Phenomenon

I am reading "Shaman, Healer, Sage" by A. Villoldo. 

I decided that I want to read all his books in the order that he wrote them. After "The Four Winds" and "Return to the Island of the Sun" which are about his personal journey, this book is more of a summary of the teachings he received while on that journey.

I am fascinated by the similarities between the Inka's perception of the Energy "body" and the Indian, Tibetan teachings as well. Although the later mention 7 chakras, the Inkas go a step further in describing the 8th and 9th chakras.

I took a break from the book to watch a movie and I have since watched two that somewhat related to what I have been reading ... weird coincidence. 

The first, "Phenomenon", is about an ordinary man that starts perceiving the energy that connects us all after being struck by a flash of light and as a result starts having extraordinary powers, it turns out that he has a large tumor in his brain, nonetheless, he becomes a deeply spiritual being that honors the connection between all things.

"Youth without Youth" is Coppola's latest movie which drew a lot of not so positive reviews but that I enjoyed without fully understanding it. There is are a myriad of metaphysical subjects including time travel, transmigration of souls, the ego or double ... and a lot more interwoven as in a dream where:

 - "the king dreams that he is a butterfly dreaming that it is a king ..."

(Image: Stock photography - Chakra, Wheel of Life with silhouette of woman in lotus position"

Calabaceira

This fruit that I sucked and had as juice and  "fresquinhas" in my childhood has made it out of the cob webbed corners of my memory and into the limelight !

Scientifically known as adansonia digitata, and commonly known as baobab tree, calabaceira, imbondeiro, this fruit is now being paraded around the EU as a "super food"- high in antioxidants, twice as much calcium them milk, 6 times more vitamin C then oranges ... and the list goes on.

This new found celebrity food will soon be featured in smoothies and cereal bars and appear in your supermarket as jam. (BBC article).

Well, no surprise here. 

Our environment contains all the nutritious foods required for our survival, and if the dry areas of Africa where most of these baobab trees are found have such "miracle" food, it's because those areas do not have diets consisting of a glass of milk or fresh OJ for breakfast !!!!

Viva calabaceira !!! 

Well and veludo, jambre, cinbron whose scientific

 names I am still trying to find out.

For more great foods of Africa check out the series: Lost Crops of Africa II at The National Academies Press (with lots of free books online by the way)

Balancing poses

In yoga the balancing poses are very strengthening for the body and for the mind.

I particularly love the Warrior series, especially now that I am trying to balance myself between two worlds.

I am returning to the practice but not without first paying the price for staying away too long. 

The first week I was so sore I could barely walk. 

But now the strength is returning, and the confidence with it. 

Slowly does it.

In returning to the breath my mind stops worrying about the move, the tons of "stuff" to sort, the bureaucracy, the fear of the unknown, the exhilaration of the adventure.

For now I'll just keep posing and focusing on my breath.

Sister, sister

"Observe the ladies of the court.

See how they achieve what they want from their men,

not by stamping their little feet,

but by allowing the men to believe that they, indeed, are in charge.

That is the art of being a woman."

- From the movie "The Other Boleyn Girl"

Great plot and performances. I truly enjoyed it.

Blues

It was one of those days that threatened to pull me down.
News that popped up or thoughts that took the wrong turn.
I could recognize it - the shadow that precedes the mood.
Why do they call it the blues ?

I thought about writing about it and maybe it would go away
but I remembered my own rule ... no negativity allowed !

I switched tactics. Why not focus on the good things that surfaced ?!
There were good things,
there are always good things !

-Ingrid Betancourt is free .. I had tears of joy, I had been following her story and I believe she will one day be the president of Columbia.

- Tahir Shah has a blog where I can go to quench my thirst for his words.

I am a big fan of his stories and although I visited his website once in a while, the addition of his blog has made me a more frequent visitor. (Photo - Tahir Shah from his website)

- There are always the kids ... they are doing great and that is a great blessing not to be overlooked.

- There are friends and friend(s) emails that I look forward to.

- Although chocolate no longer kick-starts my mood as before

(I think I overdosed), I made some sorrel-ginger and spices drink to complement this heat.

- last but not least, I am healthy and there is life to live and many things to discover !

I am grateful !