Hello World I’m Holly Hardin August 5, 2009

Holly Hardin-Author

Hi and welcome to my blog.  I am a childrens’ author with her first book, Aurora of the Northern Lights, coming out this month.  I will be musing about my adventures as a fledgling author, being new resident of the North Georgia Mountains, my four dogs, and anything else that inspires me.

I also am an intuitive and teach intuitive training classes.   My classes are fun, hands on and help people connect with their own intuitive natures.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy my blogs.

Why I cried at Julie& Julia and Miss Potter August 16, 2009

Yesterday I went with a couple of friends to Julie & Julia.  And, like everyone has said the movie is wonderful and Meryl Streep Is brilliant.  But unlike most of the viewers in the theater, I was misty eyed when I left the theater.  Probably for the same reason I was sniffling at the end of Miss Potter, both these women realized their visions of becoming authors.

This week, after six years of counting syllables, making thousands of revisions, and surviving several personal tragedies,  I finally held my first book in my hands this past Wednesday.  Like everything else about my book “Aurora of the Northern Lights” this moment was marred by the fact that my husband, Jeff, was sitting in the emergency room with his mother when the books finally arrived on our doorstep.

As I opened the box with my books, which was crushed, I held my breath and looked at the mangled cover that was my book. Between the creases of the damaged cover,  was the portrait of the child whose story I have been compelled to tell for the last six years.  I pulled the crumpled book to my chest, hugged it for all I was worth and sobbed like a baby. Aurora was finally here, all the counting of syllables and begging her to let me write her story in prose mattered very little at that moment.  There she was, my vision come to life and what a wonderful and scary feeling that is.

Night, night wolf nuzzles August 9, 2009

I have the unique honor of sharing my life with four dogs and a wonderful husband. One of my dogs, Cody, is not actually a dog but a wolf. I inherited him from my mother when my father became terminally ill.

Cody started out life as a very sick little puppy with Parvo. My mother rescued him from a pet shop in California and spoon fed him back to health. The owner of the pet shop told my mother Cody was 75% wolf but my mother did not believe him. She thought he was a Spitz. As Cody grew, his yellow eyes, 110 pound frame and huge fangs pad homage to his wolf heritage.

Nine years ago I inherited this snow white lupine and each day I marvel at this incredible beast. He is graceful, gentle, loyal and loving. He protects his pack (which consists of two Pugs and an elderly Labrador) fiercely and has a panic attack if any one of them has to go to the vet.

He pines for his playmates if I do not let them out on time. If the pugs are not outside by 8:00am he lets out one of his blood chilling howls. Needless to say no one sleeps late at our house.

Probably the most endearing and sometimes the most exasperating quirk Cody possesses is his insistence on a goodnight nuzzle from me before he goes in his crate for the night.
My husband, Jeff, puts all the dogs in their crates each night. Cody comes in the house and refuses to go downstairs to his crate until he gets a hug from me. This may sound sweet and it is most of the time. But, when it’s been raining the last thing I want to do is hug a wet wolf before I go to bed.

Rain or shine every night I get to hug and be nuzzled by one of nature’s most beautiful creatures. I think I can over look a couple of wolf hairs.

My books video trailer August 9, 2009

Listening to the Fairies August 7, 2009

One of the most enchanting and rewarding experiences I have ever had as an aunt was with, Ashley, my niece.  When Ashley was two, my sister-in-law was pregnant with her second child.  She asked me to watch Ashley a couple of nights a week so she could take a prenatal exercise class.  I jumped at the chance to spend some quality time with my niece.
My husband and I, having no children of our own, went out and bought crayons, coloring books, Playdoh and a variety of toddler toys to make Ashley feel welcome.  I planned special dinners for two of us to make together.  We made cookies, biscuits, cakes, Jell-O jigglers and anything else I could think of that was fun and messy.

I taught her to put all of her love into the dough she was kneading.  For Ashley this usually meant huge handfuls of raisins or M&Ms, these doses of “love” added new dimensions to my baking; especially my garlic cheese biscuits.

As the weather turned warmer, Ashley developed a fascination with my Jacuzzi.  So, in the early evenings she and I would play in the temperate water with her bathtub toys.  I never realized that my Jacuzzi was actually the home of Ariel, Baby Beluga, Wee People and a host of other brightly colored plastic sea creatures. I also discovered how much fun my little mermaid had dumping water repeatedly over her aunt Holly’s head.  Ashley certainly seemed to think this was extremely entertaining, so I went along with it. Afterwards, I would wrap her up in towel, sit with her on the chaise lounge on our patio and tell her stories about fairies and elves.

One evening Ashley asked, “Hoddy (she had trouble with her “L”s) how can your hear the fairies?”
I told her you had to sit very still and listen for their voices on the wind.  Now, knowing my very active niece, I figured that would be the end of it.  I could not have been more wrong. Ashley looked up at me and asked if we could listen for a while. So, there we sat quietly listening for the fairies and watching the sunset.

This turned out to be Ashleys’ favorite activity on her visits to our home.  She would run over to what was now known as the “Fairy Chair” and pat her little hand on the cushion to indicate that it was time listen for the fairies. “Hurry up Hoddy, it’s almost time,” she would tell me if I didn’t climb onto the chaise fast enough to suit her.
Later, while she and I were preparing dinner, we would talk about what the fairies had told us.  I was fascinated at the descriptive narratives Ashley would tell of what the fairies had said to her.  She told me about their homes, why they could fly and what their names were.  This also had its down side.

One evening I had baked some brownies for dessert. Ashley already having had one asked for another; I said “no.”  A few minutes later, my husband comes and gets two brownies.  He smiled sheepishly at me and said, “The fairies told Ashley she could have another brownie.”   Needless to say, Ashley got her second brownie.

Not long afterwards, my niece Brittany was born and Ashley started preschool.  Though I saw Ashley regularly, we never got the chance to sit and listen for the fairies anymore.  Eventually as she grew older, I assumed she had forgotten all about them.

Four years later, Ashley and Brittany were over at my house to get ready for my brother’s birthday party.  I got the girls dressed and put on a video for them to watch while I changed my clothes upstairs.  When I came back downstairs, the back door was open and my couch was empty.

As I looked out the backdoor, there, Ashley and Brittany were sitting on the steps that led down to our field watching the sunset in their party dresses.  Furious that they were going to ruin their dresses, I stormed out the door after them.  As I approached, I caught part of their conversation and it stopped me dead in my tracks.

Ashley put her arm around Brittany and said, “If you want to hear the fairies you must be very still and very quiet.”
“Okay” Brittany replied.

At that moment, Ashley turned and saw me standing there behind them.
“Aunt Holly (no longer having trouble with her “L”s), do you want me to teach you how to listen for the fairies, too?” She called to me.
Tears welling in my eyes, I sat down between them and let Ashley “teach” me to listen for the fairies. She did remember after all.

Okay so, I talk funny and I read too many books! August 6, 2009

Okay, so, yesterday I got my feelings hurt. I know, I know, “Well boohoo to you.”  About eighteen months ago my husband, Jeff, and I moved back to Georgia after living in California for twelve years. Now, I am from Atlanta and love the south but, boy howdy, have some things changed and not for the better.

Jeff and I live in the North Georgia Mountains and it is gorgeous especially in the fall.  And most of the people here are lovely.  There however those who are less than endearing and I ran into every one of them yesterday.  Apparently, I have what is considered a “posh”, “fancy” or “downright uppity” way of speaking.

I will admit I speak in complete sentences, rarely cuss, and possess a polysyllabic vocabulary. Does that make me a bad person?  Apparently, among some folks around here it not only makes me a social pariah but the subject of ridicule as well.  Isn’t that just dandy?  I had five people tell me, “You talk funny. Why are using them big words?”. Those big words were brash, ridiculous, and effervescent.  Joy! I think I will start using words like yonder, git and thar. I will let you know how that works out for me.

I also was informed by a couple of local delivery professionals that I read too many books.  Evidently reading makes ones’ head hurt and ruins your eyes. So, I have decided to start drinking beer and watching NASCAR to replace this unhealthy hobby.  I have high hopes that my new diversion will also help my obvious speech impediment.

FINDING THE MAGIC WITHIN August 5, 2009

FINDING THE MAGIC WITHIN

By

Holly Hardin

Our creators, according to Judeo-Christian texts, made us in their own image.  Although this idea is often taken literally, I believe this was meant more philosophically than physically. Our creators I believe are beings of pure magic.  The image, in which we were made, was their magical image. You might say it is part of our spiritual DNA.

All religions use magic either consciously or subconsciously.  Any time we pray, meditate, raise our voices in song, feel the atmosphere in a room or travel to another place through music or words we are using magic.  It can be as complex as a requiem mass or as simple as standing in your yard and listening to the wind.

Magic is pure energy; it permeates everything around us. I believe it is how we connect with the divine within ourselves. Magic is a natural part of our world.  Access to it is not limited to the supposed “true seers” but is the divine birthright of everyone.

We have a responsibility to use this divine gift to help our planet, our fellowman and us. Although magic is within every one of us, some find it effortless to tap into, while others must search for it deep within themselves.  No matter which category you fall into, we are all creatures of magic.

Magic allows us to sense our surroundings.  It is the white light we somehow see when we look at the face of a child.  It is to feel awe in the presence of greatness.  It is also the sinking feeling we have when we just know something is wrong.

All our lives we have been using magic subconsciously even if we don’t believe in it.  Magic does not go away simply because we do not believe in it.  It is always there with us, like an old friend.

What we must internalize is that every single one of us uses magic all the time. I love to give the following exercises to my students.  Without fail, they always roll their eyes at me.

* Get out a CD that reminds you of a happy time and play it.

* Clean your house especially vacuum or sweep the floors.

* Read a favorite passage of a book.

* Plant some flowers.

* Cook a meal for a loved one.

* Light some candles and put on some mood music.

* Sing your favorite song.

Do all these sound mundane to you?  On the surface, they may seem that way, but let us look at these from a magical perspective:

One of the most familiar uses of magic is to transport yourself to another time or place.  Losing yourself in music or a book allows you to be transported to another world.  I love listening to Celtic CDs.  It takes no time at all until I am at Stonehenge.

Another use of magic is to change the atmosphere of ones physical surrounding.  Setting a romantic or serene mood in your room or cleaning the house to make your surroundings more pleasant.  The house or room simply feels better.  My husband teases me about my other broom being a vacuum cleaner.  I often use it to clear the energy in our home.

As I just mentioned, I put intention into my vacuuming. I try to imagine the vacuum sucking up all the negative energy or perhaps the psychic cobwebs. I recommend you try this, especially after you have had a house full of visitors.  You may be pleasantly surprised at how much better your house will feel to you.

Magic is commonly used to connect with other energies or to put positive intentions into a product of our own making. Planting a flower mixes your energy with the energies of mother earth.  This act also takes your good intentions, that it grows and be healthy, and puts them into the earth. Here is one of my favorite exercises that I give to my students.

Think of a goal that you want to achieve. Then, when planting your flowers, imagine the flower as your goal.  As you, tend and feed your flower, it will remind you and empower you to tend and feed your goal.  I always start some seedlings in the first part of the year to help me with my New Year’s resolutions.

The same principle applies to the meal you made for a loved one.  It is filled with your good wishes and love for that person. As your loved one eats the meal you prepared, they are internalizing all of your good intentions for them. Although my husband often questions the intention I put into my chili, I think it has more to do with the huge amount of it he eats rather than my intentions.

I am amazed at what a little intention added to everyday activities produces.  When I light candles in my home, I try to think of a calm or romantic scene to help set the mood of the room.  That extra little kick I put into lighting the candles usually works quickly.  Usually within a few minutes, the room’s energy seems less scattered or stale and more conducive for quiet meditation or romance.

The supreme use of magic is to connect with the divine. Anytime we pray or sing from our heart to connect with or praise the divine, we are using the highest and most beautiful form of magic there is.  So not only are we are magicians, but we are divine magicians at that.

Magic is like an old friend. It stands by us even if we don’t now it’s there. When we do choose to recognize our divine birthright and incorporate it into our daily lives, magic it enhances our wonderful journey through life allowing us to contact the divine energy within each of us.