photo by Daniel

I saw a wonderful movie today called Bottle Shock. It was based on a true story which took place in the mid-1970s. A certain group of people in Northern California decide to live their dreams, and work to create wine that has always been held in the deepest regard, up to this point, only in France.


Their mission to produce superior wine is fueled, not by commercialism, but by a passion to create a beautiful and fluid work of art. Many can relate to the love of wine, the depth of its color, the layers of subtle and pronounced tastes, the distinct aroma, and the lingering effects which stay alive on the palette.


There is a point in the movie where the hero is talking to a young female intern who has traveled many miles to learn the craft of wine making. He bends down to the earth, and scoops up some dry dirt among the vibrant grape vines. He explains to the intern that the vines thrive when the soil is dry because they know they have to struggle more to survive.

These vines that are fighting back against scarcity will always produce more complex grapes than vines that are surrounded by soil that is moist. Like humans, it seems, it is the struggle that builds depth and character.


It is challenging to put your prized plants through this grueling method. What if they are pushed to far and wither? Undeterred, these brave men and women fight against being ostracized and having financial ruin thrust upon them, and (their biggest heartbreak) losing the very thing that brought them to their own sacred vineyards.


In the end, the hero’s wine is claimed the winner in a blind taste test performed by snobbish, elite French judges in Champagne, France. News spreads like wild fire, and his “California” wine becomes sought after throughout the nation, and the world. The message is a simple one that I never grow tired of: “Never give up.” The story was told with truth, and the scenery was beautiful. The time was nostalgic and the theme is timeless.


Now what can be better than that?

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Kim McGinnis, Be Like Nature

photo by HYG_a2c

I recently moved from Thousand Oaks, CA to Erie, CO. And although there has been some off and on again rain since I moved (about 2 weeks ago), today was the first real rain with a little hail thrown in. A group of us had just begun our walk, and the clouds were telling us that rain was coming. It was windy and even a little chilly. We ventured out, hoping the the clouds impending burst would not disappoint us.


It sprinkled throughout our little trek, but really started to come down by the time we were back home. How perfect. Here are some little known quotes I found about the rain. I hope you like them as much as I do:

Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.
-Roger Miller

Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without destroying his roots.
-Frank Clark

The average man is a conformist, accepting miseries and disasters with the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain.
-Colin Wilson

The last quote is not really about the beauty of the rain, but I just loved the image of the cow standing in the rain. It’s a little sad and a little funny.

And even though their stance may be steady, perhaps they are dancing inside, enjoy the cleansing spirit of the rain. Hey, you never know.


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Kim McGinnis, Be Like Nature

photo by, hiro008

It’s been extremely hot the last couple days here in Thousand Oaks California. I am not wild about this kind of heat. Anything over 90 degrees and I find it a little difficult to breathe.

I grew up in Arizona and I wasn’t crazy about the heat there either. I never remember liking the desert, let alone thinking it was beautiful. It’s flat, there’s nothing green, maybe a tumble weed here and there, some cacti, and some deadly scorpions meandering about.

But I know there are many people out there who love the desert, and many people are setting up new homes in Arizona and Nevada. And it is more than the price of real estate, they actually love the heat. Maybe most of these people are from the East Coast. Grass is always greener…

But as much as I prefer a little chill in the air, I am more open minded these days. I searched for some beautiful desert scenes, some that moved me, and I softened a little in my stance.

The top left pic is the White Desert in Egypt.

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photo by J. Philipson

If you are like me you love trees. I feel so fortunate to live in an area where trees are abundant. My home is Thousand Oaks California, and it is not a coincidence that there are many, many oak trees (as well as other varieties) in our city. Since I have been here I have planted one tree, and I plan on planting more.

When I was younger I remember looking for an apartment that I could afford. The ones with a view of something green were few and far between. Who wants to look out the window at another stucco building, a trash can-lined alley or a busy street? Most of us would like a little glimpse of something that reminds us that we are creative beings.

Still not convinced? Here are 5 great reasons to get out there and start planting:

1. 10 average sized trees provide enough oxygen for the average sized person for his entire lifetime. If you haven’t planted your 10 trees yet, you are taking up somebody’s else’s air. If you have never planted a tree before, but would like to take the plunge, go to Tree Help.

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photo by Miradise

These past few years there have been more natural disasters than ever before. Floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes are killing at alarming rates all over the world. Those not killed are left displaced, feeling utterly lost and alone.

Some may say global warming is to blame. Green house gases cause the temperature to rise, the ocean is affected, weather patterns change, etc, etc. Some say global warming is a myth. I don’t agree. Instead I would say it is a symptom of a much deeper problem.

When you think about the world, how do you see it? Do you see individual things and individual people? Do you compare yourself to others and what they have? Does it make you want what they have and more?

Or do you see energy? Do you see that everything is moving and changing from moment to moment? Does that make you understand that holding on to something is not natural? Do you see yourself in other people? Does your compassionate nature come out when you see them struggle? When you are out in nature do you feel like it is your responsibility to protect it? Do you feel grateful at the sight of natural beauty, like it is a zen gift from the Universe?

When we ask ourselves questions it helps to uncover the way to make ourselves, and our world a better place. If we are disgusted when we learn that corporations dump gallons of toxic waste into our oceans everyday, it might make us think of what we may do on a much smaller scale. From there we are in a position to do something…something other than complain.

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photo by Green Wellie

Are you Balanced? Do you feel motivated yet relaxed? Intelligent with a sense of humor?
Confident yet humble? Not sure? Me neither. While I was pondering these questions I did a little research to find out what how this whole balancing thing works and where it came from? Apparently it depends on a couple of things.
This is what I came up with for us humans:

• We try to work to hard, but (Don’t want to die of a Heart attack)
• We want to find time to play, but (Don’t want to be a narcissist)
• We feel it’s important to develop some kind of spiritual side, but ( Don’t want to be a fanatic)
• We struggle to exercise our body everyday when we have time, but ( Don’t want to be an egomaniac)
• We study and learn new things to exercise the mind, but (Don’t want to be a know-it-all)

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photo by down_the_rabbit_hole

I like the word chi. It’s the beginning of chee…secake. So when you say the word you are smiling. And it doesn’t have all the calories that come with the “cake” part. Chi is very healthy. And, like nature, it is pure creative energy. Chi is in and around everything, and it runs through invisible channels called meridians.

Chi, also spelled Qi, naturally moves along its friendly channels. When it is in its element, chi is like flowing liquid. But just as water will collect debris and mosquitoes when stagnant and our bodies will turn to jelly if we do not move – chi ceases to offer benefits when it is blocked. Movement is the cure. When Chi moves, its creativity makes something out of nothing.

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photo by, Kimberly Dickenson

Do you sometimes wish you could just quit your job, and take off for a week (or more), and just get away.Pressures from finances and relationships can wreak havoc on your hearts and minds. And because of obligations and responsibilities there is often little time (or money) to do anything about it. So, why not create your own sacred space in your own home?

There are many things you can do to turn an ordinary space in to a sanctuary. If you do not live alone, pick a room or area that is yours – and put your mark on it. The idea is for you to have your own place where you can go to relax. What you do there is entirely up to you: read a book, practice some yoga poses, write in your journal, etc.

To get started you need to know what types of things calm you, and, at the same time, may inspire you. This is very personal, so if you have never thought about this before, it’s time you did. Your sacred place is meant to enliven your senses in a way that makes you playful and creative. This is your time to escape the rat race of the outside material world, and go within to your divine inner world (our inner Source) – where all the goodies lie.

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photo by, marirs

I rented a movie (Secrets of the Soul) last night about the ancient sacred ritual of the Vision Quest . The indigenous North American Indian tribes have been practicing these ceremonies throughout history. The quest requires the individual to go through a kind of physical cleansing and (later) they reap the reward of a spiritual connection.

The idea is that one needs to look out at the pure beauty of nature and to realize how divine spirit lives in breathes in the dirt, rocks, cactus, and other surrounding elements. The Indians learned a deep reverence for nature because they were taught from birth that their ancestors’ spirits reside in nature after their bodies have perished.

What they believe (and many other religions) is that what remains after the death of the physical is soul (or spirit). Soul is what connects us to everyone and everything. And in this connection comes a sense of peace.

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photo by Maggie’s World

Do you ever wonder why certain types of music can fill us with so much emotion? I even know I am being manipulated into to feeling sad when the Mother-Daughter confrontation is coming up in my Blockbuster rental. But when I hear those violin strings they touch me at a primal level that can not be denied. I know, the hardened cynics are rolling their eyes at me!

Okay, what about the sound of trickling water? Whether it is water falling from a man made fountain or the sound of a babbling brook your attention is captured in the more tranquil way. If you want to deny this…you really do need to take more nature hikes.

The truth is certain sounds divert our turbulent minds and even out the ups and downs so that a tranquil balance is achieved.
The ancient Indians understood the importance of sound to our spirit’s mental health. Their long history is filled with writing, poetry and prose which was written with a very specific rhythmic and musical quality. The language of these early Indian was Sanskrit.

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