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.

"Just for You" Self Love Weekend Retreat (Tobago)

Please click on image to enlarge and see details.

Choose any weekend ... and it is yours (availability permitting)
 
Each customised "Just for You" Self Love Weekend Retreat caters for one person at a time. If that person is you, you are dreaming of spending quality personal time in a supportive, relaxing space ... to let go, find answers, be inspired, create new possibilities and meet someone wonderful ... Yourself.

Please click here to visit the site for more info and images.

The Just for You retreat is a product within Thou Art Yoga's W.O.W. (Wonderful One Weekend) retreat series.

I'm going to India

Today I am leaving for London en route to India. It will be my first time there. I am going to Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), also known as City of Joy, Cultural Capital of India, Literary Capital of India, City of Furious Creative Energy, City of Palaces, City of All Cities, City of Processions, City of Bridges ... (among other things). 

I will update when I am there . . .

Back in TT

Window in Church of Holy Trinity, venue of White Tantric 2011, Toronto.

Reached back to Trinidad late last night. Feeling neutral and largely non-verbal, allowing everything to simmer.

People ask: "So how was it?"

It was beyond words. It was experiential. All I can say was "It was perfect."

Packing Light

Jasper's usual cry: "Take me with you!"

This morning as I did yoga I thought: "Even though Toronto is polluted, it will be a breath of fresh air to be there in a few weeks."

Eat, Pray, Love - the personal version

I was chatting with someone at the Moksha Yoga 5th Anniversary Party on Saturday night. At one point, the conversation touched on Eat, Pray, Love. I asked her where she would go to experience her personal Eat, Pray and Love. I can't remember her answers now, but they were interesting. Katmandu was one of them.

When it was my turn, I told her:

My Eat would be California which, as far as I know, has the largest raw food community in the world.

My Pray would be to travel the world, discovering different labyrinths to walk in diverse locations.

My Love ... that could happen anywhere. To choose a specific place for it to manifest would be extremely limiting. You never know how, when, where and why Love suddenly comes.

Canada

Yesterday I was wearing one of my Canada t-shirts when I went to the cinema. A tall man heading in my direction stopped me and said pleasantly: "Hi! Are you Canadian or are you just wearing the t-shirt?"

I sincerely felt my heart say 'yes' (to the first part of his question), but since it's not 'true' in a factual nationality sense (i.e. where I was born/citizenship), I said "I love Canada."

His face immediately lit up: "I'm from Calgary!"

My face also lit up. "Canada is my favourite place." (At least as far as I know right now)

"Thank you!" he said and we nodded and went our separate ways.

Just as I walked off, a friend called me on my cellular. We spoke for a while. As we were closing the conversation, she said to me "So what time are you leaving tomorrow for Cana ..." then she stopped and said "I mean, Tobago?" (I had told her earlier that day that I wouldn't be able to attend a play she's in tonight because I'll be in Tobago - working, not playing). "Why would I be thinking Canada?" she laughed.

I told her about the Canadian man I'd encountered just two minutes before.

"Sun, that's a sign," she said. ("Sun" is her nickname for me).

About five minutes later, another friend (the travel agent who booked my ticket to Canada this summer and extended it when I decided to stay on) came up to me. As we walked into the cinema, she said "So you're not going to Canada for Christmas?"

I said to her: "You're the third person in about 5 - 10 minutes who has mentioned Canada to me!"

"Something there is calling you," she said matter-of-factly.

As always.

L, R, L, L ... etc.

Another of my favourite shots from yesterday ... capturing a pigeon in a burst of light.

(Canada chronicles continued ...)

On Sunday I attended the housewarming (apartment-warming) of my friend Dara and her partner Sara. It was a lovely night of their friends, light music, eats, drinks and great conversation which stretched into the early morning when guests dwindled away. I was spending the night, so S, D and I stayed up chatting until we couldn’t keep our eyes open any longer.

Later that morning we woke up, had breakfast and headed out with our cameras. As we had no particular destination in mind, I introduced them to a ‘game’ I had devised in Trinidad but had only ever used with the car (not on foot).

You write an equal number of L (left) and R (right) on pieces of paper, shake them up, choose one by one and write out the order in which they appear.

E.g. You could end up with L, R, R, L, R … etc.

Once you step out of your door (or from wherever you decide your starting point will be), you follow the directions, heading down the first open street (i.e. no dead ends) that is on your Left or Right (as per the directions). The fun part is seeing where you end up eventually. However the way there is just as intriguing, especially on foot.

Our mission this particular time was to each take photos of whatever things captured our attention along the particular left or right road we were on.

What was interesting about the directions we ended up with … was that they led us around S & D’s neighbourhood and the final R (right) turn brought us right back home to their apartment!

See the below images for the progression which led to my favourite shot of the day ... in fact my favourite shot of my whole time here so far (because I've been trying to get it all this time).

Running and clicking, trying to catch my subject
Still running, into someone's open garden, following my subject ... and still not getting it.
Finally! Third time lucky? I've always wanted to capture one of these in mid air with my camera.

The right path

Sunset on the drive back to Toronto from Montreal yesterday evening
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The drive between Montreal and TO takes five hours. Yesterday, heading back to TO, I looked at the clock and realised that had I not extended my stay, at that time (or thereabouts) on that date (Fri 31 July 2009) I would have been taking off from the Toronto airport for a five hour flight back to TT.

Instead, I was taking a 5 hour journey by road.

Along the route I spotted a total of five inuksuit (plural of inukshuk) standing on rocky cliff faces beside the highway. Each one 'jumped out' at me because I had read about the inuksuit just days ago in an original fictional piece a friend had sent me for feedback. Based on the meaning of the inukshuk, my immediate thought upon seeing each one was "I am on the right path".

Source of image and below text.

They are monuments made of unworked stones that are used by the Inuit for communication and survival. The traditional meaning of the inukshuk is "Someone was here" or "You are on the right path."

Toronto tendrils

(Canada chronicles continued ...)
Maintenant je suis à Montréal autre fois (Now I am in Montreal again). Circled in red in the above photo is the café I'm in now (Café Choix Suprème) ... "the café down the road" where I use wireless internet once I'm here.

I used Supernova to spontaneously snap one of the huge billowing Canadian flags on the side of the highway as we headed to Montreal. Considering our speed, the way the flag was billowing, plus the fact that I had both zoomed in and snapped really quickly ... look at the clarity. No blur. What an amazing little camera.

*

Yesterday, leaving Toronto, I felt strange and sad. A cloud sat on my chest. Maybe it was the act of packing clothing into a little suitcase for the week in Montreal that made me feel on a subtle level what it will be like on the day I pack to return to TT. Had I not extended my stay, I would indeed have been leaving ... in three days. As we drove out of the city, heading for Montreal, the strange feeling persisted. I had felt it the last time too ... as though there were little heart-centred energetic tendrils connecting me to TO. I could feel them stretching and becoming thinner the further we pulled from the city ... but they didn't disappear. I sat quietly, feeling to burst into tears.

Sometimes I think "Am I making up this feeling?" No, how could I be? "Am I creating an illusion?" No, I don't think so. Then I think: "Well, am I on holiday?" No, it's not that either.

But ... why question? Just enjoy what is enjoyed and leave it at that.

I'm Flying (... and so is Pod)

Tomorrow I am leaving for Toronto, where I will be for a month. I haven't even reached yet and already that time seems too short. For no other reason than being there, my heart lights up, my spirit expands, I feel really excited and I can't put it into words.

I got a totally unexpected email about three - four weeks ago saying that two of my films, Invisible (which you may have seen online already) and All of Emily will be screened at the 4th Caribbean Tales Film Festival and would I be coming up. Yes!! Anything to go to TO. I'd been planning a return visit this year anyway, for other reasons, but this fast forwarded me. The festival is only 4 days, which leaves the rest of the month to enjoy.

In no order of importance ... I'm looking forward to spending quality time with a variety of friends who live abroad and who either reside in TO or will be in town when I am there. (Many of them I haven't seen in decades!) I'm looking forward to reconnecting with new friends made the last time I was in TO in 2007. Looking forward to spending time with my friend Tamara on her turf (we met when she came here to work on a film and she returns about once a year to shoot. We always have a ball and good laughs together). Looking forward to meeting up with a creative partner with whom I've thus far created some lovely works (not yet released) and with some others with whom I may be creating in the future. Looking forward to a few days in Montreal - to surprise my cousin (I hope she's not reading this) and speak French! Looking forward to immersing myself in raw organic heaven! And all of that 'looking forward' is just scraping the surface. There's so much more.

Most of all I am looking forward to just being open and surrendering to whatever is to be as each day unfolds. Whatever it is, it will be great.
I won't be carrying any of my cameras (Karishma or Synchronicity - whom I've decided to rename Phoenix, since she rose from the ashes). Neither will I be carrying Dandelion, my drum which I bought in TO in 2007. I'm traveling light. I will do my best to keep my suitcase light as well (I usually overpack). In terms of equipment, I'll just carry Satya ... and, depending on my internet availability wherever I am, I will blog daily as usual.

In keeping with my own 'flight', the latest update on Pod is that she is now flying from perch to perch and will soon be moved to the flight cage, where she can begin to really spread her wings before being released.

(l to r): Pod and Companion
Photo courtesy: Detta Buch

It makes me cry too

Some people who took the Sacred Journey at Mystic Intervention told me that they cried while or after doing it. One person (who had really taken his time moving slowly along the pathway), sat and had a long conversation with me after he did it, telling me in detail what he had felt and experienced. I really appreciated this. I love when people open up and say how they feel and what they've experienced on deeper levels. Sharing the places inside of each other that we don't see with the naked eye.

Only when he got to the end did he hurriedly mumble "and it made me cry too."

Now that it's all over and I have the labyrinth at home for myself, I 'walk' it by candlelight every morning after I do yoga.

The first time, I used the middle finger of my non-dominant (left) hand. The next time and thereafter, I used the ring finger of my left hand. Using the ring finger makes me feel committed to the journey, to all that is unfolding and to myself. In the language of mudras, it symbolizes Uranus, the Sun, Surya mudra - energy, health and intuition.

The last few times that I've 'walked' this clay labyrinth, I too have burst into tears. The first time was during the day. I was feeling scattered and I decided to 'centre myself' via the labyrinth. At one point along the twisting path, an unexpected burst of tears flew out from my guts. I felt it coming from my solar plexus. As soon as they flew out, I felt extremely relieved and thankful. It was a moment of surrender and of having no control whatsoever, yet knowing that all is well and that I am in good hands.

The tears diminished but lasted until I got to the centre (N.B. the rose quartz is no longer at the centre, so the centre is now a cosy, ridged, horse-shoe-shaped space). As I felt my finger slip into that comforting central embrace, all I could say was 'Thank You' over and over - really feeling it and meaning it. I felt grateful for the release I had experienced on the way there, grateful for the labyrinth itself and for 'Everything' ... even things I don't know yet.

This morning I 'walked' the lab with my eyes closed in the dark, sitting on my new pink yoga mat. As I got to the welcoming centre and my finger fitted in perfectly, the unexpected burst of tears erupted. They were accompanied by that same feeling of immense gratitude. The feeling of my finger fitting perfectly into the horse-shoe shaped embrace made me feel welcome ... the feeling of 'fitting in' ... fitting perfectly into something or somewhere and feeling great comfort and gratitude for it. It's not about an external place and it's not about external people - as much as we may like it to be so. It is about fitting perfectly into ourselves, whoever, whatever and however we are.

I love this part right here

This is my current favourite song ... the one I've been pumping on constant repeat for the past three days and nights now (i.e. no other song has come out of my speakers since Wednesday). It has pumped my body and fueled my energy over the past few days and nights as I've cleaned, cleared, dusted, wiped and charged my lightness, clarity, direction, focus and determination.

Some may scoff at the song and the video because it's "the Pussycat Dolls" and they're seemingly all about glamour, explicit posing and 'poppy' factory music. I can't say I really know their other music, but I've always liked the original version of this song - the voice, the melody and how it all comes together. Whenever it comes on the radio, I turn it up. I even find the lyrics aren't too bad.

It is a 'break-up' song ... but listening beyond that specific context, it also carries a wider message. I guess it's how you look at it. I see it 'beyond the surface' as being aware at a point in time of something important that needs to be done, not being able to put it aside or 'linger' any more in old energy and finding the determination to make the new happen.

As she says at the end: "I gotta do it."

Sacred Journey photos and captions

As promised, here are a few of the photos from Sacred Journey, my piece for the interactive art event, Mystic Intervention - a part of Red Earth Eco-Arts Festival 2009.

Click here to read a short synopsis of Sacred Journey ... what it was about.

Through the natural curtain (curtain made by my friend Rosanna), enter the room in which the raw clay finger labyrinth and other elements of the Sacred Journey were contained.

The clay finger labyrinth is inside, zen style on the floor, with two cushions: one for the person using the labyrinth and one for me when I'm talking to them and explaining before leaving them to have their experience alone.
I made the labyrinth with ridges along the pathway to facilitate closed eyes. Three heart shaped rocks at cardinal points surround the traveler with Love. The 'heart' in the fourth cardinal point is the Traveler/the person sitting before the labyrinth. Rose Quartz crystal (The Love Stone) at centre. Surrounded by Love, with Love in self and Love at the centre on the Sacred Journey.

The feathers emanating from each heart shaped rock are from the Miracle Bird ... Wings of Love, Taking Flight, Miracle.

I liked the shadow of these leaves falling on the paper.
Rose Quartz removed from centre, but energy still present.
Flower Powers.
These wire flowers were hanging all over the wooden walls of the room. Each contains a piece of paper with a special message (most of them being a message I've written down after my morning yoga/meditation). After 'walking' the finger labyrinth, the person chooses either a Flower Power or a Nature's Wisdom Card to receive a message that supports, confirms, gives them further insight about their experience.
One of the Flower Powers by the window.
Nature's Wisdom Cards.
A series of mystical cards, made from a selection of my nature photographs. For each one, I translated the symbols from the image and wrote down key words and phrases - messages for whoever selects a specific card after 'walking' the finger labyrinth. 'Nature Tarot', so to speak. Nature speaks to us through symbolic messages that guide us along our path in life when we take the time to tune in and listen.
Throughout the day, various people entered and embarked upon the Sacred Journey to the centre of themselves (afterwards, choosing their message in either a random Nature's Wisdom Card or Flower Power).
For some it was an individual journey ... a moment alone.
Some did it together. The circuit of the labyrinth is wide enough for one finger, so this couple rested one on the finger of the other and moved along the path.
Mothers and children also did it together.
(Mother and son - J & J).
Mother and daughter.
Some little children played on the pathways.
Eyes closed, feeling her way to the centre and back out again.

Quite moment of stillness and connection.

Sacred moments

The Journey of a Lifetime

Journeying to her centre

Bon appetit
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There were many other travelers, but these photos will give you an overall view. Tomorrow I'll share photos of some of the pieces by the other artists who were involved.

The Sacred Journey continues ...

The first 'leg' of my piece (The Sacred Journey) was a raw clay finger labyrinth
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I'm sure everyone who came to Mystic Intervention enjoyed it and/or had whatever experience they were meant to have. Now that it's all over, I feel as I always do after I've immersed myself in a creative project of this nature ... totally empty ... along with the urge to clean my space and throw away or give away whatever I don't use or need. Creating more space for the next wave of energy ...

I have many more images from the Mystic Intervention (the other artists' pieces) as well as photos of various people journeying through the labyrinth and receiving their messages. Read more about Sacred Journey here.

I'll share those images at another time ... maybe tomorrow or some time later this week.

Sacred Journey

Interestingly, when I first drew the lines, this leaf blew onto the exact centre of the labyrinth

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Each artist has done a synopsis of his/her piece for Mystic Intervention. Here's mine. It will be located in its own room. To experience the piece, you will be required to sit cross legged on a cushion on the floor. A chair will be provided for those unable to sit on the ground.

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Name of piece:
SACRED JOURNEY

SYNOPSIS:
My piece for Mystic Intervention is designed to assist you in quieting, centreing and balancing yourself; to open your heart, listen and receive intangible gifts and intuitive guidance.

It is made up of three parts:
(i) The Journey: a special finger labyrinth (7 circuit Cretan labyrinth) made of clay (red earth)
(ii) Flower Powers: a series of wire flowers containing a special message for whoever picks one
(iii) Nature’s Wisdom Cards: a series of mystical cards, made from a selection of my nature photographs. Nature speaks to us through symbolic messages that guide us along our path in life when we take the time to tune in and listen.

The labyrinth (an ancient sacred tool used for prayer, meditation, self transformation) allows you to relax and open up to intuition and guidance as you journey (using a finger of your non dominant hand) along its winding path to the centre of yourself. Your finger will be in intimate, sensory contact with the raw red earth as you journey to the core. Rest there a while, listen, meditate, ask and receive. Journey back out again and meet the world with a new sense of awareness and connection; a new sense of who you are in relation to the Whole.

Upon emerging from the labyrinth, pick a Nature’s Wisdom Card and have its message translated for you through key words and phrases. Or pick a Flower Power and receive supporting, clarifying guidance.

Given the intimate nature of the finger labyrinth, the Flower Powers and the Nature’s Wisdom Photo-Card/Key Words interaction, I invite one person at a time to experience this Sacred Journey. It will not be the same for any two people. I will explain more to you when you enter the room.

Be still.
Be open.
Trust.

The finger labyrinth in progress.
I created ridges to line the pathway - so you can close your eyes and feel your way through if you desire.

Migration

Transplanting

This morning I moved some of the watermelon sprouts to another area of the garden where they can spread more freely.

Transplanted

An interesting dream

Leaf in floor of subway station in Toronto
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Last night in my dream I was in Toronto. I was in a house or large studio apartment with several other people. I think I was a visitor, but I felt at home and was familiar with the place we were in. It was sunny and warm, maybe summer. We were preparing for some kind of celebration.

At some point, people started arriving, then some musicians walked in carrying drums and sitars and I realised that whatever we were celebrating would soon be getting started.

I was wearing the same clothes I had had on all morning as we were preparing, so I went to bathe and change. In a medium sized suitcase I had several pieces of clothing in various colours. I was drawn to a white pair of jeans (so white they were glowing) and an elegant white cotton shirt with very thin but visible brown stitching on its seams. My energy started to glow and heighten when I saw the white, so I knew I had to wear it.

In the room, by the window, there was another girl in a red t-shirt. She also had to change. We started talking and she was showing me something. I can't remember what, now, but it was visual - like photographs, but not quite. Whatever it was made me curious and I asked her what she does. She showed me a dropper and said: "I go around collecting colours from nature."

Somehow, even though we were in the room, she was able to demonstrate by touching a leaf out in the garden and gathering the green as a liquid in her dropper. It wasn't like she had taken something from the leaf, but as though the leaf had given something to her. I was fascinated.

The dream ended there, so I'm not sure what she did with the green. But maybe I instinctively wore white because I knew I would be the canvas.

I'm back

View from the bedroom window early this morning.
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Got to Tobago late last night (left on the 9:20 p.m. flight). We spent the night here. It's very simple, rustic, woody and natural, like living in little tree houses. We went to sleep very late, but I woke up early as usual ... maybe around 3 or 4 a.m. (?) It was freezing cold (due to being up on a height in the bush), still pitch black outside and took what felt like ages to get light. When dawn broke, the cocricos right outside the window were LOUD. Great starting the day so close to nature.

Each room has a little balcony ... shrouded by large trees
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Off to an early start ... interesting work in Charlotteville. Synchronicity's first job. Short and sweet. Left Tobago on the 3 p.m. flight. For those who don't know, it takes twenty minutes to fly from Tobago to Trinidad - sister isles. (Or you can go by fast ferry, which takes two hours).

Flying back into Trinidad, I was observing the different aspects of the landscape.

We've got mountains ...

Swamps and rivers ...

Plains ...

Concrete ...

.