I am preparing to launch a summer workshop for children ages 8-11. I’ve been given the opportunity to facilitate this program with Kelly Skidmore. Kelly is an educator, yoga instructor, and the owner of Firefly Energy Center in Gig Harbor, WA.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Kid Mystery School

Where kids ages 8-11 discover their unique gifts and crack the code to the question, “Who am I.”
Mystery School offers a safe and mystical place for children to explore their imaginations and journey inward. Using Indigo’s Bracelet as a guide, they will connect with their inner voice and follow their intuition. After four days of guided meditation, yoga, art, and book discussion, kids will assemble a bracelet with collected symbols. These symbols will showcase the clues they discovered about themselves and remind them of their answers to the question, “Who am I?”

As facilitators, it is our hope that kids will see great value in being self-aware and will be inspired to express their true selves with courage and self-confidence. Ultimately, we hope they allow their inner voice to guide them in making wise choices and taking healthy action.
We are offering two separate times for this four day “Mystery School.” The weeks are July 15-18 and August 26-39 from 1-3 pm each day. Cost is $90.  If your child does not have a copy of Indigo’s Bracelet, you can purchase one at Firefly Energy Center in Gig Harbor or buy online. Please visit www.indigosbooks.com for details. We ask that your child read Indigo’s Bracelet prior to starting Mystery School.

Alexandra Folz has a Master’s in Nursing and is a writer, mother, and intuitive reader. She is the author of Indigo’s Bracelet, and soon to be released, Indigo’s Crystals. Alexandra is passionate about supporting and nurturing one’s intuitive and mindful abilities. You can learn more about Alexandra by visiting her websites www.indigosbooks.com and www.featherinsight.com

Kelly Skidmore’s path to wellness education began more than twenty years ago with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Physical Education from UNLV. She taught adaptive P.E. in both elementary and secondary schools. Kelly spent 6 months living abroad in New Zealand in order to bring physical education programs and water safety classes into the elementary schools. She continued her passion for fitness and wellbeing with aquatic therapy, Stott mat certification and yoga teacher training. She currently owns and operates Firefly Energy Center. Kelly has spent over two decades sharing her love of movement to heal, inspire, and improve the quality of her students’ lives. You can find out more about Kelly Skidmore atwww.fireflyenergycenter.com.

I’m here to raise my arms and fling um’ all around and say with excitement, “Illustrations for Indigo’s Crystals are in the making!” Who knows how the book will be published, but it’s time. Images for book two are under construction. I’ll keep ya posted on where we go from here.

Love,

Alexandra Folz

I’m so excited! A local yoga instructor and I will be conducting a summer workshop for kids. It’s titled Kid Mystery School and will use Indigo’s Bracelet as the teaching tool. It’s been almost three years since Indigo’s Bracelet was published, and finally, I’ve found a co-creator and vision for this program.  When the detail are finalized, I’ll be back here with the info.

Love,

Alexandra Folz

Sophia, my 5th grade daughter, was inspired by a fellow classmate last week.  She heard the young girl’s “deep” poem and fell into a trance.  The poem illuminated a place within her.  A place that knows the beauty that is…harmonious emotions.  Sophia wrote her own poem that night.  It took five minutes for her to evoke the imagery below.

I share this because I feel it exemplifies how we as humans create.  We are amazing beings, and it is our relationship with fellow spirits, that allow us to see and express our full potential.

I asked Sophia if I could publish her poem here.  She responded, “Yes!”…And with great joy, she picked out the image below.

Warmly,

Alexandra Folz

I grab this box of echos.
I play a note or maybe two to add to this majestic tune.
I let my heart pour down the strings.
I move my bow across the four tightropes
My fingers
they balance
they flow
as the song begins to grow.
Here it comes
the part.
I struggle.
I snuggle my two tightrope walkers close together
to make the perfect chord.
The chord
it fills my ears with sound.
Sounds of A and D
pile into me.
I’m done.
I place the my magical box of echos
into it’s sacred place.
Until the next time
I say…
Until the next time…

By: Sophia Delaney Folz

We did it! After two months of dog searching, we adopted 5 y/o Vinny.  He’s a rat terrier mix, which is peculiar for me, since I didn’t see myself as the small dog type.  That said, he’s perfect.  Not only in my eyes, but in the eyes of our family.  Now when I say perfect, I mean I know what he offers us is exactly what we need.  He’s kinda quirky and is obsessed with our parrots.  He also chases light reflections on the ceiling which makes us wonder about his brain connectivity.   That said, I know we’ll learn from him as he calls our family home.  Gotta love dogs!

Happy 2013!  I’m extra gitty this year because my husband finally agreed to adopt a second dog.  This new dog will be loved by two girls, a mom, a dad, and our 4 y/o Rhodesian Ridgeback.  We came to this decision late November, 2012, and here we are…still looking.

For me, it’s a special time to rescue a dog.  I’m recovering from jaw surgery and in my own way undergoing personal and physical rehabilitation. When we find our dog, he too will need some sort of rehabilitation, whether it’s to our house rules, climate, discipline style, learning how to be an inside dog…As I see it, we will have the pleasure of healing and adapting side by side.

That said, I had no idea dog adoption was such a process.  Wow!  Do you know how many rescue organizations live and flourish outside of national rescue centers?  In our search alone, we’ve been in contact with 20 plus.

There are about 5,000 community animal shelters nationwide that are independent; there is no national organization monitoring these shelters. The terms “humane society” and “SPCA” are generic; shelters using those names are not part of the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States. Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement.

We began our search on local Humane Society websites and then expanded to Seattle Pure Bred Rescue.  From there, we explored Petfinder.com.  Now Petfinder grants us access to rescue dogs and organizations around the world.  Aside from filling out umpteen adoption forms, I’ve learned about Desi Dogs, strays rescued and brought to the U.S from India http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/BC190.html, and visited private rescue organizations and foster family websites that house strays from Puerto Rico.  Our family has visited the homes of foster parents who care for rescues transported from kill shelters in California.  One of these foster parents recently rescued 6 dogs from another local woman who claimed she too was a rescue organization.  Her property housed over one hundred dogs living in questionable conditions.  The authorities and local dog organizations are dividing up the dogs for proper care and re-homing.

On a happier note, we recently had the pleasure of a foster mom who brought our top dog of interest right to our very own home.  Ruby, our Rhodesian Ridgeback, was in heaven.  A dog finally visited her on her own turf.

Needless to say, I’m in awe of the compassion and service that exists for homeless dogs.  I’m also painfully aware of the money and obsession that exists around dog rescuing.  Many of the foster parents are ferocious and attached to their dog care/training beliefs. For example, one mom refused to adopt her short-haired dogs to us because my husband won’t put a coat on the dog if he takes it fishing on a cold rainy day.  Brian just can’t see hiking and fishing with a dog that requires clothes.  We reassured the foster mom that we would not put the dog in danger.  If the day was too cold or pouring down rain, Brian would leave him home.  We have not heard back from this mom. (UPDATE – This Mom did call us back night hours after I posted this note.  We had a delightful conversation.  We’ve come to an understanding and there’s a chance one of her lab/bull mixes could be a match for us…:-)

So at times, I’m a bit overwhelmed.  In one way, I could take every dog we’ve met.  And in another way, I’m admittedly afraid to adopt any of them.

Our most favorite dog so far is an American Staffordshire terrier.  As I’ve come to understand, this breed may or may not be like or identical to the Pit bull Terrier, depending on whose beliefs you read across the internet.  That said, we weren’t looking for a Pit bull mix, we were looking for a Pointer or Labrador mix.  Am I a woman unconsciously hooked to the negative Pit bull hype?

I’m currently exploring this possibility.

In any case, I value this dog adoption process.  Like all sequential moments in life, time links lead to hidden treasures and unforeseen potential.

What dog will win the hearts of each member of our family, because so far, we haven’t had the unanimous “Yes!” vote.

What dog will make its home our home? What will the rehabilitation process look like?  Who will learn the most, us or the dog?  What lessons will we learn that we never thought existed?  Wait, I’m I crazy for wanting a second dog?

“Ahhhhhh!” I shout.

So, if you have a comment to share, please lay it down.  I’m curious, what was your adoption experience like?  Do you or anyone you know own a Bully (Staffordshire, Pit bull, Bulldog etc.) mix?  What’s it like adding a second dog into your family?  Do you volunteer for a rescue organization?  What have you learned while serving homeless dogs?

More importantly, is there an iPhone Adopt-A-Dog Application app?

Blessings,

Alexandra Folz

Ville Miettinen

It was the rigorous climb
beyond the mind that curled my toes
onto the rocky edge.

At peak
the view was limitless
The Way
only

out.

Hands at pray went first.
Off balance
body arched
toes released.

In swan dive
I opened to silence
plunging into wet abyss.

Now
suspended in bubbling brew
I breath vapors
of
peace
adoration
joy
and endless give and take.

Everywhere I look
I am
Unconditional Love.

Dear Bees on The McCormick Trail marked S,

I surrender to your space for the time being. When you stung me three weeks ago, I was shocked, and in a strange way, touched by your attention. It had been thirty years since my last inoculation. Days later when you stung me again, I felt angry and annoyed. Three days ago, when you bombarded my face and punctured my lip, I finally saw you. I found your hive and our crossroads.

The first two stings felt like subtle suggestions, but your third sting was a slap in the face. In fact, after running home, my lower lip plowed through the back door before I did, stunning my kids and husband between a laugh and a cringe.

Me and my red hound, Ruby, run and walk the same trails most days of the week. It’s our beloved ritual. Up until the third sting, I didn’t question returning to our woods for solace. But the needle to the lip made me pause.

Fast forward 24 hours to the first day of school. I got a call at 12:30 from the nurse’s station.

“Mrs. Folz, your daughters have been stung three times each by bees. Can you come to comfort them?”

“Of course, I’ll be right there.”

I arrived and stuck out my lower lip. I empathized and commiserated. We shared a few laughs between sniffles. Then they shared their obvious concern about getting stung again. My instinctive solution was simple.

“Girls, don’t walk past the hive. You know where they live, so give um’ some space.”

My daughters rebounded gracefully and returned to school with a plan. I, on the other hand, was unable to surrender. Ruby and I wanted to pounce in the woods, and I felt will and magic would protect us.

A minute before I entered trail S, I visualized a white light around me. I stated my intent to pass by your home in peace without harm. I held my will tight and stepped onto the crossroads.

Wham! You got me, right between my right butt cheek and upper thigh. Perfect shot. Best place to stop someone in their tracks.

The next few minutes passed in walking meditation. I opened to wisdom I’d heard myself say twenty four hours ago. “Don’t walk past the hive again. You know where they live, so give um’ some space .”

Dear Bees, it’s true. I wanted to keep my same path. I wanted to keep my same rhythm. I wanted to bend your will to mine because I knew I wasn’t going to harm you or your hive.

But you showed me. In order to be on the same page, both parties need the same book. You were reading from your Bee Book, and I obviously was not.

So, did you notice? I didn’t return to our crossroads on the second loop around. I looked for another route. Ruby was thrilled actually, her nose to the ground, her body running a new obstacle course. In fact we both enjoyed the view, another perspective to our beloved ritual.

Dear bees, thank you for letting me practice the art of surrender. Thank you for being your true nature. Thank you for bringing me back to my inner wisdom. And thank you for showing me that one’s loving will and imagination doesn’t block another’s instinctive duty.

Indigo’s Crystal is with the editor!  I know there is more work to be done, but I’m excited.  Hope to send the manuscript to publishers soon.  Thanks for visiting Indigo’s Books.