Every single morning for the past nearly 11 years I have treated myself to one of Ayurveda's oldest secrets for health and longevity. With herbs and warm oil in hand I rub my entire body down with a gentle massage which has helped me to retain elastic skin and a vibrant body. Abhyanga is the Ayurvedic term given to describe warm oil self-massage (often with herbs) and it is simply heavenly.
“Everything in nature is made up of five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space. Knowledge of the five elements allows the yogi to understand the laws of nature and to use yoga to attain greater health, power, knowledge, wisdom, and happiness. This arises out of deep intuition of how the universe operates.”
-- Dr. Swami Shankardev Saraswati
I was given a piece of Aquamarine when I went to visit the great Seer and Mystic Almine, at her home near the ocean in Newport, Oregon. I felt so deeply drawn through my studies of her material that I should go to where she was and see what transformations could be had in her presence. I have truly never met a more generous, loving individual in all of my life. When I departed, besides the many other gifts bestowed on me during my stay, she gave me a gorgeous piece of Aquamarine which reflected the depth of my visit there.
The kidneys are often under-rated organs. They are the great detoxifiers of the body and help the body to release all that could not be used by the cells, which were then disposed of through the body's extensive lymph system. Every cell takes in nutrients from the bloodstream, which comprises around twenty percent of the area touching the cells, and then every cell releases unwanted wastes into the lymph – comprising 80% of the rest of the area around the cells.
I continually lose this stone...until the day it pops back into my reality, and not a moment too soon! Just when I need a little transformation boost this crystal portals back in and shows me its stuff. Perhaps it is due to its “other-worldly” origins, which seem to speak to the part of me which knows I am destined for greatness – and you are too. There is no denying the strength of this stone in supporting rapid and thorough transformation, almost by magic. You could call it the “caterpillar to butterfly” crystal.
With striated, blue Kyanite in one hand and magical, colorful Labradorite in the other, I can feel my energy body aligning. I literally can. These two powerful stones have been two of my best friends over the years. I still wear Labradorite daily as one who reminds me of the magical nature of my being. You too can gain incredible insights and peel back layers of the dream by aligning with Kyanite and Labradorite cyrstals.
Kyanite
I was pregnant with my first baby and the “father” was non-existent. Instead, I had met an amazing man who I had warily started dating. I had no idea what to expect while my body morphed and transformed in order to bring forth the life growing inside of me. This man's mother, who would later become my first child's grandmother, gave me a rose quartz in the shape of a heart at my blessingway, just a few weeks before his arrival. My heart, which was trepidatious and afraid to let anyone in, suddenly began opening to the possibility of love with the aid of rose quartz.
You are making your favorite marinara sauce, only to find that head of garlic you have been saving for this moment has sprouted. Don’t throw it away and head to the store for a fresh one. That mop-headed bulb is still safe to eat – and it may be better for your heart than regular garlic.
There is a connection between our arms, hands, and upper back and our heart center: our arms, hands, and upper back are a reflection of our heart. There are four meridians in Chinese medicine that run through both of our arms and hands on each side of our body. These meridians, Heart, Small Intestine, Pericardium, and Triple Warmer, are all contained in the element of Fire. Do you ever feel like there is something separating you from your greatest joy in life? Is there a boundary which keeps you from connecting with other people? Have you lost your passion or fire for life?
My family and ancestors are from the tropics. The seasons they experienced were the harmattan and rain. Even though I find comfort and ease in warm weather, I acknowledge that I was raised in New England. I’ve faced many climates growing up on the east coast. I must say, navigating the winters of my life have always been the hardest. The sunlight left too soon and the darkness would stay too long. The snow could be unbearable. When another six feet of snow came down, I would throw my hands up in exasperation, believing the storms would never end.