Bhuvaneswari Devi

Getting into the Vortex

2012-01-28T22:10:00.000-05:00

Thank you Carolyn Taylor for forward this beautiful message.

Your sophisticated physical body exists because of the intelligence of your cells. And the intelligence of your cells exists because of their Connection to Source Energy.

When doctors and scientists try to find cures for diseases without taking into consideration the Vibrational relationship between the physical Being and Source Energy, they are looking for cures in all the wrong places. If the resistance that disallowed the Well-Being to begin with is not released, it will show up in the form of another and another disease.

Your cells, because of their connection to the intelligence of Source Energy, know exactly what to do in order to become the incredible variety of functioning cells in your magnificent physical body. And in the absence of the hindrance that is caused by your resistant negative thought, that communication stays open to clear, up-to-the-moment interaction, keeping your physical body at peak and perfect performance.

In the absence of negative emotion—and therefore the allowance of complete alignment and communication with Source Energy—your physical body can reclaim its balance and recover from any imbalance. And once balance has resumed, it is easy to maintain with consistently good-feeling thoughts.

--- Abraham

Excerpted from the Getting into the Vortex Guided Meditation CD and User Guide # 332

Our Love,
Jerry and Esther

San pedro ceremony pic.

2012-01-02T13:23:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all the participants of the San Pedro ceremony. As a facilitator always new things to learn from the plant spirits and from each of you. Here a few pictures of the walk to sacred places.

candida: tips to healed it.

2012-01-02T13:04:00.005-05:00

By Rachel Freeman.

This article contains information and opinions of the writer, which do not necessarily reflect those of Bhuvaneswari teachings. Any advise accepted is solely the responsibility of the reader.

My relationship with candida overgrowth started in third year university.

The salad days of my youth were coming to an end. Life was good, and I was generally healthy.

However, I didn’t feel healthy. I was always tired, and seemed to always be fighting off a cold or a flu. I had constant sugar cravings. I would sometimes get a weird dry pastiness in my mouth. Something was off.

I had my family doctor run tests, but when the results came in, she would always reassure me that there was nothing was wrong with me. I saw another doctor, who told me the same. It was as if my symptoms were too subtle to be diagnosed by their tests.

Certain that “health” did not feel this way, I started to do my own research. It was at this time that I began to awaken to the world of natural healing.

What is Candida Overgrowth?

Candida Albicans is a form of yeast that lives in the digestive tract (as well as on our skin and in a woman’s vagina). The presence of candida albicans is normal, when it exists in balance with other favourable intestinal microorganisms. However, when this delicate balance is disrupted, it can lead to the overgrowth of the candida albicans yeast.

You may be familiar with probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, which help us to get more nutrients out of the food we eat. Candida albicans actually has the opposite effect in the digestive tract, inhibiting the proper assimilation of nutrients and releasing toxic by-products into the body.

An overgrowth of this yeast weakens the immune and endocrine systems, inhibiting its ability to respond to viruses or other harmful substances which naturally occur in our environments. Often, an over-presence of yeast can lead to a hyper-allergic state, where the body recognizes everything foreign as dangerous.

Systemic candidasis is when the yeast spreads beyond the digestive tract into other organs of the body. When this yeast is allowed to thrive, it can wreak havoc on your overall system.

Symptoms of Candida

The symptoms of high levels of candida growth may include:

food allergies or environmental sensitivities; or, a hyper-allergic state;
frequent colds or general low immunity;
chronic fatigue; mental sluggishness or confusion;
digestive disorders, including abdominal bloating, acid reflux, chronic constipation and fat intolerance;
skin eruptions, including acne, rashes, and recurrent fungal infections (ie. athlete’s foot)
severe PMS
recurring headaches or migraines;
loss of sex drive; chronic vaginitis, prostatis or anal itching;
cravings for sweets or yeasted breads;
anxiety; panic; depression; insomnia; irritability; mood swings;

The Causes of Systemic Candida

a high-sugar, acid-forming, low-mineral diet.
anti-biotics, which kill off favourable micro-organisms in the digestive tract (both prescription and in our food sources)
birth control pills or other prescription drugs
overuse of raw foods, foods that are too sweet or salty, alcoholic beverages or other intoxicants, yeasted breads, etc.
stress, anxiety and worry

environmental toxins, including chemical exposure (ie. chlorine)
general weakened immune system
sexual interactions with an infected partner

Candida Cleanse Tips

1. If this is your first candida cleanse, the help of a nutritionist or natural health practitioner is recommended.

2. Follow the principles of proper food combining. Eat simple meals (few ingredients) and allow at least 3 hours between meals. Eat fresh foods, and as much as possible, avoid microwaved foods and leftovers (over 24 hrs) !

3. Eliminate all yeast-feeding foods for at least 6 weeks, or whenever conditions are exacerbated. This includes:

all sweeteners (sugar, agave, maple syrup, honey, etc) except stevia
alcohol
dairy
all fruit (some can tolerate small amounts of berries or pomegranate)
all yeast, flour products and grains. Millet, quinoa and amaranth are exceptions. Small amounts of rice may be tolerated.
starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, yams and squash and nightshades (eggplant and peppers)
foods that are difficult to digest, such as nuts, seeds, avocados, oils and other fatty foods are best avoided or used sparingly.
restrict salt intake.

4. Meals should aim for a balance of 70% vegetables with 30% grain.

5. Avoid overeating. This is especially difficult with candida, as the yeast often triggers cravings for more.

6. Colon cleansing: colonic irrigation and/or enema treatments are very important, if not essential.

7. Oxygen therapy can also be helpful and pleasant, especially in winter months. learn more about this therapy.

8. For women, vaginal douching (either with apple cider vinegar or with tea tree oil) can be helpful in restoring the acidic conditions in the vagina, especially after intercourse or during a healing reaction. Acidophillus inserts are also available in some natural health food stores. To deal with vaginitis or persistent jock itch, apply sesame oil with a few drops of tea tree oil to irritated skin.

9. Go to bed on an empty stomach (at least 3 hours after your last meal).

Anti-Candida Diet : Foods to Favour

Choose foods that are alkalanizing, rather than acidic.

Start the day off right. When you wake up, drink a tall glasses of warm or room temperature water, and follow with a cup of hot water with freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice. Allow at least 30 minutes before having breakfast.
Non-starchy vegetables: asparagus, zucchini, beets, carrots, dandelion greens, rapini, leeks, kale, endives, fennel. Lightly cooked sprouts are also great, especially alfalfa (avoid mung sprouts). It’s helpful to have 1 cup of leafy greens/day, either steamed or sauteed in ghee and ginger.

Millet, quinoa and amaranth. It is best to soak these grains for a few hours before cooking.

Cooked mung beans (detoxifying) and azuki beans (dry dampness)

Oils: cold pressed organic olive oil, coconut oil, flax oil and ghee are good.

Pau d’arco tea - Bring 1 L of water to a boil, add 3 tbsp of the herb and simmer for 20 minutes. The tea does not have a strong flavour so you can mix it with other herbs, such as mint or cinnamon. Burdock tea is also helpful.

Chlorophyll and micro-algae: spirulina, wheatgrass, chlorella, blue-green algae, etc.

On salad, choose lemon or lime juice with a good quality olive oil. Herbs or a little salt can be added, to taste.

Homemade vegetable soups

Chia, sunflower, flax and pumpkin seeds, soaked overnight.

Ocean vegetables (such as wakame, dulse, nori, etc), rinsed and soaked -- great for thyroid and immune system.

Fermented foods, such as miso and tempeh or homemade kefir, can be eaten 1-2 times per week if symptoms are not severe.

1/2 tsp of baking soda ( aluminum-free) in water (for reducing stomach acidity), taken 1 hour before and/or 3 hours after meals for 3 days. (Some online recipes recommend mixing the baking soda with maple syrup -- not as delicious as it sounds but can be experimented with)

Homemade raw cultured vegetables (for rebuilding intestinal flora when candida is less acute) : shred 1 cabbage, 1 head of kale and 3 carrots into a food processor. Add 1 tsp of dried dill seeds and soaked dulse. Take 1 cup of this mixture and blend with ½ cup of filtered water. Jar and let sit for 3-7 days at room temperature. Refrigerate. Enjoy a few tablespoons every day, either on a salad or on its own.

Herbs and spices include cayenne, ginger, turmeric, fennel, basil, clove, cinnamon, coriander, dill and oregano.

Take a good quality daily pro-biotic. Digestive enzymes are also helpful.

Experiment! Rebuilding intestinal health requires a great deal of patience. Finding foods that nourish you and taste good is essential to your good health.

References (also great resources) :

Pitchford, Paul (1993). Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition (3rd edition). North Atlantic Books (CA).

Gates, Donna & Shatz, Linda (1996). The Body Ecology Diet: Recovering Your Health and Rebuilding Your Immunity. Hay House Inc.

Lad, Vasant, B.A.M.S., M.A.Sc.. (1998). The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies. Three Rivers Press (NY)
Alkalize for life: www.squidoo.com/alkalizeforlife

Baking soda & maple syrup vs. cancer www.rexresearch.com/articles2/nacarbmapsyr.htm

welcome to 2012

2012-01-02T11:03:00.001-05:00

Dear One:

The New Year opens its door towards an empty room of wonder and possibility. With it there are new choices as the building blocks of matter are very much in a mysterious dance.

It is a year that invites the seeker to see things in a fresh, dynamic and original way. Personal intentions and the inner commitment seem to me to be the key to maintaining a positive level of energy.

As you may know I launched in Dec 2011, Satya spices, ayuverdic cooking blends for each dosha. I cannot deny the enthusiasm I feel in sharing with you all the wonders of this world of spices.

In this issue I have included articles, tips and meditations to expand your knowledge about the spiritual and practical uses of spices.

May your New Year resolutions include:

Not to worry, not to blame, not to dwell in sorrow, not to put yourself down.

In service

Bhuvaneswari.

How to release inner anger.

2012-01-02T11:00:00.001-05:00

This exercise needs to be done for 40 consecutive days.

Select a place where you can go every day and safely release for 11 minutes.

First stage

Put a thick mat on the floor, lay down on your back in a comfortable position and take 3 natural long deep breaths. Repose. Connect with your body and then start hitting vigorously the floor with your whole body. All parts of your body need to make a strong connection with the floor. It is like a child having a tantrum but in a contained way. Hit the floor for 8 minutes. Let it go, be loose. Them turn over and do the same on your tummy for 3 full minutes. After 11 minutes repose.

Second stage

Turn your body toward the right and do 3 long natural breaths. Sit up in meditation pose and start Sitali breath. (inhale thought the poked tongue and exhale trough your nose) let the system to cool down. Do the breath for 3 minutes. Relax and meditate for another 5 minutes.

Recommendations

Allow any emotions to flow through you, do not stop, do not negotiate, and do not get dramatic. Also, taking Turmeric healing paste for the 11 days can complement these exercises.

Inflamation, inner anger and the bioenergetic impact

2012-01-02T10:58:00.002-05:00

If you understand and recognize in yourself inner anger as a passive current of resentment in your life, as an attitude of blame, a victim or just simply and inner discontent toward others or yourself, you may be entrapped in inner anger.

Inner anger dwells in the memory of our cells, and it is triggered by new challenges. Inner anger is subtle because it is produced in a subtle way. An act that you may consider innocent, like waking up in the morning, taking time to plan your day with the things you like to do, but as soon as you step out of bed you do something else, is a set up for inner anger. This inner betrayal creates inner confusion, inner resentment, and inner distrust.

We spend a lot of time unaware of this constant betrayal of the present moment. We refuse to dance with the spontaneous law of life and we adopt a frame of mind that spoils the creative potential of life.

It is not about doing what we think we need to do in the morning, it is about allowing the natural forces of nature to flow through us in a conscious and compassionate way.

The resistance to ally your self with nature creates inner discontent, inner injustice, and inner isolation.

At the cellular level, it is experienced as a “punch in the natural pulsation of life”. As we punch over and over, inflammation and restlessness arise, as does a constant attitude of being on guard.

It is interesting to observe how scientist have studied the process of oxidation, which is the responsible for cellular damage, inflation and decay. Oxidation occurs when one cell “loses” it electron and “borrows” one from another cell. This process that we have accepted as natural and which causes aging, does not need to be natural. This process is a result of an inner attitude. Each cell has a commander, a queen and a king that takes care of its perpetual evolution. That commander is your presence, your neutrality, and your compassion.

Each cell does not need to die. Each cell in a mystic way has the opportunity to be light, vibrate light and become light. Our habit of inner abandonment (mostly by locating our self out of the present moment) is responsible for deep resentment and is an impediment of our cellular evolution.

Each cell is like a child loaded with cosmic intelligence, they know that they can expand far, and learn and become, but each cell is currently, at the current point human evolution, a victim of limitation and bad nourishment.

Inner anger is not a small thing, it is not just an emotion, it is a consequence of our ignorance in front of our cellular potential.

The further away you are from obeying the natural you, the more inner anger accumulates in your organs, and the more you suffer from inflammation.

Inner anger is genetically transmitted. At the moment of conception all the evolutionary information of earth and matter is transferred into the new cell’s life, including the cell’s limitations and potentials.

Every time you don’t speak your truth, or respond with integrity to the requests of life, you are signing up for accumulating more inner anger.

Every time you perceive yourself as being smaller that your life, you are at risk to store more inner anger.

Every time you envy, blame or put yourself in a powerless position you create inner anger.

Every time you let others manipulate your convictions or submit you integrity to an outer or inner circumstance, you are creating inner anger.

Every time you twist, accommodate or rationalize your creativity, your sexuality and your sensuality, you create inner anger.

Every time you are not in your body, but in the land of expectations and perfection, you are accumulating inner anger.

From the bioenergetic point of view, I hold inner anger and self-subdivision responsible for the presence of oxidation in our cells. Oxidation creates tissue inflation; inflammation is conducive to illness, decay and death.

I also hold you responsible for your inner evolution by your personal choice to release inner anger. Your efforts work on the whole; your effort is a conscious responsibility, and contribution to human evolution.

11 days healing with turmeric.

2012-01-02T10:55:00.002-05:00

In the Hindu tradition, turmeric has being offered to the divine in different ceremonial rites as part of a demonstration of gratitude and grace. You can do the same thing in your own kitchen and also by choosing to use turmeric as a healing agent in your life.

You can use this therapy to address physical conditions as well as to solidify yourself as a divine identity.

Procedure:

Purchase 1000 grams of organic turmeric preferable coming from Alleppey India.

Purchase 500 grams of organic local honey.

Roast ½ cup of turmeric until it releases an earthly aroma. Let it cool. Add 4 tsp. of honey or enough to form a think paste. During the day consume bit by bit the whole cup of turmeric and honey. Repeat the same for 11 days. You can prepare the 11 cups at once; I however recommend preparing it one day at a time so the preparation becomes a part of your healing.

For Kapha dosha add 1 tsp of ginger to the daily cup.

Turmeric: the divine golden king to health and unity.

2012-01-02T10:53:00.003-05:00

Turmeric is one of the main spices in Satya blends. All doshas can benefit from the wonders of this rhizome. Turmeric grows in tropical climates, and is harvested annually.

Turmeric is originally from southern Asia, where it was domesticated and used prominently for both medicinal and religious purposes. Turmeric is no longer found in a wild state, but it is believed to have been developed from the continual selection and cultivation of wild curcuma.

If you have the chance to buy fresh turmeric, usually available in oriental stores, you will see its familiarly with the ginger root.
You are probably most familiar with turmeric powder’s bright yellow color, its distinctive earthly aroma, and its surprisingly sharp, bitter and spicy lingering flavor.

I love the versatility of turmeric; just one pinch in rice or in a stew gives the food an appetizing and rich golden glow. But turmeric is not only about its colorful presence, now scientists are looking at curcumin (the main ingredient of turmeric) as a potential cure for illnesses that are a consequence of internal inflammation.

Turmeric is a powerful healer, curcumin is rich in antioxidants and has anti- inflammatory properties that have been shown to protect and improve the health of virtually every organ in the body.

Today, around the world there are human and animal studies that put turmeric effective to combat more that 72 illness, including cancer, heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

I was surprised to know that studies in the university of Texas by Dr. Aggarwal have identified turmeric as a painkiller and anti-inflammatory.

Although this spice is only right now under a scientific scrutiny, healers in China and India have been using turmeric for more that 2000 years to treat a range of illness.

For example ancient healers have used turmeric for:

· An antacid to soothe digestive problems

· A decongestant to clear nasal passages.

· A stimulant to improve blood flow problems

· An analgesic to relieve headache (cur cumin is an ingredient in Tylenol)

· A powder to speed the healing and to prevent infections of wounds.

What really is wonderful about turmeric is that you don’t need to be sick to use it. By taking a daily dose of turmeric in your food you are actually preventing degenerative illness.

Turmeric has the ability to:

· Inhibit the activation of genes that trigger cancer.

· Inhibit the spread of tumor cells.

· Inhibit the transformation of a normal cell into a cancer cell.

· Kills cells that mutate into cancer

· Shrink tumor cells

· Prevent the development of the blood supply necessary for cancer cells to form and spread.

· Eases inflammation (That are a result of arthritis and some heart conditions)

Turmeric can be used as well as a beauty product and as aid for skin ailments.

As a healer, turmeric is recommended to be taken on a daily bases. You can use 500 mg for general health and in larger quantities in health crisis’s.

Most turmeric comes from India and most Indian turmeric comes from Alleppey or Madras. When you are shopping for turmeric, favor the Alleppey turmeric, which has twice cur cumin that the one cultivated in Madras.

I have heard from a Punjab Yogi that turmeric should be roasted before consumption.

I truly hope that this information inspires you to see turmeric not only as a component in Indian curries, but also knowing its health benefits should help you take the initiative to add turmeric to your daily cooking.

Bioenergeticaly speaking, turmeric bends the laws of logic. Being a root, with such intense orange color and earthy flavor, you may deduct turmeric would be used as a support for the first or second chakra. Turmeric however is dedicated to serve us in a different way. Meditating and dieting with turmeric has allowed me to experience its spiritual properties.

Turmeric specifically works on the 7^th chakra, and facilitates the evolution of issues of self-upgrading, divine protection and self-reassurance. Self-upgrading is the ability to recognize your self as part of a divinity; a god or goddess decorated with floating particles of gold who knows his or her own majestic presence.

Turmeric has an everlasting presence. It permeates all aspects of the self; it helps us to remember that we are part of a divine structure and by recognizing that, we acquire protection, dignity and royalty.

Turmeric is able to ground that wisdom, and to facilitate for us the manifestation of that divine royalty. The energy of turmeric announces it presence in almost anything that he is contact with, and remains so for a long period of time.

Turmeric is a divine grounder. I must take the time here to make a distinction between other grounders that works in the first chakra like licorice or fennel. Turmeric has the ability to facilitate the subtle wisdom of “I am part of the divine” with “The earth is my divine playground.” Turmeric bonds earth and sky, and qualifies you as a god and it simultaneously challenges any mind distortions that oppose that truth. I am referring here to self-degradation, self- condemnation or the denial of your inner divinity.

love this joke

2011-12-06T20:39:00.002-05:00

The Psychiatrist & The Proctologist

Best friends graduated from medical school at the same time and decided that, in spite of two different specialties, they would open a practice together to share office space and personnel.

Dr. Smith was the psychiatrist and Dr. Jones was the proctologist; they put up a sign reading: "Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones: Hysterias and Posteriors". The town council was livid and insisted they change it.

So, the docs changed it to read: "Schizoids and Hemorrhoids". This was also not acceptable, so they again changed the sign. "Catatonics and High Colonics" - No go. Next, they tried "Manic Depressives and Anal Retentives" - thumbs down again.. Then came "Minds and Behinds" - still no good. Another attempt resulted in "Lost Souls and Butt Holes" - unacceptable again! So they tried "Analysis and Anal Cysts" - not a chance. "Nuts and Butts" - no way. "Freaks and Cheeks" - still no good. "Loons and Moons" - forget it. Almost at their wit's end, the docs finally came up with: "Dr. Smith and Dr. Jones - Specializing in Odds and Ends". Everyone loved it.

15 years aniversary of the bioenergetics pic

2011-12-06T13:20:00.000-05:00

they are not protesting, but singing a traditional latin holiday song

food was made with Satya spices

show after dinner

acting and singing

warming up

puja to satya

pierre and nara

devi erika

latinamericans opened the dance floor

after that all went wild

Satya spices for everyone

peaceful rest after dancing.

How to Pray: a healing practice

2011-12-01T15:37:00.002-05:00

There is a beautiful ancient tradition to assist our healing and growth, and bring fulfillment to our life through these prayers.

We need time, commitment and sincerity in this task. We will surely be challenged, upgraded and given the space to see our fundamentals more clearly.

The realization that the core of your being is your soul, the realization that you were born and you will die, and during that time you will pay karma, learn lessons and seek to be better, the realization that you were born with talents and unique gifts that you need to honor, the realization that your past is a key to your future, that any moment you have lived fully form a background for your next step, and that a clear and aware path creates fulfillment in your life.

These realizations, supported by your prayers, are steps towards honoring different cycles and aspects of your divine self.

Method:

1.- Choose one prayer.

2.- Repeat it eleven times a day in front of a mirror.

3.- Do that for 40 days.

4.- The first day: dedicated to your conception.

5.- Day two: dedicated to your womb experience.

6.- Day three: dedicated to your first breath.

7.- Day four: dedicated to your first year.

8.- Day five: dedicated to your second year ( second birthday).

9.- Day six onward: dedicated to each year until your current age.

10.- Add a few years.

11.- Add a few decades (until you reach 100).

This can be a profound experience. Avoid being emotional or dramatic, however. If your eyes start seeing lights in the mirror, it is a readjusting of your nerves.

Modifications of this method can be 11 minutes a day, one minute for each body for 40 days.

Note:

Please do not modify the prayers or the method of the meditation. This practice is taken directly from the scriptures and the way it was given should be respected.

Prayer to the expander

2011-12-01T15:36:00.000-05:00

The divine expander

The expander, the one that knows what is divine and can access divinity in any prayer. It is a deep security in oneself, because you realize you are a son or daughter of a caring, loving and compassionate god. You can supply that sense of security and expansion to others, and you are confident in your social interactions.

If you are not in touch with that divine part of you, you feel insecure and look for external ways to achieve that security or that expansion. You have a hard time nourishing yourself as a divine being--to know what you need in order to feel safe and relaxed.

Prayer to the expander

Listening to the sound of the infinite

within myself, and everywhere,

brings me all knowledge,

mastery over life,

peace and happiness.

Listening to this sound of the unknown,

I am victorious over my weaknesses.

Listening to the sound of my true identity,

I clear my mind and body of all disease

and past karma.

Listening in deep devotion,

I am always in bliss and present.

I create my relationships and my environments through my words and deeds.

Obeying the voice of my true identity,

I speak and act from that place.

I attract all that comes to me,

whether I judge it good or bad, right or wrong, deserved or undeserved.

I am the being who creates and attracts.

My light attracts darkness,

which challenges the strength

of my true identity.

My true identity is the very prana of life,

from this place I create good and

bless all.

I reflect the true identity of all people

through my blessings.

Prayer to the protector

2011-12-01T15:34:00.002-05:00

The divine protector

You have the ability to protect your life force, your center. You can discern information, you can identify yourself and your life with truth. You can connect and obey your higher purpose and divinity. You can connect to people and events. You move softly with grace, and have the valor to face any difficulty.

When we don’t connect to that part of ourselves we suffer from disconnection, we compare ourselves to others and use all our energy to fail in our relationships. We feel inept and fearful.

Prayer to the protector

I meditate on my true identity,

and all the actions of the day are

covered by the infinite.

I listen to that presence

everywhere, filled with love.

All richness lies within me

due to the infinite’s

presence within me.

I identify my life as true

and all life as true.

I listen to the thought in

myself that I am the truth.

When I listen to my mind

and it says anything

less than that, I know that that voice is

not my true nature speaking.

It is my negative mind challenging myself.

I listen to myself and others

speak from the place of

my true identity,

and I learn what is true

and what is false.

I always project from my

true identity to experience

divine protection.

Prayer to the I am

2011-12-01T15:33:00.000-05:00

The divine seed

You have an infinite seed that is carried from life to life. It is your most innate power and strength. It is untouchable and indestructible. You have an inner light that can achieve anything you decide to do or manifest. That natural creative intellect of yours is expressive and expansive, unique to you like your fingerprints. If you have neglected this part of you, you easily get depressed and have a sense of no-self. Others easily influence you: you get pessimistic, weak and cannot commit. You have a hard time being in your skin in a relaxed and natural way. You start thinking and thinking over everything and over everybody. Slowly this attitude will isolate you.

Prayer to the I am

My true identity is

the One creator

who lives in all creation.

My mind cannot conceive of,

nor experience its

infinite expanse.

It is by the order of the infinite

that I have my particular

destiny.

I experience my true nature:

I am the prana

I am part

of everyone and

everyone

is part of me.

Therefore I am kind to all.

Not being kind to all hurts myself.

When I am compassionate to

all,

I experience

kindness for myself and

I experience the deepest

essence of myself

as the giver of life.

This is the first step to

Happiness.

Prayer: A Human gift

2011-12-01T15:28:00.002-05:00

The misconception of prayers

How many times I had hear, “ i don’t know how to pray”, what I such said?

How this is really done?

It is sad to see, that a man or a woman without the realization that their thoughts, intentions and actions are the actual living prayers to their own life, to their own destiny.

The misconception of seeing a god outside us had lead us to a beggar position, a position of inferiority, fear and guilt. How far can we get from that divine force that preserve with immense care the justice peace and harmony of our existence. How unfair we can get when our narrow mind see the prayer as a religious rite instead of a humble self-responsabilization of our inner capacities.

Any one can be grateful and graceful

At any time we can stop for a moment and contemplate our daily routine not as an battle of surviving, nor as a competition with time and people, but as an abundant resource of plentitude, inspiration and love. We have the ability to generate a juicy perspective in our minds that will nourish every cell of our body with love, with harmony and health. Prayer keep you wealthy, keep you inspired, positive and fulfill with an attitude of cooperation and enthusiasm.

We as well, can deliver to others our ideas, opinions and inspirations in a way that is neutral, involving instead of excluding, receptive instead of defending, or creative instead of destructive. This position is a prayer to life, a prayer of respect an honor.

We are a prayer

The perfection of our existence, it do not matter how futile, painful of meaningless we think it is, it is still a creation of the creator. We unfortunately can not comprehends the details of our learning process, and adopt the bad habit of judging. However, if we are able to accept and surrender en front of our preferences and aversions, we most likely enter naturally into a state of constant prayer of gratitude towards our life, toward our body, towards our experiences and towards all the moments we fulfill with noble intentions.

Activating your inner resources through prayer

We are created as a holographic representation of the universe. The divine play have a trinity of energies: he energy of creation, the energy of preservation and the energy of destruction. Their interplay moves all the dynamics of all exiting beings, in all realms and in all dimensions. We are made as a perfect image of the whole, with similar capacities, virtues and sensibility.

Through the purity of your intentions, concentration and innocent meditation all this 3 property of the universe become available to you to serve you, so you may serve others.

We are the whole universe

Once we realize that we contain all the forces of the universe we start developing a sense of honoring and wondering about ourselves and about our life. Until we realize the immensity that lies within ourselves, we will maintain a narrow perception of our potentials and possibilities. We will tend to shrink our creativity, and ultimately following a flat way of living.

I would like to invite you to develop the humble habit of connecting and praying to various aspects of yourself. Here some examples you may want to adopt.

Our Birth in Unity/Abwoon d'bwashmaya

2011-12-01T15:09:00.003-05:00

The below translation of The Lord's Prayer from Aramaic to English is taken from the book, Prayers of the Cosmos by Neil Douglas-Klotz.

I remember going to Niagara falls with my friend kristina for long 10 to 15 days retreat with sufi masters. We did that for 10 years, during the retreats, many mystic body prayers were practiced. The original version of the lord's prayers was without doughs the one that resonate the most with me.
The prayers were danced in Aramaic, the original language that Jesus spoke.

Here is the English translation by Neill Douglas. King James V version: Our Father which art in heaven

O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos,
you create all that moves
in light.
O Thou! The Breathing Life of all,
Creator of the Shimmering Sound that
touches us.

Respiration of all worlds,
we hear you breathing--in and out--
in silence.

Source of Sound: in the roar and the whisper,
in the breeze and the whirlwind, we
hear your Name.

Radiant One: You shine within us,
outside us--even darkness shines--when
we remember.

Name of names, our small identity
unravels in you, you give it back
as a lesson.

Wordless Action, Silent Potency--
where ears and eyes awaken, there
heaven comes.

O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos!

The power and purpose of Ceremony

2011-11-25T11:35:00.000-05:00

By Matthew Cosgrove

    Ceremony is the greatest form of gift giving we humans possess.
Their power is in the intent we charge them with. A true prayer from the
heart echoes through all layers of creation, from the underworld of the
earth and our unconscious, to the conscious physical and to the upper
world of spirit.

    It can be a beacon for those who are lost and adrift. A true prayer from
the heart has a rippling effect, triggering healing and sending out a
homing signal for ourselves and for all whom it touches.

    Prayer does not mean to ask a God somewhere outside of ourselves
to grant us what we want. It does no good anyway to project our ego
needs onto a God that does not really exist because no one is there listening.
God is the creative life force, the interplay between the positive and negative,
male and female, the friction between the upper world and underworld creating
all that is, or the middle world. So praying to this life force is as absurd as going
under electrical power lines and asking them to grant us what we desire.

    We already are this life force and prayer and ceremony are a way of
generating and entering it’s current. In electrical lines there are always two wires,
one is live and the other to ground. Touching only one of these two wires at a
time we will feel no current, but if we touch them both at once we become a conduit.
We become a conduit when are the balance between positive and negative,
male and female and earth and sky. This meeting place and place of balance is heart.
Cultivating gratitude, reverence and humility we are heart, we transcend the ego and
remember our place in creation, providing balance and respecting the order life.

kale chips

2011-11-25T11:31:00.000-05:00

Kale is rich in vitamin A, K, and C, but that does not make kale the super food that it is. Kale is also the green to enrich the minerals in your blood. It contains magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc and iron.
Minerals are good for all of us, but especially for our air constitution, Vatta.
Eat kale cooked, boiled or as a snack in the form of chips.

I personally recommend this snack for Kaphas.

Ingredients:

1 bunch of kale (the more rippled the better)
1-2 tbs of ghee
Salt to taste

Preparation:

Remove the stems running through the middle of the leaves (otherwise your chips will be chewy rather than crispy.)
Cut into large pieces and place separately on a cookie sheet.
Melt the ghee and lightly brush onto the kale. Add salt to taste.

Bake in the oven at 250 degrees for approximately 25 minutes, or until kale is crispy

Prayer to pacify man tempers: So purk

2011-11-24T17:56:00.003-05:00

One time in India, no far away, was a very holy man, a saint full of compassion, sweetness and devotion. His name was Nanak. Guru Nanak was loved by many, especially women who enjoyed sitting with him long hours and listening to his captivating songs of divine love.

When the woman returned home, they found their husband no happy or interested in more mundane matters. The group of woman devotees requested from Nanak what they can do to alleviate their husband’s tempers. Nanak, in full understanding of the difference between the man and the woman, and the gift that woman have to influence their creation, went for a 10 days retreat.

When Guru Nanak came back from his retreat, he came back with this prayer: So purk.

He indicated to do this prayer eleven times in one day, at different times. He say this prayer will balance the psyche of any man. As a wife, mother, daughter, or sister, you can use it.

I have done this prayer not only for one day but for 1000 days. I dedicated this prayer to my children when they were passing through the discomforts of teen age.

Now, 6 years later, I have faith that this contribution had made me a compassionate and patient mother. The prayer transformed me, and not sure if it was because of my own changes that my boys grow very saintly, calm and patient, but it is surely a jewel from the Sikh tradition to any woman.

Enjoy it.

SO PURK

I know that I am One with God. This is my true Guru’s Gift.

The Primal One is perfectly pure. The Primal God is perfect. He is within all and beyond all.

Everyone meditates. All souls meditate on You, O True Creator.

All souls are one with You. All souls come from You.

O Saints, meditate on God and all pains will fly away.

God Himself is the Master. God Himself is the Servant. O Nanak, everyone is empty-handed before Him.

You are in each beat of my heart, and in all hearts. O Lord, you are the One in everyone.

Some are givers and some are takers. This is all Your play.

You are the Giver and You are the receiver. It is all You.

You are the God of all; endless and Infinite. I have no words to describe your virtues.

O Lord, Nanak is a sacrifice unto those who serve and serve You forever.

Meditate on God. Meditate on God and your soul will be at peace in this world.

Meditate on God and live free. Live free and know the noose of death is meaningless.

Meditate on the fearless One, the fearless God, and live free from fear.

Those who serve, O those who serve my Lord, are one with Har and they look divine. Blessed, O blessed are they who meditate on Har. Servant Nanak is a sacrifice to them. Devotion to You, O devotion to You is a treasure trove that ever overflows.

Your lovers, O Your lovers praise You, my Beloved, forever and ever.

For You, just for You O Lord, so many poojas are performed and so many endlessly chant and discipline themselves.

For You, just for You O Lord, so many read the Smirtis and Shastras. They do Kriyas and ceremonies.

Those lovers, those lovers are sublime, O servant Nanak, who are pleasing to God.

You are the Primal One, the most awesome Creator of everything. There is none as great as You.

Throughout time and beyond time, You are the One, constant and True Creator.

You do everything, and may everything happen according to your Will.

You create the whole universe. You destroy it and create it again.

Servant Nanak sings the praises of his beloved Lord forever and ever.

He is the Knower within all souls.

SIOUX PRAYER to do BEFORE MEALS

2011-11-24T15:05:00.001-05:00

I’m an Indian.
I think about the common things like this pot.
The bubbling water comes from the rain cloud.
It represents the sky.
The fire comes from the sun,
Which warms us all, men, animals, trees.
The meat stands for the four-legged creatures,
Our animal brothers,
Who gave themselves so that we should live.
The steam is living breath.
It was water, now it goes up to the sky,
Becomes a cloud again.
These things are sacred.
Looking at that pot full of good soup,
I am thinking how, in this simple manner,
The Great Spirit takes care of me.

Prayer and Beauty

2011-11-22T10:56:00.000-05:00

Contribution from face to grace
facetograce.com

Someone once said that prayer is when we talk to God and meditation is when we listen to Him/Her. It seems that recently my prayers are mostly about gratefulness for the flow in my life despite the chaos of moving and my computer’s demise. Friends and family answered my calls for help when the movers didn’t show up and was soon blessed with visitors of all ages to my new place.

Fifteen days after having moved to Wakefield, I am sitting in the living room, looking outside on pine trees splashed by sunshine and enjoying the mild temperature. A friend came this morning and was excited to point out the wild carrots growing along the steps that lead from the road to the appartment. What a joy to see growth still expressing itself this late in the season.

It is truly in flowing with life’s pace instead of pushing it that we can fully observe the beauty around us and benefit from it. And then the questions come? What is the beauty of the wild carrot? How can we merge it’s beauty with ours?

As I researching on the web, I learn quite a bit about the healing properties of this plant also called Queen Anne’s Lace. Such an elegant plant in the summer, that adopts a more humble appearance in the fall as it looks much with the domestic carrot we all know. Though much smaller, it is as fragrant but more subtle. I harvested one and chopped the leaves and root finely and put it in my salad for lunch.

Carrot oil, extracted from the seed, is great for dry and chapped skin and helps make it softer, smoother, firmer. It is a beautiful oil, translucent orange. As a Pitta oil, it is somewhat warming. However, it is not meant to be used by itself. I love to use it in some of my moisturizers, but it can simply be diluted with almond, sesame or coconut oil to massage babies and all members of the family. Simply use 1 teaspoon in 10ml to 125ml of the carrier oil. For anyone above 2 years old, you can add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice (eg. orange and vetiver). You will feel both grounded and uplifted.

On days like today, I just feel like singing Alleluiah for the beauty that surrounds us and is available to remind us of our own beauty.

Samyukta

How to introduce prayer to children

2011-11-22T10:24:00.000-05:00

Contribution from Anamda Sly

www.clubyoga.ca

Children naturally love to do Bhakti yoga that is so easily incorporated into children’s yoga. They express devotion in a simple and natural way, free of the ego. The purpose of this yoga is to merge with Divine Love, internally and externally.

Bhakti yoga uses deities such as Shiva, Vishnu or masters such as Krishna or Buddha or the image of a teacher who represents divine Love and inspiration. Some of the devotional practices include Kirtan – mantras and Japa – devotional songs. Children respond naturally to new songs, chants and rituals and learn new words and absorb the benefit of the mantra quickly.

Mantra – manas – mind and trai – to free from. It means to free from the mind. These high vibration Sanskrit words connect us to the universe, our infinite self. These healing sounds balance the mind, body and spirit and clear subtle impurities from the body as well as improving concentration and creative thinking. Each mantra has it owns quality, rhythm and effect and directs the mind into a high vibratory frequency. They vibrate with the Nad (sound of God) to experience the infinite within the finite. This is a form of mantra yoga.

Bhakti yoga heals the heart and emotions that help all children who carry some hurt of not being understood or heard in this material and stressful world. It brings family together in a natural way. Just 3 minutes of chanting a mantra brings balance and joy.

Children come from different cultural and religious backgrounds, yet Bhakti yoga is a universal way of showing devotion to the elements of nature, people, pets and toys that they love. Devotional yoga classes are soft and uplifting to children. Children love the magical quality of deities, gurus and teachers. They often walk away from a class chanting a mantra and will recite them on the way home, at home or walking with a friend.

One very easy mantra for children to learn is – “Healthy am I, Happy am I, Holy am I.” It is very uplifting for children to do adding hand movements. After all, children are born happy. The rhythm of this chant uplifts and changes the mood of children. Mantras also are soothing and relax the brain and calm the mind.

Another mantra that is also used as a meditation is “God and me, me and God are One.”

It shows the child that we are not separate from the divine and that we are all one, interconnected. This brings a sense of belonging and an open heart to care about others. The child learns to think in terms of “We” not “I.”

Children can show their respect and devotion for the food they eat. They can offer an apple, sitting in their palms to another child who is their partner in yoga. They also love to use candles, flowers and other materials that are commonly used for devotional rituals.

A devotional Kirtan chant that children love is “Guru, Guru, Wahe Guru, Guru Ram Das Guru.” Guru Ram Das was the fourth Sikh Guru of Love and Compassion. It is a mantra of humility, relaxation, self-healing and emotional relief. Here is how to pronounce the mantra: Guroo Guroo Wha-hay Guroo Guroo Ram Das Guroo. This mantra can be incorporated with the offering of the apple.

Posture: Have your child sit in easy pose with hands in Gyan Mudra. They close their eyes and focus on point between the eyebrows and then repeat the mantra for three minutes in a monotone or sing along with a musical version. Your children will love having you join them! Doing this mantra for 3 minutes for 40 days will have wonderful effects for the whole family.

pick of peru feb 2011

2011-11-01T10:13:00.002-04:00

Dear One:

Even though I speak the Spanish language, ate peruvian food and walked the land of Peru before, I must admit that this time the sacred journey to Peru left me with the unexpected colorful richness and flavor imparted through connecting with this vibrant and elevating inca land .

On the surface, our group of 15 people could have been seen as just another group of tourists visiting and doing the normal things tourist do .Yes we had fun visiting but our main intention was to be bathed by the sacredness of the Andes, and our intent played out like something orquestrated by the divine.

Each movement I did, each face I saw, each place I stayed, each meal I took, each souvenir I bought was experienced with an almost tai-chi like flow of perfection.

It was not until we arrived to machupichu that I realized that my body, and the bodies of the group were being filled up with tiny codes of light. Each code or figurine was attached to another code forming a tapestry of color and texture similar to the ones we encounter in the peruvian textiles.

As time progressed the codes requested inner space and acceptance from our part, at the same time a profound peace and understanding of the times which are to come landed in my awareness.
The group and I were experiencing physical changes in different ways, with the changes came a shift in our frequencies that was beautifully supported by nature, and by the inka priests and healers of that land.

The transmutation was surely at the cellular level, leaving in myself a naked awareness that in this moment of time the Andes of Peru are holding a living energy that is a treasure ready to support the consciousness of the new world.
I am shy to share this information since words do no justice to the deeply felt profound understanding that the journey there pierced into my awareness . I do however feel an energetic ability to relay knowledge through meditation or other forms of non verbal transmitions.

I am grateful for all the years of inner practice and self inquiry, so I can come home and take the time for my body to assimilate and translate into my daily life the frequencies that I had received.

After a few weeks in Peru I flew to Colombia, my mother land. The tropical climate and atmosphere charged with colors and history, the sand and the water, the warmth of the people and family offered a different type of inner food. I realized how fortunate we are here in Canada, with so much space, silence and wealth.
As I witnessed people with so little , yet so happy to share a simple conversation with us, I realized that beauty and good fortune are indeed in the eye of the beholder .

As I write this note I still feel the sacred pilgrimage unfolding within myself with it's mysterious wonders, it's unknown possibilities of transformation and an endless fountain of peace and gratitude.

I hold in my heart an intimate closeness to the group I traveled with and to the people that hosted us with such care. I was fortunate to stay in Cuzco with Virginia in the "Casa de la serenidad", she surely has the spirit of the mother ready to supply the most minuscule details that assure our safety and comfort.

I am also grateful to have the opportunity to come home and see my life showered with new perspectives, possibilities and vitality. I surely, one more time place my trust in the profound changes that the yearly pilgrimage provides.

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy ,

This is the milky way depicted by the inkas, you can see the frog, the llama, the wolf as part of their cosmology.

We are walking in the healing terrace of the inkas in Machupichu, more close to the heavens it can not be.

We performed a "call" ceremony to the masters of Ascention in Machupichu

Bhuvaneswari with tears of joy in the temple of the sun in Machupichu.

At the sacred gate.

Our teaching space in Urubamba. The Shaman Antonio and Fred his apprentice.

Sunset in Lima

having fun in the local market in Cusco.

tip to sleep better

2011-11-01T10:06:00.000-04:00

Insomnia is a Vata condition that affects many people, especially during the fall (Vata) season.

Putting 6 to 8 drops of patchouli essential oil, a sedative, in your diffuser will alleviate or eradicate that condition. And look how synchronicity works! It also is a tonic for the liver.

Photos from Peru Oct 2011

2011-10-31T16:15:00.000-04:00

Amazing patience and love

a pick of our group in the San pedro ceremony at " la casa de la serenidad

In the way to lake titicaca, we participate in the small village festivities

Procession to celebrate the foundation of an Inca village

Our Group after visiting the Commercial site of the Incas, via Juliaca


Contemplation after the ceremony in the Royal Cemetery of the Incas.

Trading at the floating islands of the Uros

Swimming at sacred Lake titicaca at 4.300 mts of altitude

Stone therapy at the shore of Lake titicaca in the Bolivia side.

Ariana being dressed by Catalina in the floating island of the Uros in Puno

That grass stick they are chewing is the base of diet and architecture in the island of the Uros. Impresive

Gate to Bolivia

Our friends in the floating island of the Uros

The 5th dimensional gate, where we perform ceremonies

at "La raya" the highest point in our journey, notice the Nevado in the back.

At the temple of the Sun in Otamaya

Isla del sol in Bolivia, powerful ceremonies and awareness we got in here.

Shopping in Cuzco, it never ends....

Our Mecca, the temple of the sun in Cuzco.

NETTLE SOUP

2011-10-23T21:32:00.000-04:00

This recipe comes from the kitchen of Christiane Ryan. Nettle is the herb to fortify the system and in folk medicine nettle plants have been used as a diuretic, to build the blood, for arthritis and rheumatism. Externally it has been used to improve the appearance of the hair, and is said to be a remedy against oily hair and dandruff.

Collect this herb in early spring before it flowers, it can be used fresh or dry.

For 6 persons

± 700g nettle leaves
5 carrots, chopped
2 potatoes, chopped
1 leak, chopped
2 litres vegetable stock (or 1 litre stock and 1 litre water)
2-3 tablespoons ghee
Bragg & pepper to taste

Sauté the chopped leak, carrots and potatoes in the ghee. Add the stock and/or water and nettle leaves, Bragg and pepper, put to a boil, then let simmer until the carrots and potatoes are done. Blend and serve with yoghourt (optional).
Enjoy!

Where dreams come from?

2011-10-21T20:47:00.001-04:00

As the subtle life of the universe showers us with its immense abundance of love and life, we can think of ourselves as a vessel of this divine flow (Prana).

When this flow of energy or prana unites with our mind, it is able to highlight the traces of memories contained in our physical body as well as in our energetic centers or chakras.

We can experience this phenomenon when we are focusing on something that interests us or worries us. Our mind and life force gets totally involved in the situation producing an intensified experience of the situation.

When we fall in love, our beloved becomes the main focus of our interest. We see him/her with total absorption, concentration and devotion. Here our mind is creating a reality that has no real basis; however it is producing in us a whole range of sensations, emotions and experiences.

I would like to touch briefly the centers of energy (chakras), for us to have a relationship between them and our dreams.

The first chakra: Mooladhara chakra

It is located at the perineum in the male body and at the cervix in the female body. The word mool means root and adhara means place. Therefore, it is known as the root center. Mooladhara chakra is associated with the sense of smell. It is also the seat or dwelling place of the primal energy or kundalini Shakti. Many yoga practices are focused in liberating the dormant energy of this center.

If your dreams are associated with this center you may be concerned with material achievements. Money, house, vehicle, food and physical power are common themes of this center. Other emotions you encounter in this plane are greed, anger, delusions, avarice and sensual pleasures.

The second chakra: Swadhistana chakra

It is located directly behind the genital organs and the literal meaning of the word swadhistana is “one’s own abode”. It is associated with the water element, and with seeking pleasure through the tongue and genital organs. Whereas material security is sought in mooladhara chakra, in swadhistana the emphasis is on enjoyment, on pleasurable sensations associated with food, drink and sexual interaction.

On the physical level it is associated with the organs of excretion and reproduction. At the deeper level this chakra is the seat of the individual and collective unconscious; it is the storehouse of the samskaras, past impressions stored in the form of archetypes. It is the center of humankind’s most primitive and deep rooted instincts.

This chakra is without question the place for dreaming and fantasies. The person is interested in life and has a tendency to give freedom to a wild imagination. He or she is aware of the immense diversity of the phenomenal world and gets lost in the endless possibilities of the world.

The awareness of the possibilities creates an excitement that consumes more energy than any other human activity, leaving the dreamer exhausted. Excessive emotions, ideas, joy, jealousy, envy and kindness are emotions the dreamer may encounter in this station.

The third chakra: Manipura chakra

It is situated in the spine behind the navel. The word Manipura means “city of jewels”. It is so called because being the center of fire, it is lustrous like a jewel and radiant with vitality and energy.

Manipura is the center of self-assertion, dynamism and dominance. It is associated with ambition and the will and ability to rule. On the negative side it may be expressed with dreams of despotism and in seeing things and people merely as a means to gain personal power or to satisfy personal needs.

The fourth chakra: Anahta chakra

This chakra is situated between your nipples in the cardiac plexus. This center is associated with the air element and with feelings of love, devotion, selfless service, compassion and sharing. This center also can lead to fear and hate when is not in balance.

Dreams associated with this center can be romantic dreams or those involving giving and sharing. On the contrary, intense fear or aversion can be experienced when the prana and mind are in this center.

The fifth chakra: Vishudda chakra

This center is located in the carotid plexus at the level of our throat center. This chakra is associated with the akasha element (ether or space) and with the ability of decoding, projecting and assimilating knowledge.

When mind and prana are resting in this center, we can have dreams that are a truly an inspiration. Visionary dreams, advising dreams, or dreams of the inner guru within our self can be awakened. In terms of feeling, this chakra holds the emotion of sadness or gratitude.

The sixth chakra: Ajna chakra

This energy center is located between our eyebrows and is two inches in depth. This important center is considered the seat for self-realization and enlightenment. In terms of emotions, this center can hold the emotion of anger or alertness. A true revelation of oneself, where we are and what we are can be revealed in stimulating this center. Dreams can give us a spiritual opening when mind and prana are resting in this center.

The seventh chakra: Sahasrara chakra

Our seventh center is free from any emotion. This center does not offer any experiences, but a state of bliss that comes from being established in absolute realization, (enlightenment).

Dreaming and Conscious sleep

2011-10-21T20:42:00.000-04:00

As far as I am concerned, the only potential that I have is to make every single moment useful to educate my mind and to communicate with the infinite as my source of pure existence. My time does not start when the sun comes up and it does not finish when I fall asleep. The time that is given to me needs to be understood in two states: the waking state and the dream state.

Even though this statement looks simple, I will go deeper into the understanding of each one. All your life you may have thought that the waking state belongs to the fulfillment of a routine that supports your basic needs. From this point of view your life is going to be very boring, very flat and very predictable. It is imperative for the freedom of your mind that you bring your waking state into a more mindful perception.

Simple mindful routines

You can perform simple routines or challenging tasks

with a supportive sadhana (a training practice) to align your mind towards the realization of the greatest part of you. For example, I can be driving my car and tap into an exercise of trust and surrendering by imagining that the car is actually taking me to the place I am going. The car is ‘driving me’. In this way, I am using my conscious awareness towards a discipline. Every activity goes beyond the activity and supports the spiritual path.

You can also use your dream state in this way. It is necessary to educate your dreaming state to be completely aware that you are dreaming. The introduction towards your dreaming state is not about recording your dreams or trying to figure out the iconography of them but to remove the relationship between the actors and the elements from yourself. To bring yourself into a global understanding and experience that you are watching the dreams as you watch a movie.

Close your centers

You can start this process by breathing through certain chakras before going to sleep. You can breathe from your lower chakras and recollect all of that energy towards your third eye. Close all of the other gates and remain vigilant only in your third eye. This requires practice and attention as you move from one state to another.

Something you can practice

You can even start with something simpler by realizing that in your waking state you are still dreaming. One of my favourite exercises that I give to students for this is to make them sit in a room and look around randomly. Landing two to three seconds on each object or subject, while mentally repeating the phrase “This chair does not mean anything to me”, “This photo does not mean anything to me”, “This person does not mean anything to me”. Do this for ten to eleven minutes daily. After six months you will start noticing that you will remain more neutral and centered and that objects and subjects may lose their importance and attachment.

Another way to realize you are in a dream is by looking at objects and mentally or aloud repeating “You are just a dream and I have given you all the meaning that you possess for me”. You may find yourself meeting this exercise in terror because everything will start evaporating and dissolving and you will have nothing to hang onto or identify yourself with. This is the final awakening from your dreams.

You are always dreaming

On another level, you also need to realize that the dreaming state does not stop in your waking state. If you close your eyes and have a moment of quietness you will see that dreamlike images may still be there. The dream state and waking state happen at the same time. This is why sometimes during meditation you may see images that don’t necessarily make sense. They are coming from the dream state. This is why you may have heard me say that you are always dreaming.

Conscious sleep brings true rest

Conscious sleep has no dreams. Conscious sleep can be used to heal yourself, to heal others and to modify realities beyond the visible.

You may not relate to this concept right now because you might not have applied a conscious discipline towards making all of the stages of your existence useful for your freedom. You may perhaps be thinking that you require a certain amount of time to follow a spiritual path. I say to you - all of your time needs to be used to cross the deep forest of the mind and all states of the mind need to be somehow explored and educated. It needs to be put into a perspective where you realize that it is not you. It is an indispensable part of you but it is not you. It is a part of you that is at your service to help attain the ultimate goal of aligning with the absolute.

15 mimutes meditation for Insomnia, deep relaxation and nerve regeneration.

2011-10-21T20:35:00.000-04:00

Shabd Kriya, by Yogy Bhanjan

Sit legs crossed (easy pose).

Place hands in your lap right hand on top of the left, thumbs meeting and facing forward.

Focus your eyes at the tip of the nose and half opened.

Inhale in 4 equal parts. Each inhalation vibrate the mantra

SA TA NA MA

Hold the breath, and mentally vibrate the mantra 4 times

SA TA NA MA,

SA TA NA MA. (16 times)

Exhale in 2 strokes and mentally repeat WAHE GURU

Do it for 15 minutes.

Rest and go to bed.

If you practice this for a few months, you will find it interesting that the rhythm of your breath will subconsciously be regulated and you will hear the mantra in your daily activities.

The gain of this meditation will not only be in a restful sleep, but you will work better, think better, and love better. It promotes patience, radiance, and practical universality.

The 61 Point Relaxation to aid sleep

2011-10-21T20:28:00.001-04:00

20 minutes to relax and heal deeply.

If you have problems sleeping this is a definitely the practice for you to do. You can repeat the exercise every time you wake up until you educate your responses to relax. You may find each of the points you focus on will have an emotional content or an awareness you may need. Explore the content of your body in a relaxed way. The whole universe is in there.

1. - Lay down comfortably in your bed with your feet spread apart, the toes pointed outward, and the hands a bit away from the body. Palms are up, eyes and lips gently closed. Tongue is relaxed at the roof of the mouth.

2. - Focus in your body for a few minutes.

3. - Focus on your breath. Notice your inhale and out breath. Notice as well the transition between them. Ideally the length of your inhalation will be the same as your exhalation.

4. Gently and with friendliness, take your awareness to each of the parts of the body and in the exhale just relax.

Point numbers:

1 start with the center of the forehead

2 focus in the throat center at the pit of the throat.

3 the right shoulder joint

4 the right elbow join

5 the right wrist joint

6 the tip of the right thumb

7 the tip of the right forefinger

8 the tip of the middle finger

9 the tip of right ring finger

10 the tip of the right little finger

11 the right wrist joint

12 the right elbow joint

13 the right shoulder joint

14 the throat center

15 the left shoulder joint

16 the left elbow joint

17 the left wrist joint

18 the tip of the left thumb

19 the tip of the left forefinger

20 the tip of the left middle finger

21 the tip of the left ring finger

22 the tip of the left little finger

23 the left wrist joint

34 the left elbow joint

25 the left shoulder joint

26 the throat center

27 the heart center, between the two breasts

28 the right breast

29 the heart center

30 the left breast

31 the heart center

32 the navel center

33 the center of the abdomen

34 the right hip joint

35 the right knee joint

36 the right ankle joint

37 the tip of the right big toe

38 the tip of the right second toe

39 the tip of the right middle toe

40 the tip of the right fourth toe

41 the tip of the right little toe

42 the right ankle joint

43 the right knee joint

44 the right hip joint

45 the center of the abdomen

46 the left hip joint

47 the left knee joint

48 the left ankle joint

49 the tip of the left big toe

50 the tip of the left second toe

51 the tip of the left middle toe

52 the tip of the left fourth toe

53 the tip of the left little toe

54 the left angle joint

55 the left knee joint

56 the left hip joint

57 the center of the abdomen

58 The navel center

59 the heart center

60 the throat center

61 the center of the forehead

Select your sleeping oil according to ayurveda.

2011-10-21T20:15:00.000-04:00

What oils do I need?

According to ayurveda your physical constitution can be natural incline to one fragrance or two. If you know you Dosha, here a few suggestions may help you. If not simply follow your intuition.

Vata: valerian, catnip, nutmeg, Jatamansi

Pitta: hops, skullcap, passion flower and Gotu kola

Kapha: skullcap, valerian, hops and passion flower.

Dream oil.

This oil was created as an aid to prophetic dreaming.

It is founded on five herbs important to dream work and divination:

mugwort,

chamomile,

clary sage,

hops, and

yarrow.

A number of them are ruled by Moon, the celestial force most connected to dreaming.

Mugwort (Moon) has a long history as a divinatory aid, especially for prophetic dreaming.

Clary sage (Moon) is likewise implicated in dreaming, said to encourage especially vivid dreams, and its warm scent also soothes anxiety, thus opening the way to the astral. Hops is traditionally used to promote sleep and to give a feeling of warm expansiveness that is typical for a Sun herb and helpful for relaxing into the dream world.

Chamomile is likewise calming and soothing, but is ruled by Moon and so balances out the hops; it is also an herbal remedy for preventing nightmares, thus ensuring that the dreams that occur will not be frightening ones.

And finally, yarrow (Venus) has historically been implicated in divination - the I Ching was originally cast with yarrow stalks, for example.

This magic oil gets its blue color naturally from the essential oils of yarrow and chamomile. These herbs are all combined into Moon-ruled sweet almond oil. The scent of this oil has reminded dream seekers of the deep woods.

Fragrances to sleep and dream

2011-10-21T20:08:00.000-04:00

Essential oils of holy basil induce sleep and dreams

Essential oils come from plants. They are highly concentrated herbal extracts. Therefore one could use Mugwort essential oil instead of the herb for dream enhancement purposes.

Clary Sage enhances dream state, calms nerves and relieves symptoms of insomnia. *Do not use during pregnancy. In addition, it encourages vivid dreams and clear inner visions.

Rosemary essential oil may prevent dark thoughts and nightmares and can help you remember good dreams. Rosemary (Rosemary officinalis) is good for mental strain, exhaustion, and lethargy. Its nature is stimulating.

The essential oils of chamomile, Melissa and Tulsi, (holy basil), are useful to induce relaxation and alleviate insomnia.

Celebrating togetherness

2011-10-03T12:32:00.002-04:00

Food has that ever so magical way of bringing people together. Okay, so maybe it’s not so magical. There is no mystery surrounding the fact that we all love to eat! Sharing food is a gratifying means of serving others and connecting socially. When communities unite, food is almost always a central part of the gathering.

The next gathering of community will occur in October at Thanksgiving. Families and groups of people come together at this time to enjoy a big meal and each other’s company. I searched through my recipe collection and put together a tasty vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner….an alternative to the usual “Tofurkey,”.

Enjoy this mouth-watering meal and the deliciousness that is found in belonging to a community of like-hearted people.

Menu for 8 people

Pumpkin Pie

Spinach Souffle

Green Beans and Almonds with Oil and Vinegar Dressing

Aduki and Shallot Dhal

Vegetable Quinoa Pulao

Beet Raita

Golden Milk

How to do it

Pumpkin Pie (why not start with dessert first)!

(taken from “The Green Door Restaurant Vegetarian Cookbook”)

Serves 8

Pastry:

2 cups soft whole wheat pastry flour

½ tsp salt

½ cup corn oil

½ cup cold water

In a bowl, mix flour and salt with a fork. Add oil and water alternately while gently stirring with fork. Do a minimum of mixing. Do not worry if it looks marbled. Roll out and line a pie plate. Bake 7 minutes. Remove from oven.

Filling:

3 cups cooked pumpkin or squash

¼ block soft tofu

¼ cup arrowroot

½ cup rice syrup

¼ cup almond butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp ground cloves

½ cup maple syrup

In a food processor, mix filling until very smooth. Pour into partially baked pie shell. Bake for one hour at 350 degrees F.

Serves 8-10

Squash Subji

(taken from “Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing” by Usha and Dr Vasant Lad)

2 tablespoons safflower oil

½ tsp cumin seeds

½ tsp black mustard seeds

1 pinch hing

4 curry leaves, fresh or dried

1 small handful fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

1 small green chilli, chopped

4 cups any yellow winter squash

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp turmeric

1 cup water

Wash and peel the squash and cut into 1 inch cubes. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add the oil, then the cumin seeds, mustard seeds and hing. In a moment, when the seeds pop, add the curry leaves, cilantro, turmeric, chilli and squash. Sprinkle on the salt and add the water. Stir or shake to mix well, partially cover and turn down the heat to low. Cook until tender, about 25 minutes.

(Squash helps to balance Pitta and Kapha. It aggravates Vata, but with spices it is okay for occasional use.

Spinach Souffle

(taken from “A Life of Balance” by Maya Tiwari)

Serves 2

1 lb spinach

2 tbsp chopped, fresh parsley

3 tsp olive oil

¼ cup water

1 tsp fine black pepper

½ tsp black mustard seeds

½ tsp red chilli powder

Pinch of salt

3 tbsp pine nuts

Wash and chop spinach. In a large saucepan, cook spinach and parsley in 1 tsp oil and water for 5 minutes, covered. Drain. Puree with a hand grinder.

Preheat a cast-iron skillet and sauté spices, salt and nuts in remaining oil for a few minutes. Add pureed greens to mixture. Serve warm.

Green Beans and Almonds with Oil and Vinegar Dressing

(taken from “A Life of Balance” by Maya Tiwari)

Serves 2

1 oz blanched almonds

½ lb green beans

Blanch almonds by soaking in cold water for 8 hours. (If time does not permit, you may use the fast method: place almonds in boiling water for 1 minute). Trim ends of beans and leave whole. Boil beans for 5 minutes. Peel blanched almonds and sliver. Drain beans and toss with nuts.

Oil and Vinegar Dressing:

½ minced garlic clove

5 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp black mustard seeds

½ tbsp rice vinegar

In a small frying pan, lightly sauté the garlic in 1 tablespoon of oil; add mustard seeds and roast until they pop. Stir in rice vinegar and pour over the beans and almonds.

Aduki and Shallot Dhal

(taken from “A Life of Balance” by Maya Tiwari)

Serves 2

½ c aduki beans

3 c water

½ c thinly sliced shallots

½ tsp minced ginger

1 tsp sunflower oil

½ tsp lemon juice

½ tsp turmeric

½ tsp black mustard seeds

Garnish: minced, fresh parsley

Soak beans in 3 cups of cold water for 5 hours. Drain and rinse. Add beans and water to pressure cooker. Cover without locking and bring to a boil. Lock cover and bring to pressure. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow pressure to fall naturally. (For conventional cooking, bring adukki beans to a boil in 3 ½ cups of water. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 1 hour.

Saute shallots and ginger in oil for 3 minutes, add to beans with lemon juice and turmeric. Cover and simmer for 40 minutes over medium-low heat.

Dry-roast mustard seeds until they pop; add to dhal. RemoBve dhal from heat. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Garnish with minced parsley.

Vegetable Quinoa Pulao

(taken from “Annapurnas Prasad, Ayurvedic Cooking For Westerners: by Nibodhi)

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 c quinoa

3 c water

1 cup chopped vegetables: 1/4 c each of carrots, green peas, broccoli and cauliflower

1/2 tsp cumin powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/8 tsp clove powder

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp coriander powder

1/4 tsp sea salt to taste or Bragg's Liquid Amino Acids

2-3 tbs ghee

Rinse the quinoa. Bring water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat the ghee in a saucepan and stir-fry the quinoa for 2 minutes longer. Add the quinoa and vegetables to the boiling water. Return to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and cook for about 15-20 minutes or until the quinoa is soft and fluffy. Add more salt if desired. Remove from heat, cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Serve alone or with other vegetables or soup.

Beet Raita

(taken from “Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing” by Usha and Dr Vasant Lad)

1 cup raw beets, peeled and grated

2 tbsps ghee

½ tsp black mustard seeds

½ tsp cumin seeds

1 pinch hing

1bsp cilantro, shopped

½ small green chilli or 1 large pinch cayenne

5 curry leaves, fresh or dried

1 cup plain yogurt

¼ tsp salt

Add the beets to the yogurt and stir gently.

Heat the ghee on medium heat in a saucepan. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and hing. Stir until the seeds pop. Ass the cilantro, curry leaves and chilli or cayenne. Mix quickly and take off the stove. Cook a little and add to the yogurt and beets. Mix well.

Serves 4-6 as a side dish with meal, 1 or 2 spoonfuls per person.

The spices in this meal help to lighten the heavy qualities of the yogurt . Beets are a good blood tonic and blood builder.

Golden Milk (goes nicely with Pumpkin Pie)

(taken from Amadea Morningstar’s book “Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners,” with a few modifications)

In a saucepan place:

1/8 - 1 tsp. turmeric powder (according to taste)

¼ cup water

Bring to a boil and continue to simmer until a thick paste (about five minutes).

Then add:

1 tsp ghee

A pinch of cinnamon and/or cardamom (optional)

1 cup almond, oat, or rice milk (depending on constitution)

Bring milk to just to the boiling point, then remove from heat

immediately (do not boil).

This is deliciously nourishing milk will calm the nervous system, increase the reproductive fluids and stimulate ojas.

Satkiana

Ayurvedic Nutritionist

www.satkiana.com

The archetypal mandala of the star of David

2011-10-03T12:19:00.000-04:00

What this workshop is all about?

The matrix of the heart, when it’s complete, allows the seeker to unite Earth and Heaven to dwell in a space of stillness. This matrix is like a living mandala that facilitates the descension to Earth and the ascension to Sky. It enables the heart to move through time and space.

Description:

This 2-hour initiation offers a healing opportunity to the mandala of the heart, consolidating a state of presence. It is a completion of the matrix of the heart. It offers protection to the participant and a tool for inter-dimensional travel.

Expect in the initiation:

Knowledge of the origin of the Star of David

Knowledge of the misconceptions and misuses in the mystic world

Insertion of the Star of David in the chakra system

Applications in your daily practice

Who will benefit from the initiation:

Those having difficulty with stillness in action

Those who have difficulty materializing their inspirations

Those who lack inspiration in their busy lives

Those paralyzed by the concept of good and bad

Those practicing the healing arts

What to bring:

A notebook

Art kit (notebook and coloured pencils or pastels)

Rose essential oil

Fresh flowers

Meditation shawl

Comfortable clothing

Cost:

Group setting: $85.00 each (minimum 3 people)
Individual setting: $200.00

Pre-requisite: The course Unification

Community and children

2011-09-28T18:43:00.000-04:00

Yoga means “union,” to join together, to be in union with our selves and to be incommunity with others. Childrennaturally model community to us and are already tuned up to yoga. Have younoticed how children do yoga poses spontaneously in whatever activity they areengaged in? At the same time theyare totally absorbed in an activity - present and peaceful. They have the natural innocence, wonderand ability to be in the moment with themselves, other children, family andfriends. Children bring calmness, creativity and joy to every moment whetherthey are doing a yoga class, playing with friends or just quietly reading abook.

Children are like sponges and absorb whatever ishappening in their environment. They naturally create a sense of community. Forexample, children love to share their accomplishments with others e.g. showingtheir artwork and then giving the picture to the teacher. Children have big hearts and arenatural helpers too. They do notask what is in it for me. They arestill in touch with their stillness and with their own unique consciousness.

Children bring lightness and joy to the world andremind us to tap into our own inner child. They love to play games with friends and with adults andnaturally want to connect with others. It is a beautiful exchange of energy. Have you noticed how light and fresh you feel after beingwith children? They tell us not totake life so seriously and to have fun. They teach us that life is a playground where we can experiment and useour capacities.

Young children (3 to 6 years of age) become moreadventurous and start to feel comfortable with new people and places. They begin to cooperate with eachother, and are able to work in groups. Children love to play games where theycan cooperate or be competitive with themselves e.g. Grandma’s footsteps. (seebelow)

Being part of a community gives children the forumto express their creativity and tap into their own intuition that will givethem a strong secure foundation in life. They are like a canvas absorbing all the paint colors, learning from allthe influences they are exposes to i.e. from each other, parents, teachers andother significant people in their life. Children help build community. For example, they love to celebrate andhelp others with community events, special occasions etc. At community fairsthey show their creativity by dressing up in costumes, doing face painting,joining in with dancing, yoga or whatever activity is being offered.

Children also need time alone too to becreative. This helps them toestablish a better relationship with themselves and to be innocent and fresh.So observe your child in quiet time without making any demands on them orcorrecting them. Be in communitywith your child by honoring the silence.

Grandma’s Footsteps

Here is a group game called “Grandma’s Footsteps” that families love. Children & parentscreep up on “grandma” who has her back to them as they do yoga poses. Whengrandma turns around, the parents & children who are inching their wayforward, freeze in a yoga posture. Anyone that moves is “out” of the game. Grandma can also call out a posture asan alternative. Everyone needs to do this posture quickly. Yoga games develop self-awareness,coordination of both mind and body and place a specific challenge, which bringspeople together.

In Service,

Anamda

the esoteric meaning of a community

2011-09-27T15:14:00.001-04:00

While we are only perceiving our own personal interests, we miss the opportunity to develop a part of the heart that is a foundation to overcome the seductions of the ego and the temptations of thinking of ourselves only. One of the inevitable exercises that life gives us is the opportunity to connect, wrestle, elevate and inspire through a community.

The concept of community is not fixed. It is something that grows within us, as we expand our awareness and our heart`s capacity for compassion. I remember that my first concept of community arose when I was aware that I belonged to a family and that family was interacting with other families more or less alike, with the same interests and same objectives in life. As I grew I did explore other communities which were in agreement with my points of view and with what I considered to be me. I remember at that time I left home and felt very excited to meet artists and innovative people, whom I felt in synchronicity with.

I started meditating and was guided by my teacher to serve communities that were in need, and I realized then, that my concept of community had been upgraded. It was not only the artistic group that I thought I belonged to, but my sense of belonging was extended to the group of people I served. Little by little, my need of belonging to a group(s) of people that thought the same way I did, or gave me reassurance of what I thought I was, faded in the background and my interest began to grow into my own internal community.

The internal community, as I call it, are the cells of the body. Each cell is a world in itself. It contains intelligence, it contains memories, it contains a history and it requests from the master within me to fulfill certain needs and to develop capacities that sustains its evolution. The internal community is demanding and the members are in constant interaction with each other. That interaction brings richness and balance to the entire system. That interaction relaxes the cells because they feel involved, useful and acknowledged. The internal community has an atomic capacity to manifest the divine creation into matter. Not by coincidence, the world is made up of different races that speak different languages and have certain preferences in their lifestyle.

The internal community was a fascinating state of my inner awareness, but what was more shocking was that this community had a direct representation in my outer relationships. The realisation was a dance of seeing different people coming into my life with certain attitudes and requests which were no different than the requests of my inner communities. Each person at that time needed to be honored and acknowledged for what they were, and after that process another set of people would come, just to enrich me and to show me the diversity within.

Soon after the realisation of my internal community, my awareness expanded towards the non-human community within the body. It was the plant kingdom reflected in my nerves and in my lymphatic system. And it was the realms of the animals residing in the raw impulse of my belly. And I also hold the community of angels and the community of demons, and the community of semi-gods and the community of gods. These universal communities, intertwined within me, form a tapestry of interactions that enrich and challenge my inner master. It is through my neutral witness that these communities within me offer a template to the outer world to be manifested in the spirit and the intention that I choose.

Whatever state your definition of community is in, I assure you that at one point you will need to upgrade it. Whatever position you have taken in front of a community (aloof, seductive, helpful, intellectual, resentful etc.) or whatever the position is that the community has taken in front of you, both reflect your inner interaction with the cells within your body. Nothing is away from you, and all is inclusive within you. Your sense of separateness is transitional, and sooner or later will be confronted by the natural impulse of evolution. You have within you a set of guides destined to stimulate your creative juices so you can contribute them, on a small or large scale, to the advancement of a community.

Working together for a common objective stimulates our intelligence, cooperation, and sense of belonging. Interaction with different communities enriches our horizons and inspires our destiny to truly be in service.

The absence of participation in a community narrows our possibilities and our prosperity. It slowly condemns us to interact only with our colleagues and immediate family. These limited interactions are usually based on reassuring our survival needs and to sustain our self oriented interests.

Our sense of internal community can only be nourished and expanded if we have at least six to ten different communities in which we interact, participate and serve.

In the new world, already pulsating under our feet, community cooperation will be essential. Our way of survival will be different, it will require us to be hands-on in the production of our food, medicine and clothing. Each community will be able to exchange services and enrich each other with their crafts and skills. We will be obliged to cooperate with each other and survive times of transition in the new world, where ecological, political and social changes will be on our agenda.

The expression of our gifts¸in various communities will be our prosperity and will alleviate the inner isolation that our modern society has obliged us to experience.

As a teacher and visionary, I wish to plant a seed of inspiration into your awareness towards how close we are to each other, how intimate we are, how intertwined we are, and that every action toward another serves as a tapestry to enhance the magnificence of the divine creation within us.

Ceremony to Release the Influences of Past Communities

2011-09-27T15:04:00.000-04:00

I would like to mention that every community you have touched has an energetic influence on you. The members of each community, whether the community is political, religious, artistic or ecological, carry vibrations that create a specific mandala and template, which create a certain reality within you. The community`s belief system has an impact on your energetic structure. You may not be aware of all of the different communities that somehow influence your life. For example, if you were baptized in the Catholic belief system, you are linked to and influenced by that congregation. And if later in life you decide to explore other religions` beliefs, you will receive different energetic codes, which may debilitate the clarity of your religious perception.

One invitation I extend to my students is to consciously review their social associations. The power of the need of belonging creates a vibration that feeds and supports your evolution. My question for you today is, where do you belong? If, in the next three seconds, you do not have an answer in your head, you most likely have confused mandalas in your structure that do not allow you to determine and to ground yourself in a community.

One of the new world`s needs within you is to determine where you belong and how your gifts can be delivered at their best. My suggestion is to start by creating your own internal community, where you mentally select people or members that you admire or feel tuned in with. And once you establish that, create a circle in your mind where you are clearly and honestly connecting with the vibration of these people. In your circle you can also invite members of communities that are now obsolete to you, and consciously thank them for their input and release them from the circle you have created. This is a simple inner ceremony that can upgrade the vibrational influence of communities within you.

I suggest that you create your circle for forty days. Dedicate the first ten days to reviewing obsolete communities. For example, I grew up in a Catholic community, in a military community, in a Latin community, and a family community. As I developed my own independence and my own belief systems, I no longer needed to respond to the requests of each of those communities. Instead, a larger sense of responsibility developed within me. I now see the world itself as a place to serve.

I invite you to go within and review the energetic value and weight of the communities you have belonged to. After ten days of consciously releasing obsolete community`s influences, invite the ones that you want to be supported, embraced and inspired.

meditation to strength community

2011-09-27T15:00:00.001-04:00

This community meditation needs a minimum of 5 people. It will help you to increase your sense of belonging and to reassure you that your energy can contribute to the enrichment of a group. This meditation can also offer support to a group in difficult times. It can strengthen the members` reliance on each other.

How to do the meditation:

All members of the community sit comfortably in a circle, holding hands.
All members` thumbs should be facing left, meaning that each members` left palm is facing upwards and right palm is facing downwards.
All members take a deep breath together and exhale together three times.
One member in the circle will be the initiator by squeezing a hand.
This leader will begin a flow of energy by squeezing the person`s hand next to him or her with their right hand.
The members of the circle will continue gently squeezing towards the right, each time with an out breath.
Each member receives and passes on the squeezing, creating a movement of energy within the circle.
The leader can initiate another round of squeezing at any time, depending on the circle`s capacity of breath and concentration.
The meditation can be continued for 7 to 11 minutes.
At the end of the meditation, the members repose in silence for as long as they would like, still holding hands.
Close the meditation by breathing in and out together three times.

Black heads a problem? A sweet solution

2011-09-02T19:50:00.000-04:00

Pinching out black heads is painful and may leave scars. The solution: creamy honey. Unpasturized honey is even better.

Recipe:
Ingredients:
A mid-size pot of water
5 cardamom pods
½ tsp honey
½ freshly pressed lemon juice; optional: aloe vera gel or apple cider vinegar

Method:
1. Simmer water to make a tea with the cardamom, don’t boil
2. Press the lemon juice
3. Measure the honey and put in a small bowl
5. First, open the pores by soaking two face cloths in the warm tea (keep the lid on the keep it warm) and apply on your face for a couple of minutes.
6. If you sweat under the face cloth, that’s excellent. More toxins will come out.
If the pores are not open by the time your face cloth cools off, soak it again
7. Apply a little bit of honey on your hands and friction to penetrate in the skin until they are quite stick
8. Apply the two palms of your hands wide open of the face and lift them up in a rhythmic way. The skin should lift up too with the stickyness as you gently remove your hands.
9. Repeat until most black heads are gone.
10. Add the lemon juice to the left over tea and rinse your face.

You’ll feel fresh, clean and toned. And since honey and lemon are both antibacterial, the mix will help your skin stay healthy. With a larger recipe, you can treat your whole body.

By Samyukta Blanchet, Face to Grace

supporting your constitution ( kapha)

2011-09-02T12:19:00.002-04:00

KAPHA COSTITUTION

Kapha people are blessed with a strong, healthy, well-developed body. They tend to have strong muscles and larger-than average, heavy bones. Because their larger frames are dominated by earth and water, they tend to gain weight and have difficulty taking it off. They also often have slow metabolic and digestive capacities.

Their skin is often smooth, lustrous, and thick and tends to be on the oily side. They have a steady appetite and thirst, and can comfortably skip a meal and work on an empty stomach. Because of their slow metabolic rate, Kapha’s who maintain health and balance generally enjoy a long life span. If they become out of balance however, they tend to become obese, one of the main causes of diabetes, hypertension, and heart attack. Kapha’s have a sweet tooth and love candy, cookies, and other sweet, salty, and oily foods. These foods unfortunately tend to contribute to water retention and weight gain.
Prior to the full moon, Kapha can become aggravated because there is a tendency toward water retention at this time. The most challenging time of year for a Kapha is winter and early spring, when the weather is heavy, wet, cloudy and cold. Vigorous exercise is good for them, but often they have trouble getting motivated for this.
Kapha’s tend to be blessed with a sweet loving disposition, with a stable solidity to them.

Kapha out of balance will tend to:
Convey physical problems related to the water principle, such as colds, flu, sinus congestion, sluggishness, and so on. When out of balance Kapha can also become overly attached, greedy, excessively emotional, envious, possessive, lusty, lazy.

How to aggravate Kapha:
Eating lots of mucous-creating foods, such as dairy, heavy moist foods, not exercising, staying in the same routine day in and day out, eating fatty and fried foods, drinking iced food or drinks. Sleeping during the day, although tempting, is another way to throw Kapha out of balance!

Kapha reducing therapy:
Getting plenty of vigorous exercise, avoiding heavy foods, staying active, varying routine, eating light, dry, healthy foods. Occasional fasting is very beneficial. Water should be taken warm. Dry or rough massage is excellent for Kapha. If using oils, using light oils such as flaxseed oil. Warm herbal or oil blend of wintergreen, camphor, eucalyptus, cinnamon, or cayenne are beneficial.
Choose stimulating fragrances and incenses such as frankincense, myrrh, cedar, cloves, cinnamon, and musk. Bright warm colors such as yellow, orange, gold, and red, are best. Pale shades of blue, green, and pink should be avoided.

Foods that are helpful for Kapha:

Kapha’s should emphasize bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes. Food should be warm, light, and dry, with hot spices. Avoid mucous-causing foods, especially in the spring when Kapha can easily become aggravated.
Fruits: Most astringent fruit ok, such as apples, apricots, berries, peaches, raisins.
Vegetables: Pungent and bitter best. Examples of these would be artichoke, broccoli, beets, celery, leafy greens etc.
Grains: Barley, millet, rye, buckwheat, oats all good. Legumes: Aduki, mung, lentils, chick peas, split peas, lima beans etc.
Dairy: In moderation, cottage cheese, goats milk, diluted yogurt. Nuts: Charole only.
Seeds: Sunflower, chia, flax in moderation.
Oils: Canola, sesame, ghee, sunflower best.
Sweeteners: Fruit juice concentrate, honey (uncooked raw only).

Herbs and Spices:

Digestion: Hot spices, such as cayenne, black pepper, dry ginger, mustard seeds, cloves, and cinnamon improve digestion.
Elimination: Bitter laxatives (aloe, cascara sagrada, rhubarb, and senna), mild laxatives (milk, ghee, rose), bulk laxatives (psyllium).
Energy: Pungent or bitter tonics; garlic, long pepper, cinnamon, saffron, ginger, myrrh, and aloe vera gel.
Mind: Stimulants and mild clearing herbs are indicated: gotu kola, basil, myrrh, sage, bayberry, skullcap, and betony.

Supporting your constitution ( Pitta)

2011-09-02T12:16:00.002-04:00

PITTA COSTITUTION

The Pitta body type is one of medium build and height with coppery skin and may have reddish hair. Moles and freckles are common on Pitta skin which tends to be oily and warm.

The average body temperature of Pitta’s tends to be a little higher than that of the other two body types and so they are the people who can feel quite warm when everyone else is feeling cold. They therefore have a low tolerance for hot weather, sunshine or hard physical work. Pitta’s tend to have a strong appetite, metabolism and digestion.
They also tend to have uninterrupted sleep, and excellent powers of comprehension and concentration. Their memories are sharp, and they have good logical, investigating minds that love to solve answers to problems.
Often wise and brilliant people, they can also have controlling, dominating personalities. They can be critical of themselves and others, especially when aggravated. The summer is the most challenging time for Pitta’s to stay in balance and extra care should be taken at this time.

A Pitta out of balance will tend to:
Be related to heat and fire. They are therefore prone to fevers, inflammatory diseases, acid indigestion, excessive hunger, jaundice, profuse perspiration, hives and rashes, burning sensations, ulceration, burning eyes, colitis, and sore throats, irritability, anger, and sometimes having a ‘temper’.

How to aggravate Pitta:
Eating too much spicy food, including black pepper, cayenne pepper, curry peppers, and jalepeno peppers. Eating too many sour and citrus fruits, smoking, drinking sour wine, working in hot conditions (or simply being in these conditions for and extended time), and eating fatty or fried foods

Pitta calming therapy:
Avoiding excess heat, oil, steam, and salt is helpful. Eating cooling and non-spicy foods, drinking cool (not iced) drinks, and exercising during the cooler parts of the day are also good for Pitta.
Calming massage using cool oils like coconut, sunflower or ghee is beneficial for those with high Pitta. Apply on forehead, top of head, and heart. Choose flower essential oils such as vetiver, rose, lotus, jasmine, gardenia, and honeysuckle.
Choose fragrant incense, such as healing Tara or rose incense. Emphasize white and cool colours, such as blue and green, in home and clothing. Strong bright colours such as red will aggravate Pitta if worn.
Foods that are helpful for Pitta:
Sweet, bitter and astringent tastes should be emphasized. Food should be cool, heavy and dry, while excluding the use of hot spices. Raw foods and juices are excellent. Water is taken cool (not iced). Tea can be taken in moderation, but best to avoid coffee and alcohol.

Fruits: Generally most sweet (sweeter apples, berries, dates, figs, coconut, pears etc.) fruit is good, while sour (apricots, berries, grapes, pineapple etc.) fruit is not.

Vegetables: Sweet and bitter veggies best. Examples of these would be artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, beets, cucumber, kale, and zucchini.

Grains: Pitta’s are generally ok with grains as long as they do not make up the bulk of the diet. Some examples of grains that are good include barley, oats, rice, spelt etc.
Legumes: Pitta’s should be able to digest almost all beans. Dairy: Most organic unsalted dairy ok in moderation. Yogurt should be
diluted, and cheese should be soft. Nuts: Coconut and soaked, peeled almonds ok in small quantities.
Seeds: Flax, popcorn (if not allergic), pumpkin, sunflower ok in moderation.

Oils: sunflower, ghee, canola, olive, soy, flaxseed, primrose and walnut most suitable, in the order shown.

Sweeteners: most sweeteners ok in small quantities, except for honey, white sugar, jaggary, and molasses.

Herbs and Spices:
Digestion: digestive bitters such as aloe, gentian, and barberry; cooling or mild spices, such as fennel, turmeric, coriander, cumin, and mint.
Elimination: Bitter laxatives (aloe, cascara sagrada, rhubarb, and senna), mild laxatives (milk, ghee, and rose), bulk laxatives (psyllium).
Energy: Calming and cooling tonics, such as shatavari, saffron, aloe vera gel, licorice, marshmallow, dandelion root, burdock, fo-ti, rehmannia.
Mind: Calming and cooling herbs, such as gotu kola, sandalwood, rose, lotus seeds, skullcap, passion flower, chrysanthemum, hibiscus.

SUPPORTING YOUR BODY TYPE (Vatta)

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vatta people need affection and touch

The secret to contacting your inner energy is the creation of balance, this questionnaire and information will reveal your own individual mind/body system. Knowing your “dosha” will facilitate the application of your diet and life style.

THE VATTA COSTITUTION
Vata people have light flexible bodies, so they tend to be slim or underweight. Vatas generally have dry skin tending toward roughness. Their circulation can be poor resulting in cold hands or feet.
Because this dosha is dry, light, and mobile, they do well to add the opposite into their diet and lifestyle. Spring (wet) and summer (hot) are therefore months Vatas tend to do well in.

Vatas have variable appetite and thirst as well as variable digestive strength. Vata can therefore often experience digestive difficulties and problems with absorption of nutrients.
Vata individuals tend to interrupted or restless sleep, or insomnia, especially when Vata is aggravated. Vatas are blessed with quick minds, mental flexibility, and creativity.

When in balance they are joyful and happy. They are easily excited, clear-minded, sometimes clairvoyant, alert and quick to act. These individuals may experience fear, loneliness, anxiety, insecurity, worry and nervousness when out of balance.

Vatas out of balance tend to :
Have constipation, gaseous distention, weakness, arthritis, pneumonia, excessively dry skin, dry lips, hair, cracked nipples, cracked heels, nerve disorders, twitches, ticks, mental confusion, palpitations, breathlessness, muscle tightness, low backache, and sciatica. The mind becomes restless and hyperactive.

How to Aggravate Vata:
Travel, erratic hours, continual stimulation, frequent change, loud noises, drugs, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol also derange Vata, as does exposure to cold weather and foods.

Vata Calming Therapy:
Sticking to a routine is difficult for Vata but is vital if they are to remain healthy. Adequate sleep is important for Vata (minimum 7-8 hours) in order to have reliable energy.
Mild exercise, as well as allowing for periods of reflection during the day are also helpful. The dry cold windy seasons of winter and fall tend to increase and aggravate Vata, so particular attention must be paid at these times so as to stay in balance.
Dressing warmly, staying warm, remaining calm, avoiding extreme cold temperatures, eating warm foods and spices are all helpful for Vata. Taking steam baths, using humidifiers and moisture in general are also helpful for Vata.
Gentle, relaxing, and nurturing massage is essential for those with high Vata. Sesame and almond oil, which are warming and heavy, should also be applied moderately and on a regular basis, accompanying massage or on it’s own. Particularly good if applied to feet, top of head, back, and lower abdomen.
Choose warming, calming essential oils, such as sandalwood, camphor, wintergreen, and cinnamon. Choose calming incense, such as Tara healing incense.

Foods that are helpful for Vata
A person with Vata predominant in their constitution requires a tonifying, strengthening diet with an emphasis on sweet (natural) and sour tastes, and salty in moderation. Food should be warm, heavy and moist and meals must be eaten at regular times each day.
Cold drinks and foods should be avoided, as well as caffeine, refined sugars, and carbonated drinks.
Dried fruits: No to most dried fruits, unless soaked overnight (not enough moisture in body to digest already dry foods).
Fresh fruit: Most sweet fruit ok except things like apples and pears which are cooling in nature (cooked ok).
Vegetables: In general all vegetables should be cooked. Salads are ok in moderation in the spring and summer (more readily digestible with plenty of good quality oil).
Grains: Avoid eating dry breads and crackers; sprouted wheat, oats, rice, and quinoa tend to be the best grains for Vata.
Proteins: Lentils and mung are the best sources of protein; organic dairy, yogurt, almond milk and soft cheese, if digestible.
Nuts: In moderation all nuts are good for Vata. Seeds: In moderation all seeds are good for Vata.
Oils: Sesame and almond (excellent for Vata); generally all good quality oils are helpful for Vata.
Sweeteners: All good except for white sugar and maple syrup (cooling). Sugars create moisture in the body which helps Vata.
Herbs and Spices:
For Digestion: asafoetida, sea salt, ginger, cumin, fennel, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, ajwan.
Elimination: flax seed, triphala, cherry juice. Energy: ashwgandha, shatavari, ginseng, dang gui, marshmallow, saw
palmetto.
Mind: nervine herbs such as calamus, chamomile, valerian, asafoetida, and basil.

Emotions, Acidity and Self-Creation

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As a Creator of your own reality, you have the freedom to use all the colours, textures and depths of nature to decorate your life, which is ultimately the reflection of you. As in nature, some colours give us the depth; others the light, and the illusion of texture. Emotions are like colours that give your painting the altitude, depth, width and perspective of the way you live your life.

You may ask yourself what this has to do with the topic of acidity. However, if we see acidity as a colour that has somehow been overused in the painting, we can understand why it can damage the full spectrum of the painting. When we are not responsible for our creation, and we give the responsibility to actions of other people or circumstances, we lose this great power of creativity and enter into a dark zone of resentment, bitterness, disappointment, blame, anger, delusion, depression, powerlessness, and fear.

All these emotions can be conscious or unconscious. It can be in the background of your painting, or it can be at the forefront. It could be evident to you in how you handle the series of events in your life, or it can be in the background, as a hidden force that manifests as dissatisfaction with your life.

When you give up your power of creation, you give it to the forces of destruction and insecurity. Destruction can have many faces, like warm, inactive anger, seduction for power, sweet manipulation of others to achieve what you want, or to defend what you consider precious to you. We need to be clear, however, that in nature, there is a force of destruction that serves as a contribution to evolution. That force is within us and when it is not polluted by self-interest, manipulation, and disempowerments, they just flow through us, serving us to move through evolution.

For example, you eat an apple, and it is destroyed through enzymes in your stomach to a more simple matter, to energize the body. That same apple gets discharged or is evacuated as waste to contribute to the cycle of life. These are the genuine destructive powers in creation which are free of self-interest they are just doing the job of regeneration. But we rarely hold that genuine and pure force of destruction. We usually hold it in a more twisted way, by dropping our power of creation and self-responsibility.

When we hold that position for a period of time, it becomes rancid and acidic, like water that has been stagnant without oxygenation. It’s a decay that is unnatural, painful and unnecessary. This twisted way of handling the natural energy of destruction infuses our cells with a mist of acidity. It can arise from a simple thought that, over time, grew into resentment and into bitterness, and ultimately, to acidity.

It is not by coincidence that we have put a taste to our feelings, with love being syrupy and sweet; anger as hot and spicy; fear as cold; blame as bitterness. This is not only a metaphor, but an actual texture and flavour in your blood.

I invite you to start with a simple reflection of making a conscious list of your disappointments, either with yourself (mostly because you have not met your inner standards) or in others (because they have not recognized you in the way you think you deserve it). As you make this list, with total non-judgment or any sense of guilt, you are actually stimulating the cells within yourself that hold that colour or frequency. With the aid of your sadhana or daily practice, where you consciously take 40 days to dedicate your efforts to releasing disappointments, you can reclaim the energy that you require to be the Master of your Creation.

It’s a simple exercise, however powerful, to give you greater awareness, and a perspective from which you can make new agreements that support the vibration of the New Earth. As the Creator of our Reality, we have no room in this new frequency to blame others. We have no room to hold external influences responsible for our way of carrying our life. Acidity, bitterness and blame are meant to be destroyed by your awareness, your self-acceptance and your self-responsibility.

Acidity does not happen to you. You create acidity by holding onto resentment, by twisting the powers of destruction. The emotional position of disappointment must be acknowledged as a transitory state for you to release the atomic power of you being the co-creator of a place that already exists within you, full of opportunities to gracefully unfold the veils of evolution.

You are the Creator. You are the Destroyer, You are the Maintainer. These three forces reside within you, calling to be purified, calling to be managed, calling to be expressed, and calling to support your self-spontaneous realization.

How was the Sha Retreat? (testimonials and pics!)

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There is nothing more powerful than coming back to the beginning of our evolution: when we were naked, when we had no shelter, when we had to dig for roots and gather leaves to feed ourselves. There is nothing more liberating than having your skin under a starbath, and to let the pure essence of your awareness synchronize your breath with the Breath of Nature.

As a teacher, I was blessed to witness the change of the summer energies into the energies of the fall during the Sha Retreat. For me, this has always been a moment to witness an army of spirits who have completed their mission of fruition. And in that moment, the life force is delegated to a new crew in charge of receiving and facilitating introspection.

The Sha Retreat put these two forces under the feet of the 20 seekers who participated this year, allowing them to explore their own nakedness, their own history and stories. It provided the participants with a place of integrity, truthfulness and naturalness. It is surely, for me, a place where you cannot hide. There is the sun, the water, the wind and the trees, enveloping you and raising your possibilities in an effortless way. As a facilitator, I am confronted not even to facilitate anymore, but to witness the magic that occurs when the right intention of the seeker and the spirit world meet in a dance of lightness, introspection, community, creativity, wisdom and relaxation.

May my experience be represented by the voices of the participants. Let these testimonials give you a glimpse of what Sha Retreats are.

TESTIMONIALS

"Extend my love and deep thanks to you both. You opening and sustaining this sacred land. The logistics were great, even with the rain and absence of the assigned cook. We all managed to pull it together. The process of fasting was very supportive for the body and mind as it prepared us well for the vision quest." _ Margaret

"Matthew and Bhuvaneswari, I bow to you both, because as teachers, you have a beautiful complicity and I am infused not only by nature spirits but also with you. Your frequency, your presence and all the wisdom that you carry. With all humblenes, I thank you for the experience, as the experiencer is full. The Being, the Now Is.- Julie

"Thank you for opening your hearts, your home and your love to me as I continue to be. The support and space grew my awareness and connected me with me."- Sandra

"Thank you for this retreat, but also for all the previous ones that have brought me to this one. I now understand what you mean by being in the moment. When you are in the moment, you make my being in the moment more effortless, more serene more present… which makes a wave of the same for those around me too."- Peter

"Matthew and Bhuvaneswari are great teachers and I am very thankful to have them in my life. "- Ramel

This retreat was amazing. I head home feeling more alive, more vibrant and more capable to face whatever comes… I feel such admiration for the strong women and men here, and such gratitude towards Bhuvaneswari and Matthew for leading us through this adventure with so much wisdom and creativity.- Alexis

"As always, the work we do together after 12 short years, continues to nourish, inspire, calm and uplift me. Thank you, thank you, thank you." - Genevieve

"Thank you for Matthew and Bhuvaneswari for facilitating this Sha Retreat. I felt so guided by your wisdom and so contained by the support of a community. I arrive to this retreat filled with doubts about my own capacity to confront my fears. With your teachings, this retreat provided a space for me to encounter the spirits tht dwell in the forest, explore my creative potential and realize my own resourcefulness in taking care of my own needs. It was a pleasure sharing this space with you and trusting you to guide us in our quest. I know the work we had done here will continue to deepen my awareness in months to come." - Truly

"Vision quest with Bhuvaneswari and Matthew brought me to myself, to my inner core and how I can share my being with others. Their work brings one into the moment, to be free, happy and lucid. They create in the moment a unique approach using spontaneous games, building a spirit lodge, meditation; all preparing us to the vision quest. Your work is sacred, creative and coming from a place of emptiness and gratitude towards your students. Thank you for this profound experience." - Suki

Dear Bhuvaneswari and Matthew:

This was a rather rigorous and intense retreat for me, but I knew throughout that I was in the best of care in both of you hands. I am so grateful for all of my learning, from the knowledge session we had with you and from the variety of experiences I’ve had. The last knowledge session was the cherry on top ! so simple, so profound, and as you’ve said, We already are. ( the woods and mountain were incredible. - Natia

"The most anticipated event of the year has turned to be most wonderful. After spending 30 hours with nature spirits, I carry them with me to my own surroundings for other to experience them. The miracles that I saw will stay with me forever, and even thou that nothing happened to me, something has happened. Thank you." - Igor

"The experience in the forest make me realize how much I am in my head and how those conversations keeps me in ignorance. This retreat also brought me happiness ( a lot) for it simplicity, love and sensibility. It was full of gentleness, openness, humility and gratitude. Was reassuring and beautiful. I feel peaceful. I could do it again in a minute. Thank you." - Erika

"In this retreat I had a great time and learn a lot. Thank you to both of you." - Gabriel.

"What a rich and nourishing experience !" - Tom