focusing...assuming...controlling

Ask yourself this question:

What assumption am I making,
That I'm not aware I'm making,
That gives me what I see?

And when you have an answer to that question,
ask yourself this one:

What might I now invent,
That I haven't yet invented,
That would give me other choices?

You cannot control everything that will happen today. 

But you can completely control the person you will be.

I'm trying to remember where I stumbled upon this wonderful little saying (above), but it was definitely meant for me to read!  This is a huge issue for me. I am so good at assuming, analyzing and worrying.  I need this to be my new mantra, to stop every day and read it slowly, like 3 times...or 5 or 10!  I want to focus and 'live in the moment.'  I picked the illustration above because it's such a calming image. It's from a children's book that me and Alex (my son) LOVED! "The Little Island" by Margaret Wise Brown (illustration: Leonard Weisgard).  The story is about a cat who goes to an island on a boat, and learns that the island is much more than it seems (he learns this from a fish). The pages describing the cat's journey to knowledge are magical, and so are the illustrations. My son (who is 9) tells me he is too old for this book now  ha! (but I know he still likes it)

I also recently came across this great blog by Leo Babuata.  He is all about - SIMPLICITY and FOCUSING. His writing is simple and to-the-point.  Instead of mulit-tasking, he says "single" task. (huh?!)   He also talks about how we are constantly plugged in, something I totally agree with (as I sit here blogging and probably checking twitter & facebook next :))   Here is a sample..."Our ability to focus will allow us to create in ways that perhaps we haven’t in years. It’ll allow us to slow down and find peace of mind. It’ll allow us to simplify and focus on less — on the essential things, the things that matter most. And in doing so, we’ll learn to focus on smaller things. This will transform our relationship with the world. It’s not that “less is more”, but “less is better”.  You can download a FREE mini version of his book FOCUS below.

http://focusmanifesto.com/

Feng Sui and the Year of the METAL Rabbit

OK, so my February post is now being posted March 4 (oh, this drives me crazy)!  For some reason I obsessed over it, changed it around, re-read it and forgot about it for 3 weeks.  Enough. Here it is.

Ahhhh, the Year of the Metal Rabbit, which is supposed to bring peace, joy, calm and many happy moments.  This is perfect since I am still working on my “New Years” intentions. Have I failed at any of my numerous resolutions so far (hell yeah)  BUT the difference is that I am following each failure up with something positive, as a continuing focus for me is graditude.  Plus it’s my goal to finally feng sui my house, which I have lived in for a year now and still haven’t done!  I am amazed that I have waited this long, but am excited about the positive energy I will get from this. Cause I do believe in the powers of feng sui, oh yes. 
The Chinese believe that negative energy can get stuck in spaces that are messy, dirty or too cluttered ... so you just Feng Sui your space to make room for the GOOD energy by giving your home a really good cleaning. You have 9 areas in your home - for me, I am gonna focus on two - Abundance and Health.  
‘Let there be peace, and let it begin with me’ is the Rabbit motto. Diplomacy reigns. If you want to improve your chances of success, you want to negotiate and cooperate rather than try to force your ideas and methods on others.  It’s also a time to forgive and forget.  To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security and relationships.  Create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.  Now this does not mean there will be heaven on earth. You can find good and bad in every year.


The Chinese believe that everything in the universe is made up of 5 Elements.  Water - Wood - Fire - Earth - Metal.  Every element (or object) in a space has its own energy that it radiates to everyone and everything around it, and if that energy is unbalanced it can affect your life negatively. ALL inanimate objects (a vase, a plant, the TV) have unseen energy.
Fire - High Energy and Passion
Earth - Stability and Nourishment
Metal - Accuracy and Clarity
Water - Abundance, Ease and Freshness
Wood - Vitality and Health   
By Feng Shui-ing your home (simply arranging your stuff a certain way) you can have all your household objects emitting positive energy for you!  Chi (energy) is VERY important. It can either be harmonious and unified OR it can be ridden with conflict, creating a kind of war. You will know if your home’s Chi is bad because you will feel uneasy, anxious, lethargic, unsatisfied, depressed, nervous, worried, sad, selfish, jealous, angry, frightened or empty. 

The BAGUA MAP is a square layout of your home, and divides it into the 9 areas.  Each area relates to a different part of your life. Whatever is going on energetically (good or bad) in that part of your space WILL affect your life. So, you are basically adding the 5 elements to the right places in your home to get the positive energy flowing through your life.


1. Career-life mission
2. Spiritual-Well Being
3. Knowledge-Wisdom
4. Children-Creativity
5. Health-Family
6. Travel-Helpful People
7. Wealth-Abundance
8. Fame-Social Life
9. Love-Relationships

Your Breath Holds the Key to All Healing

I cannot say how much that headline alone sounds so positive and magical. I mean, what could be more perfect for the NEW YEAR!? So, read the following and I hope everyone tries it out. It's free, easy to do and pretty much proven to work. How to do it is at the end of this post - in six EASY steps. I usually do this at nite, in bed to relax and clear my head of all the millions of thoughts consuming my mind.

"Thousands of years ago, great Hindu yogis and Chinese sages developed powerful systems of breath control which they used for mastering fear, healing illness and attaining the state of enlightenment. These ancient systems of breath control possess such remarkable powers, because they access the spiritual life-force that gives our breath its life-sustaining powers. The Hindus call this life-force 'Prana' - the Chinese call it 'Chi' - Hebrews called it 'The Breath of Life' - Christians call it 'The Holy Spirit'. (Andy Caponigro)

Alternate Nostril Breathing Exercise (Anuloma Viloma )

This is EASY to do and VERY beneficial! A healthy person will breathe mostly through the LEFT nostril for about 2 hrs, then through the RIGHT nostril. But in many people, this natural rhythm is disturbed. Anuloma Viloma restores, equalizes and balances the flow of Prana (breath) in the body and produces optimum function to both sides of the brain. This will lead to a balance between your creative and logical thinking. The Yogi’s consider this to be the best technique to calm the mind and the Nervous System.

The Scientific Confirmation

Medical science has recently discovered the nasal cycle, something that was already discovered by the Yogis thousands of years ago. Modern scientists found out that we do not breathe equally on both nostrils, that is one nostril is much easier to breathe through than the other at any particular time. Each nostril alternates about every 2-3 hours. Scientists also discovered that the nasal cycle corresponds with brain function. The electrical activity of the brain was found to be greater on the side opposite the less congested nostril. The right side of the brain controls creative activity, while the left side controls logical verbal activity. The research showed that when the left nostril was less obstructed, the right side of the brain was predominant. Similarly when the right nostril was less obstructed the left side of the brain was predominant.

The Ancient Yogis went one step further. They observed that a lot of diseases were due to disturbances of the nasal cycle or if a person breathes for too long through one nostril. To prevent and correct this condition, they developed the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. This clears any blockage the airflow in the nostrils and reestablishes the natural nasal cycle. For example, the Yogi’s have known for a long time that prolonged breathing through the left nostril only (over a period of years) will cause Asthma. They also know that this so-called incurable disease can be easily treated by teaching the patient to breathe through the right nostril until the Asthma is cured and prevent it from recurring by doing the Alternate Nostril Breathing Technique. The Yogis also believe that Diabetes is caused, to a large extent, by breathing mainly through the right nostril.

Bascially you are: Inhaling through one nostril, holding the breath, and exhaling through the other nostril.
One Round of Anuloma Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing)

1 Inhale through the left nostril, closing the right with the thumb, to the count of four.
2 Hold the breath, closing both nostrils, to the count of sixteen.
3 Exhale through the right nostril, closing the left with the ring finger, to the count of eight.
4 Inhale through the right nostril, keeping the left nostril closed with the ring finger, to the count of four.
5 Hold the breath, closing both nostrils, to the count of sixteen.
6 Exhale through the left nostril, keeping the right closed with the thumb, to the count of eight.

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!!