BANQUET OF BLESSINGS (UK) 2018 - Kundalini Yoga & Raw Food Retreat

Make a cup of tea, sit back and take in this interview. In it, I play my Native American Love Flute and answer questions (posed by friend and raw food coach, Gabriela Lerner) about the upcoming Kundalini Yoga & Raw Food Retreat: 

"Banquet of Blessings", in Dorset, UK, 11-13 May 2018. 

Click here to find out more about the retreat and register before end of January 2018 for the early bird special (10% off). 

Sat nam.

Royalties

How exciting to receive a Daisy Chain royalty cheque in the mailbox . . . and to know that there will be many more.

Attitude of Gratitude

Sit down with pen and paper and make a list of everything you are grateful for. Each day do this again. And again. And again. This is an honoring process, it will open your eyes to everything you have in your life to be grateful for. This is very important. You may think, "Yeah, yeah, I already know I have a lot to be grateful for." But this exercise will take you in deeper and deeper detail into every facet of your life that is good, positive, great. It will show you how blessed you are. And it will shift your focus from the negative to the positive. 



"Live with applied consciousness, prosperity will break through the walls, you will be flooded with it. You do prayer when you are in difficulty; pray when you are not in difficulty, that's the attitude of gratitude!"


Yogi Bhajan

(Excerpt from this source)

Love at first sight

Gloxinia

On Friday one of my yoga students  who was unable to make it to last week's Humee Hum Brahm Hum gave me this flowering plant as a gift. She couldn't remember the name of it, so I said I would ask my father (who's a Botanist).

Later, I emailed to let her know that it's a Gloxinia. She emailed back with this site and indicated what the Gloxinia flower stands for: Love at first sight.

Great gift. Better yet when it's mutual.

Crystal Received

Just before going into yesterday's yoga class, Claudia appeared with my crystal. The moment of receiving the package and having her explain a few things was like having a birthday all over again.

I haven't taken a photo of the crystal pendant, but it is lovely, finely crafted with sterling silver with an additional small amethyst piece worked into the design. The quartz crystal is from Tibet. (Claudia gets her crystals from all over the world).

The pendant came in a sheer pinkish bag with gold roses and leaves on it. In that bag were also two cards (see bottom of this post). All of this was in a larger white paper bag which contained a rolled piece of paper with information on crystals—what they are, how they can heal and how to cleanse them. Also included in the white bag were two sticks of fantastic-smelling incense (sage and something else) and a tiny ziplock bag containing a little bundle of a scented herb (sage?) wrapped in pink netting and tied with a small pink bow.

The energy with which Claudia gave this gift to me was so loving and out of the blue. All I can say is Wow. It's great when people follow what they feel and give to others as their spirit directs them to give ... without worrying about what the person will think of them or the gift.

As one of my yoga students pointed out, I seem to receive special gifts on Tuesdays. At a recent Tuesday yoga class, I had just collected Lynn's pocket book from the Post Office and was showing it to her before the class.

This is the wording on Claudia's call card, in case anyone is interested in seeing what she has to offer:

Claudia's Crystals

868 473-1408

claudiascrystals (at) yahoo (dot) com 

(N.B. I wrote out her e-mail address like this so robots crawling the web for addresses to use for spamming won't detect it)

Individually hand crafted wearable art made from the finest stones from all over the world, wrapped by hand with sterling silver, creating unique one-of-a-kind pendants for you or that special person in your life ...

Gift of a Crystal

The small piece of quartz I found

The other day at the yoga retreat I was walking on the stony road leading to the house and found a small quartz crystal. I kept it in my pocket.

At the beginning of the retreat, because the room was full of participants, I placed my mat outside of the northern verandah door. Inside, near the doorway to the front verandah, there was a woman who had a large crystal in front of her mat. At some point during the session, I automatically got up and moved my mat to the eastern doorway, so that I was next to her. I noticed that she had many more crystals all around and on her mat.

During one of the rest periods, we got to talking. Turns out she is deeply into crystals and makes fantastic jewelry with them (some of which she was wearing). I showed her the little piece of quartz I had found and half-jokingly suggested that maybe the little quartz piece felt drawn to her crystals (its distant cousins) and wanted to be near to them—hence my getting up out of the blue and moving next to her.

Yesterday I got a great email from her with the message that she couldn't stop thinking of me and my crystal and she was compelled to make me a Quartz pendant as a gift. When she laid out her quartz points in front of her with the intention that one is for me, a particular Quartz popped out at her. She says it's the most sacred of all crystals, known as a Record Keeper. (Read more about Record Keepers here)

Amazing gift. Can't wait to receive it.

The following is not a paid advertisement

This photo, taken with my laptop camera, does no justice to the beautiful fabric pocket book I received in the mail yesterday. It was made by Lynn of Getting My Feet Wet. Go to her blog and you will see more of the pocket books. In fact, have a look at a whole set of them here.

I had ordered one, with a particular intention ... and boy, did Lynn deliver!

Without an ounce of reservation or hesitation, I highly recommend Lynn's pocket books as a one-of-a-kind gift for you or someone else. Unique, original, tailor-made for the giftee. In each pocket (filled with intentions and affirmations) is the essence of whatever the giftee wants ... things that money could never buy.

I went to the Post Office to get my package yesterday. It was neatly encased in a white box with all kinds of stamps and customs tape all over it. I was on my way to the POS/Moksha yoga class and thought I would wait to open the package there.

However, unable to resist, I ripped open the box while stuck in traffic: "WOWWWW!" Simple yet intricate, with amazing detail, multiple textures, expertly put together ... And more than all of that, I could feel the vast wave of love and intention that went into process and product.

Later, while stuck in more traffic, I had time to read some of the many affirmations Lynn had put into the pockets. POWERFUL!

Only when I got home, just before bed, did I have time to really look at the book properly and read all of the affirmations. After yoga this morning, I reached into the book again and pulled out some of the affirmations. More than something I "ordered", this feels like a huge gift I have received. Small and simple, yet hugely empowering, magnetic, transforming and magical in quality.

And I know it is "working" already.

Thank you, Lynn.

With gifts from the Gods, I am a millionaire

My purchases for the morning: coconut, watermelon, avocado

This morning as I stood drinking a jelly coconut, the coconut vendor (the one by UWI Doubles) launched into one of his little stories:

"I does wuk for recreation. I does wuk for recreation! I is 87 years old! I have property for $3 million dollars." (Here he scrunched up his mouth and waved his hands dismissively). "I give dat to meh chirren. I ent know A from B. I could speak Hindi, I could speak English, but in school I couldn't spell meh name. A and B?!"

I understand what he means by 'working for recreation'. He doesn't need to work anymore, but he wants to.

Work for some is not about the work itself. It's about routinely performing an action to get money to pay bills and 'live'.

Over the past month or so, I've been gradually cleaning, clearing and giving away things that I no longer want, need or use. The most recent things that I chose to give were some framed original photographs of mine. Those who expressed the desire to own them agreed that they would get the photograph of their choice in exchange for raw fruits, vegetables and/or nuts of their choosing.

Last night was the first exchange. Two individuals each received their framed photos. In return I received portugals, mango and two bags of assorted nuts (walnuts, etc) in their shells.

Today I will deliver another photo and the recipient says she'll take me to the fruit/vegetable stall for produce and/or to The Little Store for dried fruit and/or nuts.

On Saturday I'll be exchanging the final two framed photographs for more raw goods. One recipient said she will meet me after she goes to the market. The other mentioned 'a box' of supplies. In total, this is my food for a week or more.

In order to have and experience some things in this world, we need money. Right now I can't pay my TSTT bill with two avocados and a slab of watermelon, buy a house by the river/sea with bananas and nuts or travel the world in exchange for two large pumpkins.

But it feels special and exciting to receive raw edibles in return for these framed photographs. Symbolically, it is very meaningful to me.

The recipients genuinely wanted the images they chose and, in return, they spent time thinking about me, about what raw produce I would like and then going and getting it. They didn't just push their hands into their pockets and pull out a wad of bills or hurriedly write a cheque.

From this little experience I'm inspired to think of money differently.

Money is a special, natural and nourishing gift from the Gods. It grows with ongoing, plentiful abundance all around me. It's my joy to grow it, nurture it, harvest it, share it and exchange it in the process of making life richer for myself and those around me.

Thinking like this, the next time I write a cheque or give money to someone in exchange for something, it could be an entirely different experience for both of us (giver and receiver):

(When paying phonebill): I exchange rich, healthy organically-grown produce from my abundant harvest with TSTT in return for crystal clear, enjoyable, meaningful, life-affirming communication.

(Paying internet bill): I exchange full, ripe fruits from my flourishing financial garden with Flow in return for an ever-enriching network of meaningful global connections, increased knowledge and pleasure and the ability to spread my wings and soar with effortless grace to wherever I want and need to go.

(When buying new clothes): My fertile, freshly flowering finances are a special delivery to this woman behind the cash register who is handing me a bag full of places-to-go-people-to-meet-feeling-and-looking-great. And the beautiful scent of my flowering finances wafts with gratitude to the old woman in India who sat for hours weaving the cotton that made it possible.

Tickets for two to the other side of Paradise

(Canada chronicles continued ...)
Mug shot

Yesterday I went to a barbeque at the Toronto Women's Bookstore (TWB). There was an array of (free) food out in the back and, indoors, there were intimate readings, musical performances and a ten minute introductory talk on finding your (or someone else's) G-spot.

In between performances there were giveaways. For each prize, a question was posed to the audience (something about the store or a book or CD in the store) and the correct answer would win the answerer a bag of goodies from the store. I was wishing I knew at least one answer ... but not being familiar with the contents of the store, I didn't think that I would know any.

At one point between performances I was talking to my friend Dara and asked her how come she wasn't performing.

She said: "I'll be performing at the Stacey Ann Chin event."

"When is that?" I asked her.

"15th of August."

After a great final performance came the last win-a-give-away question:

"On what date is the Stacey Ann Chin show?"

Just as I was thinking: "Wow - I just asked that question!" ... a voice in the back called out: "26th of August!"

But that wasn't it.

My mind quickly flew back to when I was standing on the step with Dara about half an hour before. The number 15 seemed to ring a bell. "15th of August!" I said.

Yes, that was it. I won a TWB mug and two tickets to the Stacey Ann Chin show.

Tickets for two to the other side of paradise

Yesterday's bill payments ... and a 'suncookie'

Yesterday none of the three stationery stores I went into had fluorescent pink Post-Its, so I ended up buying bright green ones to attach messages to the bills I was paying.

My credit card bill payment

My internet bill payment
*

Later that day, as I drove to French conversational class (a new 6-week course we're doing with a woman from France called Aurelie), I actually found myself wondering with anticipation when next I would get a bill. Amazing that something as simple as Post-It notes can transform the bill payment process from a reluctant groan to an exciting event ... for me and perhaps also for the person processing the payment.

In other news, yesterday's heat was harsh. When electricity went off for the second time, I had just started dehydrating a batch of crackers (flax, sunflower, chive, onion, garlic). I took a piece and left it lightly wrapped (so birds wouldn't pick at it) in the sun on top of my car trunk. Within two hours, what was once a wet, spreadable mass, was quite firm to the touch.

How to enjoy paying bills (with update)

When I pay bills with a cheque and drop off in the FasDeposit at the bank, I enclose a note written on a pink Post-It. The last note I stuck on my TSTT bill was the one in the above photo.

I just got back the stamped bill in the mail. When I opened it, the same pink Post-It was stuck to my receipt. Whoever got it was returning the sentiment

*****

(Update ... next day):

... and I stuck this one on my TSTT bill today (22-05-09)

Welcome home, my friend

(From l. to r): Keshia A., Dara N. and Elspeth D. at our "2013 reunion" last year.
*

Last night I went to meet my friend Keshia A at the airport. She flew in from Miami, as she does at least once or twice a year. She's already been here once for the year already. This time she'll be spending seven days.

We met when she had come here years ago as a Fulbright scholar to do research. She was living just across from the corner of my street. Once introduced, we quickly became main sidekicks and, to this day, she is one of my dearest friends, a sister and kindred spirit. There are just some people in life who instinctively and unquestioningly know, love, understand and support you fully for who you are - and she is definitely one of them.

She returns so often to TT because she fell in love with it while she was here. It resonates with her spirit and feels like 'home' in a way that her birthplace and the place where she lives and works (the US) does not.

Whenever she comes, it is inevitably a mutually fun and healing experience, full of magic, growth, excitement, great conversations, laughter, inspiration, realisation, adventures and more.

Let the good times roll ...

Tribute to a Kindred Spirit

Jasper
*

This morning I was up early as usual. I sat at my computer in the glow of the lamplight, working steadily and with focused determination on something important. After what must have been a long while (because by the time this happened, the sun was up ... and I hadn't even realised), my concentration was broken by Jasper, who jumped onto my lap, purring.

The way he jumped was not steady. He tottered a bit before settling. I squeezed him tightly, recognizing in that moment of tottering that he is 'getting on in years'. He is now ten. I got him in 1998. He was born to a tabby cat named Lily (ironic, since that's the name of the novel I started writing a while around then) who lived under a friend's house. He was so small when I got him and on the drive home he sat perched on my shoulder like a bird.

I was living with my then house mate Frances who absolutely hated cats ... but somehow she accepted Jasper. Maybe because at that time we were living in a huge house and Jas spent his time in my room (which in itself was almost the size of a small apartment) and the balcony which ran along the length of it, which he used to access the great outdoors. From the word go, he was very loving and attached to me.

Standing at the sink brushing my teeth, if I happened to have on track pants or jeans (anything long), I would feel little claws climbing up me, as if I were a tree, from my ankles to my shoulder, to perch like a bird, where he would sit looking at us reflected in the mirror. Playing my keyboard sitting cross legged on the ground (as I used to play it then), the little claws would clamber up to my back to my shoulder and sit perched, watching my fingers on the keys.

The clambering had to stop when he got bigger and heavier!

I remember him once upon a time approving a friend of mine, V. We had fallen asleep and she was awakened in the night by something cold and clammy in her hand. When she checked, there was a dead lizard placed neatly in her upturned palm, with Jasper sitting nearby purring. To this day we laugh at the memory of that.

Over the years Jasper has moved with me three times and has never strayed or run away. Wherever I am with him, that is home. He has been an affectionate, loving, protective and understanding companion over these years. We have a silent understanding of each other. Those who don't have cats will not understand ... but there is a special and indescribable bond that exists between the feline and its human companion.

There are times when Jasper will wake me up in the morning by pressing one of his paws into my heart chakra, as though to activate it and/or say in his own way "I love you". Amazingly, he does this on Valentine's Day and Christmas Day and sometimes on out of the blue days, like yesterday. Instinctively, whenever I am embarking upon the menstrual cycle, he presses his paw into my stomach and massages it (those who have cats will know the cat massage), before I myself even know what is to come.

Whenever I am coming home, he is either sitting at the gate waiting for me or is at the door to welcome me in. He will run out to sniff my car ... to smell the stories of where I've been.

Sometimes he's a huge lion, hunting for prey, chasing neighbour's dogs out of the garden and down the road, attacking strange cats that enter the yard. Sometimes he's a frightened kitten ... scared of thunder, loud noises, workmen and one of the strange cats that might, on occasion, overpower him.

When he jumped onto my lap today and I felt his age, a wave of sadness passed over me - but it quickly passed as I felt my heart literally open up in great appreciation for having this special spirit companion in my life. Our animals are sent to us. In many ways he's still young, playful and very healthy, still gets up to mischief ... and I'm sure he has a long way to go.

There was something about today, the way he jumped onto my lap ... I knew that he knew that I was working on something important ... and that he was saying: "I'm here with you while you do it ..."

Thank you, Jasper, for being.


Sunday Scribblings: Listen up, this is important

Inspired by Haunting Israeli Woman ... Haunted by Inspiring Israeli woman

Kol Ha Neshama (Maor Zohar 2007 Mix) - Ofra Haza

Press play and listen to the above song (a remix) as you read the post below. It's my latest 'song-I-can't-stop-listening-to'. I wonder what she is saying ...

Years ago I was over at the house of a friend who had great taste in music and therefore a great CD collection. On this particular day he put on one of his CDs at full volume and one of the most haunting female voices I'd ever heard slowly flooded the house and my senses. My hair raised and I said "Wow! Who is that?!" It was Ofra Haza, the popular Israeli singer (1957 - 2000).

Just now, while writing this post ... out of curiosity, I went to Google to find out how Ofra had died so young. I was surprised to see ... died of internal organ failure related to AIDS, February 23. But why was I surprised? 'Surprised' isn't really the word I'm looking for. I jumped when I read the cause of her death ... and since then some dots are starting to connect ...

It's hard to put into words what I'm feeling right now, listening to her voice ... along with this new realisation of her cause of death (which it seems, from various sources, was shrouded in mystery and conspiracy). I started writing this post with the sole reason of sharing her song with you ... but now, hearing how she died is inspiring me in an unexpected way ... for the (work) project I am about to embark upon/started conceptualising yesterday (the second of two videos I've been contracted to do on women, children and HIV/AIDS) with my P.A. for the project - Patti-Ann Ali (whose initials ironically are P.A.)

Timing is perfect for Ofra to step in.

Some may wonder what the connection is between a deceased Israeli singer and a Trinbagonian film on women, children and HIV/AIDS. It is the connection of SPIRIT and ENERGY that truly inspires. It is inexplicable and can come from anywhere ... the most remote thing, place or person. We need to be open to it when it presents itself and not close off the possibilities it offers. Listen to Ofra's voice. Even though I don't understand what she's saying, the deeper meaning inherent in her tone reaches me clearly. On a feeling level we understand what the intellect can't begin to comprehend. She is projecting something Universally powerful and directive.

I can't explain more than that, but maybe you understand where I'm coming from.

******

Wow! Just looked up the translation of the title of her song ... Kol Ha Neshama (see below). The song on its own is powerful, but the beat and energy in the remix gives it a different intensity which I also find infectious ...

The phrase "Kol HaNeshama" comes from the last verse of Psalm 150, the Psalm that many of us know simply as "Hallelu", perhaps the most joyous of all the Psalms. We chose it for the name of our synagogue both because of the text itself and the way it opens itself to English translations and interpertations.

The Hebrew spelling of "Kol" is K-L, Kaf-Lamed, meaning "all".

The root of Neshama, N-SH-M, Nun-Shin-Mem, means "breath" or "breathing", thus a "living thing".

The simple meaning is: "Every living thing" (will praise God). Some have expanded this to "The breath of every living thing praises God."

The translation in our prayer book, which just happens to be named Kol HaNeshama, is "Let every living thing Yah's praises sing".

Another translation would be "all that breathes" or "all of humanity", signaling a universality in Judaism that includes all of humankind as one entity.

Dear February ...

Rainbow Crystal, bedroom window, early morning, last day January

*

Thank you for coming and bringing all of the wonder-full gifts which you are so generously stretching before me for my enjoyment and advancement. I look forward to savouring each one immensely as your days unfold.

I said goodbye to January without regret. I can only be thank-full for such an enriching month, where the experience of each day made me keenly aware of Life's newness and increasing lustre.

Now you are here ... like Sun through the crystal in the window of my Soul.

One of the rainbows cast by the crystal

You've got (snail) mail

This afternoon I got three pieces of mail, two of which were the exciting kind. The other was from the bank.
Some time ago the blogger Lynn, in sharing a bit of her 'day job', offered to send a copy of her "Relaxation Technique for Stress Reduction" CD to the first ten people who left comments on that particular post. I happened to be one of them ... and the CD, from California, was one of the packages I received today. It's 15 minutes of Lynn's voice leading the listener through "a relaxing of your mind and body that leaves you feeling like an old rag doll, limp and loose, and blissed out." I'll put on my headphones and listen to it later this evening before I go to sleep.
My other package felt like a CD but wasn't. It contained two cards from my friend Rose in London. One was a greeting card with a haunting overhead photograph of the River South Esk winding through the Grampian Mountains, with a spotlight of sun beaming through grey clouds, illuminating a piece of the valley and making the river silver. Tucked into the greeting card was the other card ... a MotherPeace Tarot card which Rose (who picks a card every now and then when we are communicating) had picked for me some time earlier in January ... if I remember correctly, even before I knew I would be having the operation and this current period of rest.

The Four of Swords generally signifies a time of retreat and healing, meditation, going within, clearing of the head/heart/soul, positive stillness, recuperation after a period of great activity ... definitely what my life is about these days.

My final post for 2008

The Sky Rides ticket

*

In December last year, gripped by the need to cross water, I took a spontaneous trip to St. Lucia to visit my friend Mel and renew myself. It was well worth it. We had a great time.

We decided that on the 1st day of 2008 we would do something to confront a fear, symbolising our fearless approach to whatever the year would bring. As we both have (had ...?) a fear of heights, we decided to embrace that in a big way.

So the year, 2008 started off with us bright and early on the morning of January 1st, symbolically plunging from a height thousands of feet above sea level into the depths of the forest. This exhilarating experience, for me, was the inspiration for the eleven platforms of my life (in which I asked the Universe to surprise me):

1. Self
2. Spirit/Spirituality
3. Love Life
4. Relationships (friends/family)
5. Career
6. Creativity
7. Geographical Location (travel/abode)
8. Recreation/Social Life
9. Learning
10. Finances
11. Health/Exercise

Each of those areas was indeed addressed by the Universe in some form or fashion. As a result, 2008 has been a full, intense and life changing year in many amazing ways - new experiences, new relationships, new ways of eating, feeling and being, new interests, new directions ... and much more. Seeds, planted in the Garden of Life ... to grow and bloom in time.

I am very thankful for this year and its gifts. Looking back, I'm amazed at how much it has all been!

I am also very thankful for all of you who read my blog regularly, take interest, give encouragement and support in whatever way(s) you do, share your comments and feedback and offer friendship ... both online or offline.

Another spontaneous December moment is here. As much as I enjoy blogging, this will be my last blog post and my last blogging day for 2008. It's like yoga. The whole year has been one long kriya and now it's time for the rest period. I intend to assimilate the energies of this (kriya) year and spend pleasure time nurturing and tending to the seeds, seedlings and flowers in my Life Garden.

My sincere wish for each one of you is the manifestation of whatever is for your highest good and the highest good of those around you.

Enjoy!

See you again in 2009.

Love,

Elspeth

A Synchronicitous Thanksgiving Conversation

Last night was the opening of a friend's first photography exhibition (Robyn Cross: Breathe). I went with my friend Glen, who was driving. We are not Americans, hence we don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but I thought it would be nice to celebrate anyway by giving thanks for things as we drove into town.

I said to Glen: "How about if we gave thanks - like a conversation? You say something you're thankful for, then I say something I'm thankful for and we go like that until we get into town." (i.e. about a 20 - 30 minute drive).

So we did that.

Glen began by saying: "I'm really thankful for having you as a friend."

I followed by saying: "I'm thankful for having you as a friend also."

We continued, listing different things, situations and people (ourselves included) that we were thankful for in our lives. Sometimes we would just say the thing, situation or person. Sometimes we would add an explanation or give a little story to flesh out why we were thankful.

Sometimes we can have long conversations with people and at the end wonder what we spoke about and why (i.e. empty chatter to fill space and time). But the Thank You conversation felt meaningful and intimate. As friends we were learning new things about each other and our selves through what we were thankful for and why.

At one point there was a lapse in our Thank You stream. Everything fell silent but the radio in Glen's jeep. In that space, the Universe joined our conversation as the synchronicitous words of the song on the radio wafted to our ears ... Alanis Morisette's Thank U!

THANK YOU

How about getting off of these antibiotics
How about stopping eating when I'm filled up
How about them transparent dangling carrots
How about that ever elusive kudo

Thank you India
Thank you terror

Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence

How about me not blaming you for everything
How about me enjoying the moment for once
How about how good it feels to finally forgive you
How about grieving it all one at a time

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence

The moment I let go of it was
The moment I got more than I could handle
The moment I jumped off of it was
The moment I touched down

How about no longer being masochistic
How about remembering your divinity
How about unabashedly bawling your eyes out
How about not equating death with stopping

Thank you India
Thank you providence
Thank you disillusionment

Thank you nothingness
Thank you clarity
Thank you thank you silence

yeah yeah
ahh ohhh
ahhh ho oh
ahhh ho ohhhhhh
yeaahhhh yeahh