her story, to draw or paint his/her pain and joy and frustration and desire?

We are so hung up, in our society, with what is "age appropriate" behaviour that much of our Creative Spirit has been held back, repressed, and denied expression. The "Inner Child" in us has to be free to express without judgement and without the need to be "perfect". The "Inner Teenager" has to be free to explore new feelings and sensations and desires and moods. It is back here that so much of our Creative Juiciness has been locked in. Let's allow that child in us to scribble and play freely with colours and shapes and sounds and explore with fascination all of the incredible ways that the body can move. Let's allow that teenager in us to explore sensation and love and desire and attraction. Let's just unlock those Creative Juices. Let the Sacral Chakra energy flow.

Ultimately I truly believe that it is the freeing of the Creative Spirit that is going to free humanity from pain and conflict. So I would like to propose that we rid ourselves of all judgement around what is "age appropriate".

Believe it or not, all of this was stirred up in me by a song that I want to sing on my 60th birthday, which is Jan. 11, 2011. I began singing lessons about one year ago -- never having sung before in all of my then 58 years. My inner 16 year old really wants to sing "Dream Lover" for my 60th birthday celebration. She wants, and deserves, equal time at that celebration. I've really had to grapple with, "What are people gonna think -- a 60 year old woman up there singing "I want..... A boy......to call my Own." But you know what, it is not me as a 6o year old, who will be singing that song. It is the 16 year old part of me that will be there singing her heart out. And you know what, the 60 year old will find, or create, her own special love song. One thing I am discovering about love is that as one gets older, the potential for loving becomes stronger and deeper. And that needs its own special song. But first, the teenager has to sing her song of desire. The young adult woman in me has to express her desire through her special song and dance. And, when the time is right, I will find or create the song and the dance that express the profound depths of the desire and love that continue to grow and deepen inside of me.

This Journey into Intimacy is truly a sacred and profound Journey -- especially when we offer that intimacy first to ourselves -- to all parts of ourselves.

The Journey Through the Chakras continues next Wed. Feb. 17 with the Solar Plexus. Stay tuned!!

Treat Yourself Well!

Barbara

PS I may not have mentioned that the Element of the Sacral Chakra is WATER and that Belly Dance is one beautiful way to begin to awaken that energy center.

The Root Chakra and Organic Food

Greetings to all Lovers of Clean Healthy Organic Food!

There definitely is a direct link between the Health of Our Planet Earth, Organic Farming and the Health and Strength of our Root Chakra.

Last night, Wed. Feb. 3, 2010 I began another Journey Through the Chakras, an eight week (every Wed. pm) exploration of these fascinating energy centres. As many times as I have presented this Journey, I am always amazed at the new information that comes forward, both through my own reflections and through the reflections and insights of the participants, each and every time I offer this series. Last night's class was focused on the Root Chakra which is the energy centre located at the base of the spine and is our direct connection with Mother Earth. I would highly recommend the book "Eastern Body Western Mind" by Judith Anodea (available at the Library) if you want a really thorough understanding of this energy system. Basically the Root Chakra is connected with our survival issues -- and we know there are plenty of those in our world today. A strong and balanced Root Chakra helps us to feel safe, secure, stable (including financial stability), and comfortable in family and community connections. It is strongly conneccted to our physical health and well being and that, of course, is deeply related to what we put into our bodies. If we put in clean healthy balanced Organic food then our bodies are well supported and nourished. If we eat conventional food with all of its chemicals and pesticides, the body has to struggle to detoxify the food and even then, the amount of nutrients in that food is greatly diminished because it has been so severely tampered with.

A fascinating tidbit -- according to some experiments done by Jane Goodall -- she discovered that if she held an organic piece of fruit in one hand and a conventional, full of pesticides piece of fruit in the other hand, her animal friends consistently chose the Organic fruit. They instinctively knew which one to choose. She has a wonderful book out called "Harvest for Hope -- a guide to mindful eating". This is also available at the Library along with many books on her adventures in Africa and her insights into animal nature. The Root Chakra is also connected with our Animal and instinctual nature which we do all have but our intellectual nature has overpowered that instinct. The more we can re-connect with the animals and pure healthy food, the more sensitive we will become in regards to our connection with the Earth.

In last night's class, after we released our stress and got centered through our Dance Flow through all of the Chakras we refocused on the Root Chakra and its qualities. Then, in our journals, we did the following exercise which you may find interesting to try on your own.

We reflected on and completed the statement, "Out of those Root Chakra qualities, the thing that is most important to me right now is........................................" Then we paused and imagined that thing or quality being in our lives right now.

Then taking that thing that is so important to us right now on a personal level, into a broader global dream, we completed the statement "My dream for the Earth and all of her beings is........................................ We imagined that dream happening and being real right now.

The next statement was "One small step or action or change of thought I can make towards this dream is................................." In our imagination we saw ourselves doing this.

People dreamed about vibrant physical health for themselves and for all people: feelings of connectedness came up. Also desires to feel grounded and stable.

In my own personal reflection on this I dreamed of the availablity and accessabilty of Organic Food for all. The steps that I saw myself taking towards this dream were: 1. Every time I step into the Organic store or go to the Organic Market, I will offer my gratitude for being able to shop and eat organically (as opposed my usual apprehension and anxiety of what this is going to cost as I step up to the cash register with my Organic treasures!) and to send out a prayer that all beings have abundant access to this wonderful food. 2. To support the Organic farmers in whatever way I can.

After imagining myself doing this last night, I was really excited today to discover, through Vitality magazine, that there is an Organic conference coming up next week Feb. 20 here in Toronto. If you like you can check that out at http://www.cogtoronto.org/

Just a final thought -- as I was preparing for this class I also stumbled upon some wonderful information about the Earth and the Universe by Brian Swimme -- if you google his name and then click on video, you'll see and hear some amazing stuff. In one of his videos he says that humanity is "in between" stories right now. The old story that we have been living is over now and our new story has not yet manifested (I am putting this in my own words in the way that I understood it). To me that means we have a tremendous power now to participate in the creation of that new story. And I believe that it is our dreams and our intentions that are creating that new story.

So l am dreaming of the Earth being loved and nurtured by the Organic farmers that we (and our governments) support and that every living being has access to an abundance of Organic food.

I'd love to hear what your dream is. chakradancer@hotmail.com or leave a post here.

I'll be in touch next week after our Sacral Chakra adventure!

Keep Dreaming!

Barbara

The Tarot Reading That Keeps On Giving!

Last January, 2009, my birthday(Jan. 11) gift to myself was a Tarot reading from James Wells (see link for Evolutionary Tarot to left of this blog).

This year on Jan. 11, 2010, I began my 59th birthday by re-listening to the tape recording James had made of last year's reading. In fact I even re-created the layout that we had used. When I initially went for my reading, James had laid out many decks of Tarot cards (it is quite amazing to see how many really creative and beautiful decks are available these days) and he allowed me to choose the one I wanted for my reading. It was fascinating to browse through this huge variety of images and wisdom. The Voyager Deck drew me in. It was my first time to see it and to my delight, discovered that it was made by collage. I have a real passion for making collages so I was excited to see these collage images in Tarot. Needless to say, I now have my own Voyager Deck!

In going back and listening to this tape a year later I was amazed at how current it still is and how much of the guidance I received is still extremely relevant and important now, a year later. One thing I really loved about James' reading was the "conversation" aspect of it. In readings I have had in previous years from other tarot readers, it was pretty much the reader telling me about my life and telling me what I should and shouldn't be doing or thinking about. That's probably why I haven't had a reading in a long time. It wasn't like that at all with James. With each card, we would first explore what the images meant to me and how they related to my current situation. It gave me a chance to explore my story from a new perspective. Then James would offer his very wise and intuitive insights, thoughts and observations. In that way, a larger and more complete picture was created.

The question I brought to that 2009 reading was "How can I create work that is both satisfying to my Soul and financially supportive?" We did an eight card spread, but after reviewing the entire spread, I decided, for this year, I would really focus on the first two cards. Just those first two cards alone could give me all the guidance I need right now for my work and for my life in general. In fact I would highly recommend this as an exercise that anyone could do with or without cards.

The first card was in the position of "What is unacceptable in terms of conditions, energies, etc. around my work? What feelings or situations should I back away from? What are the red flags?" I drew the Seven of Wands which struck me as a very dark card with many fearsome looking masks and sharp knife like objects. One large mask looked very disapproving and judgemental to me. There was a depressive and oppressive feeling in that face. I could certainly identify those feelings and the people in my work life who represented those kinds of feelings. James also pointed out the significance of perhaps feeling like I had to wear many masks or take on too many roles. I could definitely relate to that in a then current work situation. So generally here, the lesson for me was, when things feel like this, I need to back away. These are the things that don't nurture my Soul. James commented that it was important to also be aware of when my own inner thoughts and feelings may resemble what I saw in that card. It has taken me some time to really "get that"! Now I fully understand that there isn't really any point in trying to change my outer circumstances until I look deeply inside and see where I am harboring my own feelings of disapproval and judgement that I may be projecting towards myself and/or others. What masks am I wearing and where in my life am I trying to play too many roles? Where am I trying to be everything to everybody? Where and when do I hide behind a mask? Is this just more of that old people pleasing trap that I so easily fall into?

After allowing that card to settle into my psyche for a whole year, I am really understanding that my outer circumstances are doing nothing more than reflecting what is buried deep inside of me. Wow -- maybe I really am getting older and wiser!! I like the "wise" idea!!

The second card was in the position of "What are the acceptable conditions for my work? What are the "go for it" signs?" The card I drew in this position was Man of Crystals, also called INVENTOR. Initially this card struck me as somewhat chaotic with tons of stuff going on. James explained that crystals related to the mind and had to do with expressing feelings in a creative way. I could relate to that. All of the chaos in the card felt like the ideas and inspirations that were floating around inside of me. At James' suggestion I focused in on the image that stood out the most and it was a beautiful light purple crystal that appeared well connected to the Earth and at the same time was pointing upwards towards a solid looking structure. James offered the suggestion that "what is acceptable (in my work) needs to be solidly connected to the Earth and it needs to be pointing to something bigger than itself". He explained the INVENTOR as being visionary, forward moving and creative. At that point I noticed a bird with a large, bright clear eye looking out at the world. I grabbed onto that image because I have been experiencing a number of visual "challenges" in the past few years. Because my eyesight is very fluid and wavy and changeable, and I see the physical world in quite a unique way now, we determined that acceptable conditions for my work would be whatever feels fluid and visionary and unique. James also made the comment that "through my physical eyesight, I am carrying the energy for all beings who invite different ways of seeing things". This is a truly exciting thought for me. It totally transforms my experience of my "new" way of seeing the world. Instead of focusing on the struggles and challenges that my new sight presents; instead of thinking of it as something"wrong", I now see it as very right, very in tune with the uniqueness that I am here to express. The INVENTOR is about cultivating a unique perspective. It is about surrendering to surprises. No more trying to "see" in the old way which doesn't, and can't work for me anymore. It is a big relief to let go of that struggle.

I could go on for hours about just these two cards, and yet the reading had six more!! Maybe next year on my 60th birthday I'll explore cards 3 and 4!

Thank you James for this incredible gift. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and your knowledge. Thank you for inspiring me with your constant quest and willingness to dive deeper and deeper into the great mysteries of Tarot, and of life! Thank you for the inspiration and clarity I have received through my reading and through all of the wonderful Tarot gatherings that you have created.

I would like to end this by offering an intention or prayer that we all move closer to finding those conditions that are acceptable and that nourish and support us on every level of our being.

I wish you all many blessings for the year 2010 -- and always.

Barbara

The Work That Re-Connects

Everything is connected. If I ever doubted that, the few experiences I have had with Joanna Macy's "Work That Re-Connects", has left no doubt in my mind. You can check out Joanna's work at http://www.joannamacy.net/. She is an amazing teacher, now in her 80th year, who continues to travel and teach intensive workshops.

On Sat. Dec. 19, 2009, I attended a full day workshop based on The Work That Re-Connects, facilitated by Jeannette McCullough (http://www.shamansong.ca/). I was deeply touched and amazed by some of the unexpected gifts and the sense of "knowing" that I received throughout the day. For me, the most remarkable and the most profound exercise that we did involved Jeannette first offering us a prayer of gratitude towards various beings and then we, in partners, each had a chance to speak our own memories, feelings and offer gratitude towards the various beings that were mentioned. First was a prayer and then our offerings of gratitude towards Mother Earth. Then we offered prayers and gratitude towards the trees, and then the animals and the birds and the flowers and the fish. With each sharing with my partner, I found memories of my growing up days just flooding back to me, but I found those memories coming back in a very different way than they ever had before. Instead of seeing the "difficulties" or the challenges of my growing up years, I suddenly began to recognize all of the incredible gifts that I had been given throughout my childhood and teenage years. I was very fortunate to grow up in a little village (Port McNicoll) near the shores of Georgian Bay. I was surrounded by the abundance and beauty of nature. I grew up with clean, fresh air to breathe, water that was ideal for swimming, birds of all kinds. I grew up surrounded by "tree friends" who welcomed me into their arms. How I loved climbing trees. When I wasn't "up a tree" I was swimming. Or riding my bicycle through quiet, safe streets. Or riding horses at my friend's farm. Or I was rescuing stray animals. Or I was feeding the birds. At times our backyard would be a mass of big white fluttering wings as I threw bread (day old from my father's grocery store) out to the seagulls. And of course we had many beautiful birds of every colour enjoying the birdbath and bird feeder that my mother kept well filled for our feathered friends. There were so many gifts in my growing up years, I can't even begin to name them all here. Through that exercise of sharing my memories, I totally re-connected with my past in beautiful, positive, happy way. I felt the beauty and the power and the strength of my foundation, my upbringing, in a way I never had before.

It is amazing how connected everything is. Just a couple of days before that workshop, I had "re-connected"with all of my photographs, from my infancy up to 1994. When I left to live in Mexico in 1994, I had stored my photos in my cousins dark, dusty basement in my hometown. For almost 16 years I had not seen any of these treasures. In "rescuing" these treasured photos from the basement of my cousins house, I felt like I had rescued a part of myself from the dark and dusty basement! After the workshop, I knew that the only thing that I really wanted to do on Christmas Day was to go through all of these photos and to remember and to receive fully, all of the gifts that I was given through each stage of my life. With my Beloved Spirit Guide (Sweet Wisdom) at my side, I explored those photos one by one, remembering the gifts and showering my young self and all of those around me in those precious pictures, with Love.

Just one final thought on the work of re-connecting -- I see now how, even though I haven't experienced very much of Joanna's work (this was only my second exposure to it), re-connecting has been a theme in many of my recent endeavors. In my ongoing work with the Chakras, the whole focus is on re-connecting the various aspects of ourselves as we re-connect with SOURCE. In my current vocal training, the entire focus right now is re-connecting my deep rich chest voice with my head voice and learning to transition smoothly through my full vocal range.

It is very exciting to see and experience many aspects of myself and my life and my voice coming together, re-connecting at the deepest levels.

Thank you Jeannette for this enlightening work that you are offering us. It is a gift.

And thank you to all of the Beings -- Human, Animal, Plant, Rock .... and of course to all of the Beloved Spirits who guide our way.

I wish you all a Wondrous New Year. Thank You for allowing me to share my story.

Barbara

The Power of the Human Voice to Transform

This post is inspired by an amazing event I attended on Dec. 13, 2009 called "Sounding for Wisdom at Copenhagen" facilitated by Wende Bartley, Composer and Sound Healer here in Toronto.

First a little background note: Those of you who know me are likely aware of my growing excitment and passion for anything to do with vocalizing, singing or sounding. After about 57 years of feeling like my voice was trapped deep inside of me, my voice now refuses to remain silent any longer! And with that vocal energy guiding me, I am now finding incredible opportunities to work with and use my voice in ways that are fun, energizing, healing and transformative.

My own vocal journey and wxploration began a little over a year ago when I found myself in a group where people began to spontaneously offer and share songs. I could feel my voice retreat deep inside of me in terror that someone might expect me to sing. I couldn't do it. And that was also the turning point when I knew that i also couldn't live with my voice trapped inside any longer. My search for "vocal help" led me to a remarkable teacher and a remarkable method (see speech level singing link at the left of my blog) of training the voice. While this method is aimed largely at training the voice to sing (which I now really want to do!!) its effects on me have been much more far reaching (but that's another story to come!!). But thanks to my weekly lessons and my dedication to my daily vocal practice, I now have the courage and the vocal strength to begin using my voice in many transformative ways.

I was really excited to receive Wende's invitation to her vocal event "Sounding for Wisdom at Copenhagen". This was based on a Worldwide event called Sounds of 350 (www.350.org) It sounded like a wonderful way to explore my own newly developing vocal power in a way that could also help to support the planet in these crucial times. i can only say -- that sounding event was awesome. We met in the Sanctuary of Trinity St. Paul's Church on Bloor St. so we had a great, huge space with wonderful acoustics. Wende led us through a lovely series of vocal exercises to warm up our voices and spoke to us about connecting with the Earth's song. Because of all the damage that is being done to Mother Earth, Wende explained that her (Mother Earth's) song is being silenced. By connecting with Mother Earth and allowing her song to be sung and sounded through us, we can help to revive the song. Through our voices we can connect with the vibration of the Earth and strengthen it. Wende also referred to this as "subtle activism" (www.gaiafield.net)-- a concept that really resonates with me. Led by Wende and the vocal group HATHORA, we were led into a prolonged time of sounding our own sounds as they wanted to come through us. It was a very large group of people, everybody sounding the songs and the sounds that wanted to come through them. With everyone sounding differently, the result was incredible harmony and connectedness.

As I continued to connect more deeply with the Earth, I found sounds coming through me that I had never sounded before. At one point, I could feel deep, wild animal sounds coming through me and then I realized, from somewhere across the room, another animal had emerged and was sounding back to me. In this midst of all the sounding that everyone was doing, I found myself carrying on a back and forth "animal conversation" with someone -- I have no idea who -- across that huge room. It was an amazing feeling, not only to be channeling that sound from who knows where, but to find someone who was speaking exactly that same language. This was definitely one of the most fascinating and powerful "conversations" I have ever had.

I need to end by saying thank you Wende for offering me this opportunity to experience the newfound power of my own voice and for giving me this opportunity to be of service to the Earth through my Voice.

This was a profound event and I am really excited about the discovery that I can use my voice in this Transformative way.

Thank you to all of those (and there have been a few!) wonderful people who have helped me to unleash the Power in My Voice.

And may we all continue to sing and to sound Ourselves and the Earth back to Vibrant Health!

Peace and Love to all of you.

Barbara