Have you seen CELTIC TIGER starring Michael Flatley “shot on location in Budapest”? Do you want to be energized and wonderfully entertained? Then you must get the DVD. Seriously! Michael Flatley has brought this art form to a very high level. And all of the dancers are fantastic. I don’t know if you can find anyone more enthusiastic about what he does – maybe as enthusiastic, but not more. And it’s contagious. Go and get the DVD. If you aren’t completely engrossed by it – well, I don’t know what to say. Wait, there’s more. Don’t forget to watch the film TIGER FEET accompanying the DVD. That, too, is really entertaining. www.michaelflatley.com
our amazing world
The one thing about life that’s so amazing, among many other things, is that, at any one time, millions upon millions of people are simultaneously living entirely different lives. For instance, the World Series and the fires in California occurred within the same time frame which meant that in one area people were playing ball, and ecstatic fans were happily screaming for their team of choice, while in California some people were living their worst nightmare. That never ceases to boggle my mind. Then there’s the twenty-three year old happy and creative computer geek who has become a multi billionaire and another twenty-three year old feels life is about drudgery and poverty. At the same time, there’s a war being fought, and in another part of the world, the only thing people are thinking about is getting a great tan. It’s fascinating. It’s mysterious. Or is it? Imagine being able to change our own experiences for others by being willing to step away from our comfort zone with trust, confidence and focus, and into the world of exploration and experimentation, with the idea of mastering the way we want to live our life while enjoying and respecting it and never hurting it. Imagine.
strangers
Last night I locked myself out of my apartment building. I came back from having dinner with a friend, put my things on a chair, and picked up a bag to place outside for the garbage collection. The interesting part came when I looked in the little Japanese purse I use as a key holder and found only one key – the one to my apartment. Where was the key to the outside door? I looked on the ground. No key. Then I looked at the buzzers and pressed all of them. No answer. I pressed again, for a longer time. Still no answer. I approached the only people on the street. They were nice. One person made a few calls on her cell phone. No Answer. I thanked them and left. It was a nippy night and I was dressed the way people dress when going out for only a few minutes. With arms huddled against my body for warmth I walked to a restaurant to ask for a phone book. My landlady’s number wasn’t listed. A locksmith would make an easy $100 tonight it seemed. When these things happen, one gets a glimpse into a homeless person’s world. Just a glimpse mind you, but the feeling is there. You’re cold, you have no money, no phone, and strangers look very comfortable in their own setting, and it’s strangers you have to depend on.
I wanted to press all those buzzers one more time before calling a locksmith, and so I started walking back to my apartment building. I had to be quick because the restaurants would be all closed soon. Only one person was on the street and he was ahead of me. Something told me to step up my pace. He thought I was stalking him because he kept looking sideways as we all do when we’re not feeling quite secure. I had a feeling about him. And feelings are important. Sure enough he stopped in front of my building. Then I recognized him as painting there only a few weeks ago. “Hello.” I said. ” You’re the painter. Right?” He smiled and said, “Yes.” Very good I thought. I told him my story and asked, “Do you have a key?” Answered prayers! “Yes.” he said. “I don’t have it with me though. I came to put the garbage out and someone’s picking me up.” He said he’d return with the key. We waited 10 minutes. His ride came and I waited another 20 minutes huddled against a store’s doorway for his return.
I realize this is trivial compared to what’s going on in California. However, the hour that I spent on the street at night trying to get strangers to help me, gave me a very, very slight idea of the feelings going through people who’ve been stripped of all possessions and are now dependant on others. We can’t ever underestimate the importance of strangers in our lives. I bet that if we thought about it, strangers have been there for us more times than we realize.
Here’s to all those strangers. Thank you.
those ny yankees
I still don’t understand what’s happening with the Yankees. What I do understand is that things get complicated when there’s money, power and egos at stake. Joe Torre was making 7.5 million a year for managing a baseball team – the Yankees. Fine, if that’s what they want to pay him. Then last Thursday, because the Yankees haven’t won the World Series in 7 years he got a decrease in salary, and “was offered a one-year $5 million contract with $3 million in incentives, including an $8 million vesting option in 2009 if the Yankees reached the World Series.” and “. . . he still would be baseball’s highest-paid manager. . . .” – USA Today
And someone said Joe Torre was “too passive,” and “even pros like the Yankees need an occasional pat on the back or kick in the butt,” wrote Al Neuharth. And some friends of his “pleaded” for him to be able to continue on with the Yankees. Hmm! Two things about this: What’s the problem, dear Joe Torre? You’d still be making mucho moola. And isn’t the $207 million the Yankees are collectively making the “pat on the back or kick in the butt”? I know at this time in our society being able to discipline oneself, to prove you’re worth the big bucks being earned, might be asking for a lot, But, hey, Yankees, give it a try, you’re playing in the big leagues, put on your big boy pants and get thee to the World Series.
Michael’s not going to like this post. He’s been a die-hard fan since the age of 5! Still, maybe he’s become a little disenchanted. Maybe he’s not the only one. www.yankees.com
uma
I logged on to my computer and read a caption about Uma Thurman’s dress. I happen to like her acting, she seems to be a woman of substance, and doesn’t look as if she’d hurt anyone. Sensationalizing a situation by taking a picture of her so that a silly “story” sells appears to be the norm. What would it have taken for someone around her to say “Uma, your slip is riding up. Pull it down before some fool with a camera sees you.” Clearly, there was a slip underneath the top fabric and it did ride up. Sometimes those things happen. Apparently the designer of the dress should have paid more attention to the flow of fabric when putting one against the other.
Uma, find a better designer and surround yourself with people having more compassion.
kripalu in the berkshires
Through the years I’ve known people who, for different reasons, spent the holidays alone. Alone meaning not with family and/or friends, but alone traveling to the islands, or alone taking courses. They’re not necessarily alone, only if they want to be. They’re in the midst of unfamiliar faces and they’re having a great time.
I’m looking at Kripalu’s November/December holiday listings. Kripalu center for yoga & health stockbridge, massachusetts 800.741.7353 kripalu.org is far from being just about yoga. On the 23rd November is a Thanksgiving Retreat and Renewal with a listing of programs. Keep in mind that no one goes hungry at Kripalu. When I was there last summer, I took a tour of their kitchen. Suffice it to say that everything coming out of their kitchen is scrumptious (kripalu.org/recipecorner). If you were to attend “thanksgiving at kripalu. . . ” and “make this a special year.” you could arrive a few days before the program, if you can, to enjoy the beauty of nature, have a look at what’s going on in all the rooms, retreat to the sunroom or cafe, take in a discussion, listen to some music, visit the store, walk the grounds, meditate in one of the many rooms, etc., and, of course, there’s yoga.
In December are end-of-year holidays, and, this from the catalog: “At Kripalu you’ll find kindred spirits and a supportive environment for turning within. All of the programs on the following pages offer you the opportunity to savor this special time of the year and move into the new year with renewed energy.” The catalog looks enticing. Where will the holidays find you?
omega in rhinebeck, ny
The Omega catalog has page after page of, I was going to say workshops, seminars, courses, but what they really offer are all kinds of people teaching all kinds of things that will stretch you mind, body and spirit in all kinds of ways. There, that’s what I really want to say. Omega is located in Rhinebeck, NY, and today I settled in with the summer catalog and decided to randomly pull out pages from the catalog. It’s a bit late to be looking at the summer catalog, but that’s how life is at times. However, it’s good to get an idea of what there is because they’ll come a time when it’ll be the perfect time to be in Rhinebeck, NY attending to body, mind, spirit. It’s good to be prepared.
I’ve listed what we’ve missed just to give an idea of what was and will be and what is now at Omega:
Your Body Speaks your Mind
Deb Shapiro “In this workshop, we discover the extraordinary relationship between the mind and body with the author of the United Kingdom’s best-selling book, YOUR BODY SPEAKS YOUR MIND.” (This couse was in May, but the book is available and the website: www.edanddebshapiro.com)
Prophecy & Transformation 2012: The Return of the Quetzalcoatl
Daniel Pinchbeck – “According to the Mayan calendar, we are in an accelerated time of transition, experiencing a transformation of human consciousness as we approach the year 2012, the end of the Mayan Great Cycle of 5,125 years. This will bring about, Daniel Pinchbeck writes in his provocative best-selling book, 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, ‘the conclusion of a vast evolutionary cycle, and the potential gateway to a higher level of manifestation.’ ” (this course was in June, there’s always the book and perhaps a future time)
Meditation, Visioning & the Music of Your Soul
Michael Bernard Beckwith, originator of the Life Visioning Process, a time-tested technique offering a method for putting a stop to being a passive tourist in your life, and Rickie Byars Beckwith, an intuitive channel of healing music. (this course was in June. Here are the websites of: Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, www.agapelive.com and Rickie Byars Beckwith, www.rickiebyars.com)
The Inner Truth of Tarot
Mary Greer and Rachel Pollack, “What we know as tarot today developed in Renaissance Italy and grew out of card games that made their way from China through the Middle East to Europe before 1400. Because of their exposure to many cultures, the symbolic pictures on the cards contain ideas and teachings from many sourcs, including the mystery schools of ancient Egypt, the kabbalah, mythology, and the various mysteries of death and rebirth.” . . . “Mary Greer’s Tarot for Yourself and Rachel Pollack’s 78 Degrees of Wisdom are often cited as the two indispensable texts for any tarot reader. Between them, Mary and Rachel have more than 70 years of experience as tarot readers and teachers.” (this course was in June, website: www.rachelpollack.com)
The Journey Through Cancer & The Seven Levels of Healing
Jeremy Geffen, M.D. is a board-certified medical oncologist, a pioneer in integrative medicine and oncology, and author of the highly acclaimed book, The Journey Through Cancer. He also has more than 30 years of experience exploring the great spiritual and healing traditions of the world. (this course was October 5-7, however, note the book and website: www.geffenvisions.com)
A Yoga Gathering for Black People
Roots, Rhythm & Soul
“This is the first gathering of black people at Omega that focuses on the potential impact of yoga on health, race, and the politics of being black in America.”
Maya Breuer, R.Y.T., www.mayabreuer.com
Swami Dinndayal N. Morgan, www.yogidinndayal.com
Yirser Ra Hotep, M.A., www.yogaskills.com
RUMI The Way of Passion Celebrating Rumi’s 800th Birthday OCTOBER 26-28, Course 5702-890/Tuition $325
Andrew Harvey, www.andrewharvey.net
Fariba Enteshari, www.rumiedu.com
Coleman Barks, www.colemanbarks.com
David Darling, www.daviddarling.com
When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.-RUMI
OMEGA Teen Camp,
Includes: Creative Arts, Nature & Wilderness, Dance, Sports, Funky Alternative, Evening Activities, Music/Drama
“Omega Teen Camp is a program for teenagers, ages 13-17, designed to help them discover a more peaceful, joyful, and positive way to live in the world. In a safe and loving community, teens learn about themselves while making deep and meaningful connections with others. At Omega Teen Camp, teenagers strengthen their self-esteem and learn to express their own individual power while having the time of their lives.” www.omegateencamp.org (ponder this for summer 2008)
Omega has rest & rejuvenation retreats. And also a chance to: “Join our seasonal staff in our work exchange program. Here you can work and grow with a supportive, diverse group of people from around the country and the world.” www.eomega.org for an application or call 845-266-4444, ext. 304
Omega Online: In 2007, Omega created “an entirely new online experience at www.eomega.org. Our Media Works department will be presenting audio and video clips of some of our most renowned faculty sharing thought-provoking commentary on the issues of the day that affect our lives and our planet.”
And so, this is a short list of all that we missed, and didn’t miss in the form of books and websites. So many yoga classes, incredible teachers, courses having the power to transform body, mind and spirit.
talent
Is there an artist lurking somewhere in you? I ask because where I am are many artists and their works. It could have you think that if you went to an art store and purchased all those magnificent colors and brushes, along with an easel, and found your spot of light, you could paint your own beautiful (or grotesque-depending) pictures. There would then be a show at a gallery whose owner simply loves your work, and it would be uphill from there. Of course, there’s the matter of talent which has to be considered before walking into an art store, i.e., when painting for the world’s enjoyment and not merely your own. Some artists have an incredible natural talent, others study before they find it, and there are those, well, possibly their talent is in another field.
The other part of the artist’s world are the gallery owners and the people who attend the shows. Two people can stand in front of the same painting, and see entirely different aspects of that work. What happens there is very personal and probably can’t be explained. However, if the person standing in front of the painting is the owner of a gallery, and wants to show the artist’s works, what s/he’s viewing is different from those wanting to buy for their own pleasure. The gallery owner buys because s/he likes the paintings, and, along with that, keeps uppermost in mind, the expectations of the people who come to her/his gallery.
I’ve noticed that the word, talent, (noun, “A special natural ability or aptitude” – dictionary. com) can lead to some immensely lively, entertaining and informative discussions. That could be another part of an artist’s world.
beginnings
Monday, because it’s the beginning of the work week for some, reminds me of beginnings as it applies to daily life. There’s the beginning of life, the beginning of death, the beginning of a new business or a new job. There’s the beginning of a marriage, or the beginning of thoughts of a divorce. It could be the beginning of school, or the beginning of maturity at the close of one’s school life. Perhaps it’s the beginning of training for the olympics, the religious life, or the presidency of a country.
It’s the beginning of an illness, or the beginning of grief, or the end of it and the beginning of healing. It could be the beginning of freedom with the end of a jail term. The end of one lifestyle and the beginning of another, or a trip around the world and the beginning of an adventure. There’s the beginning of a friendship, or the beginning of new intimacies as two families become one, could be the beginning of happiness with a new understanding about a situation, or the beginning of peace or the beginning of war, there’s the beginning of creativity with a painting, a poem, a garden, a song, or a thought. There’s the beginning of the holidays, and the beginning of forgiveness, or the beginning of ease by letting go of stress. Always there are beginnings and their endings and a world of endless possibilities.
“The purpose is to be in the present moment and enjoy each step you make.” says Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. “Therefore, you have to shake off all worries and anxieties, not thinking of the future, not thinking of the past, just enjoying the present moment.”
www.plumvillage.org
a cough
My friend has a cough, a dry, unrelenting kind of cough. It’s the kind of cough that leaves her feeling okay at home, but the minute she steps outside it seems to yell for attention. I had it once for a long time years ago. I know this cough. Since then I’ve found (well, actually I didn’t find it, someone told me about it) a product that’s able to beat down a cough for once and for all, and a cold and the flu. It’s good to know that there’s a natural remedy available for anyone who needs it. I almost hesitate to pass the name along because your know what can happen. When you want it, you can’t find it. Since that’s not a nice way to be, I’ll pass it along. Besides, there’s always more than one great, natural product around. We live in a creative universe, and we’ll find it, if we need it.
Quantum Cold & Flu Formula is its name, phone number: 845-246-1344, and its email address is: info@quantumherbalproducts.com. And the brochure states that it’s, “The World’s Most Effective Herbal Concentrates,” and that “Quantum’s liquid concentrates are made by people, not machines. They are hand-crafted in small batches in an exclusive alchemic process, not mass-produced as most tinctures are.” The best way to know is from experience, not that I’m wishing a dry, unrelenting cough on you, but just in case, it’s good to know that Quantum Cold & Flu Formula is available at a health food store. And my friend with the cough? This is where we part ways. She’s off to the drug store. It’s all about choices. Isn’t that Right?
Also, to help us along, is Louise Hay’s book, “HEAL YOUR BODY.” In it she gives us the “mental equivalents” for a cold, cough and flu. www.louisehay.com
Colds Too much going on at once. Mental confusion, disorder. Small hurts. “I get three colds every winter” type of belief.
Coughs A desire to bark at the world. “See me! Listen to me!
Influenza Response to mass negativity and beliefs. Fear. Belief in statistics.
We’ve nothing to lose and maybe lots to gain from these explanations. Here’s to our health.