Opulence

Image from Gold Dust: Review Bois des Iles Chanel

Two posts in one day?

Yes.

I couldn't help myself.

I became mesmerized by this image

when I happen to stumble upon it this evening on my quest for a scent.

Opulence.

Gold Dust. 

Twinkling Effervescence.

I am on a quest for pure

Sandalwood...

 beautiful

airy,

natural,

deep

soft

realistic

Mysore.

(Unfortunately, it has become very rare and pure mysore is hardly, if ever used anymore.

We have depleted this gorgeous natural resource from Mother Earth.)

Bang a Gong

This week, I am counting the days till the weekend. I am planning on attending a moon ceremony at a kundalini yoga studio and will experience my second gong bath meditation.

In one word.... B L I S S!

A gong bath meditation is one of the most relaxing, beautiful, peaceful,

healing experiences you can give yourself.

Above gong bath meditation image courtesy of this website.

 

Gong sound can be used to rebalance and tone the physical, emotional and spiritual bodies. It is an excellent therapy for stress related issues, depression, fatigue, anger and hostility, feelings of fear, separation and loneliness, along with many other conditions related to the lack of balance and harmony in the body.

Some more benefits include:

•induces an instantaneous state of meditation by calming the mind and stopping the internal dialogue

•creates an immediate state of relaxation and release of tension

•stimulates the circulatory and glandular systems

•rebalances the physical, emotional and spiritual bodies

•helps clear energetic and emotional blockages

•regenerates the parasympathetic nervous system

•awakens higher states of consciousness conducive to healing and transformation


I feel fortunate to live in close proximity (equal distance in opposite directions) to two studios that provide this form of meditation.

I am learning and discovering so much along my path to peace and healing. I hope you enjoy hearing about my journey as much as I enjoy sharing it.

Shanti. Shanti. Shanti.

Peace, Peace, PEACE.

GLOWING & GROWING

I finally joined Yogaglo after much back and forth on it. 

I do pretty well with my practice in my little home studio,

but it was time to refresh. With summer approaching there

will be much more time for asanas, pranayama, & meditation. 

I am enjoying this site immensely. If you are not familiar with it, 

you really must check it out. They even offer a free two week trial membership.

KUNDALINI is changing & transforming my life, my aura, my energy;

my being.  I am moved to share and spread its light & healing power. 

In other news: Babaji is in town this week! 

Bonjour, Juin!

This photo was taken last June when we went to spend the day at my beautiful SIL's 

beautiful Mama's house. Her and her partner's house is set in the most tranquil, luxurious 

community; surrounded by gardens and yes, they have a lovely pool.

Last summer, my Willow gained so much confidence in the water! 

She is all ready for her formal lessons this summer, too.

Last summer was the summer I dubbed, "Our Summer of Love," because that is 

truly what it was. It was the BEST summer in so many incredible ways:

We loved, we grew, we traveled, we rested, we explored, we played and created A LOT.

We sang a lot of kirtan and we played a lot of musical instruments while we were at it.

This June we will be kicking off our summer with a calendar that is already packed with Sunshine:

My Willow will be getting an award and honored at a very special brunch this weekend! 

I could not be more proud of her!

My precious Grandmother's birthday...such a blessing. 

Wonderlust Yoga in the City! Whoo Hoo! Can not wait to join in the 

L.O.V.E. with so many other yogis!

Birthdays and more birthday parties to attend & celebrate.

A very special concert to attend with my dear brother.

Finally attending Smorgasbord with my love. And more time together at Ganesha Temple, Oneness Fountain, our secret art museum & biking in the North Fork together.

Kundalini! Looking forward to so much more time to attend the center, practice, learn,

meditate and to ELEVATE!

Swimming holes that we discovered and are ready to explore further in our magical place

in the woods.

I have a feeling this summer we are going to continue to grow all of the 

seeds of the body, heart, and soul that we planted and cultivated

& cared for 

last summer.

Summer of Love Deux

here we come. 

Jai!

"In a Land Far, Far, Away..."

My Love & My Light at Sivananda 

Once Upon A Time...

I met a person that I must have known in a different life

because I recognized him from....somewhere.

We shared a connection.

We filled those gaping holes our parents tore through us.

We patched each other up and we made it better...

for a short while.

And that first night we talked about having a child

because that was one of the important reasons

we were brought together.

And so she was created.

The most wonderful collaboration of us and 

our Almighty Creator of the Universe

Maker of all things

the Earth, Sun, Moon, Stars

And so she is here

and she grows.

And she  has the purest heart I have ever known.

I am so honored that Almighty 

entrusted me with her life.

Every day I am given the blessing of watching this Willow grow.
Every day I love and she loves
and we grow
together.

Random Thoughts on Food

(I love how she does this with her favorite green olives.)

-Even an organic lemon tastes better, so yeah...I'm buying 

organic produce ONLY. I've decided that for our family, for our quality of 

life and overall health, it is the best decision...and totally worth it. 

-I reluctantly visited the local nutritionist/kinesthesiologist back in January.

I knew it would be a costly endeavor, and nothing was promised, 

but I had tried every thing else (medically speaking) and needed to get to the bottom of the food

allergy issue.

I couldn't say more about this intuitive, intelligent healer. Even her office is different in every way.

Turns out gluten is the big culprit for me...along with some other suspects that I was

already aware of. I've been gluten free since then, and I feel and look better

than ever.

Recently, I tried sneaking some gluten back into my diet and it was not pretty. 

I'm gluten-free and staying that way. Turns out it's actually a lot easier than I thought. 

There are so many gluten-free options out there for us GF's! 

-Canned beans are great in a pinch and we use them weekly, but I've been

taking the time to rinse and soak my beans in the morning while I make breakfasts

and our lunches. By the time I reach home they are ready to cook. 

The taste pay-off (and cost) are quite noticeable. I love the texture 

and flavor so much better! 

Thank you Great Creator for all of the food that sustains and nourishes us all! 

Teatro de Mexico

I wanted to add a photo to this post and maybe I will... tomorrow.

I came upstairs on the later side this evening. Little Girl should have been in bed already,
but the school year's coming to an end and the light outside at 8:15pm doesn't help any.

All bets are off when it comes to the target 8pm bedtime lately. It's okay. She's such a sweetheart
and only gets a little grumpy once in a blue moon.

Tonight, she had set up the Teatro de Mexico on the floor in my room...the one her paternal grandmother gave her as a gift for one of the holidays. She was a little young at the time to fully enjoy it, but I put it aside in our art cabinet because I knew one day she would love it.

She had the three room/backdrops set up and all of the paper dolls posed in each "room." She was
playing on the floor with the dolls when I came up. She just looked so innocent and content. I didn't
like enforcing the bedtime but I know she is tired and so am I.

The new interest in the theater is sparked by a favorite "Monster High" doll who is fashioned
after a Day of the Dead sugar skull design, but I'm still glad she is finally playing with it and enjoying it.

The quiet playing in the evening hours is something I will miss as she grows up.

My Girl, you have given me so many sacred gifts...gifts that only I have been blessed to witness. Organically, spontaneously, you live and express, you love and share, and imagine and create. You have given me so many precious moments that could never be put into words. They are simple and they are so special to me.

They are born from you joyously living your life...your life with me...our life together.