Baby steps toward Quantum Leap - August 27,28

Awesome x 3 : Active Agent in creating my ideal life ~ Brian Johnson video

"Beyond this place of wrath and tears / Looms but the Horror of the shade / And yet the menace of the years / Finds, and shall find, me unafraid." from "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley

"Choosing to embrace the fullness of this moment, finding love and opportunity in where you are, right now, is Choosing the most powerful way to live." ~ Oprah

Day 10 - Deepak and Oprah Desire and Destiny Meditation: "Passionate Me"
Eager to embrace anything that comes our way.
Faith in the unknown
Go for it!
Have my ideal life as a Hero (not a victim)

"It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." from "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley

Juxtaposed triangles DDT and TED* The Empowerment Dynamic

"Key to creating the life you want – and deserve – is to be fully aware and fully present in your daily life." ~ Deepak, Day 11, Intentional Me

"Loving the journey – the one you’re on right now...

Mind absorbed in the wonder of the dance." ~ Deepak, Day 10, Passionate Me

Nahko and Medicine for the People - "Budding Trees"

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul..." ~ from "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley

Passion: Power and Joy that gets sparked by being Present in every moment.

Quantum leaps begin with baby steps ~ David Emerald The Power of TED*

“Respond to every call that excites your spirit” ~ Rumi

Set goals. Surrender all my fear and Stay aligned and Settle

"True abundance, riches beyond the goals we set for ourselves, exist more profoundly in knowing that this moment – this one, the one you’re in right now – is really perfection." ~ Oprah

Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but Unbowed." from "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley

Vision
We all set goals and have dreams
eXcited about what lies ahead.
You are right where you’re supposed to be.

Zukav’s book, Seat of the Soul : every action, thought and feeling is motivated by an intention and that intention is a cause that exists as one with an effect. Your intention is creating your reality.

Time to recharge and blast forward

Banality vs. wonder - Being absolutely ravish emotionally by it

"Clear? Transparently!" - Treasure Planet

Desire for apotheosis : Divine status -  Day 9 : Focused Me

"Each morning that we’re given the chance to admire yet another rising sun, is an Extraordinary gift."

"From the moment we open our eyes, exquisite blessings surround us, waiting to be witnessed. All we have to do is...

Gaze upon them. 

Hermenauts : travellers in search of signification ~ Jason Silva combines the words hermeneutics, meaning the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation or finding meaning, and astronaut 

Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore, wrote… “If life’s journey be endless, where is its goal?” The answer is, It is everywhere." Deepak Chopra, Desire and Destiny Meditation Day 10 "Passionate Me"

Keats couple : beauty is truth / truth beauty

Letting go

Moved to tears by the Moment

Neophiliacs : revolutionaries by nature, their intellectual abhorrence of tradition and repetition usually bemoans a deeper emotional need for constant novelty and change.

"One can never pay in gratitude; one can only pay 'in kind' somewhere else in life." ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Perceptual apparatus 

Quest to not only survive, but to succeed greatly with generosity of Spirit

"Rhapsodic ecstatic bursting forth of awe."  ~ Jason Silva

"Stupefied amazement" ~ Jason Silva - Sunrise Aug 24, 2015

Thoreau: “We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success.” 

Understanding cognitive ecstasy :  connecting the dots

Verve : great energy and enthusiasm; : the spirit and enthusiasm animating artistic composition or performance : Vivacity

"We have a responsibility to awe." ~ Jason Silva

eXquisite italization

"You are right where you’re supposed to be.../ Your partner in this wondrous journey is Spirit."

seiZe opportunities as they present themselves in the here and now. ~ Oprah and Deepak

August 16 - August 21, 2015 ...There are no limits to what we can give, or receive

As we continue our journey ... practicing with karmic resonance and cultivating equanimity in our lives, we release the past, Awaken to the present, and take Action to create the future we desire.

"But I’m here to tell you that it’s your Birthright as a human being to receive infinite gifts of the universe." ~ Oprah

Cultivating divine state of equanimity

Divine state is accessible and within each one of us we open it through the stillness of meditation.

Equanimity each day through our meditation practice, we gently wash away the karmic patterns and consequences from our trail of past choices, creating a new life vibration.

Frocks for First day of classes :)

"Focus on the beauty of the whole rather than on contrasts..." ~ Oprah and Deepak, Desire and Destiny

Guided by joy and ease, paved by the power of the universe... Gifts reside in every moment ~ Oprah and Deepak

"I choose abundance" ~ Centering thought for Day 5, Desire and Destiny, Deepak and Oprah

"Joy and abundance comes effortlessly when we’re paying attention to our lives, when we pursue the moments that light us up, and build, one moment at a time, a life filled with passion, with intention and fulfilment." ~ Day 6, Resilient Me, Desire and Destiny

Live your Love and purpose, you will be held in the arms of abundance." ~ Deepak Day 5

"Micro Class: Train Your Mind" by Brian Johnson - Philosopher's Notes

New goal

 source

Our teacher is the natural system" 7:45 into --> Permacultuur Introductie youTube video

Passion is the free flow of natural energy that leads us toward the fulfilment of our dreams, desires and purpose in life. When we do anything with Passion , we express every aspect of who we are. 

Quest during our meditation time ~ Deepak, Day 7 Fearless Me

Raises your awareness ... by calming. (benefits of Holy Basil (Tulsi)  is a tonifier, an adaptogen) video

Shift our karmic presence by inviting the State of equanimity into our lives.

Tranquility of mind, deep awareness and acceptance of the present moment found in the absolute stillness of pure consciousness. Time seems to stand still as we engage in whatever activity fills us with inspiration, love and joy. ~ Oprah and Deepak 

Unique and inherent heaven on earth ~ Deepak, Day 7: Fearless Me

from Vision to Victorious completion, this is a trek that quite possibly reveals the very essence of strength and potential that lies within. ~ Deepak

"When we do what we love, and give freely of ourselves, what we offer comes back to us in ways just far beyond our imagination. There are no limits to what we can give – and receive.

eXperience a deep inner balance and a sense of peace

"You are here to fulfill your purpose in this world. Your desires forge the path that leads you directly to the fulfilment of that purpose." ~ Oprah

Zesting a Meyer lemon - Sara Gottfired, MD on Instagram

The ABCs of Too Old to put up with any longer...

Illustration by Tara Jacoby

Acting like someone has a valid point just to make them feel good when that point is not valid at all

Being overcharged

Cheap ice cream

Doing anything I don’t really want to do, even for a minute

Easier all around to accept that friendships have ebbs and
Flows, and indeed, there’s something
Getting up if I don’t want
Having more than one kid

I used to think that one didn’t make friends as one got older, but... the opposite happens.

Know where to put your energy, because you can suss out up front what the payoff is.

Laughing harder than the thing warrants 

Making excuses—just, why?

Not as if you can’t still get hurt, or disappointed, or profoundly sad and wrecked by things, it’s that somehow your body/brain/heart remembers that you already did this before. You’ll be fine. You always are.

Offended - not worth it

Pretending to like a thing I don’t like (try to be polite about it, but still—why fake it? Ever?
 Quite beautiful about the organic nature of love... Sometimes, a new person walks into your life, and you find you are never too old to love again. 

Ready to stop being young enough to take a certain kind of shit, and to embrace being old enough to stop taking that shit. 

Skipping coffee in the morning - I could barely type those words! NO WAY!!
 "Toxic people? Sour, spoiled people? I’m simply walking away
Universe—or you, yourself—will grant you this reprieve.
Vast number of experiences that once would have knocked [me] down.

Wise enough to see that old has a punch of ownership, of earning power, that [we] like too much to soften.

seXism, which, like poison ivy, is deep-rooted: 

You weed the rampant stuff, but it pops up again. What matters most is the work. Does it give you pleasure, or hope? Does it sustain your soul?

booZe : we are more refined now, so we have cocktails, wine, and beer, but never booZe ;)

Personal growth continues

Adaptogens: Nature’s Miracle Anti-stress and Fatigue Fighters

"Adaptogens are a unique group of herbal ingredients used to improve the health of your adrenal system, the system that’s in charge of managing your body’s hormonal response to stress. They help strengthen the body’s response to stress and enhance its ability to cope with anxiety and fight fatigue – slowly and gently, without jolts or crashes. They’re called adaptogens because of their unique ability to “adapt” their function according to your body’s specific needs. Though the effects may initially be subtle and take time to make themselves felt, they’re real and undeniable."

Biophilia posits that humans have an innate tendency to connect with other life forms; this
Connection (love) needs to be cultivated and nurtured... Biophilia is an unconditional type of love that includes respect for the harsher aspects of the natural world.

Cortisol is the hormone that governs your hunger cravings, digestion, blood pressure, sleep/wake patterns, physical activity, and capacity to cope with stress... 

 Dr. Sara Gottfried

Fire Water - as opposed to Fire Cider, right Lori? ;)

Gynura nepalensis: Dawn Dewa is also called Moluccan spinach.

Has been used traditionally in Asia for many illnesses, particularly diabetes and high cholesterol. The leaves can be eaten by themselves or in salads. Some like it cooked with butter, in stir-fries or in casseroles."

Jason Silva: Creative Benefits To Being Bilingual

Are There Creative Benefits To Being Bilingual? Absolutely.---#CreativityMonth with Jason Silva
Posted by Jason Silva on Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Karma: tool create abundance: what you put out in the world is always coming back : Kind

LOVE

Native to Nepal, Indonesians call Dawn Dewa "leaves of the gods".
Okinawa spinach leaves are entirely green and slightly rough.
Pusillanimity : I thought this was a particularly funny word in this particular article.

Quite ingenious evolution! ‪#‎nativeplantlove‬ ‪#‎pollinators‬ ‪#‎summerlove‬ ‪#‎bloom‬

 Thank you, Mandy Smith

"Receive each and every whisper from your soul. Receive and ask again. Who Am I?" ~ Deepak

"Strangely enough, it all turns out well. How ? I don't know. It's a mystery." ~ Shakespeare in Love

 Tyler Knott Gregson

Upanishads teaches Us: "You are what your deepest desire is/ As is your desire, so is your intention / As is your intention, so is your will. As is your will, so is your deed / As is your deed, so is your destiny.

"Vibrant new level." ~ Oprah

WILD HEARTS AWAKENING

eXcellent new blog from my friend, Mandy Smith

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – C.G. Jung

"Zingy" Fire Cider Recipe- thank you Lori : Miller, not Duke ;)

Meditating and the Untethered Soul

Ask ceaselessly: "Who Am I?"

Be the answer and everything will

Change (p.38)

Disciplining powerful inner Drives requires a tremendous

Expenditure of Energy (p.42)

Fluctuating or Filled with this energy... Flowing Strongly? (pp. 43-44) 

Gushes up spontaneously from deep inside and restores, replenishes and recharges p. 43

Honor and respect the situation, and deal with it. By all means, deal with it. p. 46

Inspired and filled with energy p. 47

"Just push it aside" p. 41

 "Keep opening and not closing" p. 47 "Keep letting go" p. 58

Liberation p. 98

Masterpiece of creation: Heart p. 49

"Nothing, ever, is worth closing your heart over." p. 47

Once you've attained this very high state, your energy level will be ...

Phenomenal p. 46

"Question our traditional needs for safety, comfort, and control." p. 99

Remove the Inner Thorn p. 81

Steal freedom for your Soul p. 98

"The one who notices is already free." p. 86

Vibration p. 104 Vibrant p. 106

"Withdraw your attention, and the thinking mind falls away." p. 96

fiXity of purpose p. 170 

"You don't have to change your life; You just change how you live your life." p. 160

Zen and now, Now and Zen

photo by Blanchard Photographic Impressions

The ABCs of one great article

A+ A terrific Article: "How to Fall in Love with a Glacier: Teaching Environmental Humanities in Iceland" by Dr. Shannon Grimes
 Boggy pasture walk with Bjarni, a local folklore expert, to some rocks believed to be inhabited by elves.

Church under Snaefellsjokull glacier.

Desertification in the highlands of Iceland.

Each of us Entered into communion with nature in our own ways.

Falling in Love

Glacial valley where wild horses roam, magnificent views of active volcanoes, and hot springs

  by Eloise Grathwohl

Hummock-Hopping

Iceland program consists of two courses, one that is interdisciplinary, and the other a cultural course that involves visiting places of cultural importance and asking students to reflect on their travel experiences and cross-cultural encounters.

Jackson with some trolls (or giants?) outside a gift shop in Reykjavik. Icelanders capitalize on their belief in elves.

Keen interest in environmental issues

Love for the land can motivate people to protect the environment in various ways.

Meeting Icelanders and hearing their stories was an invaluable part of our study abroad experience.

Nature photography and became a

Our students particularly enjoyed a service project where we teamed up with members of a local
Planted over 1,000 trees in an area of the highlands that is suffering from desertification.

Quickly learned about pressing environmental issues in Iceland

Realize that I can better serve myself and my students by bridging some of the divides between the head and the heart.

Summer 2014 study abroad Shannon Grimes

So Stinkin' cute!

Turf houses

Under the Glacier, by Nobel-prize winner Halldόr Laxnes

Vestmannaeyjar, Westman Islands off the coast of Iceland.

Waterfall "Top of Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland."

 eco-tourism eXperts, local farmers, and environmental activists were among the guest speakers for the culture course. 

You rock, Shannon!!

Zone: "But place-based education is what really brought me outside my comfort zone ...

Monday, Aug 3, 2015

As the path of gratitude Awareness unfolds... love,

Begins with gratitude and transforms into grace... life Becomes Blissful

Connect to grace; Connect to Core

Enduring, Everlasting, Infinite

Friendliness and grace are two qualities that are essential for the yoga student. ~ BKS Iyengar

Grace, so simple and profound

Highest Love is Grace

Infinite cycle of shared love. In yoga class, connect with everyone with friendliness, compassion, gladness, and

Joy

Key to transformation - transferring responsibility of love from another to Self.

Love must radiant from you to others. ~ Guruji BKS Iyengar - Light on Life

Mercola interviews - interesting and helpful - Miracle whey protein?

Now is the time to become my own detective

One with the Source of creation simply because we are here

Patanjali talked about friendliness, compassion, gladness, and joy. 

Reciprocity. Reciprocal Relationship with existence

Simple, true, and external. Shared Self permeates everything. More than emotion, it is a State of awareness.

Truest of Love is Transfer of responsibility for love to Self

Vacation coming to an end...

We love life, and life loves us back

eXercise in the am

Yoga is for cultivating the head and heart.  ~ Guruji BKS Iyengar

Zen Thinking for today: August 3, 2015

Welcome August 2015

As August begins...

 thank you Maura

Coquina : small bivalve mollusk with a wedge-shaped shell that has a wide variety of colors and patterns.

Day 18 - Saturday, August 1, 2015

Einstein quote: there are only two ways to live your life, one is as though nothing is a miracle and the other is as though everything is a miracle

Forgiveness 

Guest House by Rumi : "This being human is a guest house / Every morning a new arrival / A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes As an unexpected visitor. 

 Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they're a crowd of sorrows who violently 

sweep your house empty of its furniture, still treat each guest honorably.

 He may be clearing you out for some new delight / The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing,  and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, 
because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

I am so very grateful for our safe return from adventures in Tampa yesterday afternoon and evening.
Jennifer Lopes - "Feel the Light" (from the movie Home)

Knowledge and experience transform into delight and wonder. Gloom changes to joy. ~ Deepak

Looonnngggg ride home from Tampa

Manifesting grace involves inner growth

Now let go, completely and take the Next right step...

One step at a time.

"Path to Total Transformation" - Day 19 - August 2, 2015 "Prepare yourself so you can be a rainbow

coQuina Beach

Rihanna - "Toward The Sun" (from the movie Home)

"Sky Full of Stars" by Coldplay

"Trees are still Trees if their roots are not deep Even if you remove them Branches and limbs are intangible things That's a fact, but it's not been proven."

"Uprooted" by The Antlers

"Visualize this thing you want. See it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint and begin." ~ Robert Collier

Xibalba - character in Book of Life - watching with the Lessigs

"You can be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud." ~ Oprah qtd. Dr. Maya Angelou

 spotted at the aquarium today

a yellowish-brown symbiotic dinoflagellate present in large numbers in the cytoplasm of many marine invertebrates. In this case, upside-down jelly fishes :)