Thursday, March 6, 2014

Barefoot and Powerful-a Walk with DeAnne



Discovering Strength through Life -A Barefoot Walk with DeAnne Wolfgram                 Part One


Humbled and at the same time feeling very powerful, DeAnne stands barefoot in Chartres Cathedral in France.
The nerves in the feet have direct connections to each of our organs and each sensory zone in the body. It’s no coincidence that our senses come alive when our shoes come off.

Spiritual Leader DeAnne Wolfgram spoke to us this week to give us some perspective. This is contribution is part of an ongoing series called Barefoot and Powerful, where we explore how being barefoot is empowering to women.

DeAnne's barefoot experience is an amazing one. There's too much good content to leave anything out, so we'll be publishing her story over the next three days.  Click to read entire interview today.


Your own spiritual path is a rich one. Was it this path that awakened your urge to go barefoot?


My path truly has led me to deep and expansive inner and outer journeys. In recent years, I’ve come to appreciate an awareness of the union between the sensual and the sacred, the playful and the prayerful. So therefore YES, my spiritual path led me to walk more and more of the time with naked feet. Not only is it sacred and sensual it is also playful. I believe we came into our earthly experience joyfully and playfully, ready for adventures. All of that is part of experiencing the life’s journey with bare feet and an open, naked, compassionate and playful heart.

My barefoot urge also arises from my very important need to ground myself regularly. As a very feeling creature, it is grounding, soothing and connecting for me to walk intentionally, placing my bare feet upon the earth when I can.
Becoming more attuned to my body’s messages and its innate wisdom is precious and important. I believe that is true for all of us. It is an ongoing process of awareness and discovery listening to our body’s messages. Going barefoot more is a part of that sensual sacred connection with myself and with the home that we call our beautiful earth.

I have also recognized for myself personally that grounding and connecting my body with the earth are especially important. My intuitive and intellectual essences are stronger than I once knew, as is my emphatic compassionate awareness. Given all of this, I can easily fly off or have my energy scattered out to many places and people if I don’t lovingly and intentionally tether myself. I find that my consciousness easily and openly connects with others in various ways; therefore if I do not nurture myself with quiet, calm and grounded earth connection, my own balance, center and harmony can get out of whack.
Walking barefoot allows me to own that sacred, sensual, prayerful, and playful connection in a grounded and present way.

We'll return tomorrow for Part Two of DeAnne's story


Thank you, DeAnne!

Blessings!






More about DeAnne

DeAnne joined us to tell how being barefoot helped her in her journey to discover and empower herself. She has a unique and wonderful occupation she has created for herself that helps women empower themselves and create positive energy with the goal of healing the world of the harsh, power-based focus that keeps cultures at odds.
DeAnne is a guide for Sacred Circle Retreats, a very unique business with this focus: By Healing Ourselves, We Heal the World. Truly empowered people empower others through leading by example, through supporting others to empower themselves and by acknowledging everyone’s positive contributions.


She is also the founder and facilitator of Conscious Connections Now, a unique organization that focuses on changing the world through the power of love, community and collaboration. 



Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Barefoot on the train


Did YOU enjoy your morning commute?
Photobucket
Barefoot Girl 2011 posted this photo in Subchat.com back in 2011. Barefoot Girl 2011 is listed as the poster on Subchat. We're not sure where she is today....or who shot the photo...
but wonder who else rides the subway barefoot.....

A barefoot walk with DeAnne

Tomorrow, we'll hear from DeAnne and what her barefoot walk through Europe meant to her as our Barefoot and Powerful series continues.

Good night!

Barefoot goddess is a universal icon

The Universal Icon


Photo by Leisl Clark, owner of Claris Photography. The name of the goddess is unknown.
The idea of a barefoot woman invoking the image of a goddess provokes many reactions.

Some will speak of fetishes, some will speak of immature desires. I speak nothing of the sort. 

The barefoot woman is an iconic symbol, but rather than take my word for it, read the comment below.

"Loved this, thank you so much. There is truly something sacred called from our ancient memories of the Goddess when we are or witness a woman barefoot. Almost as though her Wild Feminine is walking the earth."

-DeAnne Wolfgram of Sacred Circle Retreats DeAnne Wolfgram Guide

DeAnne is a spiritual leader who is in the business of empowering women, and who emphasizes a powerful, matriarchal approach toward bettering the world, and embraces the idea that God is female as well as male. She's one of six spirit guides at Sacred Circle Retreats, which is about empowering women positively!

We are grateful for her kind words.

Her comment came from Facebook after she read Almost Barefoot's original post n the concept of the barefoot goddess that included the picture below. 
Yoga instructor and Paula Van Alstine poses in astravakrasana

Blessings!

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Fake shoes when barefoot-who has done this?


This was just funny. I haven't seen anything like this in a while.  'Sandals" made with a sharpie....


This pic is a few years old, but the idea is always timely. It was taken by Charlene Jazewski, better known as "Red" in the barefoot community. Back when she took this shot, she was new to barefooting and running barefoot.

I remember my friend, Jessica Lee-Sandler, president of Runbare Corp., who had told me she was barefoot in the grocery store becasue she'd forgotten her shoes, so she made fake "flip flops" by putting tape on top of her feet. Red did it with a sharpie.

Jessica Lee-Sandler (right) on her wedding day to Michael Sandler (left)

We see plenty of examples of barefoot sandals that were made to be elegant-but that's becasue they were actually made to decorate the shoe-less foot. The ones below are worn by "Barefoot Heidi" Fiscus, founder of the website Barefoot and Paleo.

Barefoot sandals, worn by Heidi Fiscus (a.k.a. 'Barefoot Heidi) of Barefoot and Paleo.

Blessings!


Barefoot walking just for fun




Just for fun................

A woman who calls herself "Barefoot Goddess Violacea" filmed this video of barefoot walking on gravel.

Get psyched for barefooting and enjoy the video. Just a mellow video that's about barefoot living.
Sorry about the prior glitch!

Summer is coming!

Blessings!


Tired of imported running shoes? Here's the answer

Tired of imported running shoes?????

Then don't wear any running shoes!    




Of course, running shoes do make good hand weights.......

Michael Sandler even said so and let's just say  he knows a bit about barefoot running, 

These American made running shoes by New Balance's USA Collection would look great on the hands!

New Balance 940v2, White with Silver & Kinetic BlueNew Balance 840v2, Black with Grey & Lime Green

Blessings!