Let’s face it…summer would be incomplete without a good hammock hang and a fellow book in your lap. Summer, by its nature, is filled with the energy of the sun and the light of transformation. With that sentiment in mind, here is a list of 7 books that will bend your perspective, provoke inquiry, cultivate an open mind, inspire truth and encourage transformation.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
Basmati.com is celebrating Pollinator Week 2016! To spread the word about pollinator protection, this article will cover policies that have been implemented across the country to protect the bees.
Right Speech can mean speaking skillfully, or it can mean choosing to remain silent. The space between stimulus and reaction is a perfect place to decide whether to speak out or keep quiet—at least temporarily—especially if emotional feelings and thoughts are arising.
When emotions and egos collude harsh words can be spoken with lightning speed and later regretted. Words, thoughts and actions arise together and support each other; we live each moment either peacefully or violently. The choice is obvious, but access to this wisdom requires more practice than perfection.
It was in the summer of 2012 that my little family and I decided to unplug from the world as we knew it and return to the wild. We did extensive research over the years before taking the plunge. I gave up my job, house, many belongings and my purpose as I knew it. We found a place in Arkansas where there was an old round house in the middle of the woods. It was an adventure and a learning experience that brought me back to nature; an experience that put me more in touch with the natural world around me.
One of the biggest ironies in life has to be that many of the things created to make us look more beautiful, younger and healthier are actually making us sick. Keeping an eye out for toxins in everyday beauty items can be both exhausting and overwhelming, so we created an easy cheat sheet to make things a little easier. The following are ingredients found in everyday items--even organic and “natural” ones-- you definitely don’t want to put on your body.
1,4-Dioxane:
If we knew better, we’d do better...
... think so? History shows that the knowledge alone doesn’t prevent repetitive behaviors or events from reoccurring. This doesn’t mean we can’t do better, it just means that knowledge is no guarantee for a realization of information. There is a built in inertia in us, preventing or slowing down our process from knowing, experiencing, understanding to realizing.
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” -- Rumi
Meditation is a great way to forget about you problems and just relax in a worry-free environment. But what do you do when your problems are too big to just forget about? Having these problems on your mind while you are trying to meditate can disrupt your practice and make it difficult for you to relax. Everyone has these types of large problems that are hard not to think about from time to time, but when you do have these problems, it is important to know how to handle them, and how to adjust your meditation practice accordingly.
This post comes to you from Denmark where I’m visiting a friend. What I’ve found so interesting is the landscape is similar to other places I’ve been. While taking the train, looking out the window, I was reminded of Middle America — except there were more windmills. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought I was passing through Iowa.
It is the dream of every human heart to live in a world where we feel comfortable, safe and invited to be our fullest and most authentic selves - in peace, love and joy amongst all. In such a world, happiness would be the inevitable norm. Rather than hide the energy and free expression of who each one of us is, individuals would be made to feel held and reciprocated for their existence by the presence of the collective as a whole. The power of humanity would be thriving. What a dream, right?