Something Peaceful

Come on Everybody Get Happy.......

"The happiest people spend 30% less time parked in front of the tube, according to a University of Maryland study that analyzed 34 years of data from more than 45,000 Americans. They’re more likely to spend time socializing, reading, or attending religious services—habits that are linked to better moods and health. "

Too Much

Life has been an unpleasant blur which isn't going to let up until the last weekend in October. There will be one or two bright spots like the annual family clam bake C and I have every year which is completely wonderful and something to look forward to, but for the most part the stuff going on right now is unpleasant. This is a blur of too much coming at me at one once. Its been the worst start to the year I have ever had, the worst start professionally, and I have never had so much personally and professionally at one time either. I am not only exhausted but find I'm rather depressed. Its a rough ride and I feel an instinctual urge to protect myself. It's at these times when I am very quiet and inward about my actions and words that I always notice how few boundaries some people have and I will go out of my way to stay away as these people make me miserably uncomfortable. So many people with so few boundaries, narcissistic personalities who just suck the life out of every living thing. Yeah, this is tough, no two ways about it. Miserable, miserable time.............

Peace Day

The International Day of Peace, also known as the World Peace Day, occurs annually on September 21. It is dedicated to peace, or specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. It is observed by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples. The first year this holiday was celebrated was 1981.

To inaugurate the day, the "Peace Bell" is rung at UN Headquarters. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents. It was given as a gift by the Diet of Japan, and is referred to as "a reminder of the human cost of war." The inscription on its side reads: "Long live absolute world peace."

Dance in the Fells

Last Sunday while we were having a walk in the woods we ran across a group of dancers having a rehearsal. It was pleasing and calming. We made our excuses to stop and watch a while as others did as well. We all just stood and gazed while these lovely ladies silently swept through the trees. To add to the delight they had the most wonderful props. A little wooden table and a chair in the forest with some writings from the Fells. My favorite was the Voice of a Tree in The Middlesex Fells written by Rosewell Lawrence and published by the Appalachian Mountain club in 1883. There was also a book on ornithology and some old binoculars.

October 9, 2010 from 1-6pm there will be several free performances throughout the Middlesex Fells. These pieces will include music, trees, dancers and dogs. You can find information on times, places and directions at The Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation or Two Roads performance projects.

How ideal, a walk in the woods on a lovely autumn days with musicians, dance and dogs. Sounds perfect!

September Day

The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August,

and here and there a yellow leaf
shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty

who has seen one season too many.
Oliver Wendell Holmes

Hakini Mudra

September is here and with it comes a flurry of conversation and activity often precluded by the statement, "let me get my schedule book." School, work, meetings, projects to be completed, schedules to be kept, work to be submitted, papers to be found and filed and holiday planning can make this time of year taxing on the brain and generally overwhelming. Many of us had a hot steamy summer with some down time to rest and recharge before heading into the Autumn. Our brains now need to find space for new schedules, deadlines, facts, and other details small and large. A nice mudra to combat the barrage of mental activity coming your way is hakini mudra.

The hakini or hakim mudra can be practiced at any time. This mudra is practiced when you would like to remember something, generate an inspirational or novel idea, or just want to increase your general memory strength for longer periods of concentration.

You can practice this mudra either sitting or standing but it is best to face west. Place your fingertips together, direct your eyes upward, place the tip of your tongue on your gums while inhaling, and let the tongue fall again while exhaling, then take a deep breath. Include this mudra in your practice or preform individually. Practice 15 minutes a day either at one time or several times a day.

It has been determined that the finger position of this mudra promotes the cooperation between the right and left brain hemispheres. It opens access to the right hemisphere, where memory is stored, and improves respiration which increases oxygen to the brain and aids in mental efficiency.

On a side note it is suggested you don't cross you feet when doing mental work.

Wishing everyone pleasant, well organized days :)

Peace

We are all together
Like knitting
If we will accept each other
And be open to each other
And believe in each other
We will understand
That we are all a beautiful combination
Equal and different
If we want, we can
We are all a great combination
Of human beings
Anonymous

Sweet Dreams

Can't quite put my finger on it but I think its a combination of a few things, mostly stuff going on in my head, but it's been a good long time between a solid nights sleep. I'm having a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep and wake up far too early. Intervention is needed before I have a mini crash. Swimming is always helpful for me and it looks like I'll be headed to the pool but my immediate solution is a little viparita karani.

Viparita karani or feet up against the wall position has profound restorative effects on the body. If your feeling a real need to rejuvenate and come back to balance its good to devote a practice to this one pose. A daily practice would be 20-30 minutes. As a general rule its not recommended a person should exceed this amount of time in this inverted position.

This position leads to an increase in blood flow to your upper body as well as to your brain which is very useful to maintain your blood pressure and calm your nervous system. It has numerous other benefits as well but for now that's what I'm aiming for a little calm and relaxation to get me to sleep at night.

Here's to a new year

Have the best year possible,

Love and peace to all.

Shana Tova

Morning

Tea
enjoying the company
of poetry
in these early hours
before work
sipping tea

(Some Short Poems)

Autumn Prescription

Today as we hiked in the woods there was a feel in the air and a noticeable increase in the number of leaves changing colors or already falling. The change is happening and before long we’ll be thinking about hats, gloves and scarves. September is still summer, late summer but an excellent time to begin to shift gears for cooler months to come. There are some very nice practices which ready the body for a shift in temperature and lifestyle.
Sleeping

This is a good time to ground the body through resting more and setting a regular routine. Ideally retiring at 10 and awakening at 5 or 6 a.m. From 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. the liver is purifying while you’re sleeping, so it’s important to help the system rejuvenate and cleanse by giving yourself a routine sleeping pattern.
Eating

Every season is associated with one of natures 5 elements. In Autumn the metal element is at its peak, which governs the energy of our lung and large intestine health. Consider adding some of these foods to support your lungs and intestines as well as help ground and nourish your mind:
Pumpkin, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, winter squash, spinach, parsley, parsnips, kale, turnip, carrots, onion, garlic, ginger, daikon, radish, pickles, adzuki beans, millet, barley, brown rice, fennel, kuzu (Japanese arrowroot – clears and tones lungs/colon), watercress, seaweeds (excellent to regenerate mucous membranes) ie kombu/arame/wakame.
Flaxseed oil (use in smoothies or add to foods), fenugreek spice.
Stewed apples and pears (peeled) with brown rice congee/porridge.
Mandarins
Marshmallow tea, raspberry leaf tea, green tea.

The Fall is the best time to enjoy local fresh apples. According to Ayurvedic medicine, apples help draw heat out of the body that accumulates over the summer. Heat can dry out and cause digestive distress in the winter season. The pectin in apples also helps to clean and heal digestive mucosa. A fun autumn Ayurvedic prescription is to eat as many apples as possible over a period of several weeks.
Drinking

It’s wise to look after your lungs in preparation for winter. The lungs are sensitive during Autumn, as the air quality changes to more cool and dry. Keep up your hydration with sufficient warm fluids like herbal teas, green tea, fresh ginger tea and liquorice tea. Dryness also affects our skin, so massage yourself after showering with good quality oils.
Yoga
Beneficial yoga asana includes pawanmuktasana ( wind relieving poses), all inverted poses where the head moves below the waist, all twists as this helps to regulate the intestines, slow sun salutation with breaths in each pose and extended shavasana (corpse pose) for proper grounding.

End of Summer Giddiness

September

"Well, the sun’s not so hot in the sky today
And you know I can see summertime slipping on away
A few more geese are gone, a few more leaves turning red
But the grass is as soft as a feather in a featherbed
So I’ll be king and you’ll be queen
Our kingdom’s gonna be this little patch of green
Won’t you lie down here right now
In this September grass
Won’t you lie down with me now
September grass."
James Taylor