This one goes out to anyone who has ever dreamed a dream or planted a seed, to anyone who has lived for that dream and nurtured that seed and to anyone who never gave up. Here is a story to keep your dream alive and your seed growing into fruition.
 

 Thirteen years ago I was very pregnant with my son Jed and had the unique opportunity to pose for a book on pregnant nudes. Alexa Garbarino, professional photographer and artist,  began the project just around the time that Demi Moore appeared pregnant and naked on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. Alexa was looking for models.  I explained to her that though I was no Demi Moore, I was interested. She showed me all of her amazing pictures and each one was more beautiful than the last, celebrating the miracle of pregnancy and the expression of the divine goddess within each woman differently and perfectly. On a NYC roof top dancing, in a swimming pool underwater, in a stairwell, on the Brooklyn Bridge! I agreed to do it.
 

On a cold and grey February morning, I led Alexa through the reeds to a secluded spot on the Sound. There with my great big 9-month belly I began to practice and she to shoot.  It was exciting and exhilarating to share in the creative energy of this special project. The result was a wondrous picture and experience that I will treasure always. Over the years I heard from Alexa on occasion. I learned that after years of trying she too had conceived, and brave woman that she is, posed at 4AM in Time Square!!!  There were holiday cards with her family.

And then fast-forward 13 years. I receive an invitation to a book launch party for Alexa and the book, Ripe! She had done it! Due to the unconventional subject matter of the book and the repressed attitudes in this country it took nearly 20 years. But she prevailed. The seed had come to fruition.  RIPE is a reality, filled with100 women and their stories, 185 pages of brilliant beauty and power. The party was Friday night and many of the models were there, all with their tale to tell and proud to have had the honor to contribute and in a small way bless this seed that Alexa had sown and tended with such tenacity, grace and courage.
 

With the year coming to a close and a new one about to begin it seems to me fitting to consider this inspirational story.  For now, as we come to the winter solstice and begin to move into the light, is the perfect time to develop clarity about our dreams and what seeds we have sown in our lives that require nurturing. The ability to manifest, or make things appear, is not magical in the accidental or unintentional sense. The ability to manifest is real and magical and requires tremendous and sustained effort, clarity and focus. It requires passion and courage and sheer determination. The road may not be smooth, nor straight, but be inspired, filled with spirit, life force, by those who have come before you, like Alexa. And never give up as if your life depends on it, because, to live in your truth, it does.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlighten about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.... As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same, As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." ~Marianne Williamson

It seems there was an error in our Fall schedule which was just pointed out! Please note that Lisa's Tues night class is and has always been from 7:30-9:00pm not 9:30pm.

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