Disneyland's Court des Anges - our mystical visit.

Folks, where to begin?

Last week, on Friday, February 1, I celebrated my 50th birthday at Disneyland with 14 other Disneyphiles (or Disneyphiles-in-training.  Or Soon-to-be-Disneyphiles who had no idea they'd end the day being Disneyphiles), riding the Indiana Jones ride, enjoying lunch at the Jolly Holiday cafe (sipping the Practically Perfect Punch, but of course ...), visiting old pals Pinocchio and Mr. Toad, and rounding out the evening with a fireworks spectacular.  When the voice of Julie Andrews spoke about "dreams do come true", I cried an ugly cry, while being held by my sweet hubby - and holding hands with my Lil' Sis Sara, as she shared in the ugly cry.  My dream had come true, a dream I held dear for at least five years: to bring a group of like-minded Disney fans together on my day of days, to revel in Walt Disney's creativity and soul.  And for all to have the chance to become an honorary 1000th "happy haunt".

But let me begin near the end of the day, at the Court des Anges in New Orleans Square.

After dinner, but before visiting the Pirates and the aforementioned Happy Haunts, I led our intrepid troupe through the streets of New Orleans and up to the tucked-away alcove.  Occasionally, the area is used for a Princess Tatiana (of "Princess and the Frog" fame) meet & greet.  But it's usually just a quiet, beautiful area to rest a spell during a long day of Disney play.

I've been doing a little research; the area isn't just a place designed for no apparent reason.  Seems that Uncle Walt himself was looking to open a jazz club in the Square; these stairs would've lead to that club.  The space the stairs lead to is now used for storage for the exclusive Club 33, an area Walt had designed to host special guests to Land.  Sadly, Walt passed before these dreams could be realized.

So.  It's a quiet, still area in a busy part of the park.  Few people give it much notice.  But whenever I visit it, even if it's perfectly silent, I feel movement, a stirring of spirit.

Enter the group photo!  Here's our gang, aged 9 to 55, a dozen+ Magicseekers, enjoying their time at the Happiest Place on Earth as the day slips into night, about to embark upon their last ride together as a bunch of Mouseketeers:

Look closely at the arched window at the left.  And above Melissa, the tall girl with red hair.  Could those be orbs, the manifestation of spirit - or angels?  Look very closely at the larger orb.  Do you see a face?  Who does the face look like to you?

Friends, that is Disney magic, at its most mystical.


To see some more photos of the space, go here:  http://gallery.toursdepartingdaily.com/Disneyland-Resort/Photos/16408290_jb4Kv8/1860146902_BmjjqL9#!i=1860146902&k=BmjjqL9

My Goals for a Mid-Century Mystical 2013

The Mid-Century Mystic Spiritual Goals for 2013 (Space Age Modern Version)

Wasn’t 2012 a kick in the pants?  Seriously though; every single person I know was hoodswaggled and brainwhipped by ups and downs in 3-D Vista Vision.  Most of the energy was difficult, some of it welcome and exhilarating, all of it smacked loudly, like a two-story-tall tympani.  2013 already feels lighter somehow, with an effervescent pop like a freshly-opened bottle of Sprite (with the little dimple bubbles in the green glass).

So I have some goals for 2013, spiritually, creatively, and Mid-Century Modern Mystically.  Here they come:

1.      To Blog, Perchance to Dream. I have three blogs: one for my book, “The Cotton Candy Road Trip”, one for my voice-over career, and one that acts as part of my personal playground and church – this one.  Visiting my blog, for me at least, is like boarding the Wonka boat, cruising down the chocolate river, where Anything Can Happen.  At least, that’s how I wish it to be.  But yet I have to follow some sort of schedule.  At least I’ve tried, instituting “Monday is Tarot Day”.  Well, that was a valiant attempt by yours truly, but it doesn’t work when you’re dealing with writing primarily about spiritual things.  So for 2013, I’m committed to not committing, except for once a week.  I must blog on this dragonfly wing of a blog at least once a week.  What I share may inspire someone to live a lighter life, have a more playful day, enjoy something from 1966, so at least once a week is a must. Tarot?  Yes.  The Monkees?  Why not?  Spiritual Growth?  But of course.  Which brings me to …

2.      Life Coaching.  Alright, I took life coaching classes and I do coach, but, due to the Garden of Oddballness that was 2012, getting the website up and getting a handful of clients (at least) did not happen because of the bloom of oddities that met me throughout the year.  My Mid-Century Mystic blog is a part of the website, but because it’s on Blogger and my Guided By a Star coaching website is not, there are issues.  Enough with the issues!  Get the life coaching website up by hook or by crook and have a link to this blog and just stop with the waffling already.  There are people out there who need some coaching from someone who’ll allow them to play and be big kids!  Okay then …

3.      Vintage Finery.  So.  Let’s get down to the vintage goal for the year.  I’ve already got our new/old/Don Draper couches ordered (yes, I’ve imagined Don Draper draping on them, yes I have).  I’ve got a swellegant buffet waiting to be utilized for our entertainment center.  I‘ve got plans to paint the bland-as-wallpaper paste kitchen a pastelriffic palette.  These things need to be planned.  But beyond all that, I need to re-retro myself.  I’ve been lazy about incorporating something vintage into every day’s outfit.  I certainly have enough stuff to make this a reality.  So, please allow me to wave my arms like my beloved Serena in “Bewitched” and make it so.  And that also pertains to make-up and hair.  My hair has been a boring rendition of “the Rachel” because of the perm I’m growing out.  By the end of the summer, I should have my flip back, if not before.

4.      The Pause That Refreshes.  Meditation also took a backseat during the Scourge of 2012, which is ironic since I had an amazing time at the Chopra Center retreat in the summer.  But if you don’t practice, if you don’t keep the flow going, it’ll get stuck like taffy on the floor.  So meditation will be re-instituted into my daily plan.  And that also includes my walking meditation in my Church of the Great Outdoors, the arboretum.  But I’ll be adding something more …

5.      Angel on My Shoulder (and in my car, at the café, accompanying me through Disneyland).  Every single person on Earth has a guardian angel, angel guides and spirit guides.  I have a guardian angel, two other angels who have specific jobs, and a spirit guide.  I also have recurrent conversations with other angels, the big ones, like Archangel Michael.  In case you’re curious, your angels are always with you.  The big, celebrity angels, the ones ostensibly managed by big-deal talent impresarios in L.A. (kidding.  Just meaning that these angels are known by many religions, and by the non-religious as well), are there any time; all you need is to call upon them.  They can be anywhere, anytime.  The connection you attain with angels is up to you.  They’re at the ready and they help us mere mortals throughout our lives.  But if you wish to have a more personal, purposeful and fulfilling relationship with your angels, you need to feed it daily.  The onus is upon you to communicate with them to enrich and deepen your connection.  2013 is the year I not only deepen my angelic connection, but the time to make “angel time” a part of my daily spiritual routine.  Angle magic is powerful and gets you closer to God.

6.      A Year-Long Cosmos Cotillion.  2013 is a six numerologically, the year of creativity and love and I choose to celebrate these things all 12 months in a very exciting, serendipitous way: the 2013 Party a Month Club.  No, I’m really not kidding.  Some people have rolled their eyes at this idea, citing the fact that I already make February my birthday month.  Well, if you’re celebrating a milestone birthday in the year of creativity and love, the year that’s also your 15^th wedding anniversary to your soul mate, the year that’s also the 15^th anniversary of your first trip to Disneyland with the aforementioned soul mate, I say take the whole year to rattle the noisemakers and blow the kazoos.  The Party a Month Club will begin in earnest on February 1 in Disneyland for my birthday.  It will run through January 31^st, 2014.  The ideas I have for parties (some grand, some quite small) range from the sublime (wait ‘til you see what we’re doing for our annual Summer Soiree!) to the silliest bit of girl-night grooviness I’ve ever dreamt up.  Note: there are no membership cards or dues; I’ll just throw parties and invite people.

I’m loving 2013 already.  2013, you are natty and snappy, wearing your little bowtie and brogues.  You smell like lavender and citrus and I thrill to you up in the air, riding the sky ride across Disneyland circa 1963.  I embrace you and know we will be the best of friends.

New Moon in Gemini: Extemporize Your World.

I love this time of year, just prior to the summer solstice, when the sun stays out so very long.  When the day just strums along like a banjo player, settin' on a front porch, pluckin' a slow, sweet tea-infused tune.  Kind of reminds me of this image from the beginning of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride at Disneyland, one of my favorite experiences at the park.  A night dappled with indigo-sapphire, glinting fireflies, lunar reflection on the water.


The Gemini New Moon urges us to make up lyrics to that banjo tune, just for the heck of it.  And, while you're at it, stay up until it's dusk and look for the faerie folk in your backyard.  Because this time of year allows you to say what you feel, declare your exploration into the worlds of make-believe and craft your own colorwonderful possibilities.

If you've wanted to write some poetry, you should pour yourself right in - but be ready to read it aloud, with all the passion in your soul.  Walk in nature and talk with the trees.  Tell someone about your guardian angel.

Enjoy this magical, luxuriant time.  And whisper to the fireflies.