The Power of Crystals
Reasons why I didn't post:
1. I lost the blog link, couldn't find it, therefore I couldn't update it
2. I was very sad
3. I was very busy searching for a full time tenure track community college counseling position
4. I got a FT Tenure track position and it was very busy at first, as a 3rd year counselor, I'm much more relaxed
5. My kids are so big, they keep me on my toes
6. I got distracted with Instagram and Flickr, but mainly Instagram
Anyway, one of my summer academy students got me interested in crystals. Not only are they beautiful, but they have so many healing properties. I'm still a beginner and I'm still learning but I enjoy seeing them and touching them. I love surrounding my spaces with crystals. I have some in my office, at home, in my backpack and in my car. I also wear an onyx bracelet and ring that are supposed to protect me from negative energies, plus it looks very pretty.The image below is of the crystals/stones I have in my office, literally on my desk under my computer monitors. The big obsidian I brought from Puerto Vallarta. I purchased it from a lovely lady that was not only sweet and kind to me and my mom but that also was very knowledgable about crystals and healing stones.
The other crystals surrounding the obsidian I recently purchased at my local bookstore. I really love it. The image above shows littles crystals/stones that I had at home but had forgotten about.
Finally, the image below is a selenite. This selenite I got at a store one day that I took my mom shopping. I didn't even think I would find something like this there, and I did, so I had to buy it. I love it's shape and color, but most importantly, I love what it does.
*Selenite is one of the most important tools to have in your energy tool kit because it doesn't need to be recharged and it can also be used to cleanse and recharge other crystals. It also has the ability to absorbs and dissipate negative energy. Often used to cleanse self and recharge self too.
Mindful Art
This summer I was invited to teach a summer academy, which consists of teaching a community college counseling class for a specific population, students in the EOPS program. I accepted the position because I knew it would be something different for me to do, and I like challenges and new things. I get bored and/or sad easily. I loved the fact that I was given autonomy to plan my class, to incorporate my creativity and bring art into the classroom.
The images here are photos of the students paintings that I put into collages. I facilitated a full class for them in which they practiced mindfulness through the process of art making. They created an abstract painting. My students loved the experience. They felt relaxed, they fully immersed in the creative process, they practiced mindfulness, something they hadn't intentionally done before. They also love their final products and all of them took their paintings home. I asked to take photos to be able to share them here and with EOPS.We were all very impressed by the students work but most importantly, we were impressed by what these painting represent.
Serenidad / Serenity
Serenidad ~ I created this small acrylic on canvas painting about 1 year ago. I was invited to attend a wine and paint event at Tertulia's coffee shop in Oakland. Maria Sanchez, a Latina artist colleague of mine is the owner of this coffee shop and art gallery. Since no prior painting experience was required for this event, I invited a few gals. We had so much fun and this beauty was my final product. We were encouraged to set our intentions before we started painting and the word that came to mind was "Serenity." I had been going through some stuff and trying to process some issues. I've been through a very transformative process in the past couple of years. I would say that I've learned a lot about myself. I've grown a lot. I've matured a lot. I feel different. I'm even heavier than I've ever been. And I feel happier, less anxious and more at peace. I have been learning and practicing acceptance, forgiveness, being present in the moment and letting go. I also have become very intentional about enjoying every moment and living life now, not saving things for later because who knows if there will be a later. This has been the last painting I've made. Sadly, I haven't painted anything ever since. FYI... This painting hangs on my counseling office wall. I see it everyday and it's a reminder for me to slow down, to take a deep breath and ground myself and not dwell on unnecessary dumb things.Tejiendo ~ Crochet & Knitting
When I was 8 years old my abuelita Maria taught me to crochet. My parents worked in the fields (farm workers) in the US, therefore we lived part of the year in the US and in Mexico. It was difficult as a child to have to live that way. Just when I was making friends and feeling comfortable in my school and neighborhood, I had to move. In the US I attended 5 different elementary schools, 2 different middle schools and thank God just one high school. I also attended school in Mexico. I did part of my 2nd grade at a public school I disliked so much, it was so filthy I don't even want to think about it. I also did 5th grade at an all girl catholic private school, it was quite an experience too. As a child I thought that moving back and forth so much was normal, it was part of life and everybody did it. As I got older I realized that it wasn't true and that I didn't like that lifestyle, I wanted stability and I cared about my grades in school. I began to advocate for myself and demand to my parents that we didn't go to Mexico for long, my dad hated it, it was not part of his plan, sadly. Anyway, as a child living in Mexico, one of the things that I enjoyed the most was hanging out with my gramma. She always had stories to tell me, we would eat together, watch telenovelas and then she would fall asleep on the couch and I would cover her with her rebozo. I loved being with her! She nurtured my curiosity and always praised what I did. She enjoyed my presence even when we just sat there and didn't talk. She also taught me to crochet. She would tell me stories of all the things she crochet and sewed when she was young and when her eyes worked better. she'd say She was very sweet despite of all the trauma she has experienced in her life since childhood. I loved her very much then, but I love her even more now that I myself are a grown woman, a mother and a wife. I will be getting a tattoo in a few days to symbolize my both my grammas. My gramma Maria (whom I've been writing about) and my Mama Rosa, my paternal grandmother. She abruptly passed away when I was 4 years old. I don't really remember her, which hurts me so much. My mom tells me that I was her favorite granddaughter, I like to believe that. She also tells me that I have her hair and maybe that's why I've learned to embrace and love my curly and wild very dark, almost black hair. And I want to believe that I look at least a little bit like her too. It is said that when you experience traumatic experiences as a child, your brain somehow blocks those memories. I sometimes think that what happened to her was such a traumatic experience for everyone in the family but especially for me as a young child that maybe that's the reason why I can't remember anything. Anyways, below are some images of my getting back to crochet and knitting a couple of years ago. I already knew how to crochet, and I taught myself how to knit and I enjoyed the process so much. That process of trying something new over and over until getting it right and feeling so accomplished afterwards. I made a few beanies and scarfs...basic items but I enjoyed the process most of all. Some photos below... 
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Palomas de la Paz / Peace Doves
It's been a while... Here are two small images of these paintings I created for my mentor. His mother was turning 80 and he wanted a special painting for her. I tend to work better when I work on two paintings at a time, therefore I ended up creating these two pieces and he loved them. I gifted them to him because I know he loves my work and has always been supportive of it. His mother loved the paintings too, by the way.
New Paintings....DOCE 12" x 12"
Maria Sanchez created this image to promote the DOCE art exhibit...felt great to see my painting as the background image :)
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| HUARE Inspired on the Purepecha women from Michoacan Mexico, Gaure/Huare is a woman that already has children, a mother or a señora. The blue on her hair is supposed to be the traditional rebozo Purepecha women wear on their hair, wear to stay warm over their arms as a shawl, to carry their babies, and to carry other things as well....Daughter Celeste was my model, but this portrait is not Celeste. |
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VIVA LA VIDA...FRIDA KAHLO....I've always admired the work and life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. She inspired me so much when I was in high school and continues to do so today. I hadn't been painting for a while now, too many things going on with work, family, etc. Finally this opportunity arose and I had an excuse to take out my old brushes and paint. I love the red on this sandia and I love that it looks very similar to the original but more Alejandraesque lol
Summer 2015
felt both long and short. I was so excited to finally be able to stay home and do nothing...of course, that's not true, one of the first things I did was clean up the garage and we made 3 trips to the local thrift store to donate things we didn't need anymore.
QUALITY TIME
I spent quality time with my children...watched movies, cooked yummy foods, desserts and engaged in awesome conversations.
CAMPING -THE VANAGON DIARIES
We camped in our Vanagon at Half Moon Bay, it was a short camping trip, but it was very fun. Beautiful scenery and very fun in our new Van. We also drove to Stinson Beach and Point Reyes. Oh, and we tried to go out and enjoy the meteor shower but it was hard with all the light pollution in the city...but we did get to see at least 5 shooting stars.
BOSTON
Later on in June I traveled by myself to the east coast to attend a conference. The experience was great, I have to admit being scared and missing my children too much. I was not able to adjust to the 3 hour difference, had to ditch a couple of workshops to go take a nap. I also couldn't sleep all by myself in that huge suite. I took nice long walks by the Charles River under that hot humid sticky weather. And I had an chance to see some of the most beautiful sunsets ever. I loved it!
Would I do it again? No! I think I can always do those type of trips for professional development later when my kiddos are all grown up...it can wait...but for now it was great!
Oh, the other thing I loved about being away was that my husband cleaned the house and cooked a delicious meal for me upon my return....I was impressed! My little one just wanted to be next to me too, he truly missed me.
CANCUN
The next summer adventure was traveling to Cancun....FINALLY! what I had always dreamed of. Well, the place is gorgeous, I couldn't believe the beautiful colors of the ocean, the turquoise Mexican caribbean ocean. I was in awe. I loved it. What saddened me was the segregation between all those american tourists and the locals, so unjust. Everything costs in dollars, everything is extremely expensive and they even spoke to us in English, even though we spoke Spanish. We tried our bests to adapt and enjoy ourselves but at times it just felt weird. They also harassed us at the hotel so much into getting a stupid time share that I won't ever return there. One of the highlights of this trip was being able to meet up my parents in GDL...that was very nice. It was only for a few hours but it definitely recharged my spirit. In Cancun, I loved Isla Mujeres, I snorkeled!!! Yes, in the ocean! It was an amazing experience...I enjoyed every minute of it. We also went to an aquatic park and for the first time in many years, I felt adventurous...I jumped off the "quebrada" a 10' high cliff into the water...it was one of the best things ever. I went zip lining and we all had lots of fun.
On our return we got very scared due to awful turbulence, the plane shook and dropped so much I thought it was the end. I felt scared, guilt for bringing my kids on this trip, lost of things crossed my mind in those seconds. Thank God everything was fine, we were just scared...we made it safely back home. I have to say though, that my whole body was so sore, I felt sick for a few days, I think I had "susto." Anyway, at least visiting Cancun is now out of my system. I have swam in the gorgeous turquoise Mexican caribbean ocean and loved it.
POINT LOBOS -MONTEREY GET-AWAY
We went to Point Lobos and it was beautiful, I hadn't been for about 10 years. Kids liked it. We also visited Monterey and Lover's point, one of my fave placed...my little one loved it, the weather was perfect, everything was perfect.
BACK HOME
My whole summer I stayed actively in search of another job...I submitted a good number of applications, a lot of them are still being processed...like my mentor says, I do a pretty good job in creating opportunities for myself...I'm glad I do, although sometimes having too many options can become a problem as I can be somewhat undeceive. I also learned that there's a lot of very nice people out there. People that I didn't know and that are willing to talk to me and help me in my decision making, that's awesome and I feel so grateful to God for it. Now I have to pay it forward, I have to help others that may need me as well. I also had a chance to plan curriculum and do different things I hadn't done before...so it felt good knowing that I'm still learning and growing as a professional. I realized also that I like creating new things and working on new projects and the job I had was pretty much going to be the same all over again and I couldn't take it anymore so I'm done. No more tension, hostility, passive aggressiveness, sabotage, etc., We only live once and therefore I need to make these type of decisions now, not when I'm old and it's too late. And at the same time, I think I'm teaching my kids about the importance of self care and not conforming to mediocracy and unhappiness. I hope this new cycle is good for me and my family. I'm still feeling that weird sensation about all these changes, but I want to be hopeful that it will be okay. "La esperanza es la ultima que muere."
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