Jessica Amber Barnum (Jess)
Bio
I’m a Reiki & Writing Guide and author. I also help people design and self-publish books. May we all thrive in the scribe tribe vibe! www.OmSideOfThings.com
Stories (37)
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Lean In
When I called a friend a few years ago about a life transition, I shared all my WORRY with her. She said one thing to me that in the span of a millisecond dissolved the worry and sprouted WONDER in its place. She said, “Lean in.” She said it with the most loving tone, a tenderness enshrouded with a directness that boosted my spine upright and my heart outright. I grabbed a pen and made a list called “I AM LEANING IN.” Whether you are going through a life transition, or feel unsteady on your feet, in your head, in your heart, or in your spirit, create your own list. As short or as long as it chooses to be. Make a daily list, an eternity list (whatever you want that to mean), a list that changes all the time, a list that you hang up or hide, a list you reread silently or aloud. Your relationship(s) with your list(s) will emerge. Write. This “I am …” writing practice is analogous to a grounding cord that connects your soul self to Mother Earth, to the hub of your life purpose, to whatever else it is you desire connection with. Feel the energy, and relish the wonder that overrides worry. What are you willing to lean in to? When tempted to lean away from, ask yourself, “What if I lean in instead?” Trust your intuition. Practice trusting your intuition by standing barefoot on Mother Earth. Imagine the situation you are contemplating leaning away from or leaning in to is in your heart center. Gentle lean away from it by leaning back with your body. Feel the weight in your heels and tune into your heart. How does it feel to lean away from the situation as you lean back? Now come to center again. Imagine the situation in your heart center. Gently lean into it by leaning forward with your body. Feel the weight in your toes and toe mounds and tune into your heart. How does it feel to lean into the situation as you lean forward? Notice what is there. Is it fear, resistance, or anxiety? Is wonder in the mix? If so, wonder is power, and it is a clear YES to leaning in. Follow your heart, trust your intuition, and see what unfolds as you lean in the direction that aligns with the energy of the situation you trust most.
By Jessica Amber Barnum (Jess)2 months ago in Motivation
The One Blue-specked Dot on a White Butterfly
Just yesterday I offered the workshop Wild Words Whisper: A Whimsical Garden Writing Ritual. In the moments after torrential thunderstorms and rain had passed, a small group of participants huddled around the Peace Garden’s firepit with journals in hand and wonder in heart. The sun emerged and sprinkled through the canopy of the garden’s botany of delights, illuminating the drips and drops of rain’s tenderness on leaves, flowers, stones, ourselves, and Oneness. Our group connected from our first inhales and exhales as we nestled into the coziness of conversation, ceremony, intuitive writing, wondering, wandering, and the spirit of each other and the Peace Garden.
By Jessica Amber Barnum (Jess)2 months ago in Potent
Pedaling Pikes Peak
In recent years, I’ve made it a mission to ascend a big mountain on a bicycle each spring or summer. This year, Pikes Peak chose me. How? I had heard about the mountain’s steep average grade of 7%, its peak elevation of 14,115 feet, its beautiful views, its geodiversity and biodiversity, its whiplash of weather patterns and temperature ranges, and the impact of its seductive sass for cyclists. And then I heard it beckoning me in a dream. So, I said, “Thank you for choosing me this year, Pikes Peak. Yes, let’s commune on a day splattered with golden light and landscape. I’d be honored to pedal to the frequency of your prominence.”
By Jessica Amber Barnum (Jess)2 months ago in Motivation
Because I Could
I stood with denim Oshkosh overalls on and sneakers firm on dirt, my curiosity poised as I peered upward at the young birch tree. Its branches flowed this way and that, leaves tangled like the strands of hair that rebelliously sprayed from my braids.
By Jessica Amber Barnum (Jess)2 months ago in Motivation
1,300 Trees
I was told I had to. The nature of the job. You have to if you’re told to. I didn’t show any signs of resistance when the bosses made the announcement. Maybe the right corner of my mouth twitched, and my eyebrows perked upward, but I wear big dark sunglasses, too big for my face. I doubt anyone saw what my heart was feeling.
By Jessica Amber Barnum (Jess)2 months ago in Earth
The Golden We
The forest twinkled with Prince Autumn’s yellows, oranges and reds. Chipmunk knew King Winter was coming soon. So, when Father Sun by day and Sister Moon by night lit the forest, Chipmunk collected seeds, scuttling here and there and everywhere.
By Jessica Amber Barnum (Jess)3 years ago in Fiction
Silvery White Wonders
One summer day, a group of children rode their bicycles down a dirt path until they came upon a magical meadow that was speckled with flowers of all colors, and where they each found a place to rest their bicycle. From there, they wandered to the outskirts of the meadow into the thick lush forest.
By Jessica Amber Barnum (Jess)3 years ago in Fiction
