Moonlit Path Studio

01/31/2024

In Iaido, we have both individual and paired kata. Our paired kata are called kumitachi. Paired kata aid students in developing mindfulness and attention to detail, maai,or proper awareness and use of space, the importance of proper timing, and how to respond to or counter a variety of attacks. As you will see in Ippon Mae, the first kumitachi, they begin with the uchidachi, or attacker, calling out the shidachi. The outcome is decided in a couple of brief, decisive movements.

10/28/2023

Hello everyone! We will not have yoga or Iaido classes this weekend. I'm fighting a cold. We'll be back next week! See you soon!

10/07/2023

Happy October, everyone! We have a beautiful day to start off this month's classes. See you at 9 for yoga and 10:30 for Iaido!

09/06/2023

Hello everyone!
Here is a short video of our practice space at the park I shot before our last class. I thought it might help give people a better idea of what to expect. It has really been a great space to practice in. The sun rises behind those trees so it gives us some good shade for class. In addition to all of the health benefits from practicing yoga and Iaido, studies have shown that being out in nature has a positive effect on both our physical and mental health. Come check us out on Saturday mornings at the park! We hope to see you soon!

08/23/2022

Some more detailed photos from the bunny exhibit. Of course you know which one my favorite was. :)

08/23/2022

Kasey and I had a lovely pre-birthday breakfast date last weekend. We had breakfast at The Famous Toastery and then took a stroll through Airlie Gardens. It was such a beautiful day, and such a good time spent with my favorite person!

08/23/2022

Bunny Display at Airlie

07/30/2022

Nature never ceases to amaze and inspire me. Lately on my walks through the forest, I've been watching this family of funky colored mushrooms grow. I've walked through this forest for the better part of the past 30 years and never seen anything like them. The way they stand out, I feel like they're an item I should be collecting for a side quest in a video game. It's been fun watching them grow. There are new ones every few days that I venture down the path.

12/03/2021

Nov. 20 marked the culmination of a journey that began in 2013. That year, I attended a Native American Heritage Day at CFCC and met Mike-El, who makes and plays his own flutes. I got the idea to get a flute made from a bit of wood from the oak tree in my grandparents' front yard. I have always loved that tree. After getting the wood, it had to cure, so I kept it until June of this year when I reached back out to Mike. 

The old oak presented some challenges, including a run in the wood.  Mike took the wood to a pow wow at Cherokee for healing, and another one in Jacksonville.  He said that he was still having trouble seeing a flute in the wood. Unbeknownst to me, he'd told himself I'd have to see it. Shortly after that, which was in September when I was in Iceland, I started having flute dreams.  After I got back home, I checked back in with Mike, and incidentally mentioned the dreams. He said that was confirmation that there must be some way to get a flute out of the wood.  

I picked it up on the weekend of Nov. 20. Mike told me about the process and challenges he'd run into along the way. He explained that since it had been with them in the circle at the pow wows, it was a sacred flute, and I needed to open it in sacred space, looking at the oak tree. So, on the morning of the 20th, I had a simple flute opening ceremony with a small group of friends. There is more that could be told, but I'll leave it there. It was beautiful, and I am grateful for the chain of coincidences that made this all possible, to my friends for sharing sacred space with me, and most of all to the oak for lending me some of its branches and to Mike for his expert craftsmanship and not giving up on "Old Man Oak".

Photos:

07/24/2021

Calligraphy Sale!!! If you have been looking for some Japanese calligraphy to incorporate into your sacred space or meditation area, or just to add to your home décor, you’re in luck! When you buy calligraphy from me, not only are you getting a piece of unique, hand-brushed artwork- each work is energetically cleansed with sage and charged with Reiki energy specific to the kanji. For example, if you purchase the kanji for “peace", I charge it with the intention to bring peace to the space it occupies.  Each also contains an information sheet that tells you about the kanji and suggestions for positive affirmations and meditations you can use to incorporate the energy of the piece into your personal practice.
The small wooden panels include a free display stand. All other works are for sale as is to allow you to display them as you see fit.
Each piece is individually hand-brushed, painted, and/or stained. As such, there will be subtle variations from the image shown. All prices are displayed on the images and include free shipping!  PRIVATE MESSAGE ME TO PLACE YOUR ORDER.
Note: Items pictured with the calligraphy are for display purposes only and are not for sale.

05/30/2021

Working on a background for a commission. Going to let it dry a bit before adding some calligraphy to it. Until then, I'll be venturing back into the world of light and shadow for another project I'm working on.

05/08/2021

Hey everyone, Moonlit Path Studios will be appearing at Charlie's Holistic and Craft Fair. I will be there with Reiki charged calligraphy pieces, and possibly some new offerings. Come check us out!
Also, I've been informed that they still have some spots open for vendors. If you're interested let me know and I'll send you Charlie's contact info.

05/01/2021

Moonlit Path Studios is present today at the May Day Artists Pop Up Market at 202 Laurel Drive, Wilmington, NC. It's a beautiful day to get out and support local artists. We're here until 4, come check us out!

04/12/2021

It's been a while since I've done a woodburning project. I've been inspired to work on a couple of pieces recently. The inspiration for this one is the Chalice Well in Glastonbury, England - which is where the chalice pictured is from as well.

01/30/2021

This just came through my newsfeed. Cool timing considering I posted this kanji just yesterday. Masaru Emoto's work with the effect of words/intentions on water is fascinating if you ever get a chance to check it out.

https://www.facebook.com/213162915391311/posts/5380349728672578/?sfnsn=mo

PEACE - “In a time when we all are searching for peace, it is water that unites us all. “When we acknowledge and explore the potential of water, humankind will be saved; and each of us will become stronger, happier, and more content.” — “Every time we look deep into the power of water, we end up affirming the existence of the divine. Water teaches us that something greater than ourselves created the entire universe and that we are all “children of God.”~ Masaru Emoto - Messages From Water And The Universe.
Please join us for our next water ceremony for peace and collective consciousness experiment ~ https://fb.me/e/5WfGSrvV9 Anyone can join free ~ all it takes is your sincere heart.

01/29/2021

Heiwa - "Peace"
This was a recent commission. It is actually one of the first kanji I learned to write, and amongst my favorite. The concept I came up with for the background is the ripple-effect. As we become more peaceful ourselves, we spread that peace to those around us, and it continues to spread out from there. An important concept in the times we live in. I don't have answers to so many of the complicated issues facing the world today, but I believe peace is a pretty good place to start.

01/29/2021

More fun with paint! This is the background for a commission I've been working on. I'm still getting used to working with paints again. With this one, I mixed blue and black trying to get a darker shade of blue. Initially it looked muddled and overpowered the layers I'd painted under it, but by the time I finished I found it created a depth to it that I was quite happy with. No mistakes, just happy accidents! :)