365 Inspirations—344: Working on a New Book

“Write while the heat is in you. … The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with.”—Henry David Thoreau

 I will be ending my daily blog posts at the end of this year, but hope to write weekly posts. I've started working on new book. It's not the book I thought I'd be writing. I originally thought I'd write a book based on my 365 Lessons I wrote in 2010, but I'm not called to write that one right now.

A book is flowing through me. Doubt sits on my shoulder, of course, but I'm going to keep following the flow with this one.

So that's why I won't be writing daily posts in 2014. If I'm lucky, I will try to keep weekly posts.

I want to absorb myself in this new book, which is fiction (something new as I'm primarily a non-fiction writer). However, it is based on my real experiences.

I will give you a hint: There's quite a bit of travel and spiritual adventure in this new book.

It's going to take me some time to finish it as it's just starting to reveal itself to me. I always get the title first, then the chapters and then the story starts to fall into place.

That's how my last book, Lessons from the Monk I Married, came to me and that's how this new one is coming again.

I'm nervous about it because it's something entirely new for me. It's a bit out of my comfort zone, but I feel called to write it and I feel excited while working on it and researching it.

So, in 2014, I'll be focusing on writing this book, doing yoga/writing retreats with my husband and teaching. Daily blogging will not be my focus.

Writing every day on this blog for a year has been challenge and I feel I'm ready to put that writing towards a new book!

Stay tuned here. I'll keep you posted and updated on its progress.

Have you ever felt the urge to write a book or work on a new project?

365 Inspirations—136: Channeling Pele, The Goddess of Volcanoes

Pele, Goddess of Volcanoes, by Herb Kane

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."—Albert Schweitzer

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd feel a connection to a goddess. I'm not really even sure what that means. However, since visiting the big island of Hawaii, I've had many dreams and thoughts about Pele, the goddess of volcanoes.

I feel like she is with me daily. Even though she is depicted in human form, I'm not really sure she can be considered human. She is a force of nature.

I walked on the her lava late at night and in the distance I saw fire spewing out on the edge of a cliff high above the sea.

This volcano, Kilauea, is still very active.

I feel a strong urge to return to this land.

I don't know why.

I feel I have more to learn there. Something is calling me to make a bold move and just go.

Pele is thought to be the goddess of creativity and change, two things that are quite dominant in my life right now. I don't really know if I'm channeling Pele, or she is channeling me. I don't know why I keep having dreams and thoughts about this place.

The Big Island of Hawaii, particularly the Hilo side where I spent quite a bit of time on my trip, feels very sacred. This part of the island, near Kapoho, feels untouched and very pure to me. In this area, I swam with dolphins, sat in a natural pool that was heated by the volcanic rocks beneath it and sank my feet into a black sand beach.

There, I felt I was finally waking up to a very deep part of myself. A part I had forgotten or dismissed. Perhaps there is a whole side to me that I've yet to get to know.

Me at La Push, Washington

I'm ready to know that part of myself. I'm ready to let the flame within me grow.

Do you feel a connection to any particular place or even to a God, goddess or deity? How have these things appeared in your life? Have you made changes in your life because of your experiences with these things?