Hello! I'd like to introduce myself to Steemit.

^{Zippy and I, November 2015}

Mother, Grandmother, Midwife

It's actually been months since my dear daughter, Zippy, set this up for me. I've been contemplating how to proceed, as I've never before blogged, and am not so sure of myself yet. I have so many areas of interest to possibly share.

I'm a 69 year old woman, mother of 6 wonderful children (all grownup now) and grandma (Nanasima) to 9 more beautiful beings. I retired from being a midwife, after having helped close to 1,000 moms bring their babies into this world. It was a very big honor and responsibility in my life that I will always be grateful for.

I had apprentices and finally a school for midwives as well, until there were enough of them that had become licensed to carry on the practice of birthing and welcoming new lives in a respectful, holy manner.

^{My 5 eldest children and I – early 1976}

The Art of Healing

I am an artist of sorts and over the years have expressed myself in all sorts of ways. I am also a dancer and it is one of my great loves to lose myself in movement and expression of the moment.

However, after progressive damage in my aging knees, I decided to have both of my knees completely replaced in October of 2016. I've been deeply involved in the healing process ever since, including having my right knee modified. This means my doc had to reopen and change the plastic piece in between top and bottom bones, (that now have metal ends) to a larger one. This entire experience has been all encompassing and intense, but I am so glad to have done it and am happy to say that my healing is going very well indeed.

I now have bionic knees, and can walk again without pain all the time. So, much to be grateful for! I shall be dancing once again soon!

^{An exercise in cross-hatching}

^{Sufi Dancing collage, me at center – 1974}

Spiritual Movement

I am also a Sufi. My teacher was Samuel Lewis (Murshid Sam) back in the 1960s in San Francisco. He introduced the world to what we then called Sufi Dancing – now known as the Dances of Universal Peace – which are practiced globally. This year, 2018, we are celebrating 50 years of doing them!

Murshid Sam gave me the name Nasima, meaning 'early morning, gentle breeze', which I love! His final resting place is at The Lama Foundation in New Mexico, where a really beautiful Dargah has been built over his grave, creating a place of refuge and pilgrimage for many.