January/February 2008

I have a great feeling about 2008! Numerologically, this is a "1" year, meaning "new beginnings". And I am certainly experiencing a few of those. One major development is my graduation from the metaphysical seminary program I've been in for the last year (and the prerequisite classes, which took up the year before that)!

As of February, I will be a licensed minister, and officially able to offer the intuitive readings/healings that have become such an important part of my work. This is a huge milestone for me, one I've been building toward since age 15, when I first realized I wanted to do this kind of work.

I've developed my healing and intuitive skills over the last 28 years, via many mentors and teachers; and this is a step that brings it all together. I am so joyfully looking forward to continued expansion in my healing practice, and sharing even more profound levels of discovery with all my clients!

Namaste,
Korina

October/November/December 2007

The end of 2007 has come so swiftly! It's been a very busy time for me, with clients as well as wrapping up some personal things in order to get ready to launch a new phase of life. I've had the good fortune to see my family a lot this holiday season; a trip back east to be with practically the whole clan over Thanksgiving and my birthday, and several days spent with my two brothers during Christmas time, here in Colorado. We went skiing for a couple of those days, and man, was that the coldest skiing I've ever done! I thought I'd seen some cold ski days in Vermont, but this was over the top! I think we bought out the entire stock of toe and hand warmers at Copper Mountain! Our day of snowshoeing kept us a bit warmer, though, since it required a bit more physical exertion! LOL All in all, we had a great time, and it was a wonderful way to say farewell to 2007.

All the best to you,
Korina

August/September 2007

It’s hard to believe the summer is almost over.  This summer I have not had as much time to spend in the outdoors as I normally would, but I did just return from Latvia, land of my forefathers.  It is a country in transition, as it has been for many centuries, and so beautiful in numerous ways, not the least of which are the people themselves.  I was so welcomed and felt so at home, as I have been before, there.  The capital city of Riga, where I spent most of my time, is absolutely phenomenal, with its wonderful architecture, parks, restaurants/cafes, museums and markets. 

It felt wonderful to speak my native language 24/7, and to eat traditional Latvian food on a daily basis; my body was really liking that!  Visiting the countryside had its own peace, as well, and felt like stepping back in time.  The air was so fragrant and the skies so expressive, it seemed. While I always enjoy coming back to Colorado --- this time, a piece of my heart remains in Latvia.

Korina

June/July 2007

Some people have commented on my “spring faves” list, and asked when the next one is coming, so since I don’t have anything particularly brilliant to say right now, that sounded fine to me! LOL  So here are some favorites for this glorious summer:

• Fave weather: Thunderstorms
• Fave bird: Hummingbird
• Fave musical artists: Keltik Elektrik, Van Morrison, Shastro
• Fave exercise: Dancing
• Fave trail: Glacier Rim Trail
• Fave scent: Rose
• Fave sound: Tree frogs
• Fave restaurant: Colterra
• Fave mineral: Smoky quartz
• Fave silliness: Floating in an intertube, waving to the landlubbers, as if I am presiding over a luxury watercraft
• Fave kid activity: The ferris wheel and the Spider ride at night!
• Fave activity: Gut-busting, tears-streaming laughing with my siblings J

Sending you all smiles, and hope you are having a marvelous summer!

Korina

April/May 2007

You know how people ask you “What is your favorite (fill in the blank) ?  Well, I never know how to answer that question, because it just DEPENDS!  But, in the last month or two I have been enjoying certain things that could be called my “favorites”, just for now!

So I’ll share with you my April/May “Faves” List:

• Fave breakfast:  cantelope and shrimp
• Fave restaurant: Burnt Toast
• Fave music: Alex de Grassi – Southern Exposure, Brand New Heavies, Les Nubians
• Fave café: Saxy’s
• Fave color: Pink
• Fave trail: S. Boulder Creek/Big Blue Stem
• Fave movie: The Illusionist
• Fave nature spot: The ocean
• Fave book: The Tao of Physics
• Fave planet: Jupiter

Till next time, adios amigos!

Korina

February/March 2007

The winter/spring transition has been full of change for me, as I know it has for many of you as well. Seems like life just continues to accelerate, doesn't it? I've been taking steps to simplify, and creating time for myself to recharge and focus on my internal processes and growth. I recently went to Canyonlands National Park, to camp and hike. What a rejuvenating experience that was...it is a harsh environment, yes, but beautiful, unique. A vast landscape of canyons, mesas, diminutive but hardy desert plants, rock and dirt. It gave me a new perspective on loneliness, belonging, dependence and interdependence; and on the immeasurable value of connecting to my deepest self by doing away with all frills. Not to mention the renewed appreciation for the "frills" upon returning home!

Wishing you fresh growth this spring,

Korina

January 2007

Happy New Year! I hope you all had as much fun ringing in the New Year as I did! Great company, conversation, music, food, wine & even fireworks all contributed to a wonderful evening, and launched 2007 with the upbeat spirit I hope pervades the whole year. I have a feeling this is an important year for many of us. Something I’ve had a lot of dialogue about lately is the importance of being happy. From the energy of inner happiness flows all else that is good in our lives. We have the power to create this for ourselves. It’s an inside job. A friend of mine often says: “Be amused.” I love that. Even in the most serious moments and dramas, if we can just find one shred of amusement inside, the energy can shift and allow a range of possibilities, instead of just the one we were so fixated on. One thing I did a few days ago, in the midst of my total crabbiness about all the snow and cold we’ve been having, is got out into the foothills and went snowshoeing for several hours. It was a balmy 17 degrees and snowing and absolutely stunningly beautiful out there and by just allowing myself to appreciate it my attitude changed completely. Suddenly I was loving life again and I’m sure everyone around me was enjoying me more, too. LOL

So, I wish everyone a lighter, happier, more fulfilling year than has ever been. Be happy. (remember that song…”Don’t Worry, Be Happy? ? Wise words, IMO!)

Sending Love & Laughter To You!

Korina

December 2006

The end of the year has arrived, and what a year it’s been! Full of change. I am loving the winter, enjoying the great skiing this season and also trodding the quieter paths in the mountains on my snowshoes. My kitty, Daxie, is doing great --- she is such a character, and is continually cracking me up. The other day she did an amazing dance in my neighbor’s aspen tree, because she went up way too high -- you know, on the teeny tiny branches that absolutely cannot hold her weight -- in pursuit of a squirrel. Miraculously, she got herself down without falling; it was hysterical! I have now nicknamed her “Twinkletoes” for her amazing acrobatic antics (she regularly gets up on the roof, too, and finds her own way down)!

In my work I am gaining new insights and growing even more in my abilities as a healer. It is really gratifying to do what I do; to grow with my clients through their changes and healings. What a gift. Thank you. I hope you find your best gifts and light, too, this holiday season, and all the best to you in the New Year.

Peace,

Korina

November 2006

November finds me both celebrating and starting to “wrap up” the year. Thanksgiving and my birthday are times for me to reflect on the multitude of things I have to be grateful for and to enjoy loving fellowship with family and friends. This year has been a transitional one for me, and I’ve worked hard to ensure that it is as fruitful a change as possible. I’ve moved from grief to joy. It is good to be happy again; to have all the parts of my life flowering again. I give thanks.

Blessings,

Korina

October 2006

Bonjour! October saw me saying hello to Paris, and an absolutely lovely visit I had there! Ah, the food, the wine, the architecture, the art, the cafes, the people, the sights --- all wonderful. It was great fun to practice my fledging French, and by the end of a week there, I was really getting into the swing of it! Ireland was sublime, as well, in a different way…we were in the countryside and by the sea, and yes, it really is as lushly jewel-green as you see in the pictures. Even when it is raining, it is beautiful, and mystical. I understand now why it is the land of faeries and elves. Although I have other destinations on my list for my next couple trips, I look forward to going back to both places again someday.

Au revoir (for now),

Korina

September 2006

Well, fall is here! The mountains are stunning, with the brilliant golden aspens and the early snow. My favorite time of year. It’s been a busy month, with family coming out to visit (2 separate visits), work and studies accelerating, and lots of bonuses, like the Dalai Lama’s talk in Denver, and…the elk rut! My mom, my brother Viktor and I were in Rocky Mountain National Park a few days ago to listen to the elk bugle. We were fortunate enough to observe two different bulls and their harems up close --- literally within a few feet --- and it was fascinating to watch them rounding up the cows, managing the group. The bugling itself is one of the most beautiful sounds; primal and transcendent.

Speaking of transcendent…the Dalai Lama was wonderful; the very essence of humor, grace and love. He spoke of the fact that every religion has at its core the same message; that of love and compassion, yet he stated the need for a more secular approach in today’s world. He said education will serve as the basis of a transformed society; as a way to defeat ignorance and to develop compassion, and ultimately move us toward world peace.

Cutting-edge science and religion can reinforce each other as well as “learn” from each other, he said. (See www.mindandlife.org for information on how modern science and Buddhism are collaborating to reach new understandings of the nature of reality and our minds). It was a privilege for me to see the Dalai Lama speak, and I tell you, I have never, ever seen such a large crowd of people be so calm and peaceful (the Pepsi Center was sold out). A testament to the power of one man, who lives love and compassion daily.

Blessings to all,

Korina

August 2006

Greetings, everyone. The summer is going quickly, but I’ve been trying to take full advantage by doing some solo backpacking in the Rockies. It has been a soul-restoring and empowering experience and I plan to do more. The Perseid meteor shower is coming up this month and I will be out there in the deep darkness to see it…and I hope you will be able to view this spectacular event, too, wherever you are! Being in the mountains this summer has been more poignant than usual for me, for a few reasons. One of those is the fact that global warming is becoming a more urgent issue than ever before. I look at the snow fields on the high peaks and I realize they are shrinking every year; our water supply here in the West is sparse; wildfires are a continuing problem; and having it right in my face like that is moving, to say the least. This amazing planet we live on is so precious and beautiful, and we need to act now to preserve what we have.

I read Al Gore’s fantastically researched and deeply insightful book, Earth in the Balance, back in 1992, and now that his movie (An Inconvenient Truth) is out, hopefully more people are becoming aware of this crucial issue. Luckily, there are some great organizations out there that are working on this, and we can all be part of the solution. There is actually a way you can neutralize your own impact on the environment (car and air travel are significant contributers to greenhouse gases) by buying “offsets” from MyClimate. This is a Swiss-based registered charity that calculates the cost of your personal carbon emissions, and using your contributions, funds more environmentally friendly development options around the world.

Please check out www.my-climate.com. We all need to chip in; we can no longer wait for governments to solve these problems.

In the meantime, I hope you can savor the natural world wherever you are. Its integrity supports us all. Take joy in its sounds (crickets of summer, thunderstorms, the crashing waves of the ocean), smells (the flowers, the trees), sensations (the warm sun, the cool breezes)…and most of all, the grounding and peaceful effect that the Earth offers our beings.

Namaste,

Korina

July 2006

So now, in July, I am trodding familiar terrain but with new understanding. Back in my cute little townhouse with the stunning mountain views & the coyotes singing at night, with my adorable kitty companion, Daxie. Meditating, breathing, hiking, writing, camping, gardening, cooking, taking in music, visiting with friends and simply sitting, sometimes. Coming back to myself in a delightful way.

Although I’ve been on a self-healing quest since age 15 (not to mention having weathered several dramatic life transitions to date), these last few months have blown the typical learning curve out of the water. I’m surfing the big waves now; I’ve gotten towed in to a 50 footer and there’s no looking back! These days, I have so much energy freed up and surging through my system that it is a little scary at times — yet mostly thrilling. I am rediscovering my true essence; that inner creative force that will not be denied. I’ve even taken up painting! Believe me, this has not been as simple as it sounds on the surface. But now I find that painting is a glorious avenue of self-discovery and expression. It’ll be quite fun to see how this unfolds.

Till next time...may you find peace in your heart and experience love in every cell of your being...

Blessings,

Korina

So, to summarize 2006 so far (more than half gone already, yikes!):

As many of you know, I was going to be married this May...but early in the year our relationship took a sudden, unexpected turn and I found myself single again. Although it was a difficult transition on the one hand, the incredible outpouring of love and support from all the amazing, wonderful friends around me made it smooth sailing on the other hand. I cannot thank you all enough for all the love you have positively SOAKED me with!!! — not to mention all the practical help you’ve so generously given. My god, if the world were full of people like you we’d all be sitting around eating fruit (organic), drinking wine (organic) and playing our lyres all day (one version of paradise, lol). I am so truly grateful, from the bottom of my heart, for my life and for you, my loved ones. Bless you.