Yesterday someone asked me – what is the difference between a Life Coach different and a Health Counselor?

The answer did not come to me easily, in fact, that is why I sometimes call myself a coach and others time a counselor. But my certifications make it so that I am both.

I began to think about what the words actually mean – the accepted definitions of each word to find my own answer.  That is a holistic approach to life and I am a holistic health counselor and self healing practices and creativity coach. Everyone is different and everyone finds the answers that work for them.

Generally Accepted definitions from the internet, specifically google and yahoo, were plentiful. I chose the ones that resonated with me.

Health is generally defined as a person’s physical or mental condition.

Counselor refers to a person who gives advice on a specified subject. This is a counselor’s job: to listen and offer suggestions that could possibly resolve issues and problems in a specialized area. A health counselor then advises a client about mental or physical conditions.

And a coach is someone who trains or instructs. A life coach then is someone who instructs on life or living – to improve the quality of life in a specified area of concern.

A counselor advises; a coach instructs. When you advise someone you offer suggestions, you generally let the client decide on the path they want to take and explore.

So given these parameters, a life coach is a teacher of life. Now defining life is no easy task – many have been challenged with this task since the beginning of ….life?

The answer is as complicated as what is the best food to eat because today, many counselors are calling themselves coaches and many coaches are calling themselves counselors. Traditionally, a health coach would focus on all aspects of health – body, mind and spirit. A coach with a health counselor’s training and certifications may also include these aspects with life coaching skills. But not all coaches, especially, life coaches are trained in nutrition.

Let’s just say for the sake of answering these questions: a coach teaches a specified subject; a counselor can teach specified subjects but also offers an ear to listen to problems; makes educated suggestions and then guides the client along on a path they choose – often their own making and finding.

If you are looking for someone to help you improve your life in any way here are a few points to consider when deciding on a health counselor or a coach:

Education:

Nutrition holds the key to healing many emotional issues and is the cornerstone of healing the body and mind. It is essential to know what education and certifications a counselor or coach holds in order to select a ‘partner’ that will provide the guidance and direction you need to manifest the changes needed in your life to heal. This is an essential step in selecting the right person to help you because it tells you the scope of their capabilities – this is how you know what the provider has to offer in terms of the guidance and direction they can provide you with to move you into the life you want to live.

Chemistry:

Training, degrees and certifications is important but not the only element in your choice – interview and interact with different coaches and counselors to see if you have ‘chemistry’ that works together. . Chemistry is something you will feel right away and it is also a funny word to define – I will say simply it is a matter of your energy interacting or responding to anothers. This is something that changes all the time so one day it can be positive and another negative. But in general – you will know if someone’ energy connects positively with yours.

Location:

Many people are getting their coaching or counseling on line or by phone these days. It is simple and efficient but then there are others that like to be in the same room or the same time zone. Know what works for you by trying it out. You might consider a combination of the two. I have coaching sessions by phone in the same town sometimes.  Busy people like that – they can shut the door for an hour and talk. But if you need hands on instructions to meditate or express yourself creatively – chances are you will want to be in the same room with me.

Control Your Life and Weight with Yoga

Twistin the toxins a way each day!

Detox yoga classes are classes that include breathwork and specific yoga poses that target the organs in the torso to eliminate stored toxins in the body. The poses that are included to detoxify the body can have an effect much like a strict dietary regimen with drinking oils or ghee and herbs to stimulate the digestion process. Yoga can also focus on moving the toxins out of the digestive organs by stimulating through a massaging action to these organs. By focusing the poses on gentle or vigorous abdominal twists combined with conscious breathing, a yoga detox class or routine can feel refreshing and invigorating; it also stimulates the metabolism while eliminating the toxins being stored in fat cells. This lays the foundation for weight loss and cellulite reduction.

A gentle yoga practice that includes the toxin releasing twists with breathing exercises also clears the mind and allows for a deep connection to the heart – to spirit. When there is a clear mind and body connected to spirit – life and body experience balance – you can control both your responses to life and your weight when you consistently clear the organs of toxins. This is not a one time or annual event as toxins find there way into our organs each and every day in this world we live in. Yoga is a gentle and rewarding way to stay clean and healthy of toxins so life can be enjoyed fully.

After a practice of detox yoga, 2 to 3 glasses of room temperature pure water is recommended to flush the toxins immediately from the body. Without the water to help this action, the benefits are greatly reduced as the body will reabsorb the toxins that are ready to go back into the fat cells.  Following are the names of some of the yoga detox twists. Remember to lengthen the spine with a deep inhale and then on the exhale twist.

Some of the poses for detoxification are:

• Sukhasana (Easy Pose)
• Nadi Shodna Pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breath), 5-10 minutes
• Face stretches. Make lots of funny faces and deep Simhasana (Lion’s Breath)
• Matsyendrasana (Seated Twist). Be gentle and repeat in the other direction.
• Taking one arm to floor by your bottom and the other arm up and over to side stretch. Repeat other side.
• Ananda Balasana ( Happy Baby)
• Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
• Pavana Muktasana (Standing Wind Relieving Pose)
• Vrksasana (Tree Pose)
• Utthita Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) and Parvritta Trikonasana (reverse triangle pose)
• Uthitta Parsvakonasana (Extended Angle pose)  and Parvritta Parsvakonasana (reverse angle pose)
• Prasarita Padottonasana (Wide Legged Forward Bend) with twist, bringing torso towards one leg and then the other
• Parsvottonasana tuck in the lower belly to make space for the forward bend. Repeat on other side.
• Garbasana (Child’s Pose). Hold for a few minutes and if it is very uncomfortable, experiment, try a pillow for your head for comfort or if you want to have your head higher than your heart. Then walk your hands over to one side and hold for a side stretch, to deepen it extend the hand further or place them on a block.  Do both sides.
• Supta Pavana Muktasana (Reclined Wind Relieving Pose). Repeat other side
• Supta Balasana (Reclined Child’s Pose, bringing both knees into chest)
• Supta Matsyendrasana (Reclined Twists). Repeat other side
• Savasana

You can find instructions on all of these poses on line or in books – or preferably at a yoga studio with a certified instructor. Keep your practice steady and support it with plenty of pure water and air. To increase your clarity of purpose and joy in life – add more fresh organic vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts. Thess also help you to maintain optimum health, control weight and move with ease.

  Namaste’

Taurus Sun Time to Plant Your Garden

The sun is now in Taurus now and we started this yearly cycle with the added energy of the new moon. Taurus is grounded in earthly pleasure – so if you have felt lack in any area of your life, use this energy to focus on changing that – with Taurus you can add more beauty and abundance to your life.  This is the time to plant the seeds that will grow in your garden and in your life. Taurus is also mindful of the pleasure principals that make a wonderful life experience for humans of all sizes, shapes and cultures. So when you are planning your gardens include and balance your sensual nature with your other needs and desires.

Use this energy to nurture your desires by tending to them as if they were seeds in the garden. In fact, this is a perfect time to get into the garden. Your mind seems to shut off in the garden as you connect and co-create with the earth a beautiful vignette to gaze and reflect upon and bounty to enjoy. You’ll find joy in nurturing the plants and watching them grow while benefiting from the fresh air, exercise and meditative state of mind gardening offers.  Taurus loves beauty so this energy supports your efforts to make your spaces beautiful by planting seeds that will flourish and offer natural beauty, seductive fragrances and nourishing foods in the months to come. If you are impatient and want it now – you are not alone.

Patience is a virtue and certainly worth cultivating, but, this Taurus time, might challenge your efforts. So get a get a good start with building your garden at the nursery with some already healthy flowering plants or herbs. This will add to your adventure with Venus during this time in Taurus. Yesterday I planted beautiful flowers and herbs that already scent the air and brighten my home and office inside and out. The energy I found from Taurus with my started plants, was finding the right spot to place each one so they would get the light that they needed and space to grow while complimenting the plants around them. Anything for beauty could be a Taurus affirmation. I know my gardens inside and outside will grow to become as full, beautiful and productive as they can this season.

Now, we can take these same principles into our own life gardens. Take this gardening experience into your life by looking at your life as your creation and homage to Venus – to beauty. Take a few minutes to sit with your eyes closed and breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your nose. Do this a few times, as deeply and for as long as you can, comfortably, without forcing the breath. Then create in your mind’s eye a vision of what you want to create in your life. Look and see, now in this moment, what is missing. Ask yourself:

• What is it you want to have in your life? 
• Are your goals and desires balanced with your plans?
• Is there anything missing in your plans (or thinking) that could prevent building your dreams?
• Is there beauty and pleasure in your life?
• What seeds do you need to plant to make your life beautiful and bountiful?

When you know what is needed to add to your plan, you can make your vision a reality. Using the same care you would in your garden, learn the needs for each detail, each seed in your vision garden to grow strong, beautiful and bountiful. Learn how to make your visions and dreams fit together in perfect beauty and unison.

A Taurus sun can be fun;

Now that winter is undone.

Look now at your life;

Is it from love full of strife?

Plant your seeds; pull the weeds.

Fill your days with beautiful deeds.

With sun in Taurus, take the lead;

Create the path to all that you need.

Make the changes; do it now;

Add some beauty that is how.

Your life’s garden can grow big and tall;

Full with your dreams and bounty galore.

The Taurus sun is calling you; use the inspiration, focus and promise to fill your life with the gifts this earth sign offers.

When we reflect on our personal truth and passionately express them about issues that question ethics, society or politics, as well as personal human emotions and pain,by creating words that have rhythm, like a song or a rhyme, we can inspire a ripple effect of healing in society.  Creative work that deals with deeply emotional issues helps both the creator to process and heal pain while the finished work is able to help others heal; this is the ripple effect of healing. When a creative expression is exposed in a specific culture or in the world, an artist has the ability to participate in changing and healing the culture or the world community.

Everyone is an artist and each person can affect their own healing as well as the world communities healing. It’s a natural ability born in each of us and the only thing preventing creative expression is fear. The joy and healing that creativity is easy to see when you watch children making up their own songs and rhymes. It’s funny that we often think of fear as ‘childish’ but in fact, children are naturally fearless about their expression – and much more courageous than adults to just let go of our basic predictable 3 dimensional world.

Fear has been conditioned into many people around expressing their individuality from an early age as adults teach and train them to fit in and be quiet, to protect them. But in the end, it has, instead limited lives and stunted spiritual growth. The healing power of creativity comes from the spiritual connection the process initiates. You can enjoy the benefits of creativity and the healing this process delivers without changing your job, schedule or getting a musical instrument. You can begin this today by rhyming.

Rhyming is fun to do and heals you too.

Go into your heart and let the fun start.

Deep thoughts are deep inside of you

Some are joy and others are blue.

Find words that come from your heart.

Let them rhyme so healing can start.

Rhyming is as natural to us as feeling and breathing. It is a way we create something ‘real’ from our biological and emotional rhythms. It is the same language we use to describe our dreams or sing in our songs. Rhymes lighten the weight of painful emotions because it involves personal reflection of pain or an event that leads to pain. Acknowledging it is the first step, adding a rhyme to it can make these feelings lighter and then lead to healing. Children process all kinds of fears in the rhymes we teach them as well as the ones they create themselves.

Can you create a rhyme today about something that inspires an emotion – the news, your job, the new moon, your new shoes, or the spring season?

My dog likes to play; he does it all day…When I go away; he begs me to stay…

The first sight of a live oak tree captured my heart,  the feelings still linger from the moment I saw the giant angel oak draping Spanish moss, I was drawn in by its long sprawling limbs and reaching roots. I was captive to the sight of their long branches as they formed arches along the roads, the moss dangling in soft hues of sage woven with sun and stardust. So much so that I moved from my bustling world in the northeast to the slow and gracious south – just to be near them.

Then one day a personal situation demanded drastic solutions. I could no longer trust the people or place I came to know under the live oak trees.  Once again, I set out to find the truth and a way to live with love, trust, passion and beauty.

Still now, the first live oak sighting is fresh in my heart after more than 20 years. I live near live oaks of a different sort here in southern California. Though they are without lacey moss I feel the same energy – healing, safe and knowing. The haunting has been transformed into a calling with whispers that p

Safety and trust, love and Beauty - these are mine from the oak tree.

roved to be healing. In the end, the live oak trees have proven to be my Bodhi tree, my tree of life.

Beneath the arms of an oak tree,

Standing still my heart and soul free,

I look up to the lacey sage moss.

My hands to heart- glad to be boss!

It took many trees through the years

For me to learn to let go of my fears.

Trees are healing for all here and now;

Find one to live by and you’ll know how.

Self Healing Practices are simple ways to help you move through any discomfort, pain, or negative emotions you may be feeling. When life knocks you off balance with a loss – you need a simple way to restore and balance body, mind and spirit. Preferably one that is fun, because when you are experiencing loss – fun can fill that space quickly. There are self healing practices that can help you heal your heart, restore ease in body, and peace in your mind. When you use heart centered gentle practices, such as meditation, gentle yoga, creative expression, journaling, gardening or cooking – you can enjoy yourself while you experience deep long lasting healing.

Positive life changes result from a consistent practice with a stronger healthier body, a hopeful attitude, and a happier heart. These self healing practices have techniques effectively connect you to your heart which is where your true nature can be found. In your heart you can find love and understanding, compassion and forgiveness for yourself and others. This is the key to deep long lasting healing.

You can find your way to your heart center using your breath – it is a tool to open the path by calming your mind and easing your body. This is a process that naturally reveals your true nature – your feeling center. This is where your intuition, your true voice can be found and it’s there for you all the time. You just need to be aware of your breathing patterns.

During my personal healing journey, I learned about breath awareness as part of different self healing practices, particularly, yoga and meditation. As I went deeper into breath using ancient yogic techniques, I noticed blocks inside my body move which made me more flexible and strong and healed my injuries. I also noticed resistance (mental and emotional blocks) melt away too. This is how my life  improved -  I became aware of possibilities available in each moment and so was able to find an honest expression of myself.

When you practice breathing techniques – your awareness sharpens and the subtle signs and symbols in the outer and inner worlds become easier to see and interesting to understand. Life becomes an adventure and one of possibilities. There waiting in a tree, a scent or a dream you can find the connection and direction needed to move further into healing. Staying conscious and practicing with breath helps you to know the next step to a better life.

Stay tuned – there is more information, including tips and exercises, in my new book, Heal from Your Heart with Breath, Rhyme and Art, to be released later this year. Contact me if you want to learn the way to your heart and let your healing start!

Spring is here and the buzz is around detoxing,  fasting and fad diets to get in shape and lose weight. If you want to avoid someone else’s harsh and rigid diet plan, torturous master cleanse or 30 day fast; try a gentle approach and achieve lasting results. A gentle approach now will last all through the year – all through your life. It will produce life changing and health enhancing effects to your body, mind and spirit that will improve every part of your life experience.

The life changing health improvements include a good digestive system which regularly cleanses the body of toxins, absorbs nutrition from your foods while maintaining a stable blood sugar level.  When all of this is in sync, you will not need to subject your body, mind or spirit to a detox or cleanse or fast.

When your body is functioning properly, you are naturally more healthy, more calm and more in tune with your world. Your mind is clear and your spirit shines through your skin, your work, your relationships – you are more at ease with body, mind and spirit united as one gentle yet strong life force.

So, before you start a drastic cleanse to punish yourself for the ’bad’ foods you consumed over the winter, check these few things in your diet.

Water Consumption

Are you drinking enough pure water? Well how much is enough is as individual as you are, but here are a few tell tale signs that you are or aren’t hydrated enough:

If you are drinking enough water:

• Your skin is vibrant with an even tone and a soft silky texture;
• Your nails are strong and flexible
• Your energy level is stable;
• Your muscles are flexible;
• Your digestion is smooth – eliminations are regular;
• Your memory is good.

If you have an issue with any of these points, try drinking 2-4 glasses of room temperature water first thing in the morning.  You can add the juice of a lemon for extra cleansing power.

Continue drinking water throughout the day. You need at least 8 full glasses a day. Keep in mind, everybody is different and some need more – very few need less to function optimally.

Also remember that if you consume toxins from processed foods or eat too much sugar, water helps you to flush them out – so drinking water after such an incident will speed up the cleansing.

Water also boosts your metabolism – it helps you lose weight by helping you burn calories.

Drinking a glass of water 10 or 15 minutes before a meal, curbs your appetite too. This is the simplest, healthiest way to control how much you eat.

Adding water to your diet is a painless way to maintain a healthy weight.

If you find that you drink 8-12 glasses of water a day, but still have issues with your digestion, your skin or your energy, you may not have enough fiber in your diet.

Fiber

If you live on the Modern World Diet of processed foods, you probably do not eat enough fiber. You c an ad fiber to your diet that is low calorie and nutritious from the garden from fruits and vegetables as well as from grains, seeds,  and legumes. Raw and ground are great ways to preserve the nutrients but you can also find good choices in baked goods (such as low sodium sprouted grain breads and cereals) or in supplement forms such as flax seeds or oil. The same vegetables and fruits that provide fiber also curb food cravings. If you have food cravings that are from hunger, rather than from emotional issues, lack of  creativity or boredom,  they probably come from a blood sugar imbalance, and that is solved by adding greens, sweet vegetable and fruit during the day. Try adding a sweet green veggie smoothie in the afternoon if your cravings come in the evening; in the morning if they come in the afternoon.

Still feel like you are not getting the toxins out? Is your skin still dry, flaky, or dull? Hair is limp and the tummy is pudgy? You may be deficient in minerals.

Minerals

Your body needs minerals to eliminate toxins from your fat cells. One indication of the toxin eliminating minerals, Potassium, Magnesium, Sodium and Calcium, is an acidic condition. toxins in your fat cells make it impossible to lose weight. You can have a blood test done to find out about your minerals, or just test your PH levels with tape from the drug store (or pet store). Test yourself first thing in the morning before brushing your teeth. An acidic body measures 6.8-5.0 PH. You want to be 7.2 PH. If you are low, you can add a scoop or two of vegetable protein that has the recommended doses of these minerals in them.

Still not the lean machine with gleaming skin and shining hair you want to be?

Move your body.

Start walking, jogging, working out, biking or best choice yet – start a gentle yoga practice and benefit with a natural detox during your classes.  In a short sweet spring season, you will be feeling and looking like a fine summer day!~

Be gentle with yourself and the planet – drink pure water, eat green and sweet vegetables and fruits and move your body.

Happy Aries New Moon!Astrology and Meditation are tools to help you to understand yourself, body, mind and spirit.

“It’s a wise person who is guided by the stars
  and a fool who is ruled by them.”  Isabel Hickey

It’s a new moon today, and mercury has been retrograde so you might feel blocked or restricted if you are trying to move forward. Many people are experiencing vertigo or fear as they approach new situations and leave old ones behind. Feeling dizzy is part of spring fever as we are changing seasons and also part of finding our grounding as we create something new.

If you have been in the process of moving into something new or have found that things are not working and you need to make changes, chances are you have found this week rather  demanding. With the sun and moon in Aries, it is only natural to want or need to move forward into the future – but mercury has been in retrograde in Aries – slowing us down and making sure we tend to the details. Aries gives us courage and an adventurous spirit – one that is perfect to begin new ventures, This planet’s energy is fast moving and tends to jump in – feet first, so this planetary configuration with mercury retrograde, is a blessing in disguise as your plans will have a better chance of success with your head and heart having equal footing. This seemingly difficult time is providing a way to balance body, mind an spirit and is rooted in your truth.

Aries is ruled by mars, fierce and fearless energy, so be prepared to allow this energy in and you will find the help to build your new projects – this is true especially of pioneering and self expressive ones. So this time of the new moon, the sun and the mercury retrograde in Aries, can be the reason for your delays, as well as, the source to find patience by accepting any blocks as gifts to help you on your path, too. But there is more going on than just these Aries events, astrology in complex.

In order to realize the clues Astrology can offer you must interpret the events and planets correctly. Often you will need a studied and certified astrologer to help you through difficult times that call for radical changes. Finding  guidance and self realization from astrology is possible through regular study and consultations with an astrologer. Looking at your chart as a unique map for your life alone is the key to understanding yourself, your personality with its strengths, and challenges and your true nature, your spiritual self. In your chart answers can be found to your most difficult life questions.

An astrological chart is calculated according to the placement of planets, stars and asteroids in the skies at the precise moment and for the place where you were born. These exact measurements are used by ancient Vedic mathematicians to determine the sound for that moment too, so you can have a mantra that correlates with your chart and your journey here on earth. This is the system used in Primordial Sound Meditation, a technique that allows for a deep, effective meditation experience.

Astrology and meditation are both valuable tools to transcend confusion and chaos to find your answers and a state of restful awareness – peace on this earth. Using these practices each day you can learn more about yourself – your persona and your real self, so that you can create a life that is passionate and filled with joy. Because you are so much more than what can be seen in your chart, meditation helps to fill in the spaces with what is really in your heart – your spirit – your true self.

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

“May your troubles be less, may your blessings be more, and may nothing but happiness come through your door”

Saturday is Saint Patrick’s Day, a day that celebrates Ireland more than St. Patrick. We do that traditionally by wearing, eating or drinking green, Ireland is truly emerald green and has the bright green shamrock as it symbol. This beautiful bright green leafed plant represents the trinity or faith, hope, love and, if you were to find a 4 leaf clover – the fourth leaf means luck to you. Ancient lore also tells of the shamrock being used as an aphrodisiac and a sacred herb that allowed anyone who ate it see fairies.

The shamrock family includes watercress, and is the best way to add green to your diet today as you celebrate Ireland and spread the cheer of green. Cheer it is as once you eat watercress, your body immediately feels more alive. It is an amazingly healthy vegetable and is known today as a super-food. It is has the impact of an herb with its intense nutty flavor and nutrition; it adds zing to your soup, salads, and smoothies. This vegetable is full of vitamin A and C, antioxidants and minerals its natural antibiotic properties boosts your thyroid health.

You can buy watercress at your local food market or grow watercress indoors from clippings planted in pots and set in trays of water or if you live by a stream, you can grow it on the bank.

So today, have a ‘Luck of the Irish’ soup, salad or smoothie – add watercress to your favorite recipes or try these.

Luck of the Irish Green Smoothie:

1. 1 bunch of watercress
2. 1 frozen banana
3. 1scoop of vanilla protein (rice protein is what I use)
4. 1 1 /2 cups of a nut milk, almond is my favorite
5. 2 TBS of ground seeds of your choice (hemp, flax seeds or…)
6. 3 or 4 ice cubes
7. Place all ingredients in a blender on high and cheers to a great day or night!

Lucky Watercress Soup:

1. 3 bags of watercress, rinsed, with or without the stalks
2. 2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into small pieces
3. 1 small onion chopped finely
4. 1 pint water
5. 3 tsp vegetable bouillon
6. 1 teaspoon of olive oil
7. Sea salt and white pepper to taste

1. Heat the oil in a pan over low heat.
2. Sauté the onions until they begin to turn light golden in color.
3. Add the cubed potatoes, stir until coated and let them cook under low heat for about 5 minutes
4.  Add the water and bouillon while stirring well
5.  Cook until potatoes are soft (about 10 minutes)
6. Stir in the watercress until just barely wilted so you can preserve as much of the nutrition, flavor and luck as possible!
7. Scoop it into a blender, mix and then put it back into the pot to heat adding salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy this with your favorite salad, bread, crackers or toasted croutons.

Admit something: Everyone you see, you say to them, “Love me.”
Of course you do not do this out loud, otherwise someone would call the cops.
Still though, think about this, this great pull in us to connect. Why not become the one who lives with a full moon in each eye that is always saying, with that sweet moon language, what every other eye in this world is dying to hear?
- Hafiz

It’s a full moon in most of the world already, but late tonight (or early tomorrow morning) it will be here in the US. Full Moons are times of completion, like an eclipse really, they can end one event in your life and shed light for something new, a path or idea, as well.

There is a lot of lore around the full moon, the mystery and intrigue is partly based on statistics and facts – and partly on our need for mystery and magic. It is true that emotions run very high and so if care is not taken, accidents, violence, illness and lunacy can make that magic dark.  So why not, tonight, sip the cool night air under the full moon, bring the moon magic into in your body and mind and let it live in your heart. Tomorrow you can live with the magic of the full moon energy in your heart and be open and ready to let go of what no longer works and know it will be replaced with something better.

This won’t take away the mystery if the moon, nor will it mean you can control its effects, it will, however, add much more magic to your days. Live with the sense of adventure that comes from looking at each day and event as part of a divine treasure hunt made just for you. It promises gifts in the way of new beginnings and opportunities from the dreams you always intended and sought – there behind each door, under each stone, and with each breath is a gift waiting for you.

What happens to your mood when you hear the words, rising unemployment, failing economy or war?  Chances are you begin to feel anxious or stressed. The world is in transformation and the upheavals can be seen in every aspect of life. These are affecting each person in different ways – but know this – no one is immune to the changes being demanded from us now. Our worlds – inside and out – are under siege and we need a plan that will help us navigate through these stressful times.

You probably know that stress causes pain and disease, but did you know that it is human nature to “download” and “replay” negative messages and that this behavior is how stress is created? Inside the mind those same negative messages you hear echo and compromise your health and limit your life experience.  Emotions from unsettled thoughts can lead to deep physical or emotional pain. If you are like most people, you may try to manage your emotions or handle any pain with what is there in the world for the offering – quick fixes to feel better – distractions like overwork, addictive behaviors, pain relievers such as prescribed or nonprescription medicines and alcohol,   – such fixes provide only temporary relief.

As a result, you can get caught up in doing – in busyness, denial or escape and later become more stressed out, feel unhappy in your work and personal relationships and/or suffer from poor health.   Now more than ever, in a world of threatening turmoil in the earth’s surface, economy and political climates, this thinking has become even more prevalent. We are overwhelmed with negative messages from the media and the demands of everyday life. Though they can be hard to eliminate, the more we resist dealing with these negative feelings and emotions, the stronger they become blocking us from solutions to these troubles.

But this is not necessary as it is also human nature to heal – the body can heal itself if the mind gets out of the way. By learning and practicing self healing practices, you can heal your body-mind-heart and enjoy a rich life of vibrant health and a deep peaceful state of happiness and contentment.  Self healing practices are methods that help you to disengage  from the negative conversations in your mind so that you can connect to a hopeful, honest and joyful voice within that has all the answers you need to improve your health and life with positivity and compassion.

How do you deal with stress? Would you like to know another way?

The Pink Peace Love Fun Cow ...look at this cow and have more fun!~

 What’s fun to you these days?

A few years ago, as I stood looking out at the Lake below the Self Realization Temple, I remarked to my friend, “that was fun!”. I was quickly reprimanded by a man standing by her and told  “that is not fun” he said with authority.  Since then I wondered, if that ‘s not fun – what is?

According to Wikipedia, “Fun is the enjoyment of pleasure and, according to Johan Huizinga, “an absolutely primary category of life, familiar to everybody at a glance right down to the animal level.”[1] Fun may be encountered in many human activities during work, social functions, recreation and play, and even seemingly mundane activities of daily living. The distinction between enjoyment and fun is difficult to articulate but real, [2] fun being a more spontaneous, playful, or active event. The perception of time is shortened when one is “having fun”.[3]

That man at the temple sent me on a journey to learn about fun. I didn’t find it in Wikipedia though I agree with everything that they wrote. They did not tell me what fun is other than I will know it when I have it or find it. So, here is how I found fun after a few years of looking.

First you can’t find fun, I know, at the start of the journey, I searched with others to find it in all the usual places, the places I once remembered experiencing fun. I found others who wanted to have fun too. We went to all the places that people called ‘fun’ like live music venues in the afternoon and fashionable cafes. We went to the mall to ‘hang out’ and look at things with other people. We went to wine bars and coffee houses. We always asked each other after a fun hunt – if we had fun.
One day I watched my dog chasing a leaf in the wind. Her pleasure was plain to see and a neighbor commented to me, “She is having so much fun!” It was easy to see, she was completely wrapped up in the moment and having fun. She was aware enough to find a game and play with her world. She was active, creative, unselfconscious, and open to play. She made her day fun. It

So, why weren’t we having fun, we ‘tried’. These activities used to be fun, why not anymore? Were we getting old? Surely there must be something wrong with us, there were others in those places who seemed to be having fun -  why couldn’t we?
The answer was not a simple one to find. What I found on this journey was almost as surprising as the reprimand that day at Lake Shrine Temple. You cannot find fun. You cannot try to have fun. Fun is a state of being – it’s not in your mind or in a place. And if you are having fun, there is no question about it – you know it and everyone who cares to see knows that you are having fun. It is as Wikipedia said, familiar at a glance. Fun coomes from the heart and if the mind doesn’t get in the way – EVERYTHING IS FUN.

A few days ago I left yoga silently thinking, ‘that was fun!’ I dared not say it but I knew at that moment, that I had fun there. I always do and it’s because I always get  ‘out of my mind’ when practicing. But sometimes I get deeper and farther out of my mind than others. So I have more fun than others – it’s totally individual and up to the individual.  Sometimes, fun takes you by surprise – it is a completely new and unplanned event or experience.
Could it be that fun changes with age? Like cell phones … or stages of life  -  from dolls and games to parties and mind games to  yoga and creativity?  There are stages in life and in each person’s life path. Each stage is different, just like each person so activities that inspire fun for one can be dull for another. Either way, fun is a personal and intimate experience that can be felt alone or with others whose hearts are in the same place at the same time.

Lets have more fun!~

Growing a garden and writing a book have both proved to be challenging creative ventures that in the end changed my perspective on life and the process of creativity peeled away layers that formerly hid potential – and possibilities.  The time felt endless as these tasks required constant attention – all consuming, the garden took over my life during the stages of preparing, planting, weeding and replanting and harvesting; the book, with the editing and rewriting, still not quite ready to produce, remains  the focus of my days, the source of my dreams, and the distraction from my mundane duties.

Originally my book writing project was prompted by the urgings of colleagues’ to promote myself and my practice as it is a matter of meeting the needs and requirements to fit a business practice into the internet marketing and publicity structure. It was expected, after all,  and so many of my colleagues hired ghost writers or just pasted together old articles and blogs to make a book and get this out of the way. It was just a necessity and part of being included in this community – the new internet business paradigm required that everyone be an author.

In the same way, my garden was prompted from the subtle urging of my community and was again expected as part of the personality and process of being a conscious and aware person.  So the book and the garden were not really mine in the beginning – they were assigned by the matrix outside of  my heart and so, I questioned my purpose and associations as I became aware of a deeper need to create something  useful to help ease pain – the kind of pain I was feeling then.

I looked for inspiration and joy to catapult the writing first by blogging, then I rebuilt my website uncountable times, and I took photo expeditions to share and source out passion; there remained a constant anxiety and lack of direction for the project. I looked everywhere for clues as to how to write from my heart – books, articles, writing prompts , and finally I hired an astrology coach to guide me with the astrological transits that were affecting me.

The astrological timings provided a comfortable net including my work and path as part of the plan and the connection to it eased me into the process of the writing. Just like the vegetable garden project that ended up with edible flowers for my body and heart – my book project became the source that healed my body and heart. What began with the urgency to meet standards and expectations from the new business world, grew through a natural unfolding of creativity and beauty . These projects became a creative expression and co-creation with life itself to add passion and purpose  with the desire to create beauty that would heal and methods to inspire perhaps a new way to live.

THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE DON’T HAVE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING; THEY JUST MAKE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING. H. H. DALAI LAMA

Sometimes things happen suddenly, without warning or invitation – that change life forever. Events or losses such as a relationship ending, health challenges, losing your home, or work can easily create chaos in your life.  You can feel like fish out of water, off balance and unsure,  as you look for a new way to live in a permanently altered world.

After a dramatic event, every moment feels different – newer than before. Like a child learning to walk, it can feel scary; leaving you feeling alone or empty – or excited, frustrated or anxious. It can bring on feelings of despair and make you want to run and hide from the world. Depression or fear can creep in and restrict your every movement or you can feel angry, react fiercely and fight it armed with disbelief and disillusion. You might even try to  ignore your feelings and try to understand why it happened with intellectual reasoning. No matter how you react – change is afoot and how you live through it is up to you.

We’ve all suffered losses; we each have knee jerk reactions, ingrained patterns of response, that can limit or expand our life experiences.  Being that we are different, our ways to grieve loss and manage change are unique. But you can change the way you respond to anything in life.  Time heals wounds and restores  wholeness when we participate in the healing process with positive conscious attention to each moment.

At the moment of impact – the moment your life path shifts from straight and steady into a bumpy patch or a long curve with no foreseeable end in sight – your breath changes. Depending on the event, your breath might even be knocked out of you. When this happens, you gasp for air and it can come through you as a long sweet sigh of relief or as a fast and furious fearful pant. One is health and heart affirming the other is harmful to your health and mentally restrictive.

No matter how your react, the Dalai Lama reminds us, as do most spiritual teachers and leaders throughout the ages, that we have a choice of how to feel about our life and circumstances.  We can choose to feel what is happening at the moment and let it go with appreciation and  gratefully acknowledge what we have now, or we can choose to stay stuck in the past and suffer the loss over and over again, denying growth or joy into our lives.  When we cling to what we no longer have and  hold on to a loss – we stop living – we lose our purpose -  to love and be loved.  So how do you do that? How do you move past a disappointment or serious loss and into a loving present moment?

Since your first reaction to stress, fear or change, is the pattern of your breath – this is your first and most powerful tool to navigate loss and change. You can bring yourself into the moment by being consciously aware of your breath. A practice of breath awareness will help you ease your body, quiet your mind and awaken your heart. So when you have a loss or change, notice your breath.  Use a breath awareness practice to transition from fear or negative thinking into the present moment. In this moment you can find so many things to be grateful for, especially in the shadow of a loss, you can see all you do have rather than what is no longer there.

Drastic losses and changes can become the impetus to improve your life. It is how you choose to think about them – your attitude – that can turn these losses into a positive and exciting adventures in living, learning and creativity.  You were given breath to live – use it when you feel threatened or afraid, stressed or sad – to create new life. It is in your breath you can change your life by transforming moments of chaos to peace or fear to love. One moment at a time your breath will lead you to your answers and you can  find solutions for living positively – no matter what is happening in the world. Breathe new life into your old ways – your breath will show you the way to your truth – your heart – and a new way of living with joy.Can you remember a time or event that took joyfully your breath away? Focus on bringing that element into your life consciously now.

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King Day was declared in 1994 – it was declared a day that would be a call to action honoring King. He was a preacher who lived and died to achieve peace and equality in the world. King spoke to many about his dreams and in his dreams – a new world was born. this world would allow his children to be free from being judged by the color of their skin; in his new world, the hills and valleys of life would be more even; there were less struggles for the afflicted. In this dream world there was equality. King promoted the struggle to make the changes needed – he led the marches with passion and commitment that inspired a movement – others gladly followed.

He was a great leader and his following was brave and strong. He preached that “A man who would not die for something did not deserve to live.” He meant his words – his life personified – walk the talk. He loved those he led towards his dream and the ones he had to fight to get that dream. His dream place was a place built out of love. And so, even after he was shot and died, the struggle to make his dreams true, continued. His love marched on inside so many others. Though he died for his dreams and because of his dreams – it was not in vain. His integrity and great love for all continues to inspire others to make that dream come true.

Today the color code for success and power in the US has been erased; we have an African American President. In many ways the work has just begun – we have more dreams to reveal before this world knows compassion first, fear last. Love is the call for action. Love is the fuel that makes dreams last forever. That’s why the quote “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too much of a burden to bear.” inspired me today. I realize that when a dream or action comes from hate, fear or any negative emotion, it is destructive rather than constructive. It promotes struggle and more hate, more destruction more negativity. Love is the answer to your dreams.

How can any one person effect a change in the world? It is plain to see that the world is suffering; we know this is a fact. There is war, brutality exists among men and women, races, religions and countries in all parts of the world. The economy is faltering, governments are failing, the environment is unhealthy, our food is tainted, it goes on and on…hope is hiding behind fear. We have a shameless society – one that condones or looks the other way when there is lying, cheating, stealing and worse. It has to change – we hear our hearts cry – but how?

Change is a sure thing. We have a choice to fight to create it from a place of hate and judgment or to come from a place of compassion and love. We are all human and humans are complicated. But underneath it all we are all the same – we all have choices and we can choose to to live from love or hate. This is how “I have a dream. ” lives on – the dream is love.

It is not people we must fight to make the world a better place – it is the way people are feeling that must change. Fear is our enemy not each other. Fight your fears and help others feel safe too. Today my call of action is to free my dream from fear and feed it love. Today, I give my dream a chance. Today, I promote and reveal my loving dream in all that I do. And I will do that by loving what is here now in my life. This is the way dreams come true. My mantra today – As I am inspired – the universe conspires to make my love filled dreams come true.

Each of us is different, not exactly a new concept- it’s been taught throughout history by all the great teachers. However, it has come back to the forefront of health and nutrition research because today’s doctors and scientists acknowledge inconsistent responses to food, medications and treatments from one person to the next. Interestingly, these differences do not occur within standard groups or categories of people.

You are created differently from anyone else, no matter what sex, race, religion, creed, or nationality you are at the moment. You have a exclusive set of requirements for your rare essence, personality or ego, body type, mental facility, and emotional and spiritual nature. Although everyone shares common universal needs such as food, clothing, shelter, water, and air, each person has different remedies and requirements to meet these needs. This finding is sometimes referred to as bio-individuality. Even more fascinating about this fact is that your unique remedies for optimum physical, mental, and emotional health changes all the time.

You can learn this fact first hand by checking with the most reliable source for your health and life questions. Yourself. Learn to understand the language of your body, connect to your soul and follow your heart with the holistic healing practice of writing in a journal. By recording the food and beverages you consume, the details around consuming them, like when and who you were with, what you were doing and thinking, how you felt after you ate them, and so on, you add a deeper level of consciousness to your food and lifestyle choices. You will learn how to nourish all the parts of you and find the way to live with more pleasure and satisfaction in life. In fact, all of the choices you make will support all of your goals for body, mind an spirit. You will enjoy increased intuition, creative expression, abundance in health and love by connecting to the most fascinating person in the world – you. Your world will also fill with more happy and healthy, abundant and loving people too.

With the holidays upon us, now is the time to make the step for a better life – a life that will reflect who you are and support your visions for happiness. Begin now with writing in a journal, it will keep you present and connected to yourself and your dreams.

There is a balance of all things and a balance in all things.

Let go and trust the universe to support you

Nearly a year ago I was in a car accident that left me unable to do any of my regular physical activities. I could barely sit comfortably for months – it affected every part of my life – even my meditation practice. I had to quit yoga, walking, hiking, limit my painting and delay my move to LA for 5 months.

When my Chiropractor said it was okay for me to move, I found a temporary apartment and had a bit of a set back from the lifting and demands of the move. I was told to go ahead and start some gentle stretching with a therapist or instructor. I began my search and went to the local gyms. The different environments did not appeal and so I walked.

As they say when the student is ready the teacher will come – I met someone while walking my dog who told me of a yoga studio. So I headed for the studio in Westlake Village, Yogaworks. It was love at first sight – my spirits were lifted as soon as I walked in the door – the air even felt better. The space was inviting and expansive – two things that make everything better for me from relationships to living spaces – breathing room and warmth simultaneously. They offered this and more – a flexible and reasonable membership in a gorgeous space with many classes and levels to expand and grow a practice. I didn’t have to think twice. This was where I would heal.

This was 4 months ago and since then what started out to be a physical therapy program of gentle yoga stretches has grown to be the meat of my meditation practice – the two practices are now one. I’ve found balance in my life and within my body, mind and heart, with my yoga practice. Each moment of each day’s practice reminds me of the delicate balance necessary within and without for a peaceful, loving connection with myself and others. Yoga for me is a gentle teacher and the message continues to be ” be gentle with yourself and others”.

I continue to learn with each class how being gentle increases my flexibility and reach. With slow movements and breaths, easy grips and attitude, my mind opens and allows a more natural, instinctive response and awareness both of myself and others. Everything flows and finds balance with ease when we are gentle.

Dream Peace ~

In times of transition or confusion, many people look to their dreams for messages to restore or create peace. Dreams, like dreamers, are different in nature and purpose but all dreamers seek meaning from their dreams. Dreams can haunt a dreamer until there is a sense of understanding or resolve of the dream. This fascination has inspired great poetry, books, films and psychological and spiritual theories.

a hill to climb

~Finding meaning in dreams is a valuable tool for self understanding, improving lives and relationships. By grasping the essence of dreams, the dreamer can heal emotions, find answers and inner peace. ~

From the least noteworthy dream to the fantastic dream – the dreamer wants there to be a message – the dream is a mystery to be solved. Theories range from classic psychological sexual symbolism to dreams being premonitions, messages from angels or the dead, and the subconscious replay of the days events for synthesis. Dream images can be interpreted with a therapist or alone with a dictionary or journal. Being unique, we have our own associations and meanings for things so in the end – dreams are interpreted by the creator or dreamer of the dreams. But sharing a dream with another helps in many ways.

When a story or a dream is told to another, the details make it understood and to an extent, experienced by the listener. Remembering the details also helps the dreamer as it is there in the details, the answer or the devil lies. A listener offers a new perspective and point of view, just as in daytime life, the details need to be seen to get the whole picture. Sometimes the subtle layers of the dream, the red shoes or the tree with one flower, are the inspiration or new possibility, the dreamer is needing.

A dreamer can wake tired from active dreaming – or moody from emotional encounters experienced in a dream that seemed ‘real’. To understand this watch an animal while they sleep – a dog will move their legs and cry in their sleep while they are dreaming. There is physical, mental and emotional involvement while dreaming – as if it was truly happening. In many ways dreams are as real as life.

~ Could it be that dreams are real or is everything a dream?~

By living mindfully and healthily (we all know what that means), our lives become more simple and peaceful. Chances are this can carry over to our night-lives too. Bringing peace to our inner and outer, day and night, lives we can create a more peaceful world.

Have you had any dreams that helped you make peace or need help to resolve? Share your dreams here for a new perspective and more peace.

Three problems - one prayer

You may be wondering how art and creativity can heal your emotions. Well, scientifically speaking, studies have concluded, that the process of creating art (or anything creative) change a person’s physiology and attitude. Art and creativity actually change the brain wave patterns and affect a person’s autonomic nervous system, hormonal balance and brain neurotransmitters.

When you add a meditation to that creative process – even a brief one -the experience is even more profound as the mind and body experience a transformation that turns stress into relaxation. In this state of mind, fear is transformed into inspiration and answers, solutions and positive mood changes come from within to be seen on canvas or heard from an instrument.

We know that art and music affect each and every cell in the body immediately creating a healing physiology changing the immune system and blood flow to all the organs. Art and creativity also change our perceptions of the world, and our own private, unique worlds. Inside our world we can process emotions, change attitudes, deal and heal from pain with our changed perceptions.

Hope waits there to be found with a positive outlook giving us solutions, answers and strength to cope with stress and challenges.

Neurophysiologists have stated that art, prayer and healing all come from the same place in the body, have similar brain wave patterns, affect the mind and body similarly, and are all directly connected in feeling and meaning. Art, prayer, and healing, take us deep into our own inner-world of emotions and visions. This is our singular way to communicate, understand and process feelings where there once were no words.

Creativity – the process of taking a feeling and creating something tangible, helps us connect heart or spirit, body and mind. This balance allows healing energy to boost our immune system and restore balance. The answers and the healing lies within our hearts and can be found through art and creativity.

The actual physical creating stimulates and inspires continued creativity. Just like smiling or laughing (even when forced) produces genuine smiles and laughter – if uninspired – just ‘playing’ with paint, clay, scissors and paper – creativity is stirred and healing is moments away because the heart is then free to express itself.

You may not create a museum masterpiece at first but you will begin to understand your feelings. the first step to process and heal them.  You will have a tool that will  connect you your heart to use whenever you feel hurt or confused. Practicing anything regularly brings results and improvement. You will be fluent in your heart’s language and your creative work more masterful.

This is a mindful practice that will heal your heart, mind and body and add beauty to your life.

Wow – it has been a long time since I connected with my blog! I’ve been writing and painting – and with restored health back to yoga practice, painting, writing and even traveling back east to see my family.

Each morning I do take time to see if anything important is waiting in my inbox and today this article was there – I had to share it with you.

The Biology Of Consciousness by Dr. Bruce Lipton

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Using slides, films and language understandable to everyone, cell biologist Bruce Lipton talks about his discoveries, revealing compelling evidence that biochemical mechanisms facilitate the phenomenon of mind over matter.

A former Stanford professor, Lipton spoke on the “Biology of Consciousness”at an annual IMDHA Conference one October.

Proponents of the notion that we can influence the actions of our bodies through our attitudes, emotions and beliefs have traditionally been metaphysicians rather than scientists. Now, according to Lipton, there is hard scientific data challenging the theory which holds that cells are closed units; that we are who we are because of the DNA in our cell nuclei; and that our future is dictated in part because of the genetic makeup of our ancestors. Lipton believes the cell membrane is where consciousness resides – that the outer boundary or each cell is where self and not-self come together.

At this point in his lectures, Lipton turns to the chalkboard to diagram the makeup of cell membranes. He first explains that every cell is a microcosm of the larger organism. Apparently, there are 70 trillion of these self-contained copies of us running around in our bodies, each with its own digestive, excretory and reproductive systems. Rather than holding that each cell is dedicated to a singular function – for example a liver cell being created as part of the liver – Lipton argues that all cells are “robotic” – in other words, blank computer disks ready to be filled with the needed information.

When a cell is constructed, it’s built to act on its own; it can survive by itself in a laboratory environment. When it becomes part of a community, it subjugates its individuality. The entire cell community receives instructions from the life force itself similar to the way in which a radio pulls in broadcasts from the air. If we beam negative messages, Lipton says, the cells will respond in a negative manner.

Another way to look at it is to see cells as building blocks. Lipton talks about creating an elaborate design from basic units of consciousness and powering it all with the vital force. But the force is not inherent in either the system or the cells. He suggests thinking of cells as crystal radio sets tuned to the frequency of the life force.

A cell is like a computer chip. A chip is a bit of information and so is a cell. Each has the means of receiving information through various channels and making something happen. The more chips you have in a computer, the more information it can process; the larger a cell’s surface area, the more information it can process.

Cells are programmed to respond in certain ways beginning in infancy or even before birth, but they can be reprogrammed to act differently. It is the process of the membrane receiving information, processing it and sending it on into the cell for action that determines the behavior of the cell – not any inherent, fixed programming. Lipton scoffs at the assumption that “cancer runs in the family”. There is no cancer gene, he insists. Cells go cancerous when they are told to do so.

By correcting this thinking, we can correct the diseases which plaque us, Lipton continues. In other words we can heal ourselves by changing our beliefs. His theory would explain the success of visualization, faith healing, psychic healing and Christian Science.

A change in personality can change physiology. Fear can lead to death. AIDS, cancer and other diseases can be started through fear. He feels that when a person has no health insurance he or she tends to stay well. People believe they can’t afford to get sick so the don’t. Lipton links the current high incidence of colon and rectal cancer with the fact that there is a lot of information that says there is a high incidence of colon and rectal cancer. It’s a case of self-fulfilling prophecy. “We see TV commercials that announce that its flu season and we should take this or that drug. So we get the flu and end up taking the drug. In a way those commercials are a lot like a witch doctors’ curse,” Lipton said. The way things are now, most research grants are funded by the drug companies so most research ends up proving the need for more drugs.

Drug-less healing starts with eliminating self doubts, with the small things. “There will be relapses into disbelief but the relapses will be shorter and shorter. Once you empower yourself, take control of your life, everything starts to go faster until ultimately you become your own healer,” says Dr. Lipton.

Today is a partial lunar eclipse, one astrologers expect to have a huge impact on us collectively and individually. They all seem to agree that we’ve been shown the areas that will be impacted. For me it has been and continues to be the four angles of my chart – if you are not familiar with astrology – lets just say – pretty major – pretty intense.

Shadowing this eclipse, I was notified that a while ago my personal information was compromised by a security break in the Anthem Blue Cross – data base – a  woman and her attorneys were able to get into the on-line system and retrieve a few select files. No one at Anthem will speak to me about this.They have a recording stating their attorneys are on it and that they have been monitoring activity and nothing suspicious has happened. (they have been watching my accounts?) They also gifted me with a free year of identity theft protection. Since I don’t know how much information they collected in my file, I had no choice but to cancel all of my accounts.

Hmm, 3 months ago someone charged 4000.00 using my credit card number – I had the card -  in Las Vegas. I would say that was suspicious.Then following that a virus hit my system and I lost all files on my computer (you can read about that on an earlier blog).

This is my first house hit from this eclipse – the house of Identity and for me it was stolen (or borrowed). So, I’ve spent most of this week trying to resolve all kinds of issues that erupted from this computerized automatic system we’ve developed to make life ‘easier’. With each phone call, my head and heart connected with thoughts of days gone by when people ate real food and knew each other by face.

We teach the dangers of chemicals and processed foods.

• Is it time to teach how unhealthy and dangerous computers are? is it time to change this  automated lifestyle that identifies people by website, blog, phone and account numbers rather than by face?
• Is it time to change the way we connect from text, email, IM and if you are lucky by phone?
• What would it be like to not be sitting alone on-line, on hold, and in traffic?

I say yes, it’s time to make a change – a big change.

Yesterday I sent friends on facebook a video of Dr. David Simon on attention and intention, this morning I received notice that he has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He is having surgery today and he along with Chopra Center ask for loving thoughts, jokes and prayers for David as these are healing and the collective does rule.

This was another reminder from David Simon and the Chopra Center, one of my gurus and schools, of the power of intention and attention. Focus on the healing rather than the pain, on the joy rather than the sadness. Keep your loved ones in your heart – send love and healing thoughts to those you know are in pain – tell everyone you love – I love you – in all the things you do and say keep your heart true and connected.

This is a big day for healing and my love and appreciation for the two people I know going through medical procedures today have a deep place in my heart.

Watch this video to be inspired.

It’s sometimes difficult to find organic fruits and vegetables, even here in California where most of them are grown. Fortunately, there are some commercially grown, non-organic fruits and vegetables that are relatively safe to eat. Little or no pesticides were used to grow them. These 12 safe ones are: Onions, avocados, sweet corn (though I personally won’t eat any corn, pesticides or not due to GMO contamination), pineapples, mango, sweet peas, kiwi fruit, cabbage, cantaloupe, grapefruit, sweet potatoes, and sweet onions.

On the other end of the spectrum are the fruits and vegetables that are dangerous and toxic to eat unless they are organic. These 14 vegetables and fruits contain MANY pesticides and you cannot wash them off.  do not eat these commercially, non organic foods if you want to be pesticide free : lettuce, peaches, strawberries, celery, apples, blueberries, sweet bell peppers, spinach, kale, collard greens, cherries, potatoes, imported grapes and lettuce.

Want to start the summer with a fresh outlook, a clear path and an authentic Shamanic blessing? I have done this regularly and Jade’s ceremonies even from a distance have had made a  profound difference in my life path, clearing the way.  Check this out and the other teachings, services and events from shamanic.net.

Spring is in full bloom! Celebrate!

Clearing the debris of this last year’s troubles and turmoils provides us with room and space in our Garden-of-Life to be more productive and beautiful in the expression of the intentions and hopes that we choose to bring forth in the coming year.

At this New Moon the Rite of the Seven Sacred Sisters is being offered to assist in the cleansing and blessing of our families, health, businesses, creative projects, spiritual path and our very life itself.

Whether you are able to come and sit with me  in Sedona, or choose to participate from wherever you reside, you are invited to join in this powerful experience that will be palpably felt in the very core of your cellular nature, in your Soul and in your Life.
Blessings~
Jade Wah’oo Grigori

Clearing the debris of this last year’s troubles and turmoils provides us with room and space in our Garden-of-Life to be more productive and beautiful in the expression of the intentions and hopes that we choose to bring forth in the coming year.

At this New Moon the Rite of the Seven Sacred Sisters is being offered to assist in the cleansing and blessing of our families, health, businesses, creative projects, spiritual path and our very life itself.

Well it was an official start to the holiday weekend here in LA County.  It was hot, sunny and festive. I checked out Sex and the City 2 – and well, those girls gave me lots to think about in terms of relationships, rules, expectations and aging. And then there is the sex, shoes and styles to talk about. It’s a really great get away and go within movie, at least it was for me.

I practiced my visualization skills seeing myself walking around in a gypsy type ballroom sized hooped skirt and tshirt and wearing crazy sequined harem pants with a safari jacket and then there were the shoes – the shoes that caused years of discomfort, pain and disconnection for me.

This is where the style magic turns into madness. I am paying the price for wearing stilettos now. I proudly walked miles in NYC wearing my spike colorful heels – now I’ve learned how to heal the damage done by my self inflicted torture. Or was it self inflicted, is it the fashion police, the media or men who demand high heels as part of being pretty, appealing and worthy?My back, spine, and knees suffered from the glamorous shoes I wore as did my budget.

I learned the hard way. Spike heels should be sold with and as lingerie, not as shoes.  They are part of a costume. Wear them when you mean it and when you need to.Protect your body and your heart.  Realize the power of the heel to seduce, hurt and steal a heart.

I read on a new facebook friends page today a great quote and part of that quote applies to what has happened to me this past month – well, this past lifetime, really.  “when you learn to be patient you learn to understand”.

I knew it would be rough moving to an new city and traveling back east all during this past (and still lingering) mercury retrograde period. It was in fact much worse than it should have been – because I did not adjust my pace to match the pace of the universe. So I hurt myself and lost my cool and as you may know, my files, too. I felt bad for a minute for not chilling and instead reacting too quickly – trying to fix everything much too fast.  Time was in fact what I needed to really fix things right.

My rewards have been a practice in patience. That is when I finally did practice patience everything came to me – and much different than I intended (and BETTER).  The blog that would not change templates, suddenly did. And better yet, I was able to finally download wordpress (been trying for a really long time).  Now the blog I was originally going to put on wordpress has evolved to something much more meaningful to me and my work. So time was needed here for the idea to gel.

I am moving slower and steadier.  It’s a beautiful day here in Agoura Hills and I plan to take my time working on my new blog – a blog about being single, living on your own and finding meaning, purpose, passion and fun all by yourself.

I haven’t been writing much lately because I was moving, traveling and receiving treatments for some injuries. It has been a process and a practice of patience for me to accept limitations and respect restrictions and rules of a new community, the airports and airlines.The more I pushed myself and my goals the worse things seem to have gotten.

I wanted to be healed by the spring so I could go hiking, instead I overdid it and had a set back in my healing. So I painted.

I dedicated hours to writing series of articles, research and a couple of book outlines so I could get ahead of my deadlines, instead, I lost my files because I was in a hurry and didn’t back-up my files.
So I painted.

I wanted to have everything purchased and delivered  to my new apartment pronto, instead, I bought a bunch of stuff that doesn’t work and I have spent even more time returning them and looking for the right things.
So I painted.

With each struggle, the process of painting has brought me inspiration and I have learned to move with  ease within the time and restraints of moving, traveling, working, and healing. The contest and battle is over and time truly is on my side.

A few days ago my computer was infected by a virus and I lost ALL of my files including unpublished articles, research, business plans, legal docs, photos and more.  I am a writer, among other things – I was reckless not to protect my work.  I put off backing up continually so there goes many years work.

How it happened.

The virus was attached to a facebook email – I had several suspicious facebook messages from different friends over a period of a few days. I’d just moved last week – I was doing things quickly but still I thought I was safe.  After I clicked on the link and my internet security would not allow the link to be shown, I sent a warning message to the sender -  but somehow the virus got inside.

What I did

After restoring my computer to factory state, I decided to go out and take some photos of my new surroundings to recreate my photo file. My camera would not work – the battery just wouldn’t charge.  So I decided to run errands and as I got to my car I saw the tire was flat.

It could be a classic mercury retrograde… But even I was taken aback. Then I decided to paint. I took a gentle but deep breath and turned on Enigma. As I listened I painted and began to gently process my feelings. The work I did was unlike anything I ever did before. I am excited about it and grateful for the hard road given me to get to this point.

And I will back up my files daily .

Astrologers and shamans alike are hailing this moon, the first one of spring, as particularly powerful and able to assist us in creating a better, happier, healthier and more meaningful life. Old goals, relationships, and intentions, can find new life with this very potent full moon.

Our first spring full moon is in the sign of Libra while the sun is in the sign of Aries. Balancing relationships with individual needs and purpose is possible now with strength and courage, in a new and adventurous way. Goals can manifest quickly and dynamically with a realistic and inventive plan now.  Take this perfect opportunity to access the cosmic support available to change what needs to be changed by focusing on what you want to create. Check in with yourself today – review your goals and your relationships. This is the perfect time for new beginnings and new ways of living and relating.

Today, Tuesday, March 23, President Obama signed his health care bill surrounded by supporters at the White House. The bill is focused mainly on insurance reform and this has many Americans still  questioning its strength and many strongly opposed. Unable to get past fear, the fear insurance companies have used to build their companies, the opposition has poised themselves to continue the fight and threatens to use the upcoming elections to attack the bill state by state. Fear and bias are the walls the President will have to breakdown with hard hitting and convincing words. With any luck, the President’s bill will have time to prove itself.

But really, this bill is just the beginning of the reform needed to make Americans healthy. In order for Americans to enjoy good health, agriculture, food manufacturers, and beverage industries need to be scrutinized – for the chemicals, inhumane practices, unsanitary conditions, and high costs affecting the health and pockets of Americans. Chemicals in foods and in medicine are expensive, unnecessary, often have dangerous side-effects, and sometimes they are fatal. The many safe, affordable, alternative approaches to sickness and pain, stress and unhappiness should be available, used, and promoted before resorting to health threatening chemicals.

Chemicals, nutrition and calories will now be required on all fast food restaurant items. At least diners will be able to make a better choice and maybe even realize that home cooking is a better option.  It is possible to be healthier – even without insurance – it is possible by knowing exactly what your are eating.

Are you ready to take responsibility for your health?



Yesterday I posted my article on examiner.com for Santa Barbara about the FDA recall on HVP. There is an estimated 10,000 products containing HVP – this is a national recall. HVP is a hydrolyzed protein used as a flavor enhancer and found in even products labeled organic. There is evidence of HVP having salmonella contamination.

HVP is manufactured by Basic Food Flavors and although many products have been specifically identified by the FDA, consumers are urged to read labels in their kitchens and before purchasing or eating any prepared or processed food products. Your health is in your own hands and eyes.

HVP is found in processed foods such as potato chips, pretzels, soups, dressings, dry dip and gravy mixes, bouillon products, marinades, frozen foods and fresh foods such as potato salad and fresh dips. In addition to these items, it is also used in many other grocery products.

Reading labels can help prevent chemical or substance caused illnesses, but eating more fresh,whole, unprocessed or prepared foods in the best way to stay healthy.

Cravings can be a distraction from work, play or even sleep. They can be irritating as they never seem to be satisfied, well at least not for long. This is because cravings are the language of your body – your body is trying to tell you something. Like signs along the road, messages in a bottle or a song, there is a meaning and purpose for that insistent craving.

I’m craving bread and chocolate. That was the name of my first shop, and it’s also the foods I shared with my father as a child. We made Chocolate sandwiches together, it was our thing. I’m all grown up and he has passed away, so what could this mean? I’m feeling sentimental and I miss my father. When it is an emotionally based craving you can satisfy it by calling a friend to talk or by writing in your journal.

Here a few common cravings and possible reasons for them.

• Baked goods or cheese cravings can signal a yeast infection, allergy, or an emotional issue

• Caffeine craving can be pointing to depleted adrenals

• Chocolate cravings can indicate cocoa allergy, lack of love or love hormone, magnesium deficiency, hormonal imbalance or a need for comfort

• Craving the same time every day can indicate low serotonin

• Alcohol cravings can indicate imbalanced brain chemicals, mineral
deficiencies, allergic addiction, or lack of love

• Orange juice is an allergic addiction

• Cravings during PMS are due to decreased progesterone, trace minerals, or vitamin deficiencies.

If you have a craving and want to understand what it means look deep and find the right ‘food’ to feed your body, mind and heart what it really needs.

Do you crave anything?

In the same way you have a frequency or vibration – a primordial sound you also have archetypes that emerge from your uniqueness. They can be a hero or heroine, a mentor or role model, a classic goddess or god, an icon or symbol. The ones you are drawn to can give you answers to your questions, clues for your search and gifts for your heart and soul.

Archetypes emerge from our collective subconscious and speak in symbolic ways. Your archetypes can help you define what it is you want and guide you to attract and manifest your life’s dreams, bringing to you the love, health, and work you were born to create and enjoy. Some archetypes will connect you to a group, a community and the combination of them can reveal to you your uniqueness.

When you identify your archetypes you gain deeper understanding of your past and see more clearly the possibilities before you. Who are your archetypes?

Writing your bio, or updating your resume, can help you find direction and connect you with your heart’s desires. Listing all of the roles you played and the places you have been, shows you the patterns, pulses and passions that lit your path to where you are now. You can see from your memories the lessons, successes, or disappointments that came from your choices — they are there to guide you.

Dreams change or are forgotten. Writing your life can connect you to old dreams or reveal a new one. Ahead of you lies many choices, many roads, and many roles. It is your choice and the options ahead are plentiful. Use your past life to guide you now to a happier, more fulfilling life.

Do you know where you are going?

Are the weather patterns, earth changes and global shifts frightening you?

Everyone is talking about the recent earth changes and dramatic weather across the globe. Here in California there is a bit of uneasiness with each earth event, after all, California was supposed to crack off years ago. The big one keeps us waiting, so it seems as these events get bigger and bigger – we could be next. Some people are preparing for the shift rigorously with diet and lifestyle changes, others are looking for options, preparing for the possibility, some are moving, and some are pushing fear aside choosing to feel safe.

I am choosing to believe I am as safe here as anywhere because once I was evacuated off an island due to a hurricane threat – sent right into the hurricane. When you survive a natural disaster or anything earth-shattering in your life, you are not so afraid to face another. That is why I am not moving – at least not yet.

What about you, what do you think- Is it denial to stay on the west coast and trust that we can handle it if it does come or stupid to stay?

Here are some of the questions often asked about mediation. I hope this brings clarity and inspiration for you and either enhances your practice or motivates you to begin one.

What are the benefits of meditation?

Some of the benefits of meditation are:

• Improved memory, performance, decision making,relationships,intelligence
• Increased energy,creativity
• Deeper, longer sleep
• Relief from depression, anxiety, asthma, and chronic migraines
• Reduced stress and signs of biological aging
• Weight Control
• Stable, health cholesterol levels
• Decreased heart disease risk
• Strengthened immune system
• Normalized blood pressure and heart rate
• Less cravings and addictive behaviors

What is a Mantra?

Mantra is a Sanskrit word meaning instrument of thought. It is a rhythmic sound. The term originally referred to a Vedic hymn. In Hinduism, a mantra is a magical or mesmerizing phrase that, when repeated, becomes a sound. The intention is to create a meaningless sound so that your mind can rest and your heart can speak. You do have a personal Mantra and that is your primordial sound, the sound the universe made at the time of your birth. This sound deepens meditation, helping you more readily enjoy the benefits of better health, increased love and abundance, and much more.

What is Primordial Sound Meditation?

It is a mantra based meditation technique. Primordial Sound Meditation is a time-tested meditation technique dating back thousands of years to the ancient Vedic traditions of India. As a Chopra Certified instructor, I am able to teach you the most powerful tool available to directly connect with Spirit and rediscover your unique essential nature.

How long do you have to practice meditation before you see the benefits?

Everyone is different. Practicing twice a day for 30 minutes is recommended in order to fully benefit. Many people notice – or their friends and family notice – positive changes almost immediately, in as soon as a few days.

What if you have thoughts?

You will have thoughts. These meditation techniques are not about trying to stop your thoughts. Trying involves thinking because it brings your mind into activity, which then creates more thoughts. Primordial Sound Meditation, breath, mindfulness meditation or any of the many techniques practiced, include a gentle and easy way to quiet the mind so you effortlessly relax, think fewer thoughts by focusing instead on something else, such as a mantra or breath.

Do you have to wear special clothing or sit in a yoga pose?

Dress comfortably when possible. For the meditation I teach, it’s not necessary to wear special clothing or sit in a particular position or place, other than that you do your best to be comfortable. It’s recommended that you wear loose clothing and sit in a comfortable position. Unless you’re ill, sitting rather than lying down is recommended, as we are usually more prone to falling asleep when lying down.

Do you have to be a vegetarian?

Everyone can meditate, it is not about diet or religion. You don’t need to be a vegetarian or change your religion, name, beliefs, customs, or country in order to meditate. Meditation is simply a technique that many thousands of everyday modern people use to reach a more complete state of restfulness and improve their quality of life.

Walking a labyrinth is like a prayer, a meditation, a path to go within and connect to yourself.  Labyrinths are found often at older churches as it is an ancient spiritual practice.  Whenever I visit the Phoenix area, I include walking this particular labyrinth – it is one of my sacred places. It holds a powerful cleansing for me. It shows me what I need to see each time I go there.

This past weekend I tearfully walked the path, silently looked out to the mountains through the healing gardens and gray stormy skies. I ask my question. As I reached the center, the sky changed, the desert was bright, cheerful and colorful – I feel more hopeful as I looked down at the little angel holding the notes of others intentions, questions, prayers and pleas. I take a deep breath close my eyes and silently, I found my answer.

Do you have a sacred place to share?

After a holiday season filled with eating and drinking, comfort foods, and beverages, are you feeling overweight or sad? You can restore your mind, body, and spirit by cleansing and detoxifying. Fasting weakens the immune system. Since it’s the season of colds and flu, it’s important to maintain and build your immune system through healthy eating. You can detox in a way that’s gentle and effective by making simple lifestyle adjustments.

The following five lifestyle changes can bring you relief and energy now, as well as long-lasting health benefits. Detoxifying your lifestyle will help you handle mental, emotional, and physical life challenges by increasing immunity and reducing  inflammation – key factors in dealing effectively with stress. Oh,  yes, one more thing – you’ll lose weight, too.

Find a physical activity you enjoy doing. Exercise lubricates joints, moves circulation, and reduces mental stress and inflammation. Movement keeps you flexible, builds muscles, burns fat, and  releases endorphins into the bloodstream which make you feel good. Most people feel relief as soon as 15 minutes after they start moving. If you haven’t exercised in a while, then start slowly with gentle workouts (walking, tai-chi, yoga) and short sessions as the released toxins can cause some soreness. So , remember to drink lots of pure water to flush out the toxins being released into your blood system.

Holistic body treatments support healthy toxin-release and recovery. Everyone experiences soreness from exercising at times, whether from toxins being released, overworked muscles, or incorrect positioning of the body. When you’re feeling the effects of toxic-release in your muscles, get a holistic body treatment. Acupuncture, massage, reflexology, a steam treatment, water therapy, certain chiropractic adjustments, or other holistic body treatment will help your body process and rid itself of the toxins cause discomfort, pain, or disease.

Get a good night’s sleep every night. Everyone has differing sleep needs. Figure out what works for you and stick to it. Six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep is needed by most people. Going to sleep before midnight is the most beneficial for the body, allowing cells to restore and rebuild during sleep. If you find that either you cannot sleep through the night without waking or you can’t get to sleep early, check your eating habits. Eating or drinking anything within one hours of bedtime could be the reason.

Nutrition is important. Eat more organic, local, fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Eat less processed foods, sugar, meat, and dairy. Make an effort to drink more pure water and green teas and less caffeine, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened drinks. Find supplements that support your diet and build your immune system.

Relax your mind and release your emotions. Find a way to retreat from everyday demands through an activity that relaxes you. This allows easy release of toxic emotions and thoughts. There are many ways to effortlessly  release and process emotions that keep you stressed, such as meditation, painting, singing, dancing, walking in nature, or talking it out. Find ways that lighten, inspire, and connect you to your heart and watch your life and health shift positively.

Throughout the ages, doctors and sages have taught that each person is entirely unique, with different nutritional needs and requirements in order to perform optimally. Now this theory has come back to the forefront of health and nutrition research because today’s doctors and scientists acknowledge inconsistent responses to food, medications and treatments from one person to the next. Interestingly, these differences do not occur within standard groups or categories of people.

We are not created the same no matter what sex, race, religion, creed, or nationality. Each person has their own unique set of requirements for health. Although we share common universal needs such as food, clothing, shelter, water, and air, there are still differing remedies and requirements from one individual to the next in meeting these needs. This finding is sometimes referred to as bio-individuality. Even more fascinating about this fact is that your unique remedies for optimum physical, mental, and emotional health changes all the time.

You can learn this fact first hand by checking with the most reliable source for your health and life questions. Yourself. Learn to understand the language of your body by writing in a food journal. By recording the food and beverages you consume with the details around them (energy, moods, emotions, thinking, satisfaction), you add a deeper level of consciousness to your food choices and are able to nourish your body. You enjoy more pleasure and satisfaction in life. In fact, all of the choices you make will support your health and life goals. You will enjoy a sharper intuition by connecting to the most fascinating person in the world – you.

Celebrate as the mystery of you unfolds on paper with answers and direction for you to be happier and healthier. Master the language of your body through the creative process of writing and enjoy the self confidence and assurance that comes with knowing what is right for you in all the areas of your life. This can be the greatest creative adventure of your life as it very well could lead to your ideal body and life.

Are you ready to take your health and life into your own hands?

Monday Mantra

“The time is now.”

This is a painting of my dog Cassie standing above the golf course where we live. As you might be able to see, she loves to play ball. No matter what she is doing, she is always ready, running and hunting for a ball. The world is a great playground and life is an adventure for Cassie. According to Eckhart Tolle, dogs live in the present moment, the now, and that is, a state of awareness where you are able to live more fully. In the Now, you can see new opportunities that otherwise you might miss while worrying about the past or the future.

To bring more joy, opportunity and adventure into your life, create time for play or make your time more playful. Schedule it or look at your schedule in a playful new way.  Mix it up. Add new twists to your everyday scheduled tasks by using ‘new eyes’ to make your days more interesting, creative, and fun. Improve your life now with renewed enthusiasm, inspiration and balance.