Peace and Love to You this Season

BE AT PEACE WITH YOUR OWN SOUL
Be at peace with your own soul

then heaven & earth will be at peace with you.

Enter eagerly into the treasure

house that is within you ,

And you will see the things that are in heaven,

for there is but one single entry to them both.

The ladder that leads to the Kingdom is

hidden within your soul...

Dive into yourself and in your soul

and you will discover the stairs

by which to ascend.

Saint Isaac of Syria (circa 7th century)Nestorian monk from Beth Abhe on the Persian Gulf Bishop of Nineveh (circa 660-680)

The Golden Compass

I loved the golden compass. It's a trilogy. I read the first a few years back. if you go to the site you can find your own daemon. Here's' mine!

I was pretty excited but also apprehensive to see this book had been made into a movie. The Golden Compass was one of the best books I have ever read and who wants to spoil that with a cheesy movie.

Also I discovered my favorite witch in the universe inside those pages, Serafina Pekkala. Once introduced I knew if I had a girl that's what I would name her. Here's Hollywood's version, pretty of course and quite like I imaged but in my mind a bit more fairyish with green eyes. Have a look......

Snowy Day

The North got hit by a huge storm and another coming over the weekend. Four hours to get home and another 45 minutes to shovel out a space so I could park the car. I could not have been happier or my relieved to finally arrive at my front door. Two very anxious loved ones met me at the door. I grabbed their leashes and we took off immediately. Lola was literally yelling at me and when we got back to the house she yelled a little more. Finally after a nice soothing bowl of dinner she settled but I continued to get some angry looks from Cisco. I have a free day today and I'm going to make up for my tardiness by taking my little fury ones for a snowy walk in the woods! I love snow days.

Go slow, take a breath and have a little fun.

Savasana and Holiday Overload

This Holiday season has been non stop. I have been quite busy with hardly a respite or a chance to breath. Yesterday after an afternoon of shopping, driving and general frenzy, I came home, crawled into my comfy bed and was out within minutes. For many of us this season can be a burnout rather than a joy. It's important to slow down and do as this little fellow is doing, take a savasana. Savasana is yet another important Yoga pose. Savasana relaxes and invigorates your body and mind. It also relieves pressure, anxiety and calms the mind. A little more of this and we can all start enjoying the season rather than feeling fried by it! Knowing I am in deep need of a long breath, last week I attended a wonderful breath workshop given by Rhea Slichter. We focused on three types of pranayama, Kapalabhati (Cleaning Breath),Nadi shodhana, and Ujjayi breath. For an hour in a half we practiced pranayama with very little asana. I realized I have not taken a deep breath in a very long time. By the end of the season a few of us were yawning and looking fatigued. Breath brings us back into our bodies and has numerous curative affects when practiced regularly. I noticed that after this workshop I felt grounded and desired whole foods rather than the holiday junk I have been indulging in at every corner. In my own classes I incorporate a section of the class in the beginning and of course the closing to pranayama breathing, amazing that I had forgotten to breath myself. So inhale DEEPLY and exhale a loud Ho Ho Ho....

Be well and remember to relax this season.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What was the last game you purchased?
Toy or game? I think for a game it would have to be a Scooby Do puzzle. I am still searching for a Wii, that's the game I really need to find. ( by Christmas)

Soup
Name something in which you don’t believe.
I don't believe the dollar, the housing market or the American moral will recover during this administration.

Salad
If you could choose a celebrity to be your boss, who would you pick?
I really needed to think about this. I just would not want to leave what I do to be anybody's assistant, I don't care who they are. That said, I wouldn't mind working for Jane Goodall ( She's a celebrity in my profession) it would be fascinating work and working for her would mean I'd finished my doctorate!!!


Main Course
What was a lesson you had to learn the hard way?
To listen to my instinct. When that feeling inside me tells me somethings is wrong or off heed the warning!


Dessert
Describe your idea of the perfect relaxation room.
A comfortable place with lovely afternoon sunlight where I can read, meditate and do yoga.