Mind, Body, Spirit Montage...

Aside from the daily grind of mundane tasks this week, I have been on a discovery quest.  In my search for guidance, clarity and answers this week, I’ve come across some great teachers and leaders in all three categories of mind, body and spirit - so I thought I would just share them all!

Mind: 

I attended a workshop this weekend entitled “Healthy Self-Esteem” held by Priscilla Keresey.  She is certified as an Advanced Clinical Hypnotist, is certified to facilitate Past Life Regression, has a Master's degree in Divinity from the Beloved Community Seminary and is an ordained Minister of Peace.  She is a certified member of the National Guild of Hypnotists, and a certified practitioner of EFT (a form of energy medicine)(1).  Below is a link to a page on her website explaining how hypnosis works. The power of our minds is truly amazing!  Her workshop was illuminating.

Click Here to link to her page “Why It Works”

Body:

I feel like I have made such an AWESOME DISCOVERY in finding this company!  On Sunday, I stopped in the bagel shop where the “Grass+Rxoots” company is located. “Grass Rxoots food is 100% free of artificial colors, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, chemicals, gluten, wheat, soy, processed sugar, dairy products and corn.”  They are “a movement that considers the power of food in every decision.”(2)  I had the “Love Potion #9” (made with beets, apples, lemon, and ginger) and the “Stacked Burrito Bowl” which contains beans, quinoa, tomato, onion, bell pepper, cilantro, cashew, romaine, and sea salt.  Both were OUTSTANDING and incredibly healthy!  Also, they have such a great story of how their company was born.  I love this brand!  I totally believe in them!

Click here for Grass+Rxoots' “About Us” page

Spirit:

I’ve been listening to two audio books (lectures) by Caroline Myss all week.  I think I may be in love with her.  :)  She is an American author with five New York Times Bestsellers.  I heard her speak live at an event in October and liked her immediately.  The lectures I’ve been listening to reflect ideas that are contained in her books “Archtypes: Who Are You” and “Sacred Contracts.”  While listening to her lectures, I lost count of how many “Aha!” moments I had in which I had to stop the track and just sit there and think for a minute to digest the brilliance of her thoughts.

Click here for “Caroline Myss Three Levels of Power Excerpt Pt. 1”

  

Hope you all have a gorgeous week!

Namaste

T

1. Keresey, P. (2013, December 3).  via hypnosis: my experience.  via hypnosis.  Retrieved February 23, 2014, from http://www.viahypnosis.com/myexperience.htm.

2. http://www.grassrxoots.com/#!our-rxoots/c1se

The Answer Is... YES!!!

Note to Self:

If you are ever wondering whether or not to use toe warmers when heading out to a “Winter Festival”….  The answer is YES!  YES, USE THE TOE WARMERS!

I had a great time at the President’s Day Weekend Winter Festival in Mayville, NY on Saturday!  I managed to get some good pics before my hands got so cold that they were no longer detected by my phone’s touch screen.  We were so grateful for the tent with the hot chocolate inside (among other goodies)!  After a while inside there, I began to feel my toes again.

Self Explanatory

Volunteers cut over a thousand blocks of ice from Chautauqua Lake and built a giant ice castle! (1) 

The Ice Castle and Me

Horsedrawn rides by Magic Moments... (Is it me, or are the horses snuggling up to keep warm?)

The kids seemed to enjoy every snowbank...

Loved my snowmobile ride...  courtesy of the Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club
(I soooo need a snowmobile!!!)

  

Here’s the thing… Typically this is the time of year when I feel that I have had just about enough of winter and begin to complain about it.  This year I say, “Hey, if you can’t beat ‘em… JOIN ‘EM!”  (I guess I’m referring to the snowflakes here).  Winter is too long not to try and figure out a way to enjoy it, embrace it and have fun in it.  Thank you Mayville Winter Festival for coming along at precisely the right time.

Link to the Mayville Chamber of Commerce - Winter Festival Schedule

Xoxo!

P.S.

I understand there are only thirty days left until spring!  To this lonely little guy I say, “Don't worry.  We'll be visiting you again soon!”

1. Wagner, Paul (2014, February 10). Ice Castle Construction in Mayville.  Erie, PA TV News.  Retrieved February 16, 2014 from http://www.erietvnews.com/story/24683918/ice-castle-construction-in-mayville#.UvuCN2as19Q.facebook.

Girl Power, Miracles and Perception (sorry guys)

Angela and I returned to the house Wednesday evening to find the driveway completely covered with ice and totally impassable.  To make matters worse, the plow had gone by, leaving a three-foot tall pile of solid ice chunks across its entrance.  I could not pull in and we would not be able to pull her car out.  It wasn’t a surprise, but on Thursday morning, we had to get to work chipping it all away.  It was just the two of us.

After a while of “ice picking” and after we had fallen into a routine of slamming down a shovel and a hole digger to break up the rock-like surface; after scooping and lifting and after several rounds of me singing “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” – just when my shoulder blades were starting to feel the sting, our conversation went something like this…

               Tan: “Why don’t we have any men around?”

               Angela: “[‘Cause] we can do it ourselves.”

               Tan [smiling]: “Right.  Thanks Angela.  I got lost there for a minute.”

               Angela: “No problem.”

Then after a few more minutes of back-breaking efforts to loosen the solid mound…

               Angela: “It could be worse… We could have MEN around.”

               (cue laughter)

First of all… sorry to all the wonderful men out there who are reading this.  :)  Despite our sense of humor, I do believe we would have very much appreciated someone with some muscle to have helped us out there.

Secondly, the way our conversation swung from wishful thinking and a sense of lack to a sense of empowerment, appreciation and gratitude made me remember that…

Sometimes a miracle doesn’t necessarily mean a change of circumstance, 

but instead a change in perception.

Here’s wishing you all a week filled with miracles (miracles and safe driving).

Namaste

P.S.

With the driveway sufficiently cleared, we were free to go to The Metropolitan Museum of Art where we remembered the women of Ancient Sparta who “were famous for their independence” and “reared much like boys, including physical fitness training.”(1) We also remembered Ancient Egypt where, contrary to other societies of the time,  “men and women of equivalent social status were treated as equals in the eyes of the law”(2) and the queens of Ancient Egypt who, while the King was around, played a supportive role but in his absence might be called upon to rule.  A few queens even “managed to overcome centuries of tradition and prejudice to rule their land as female kings.”(2)

Here are a couple of the books I got in the gift shop there:

                                   

 

Should be good reads.

Much love to all the beautiful strong women and to the beautiful strong men… love you too.

Ref:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_ancient_Sparta

2. Tyldesly, Joyce: “Chronicle of the Queens of Egypt,” Thames & Hudson, 2006

A Celebration of Life and Legacy

I began last week by randomly opening to a page in Louise Hay’s book of affirmations.  When I first read the pages that began, “Death is a door opening to a new life,” I didn’t know I’d soon be attending a funeral...

There were two funerals last week.

Our Buffalo music community honored the life and legacy of our friend Richard L. Williams, or as we called him, “Flick” and family members lovingly remembered the life and legacy of Theresa Tuminno.

So many beautiful moments stand out from speaking with friends and family and from the inspirational tributes and messages from ministers and priests.  I carry them all with me.  Each remembrance was filled with love and celebration of the lives that we were so fortunate to have had touch our own.  Heartwarming and precious were the conversations with loved ones.  For me, it didn't feel like we were saying "goodbye," but more like "see you back home."

We spoke of character and legacy.  We laughed at the wonderful memories we shared and stood with a powerful sense of community and brotherhood.  We comforted, inspired, encouraged and loved each other.  We acknowledged that we all might do that more often – not just for funerals.

Lunch with (L to R) Joey, Sharon "Shern," Kenny, Tony "Dedot," Flora, Cindy, Myself, Rick "Tricki"

We were reminded by our dearly departed and by stories and sermons that our time here is not unlimited and were encouraged and inspired to live with more of a sense of urgency about the legacy that we will leave behind one day.  We were reminded of who we are.  It was as if God were gently guiding us toward our own sense of purpose here in this world in that loving and beautiful way that only He Himself can orchestrate and execute so perfectly.

This week, I will move through this journey of life with a renewed sense of strength and confidence in HIS love, knowing that there are a couple of more Angels guiding the way.

"Footprints in the Snow"

Thank you Flick and Theresa.  Thank you for your life’s work, for your love of music, friendship, family and the gifts of love and inspiration you leave with us.