Keeping The Spirit Alive

Ojai, CA -- Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, pictured here, is the Chairperson for the Barbareño/Ventureño- Band of Mission Indians. Julie, a generous and accomplished woman, proudly carries the traditions of her family by sharing Chumash culture, history and songs to youth groups, schools, elder hostels, church and civic organizations.  Julie’s lived in the Ojai area nearly her entire life, and currently owns a home in the Meiners Oaks neighborhood, very near the birthplace of her great, great grandmother, Maria Ricarda Alulalmeque, who was raised in the Chumash village of Matilija. 

Photo: Graham Dunn

My Year In California

Basecamp, CA -- Every step of the journey is the journey.  The book I've worked on for the last four years is now printed.  Yipeee!  To learn more about it, visit: myyearincalifornia.com.  For anyone lucky enough to have their dream come true, I pose a question: Now what?  Stay tuned.

Judging A Book By Its Cover

Basecamp, CA -- Here it is!

Kickstarter Campaign Successful

On Independence Day, the book printing of "My Year In California ~ a journey toward midlife renewal" was funded on Kickstarter. Yippee!!! So grateful and humbled. My heart overflows with gratitude. Thank you to all my backers. 

Here We Go!

Basecamp, CA--I've been writing a book "My Year In California ~ a journey toward midlife renewal," for the last 18 months.  It is 90 percent complete.  Yipee!!  I've launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the book's printing.  Visit the site to learn more about my project.  If you feel inspired to contribute and receive a reward, great.  I encourage you to view the Kickstarter website and see for yourself all the creative projects that people are working on.  Who knows, maybe you might just catch the fire and start your own project.

Intellectual Capitol of California

Sometimes magic happens...I walked to the clock tower or Campanile at U.C. Berkeley yesterday to gain some inspiration from the 22 Nobel laureates who were from Cal.  I’ve been struggling with the idea of surrendering to the writing process.  My book is in the homestretch, but I still needed some kind of grounding stone to set me on the path toward creativity.  I lay down on a cement bench and looked up at the clock tower and noticed it was almost 6 p.m.  I closed my eyes.  The scent of pine and concrete lingered in the air.  The clock struck six and I heard the deep sound of a gong being struck.  How cool was that? I thought to myself.  Then came the best part—it was the whimsical notes of a chime playing a lilting song.  I was being serenaded by the state’s largest musical jewelry box.  I surrendered to this ethereal experience and marveled at the beauty of life.  And then I wept. 

Graduation Day

I graduated from Holy Names University in Oakland, California on May 18, 2013 with a Master’s Degree in Culture & Spirituality.  This two-year program is based on the new cosmology of Thomas Berry who said “The universe is a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects.”  Thank you to my family and friends for their support on this sacred journey toward midlife renewal.  I’m grateful.