Obaitori

slow burn ~ take your time

Ah, the joy of a quiet, subdued weekend.

I took in the frangrance of some sweet tender green pears.

Burnt frankincense and myrhh.

Soaked in a long hot bath of rose and slept all alone on Saturday evening.

Wrapped up in blankets on the lounge.

Extra special thanks to my man for taking the children camping.

Joining with thoughtful Amanda over at the peaceful Habit of Being for Weekending.

How was your weekend?

festivals and happiness

A beautiful and full weekend;

I learnt about hazelnut and chestnut blossom

A buddha visited, she had, 'i am the sun' written on the inside of her wrist. Wherever she goes she sheds her graceful light on all those who need it. She reaches out to those who are suffering.

We attended the 5 lands walk finale. Our children from the Montessori School sang this;

 

NAIYI NAYAWA

 

with Aboriginal elder, Gavi the 5 lands band and an 8 piece classical orchestra.

We participated in the cleansing of a Smoke Ceremony.

This years walk was dedicated to Aboriginal elder 'Jacko' Smith who died earlier this year. "He participated in much of the ceremony of the 5 Lands Walks over the years, particularly 'Welcome to Country' and with a twinkle in his eyes, took full credit for calling the whales which performed off MacMasters Beach during last year's Opening Ceremony."

A Message Stick is carried throughout the walk that passes through 5 Aboriginal lands between MacMasters Beach and Terrigal. This years message;

The Aboriginal people are the traditional custodians of our land, Australia. Their elders, past, present and future, hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Indigenous Australia.  A deeper understanding of these values carries our hope for a better Australia for all.

The Ganang Spirit Dances performed on Terrigal beach. They are comprised of Aboriginal children living in the Gosford Shire aged from 2 to 10 years of age. They learn traditional Aboriginal dance and instruments from a group of Aboriginal elders.

Bodhi, who carries a kangaroo skin was eyeing off the lead dancer. He was wearing traditional possum skin dress.

I met a woman who had both Greek and Australian Aboriginal blood, she makes bush flower essences. I asked her about the possum. She said that there is an Aboriginal law about the possum dress. I later found out more here . For Bodhi to be initiated into this level he needs to 10 years of age - about the same time it will take me to find approximately 20 possums and for Dazla, who has Aboriginal blood, to skin them.

Aboriginal women were the first Australians to make patchwork quilts. They fashioned possum and kangaroo skins into blankets and cloaks.

On Sunday I attended my local Buddhist meeting. The study material was happiness. Here is the Buddhist perspective on happiness. I left feeling very content. I also left with a full belly of true Indian delights, tulsi plant cuttings and a basketful of organic mandarins from a friend's new farm, I thanked him smiled at his excitement.

At home I proprogated 3 tulsi plants and am drying about 100 leaves.

Gave my delighted children said mandarins, they smiled.

Ate hazelnut icecream.

Also ate seared salmon on the bbq. yum!

Joining Amanda today over at Habit of Being for weekending. 

How was your weekend? What did you do?

Happiness

A person with a vast heart is happy.
Such a person lives each day with a broad and embracing spirit.
A person with a strong will is happy.
Such a person can confidently enjoy life, never defeated by suffering.
A person with a profound spirit is happy.
Such a person can savor life's depths
while creating meaning and value that will last for eternity.
A person with a pure mind is happy.
Such a person is always surrounded by refreshing breezes of joy.

Ikeda.

 

 

Evening Talk by Dr Rama Prasad

Making your Daily Routine Divine with the wisdom of Ayurveda.

Fri 17th June

7.00pm $20

MY Manly Yoga

27 Pittwater Road Manly NSW Australia 2095

 

What is Ayurveda?

Born from Ancient Indian wisdom, Ayurveda is hailed as the ‘mother of all healing sciences’.

Ayurveda focuses on inspiring individuals to heal rapidly and easily with the aid of herbs, diet, body therapies, counselling and lifestyle adjustments.

Dr. Rama Prasad -

Rama is one of Australasia’s most qualified and experienced practitioners in the field of Ayurveda. An experienced Ayurvedic physician and teacher since 1989, Rama has a reputation as a gifted and sensitive healer with a warm and compassionate nature. Along with consulting at Ayurveda Elements Chatswood, Rama is the principle lecturer for Nature Care College’s Ayurveda Course and and is the founder of The Australian Sanskrit Institute.

Bookings & more info 9977 4725

ayurvedic breakfast porridges

Our breakfast creation starts the night before by soaking the grain because it opens it up and allows it to become more digestable. I mainly use organic unstabilised rolled oats as they suit my children very well. A dear friend, Jaymie* uses a lovely combination for her porridge of a third quinox, a third rice flakes and a third oats.

I love that after we have offered our breakfast our house smells like cardomon, cinnamon and incense. A great start to the day and well worth the simple effort that nourishes, heals and delights everyone.

Method ~

1 cup oats - soaked in fresh water

Heat 1 tbs of ghee in saucepan - inhale and smile - add oats to toast

Add 1 tbs LSA, 1/2 tsp cardomon, 1/2 tsp cinnamon

For a sweet flavour add either 2 tsps of rapidura sugar or dried dates and raisins

Keep stiring, at this point you can add in the milk*

After eight or ten minutes the porridge should be ready.

On the top add a little maple syrup.

*Jaymie Maley, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant on the Central Coast suggests if you have anyone in the home with a cold of excess phlegm, increase the spices and omit the maple syrup.

For a rolled flat rice recipe here.

Here also is another beautiful breakfast recipe.

Moving into Autumn

In the southern hemisphere we are moving into the dosha of Vata - wind. I've been adding lots of very simple things to our lives which protect us from the wind, cold and disease.

Dr Swami Shankardev is an eminent yoga teacher, author, medical doctor and yoga therapist. He lived with Swami Satyananda for 10 years and has taught yoga, meditation and tantra for 30 years. He also studied Ayurveda from the Ayurvedic Institute, Albuquerque, USA.

Here, with very kind permission from the Master himself, is Swami Shankardev's advice for moving into autumn.

"Autumn is predominantly a cool season where vata predominates. Living in a windy or dry climate or at a high altitude will increase vata further, especially in autumn. This will increase vata in our physical and our mental-emotional bodies. If you have a vata constitution then this is a time to be especially careful.

The physical effects of vata are to increase dryness, ungroundedness, and cold. The emotions associated with increased vata can include fear and anxiety, and feeling scattered, ungrounded, spacey and insecure.

No matter what our constitutions, we can soothe Vata in our lives by working on our selves with an understanding of Ayurvedic principles. The antidotes to vata include, by using warm oil for self-massages daily before bathing, warm baths, meditation, gentle walks, spending time with people we love, soothing music and generally surrounding ourselves with warmth, both emotionally and physically.

At the change of seasons it is good to simplify the diet. We also need to take time to chew our food well, take a few deep breaths after eating, eat at the same times every day and eat warm, nourishing, freshly-cooked, easily digestible foods. Kitcheri is especially soothing as it gives our bodies a chance to shift gears along with the seasons and keeps digestion strong.

The yogic practices for the change of seasons include slow and gentle asana followed by shavasana or yoga nidra, then gentle nadi shodhana, and relaxing meditations. Learn to be appropriate to your needs."

Swami Shankardev is an Acharya (authority) in the Satyananda lineage and he teaches throughout the world. Yoga and meditation techniques and Ayurveda have been the foundation of his yoga therapy, medical and psychotherapy practice for over 30 years. For further information visit; Big Shakti.