Klarity Blog

Moving on to a new year, cherishing the whispers of “Merry Christmas” still ringing in my ears.

2007 was a time of awakening, like a really loud not-so-pleasant alarm when you really would like about three more hours of good solid shut-eye! Some of the world continued in its patterns of hitting the snooze button, attempting to perpetuate business-as-usual, but no…the truth is being seen and going back to sleep is not an option.

At least that was my experience.

My dear friend of 16 years, Jonni, visited for three weeks from NYC and reminded me what it is to have a close friend here in person. Her presence really gave my Spirit new life. What a comforting feeling to enjoy Maui with her through new eyes on the beaches and in Hana, or just hanging out at home. She brought her talent as a director to our filming Maui and Permaculture for Current TV and our own projects.

I made four trips to Los Angeles from my home on Maui,
My two cats, my 14-yr-old girl-dog and I moved into a luxurious Bali Bungalow called the “Crystal Cottage” on Maui’s North Shore. With the guidance of Marian Scott, we have just finished the 13-acre Permaculture Design map for the land here with its lush wild grasses, coconut trees, bananas, papayas, & solar and rainwater catchment already in place. There are 2 homes on the land, mine and the land owners, so we’ve included 2 food forests and an orchard, ponds, and the zones are outlined for future implementation step-by-step.

In Los Angeles, I drove the Biodiesel shuttle for Topanga Earth Day,
stepped in as Photographer for Santa Monica Earth Day at the 3rd St. Promenade,
drove a Biobeetle rental car and loved every minute,
gave an hour and a half presentation on Permaculture Design and showed slideshows of examples from around the world to The Four Seasons Beverly Hills, to 14 Dept. heads and their General Manager.

I went to Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City (www.agapelive.com), every chance I got!!
Such a beautiful group of inspired Souls and a message and singing that invites fulfillment!

The Maui Permaculture Network kept growing with functional art and garden workshops, and events, a Stone Soup party and we had fun creating a clubhouse at the local Postal Plus in Paia on Saturdays. Talk Story Circles brought fresh ideas for a local food coop, and a local currency for Maui. Maui Community College had a series of speakers on sustainability, and I gave a class on Permaculture Design and other eco-clarity ideas I have found in my travels. In August, 26 people came for the KLARITY Permaculture Around The World slideshow at Hale Akua Shangri La and I returned there six months later to serve in the kitchen for The Ram Dass retreat for 95 participants.

This gave me an opportunity to share in the talks by Dr. Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith, and his amazing, talented, angel of a wife, singer/songwriter/Agape International Choir Director, Dr. Rickie Byars-Beckwith. They were treasures to hear and to sing along with. Their message was so easy to embrace and melt into. “Life is good!!” We laughed a lot, and sang some more. There were sweet readings from Dr. Howard Thurman, and thoughtful stories to ponder. My heart heard the alarm go off and jumped out of bed for this, day after day, at 5am!!

The Ram Dass retreat included yoga with Mark Whitwell every morning, 2 hours with The Beckwiths, and a session with Ram Dass in the afternoons. The food was an artistic and Soul-nourishing gift from all accounts (Thank you Cindy and Lamertia!)
It was an uplifting week like nothing else. Ram Dass had us swimming, or rather, dogpaddling in the pool with him the last day and that’s where he fielded questions for his last session of the retreat! He just seemed to float, no struggle. There must be something to this. Be Here NOW!! All week, the message was clear, Love is right here, right now. I felt it!

2007 was a bold year for discernment of how to proceed in a new way. To facilitate a big jump in my own evolution, I have made a commitment to my well being that is deepening every day.
This includes:

* …Savoring Mark Whitwell’s book YOGA OF HEART, and practicing what I learned in his simple simple class.
I am giving Yoga of Heart a chance to penetrate my life, my breath, my body and my relationships, firstly with myself.

* …Three months on the Body Ecology Diet to restore the most brilliant inner ecology and support my highest vibration of Love.
No sugar of any kind and lots of really delicious raw and basic whole foods…and coconut kefir, that’s fermented coconut water that tastes like champagne but better!

* …Permaculture Designing, Art & Writing stories & songs that illuminate my passions as they lead me to peace within, on Maui, and on earth!

* …Opening to what is emerging, a new world, aligned with nature’s wisdom;
 my own Open Heart connected and growing within our global family.

2008, a new year, a beautiful new clarity.

Sending love in waves that ripple to
where you are, Claire