Tuesday, December 2, 2025

AUTHENTIC ITALY: A BESPOKE IMMERSION IN GUARDIA SANFRAMONDI & THE SANNIO REGION

Private & Small Group Experiences • 2026

Starting at $2,500 per person • Customizations available

Designed for travelers seeking the real Italy—slow living, local connection, ancestral lands, breathtaking food, and the possibility of creating a life here, including the new €1 home opportunities in Guardia Sanframondi.


THE SIGNATURE 10–DAY ITINERARY

(Private tours adapt to season, weather, and your desires)


DAY 1 — Arrival & Welcome to Guardia Sanframondi

Your journey begins the moment you land.
Your private driver and I will greet you at the airport, and on our drive to Guardia we’ll stop for a classic Neapolitan pizza—your first taste of Southern Italy.

Settle into your charming 1–2 bedroom apartment in the historic center.
Evening stroll through the village.
Welcome dinner at La Tana dell'Orso.  Nonna Anna will embrace you like family.


DAY 2 — Pasta, Wine, & The Soul of Guardia

Morning:
Fresh pasta-making with Nonna Adelina (Lina)—a beloved local matriarch whose garden and family winery carry generations of tradition.

We’ll gather vegetables from her garden, learn her recipes, visit Ernesto’s cantina, and enjoy a homemade feast paired with family wines.

Siesta:
Rest, wander, sip espresso at the bar, or chat with locals.

Late Afternoon:
Guided historical tour of Guardia with Rossella—castle views, medieval lanes, ancient churches, and stories that bring 1,000 years to life.

Evening:
Dinner at a local trattoria + optional live music.
La vita è bella.


DAY 3 — Archaeology, Goddesses & Gelato

Morning:
Visit Saepinum, one of Italy’s most extraordinary archaeological sites—Greek, Samnite, Roman, and medieval worlds layered over each other. The energy is indescribable.

Afternoon:
Visit Santa Lucia in Sassinoro, built atop an ancient temple to Demeter—goddess of nourishment, motherhood, and the earth.

Return via a buffalo dairy farm to taste:

  • fresh buffalo mozzarella

  • ricotta

  • and the most divine buffalo milk gelato.


DAY 4 — Italian Sunday: Cooking, Relaxation & Village Festivals

Begin the day with a traditional piccola colazione—cappuccino and pastry.
Then gather ingredients for a Sunday cooking class in a local resident's home, preparing a long, slow, joyful Italian meal together.

Afternoon:
Passeggiata (the evening stroll), gelato, aperitivo, live music… soak in la dolce vita.

Evening:
Depending on the season, we’ll visit a nearby village festival—Mushroom Festival, Chestnut Festival, or another local sagra.
Expect homemade dishes, folk dancing, and pure regional joy.


DAY 5 — Ceramics, Vineyards & Sannio’s Hidden Treasures

Travel through the Sannio region:

  • Cerreto Sannita for ceramics & a hands-on art experience

  • Castelvenere & Solopaca, two of Italy’s great wine towns

Wine tastings, vineyard visits, and regional specialties throughout the day.


DAY 6 — Harvest Day on the Vineyard (Season Permitting)

A truly unforgettable experience.
Join a local family for grape harvesting—singing, laughter, multigenerational joy, and lunch under the vines.

Evening:
Visit another boutique winery for a wine pairing dinner.


DAY 7 — Spa Day & Michelin Tastes

Ease your muscles after grape picking with a spa day—swimming, sauna, massage, deep rest.

Evening:
A curated tasting menu at a Michelin-recognized restaurant, celebrating Sannio’s culinary artistry.


DAY 8 — Nature & Agriturismo Experience

Morning:
Nature walk on Mount Taburno—views, fresh air, sacred stillness.

Afternoon:
Farm-to-table cooking session at a local agriturismo.

Evening:
Farewell celebration at Guardia’s castle with local friends, wines, and regional dishes.


DAY 9 — Naples by the Sea

After breakfast we head to Naples for your final night.
Check into a beautiful hotel by the sea.

Experience:

  • historic center

  • underground ruins

  • iconic coffee

  • pastries

  • seaside stroll

  • the best pizza & pasta in Naples

A sensory dream.


DAY 10 — Departure from Naples Airport

Ciao… until next time.


OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES (Season / Interest Based)

✔ Mushroom foraging + pizza-making with your finds
✔ Additional cooking lessons with Lina
✔ Traditional recipes: eggplant parmigiana, preserves, biscotti, limoncello
✔ Boat trip on the Amalfi Coast
✔ Pompeii
✔ Capri or Ischia
✔ Olive harvest
✔ Private wine pairing evenings

✔ Real estate / €1 home consultations & town introductions


FOR THOSE DREAMING OF A LIFE IN ITALY

Guardia Sanframondi is preparing to launch a €1 Home Program.
If you feel called to own a piece of Italy, I can guide you:

 how the €1 home system works
 the restoration process
 how to build a seasonal or full-time life here
 introductions to trusted locals, tradespeople & town officials

Your dream life in Italy is closer than you think.


PRICING

Starting at $2,500 per person
(single or double occupancy — upgrades and customizations available)

For details contact me at: abccpa11@gmail.com

Dreaming of Living in Italy?

Have you ever felt that unmistakable pull toward Italy… the feeling that your soul belongs in a small medieval village surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, and golden light?

So many women dream of owning a home in Italy, but believe it’s complicated, inaccessible, or only for the wealthy. They see others doing it and think, “Maybe someday… but not me.”

What if I told you that “someday” just arrived?
Guardia Sanframondi—the enchanting hilltop town where I own property—is launching a €1 home program. Yes… truly 1 euro.
A once-in-a-generation opportunity to plant roots, restore beauty, and create your sacred Italian sanctuary.

Because I know this town intimately, I’m opening private and small-group Authentic Italy Tours throughout 2026.
These are not tourist trips.
These are immersive, curated journeys to help you:

Explore the best of southern Italy
Understand the €1 home process
Meet locals, artisans, and the town community
Experience daily life in a real Italian village
Feel whether this land is meant for you

You’ll travel like an insider—not a visitor—guided by someone who has walked this path and knows how to make it real.

I own homes here, built relationships with the community, and lived La Dolce Vita in the most authentic way. My passion is helping women who feel the magic of Italy step into their dream with clarity, support, and confidence.

If Italy is calling you… this is your moment.

Connect with me by email if you want details on the €1 home program or the 2026 Authentic Italy Tours.
abccpa11@gmail.com

Your Italian chapter is waiting to begin. 🇮🇹💛


ALL images and text on this site are Copyright Protected and may not be used for any reason without express written permission.© Alecia Caine. All Rights Reserved


Monday, August 12, 2024

Guardia Sanframondi, Sannio Cooking and Culinary tour, September & October, 2024

Day 1  

Our driver and I will pick you up at the airport and we'll drive to Guardia Sanframondi, stopping along the way to eat a pizza.

Settle into your home away from home, a cozy 1 or 2 bedroom apartment in the heart of Guardia Sanframondi. 

Stroll around Guardia a bit before a welcome dinner. Nonna Anna will prepare a home cooked meal and make you feel like family.

Day 2 

After breakfast, we will learn to make fresh pasta and a sauce with Nonna Adelina (Lina) whose family has grown grapes and produced their own wines for generations.  She also grows her own vegetables in her beautiful garden, where we will find our ingredients.  Ernesto will show us the winery, followed by wine tasting and a feast on our pasta as well as other delicacies from Lina's garden.
  
Mid day is siesta time in Italy, a good time to relax and sink into the rhythm of Southern Italy and rest from your long trip or have a coffee at a bar and banter with the friendly and curious locals.  Later in the afternoon, get to know your way around Guardia Sanframondi with Rossella as we tour the historical center of Guardia, with its castle, medieval houses, and UNESCO churches and get a glimpse of everyday life before modern times.

In the evening, enjoy the local area, go to a pub, listen to Italian music. La vita e bella.  Dinner at a beautiful restaurant near the historical center.


Day 3 

After breakfast, we will take a drive to Saepinum in Sepino, Benevento, where you can experience the convergence of time and space on this archeological site and feel the energy of  multiple civilizations beginning even before the  Samnites of the 5th century B.C., through Greek and Roman days, Medieval times, 18th Century to the present moment.  

We’ll continue on to Sassinoro to the beautiful church of Santa Lucia, atop the temple to Demeter, the goddess of unconditional motherly love.  On our way back to Guardia, we’ll stop by a buffalo milk dairy and taste their buffalo mozzarella and most amazing buffalo milk gelato.   


Day 4 (Sunday)

After a "piccola colazione" small breakfast, consisting of a cappuccino and a pastry, we will gather ingredients for a large Sunday meal and cooking class at my home.   Enjoy the rest of the day to relax, passaggiata or stroll around town, as they do in Italy with the locals, have an aperativo at a bar, listen to a local band, have a gelato...ah, la dolce vita.  In the evening, we will drive through the beautiful countryside to another mountain village for the famous Mushroom festival or Chestnut festival (Subject to season).  Sample homemade dishes.  Dance to traditional folk music.

Day 5 

Today we will visit some of the local towns and enjoy their specialties on a tour of the Sannio region.  Step into a ceramic studio in Cerreto, the ceramics town, for a glimpse of the artist at work, and a hands on lesson.  Castelvenere and Solopaca are other wine cities in the area.  We will visit vineyards, taste wines and sample some of the regional cuisine.   
  
Day 6 

Connect with the local community picking grapes on a vineyard. (season permitting)  A true family affair for all ages; picking grapes, singing songs and having lunch under the vines.  After a rest, we will visit one the wineries followed by a wine pairing dinner.

Day 7 

Feeling sore from picking grapes?  We’ll visit a spa, relax with a massage, a swim.  In the evening afternoon, we will enjoy a tasting menu of local delicacies paired with local wines at a Michelin rated restaurant.

Day 8

Nature walk in Mount Tiburno followed by food preparation at an agriturismo. 

In the evening we will have a Farewell party with all our new friends at the castle sampling local wines and local dishes.


Day 9

After breakfast, we leave for Naples and check into our beautiful hotel by the sea.  We’ll have a stroll along the seaside, then a food tour to taste the best Naples has to offer.  From famous coffee houses, pastries, pizza, spaghetti al vongole, ragu.  We will visit the historic center, farmers markets, fish market, and underground markets dating back to Greek and Roman times that are now ruins. 

Day 10

Depart from Naples Airport


Other options:  season permitting, we will go mushroom hunting, then make pizza topped with our mushroom find.   Cooking and eating day with Lina.  We can learn some of these home cooked meals such as chicken piccata, or cutlet, beef with mushrooms and wine, lasagne, sauteed vegetables in season, eggplant parmesan, preserving fruit, eggplant, sun dried tomatoes, coffee cakes, bread, biscotti,  Limoncello.  
Boat ride on the Amalfi Coast, visit Pompeii, Capri or Ischia.

Sunday, August 14, 2022

Taste of Tuscany

Thank you for your interest in my Taste of Tuscany itinerary which I just created from my recent trip there.   I hope you enjoy some of my suggestions for your next trip to Florence and the Siena region of Tuscany.  If you do, please let me know in a message and maybe a photo.  I am organizing this particular tour during this harvest season from October 21-27.  Let me know if you would like more information about this trip, it is limited to a small group of 8.  


As a travel consultant, I have been organizing bespoke tours all over France and Italy since 2012.  Now I just enjoy traveling and sharing my wonderful local small/slow travel experiences with the intension of helping small family businesses recover from the past couple of difficult years.  I have more itineraries to share from around the world, so be on the look out. 

I would love if you would share some of your favorite local producers, boutique hotels, bed & breakfasts, tour guides, restaurants and artisan stores so I can create a sharable directory by region/town.   

I envision the Next Renaissance will be in the small towns and villages in Italy, where the people have lived close to the earth for generations, cultivating a simple but beautiful way of life we can all learn from.  There is a shift away from big travel business, toward slow/small travel.  It is the way I like to travel.
 
Enjoy!  Buon Viaggio!!  ...and please mention my name to the locals :)



Taste of Tuscany Tour

By Sweet Life Italy (aka Alecia Caine)

 

Friday, Oct 21 - Day 1   Montalcino Wine Excursion  

Drive through the beautiful Siena province to Montalcino where we will stay for 2 nights at Paradiso di Caruci https://paradisodicacuci.com/, a family owned Winery and Bed & Breakfast that produces a small quantity of exceptional Brunello.   Tour the vineyard and winery with Francisco followed by a Wine Paring Lunch.   In the evening, wander around the historical town of Montelcino during the Sagra del Tordo, taste the famous white truffles, chestnuts, mushrooms, fresh pressed olive oils, salumi and wines, of course.  

For transportation from anywhere in Florence, train station or airport, contact Marco Modesti at info@tuscanytopdrivers.com

Saturday, Oct 22 - Day 2  Tuscany Tour, Montalcino Medieval Nights. 

Drive to Pienza, a beautiful medieval village that was completely renovated during the Renaissance.  Enjoy the views and also try the Pecorino cheese this town is famous for.   Then drive through the famous rolling hills of Val d’Orcia on the way to visit the town of Montepulciano.  Then back to Montalcino for a special dinner during the Medieval Palio di Arcieri or Archery competition hosted by Francesco Ditta from Paradiso di Caruci.

Sunday, Oct. 23 -  Day 3  Tuscany Tour, Florence

After breakfast, we are on our way to Siena, a beautiful terra cotta medieval town.  See the famous Duomo, climb to the top to see spectacular views.  Walk the quaint circular streets stopping in the specialty shops for regional delicacies, panforte or biscotti.  Make your way down to the Piazza del Campo where the famous Palio di Siena, the horse race that takes place twice a year.  Enjoy a coffee in the Piazza.   Drive through the Chianti region, enjoy lunch at Dario's Antica Macelleria. https://www.dariocecchini.com/   On to Florence and check into your hotel. The Calimala https://www.hotelcalimala.com/  (or Hotel Bonifacio is a budget conscious option https://www.hotelbonifacio.it/en/home-en-3/)

Monday, Oct. 24 - Day 4  Florence, the Birthplace of the Renaissance

The morning light is amazing in Florence and has inspired artists and art lovers for centuries. It’s no wonder Florence is at the heart of the Italian Renaissance.  The scent of cappuccino and fresh baked Cornetti will gently signal it’s time to awaken to your own personal Renaissance.  Begin on to the rooftop bar/terrace of your hotel, to enjoy the most amazing breakfast you will ever eat in Italy while taking in the breathtaking views of Florence.  After breakfast, your guide will meet you downstairs for a private walking tour of the Duomo, Giotto’s tower  Brunelleshci's dome, MichelAngelo’s David and my favorite Botticelli, The Birth of Venus at the Uffizi Museum.   After a long day of sight seeing, it’s time for a siesta to refresh and be ready for an aperativo at Enoteca Alessi https://www.enotecaalessi.it/.  With a huge selection of Italian and international wines as well as whiskeys, spirits and liqueurs from all over the world, you can enjoy a bottle or 2 among friends with a tagliere of Italian cured meats and cheeses.

Dinner at Ribeo, https://www.facebook.com/OsteriaRibeo/ the hand cut Chianina tartare will not disappoint.  On the walk back to the hotel stop by My Sugar Gelato Artiginale https://my-sugar.business.site/.   The Black Sesame and salty caramel are my favorites.

For tour guide in English contact Carol Ann Sicbaldi https://carolsmoveablefeast.com/ or Christina’s Florence christinasflorence@gmail.com

Heliania Vogli at https://www.florenceconnection.net/

Tuesday, Oct. 25 - Day 5  Central Market and Cooking Class

Our chef will meet us after breakfast and take us on a tasting tour of the Central Market to indulge in regional delicacies such as truffles, Pecorino or Sheep Cheese, olive oil, prosciutto, salamis and wines.   We will gather ingredients for a cooking class followed by lunch. https://divinacucina.com/divine-days-with-divina-cucina/ After a siesta, visit the tiny but packed art and leather studio of Daniela Baldini http://pitturantica.it/ for ancient style paintings and leather objects.  Shop at Melrose Vintage  https://www.instagram.com/melrosevintagestorefirenze/?hl=it  and for leather goods. Enjoy an aperativo at La Menagere https://www.lamenagere.it/

Wednesday, Oct. 26 - Day 6  Foodie and Artisan Tour of the Oltrarno

After breakfast, finish shopping to bring some goodies back home, stroll around, sit in a café and just enjoy with all your senses.   In the afternoon meet up with Lorenzo Marchi for a fantastic food and wine tour of the other side of the Arno, known as the Oltrarno infoLorenzoMarchi@gmail.com.   You will visit the quaint authentic neighborhoods where the Florentines hang out tasting all the best from the Tuscan region.  Stroll around after your tour and check out the artisan studios in the cradle of the Renaissance.  You will see small workshops of Goldsmiths, bookbinding, handmade leather and paper products, crystal, bronze and musical instruments

Thursday, Oct 27 - Day 7  Last Day in Florence.

After breakfast, enjoy the day, take a stroll, shop, have lunch.     

 

Contact:  Alecia Caine abccpa@sbcglobal.net  Instagram :  Sweet Life Italy  Facebook :  My Sweet Life Italy

https://sweetlifeitaly.blogspot.com/


Monday, June 20, 2022

It's Time for the South of Italy to Experience a Renaissance

I wrote to the Wall Street Journalist who wrote this article about the wines of Southern Italy: 


Dear Ms Teague,


I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article about wines of Southern Italy and A16 restaurant.   

I live part time in California.  The rest of the year I live in Guardia Sanframondi, a hilltop medieval village in the Campania region of Southern Italy.   Surrounded by vineyards of Fallanghina and Aglianica grapes and olive groves.   This area, named the European Wine City since 2019, called to me in 2015.  At the age of 50, after raising my 2 sons as a single mother, I followed my heart to Guardia and purchased an old home in the historical center and changed my life.   

A few years ago, on a visit to the bay area where my son who was studying podiatry at Samuel  Merritt, I discovered A16 while searching for authentic certified Napolitano pizza,  and they did it right.  Then I discovered they had several wines from Guardia Sanframondi.   I took a photo of the wine list and sent it to my Italian friends who were the grape farmers and wine makers.  They were amazed and proud  to see their wines in a restaurant in San Francisco.

Since then, Ive been organizing tours for Americans, to come experience our authentic Italian village.  I arrange cooking classes with the nonnas, pasta  by hand, wine tasting and education and helping to pick grapes with the families during Vendemmia.   Im also part of the folk dance group, and my guests are treated to local celebrations where we dance, play music, taste regional delicacies and drink wine.  My guests are treated like family and have an  unforgetable time.  

It's been my goal to help promote tourism in this region in Benevento called the Sannio and introduce Americans to the simple joys found in everyday living in the South of Italy.  I consider myself very fortunate to have made a life here and I want to inspire women in their 50s and beyond to know that it is never too late to follow your heart and live the life you dream of.  

After reading your article, Im inspired even more and I would like to invite you to be my guest in Guardia Sanframondi and be your private guide.  In early August is Vinalia,  our week long wine festival, when the town springs to life with art, music, artisanal local foods  and wines.  September is Vendemmia and a great opportunity to hands on experience the beautiful wine culture when all the family members return to help pick grapes, sing while they work, and lunch under the vines.  Its a very beautiful family tradition we just dont have in the USA wine industry. In 2024 is the next Riti Settinale, a religious and deeply spiritual festival that happens only once every 7 years.  Last time was in 2017, over 250,000 people came from all over the world, including famous art critics and New York times journalists. 

I have a website and blog called Sweet Life Italy and Facebook, Instagram accounts with the same name .  Im not a big tour operator, I simply share my magical life in Italy and people find me and come for a unique experience, some have purchased a casa  and end up living here part time, as well.  I handle all aspects of travel,  except airline bookings.  I can arrange transportation,  lodging, tour guides and create a unique  custom designed itinerary based on my clients desires.  Im happy to send some examples of past trips.    Professionally,  Im a CPA and I coach women over 50 to live the life of their dreams, as I am.  I call my practice CPA for Create Prosperity and Abundance. 

My dream now is to host a group of wine journalists to my village and help Create Prosperity and Abundance for the people of Guardia who have adopted me into their families and culture.  It's  time for the South of Italy to experience a Renaissance.

I look forward to your response.  Please  contact me by this email: abccpa@sbcglobal.net. 

In gratitude,

Alecia Caine

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Project Goddess retreats

I came to Italy to connect with the Goddesses.  Italy has such a rich history of ancient Egypt  Greece, Rome and so many other civilizations, mermaids, fairies, gnomes, it's truly magical.  

 Not to mention the most fertile and bio diverse landscape.  It's like all of Mother Earth's energy is pumping in this peninsula.   

I'm organizing Goddess retreats here. 

 Somehow, spirit opened a portal for me and I stepped through.  

Sunday, August 2, 2020

First Sunday lunch in Italy








Today was my first Sunday in Italy.  Sundays in Italy means traditional big family gatherings with delicious home made foods.  Everyone dresses for the occassion and family members come from other cities in Italy for this once a week reunion festival. 

On Sundays, the shops close early.  Except for the morning farmers market where everyone is out greeting each other Buongiorno, buying fresh seasonal produce for their big meal of the week, meeting for cappuccini, it is very quiet in Guardia.

I have been fortunate on many occasions to be invited as a guest at Adelina's for Sunday Pranzo. Lina is a traditional Nonna, she cooks everything by hand, from pasta to cheese, breads, salumis, limoncello and her famous cheesecake.  She grows her own tomatoes to make passato by hand or sun dried tomatoes that she collects and dries on a basket mat that her great grandmother used.  There is eggplant for melanzane parmagiana, zucchine flowers to be stuffed with Lina's own ricotta, squash for roasting with her potatoes and peppers also for stuffing.  The olive oil for dipping her stone ground semolina flour bread comes from her olive orchards and her wines come from her vineyards.   I love Sundays at Lina's.

On many occasions I organized group lunches and dinners for some of my guests so we can taste the wines and experience good classic Italian cooking by Lina, who also teaches cooking classes where we learn to make pasta by hand. 

I asked Lina to please put together a nice Sunday lunch for me.  Surely she was cooking for her family who visits from Rome on the weekends.  Even though we could not be together in person, i have been looking forward to her cooking for 6 months.  

When I heard that 3 other Americans also arrived and had to do 14 days of quarantine, I thought about hiring Lina to prepare and deliver lunch for all of us.  Everyone loved Lina's cooking, we used to always have lunch at her home and remembered her spreads during Vinalia, which we will also miss this year, since we are confined at home.  This would be a good opportunity to help each other.  With very few tourists coming this year, budgets will be tight.   

Lina and I worked on a menu, after I got everyone's food preferences and dietary restictions she came up with:  Antipasti of melenzane parmigiana, stuffed peppers, zucchini proscuitto rollups.   Handmade Pasta alla bolognese, roast pork with roasted potatoes, peppers and squash from her garden.  garden fresh tomatoes and cucumber salad and her famous cheesecake for desert.  Accompanied by some of her fresh baked semolina flour bread, a bottle of her own olive oil and a bottle of red wine.   You know, the usual, she said.
 
Everyone was very excited and getting hungry as I kept us up to the moment on Messenger with photos Lina sent from her kitchen.   The meals were delivered by Adelina and her son, Amedeo, in sweet picknic baskets.  She also included and a bag of fresh fruit and veggetables from her garden.  What a feast,  we have enough to eat for days!

When I called Lina to tell her how happy everyone was,  I started to feel my heart expand and tears poured down my face.    Its amazing how the flavors of home, mixed with the distinct smells in the air brought on a flood of memories of my life in Italy and in this medieval village.    With everything changing in the US, and the realization that nothing will ever be the same.  I felt the stress of the past 6 months finally leave my body.  I didn't realize how tense and fearful  I was,  so afraid I would not make it back home to Guardia for at least another year!  I just couldnt believe I was really here until this meal and it brought me back home with the bite of pasta alla bolognese.   

When I thanked her, I started to cry, I was so emotional.  I shared my appreciation for all she does, that living the way she lives is rare and something to be cherished.   Im not sure she sees her way of life as a priveledge, the way I do.  The truth is everyone should be living this way, close to the earth, in harmony with nature.  I am so grateful to say Italy is my heart's home and I followed my heart home.

Sunday, July 5, 2020

InterDependence Day

On this 4th of July, our celebration of Independence, there were no fireworks, no beach parties, no gatherings. Many people were angry their freedom was infringed upon. I didn't miss any of it since this is the first time in 5 years I'm in the United States for Independence Day. So, I sat and watched the full moon and contemplated the true meaning of freedom.
I see people clamouring for their freedom to do what they want no matter if it harms others. This is a very selfish interpretation of the concept of freedom. The very word Independence connotes a fierce individualism that is the cornerstone of American's right to be free. For them its all about Me, me, me.
But what about the freedom to do what is in alignment with your heart. It takes great courage to hear and listen to your heart. Most of us are caught up in our head or other people's agenda's, we can't even hear our heart's calling. It takes even greater courage to take action and follow your heart, follow your passion, follow your soul's true calling.
I call for a name change to Celebration of InterDependence. When you follow your heart, you are in alignment with your own freedom without infringing on the freedom or welfare of others. Then the Pursuit of Happiness applies to all.

Friday, June 5, 2020

"It's a Different Time"

People say that things never change, but this is the furthest from the truth. 

If you have done any healing work to heal your trauma, you know that healing works in cycles.  Trauma doesnt disappear, but you learn to heal it so it  has less of an affect on you.  You might still get triggered, then you feel bad for a while, but you get up again, each time it gets better, you don't react nearly as harshly you did before seeking treatment.  It takes time but eventually, you no longer lash out in anger, hatred and violence or shut down and become numb.

Its the same with society.  So much has changed in the past 400 years.  Black people were kidnapped from their home in Africa and thrown into slavery,  then the Civil war broke and eventually Lincoln emancipated slaves but he was shot before there was a plan to integrate black people into society.  That is when this country took a huge step backwards with the Jim Crowe segregation laws that kept blacks marginalized for 100 years.  

For a 100 years, black people did not have any rights!  

Then, in 1968,  Martin Luther King gave black people hope and the Civil Rights Movement was born.  Unfortunately, he was shot and and so was JFK and we took many a step backwards and forwards over the past 50 years...until Obama became president and he gave hope back to blacks and all of us who were ever marginalized.  Unfortunately, the current administration didnt do anything except undo every good thing Obama got passed in spite of the Republican congress.

Now, its like what Reverend Sharpton said yesterday at George Floyd's memorial service..., "Its a different time" he said.   During the Civil Rights Movement,  mostly black people were protesting,   now, there are people of all colors, ages taking to the streets in peaceful protest saying "No Justice, No  Peace."  There are people all over the world protesting for Justice.   They are coming to our aid.   

There are many more people in support of peace than against.

Yes, there is still police brutality as we see on the videos, but with technology, the truth can no longer be hidden.  We are not going to stop until the police officers are held accountable for their brutality....and "Qualified Immunity" is reformed.   After that, we will have to tackle the lax gun laws, another problem where change is hugely overdue.

So next time anyone says things never change, you can tell them they are wrong about that.



Monday, June 1, 2020

Black Lives Matter. All Lives Matter.

We were just getting ready to peak our heads out after months of being indoors because mother nature sent us to our rooms.   We had a chance to contemplate what we truly valued, we longed for connection, peace, meaning, purpose.   

We vowed to be aware of how our actions affected the planet, animals, trees, oceans, all of nature.  And we knew we didn't want to go back to the way things were, we were stressed,  we had no time for the important things in life, no time for our families, no time for our passions, no time for ourselves.  

We woke up and got a taste of what freedom really is.  Even though we were stuck in our homes, even though we were not free to go out and work, spend money, go to restaurants, see loved ones and travel, our minds were finally free, our spirits were finally free and we reconnected to ourselves, the one we have been most neglecting.   

But not all of us were in this boat. Not all of us were priviledged to have this luxury to stay home and contemplate our reality.   But we all, as human beings, should equally participate in this universe with mutual love and respect.  We are not ready to come out of our rooms.  


Because there are other lessons to be learned before we can go out into the world and declare a new beginning, a Renaissance, to create a future for our children, grandchildren and their's to come for generations.   

Because there are still parts inside that need to be healed.  There are still people who have not tasted the freedom we were tasting.   We can't even pretend to care about nature when we, as humans, don't see other humans as our our brothers and sisters.   

We can no longer turn away from the senseless killing of innocent lives that matter.   

Black lives matter.  Black lives shaped the fabric of who we are as American people,  so much of our beautiful culture is black.  When are we going to embrace our blackness?  Now, it is time.  

And while we are at it,  when are we going to embrace all the ethnic diversity that makes this great country so great?   Hispanics, Asians, indigenous people, Jews, Muslims, Christians,  Buddhists, Hindus, Athiests and so many more.  Because this diversity of ethnic culture is who we are, we all shaped the fabric of America. And we are all the reason why America is so great.  

There is room in America for every person of every color and creed to live out their dreams, with access to education, health care, shelter, protection, clean water, clean air, clean food.   When are we going to wake up to the fact that we all matter?  

And women of every color, we are actually the majority of the population!  Why have we accepted this?  We have all been bullied into believing we are not worthy.  But it doesn't help to accuse the minority of little white men with little white hearts, who only feel big when they dominate everyone else, because even they deserve love.  

But read this.  They are not the majority.  The majority are us good people.   Its time we come together and love each other and love ourselves and yes, even love our abusers who didn't get any love from their fathers and mothers.  We are so strong together.  We got this.  

Friday, May 29, 2020

Too Busy to Live - Life in American Cities

They kept us so busy, we were unable to know our real talents, we never truly knew ourselves.

They kept us too busy, we were  unable to take up a hobby we always wanted to.  

They kept us so busy, we were unable to know what makes our hearts sing.

They kept us so busy that we never took a deep breath to listen to our hearts. 

They kept us so busy, we didn't ever cook for ourselves and our health suffered.
They kept us so busy, we hardly had any time with our families, and the kids are all grown up now.

They kept us so busy, we had no time to nurture ourselves, we felt much older than our age.

They kept us so busy, we had to wake up at 3am every day take better care of ourselves, we told ourselves we can sleep when we are dead.  (Irony)

They kept us so busy, we didnt have time to create our own businesses and become the entrepreneurs we always dreamed of, in control of our time, and building consious businesses that value humanity and the planet.

They kept us in fear of each other.  What if we stepped into not being afraid of intimacy, of being vulnerable...and we finally found the love our lives.  

What if we all stepped into our god given talents and started creating ...creating the life we dream of, creating the planet we deserve.

What if we stepped into following our desires and taking actions to make our dreams come true, no longer just wishing for one day... that never comes.

What if we didnt make that call when we thought about that person and now you never can again.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

The Power of Intentions and Rituals

The power of movement, meditation, slowing down, dropping into the sensual body through touching an object or our own skin is to sooth and comfort our nervous systems.  

Writing/journaling helps digest  and process our thoughts and emotions, so our  brain can make sense of the information that comes through us.  

This time is best used to reconnect to our core, our truth, our soul, our self.  The stillness within is where we feel most at peace, we feel joy, and stillness.  Even if surrounding our core are emotions like sadness, lonliness, despair, we can get underneath these layers of feelings by relaxing and sinking inside ourself where the stillness resides.  

At first, the layers may seem difficult to penetrate.  The cells are closely knit, muscles are cramped, breath is shallow, blood isn't circulating freely because  trauma from the past sets in the body and lodges there creating emotional and physical pain.

But with gentle, loving attention, gentle full breathing into those parts slowly dislodges the grips of pain, and past memories.  

By breathing into the cracks in between the tightness we can heal ourselves.  With each breath brings oxygen and blood to wake up our body's own natural defenses.   With each long exhale, the grip releases, opens subtly and we can sink even deeper into those cracks, separating out the strands of healthy tissue and sink deeper into the core of who we are without any of the trauma that built up over the years.   

This is how the body heals the lifetime of collected trauma and even inhereted trauma in our DNA passed down through generations of hurt.   We have a chance to heal all of this and rediscover who we really are, our true self, a clean slate like the innocent babe we came into this world, full of potential and wonder that for so many of us was not allowed to be nourished and allowed to flourish.

Well we can do that now for ourselves, reparent those lost parts of ourselves and Find Our Self, where you are, now.

With some daily rituals, done with gratitude and desire, intentionally, you can break through the armour.   It takes time and patience and courage but we can support each other on our individual journeys.  Our journey to our self, our rebirth, our Renaissance.

Today, I did my meditation before getting out of bed.  Lying down, flat, nothing more than some deep breaths, feeling the oxygen give life and energy to my waking body.  

Allowing my subconscious mind space to express before the waking mind takes over with a list of to dos and chores.   Feeling my skin with my fingers, the cool morning air on my skin, waking up my senses with slow touch, slow breath, slow thought.  

Allowing desire and sensual pleasure to bubble up and take form.  I asked myself, what do I feel like wanting this morning?  Some sadness came up during this ritual and rather than push it away, I welcomed the feeling and gave it space to express itself.  I had been feeling sad about news of a new coronavirus case discovered in my home village in Italy, just 2 weeks after their strict lockdown had eased up.  This was very discouraging and disheartening for me.  The plan to return felt further away.  I felt the sadness and lonliness, disappointment wash over me.  

At the same time, a desire sparked to go for a walk, another morning ritual I do with pleasure and grace, not out of obligation, if I feel I must do it, I don't do it. it has to come from desire.   There are things in life I must do and I do them,  but my morning rituals must come from desire not habit, not obligation.   

The walk did me a lot of good,  I realized I had been mourning the loss of the way things were.  But I also do not miss the busy stressed out life I had.  And now there is this journey inward,  to meet my soul, my core that is always with me so I am truly never lonely.  

I have allowed myself to cultivate this relationship with my self as I have had the opportunity to do this over the years during my 6 month stints in Italy, but there was always a slight tinge of guilt, self-indulgence and judgement, feeling lazy if I wasn't do something productive.  The curse of our western life.  

Well no more!  Now, with gratitude for the priveledge I have to take this time for myself and track it and see where it leads me, and be witnessed and hopefully inspire others to take this walk with me and together we will change ourselves, connect with each other and to others on a similar journey and create a powerful tipping point that aligns ourselves to our soul, our planet and a course to end the suffering on this planet.
  
My intention for this day is to be intentional with each moment, I know I will stray so setting reminders every 20 minutes to take a time out, breath deeply,  stretch and move my body, nourish my body with good wholesome foods prepared by me, drink cool clean water to stay hydrated, take my supplements to keep my digestive track healthy so my immune system is healthy.  Clear my thoughts of anything that is not loving and judgement free.  Create, write, share, engage, work, be present, go within and turn off all outside noise and negative distractions.    

What are your intentions for today?   And together we can create the Next Renaissance.  

Sunday, April 5, 2020

I was texting with a friend of mine about the differences between Italians and Americans.

Italians are connected to their ancient civilizations.  But each region in Italy is so different, each has their own civilization they connect with.  The Romans connect with the Roman Empire, Napolitanos are connected to Greek antiquity, also French and Spanish influences,  Guardia Sanframondi has Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Longobardi and Norman roots.   There is a continuity in having roots to the land you inhabit.   Instincts and local knowledge are passed down through the generations which promote a respect and reverence for their local cultures.  There is a respect for the earth and life is lived more in tune with mother nature, and the natural cycles of things.

The native Americans lived in harmony with the earth,  they were called Indians, but they each had their own name, there own values, they had the ancient wisdom of the lands they lived on for eons.  When the first settlers came to the New World, they brought a culture that was already not in harmony with mother earth, they brought indigenous people from Africa and enslaved them to work in tabacco farms and then they dessimated the indegenous inhabitants to make room for the New Americans and the industrial revelution which began the destruction of our earth.

Almost all Americans are descended from ancestors who left their homelands and their roots behind in search of a better life.  Many had severed all ties to their place of birth, their customs and way of life to become true Americans.  Their intentions were noble: to offer a brighter, richer future for their children.   So how did it pay off?  For many, it did.  These were the immigrants who built up this amazing country.  They valued hard work, building businesses to create prosperity for their families, saving for the future, inventing new techologies, expansion and progress.

Many families did want to pass on their values to their children but the younger generations were different and easily adapted to the new world, and much to their parents dismay, completely forgot about their heritage and their roots.   Without these roots, many also lost their respect and reverence for the earth and they lost their way.  Some became greedy which led them to producing more and more, enslaving Americans to work harder and harder to keep up with the American Dream and their neighbors.  It was all a big plan, the big banks offered cheap credit so Americans became addicted to a cycle of more, never having enough, never feeling filled, always feeling empty, filling their emptyness with addictions, chemical addictions, shopping addictions,  addictions to entertainment, sex, drugs, money.

Never satisfied, always anxious, never sleeping, never reflecting on the damage we unconsciously do to the earth, our loved ones, other people, animals, ourselves.  We are such a dysfunctional society.  And we are so stressed.  We know that, but we spend even more money on more drugs to numbs us, more therapy to fix us, more SOLUTIONS THAT ARE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM.  And beyond numb we are.  We are numb to all the suffering all around us.  We are numb to all the polution, all the plastic in the seas, We are numb to all the gun violence, even if 6 year olds are being killed.  We are numb to refugees dying in boats, we are numb to immigrant children being forcefully taken from the arms of their parents and thrown into cages, being abused, being psychologically tortured.   Imagine if this was happening to our children...

We are numb to all the ways the earth is trying to tell us she needs this to stop,  she is pleading with us to  "Pay attention!"  And we aren't .  So she has been fighting back with broken ozone in the atmosphere, melting icecap, all the destruction from the fires, all the millions of  dead cute, innocent koala bears and kangaroos still did not wake us up enough. 

No one is listening to her and she is dying.  If we continue in this mad way, we wont have a home.  With no home, there are no people, and guess what?  There won't be any economy either.   We are nothing without Her.    How arragant to think we are in control.  I call BULLSHIT!   But luckily, the earth will always win.   And with a tiny virus that isn't even alive has reduced all of humanity to our knees.    Are we listening now?  Not everyone is....and this great county called America has become nothing but a House of Cards, build on the FALSE hope and brainwashing of its citizens to continue to consume more and more and more so the top 1% can continue to get richer and richer.  WE NEED TO OPEN OUR COUNTY AGAIN, read, we need you to go back to your meaningless jobs, to pay off your debts so we can continue to get richer and richer, we don't care about you at all and so what if grandpa and grandma sacrafice their lives so your  grandchildren can continue to make us rich!!!
Now we are collapsing.  Making America Great is collapsing this great country.  Like Mesopotamia, Summaria, the Roman Empire, our civilization is coming to an end.   There will be death and destruction, that is inevitable.   But we have a choice.  We can finally wake up from our numbness, or all those deaths will only be in vain.

Maybe we should have listened to our ancestors after all, when they reminded us to keep our traditions, keep our connection to earth, be humble, know when enough is enough, share with your neighbors, take care of each other, find pleasure in the simple things, like baking your own bread, making your own pasta, growing your own vegetables, living in harmony with the planet.   When they reminded us who we are.

We can all make better choices, starting now.  To physical distance but not social distance.  We can make a choice to wash our hands like our life depends on it, and make it our 20 second mantra or blessing for the future.  Several times a day, as we wash our hands, we are given a moment to reflect on what we have done and what we need to do and what we desire for our furture,  Yes dare, to dream.  Many of us never learned how to dream.    But that is our god given right that was taken from us.  And sqelching our desires because we feel guilty, because by saying  who am I to dream when there is suffering in the world does not solve the problem.  But when you embrace your pain, embrace your shame and allow yourself to heal, you are an example to others, encouraging others to embrace their pain and heal and healing will spread like a wild fire.

We have the choice to make good decisions that collectively can make a huge difference.  To say, its no point to make any changes because no one else is is no longer valid.   You never had control over others, so stop looking at what they do. Stop comparing yourselves.  Stop it.  because for the first time in forever, we are all doing the same thing and we only have control over our own actions and if we don't exercise what little control we have, we will contaminate others who will die.  We have a choice to make the right decisions for the future.  The earth hit the pause button for us to connect with ourselves.  To go within and get acquainted with who we are, while we are not so busy and stressed out.  To find out what makes us happy, what brings us joy, what we really value.  And, guess what?  Back to business as usual is not the right answer.  Are we going to learn the lesson this time?  Because if we don't there may be one more chance.  But if you think this is ugly, you aint seen nothing yet.  Because, people THIS IS NOT A HOAX.  NEVER FORGET THAT!!!


DOMENICA, 5 APRILE 2020
Stavo scrivendo a un mio amico un messaggio sulle differenze tra italiani e americani.

Gli italiani sono collegati alle loro antiche civiltà. Ma ogni regione in Italia è così diversa, ognuna ha la propria civiltà con cui si collegano. I romani si collegano con l'Impero romano, Napolitani sono collegato all'antichità greca, anche influenze francesi e spagnole, Guardia Sanframondi ha radici greche, romane, etrusche, longobardi e normanne. C'è una continuità nell'avere radici nella terra in cui vivi. Gli istinti e la conoscenza locale vengono tramandati attraverso le generazioni che promuovono il rispetto e la riverenza per le loro culture locali. C'è un rispetto per la terra e la vita è vissuta più in sintonia con la madre natura e con i cicli naturali delle cose.

I nativi americani vivevano in armonia con la terra, erano chiamati indiani, ma ognuno aveva il proprio nome, c'erano i propri valori, avevano l'antica saggezza delle terre in cui vivevano da eoni. Quando i primi coloni vennero nel Nuovo Mondo, portarono una cultura che non era già in armonia con la madre terra, portarono indigeni dall'Africa e li schiavizzarono a lavorare nelle fattorie del tabacco e poi dissessuarono gli abitanti indigeni per fare spazio ai Nuovi americani e la rivelazione industriale che ha iniziato la distruzione della nostra terra.

Quasi tutti gli americani discendono da antenati che si sono lasciati alle spalle le loro terre d'origine e le loro radici alla ricerca di una vita migliore. Molti avevano reciso tutti i legami con il loro luogo di nascita, i loro costumi e il loro stile di vita per diventare veri americani. Le loro intenzioni erano nobili: offrire ai loro figli un futuro più luminoso e più ricco. Quindi, come ha pagato? Per molti lo ha fatto. Questi erano gli immigrati che hanno costruito questo meraviglioso paese. Hanno valutato il duro lavoro, costruendo aziende per creare prosperità per le loro famiglie, risparmiando per il futuro, inventando nuove tecnologie, espansione e progresso.

Molte famiglie volevano trasmettere i propri valori ai propri figli, ma le generazioni più giovani erano diverse e si adattavano facilmente al nuovo mondo e, con grande disappunto dei genitori, si dimenticavano completamente della loro eredità e delle loro radici. Senza queste radici, molti persero anche il rispetto e la riverenza per la terra e persero la strada. Alcuni sono diventati avidi che li hanno portati a produrre sempre di più, schiavizzando gli americani a lavorare sempre più duramente per tenere il passo con il sogno americano e i loro vicini. Era tutto un grande piano, le grandi banche offrivano credito a buon mercato in modo che gli americani diventassero dipendenti da un ciclo di più, non avendo mai abbastanza, mai sentendosi riempiti, sentendosi sempre vuoti, riempiendo il loro vuoto di dipendenze, dipendenze chimiche, dipendenze da shopping, dipendenze da intrattenimento , sesso, droghe, soldi.

Mai soddisfatto, sempre ansioso, mai addormentato, mai riflettendo sul danno che inconsciamente facciamo alla terra, ai nostri cari, alle altre persone, agli animali, a noi stessi. Siamo una società così disfunzionale. E siamo così stressati. Lo sappiamo, ma spendiamo ancora più soldi per più farmaci per intorpidirci, più terapia per sistemarci, più SOLUZIONI CHE FANNO MEGLIO DEL PROBLEMA. E oltre siamo insensibili. Siamo insensibili a tutte le sofferenze che ci circondano. Siamo insensibili a tutta l'inquinamento, tutta la plastica nei mari, siamo insensibili a tutta la violenza delle armi, anche se i bambini di 6 anni vengono uccisi. Siamo insensibili ai rifugiati che muoiono in barca, siamo insensibili ai bambini immigrati che vengono presi con forza dalle braccia dei loro genitori e gettati in gabbie, abusati, torturati psicologicamente. Immagina se questo stesse accadendo ai vostri figli ...

Siamo insensibili a tutti i modi in cui la Terra sta cercando di dirci che ha bisogno che questo si fermi, ci sta supplicando di "Prestare attenzione!" E non lo siamo. Quindi ha combattuto con l'ozono rotto nell'atmosfera, sciogliendo la calotta glaciale, tutta la distruzione dagli incendi, tutti i milioni di adorabili morti, innocenti orsi di koala e canguri non ci svegliano ancora abbastanza.

Nessuno la ascolta e sta morendo. Se continuiamo in questo modo folle, non avremo una casa. Senza casa, non ci sono persone e indovina un po '? Non ci sarà nemmeno alcuna economia. Non siamo niente senza di lei. Quanto è arrogante pensare di avere il controllo. Chiamo BULLSHIT! Ma per fortuna, la terra vincerà sempre. E con un piccolo virus che non è nemmeno vivo ha ridotto tutta l'umanità alle nostre ginocchia. Stiamo ascoltando ora? Non tutti lo sono ... e questa grande contea chiamata America non è diventata altro che una House of Cards, basata sulla FALSA speranza e sul lavaggio del cervello dei suoi cittadini per continuare a consumare sempre di più e in modo che l'1% superiore possa continuare a ottenere sempre più ricco. ABBIAMO BISOGNO DI APRIRE DI NUOVO IL NOSTRO PAESE, leggi, abbiamo bisogno che tu torni ai tuoi lavori insignificanti, per pagare i tuoi debiti in modo da poter continuare a diventare sempre più ricchi, non ci importa affatto di te e quindi se nonno e nonna sacrificano le loro vite in modo che i tuoi nipoti possano continuare a renderci ricchi !!!
Ora stiamo collassando. Making America Great sta collassando questo grande paese. Come la Mesopotamia, la Summaria, l'impero romano, la nostra civiltà sta finendo. Ci saranno morte e distruzione, questo è inevitabile. Ma abbiamo una scelta. Possiamo finalmente svegliarci dal nostro intorpidimento, o tutte quelle morti saranno solo invano.

Forse avremmo dovuto ascoltare i nostri antenati, dopo tutto, quando ci hanno ricordato di mantenere le nostre tradizioni, mantenere la nostra connessione con la terra, essere umili, sapere quando basta, condividere con i vicini, prendersi cura l'uno dell'altro, trovare piacere nel cose semplici, come cuocere il tuo pane, fare la tua pasta, coltivare le tue verdure, vivere in armonia con il pianeta. Quando ci hanno ricordato chi siamo.

Tutti possiamo fare scelte migliori, a partire da ora. A distanza fisica ma non a distanza sociale. Possiamo fare una scelta per lavarci le mani come la nostra vita dipende da essa e renderla il nostro mantra di 20 secondi o la benedizione per il futuro. Più volte al giorno, mentre ci laviamo le mani, ci viene dato un momento per riflettere su ciò che abbiamo fatto e ciò che dobbiamo fare e ciò che desideriamo per il nostro futuro, sì, osiamo sognare. Molti di noi non hanno mai imparato a sognare. Ma questo è il nostro dio dato il diritto che ci è stato tolto. E sgretoliamo i nostri desideri perché ci sentiamo in colpa, perché dicendo chi sono io a sognare quando c'è sofferenza nel mondo non risolve il problema. Ma quando abbraccia il tuo dolore, abbraccia la tua vergogna e permetti a te stesso di guarire, sei un esempio per gli altri, incoraggiando gli altri ad abbracciare il loro dolore e la guarigione e la guarigione si diffonderanno come un fuoco selvaggio.

Abbiamo la scelta di prendere buone decisioni che collettivamente possono fare una differenza enorme. Per dire, non ha senso apportare modifiche perché nessun altro è non è più valido. Non hai mai avuto il controllo sugli altri, quindi smetti di guardare cosa fanno. Smetti di confrontarti. Smettila. perché per la prima volta in assoluto, stiamo tutti facendo la stessa cosa e abbiamo solo il controllo sulle nostre azioni e se non esercitiamo quel poco controllo che abbiamo, contamineremo gli altri che moriranno. Abbiamo una scelta per prendere le giuste decisioni per il futuro. La terra ha colpito il pulsante Pausa per connetterci con noi stessi. Entrare e conoscere chi siamo, mentre non siamo così impegnati e stressati. Per scoprire cosa ci rende felici, cosa ci porta gioia, cosa apprezziamo davvero. E indovina cosa? Tornare al lavoro come al solito non è la risposta giusta. Questa volta impareremo la lezione? Perché se non lo facciamo ci potrebbe essere un'altra possibilità. Ma se pensi che sia brutto, non hai ancora visto nulla. Perché, le persone QUESTO NON È UNA CERA. NON DIMENTICARLO MAI!!!