Going Vegan – Embarking On a New Path for Better Health

In January my husband and I were discussing which diet we should follow. We tended to eat fairly well already, with lots of vegetables and fruits, and whole grains and natural foods, but like many others we got a bit lazy in our choices, especially through the holiday season. We wanted to do what most Americans want to do right after the new year – lose a few pounds, but more importantly, we just wanted to recommit to good health, which for my husband also meant recommitting to keeping his blood sugar numbers in control, as he has type 2 diabetes.

Our bookshelves include many alternative health books – on energy healing, meditation, yoga, reflexology, herbalism, and healthy diets. Those books on healthy diets include South Beach and YOU: On a Diet, as well as macrobiotic and ayurvedic titles, and even French Women Don’t Get Fat. It’s quite a variety, so we had many to choose from! One night after talking about some options, we sat down and turned on the TV – and caught a program on PBS that gave us our answer:  going vegan.

 The program was Taking Control of Diabetes with Dr. Neal Barnard. Being vegetarian wasn’t new to us, nor was giving up dairy – when we were macrobiotic many years ago, neither of us ate meat or dairy of any kind (though back then we didn’t think of it in terms of being vegan). What was new, was the information Barnard was sharing about how following a low fat, plant-based diet could greatly change one’s experience of diabetes, and in some people, actually reverse the condition.

The program’s message was inspiring and we decided we’d give it a try. Many of the foods significant in a plant-based diet were familiar to us already, but the next day we added a few vegan substitutes for common foods – cheese and milk, for example – to our pantry, and my husband, who once cooked for a health food restaurant, set about learning to make a great seitan from scratch.

He went vegan right away. For the first few weeks I greatly reduced dairy in my diet but continued to use milk in my tea, half and half in my coffee, and feta on my salads. It wasn’t long before I decided to entirely cut out dairy as well, so we are both now following a vegan diet. The effects on my husband’s diabetes have been truly remarkable. He has eliminated his need to take insulin, reduced his oral meds by more than half, and the continued hypoglycemic episodes have him regularly adjusting downward.  We are both enjoying the changes, not suffering any unbearable cravings, and feeling better in many ways. We both also love eating this way! Unlike how “diets” typically make one feel, we don’t feel impatient to move to the next phase or to begin to add unpermitted foods back in, and we don’t feel like we are missing out. Making these changes has been a lot easier than we would have thought. Doing it together makes it easier, keeping it delicious and healthy creates momentum, and seeing immediate health benefits gives us motivation.

I’m honestly not sure where this will lead – I can’t say that I will never again eat a salad topped with feta, or enjoy a slice of traditional cheese pizza. Also, we do need to watch numbers and track the progress of specific health issues. This is our first step, and we are just beginning; I want our expectations to be reasonable. That being said, we are both excited about continuing this indefinitely – we look forward to it, not as a “diet,” but simply as a lifestyle choice. I hope to share here my experience going vegan, any adjustments I make along the way, as well as resources, recipes, and research. If you’re interested in a plant-based diet, I’d highly encourage you to look into it and give it a try – it’s easier than you think. Also, if you’ve already adopted a plant-based diet, I’d love to hear about your experience!

~ Nellie Levine

Creamy Canellini Sauce

This sauce (as pictured in the above photo) is something my husband whipped up from scratch. It's great over rice or pasta, with veggies that are steamed, sauteed, or roasted, making it really versatile. It is creamy and full flavored.

1 onion, thinly sliced
3-6 cloves garlic
+/- 1 cup warm water

2 cups cooked or 1 can of canellini beans, warmed
2 tablespoons tamari or Bragg's liquid aminos
2 tablespoons rice wine or white wine
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon Italian herb blend

Roast onion and garlic at 450 until browned (stir occasionally).

In food processor, process onion, then slowly add small amount of water, until smooth. Add beans, then slowly add small amount of water, until smooth. Add remaining ingredients, then slowly add water until preferred consistency - sauce will thicken when heated so make it a bit thinner than you would finally prefer. Add salt and more wine to taste. Heat in saucepan or microwave.

Makes approximately 2 1/2 - 3 cups.

* I’d like to recommend two books that my husband and I have recently bought:

Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes, by Neal D. Barnard, MD – This book is straightforward and easy to follow. In addition to explaining in further detail the PBS program my husband and I watched, it also details the scientific research that proves diabetes can be greatly benefited by a low fat, plant-based diet. For those with type 2 that might mean reversal, for those with type 1, better control of blood sugar numbers and better prevention of complications.

The Vegan Table, by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau – We have plenty of vegetarian cookbooks in our house, but many of them include dairy in their recipes, and we also wanted a little bit of new inspiration. The Vegan Table is a beautiful cookbook that I’d enjoy using even if we weren’t omitting animal products from our diets. The book focuses on entertaining – serving delicious meals to family and friends, but it is a great family cookbook as well.

Supporting article on vegan diet for diabetes: http://blogs.webmd.com/life-with-diabetes-2/2010/05/low-fat-vegan-diet-for-reversing-diabetes.html

One more note: if you’re going to go vegan, you do need to make sure you get enough vitamin B12, which we are unable to get through plant sources so a daily multivitamin is a good idea. Otherwise, a solid, well-planned plant-based diet should provide all the nutrients you need (and will provide much more than you would get on the standard American diet). There are many effective plant-based sources of calcium, protein, and iron. Still, it is wise to check with your doctor before making major dietary changes and especially important to do so if you are on any medications for diabetes, heart disease, or blood pressure, or if you have any food sensitivities that would create a difficulty in following a vegan diet.

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photo by Nellie Levine

The Rose, Lily and Lotus: A Sacred Trinity of Flowers

The rose, lily and the lotus comprise a sacred trinity of the most important symbols in the world.  Easily recognized, these flower symbols have been used through the ages in artwork, to define mythology and religion, and to symbolize man's spiritual connection both to nature and the divine.

Seulement Tu-Red Rose by Karen Casey Smith

The importance of the rose pervades all cultures and religious beliefs.  It is the most common symbol of love, particularly if the color is red, and of all offerings made in love that are pure.  Love symbolized by the red rose continues to survive in our present culture demonstrated every day through the act of giving roses as a special gift.

Love is not the only the only symbolic meaning of this beautiful flower, however.  It also represents perfection, beauty, renewal and the triumph of spirit over matter as the rose bursts open...out of the muddy earth.  Because of its perfection and beauty roses are also a symbol of purity.

Spiritually, the rose is a natural mandala (circle or wheel).  The petals form a perfectly symmetrical circle around a yellow center, which is evocative of the Sun.  The Rosy Cross of the Rosicrucian Order has a rose at its intersection.  Here the rose symbolizes the heart, life and life's mystery.  Roses have also been long associated with Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Rose windows that adorn cathedrals and churches are her symbol.  In India, the Great Mother was called Holy Rose.

A Dream Within a Dream - Water Lily by Karen Casey Smith

 The lily symbolizes the goddess, in whatever cultural form she may take.  Greek mythology refers to the lily as originating from the milk of Hera's breast (Hera is the wife of Zeus). In Roman mythology, Venus was jealous of the lily's beauty and caused it to sprout a pistil from the center of the flower.

The Babylonian Goddess Lilith, who some say was the first wife of Adam, took her name from the name of the lily or the lilu (lotus).  Weaving its way into our own contemporary film culture, the word lilu seems very similar to the virginal, goddess like female, LeeLoo, played by Milla Jovovitch in The Fifth Element.

The color white is usually associated with the lily, but it's actually the pale color which is synonymous with the flower's symbology.  The phrase "lily white" is used to represent purity, virginity and innocence. Christians dedicate lilies to the Virgin Mary because of its pure connotation. They were also traditionally used to represent the loss of children and martyrdom of the saints.  The lily, particularly the calla lily, is also a symbol of resurrection. That is why the flower is frequently displayed at funerals and sometimes appear on gravestones.

Solitaire- White Lotus Blossom by Karen Casey Smith

The otherworldly appearance and particular hothouse growing circumstances make the Lotus a very unique flower.  Given thousands of years of associations with spiritual practices from many traditions, the lotus is believed to be one of the post powerful flower symbols on earth.  A symbol of resurrection, purity, serenity and peace, this flower is one of the eight auspicious symbols in both Chinese and Tibetan Buddhist iconography.

Historically the lotus has been the symbol used to illustrate the chakra system.  The number of petals depicted relating to the role and function of each of the energy centers that are said to "unfurl like petals" through meditation and energetic exercise.

The lotus also carries with it a descriptive symbology containing all of the four cardinal elements.  The lotus flower has its seed within the earth; it grows in the water; the blossom exists in air which then carries its fragrance out into the world.  The flower itself is awoken by the Sun the element of fire.

The color of the lotus also has great significance.  A red lotus is the ultimate symbol of the Sun and the emblem of India.  The stylized blue depiction of the blue lotus (which is actually a water lily rather then a true lotus) in found in Egyptian friezes.  A sacred lotus can be recognized from any others because it is always rendered in either white or pink.

~ diane fergurson

Thank you to photographer Karen Casey Smith for allowing me to use her stunning photographs to illustrate this post.  All of the prints are available for sale in Karen's Etsy Shop.

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Shedding our Acquired Life Roles and Medical Qigong

Conversations with Healer and Medical Qigong practitioner Darren Orr always prove to be an enlightening and informative experience.  The following discussion focuses on our acquired "life roles", our ability or inability to shed them, and how Medical Qigong can help in the healing process.
                                                                                                    ~ diane fergurson


MBS:  I've been reading recently about how sometimes people, deep down, don't really want to move completely forward after a death or unhappy life experience.  They resist the healing process because they have, in many cases, taken on a "life role" that they would find hard to give up.  For example, they embrace the role as the "survivor", the "widow", the "sick person". That's how other people identify them. That's what they talk about socially. They build their life and activities around that persona and really don't want to give it up 100% because then they would have to change who they are. Will you speak to that? 

Butterfly in Barely Blue by Nellie Levine

Darren:  Yes, the fear of changing that which they believe they are.  But what are we?  We cling to these identities or life roles so dearly. Why? We defend our positions, create lines in the sand causing strife, separation, division and dissension. We always want to be right and never wrong. Always want to feel pleasure, never pain. Always want to gain and never experience loss, only wanting the highs and never the lows. Never realizing and considering that the Divine flow of life is perpetuated by duality and dichotomy.
On the deepest level though duality merges into unity. We categorize, segregate, name, define, confine, dichotomize everything in our lives in order to try and understand it but in trying to understand it you lose the essence of simply experiencing the unity flow and harmony of each passing moment.

In the Dao de Jing Lao tzu talks about this saying the " the mind is like a knife always chipping away at the Dao trying to render it graspable and manageable, yet that which is formless is ungraspable and unmanageable. Nature is the best example of this and is why the Daoist's revered the harmony of nature as being the best expression of the Dao. The fundamental question of life is Who Am I? With that question comes a spiritual awakening and a rekindling of a fire that has lied dormant since childhood.

Who Am I? Sages from India and China, Christians, mystics, sufi muslims, indigenous religions throughout the world all use this form of self-enquiry to release the acquired mind/ego/false self and in doing so commune with the Source of life.

It is very true that people take on a "life role" that they find hard to give up whether that be survivor, widow, sick person or on a deeper level believing themselves to be the body. Everybody builds their life and activities around a persona whatever that may be, that is called the ego/false self/acquired mind. We all have it, all of us.

That is the essential point of self cultivation and Medical Qigong:

to refine the acquired aspects of your being in order see clearly your true nature. All the acquired negative, habitual habits, behaviors, thought patterns, attitudes and excessive mental/emotional templates that we all have gathered and carry around with us from birth onwards through living on Earth must be purged and purified through a form of self-cultivation before death. That is our real job in life, not what makes us money.

The idea of heaven on earth in the Christian tradition is talking about the same thing that the Chinese, Hindu, Native American and indigenous cultures are all saying: that when this acquired garbage is cleared heaven exists within ourselves.  If we clear out our story lines, identities, diseases, addictions, attachments, aversions, negative habits emotions and behaviors via Medical Qigong purgation exercises you can live from the heavenly bliss and happiness that has always resided within you while living on Earth.

The reason people have a hard time moving forward after death is because they believe themselves and the deceased to be the finite, temporal body/mind trapped in space and time of 3 dimensions. Yes very true, people sometimes don't want to move completely forward after a death or disease and thus resist the healing process because they have taken on a life role. People resist the healing process all the time due to subconscious issues about how we perceive ourselves vs others and the outside world. What we fail to realize is that the outside is a reflection of the inside which affects our perceptions, choices and decisions determining how we look at and feel about our experiences.

Then what often occurs is we judge, label and condemn ourselves for how we think and feel about our experiences. It's a vicious cycle.

It all really comes down to Mind. That is what we work with most in Medical Qigong is the person's Mind. I utilize Qi and Shen to allow the clients mind the ability to see the unlimited possibilities, shifting and moving them out of the stasis of there "life role, sickness or affliction". This then helps them to see the root of the problem, disease or affliction, why certain patterns emerged and then giving them the tools to cut those roots thereby freeing their life-force energy and vitality allowing them to return back to homeostasis, balance and health.

The main message I would like to convey about death is that you do not die. I'll repeat that YOU DO NOT DIE. Your body and brain drop off like a discarded garment but your spirit is eternal. We all are an invisible indivisible eternal spiritual energy.

Like a butterfly breaking through a cocoon. At the moment of death we simply break free of cocoon of the body/mind and return to the spiritual essence and energy that we truly are. We are not our bodies, not our minds, we are not confined to space and time. We are not our thoughts, feelings emotions or information. We are not our name, what we look like or dress like, where we live, life role, social status, fame, wealth or power. Our spirit is limitless, beginingless and endless, a formless harmony of unity and oneness.

Most who walk the Earth live in ignorance of this principle which sustains and maintains them until they are at their deathbed. You can realize and actualize your spirit while still in the physical form full of health and vitality, but you must begin the inner self cultivation necessary to distill the divine elixir that lies within. That is the essence of my job as Medical Qigong therapist, to assist, shift and uplift those who come to me via affinity. Most often its for healing but deeper it is to give them the tools to dig deep inside and find, understand and manifest their destiny-which is always spiritual in nature.

You must delve deep into the depths of your being searching and yearning for the answer to the question Who Am I?  It doesn't really matter what label you place on the life role. Find out who the "I" is you are talking about when you say "I" went, "I" came, "I" did or "I" am such and such.

The idea of ever having security and being able to resist change is only going to exhaust yourself in vain.

Life is change. Buddhists talk about groundlessness, the Daoists about Chaos. Do you ever really have control over your life? You may think you do and it could go on that way for a very long time but sooner or later somewhere, something is going to flip your world upside down and knock you on your ass. The question then becomes are you going to just sit there and stagnate or get up and move? The idea is to not get trapped in stasis, not get bogged down in the negative mind chatter of judging and berating yourself that stems from the ego/acquired mind. Most people when faced with a trauma, death or life-changing event don't know how to deal with it. They don't know how flow with it, most people's first reaction is to resist which eventually leads to stasis.

We as a people need to learn how to let go of our mental/emotional baggage that we all carry behind us like a ball and chain. Medical qigong therapy is unsurpassed at showing us tools to get out of stasis and clear, release and let go of this acquired mental/emotional baggage so we can hear the silent song of our spirit and live it while embodied.

When you ride the tide in the Dao of now you flow effortlessly in harmony with the unity of life.


MBS:  Thank you Darren
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Butterfly in Barely Blue by Nellie Levine is available for purchase on Cargoh 

 Darren Orr is a Reiki master and teacher, a nationally certified massage therapist and a Medical Qigong therapist and teacher.  He specializations are in Oncology, chronic pain, stress management, life-altering illness and palliative care for the terminally ill. Darren recently completed his 2nd year of a 3 year Medical Qigong Program, a Graduate Degree of over 2,000 hours.
You can email him at: Bodhichitta8@hotmail.com
Last year we conducted an amazing 3 part interview with Darren on our blog:
"From Jing to Qi to Shen: An Interview with Healer Darren Orr".
If you missed it, make sure to check it out!

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Book Review: For Seven Lifetimes

For Seven Lifetimes
An East-West Journey to a Spiritually Fulfilling and Sustainable Marriage
by Vatsala and Ehud Sperling
published by Inner Traditions

Review by Nellie Levine


I started reading For Seven Lifetimes the day it arrived in the mail, and I stayed up half the night with it, thoroughly engaged, touched, and uplifted. What was so compelling that night - what makes up the bulk of the book, is a collection of letters exchanged between two beautiful people, over the course of nearly a year. These letters were an expression of a courtship unique in many ways. They were the way in which two people met, grew to know and love each other, and ultimately, the way they came together in marriage.

In 1995 B. R. Vatsala, a woman of Brahmin heritage living in India, was perusing her newspaper, looking through the "matrimonials." Arranged marriages are traditional in India, though the tradition can take a variety of forms. The matrimonials are ads placed in major newspapers, through which men advertise in search of compatible wives. These go quite beyond the "personals" we are familiar with. Also, rather than a woman herself replying to such an ad, it is customary for a male relation to reply, and to take it from there. A woman may not even meet a groom-to-be until minutes before her wedding.

Vatsala was a little different, and known as a free spirit in her family. A leading clinical microbiologist by profession, she was highly respected in the hospital in which she worked, and was in demand on the lecture circuit. She lived alone with her mother, with whom she shared a meaningful relationship and a modest lifestyle. Although she had a genuine respect for tradition and a pure love for her country and heritage, she had a more independent as well as individualistic approach to marriage. Looking through the matrimonials was becoming a discouraging ritual. Until she saw Ehud Sperling's ad.

Ehud's ad certainly stood out from the rest. In the book we see the page from the newspaper, The Hindu, as Vatsala herself saw it. It was headlined "Brides Wanted," and included several dozen ads. Ehud's ad, which was placed by a close Indian friend, stated his professional background as a publisher of spiritual books, some personal traits, and made clear he was a Westerner of Jewish faith living in Vermont. He was intent on finding a bride, someone to create a family with, and unlike the other men he would welcome replies from the women themselves. The ad spoke to Vatsala, and she soon wrote her first letter of introduction to Ehud.

I am truly a romantic at heart, have been married for twenty years to the man I consider my soul mate and best friend, and simply love a good love story! I was immediately swept up in this story that first night I lay awake with the book - in the way Vatsala and Ehud met, and in the way they got to know each other.

The letters were not what many would think of as love letters, in many cases. Rather, they were the sharing in fullness, of who Vatsala and Ehud were as individuals. In their letters they both spoke intimately and deeply about their thoughts and feelings on society, culture, religion, spirituality, sexuality, family, heritage, and values. Some days they wrote letters about more mundane concerns - for Vatsala, that might mean describing running home from work in the rain during monsoon season; for Ehud, it might mean sharing walks he had taken with his dog Noogie. Whether simple or profound, the letters allowed the other a pure view into who they each were. The two gained a strong respect for each other, and over time, a very strong bond.

The book is not just letters. Vatsala openly shares her insights and reflections on specific points in her correspondence with Ehud. She shares questions and doubts (always short-lived) that she had at the time, her feelings after she mailed a letter and awaited a response, her belief in God and adherence to spiritual values, her work as a doctor and scientist. We also see the progression of this very long-distance relationship into a marriage - the preparations of a wedding and of traveling to the US. Through Vatsala's words, we see a very genuine portrayal of life in India, as well as a portrait of a woman in love - who really could have been any woman, anywhere, for the voice she has given her heart.

Some women reading the book may initially disagree with my last statement... In one of Ehud's letters, he expresses his wish for a wife to "obey" her husband, and in Vatsala's replies she essentially accepts this - though with an appealing sense of wit. This does make one pause. But, his words shouldn't be taken out of context, and the context in which I read them is one of only love and respect for his bride-to-be. One of the main points I came away from this book with, one of its beauties, and one of the things that make it so unique, as well as so wise with regards to making a marriage work, is the vision of marriage as sacred that Vatsala and Ehud joyously share. There is a spirituality to this - it is a balanced sense of selflessness that works both ways, and helps create a more perfect union, as well as an enlightened family dynamic. Also, Ehud clarifies that he would of course fully respect and honor his wife's feelings, thoughts, and wishes, always welcoming her input. He says in one letter, "Ultimately, the marriage should reflect the spiritual ideals of that greater marriage between the masculine and the feminine. The man must worship the goddess in his wife and conversely the wife must see her husband as her god. We are just reflections of the beloved, striving in our imperfect way for union and liberation. Marriage should be the foundation that helps us achieve those goals."  I would hope that the brief reference to obey, would not cause a reader to disregard everything else that this couple openly shares with us. Surely, Vatsala and Ehud have created a beautiful marriage, one of apparent honesty, equality, and shared values.

This book is an updated, revised version of A Marriage Made In Heaven that was first published in 2000, by Ten Speed Press. Vatsala and Ehud have now been married for sixteen years, and this new book reflects those years. I believe the Sperlings' new book is testament to their love and to their approach to marriage. For Seven Lifetimes is beautifully illustrated, and almost feels like a scrapbook in its design. It is a joy to read, fascinating in the way it brings together two cultures that seem very different but find many things in common, delightful for the development of a friendship between two highly intelligent and interesting people, and exciting for the ultimate coming together in marriage. There is much wisdom in For Seven Lifetimes - wisdom on living life well and fully, as well as of course, on creating an enduring, spiritually fulfilling partnership. Whether or not a reader agrees with every point shared in the book, I can't imagine anyone who would not come away from it enriched.

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Spiritual Walking

Shady Grove by Karen Casey Smith

We had a break in the winter weather the last few days and like many people I found myself out for a walk.  Where I live in the New York Metro area, walking, like everything else, seems to have be for a specific purpose or reason in order for people to engage themselves.  Usually a walk means someone has to catch the train or bus, squeeze in some exercise time (because it's "good" for you) or in our neighborhood take the kids to the park.   I occasionally meet someone just out for enjoyment, but not too often.  That said, people here "do" walk.  They are out and about all the time.

I was thinking about all this recently and I remembered an article I read last year in Llewellyn's 2010 Magical Almanac, "Walking with Spirit" by Harmony Usher. In the article, Usher maintains that walking is both a physical and symbolic activity that connects our bodies and spirits with moving forward.  When we move the body, we quiet the mind.  Our circulatory system gets going, we change our scenery and our spirit blossoms.  We are able to view life from a different perspective.

What I enjoyed about reading "Walking with Spirit" was Usher's discussion of seven different types of spiritual walking in which she describes the purpose of each and their intent.  Some of these can be combined with others, but it's still an interesting list to read and think about.  Below is Usher's spiritual walking list.  Some of the descriptions were derived from her article, others are from my own observations and research. 

1.  Walkabouts.  The walking spiritual tradition that native Australians have been practicing for centuries.   During a solitary period in the desert the walker enters into a meditative state during which they connect deeply to the land and their individual spirit guide, who eventually leads them home.  The walker communes with nature and connects with the spiritual realm.

2.  The Pilgrimage, in which the seeker travels by foot to reach a specific place.  In these journeys, once again, it is not only the physical expedition that is of importance, but inner spiritual voyage as well.  A good example of a Pilgrimage in the United States is the yearly Easter Pilgrimage to Chimayo in Northern New Mexico.  Thousands of people participate in this event.  Some leaving their homes and walking as far as 90 miles during Holy Week to reach the Sacred Chapel of Chimayo.

3.  While pilgrimages and walkabouts require time and physical energy, Buddhists around the world undertake a practice called Walking Meditation where the walker pays attention to the walking process.
Walking Meditation develops balance and accuracy of awareness as well as durability of concentration.
The focus of a Walking Meditation is not fitness, but the act of breaking down the walking process into individual smaller movements that allows the consciousness to expand.

BC Memorial Labyrinth

4.  Labyrinth walking has skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years through healing centers, spas and retreats as means to relieve stress.  Walking the Labyrinth is the practice of journeying to and then returning from the center.  A Labyrinth has a clearly marked path to follow ascending towards salvation or enlightenment for meditation, prayer, relaxation.  Popular in the Middle Ages, Labyrinths were often created in Churches but the symbol has appeared in a variety of ancient cultures from around the world.  In Celtic tradition they have been found etched in the entrances and chambers of ancient Neolithic tombs.  A Labyrinth is continuous and always begins where it ends.  While a maze has many turns and blind alleys, a Labyrinth always traces a single path, in and out of the center.  They are associated with rebirth and the afterlife.

5.  In Mindful Walking one opens up their senses and engages themselves in the present moment.  You become conscious of where you are, what you are doing, how you feel, how your senses feel and what is around you.  What you do not do is have a conversation with your brain about it.  You hear what is around you, you see what is around you...you experience.  Mindful Walking is a bridge between being in a meditative state and being present in the physical moment.  This is probably my favorite type of spiritual walking.

6.  Ritualistic Walkers engage in some kind of predetermined custom or tradition when they walk.  It may be something as simple as walking at the same time everyday, in the same place, for a certain amount of time.  Some ritual walkers infuse meaning into their practice, such as beginning their day with a walk at sunrise to usher in positive beginnings.  There are also more extreme forms of Ritualistic Walking such as Firewalking in the Indian Culture, associated with the mystical powers of fakirs.

7.  And finally there are Gratitude Walks which help us open our hearts to the abundance of the Universe.  We give thanks for who we are and all that we have by acknowledging the simple pleasures and beauty in our life.  This is something we should all make a regular practice of doing.

Whatever kind of walking you engage in... for fitness, renewal of spirit or enjoyment, just take the time to get out of the house and do it.  You will arrive back home with refreshed eyes and a revived spirit that will not only benefit you but those around you as well.

~ diane fergurson

You can find the beautiful Shady Grove by photographer Karen Casey Smith in her Etsy Shop.
BC Memorial Labyrinth is from Wiki Commons

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Book Review: The Book of Enoch the Prophet

 
"And in that place I saw the fountain of righteousness, which was inexhaustible, and around it were many fountains of wisdom; and all the thirsty drank of them, and were filled..."
                                    ~The Book of Enoch the Prophet, XLVIII v. 1

When I first began reading The Book of Enoch the Prophet (which here refers to what is considered 1 Enoch) I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. I'd read commentaries on its text before, and had heard the opinions of scholars about its various meanings, and I had even studied the lore behind Crowleyian version of Enochian magic and the sacred hermetic interpretations of its volume. But until recently, I had never actually read the text itself. All of the scholarly material I'd studied before did very little to prepare me for the actual work itself.



The text I chose was decided upon due to the fact that an introduction by R.A. Gilbert preceded its body, and I knew Gilbert's writing from other texts I'd read on Rosicrucianism. I decided to go with what seemed familiar to me, and I dove right in. I was prepared for a volume of heavy allegories, and poetic representations, but I wasn't quite prepared for spiritual "meatiness" of the text. The Book of Enoch the Prophet is, in most circles, considered part of the Pseudepigrapha, that is, a part of a volume of works whose originators are represented or purported as great figures of the past, but whose real authors are at best in doubt and disputed. This fact, however, does very little to subtract from the rich magic of the text itself, and though it is verbose and very deep, it really is a fabulous study for anyone involved in occult and/or hermetic and religious studies.


This particular text consists of several divisions. among which are the Book of the Watchers, referenced in Genesis as the fallen ones or the Nephilim, and is essentially a narrative of Enoch's travels in the heavens. The second division of the Book is considered to be the Book of Parables, and seems to be a continuation or perhaps even a disambiguation of the Book of the Watchers, only it includes a more in-depth look at Enoch's eschatology. The third division is the Book of the Course of the Heavenly Luminaries, which deals primarily with the sun and moon and their apparent journey through the heavens, as well as the Lunar Year. The fourth installment of the text is called The Dream Visions, and is the richest part of the text as a whole. It deals with symbolic representations of historical events within the context of a dream sequence, supposedly experienced by Enoch while in a hypnotic state or trance. This text itself ends with an installment known as The Epistle of Enoch, which appears to be, among other things, an outline for the rewards of the just versus the punishment and/or judgment of the unrighteous, as well as an exhortation from Enoch for generations that follow him.


The text is a rigorous read, to be sure. It may follow that any seeking reader might want to read the installments not necessarily in sequential order, but rather as their whim leads. This may very well go against the prescribed method of study by some scholars, but to ingest the entire text sequentially is definitely a laborious undertaking. However, it does prove to be a worthwhile study, and after finished the installments, I came to understand with some surprise how it was that Crowley and his colleagues determined the book to contain within itself a secret magic, or perhaps a hidden esoteric message.

Overall, the Book of Enoch (again here referring to I Enoch) - while certainly a text requiring dedicated and careful study- is also most certainly a book that must be read by any seeker or spiritualist intrigued by hermeticism or even Gnostic Christianity. While not included in the currently-defined mainstream Christian canon, it is included in the canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and is a very worthwhile and recommended read.
                                         ~  Christina Dudley


The Book of Enoch the Prophet
R.H. Charles
introduction by R.A. Gilbert
Weiser Books, 2003

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you to Christina Dudley for this informative book review.  You can find Christina online at the
Capricorn Soap Company on Etsy.

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The History of Valentine's Day

Researching the historical roots of any Holiday practice usually produces interesting findings!  That's what happened to me while reading about Valentine's Day.  The excerpt below was taken from a wonderful book, "Saints Preserve Us" by Sean Kelly and Rosemary Rogers.  Enjoy your Valentine's Day!
        ~ diane


"The martyrdoms of three different Saints named Valentine are celebrated on this day; in various Roman churches eight complete bodies (and one head) of Valentine are venerated.  One of these a priest and/or physician beheaded in 269, is traditionally invoked against blindness and epilepsy.

The association of this date with courtship may arise from the mid-February pagan fertility feast of Lupercalia, and/or from the medieval belief that birds chose their mates on this day.

"Valentines" were originally cards that boys drew by lot, inscribed with names of girls to be courted.  An attempt to improve this custom by substituting the names of Saints to be emulated was once made, without much success, by Saint Francis de Sales."

Valentine graphic from Creative Commons.

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Who was Saint Patrick?

Mind Body Spirit Artist Series: Laura Milnor Iverson

As part of our continuing Artist Series we are pleased to feature an interview with San Francisco Bay Area visionary artist, Laura Milnor Iverson.  Laura was "very" first person to join the Mind Body Spirit Marketplace when we set it up on 1000 Markets many moons ago and I knew exactly at that moment that we were headed down right path!  Enjoy the interview, and I 'm sure you'll find Laura's work as uplifting and enchanting as we do!    
                                                         ~ diane fergurson
              

Green Buddha Meditation

MBS: Can you tell us a little bit about how you got started as an artist? How did your career develop.

Laura:  I've always done art. My first recollection is having a free hand deer drawing I did in crayon put up on the board in 1st grade. My goal in high school was to do something with art daily--a sketch or work on a painting. The first free-hand oil painting I did was when I was 12. I did this Madonna and Child (to the right) when I was 16:

My father took up oil painting when I was in my teens. It would be hard to separate his involvement in my development as an artist. Just being in the environment of art, being so important to him, was an influence. Some of his work is online.  He passed away in 2001.

As an adult, I switched to watercolors when I moved to a tiny apartment with bad ventilation. Acrylics, at the time, were not the medium they are now. I did that up until my father passed away.

Due to that traumatic event, I felt an overwhelming need to return to oils and found the water-soluble ones. I started experimenting with acrylics around 2006 or so, and found the switch quite easy. I still work in both mediums although, with the new "open" acrylics, I find I use oils less & less. The long drying time makes them less practical for online sales, in my opinion.

Bent Pine Tree at Moonrise

Around 2005, I broke out of traditional landscapes, seascapes and figures, and into the Zen Series, which remains my most popular.

In 2006, I started working with polymer clay, primarily as a vehicle of offering my paintings in the form of unique, hand-sculpted jewelry

My most recent exploration has been into fantasy, ghosts and graveyards. I've always loved ghost stories and the paranormal.

MBS: I can see there have been several different series that you have worked on over the years. What interests you to a particular subject matter enough to make you want to spend time with it and paint it? Is it a specific idea that you are pursuing, or maybe the challenge of capturing something in particular with paint? What sparks your interest?

Laura:  I guess I got a little ahead of myself and answered some of this in the previous answer :-).

I tend to paint things I love, to capture a place or moment or feeling. I live in a beautiful area of California and I often go walking out in nature. I find constant inspiration. In the tree branches for the zen and Peace Tree series, many of the tree branches are the old gnarled oaks I see on my walks.

Even a fanciful scene like this: http://zenbreeze.com/store/zenwishes.htm owned its origin to a spot in a local park, Los Gatos lakes. I was intrigued by those three pine trees on the hill in the distance.

The new ghost series was also inspired by a local site, an old abandoned cemetery on the coast. That combined with my love of ghost stories, especially Poe's The Raven.

Books are also an inspiration. I read a lot of urban fantasy, children's/juvenile series, ghost stories and such. The Shaman's Gate series: http://zenbreeze.com/store/gatespring.htm was inspired by a scene in a children's book. The character goes to a mysterious house and he notices that, over the wall, it's winter & snowing, although it's summer where he is. 

Lenore in Lavender Moonlight

MBS: I think it's interesting the way you chose to portray the ghosts in your new ghost series. Transparent women with long flowing hair and gowns. Graveyards. A very, romantic traditional representation. Any particular reason?  

Laura:  I suppose I am influenced by some of the old illustrators, such as Rackham and Brock. I also researched Victorian fashion plates and illustrations from the time. I use long flowing hair in the mermaids too but their hair is loose.

MBS: I love the cats in your work. The cats and the moon seem to be a re-occurring theme. Can you tell us a little about that?

Laura:  Thank you. I love cats. I always have. Originally, I just painted the moons and branches. That went on a couple years before I started adding animals. Cats were first. Then crows. Then various flying things (other birds, moths, butterflies, dragonflies). But the cats are the most popular. People seem to relate to that setting and often send me photos of their cats, which further inspire me.

Siamese Cat in Autumn Glow

MBS: What format do you normally work in? A specific size...large, small...or does it depend on the project? Also what materials do you use.... Acrylic, on canvas, boards, paper etc...

Laura:  The size depends a bit on the project, although I tend to work on canvases 16" x 20" or smaller. The reasons are practical. I don't have a separate studio so my workspace is limited and I find the smaller sizes easier to pack and ship. My favorite size is 16" x 20" because I feel it's also the best for making prints (I run prints at home and the maximum size I do is 11" x 14").

The only time I work on paper is for ACEOs (miniatures) and those are pretty rare for me. I mostly offer that size in limited edition prints of larger work. I feel the paint moves easier over canvas than paper.

MBS: What is a typical work day for you? Do you keep "hours" and go to work painting like a 9-5 job? Or are you less scheduled about it?

Laura:  I wish I could keep a regular schedule but the demands of family make that a bit impractical. Typically, I get up before everyone else, at 5 or so. That's my best creative time. I check messages and that while I make tea & breakfast. After that, it somewhat depends. On days I have orders in, I pack those (and run prints, if necessary), then get them out to the post office. Customer service is important to me and that accounts for my repeat customers.

In the afternoons, I like to work on my pendants in clay or painting, if I get a little alone time then. Otherwise, I do listings and other administrative tasks. That and social networking and visiting with my online friends. That often goes on through the evening.

Blue Moon Tea

MBS: I know many artists who are very hesitant about selling their work online. I've noticed that you actively sell quite a bit of of your work that way and are on several different selling sites. How has selling online worked out for you as an artist? Any advice you can give to other artists who are thinking about selling their work this way?

Laura:  I went straight to online so I can't really give informed pros and cons. Working with galleries seemed too difficult and cost prohibitive. I don't know how galleries are in other areas but, in mine, you're talking about spending hundreds of dollars just to have your work looked at. Some even charge so much a piece per month to hang there. For shows, you seem to be too much at the whim of factors, such as weather, how much advertising the venues do, etc., and all the artists I talked with said they were pretty much just selling cards and small prints, often not even covering the booth fee.

MBS: You mentioned above that you spend time social networking in the evening. There are so many artists I've run across who really don't understand what social networking is about or how important it is as a tool to promote their work. What has your experience been as an artist using social networking?

Laura:  Social networking is fantastic for artists on a number of levels. This is one small example. I was chatting on a thread and someone asked me if I did 5" x 5" prints. She collected them. I'd never heard of that size before. It was easy enough for me to offer them, once I knew they existed. Although someone could have sent me a message directly, it's more "committal" than chatting on a forum, twitter or facebook. Social networking also provides a way to cross promote with other sellers. I got a fairly large print order as a result of someone else posting about my work on facebook.

MBS: Any advice you have for those who wish to (seriously) pursue an artistic path?

Laura:  Create what you want to create. If you love it, there will most likely be buyers. And, if not, the creation is important. Never try to create "what sells". You'll always be playing catch up and miss out on true creativity.

MBS:  Thank you so much for spending time with us Laura!  We appreciate it and the best of luck to you!

End
 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

You can find links to Laura's work here 
and also through her main Website.

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Also from our Artist Series:
Interview with Emily Balivet 

Mind Body Spirit Odyssey Book Review: The Zen of Financial Peril

 By Diane Fergurson


Sometimes people have to hit rock bottom before they allow themselves to open up to a hard self examination of their behavior and beliefs.  That's what happened to Jay G.M. Taffet, and his journey inspired him to write about it in "The Zen of Financial Peril: The Art of Happiness in Crisis".

When this book first came across my desk, I really didn't know what to expect.  Was it about finance?  Zen?  Zen and Finance?  I had no idea.

According to Taffet, "The Zen of Financial Peril" is a motivational guide whose goal is to demystify spirituality and put it into a more practical context. This is done primarily by encouraging the reader to change the perspective they have on their life by learning how to distinguish between decisions made by the mind and by the soul.  For most people who read and write about spiritual issues, this theme may not seem to be a new one.  But for someone who is not familiar with this concept, when the discovery is made it can be quite overwhelming.

Taffet writes his book in bullet style.  Every phrase and thought he presents is a theme in and unto itself. There were times I wished he would have expanded his thoughts and explanations a bit.  Also, this is not really a book about Zen and business or finance.  The title stems from Taffet having made his discovery while he was at the brink of financial peril and his ability to achieve happiness by changing his outlook and choices. 

I have no doubt that many readers will find "The Zen of Financial Peril" a very helpful, motivational tool that they can use to improve their lives.  It is a very readable, pratical book and quite absorbing once you start it.  If you are stuck in the funk of winter and need to gain a new perspective about yourself or your business, this book will definitely activate your thinking and help you gain new insights about what you are doing and why you may be doing them.

You can find out more about Jay G.M. Taffet by visiting his website.

His book is also available through Amazon 

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2011 Year of the Rabbit (Hare)

Many scholars consider Chinese astrology to be one of the world's oldest forms of Astrology.  Unlike the other Moon-school traditions; Tibetan, Vedic and Judaic, which are couched in religion, Chinese astrology is purely secular, a direction shared by Sun-school astrologies (Western and Arabian).

Ming Shu (Circle of Animals), is just one form of Chinese astrology, but it seems to be the one that is most commonly recognized by westerners.  This system is what Sun signs are to Western astrology, meaning, you only have to know the year of your birth to create a general personality profile.  Like all of the world's major astrological traditions however, a person's time, date and place of birth are essential to create an accurate, true birth chart.

2011 is the year of the Hare (Rabbit).  Although there are general behavioral patterns associated with the Hare sign, the delineation is further augmented according to which element (earth, metal, fire, water, wood)  happens to be in control the year that you are born.  For example, the personality of a fire hare is very different from that of a water hare.

You are a Hare if you were born the following years:

1939 earth
1951 metal
1963 water
1975 wood
1987 fire
1999 earth
2011 metal

In general, the Hare person does not like change.  They are a creature of comfort and a keen observer of other people's strengths and weaknesses.  Virtue and prudence are essential traits in their nature.

An Earth Hare is steadfast.  They move in a calculated fashion.   Their aim is for personal fulfillment and desire.

A Fire Hare is more outgoing then the rest of the Hare personalities.  They may be temperamental and  outspoken and are often easily swayed in situations.

The Metal Hare is very observant and does not compromise well.  They usually try to fullfull their own ambitions.

The Water Hare is born with an empathic nature.  Their memory and intuition is very sharp.  They tend to be emotionally fragile, however, and worry about the future and the past.

A Wood Hare is compassionate and generous.  They need to watch that other people do not take advantage of their generous nature.

What ever your particular Chinese birth sign may be, we hope you enjoy and celebrate this wonderful New Year!

~ diane


In formation for this post was taken from Miller and Brown's "The Complete Astrological Handbook for the Twenty-first Century"; Understanding and Combining the Wisdom of Chinese, Tibetan, Vedic, Arabian, Judaic, and Western Astrology.

The hare graphic is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

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Winter's Song

Silence surrounds. The shadows of trees fall across the snow, hands that 
neither beckon nor abandon, but allow communion, embracing heart and 
soul with Winter’s spirit.
 
My prayers float away from me on this chill air. On these moon-filled 
icy nights there is no concealment. Whispers roar like waves on the 
ocean, and the mind opens into a vast landscape for night’s secrets.
 
I drink in this spell. Like honey on the tongue, the cold is coaxing. I 
lean back and feel the breath of angels on my face.
 
I do not imagine sunflowers or conjure June skies. I do not escape into 
wanderings through Summer’s bright images. Winter has its place in my 
heart, brings me a centering stillness I could not live without.
 
I do what I did when I was a child; wrap myself up in wool, make a quiet 
trail into the trees, and greet the moon who watches our dreams like a 
grandmother. I sit until I can’t anymore, until I begin to notice the 
cold. Usually, my teeth don’t chatter, my fingers don’t turn numb, as I 
feel peace.
 
In such cold, tears freeze before they form and fears melt away. As my 
heart calls out, for wars, poverty, for the inhuman acts mankind has 
birthed out of someplace I cannot even imagine, a song reaches into me 
that soothes and guides, calms, and brings peace.
 
It is a song that Nature sings, a gift from the Earth for when we need 
to hear, need to believe and find faith. It speaks strongly, and I have 
become the stark stillness of Winter, and I become the knowing. The 
truth lies in the silver snow of night, that all will be okay, all will 
be okay.
 

 ~ nellie levine 

 "The Rabbit House" is by photographer Jude McConkey and is available through her Etsy Shop.
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Baby Carrots - Do You Know What You Are Eating?

I'll admit I never gave a second thought to a baby carrot until I read about them in the latest magazine issue of Mary Jane's Farm.  Then I just wanted to gag.  Sure, they are cute.  And yes, I always thought that they were a good alternative to giving kids chips for lunch.  The grocery stores where I live out East have multitudes of them.  Organic, non organic.  And who among us has not munched on them for a "healthy" snack or at the appetizer table?

Baby carrots are not actually "baby" carrots at all.  They are cut down from regular full-grown carrots that have been rejected for size and deformities.  The are not as nutritional as regular carrots because, as we all know, most of the nutritional value of a carrot comes from the skin and the area around it...which is peeled away on a baby carrot.

Since these baby carrots are pre-peeled, they are then soaked in a chlorine solution to kill the bacteria and help preserve that lovely right orange color (that never seems to change, if you stop and think about it).
Unfortunately, this is a standard practice even for organic carrots.

Watch what you are buying.  Read the labels closely and look for "true" organic carrots, those that are grown and harvested as babies.  Better yet, spend and extra 5 minutes in the morning and cut them up yourself for your kid's lunch.  It's less expensive that way too.

This is just another small way to "go green" folks, and improve the quality of your diet as well.

~ diane

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We're Having a Giveaway!

In Hinduism January 24 is one of the most auspicious days of the month of Capricorn when the Sun begins its northern ascension. In honor of this day, we're giving away a silver coin of Lakshmi! Donated by Indira Govindan of DharmaKarmaArts, this silver coin (99% pure) from India features an image of Lakshmi on one side, and the word Shri, in Sanskrit, on the other. As Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, giving and receiving this coin is considered auspicious.

To enter to win the Lakshmi coin, just leave a comment below. Please make sure to include your email address in your comment so we know how to reach you in the event that you win. A winner will be chosen randomly from all comments made on this blog post, on January 31st and the winner will be announced on
February 1.

 ~ Nellie

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Goddess Lakshmi photo courtesy of Wikipedia

* this giveaway has ended

Book Review: Dolores Cannon's The Convoluted Universe, Vol 1,2,& 3

  
by Abby Horowitz

Are you an intrepid explorer of the unknown? Do you enjoy having your mind twisted in ways you never thought possible? Are you ready to leap down the rabbit hole and emerge in undiscovered territory? Well then...The Convoluted Universe (Volumes 1-3) is your ticket!

Dolores Cannon’s involvement in the field of hypnosis for over 40 years has resulted in many thought provoking books. She also lectures around the world and teaches her very special method of induction. Cannon began her career as a hypnotherapist, aiming to help her clients solve their problems through the process of hypnosis.

It was during one of these early sessions that her amazing journey into the unknown began. While under hypnosis, her client suddenly transformed before her eyes – a totally different personality emerged with it’s own vocal patterns and body language. In the next series of sessions she regressed her client to 5 distinct lifetimes back to when she was created by God! Cannon’s life and belief system was changed forever. Fascinated, she now saw this work as a way to explore the history of our world and beyond - “firsthand”.

In the late ‘70’s she discovered that the majority of problems people experience can be traced back to events that occurred in their past lives, instead of their present ones    Over the years she has developed her own method of regression, and is able to quickly get her clients to the somnambulist trance state which is the deepest possible trance state. It is there that she is able to contact and communicate with the individual’s subconscious.

Through her books, Cannon brings us along with her as she regresses her clients back to past lives and beyond. The narrative voice is engaging and down to earth. She shares her internal dialogue as she comes to terms with the strange situations and areas of the unknown her clients find themselves in. The most amazing thing to me, is the shocking similarity of information brought forth by these people from all over the world - all strangers to her and each other. That really got me thinking. Buried deep within our subconscious lies a wealth of experience and information. And the knowledge that we are all connected.

Volume One of The Convoluted Universe transports you to the days of Atlantis, where you’ll learn about many Earth mysteries such as the lines of the Nazca Plains, Easter Island, the Pyramids, and so much more. You will explore parallel universes, group souls, other planets, alien life, other dimensions, and more. Most of all, when you come to the end of the book you will want more! Not to worry there are three volumes, with another on the way!




Volume Two begins with insight into Cannon’s personal journey. You will stand beside her clients as they relate accounts of their past lives in places such as ancient Egypt, Atlantis, and hidden underground cities. You will hear about life on other planets, time portals, karma, star people, advanced beings, aborigines, creator beings, facets of the soul, raising of vibrations, frequencies, the New Earth, and things you could never have imagined! By now you should be brimming with questions and a longing to discover more. Just in time for Volume Three!




Volume Three takes you on adventures in non-human bodies, delivers mind-bending concepts,
and lots of information on the upcoming changes for the Human race There are more insights into previously unknown areas than I can mention here. I don’t want to give away any more of the book!
Read The Convoluted Universe and your vision of the world and reality will never be the same!



You can find more information about Dolores Cannon on her websites:
www.dolorescannon.com http://www.ozarkmt.com/
http://www.facebook.com/DoloresCannonOfficialFB

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Abby Horowitz and her wonderful line of jewelry are online at:
Abby Horowitz Designs
You can also find her through her shop on Etsy

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You may also enjoy some of our other Book Reviews:
Black Elk Speaks 
Return of the Children of the Light