some words of wisdom

from .... RUMI - a poet who lived in 13th century Persia. He is known throughout the world still to this day for his poems meditating on the deep mysteries of the world, the afterworld, and the human spirit. So, Merry Christmas (a few days late) and here is a beautiful poem called LOVE DOGS. So, to go along with it I am posting a few of my fave [Blue Dog] winter pics from my fave New Orleans artist (George Rodrigue)  And, another "dog" artist I JUST discovered (and by just - I mean as in right now) Todd Young. So, here you are, and I am off to look at more of TY's awesome dog (and some cats) paintings!

LOVE DOGS  ~Rumi

One night a man was crying Allah! Allah! His lips grew sweet with praising, until a cynic said, “So! I’ve heard you calling our, but have you ever gotten any response?” The man had no answer to that. He quit praying and fell into a confused sleep. He dreamed he saw Khidr, the guide of souls, in a thick, green foliage.

“Why did you stop praising?”  “Because I’ve never heard anything back.” “This longing you express is the return message.” The grief you cry out from draws you toward union. Your pure sadness that wants help is the secret cup.

Listen to the moan of a dog for its master. That whining is the connection. There are love dogs no one knows the names of. Give your life to be one of them.

It's Christmas Week

WOW - isn't it amazing how every year we are shocked at how fast Christmas comes around. I am surprisingly not that stressed, and it's Monday nite and I still have stuff to buy.  Now, not to confuse this with me not being a little bummed out, it IS the holidays, after all : )  This is my first year after a BAD break up with my ex-husband of 10 yrs. which was right at Christmas!  And no, I can't go into details, but let just say both of us got hurt, but him alot more - and I still cannot let go of some guilt I have over different things.  So, I made a list of "the good stuff" and if you do this, and read it and focus on the gratitude in your life, then it gets better....

This is also the 1st year Alex (my 9 yr old) doesn't believe in Santa anymore.  Am I sad about this - heck NO (LOL) it seems mean, but I am glad.  So, on that note - I am heading up to my fave store (Center for Mind, Body & Spirit) for last minute stuff, like these awesome watches...which I'm sure you could google and get anywhere.

SKINNY Watches with 'tourmaline'

Tourmaline is a natural source of negative ions and far infrared rays.  The effects of tourmaline can help cleanse the liver and kidney and improve blood circulation.  To learn more about these watches and all the colors you can wear, check out their website at:  http://skinnywatches.com/index.htm.

 

the GOOD stuff

• having a real Christmas tree

• my best frd from LA coming in town

• seeing all my cousins

• homemade cookie press xmas cookies

• extra days off work

• Christmas bonus & raise

• all my family & friends

• and no in-laws : )

So, Feliz Navidad, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy New Year, Seasons Greetings, and Happy Holidaze! 

Día de los Muertos

Buenos días! I always have the best intentions...but that darn procrastination gets in the way. So, this holiday (one of my faves) has come and gone - then I thought ... so what, I can still post it, as long as it's before the end of Nov. I just like everything this holiday is about....skeletons, mexican food, tequila, flowers! I love the Spanish and Catholic mix. Oh, and the art - I LUV the art!

Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead
This Mexican holiday focuses on family and friends who gather to pray for and remember those who have died. This ritual is celebrated in Mexico and other parts of the US. Although it has been merged with Catholic theology, it still maintains the basic principles of the Aztec ritual, such as the use of skulls. In rural Mexico, people visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. They decorate gravesites with marigold flowers and candles. They bring toys for dead children and bottles of tequila to adults. They sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their loved ones.

"Here the people spend the day in the cemetery," said Esther Cota, the parish secretary at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. "The graves are decorated really pretty by all the people."

In larger cities, families build altars in their homes, dedicating them to the dead.
They surround these altars with flowers, food and pictures of the deceased. They light candles and place them next to the altar.

The celebration occurs on Nov 2 in connection with the Catholic holidays: All Saints' Day (Nov 1) and All Souls' Day (Nov 2). Due to occurring shortly after Halloween, the Day of the Dead is sometimes thought to be a similar holiday, although the two are celebrated differently.

Needles & Cupping & Balance - OH YEAH

Wow, my energies are so out of balance that it's literally unreal. Made worse by the fact that I quit taking my "depression" meds cold turkey about 5 weeks ago. At first I felt fine, then 2 weeks later when it stared leaving my system, I didn't!! I ran out and thought "hmmm, I'm just gonna stop taking it and focus JUST on holistic therapy and see what happens" It's simple: our bodys chi (energy) pathways being blocked prohibits the good chi to flow thru our system. And since the meds are pretty much gone from mine, I was definitely ready for a treatment. I don't know yet if I can do it (the no meds at all thing) but we'll see.

So, I went for my 3rd session of cupping Saturday and I literally couldn't wait. This time I did the accupuncture with it. I left feeling so good, and relaxed and detoxified. She focused mainly on my liver which is linked to your emotions. It's funny - cause whenever I do this stuff I feel so "untouchable" BUT, that's not how it works. Despite having a great treatment- I did got a bit emotional later that day...Halloween is my very FAVE holiday, and this is the 1st year that I'm not with Jim, and he has Alex for trick-or-treat. Which is fine, cause I had him Friday for the school thing. I also skipped my tradition of making my fave food (spagetti). Ahhh, well - enuf about me - read below on CUPPING. I LUV it!!

Cupping therapy is the method of using glass cups to create localized pressure by a vacuum. The Chinese have been doing this since ancient times by using heat inside the cups. The vacuum inside the cups causes the blood to form in the area and help the healing in that area.

Our body contains "meridians" pathways in the body which the energy of life called Qi ("chi") flows. It flows through every body part, tissue and organ. Cupping therapy is mainly performed on one's back because there are five meridians on your back. When these meridians are opened, the internal energy is able to flow through the whole body, instead of being blocked.

In Chinese medicine, all the organs are connected together. So if you have a problem with one organ, it can affect the health of other parts of your body. For example, it is believed that the kidneys are connected to a persons aging. A person with an imbalance or disease in the kidneys will experience more graying of the hair, wrinkled and dry skin, etc.

Another healing benefit of cupping is it release the toxins in your body. The suction from the cups penetrates deep into your tissues causing them to release harmful toxins. It triggers the lymphatic system, clears the blood vessels, and stretches and activates the skin.

So, there ya go - and it only costs about $30 - 40!!

The Magic of Coconut Oil!

I really think that sometimes you meet people for a reason. Even if you only have a brief encounter with them. Maybe you just have a good immediate vibe with a person, learn something new, etc. So I'm in this health food store to buy 'biotine' an herb I read is good for people with blood type A (me). I'm talking to the hippie behind the counter....and this guy in line jumps in and I end up finding out tons of interesting info on COCONUT OIL. He raves on it for at least 15 min! I luv how he just cut in & shared all this info on something he loves & believes in, which is why I do this blog, and am now sharing this info with you. Anyway, I left the store without the 2 herbs I came for, but WITH a jar of Organic Virgin Coconut Oil.

So, here's what I found out: The health benefits of coconut oil include: hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and cancer, dental care, and bone strength. [Ummmmm WOW!]
"The benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid in our body. The human body converts lauric acid into 'monolaurin' which is claimed to help in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza and even HIV. It also helps in fighting some harmful bacterias." -Megan Sutton.
• Healing: When applied to infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.
• Infections: Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, etc. Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, etc.
A few ways to add coconut oil to your life are: add a tablespoon to smoothies, use it instead of butter on toast, add it to yogurt, cook with it, or eat a tablespoon of coconut oil before each meal to get all the benefits listed above, use it as lotion, etc. Be sure and get only the best coconut oil. Well, sounds easy to me, and since Friday I have already added some to my bath water (and my dogs!), put it in pasta salad, cooked with it, and put it on some scrapes Alex had. Plus, who can resist the smell of coconuts! So tropical and wonderful.

Happy New Year-in July!

I love the motivation I get from vacation! A re-birth, a soul searching journey, total relaxation- it's like my 2nd New Years. A new start. So, I just got back from a 10 day holiday in Myrtle Beach, SC. The whole family went (oyyyy): me, Alex (my 8yr old son) my parents, sister, her hubby and 2 kids. Awesome beach house, plenty of room...absolutely perfect. Yet something was different and sad...this was my first time in 11 yrs I've been anywhere w/out my (ex) husband- and we'd do 2-3 vac's a yr. It was also really sad for Alex! I was surprised that I felt this way, but I did. And I'm happy being separated. All this sadness and guilt came creeping back. But, instead of freaking out, I prevailed...pushed it all away, did some meditation and forced myself to focus, breath and relax. I am really trying to stick it - on a reg basis, which is the way to get the full benefit. Even for 10 min everyday (ya, right) but I'm doing pretty good so far, and won't worry about perfection as I always do! Who cares if you skip a day or 2. It's gonna be all about connecting, balance and inner peace. If it's hard to clear your mind, repeat a mantra, like "I feel calm and happy" or whatever.

Laura Fraser says: My preference would be to call meditation conscious & chosen relaxation. Constantly working toward the goal of discovering my own ability to reach a state of serenity, I have learned to meditate and it’s actually easy. Start by focusing completely on your breathing, which takes the mind away from the "clutter" that constantly tries to invade our mind and eliminate feelings that will lead to calm. With repeated effort the goal of clearing your mind - to think of nothing - does occur and the process of meditation takes on its own energy. The result is (and I guarantee this) peace, serenity, calmness. The peace and joy felt by those who meditate enters the world for all of us as positive energy. From it the world is a better place. Imagine if we all practiced meditation!

Hummingbirds & Birthdays

Well, Friday May 14 I turned 44 (wow, that sounds old).  What a year it's been, and continues to be, as I am entering into a new phase of life. I had a great birthday weekend, my mom got me a card and it had this little message inside about hummingbirds, which I luv.  Another thing I luv is this poster from O.A.R.  So, I thought for today I'll post this lovely little message and this great art -  which I then realized didn't have a hummingbird in it. That didn't seem right,  so I photoshopped one in.  Plz don't say anything if you ever meet the band.  LOL. 

~~Legend says that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying hope for love, joy and celebration. The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere and every personal connection has meaning~~

the glass is....HALF FULL

WOW - what a week last week! Busiest time ever for me at the Fox - doing the new Broadway stuff for NEXT year + wrapping up the current season= STRESSED. Plus my ADD is kicked into high gear & so are my emotions. Should my motto be: “It Sucks to be Me” (popular song from AVE Q which is at the Fox right now). Or should it be: “The glass is half FULL” How lucky are we that it’s all about choice, and I think I know which one I should choose. One of my best frds has cancer & is in the hospital after surgery, hasn’t been doing great (not life threatening); someone else I know....her baby died pre-delivery at 9 mos last week...and there’s the super sad looking homeless man I see 3 times a week at Olive & 170. Do I have it that bad, NO. Can I be OK with myself for being super emotional about lots of stuff last week....YES. And to add to the emotion...I got my teeth cleaned and a massage last week. These are great detox/energy unblockers, but they can also release major emotions. Make sure to go to my older posts about teeth/flossing-very interesting info. So, its Monday, its gorgeous out - and here’s looking to a great week.

Give yourself the gift of FORGIVENESS

Forgiving can be hard and sometimes seem impossible, but if we can do it (and we all can) then the results are amazing! One of the most powerful gifts we can give ourselves is to FORGIVE - both ourselves and others. By forgiving we are not condoning the behavior of the person we perceive as having wronged us, but rather allowing ourselves to 'break the hold that person has on our lives.' Feeling anger towards that person may have been well-justified, but unless it is dealt with and processed it becomes corrosive to our bodies, leading to physical disease and emotional illness. Holding onto feelings of anger or revenge are likely to be hurting us rather than the original perpetrator.

Exercise: Forgiveness of Self and Others

Think of a person who has wronged you and for whom there are still bad feelings. Place your hands over your heart with the intention to channel energy to your heart. Read the affirmation of forgiveness below, with feeling, in your mind and channel energy for 10 minutes or until you feel a shift in your heart. Don't be surprised if you experience tears as you forgive yourself.

Forgiveness Affirmation

I forgive everyone who has ever hurt or harmed me, consciously or unconsciously, in this lifetime or any other, in this universe, dimension, plane or level of existence or any other.

I offer them grace. I ask forgiveness for everything I have ever done to hurt or harm another, consciously or unconsciously, in this lifetime or any other, in this universe, dimension, plane

or level of existence or any other. I ask for grace. I forgive myself for everything I have ever done to hurt or harm another, consciously or unconsciously, in this lifetime or any other, in this universe, dimension, plane or level of existence or any other. I accept grace. I am free.

All chains and restrictions fall from me. I stand in my full power as a master.

Mandalas

Hmmmm, awaken the artist within, clear out inner clutter, connect with both sides of the brain and express creativity through a daily artisitic writing practice. OK, this sounds good to me - plus, I love art and writing. Experience deep calm, inner wisdom and insight through the making of mandalas, journaling and meditation. Ahhhhhh! I am really trying to practice what I preach, and am loving this idea and the simpleness of the MANDALA. These are circular images that represent wholeness and centeredness, and creating them brings about the same qualities in a person's life. Sounds wonderful, kinda reminds me of "spirograph" when I was a kid, anyone remember those! I am doing a last minute art project for "Record Store Day" and using a mandala in my design. Will post when I am done. For now, here is a nice mandala I found....and a great website. CreativityForTheSoul.com

wow, has it been 4 MONTHS...

...since my last post- YES. I took a break to get myself back on track with some personal things and just didn't care about the blog. Now it is April (SPRING) and I am truely inspired to start a new path...one that I have been down before, but always stopped and retreated back. But now, starting this 'new' life, I am determined to head down the road again, & this time NOT quit...is this easier said than done? Heck YA, esp for me who gets EASILY distracted, procrastinates and is overwhelmed 'most' of the time. I just met with my friend who does soul coaching and we talked about letting bad stuff from the past go...forgiving and forgetting. Seems like such a simple thing, doesn't it. I am posting a great picture, perfect for spring. By my fave artist - George Rodrigue (the blue dog guy) Plus it perfectly titled: "Forever Starts Here"