ObamaCare? More like PranayamaCare!

if you are stressed, upset or at all nervous about the shenanigans with this so-called "ObamaCare", then I suggest you STOP!....TAKE A BREATH....& ACCESS YOUR OWN FREE HEALTH CARE! it's called......breathing. AKA Pranayama.

this may get ranty....it's hard to say for sure. but that's why I love this blog. my thoughts, my ideas.
I CAN DO WHAT I WANT! ;)
that's what 'Merica is all about, no?


the thing is people, up until a hundred years ago or so (keep in mind humans have been around for thousands and thousands of years) humans were not controlled by the big business that is cancer, heart disease, depression, AIDS, auto-immune conditions like multiple sclerosis, restless leg syndrome, Monstano, Hollywood, Miley Cyrus, McDonalds, Walmart, the Internet.....and so on. These are recent developments in our human evolution; very recent. No longer are kids learning to read, write, explore, create & imagine. Instead they're being bottled up in prisons called schools that teach a very skewed perspective of what's important in life. We feed them Justin Beiber & video games & happy meals.
& then we get all pissed off when we're threatened with a healthcare ultimatum.

I'm wondering when folks will start to wake up and realize the more you continue to BLAME others for your health & the more you continue to eat shitty foods that aren't even really foods, & the more we rely on "doctors", celebrities, politicians & pharmaceutical companies, the more you are playing THE VICTIM. that's right....it's easier to be an ignorant sheep (the true sense of the word is knowing but ignoring) that just follows along with what everyone else is doing, rather than question & exercise critical thinking & autonomy. get real people....do you really think the government cares if you are happy & healthy? HELL NO! that's what keeps this big business machine running!

if "they" did...then why would these big business diseases, disorders, drugs, fast food companies, celebrities & health care providers be making so much MONEY? why would they perpetuate finding a "cure" to our illnesses rather than look to what's causing them? (oh wait...it's how we live that's causing them). not only is our current system of healthcare illogical and obviously meant to control the masses, but these approaches are SO far from who we are naturally as human beings & directly affect the natural world we live in.

the Earth has provided to us the most incredible first-aid kit & the most fabulous selection & potential to experience delicious foods, herbs, medicines, entertainment, mystery, imagination, soil, water, sunshine, land, sex, art, music & spiritual connection we could ever imagine! So why are people still fighting this Truth & looking away from themselves for an answer to their problems? Let's consider what a typical day might look like for an average human being in America.

-- wake up to an annoying alarm or bratty kid....maybe gunshots?!
-- start the day with an anti-depressant, pain med or statin drug, eat an unfulfilling breakfast or hit up a fast food drive-through, take in ZERO nutritional value, & eat it in the car
-- drive to/commute to a terrible job in obscene traffic where everyone is completely self-absorbed
-- spend the whole day slaving away over mindless, pointless tasks for somebody else's agenda (which a lot of times is just a cog in a nasty killing machine)
-- eat a lackluster proceesed lunch & slam a poisionous energy drink or two or three to make it through the rest of the day
-- spend any free time glued to a phone, computer, social networking site, worrying or stressed
-- travel home back through said traffic
-- deal with... kids, bills, the dogs, cleaning, routine shit, whatever....
-- turn on the TV/computer & zone out for the rest of the night to social networking, "reality" shows & mindlessly eat said processed/poisonous food again
-- fall asleep with an Ambien cocktail (& during this time have some nightmares, maybe do some online shopping, have an affair, get in a car accident or potentially murder someone.....all in your sleep!....
I'm not kidding. look up some Ambien case studies & you'll find this particular brainwashing drug is not just to get you to sleep. it makes people crazy. I've seen it happen to people I know)
-- and.....Repeat over & over & over until something snaps

& ya wonder why.....
hmmmm....
sound healthy? sound fun? sound like anything at all that humans were meant to be doing?
if you think so, then so be it. enjoy your ObamaCare.

But you can't place blame on anyone else for not stepping up to the plate of your own life.
I'm not ranting here to make those who have had to deal with cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, terrible situations, etc. feel bad or make it seem like I have no compassion. It's because I have had DIRECT familial connection with these diseases & situations. I have seen the supposed "treatment" & support given to the folks suffering through it.
& it's total bullshit. hence why I'm writing this.

Just because we have the technology to "advance" as a society surely does not mean we are doing it to benefit our highest good individually OR FOR THE WHOLE. seems to me we've all given away our power to those in control, believing somehow we don't know anything. & we are now finally realizing we're just a bunch of guinea pigs in a sick experiment.

If you tune into your own breath, you WILL find your own inner peace, happiness, health & connection to a bigger picture. You will pull away from the illusion of what's going on & enter into a realm which transcends time & space. Mindfully controlling the flow of the breath has been shown to reduce stress & anxiety, lift stagnant depression, cleanse the physical body, move us from a state of survival to a state of rest, & induce feelings of euphoria. Basically, you can get a FREE NATURAL HEALTHY HIGH on your own breath!!! what what?!? You don't need a prescription for that!

Yoga is a time-honored & scientifically validated method of caring for one's mind, body & soul.  Yoga teaches us to explore one's Truth & Essence. The asanas (poses) move blocked energy and unlock hidden beauty, strength & joy. The practice of pranayama (breath work) leads us through our troubles & struggles, & naturally to our our highest space of authenticity. Breathing into the physical body helps us root into the center of our being so we don't fly off the handle at any random moment of frustration. That rootedness illuminates our inherent wisdom & ability to thrive! The practice as a whole encourages us to take a look at ourselves, how we behave, what our habits & patterns are, & to question our motives and the motives of others.....to tap into the wonder, curiosity & excitement of life!

By accessing our own inherent wisdom (and healing capacity), we are lead directly to the source of what makes us all human. This power is not OUTSIDE OF YOU. This, for example, is one of the flaws of most organized religion. You may take classes & find your teacher or Guru, but you do not need anyone else to "save" you from yourself or to be entered into the gates of heaven. Heaven is available in the natural beauty of a forest, the helping of one to another, or even in an elated sensation of breath. The power is both WITHIN and AROUND YOU! It is your God-given right to return to that Source & don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise! Acknowledge that we are all cut from the same cloth & that we are ALL reflections of light on a multi-faceted gem that is consciousness.

So riddle me this..."Are you an advocate for yourself? Do you listen to what feels right in your heart & in your gut? Do you truly take care of yourself? Are your opinions & life choices your own or that of a brainwashing ill-intended agenda?"

you have a choice.
?ObamaCare or PranayamaCare?
(p.s. breathing is FREE).
...and thank you Amy Elizabeth for your wonderful play on words!!!

end o' rant.
with love & TRUTH...
the wise owl
XO

AUM my goodness...all things work in balance

   :::Hatha Gong/Evening Yoga:::purify::transform::rejuvenate:::

Wednesdays @Dark StarYoga on Scottsdale & Shea from 6:45-8pm 

------------------------<<<>>>-------------------------

we have a choice to view life with the unnerving, unserving habitual patterns of fear. OR we can wake up with our happy pants on (hey Astara Robinson ...you wear those!:)) && offer the day with a heart full of love. it's phenomenal we are living & dying at the same time in any given moment. and in Mayan thought each morning a rebirth & each evening a death::our cells die & rejuvenate::planets & moon cycle::seeds germinate, grow, develop, flower, fruit, are eaten, digested, excreted & transformed! the dance of balance is constantly moving in an orchestrated time/space/vibrational frequency
.:::always there is a balance of creation & destruction....of the dark & light.....the harmonic interweaving of birth & death. kali & shiva unite in divine ecstatic love & then she devours the pieces of one another returning to the void/the abyss/ the space of emptiness/peace & potential. here lies the archetypal interplay of consciousness!

seems everyone i chat with lately, including the dialogue with my myself, is having some kind of an epiphany of a necessary change/shift, emotional growth & some pondering into the realms of the deep. this is in especially direct connection to our relationships. are we flowing in equanimity & diplomacy? are we being fair to ourselves?? this is being displayed right now in the concept of governmental affairs & the jurisdiction of fate by an ill-understood force of great power over the most precious piece of our human experience.....OUR HEALTH! why do we give our power away to others so easily & blindly?....i think we are living in a shadow puppet show, an illusion, a performance. & remember october is an auspicious time to explore the fine line between what's "real" & what's "fake". the mystery of life & death. all hallow's eve & dia de los muertos remind us to dance the macabre of the soul with ourselves past. thus the birth of a self that has "upgraded". a dance with the darkness surely propels one's growth.

practicing Svadyaya (Self-inquiry) supports our practice of accessing hidden or undiscovered information via meditation, intuitive knowing, reflection & self-healing. look at your relationships... with your family, the workplace, your yoga practice, yourSELF, your perspectives, with DEATH? with FEAR?
are you enjoying? what's truly happening? dig deeper & find out.

it's usually uncomfortable & easier said than done to peel away the layers of our oniony-selves. yet try as we may to escape, avoid or flee...we surely are not exempt from change. it's that cliche "change is the only constant" bit. but AUM my goodness it's true. either ya choose the change willingly or the change will choose you kicking & screaming. denial of the evolving nature that is the Self is denial of the Truth of Truths. this is the natural order of things!

take yourself out of the details for a bit & consider what lies beyond the confines of your own thinking. question your motives...and equally the motives of the systems which control your money, your decisions, your "likes" & "dislikes", your time, your health, your creativity!?!

our behaviors & emotions can build up into dis-ease:::like carving grooves into a record of our consciousness. these samskaras are the ache in your heart, the furrow of the brow, the tightness of your lungs the weakness in your back, the sickness in your stomach. these signs cry for recognition, release, balance & healing!

this is why i'm drawn to practice & honor the power of yoga...
to move the body & awaken the feeling of bountiful strength, grace & vibrant energy. it's to commit to the presence of stability & change in the same cycle of breath. our practice opens the door to a fascinating trip into & out of thyself.  as we cultivate the breath & bath our cells with the sound waves of the gong, we are oxygenating, refreshing & serving ourselves a dose of vibrational medicine.

thewiseowl

 XOXOX

 IZ

presto parsley pesto

Here's some helpful information and a tasty parsley pesto recipe from a cool group called HerbMentor. Learningherbs.com is a sweet resource you should check out to discover skills and ideas to empower your health and your life with herbals.

Parsley Pesto!

by Rosalee de la Forêt

Parsley is often mistaken for a “garnish” herb. Something to brighten your restaurant dinner plate only to be discarded with the trimmings.

But don’t be fooled! Parsley is an amazing powerhouse of nutrients and it should be respected as one of our best herbal medicines. In fact, that sprig of parsley may be the healthiest thing on your dinner plate!

The Amazing Benefits of Parsley

Nutrients

Parsley is really high in nutrients, notably Vitamin K, Vitamin C and Vitamin A. It is especially high in Vitamin K. This vitamin is strongly tied to heart health and healthy bones.

Promotes Digestion

Besides looking pretty, another reason you find parsley on dinner plates is because it helps to promote digestion. It is an aromatic herb that stimulates digestion and moves stagnant digestion. Ever eat a meal and feel like you have a bowling ball stuck in your stomach? Try parsley!

Anti-inflammatory

Parsley helps to modulate inflammation. Excess inflammation in the body is associated with muscle pain, arthritis, and degenerative diseases, including cancer.

Protects Against Cancer

Parsley stops negative angiogenesis. This happens when a tumor creates a blood supply that enables it to grow. Cutting-edge cancer research shows us that many people have cancer cells in their body but, by eating antioxidant-rich foods like parsley, we can stop cancer cells from ever growing!

The Taste of Parsley

Have you ever really tasted parsley? Parsley certainly tastes “green”, but it also has a slightly spicy and pungent taste to it. The way herbs taste is a huge clue as to how we can use them as medicines.

Spicy and pungent herbs are often used to promote digestion and reduce inflammation.

THE RECIPE

Pesto is a very forgiving mixture. If you can’t have nuts or dairy, feel free to omit them and change the recipe as you would like. It’s hard to go wrong!

What you’ll need...

Ingredients

• 2 cups tightly-packed flat leaf parsley leaves
• 3/4 cup toasted chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 3 large cloves garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika powder
• 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest

Throw everything in a food processor or blender. Blend on high until it forms a smooth consistency. Store in the fridge and use within a few days. You can also freeze it in whatever portion size works for you.

Heartfelt goodbyes & Open-armed hellos

goodbye 20s and hello 30s!
Es my birthday this weekend and rarely do I celebrate or make that information public.

This year, however, I'm feelin' it....feelin' it deep from within.....a shift, a change, a sliver of clarity that is so kindly helping me to release an unserving version of myself and ushering in a brand new version of ME!

I'm so jazzed to be 30. I'm a real adult now! The wild 20s can now be put to rest. And I'm totally cool with that. 

My 20s were a trip, like most young people can agree. I dabbled in a little of this and that and tried a bunch of different selves on, only to have circled back to my center....something I haven't felt since I was a child. 

My 20s were a great time of experimentation. I went to college, got kicked outta college, went back to college, worked a bunch of strange jobs, lived in quite a few different houses, had 30+ different roommates over the years, collected over half a human body's worth of tattoos, dabbled in enough illegal substances to now know what NOT to do, got to see what jail was like for a couple of days, graduated college w/honors, had too many boyfriends, broke up with those boyfriends, met the mustached man of my dreams and found instant soul-love-connection, drank insane amounts of beer, absorbed myself into Krishna Consciousness, went 30 days without eating, moved out of Iowa to Arizona, discovered the magical world of plants and potency of the desert, crashed a moped which changed my life forever, found yoga, then the gong found me, and so much more I can't even put into words.

Through a decade of soul-searching and reckless abandon I found an equal sense of freedom and liberation in the pure ability to TRY THINGS OUT. I know I'm wiser because of it. I did not expect myself to be accountable for anything considered stable during my 20s except for the fact that I always worked and paid my bills, always held my own and always found my way. Though not everyone I encountered on my path understood my logic or reasoning at times (or lack thereof), I am blessed to have met so many fascinating and awesome people. And I've been gifted with a certain small group of amazing friends and an incredible family of sweet people who have always loved me. No matter how weird or crazy or strange my extreme swinging pendulum may have swayed in the past, I was always supported and appreciated during those times of exploration. So to those certain folks....you know who you are. Thank you for accepting me every bit of the way.

Now I embark on the first day of the rest of my life. That's how brand new I feel. And that's my motto every day. I feel a growing excitement encroaching....a sweet taste of adventure:::of travel and healing:::of wisdom and purpose:::of ageless beauty:::elegance and grace:::: all built upon a solid foundation of WISDOM through EXPERIENCE!

And how fitting.....take a nice nostalgic listen to the Stones Ruby Tuesday....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a00_tPLcE_g

May you also be inspired for adventure....
peace, love and blessings,
THE WISE OWL

xoxox

Fall into Balance

Happy Fall Equinox y'all!
Today marks the balance of :::night and day:::dark and light:::12 hours of each.
The Equinox offers us the understanding of balance, stability & equilibrium.
The residual effects of this last Full Harvest Moon in Pisces (On Sept 19) may have left you feeling equally inspired and tired. We were harnessing the balance between intuition and logic ::: freedom and routine ::: emotions and thought.
But really I think we are ALL tired here in the Valley of the Sun as it is STILL so hot. We've had a long knock-down-drag-out summer it seems. The high temperatures lately have been in the low 100s and flirting with the 90s, which is definitely a step in a more comfortable direction. I'm not usually one to complain much about the heat since I CHOSE to move to Arizona (plus this is the first of 3 summers that I've had any A/C in my car!).
But dang, I can't wait to open up all the windows in the house, burn a bunch of sage, put on some beautiful music and invite the winds of change back into my space!

We are now transitioning from summer to fall, from lightness to dark, from dynamic powerful heat to a cooler and calmer vibe. And I think it goes without saying that we are so ready for that! It's also a time of death...the death of one cycle and the birth of another. It almost feels like a precarious time of growth with a lot of old stuff surfacing in order to guide us through our darkest elements. So we need to remember that we are being Divinely supported on our paths to do this work....to walk the Void.

Those who seek the light must know their own darkness first.

That's been swirling around in my brain this last week as I've been contemplating where in my own life Universal messages are showing up. I've been hung up on avoiding the unique gifts of my Ego and now I'm not afraid to admit it. I've felt shame around being awesome and inspiring and powerful. WHY?
If I strive to control my life with a fine-tooth comb yet completely give away my personal power at no cost to anyone except to myself, how will my cup ever be full? How does that cultivate balance?

Some past injuries have been flaring back up and begging to be dealt with. I had to put my pride aside, accept that I need to take a step back in my personal practice, ask for help, dig in and give myself some LOVE.
I've been working really hard....I've been serving and giving and guiding and thinking and doing and teaching and networking and putting myself out there and starting a new business and working and still feeling broke and blah blah blah and yada yada yada....  
So now my cup is almost empty. How do I fill it back up? Where is the love for me?
Oh yeah...LOVE is all around me, I just need to receive.
So now listen to this amazing song then proceed.    :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjAoBKagWQA

We've got to recognize that we ALL have a darkness inside. If you think you don't then I don't believe you are human! And that's quite alright because it shows us it's ok to have fears, doubts, insecurities and lessons to learn. No one can escape from that, hence why we are here! You'll have to face your darkness at some point in some way. You can't hide from it.
Light casts shadow and that darkness shows up in every mystical teaching out there. Sometimes I feel like I myself am the Queen Darkness, the Holder of the Night, the Walker of the Void, Kali at the gates of hell, and the Wise Owl who seeks to emerge from the darkness to fall back into the light of balance.

But from walking in the dark we discover who we truly are. We may need to let go, grieve, release anger or resentment, get sad and have a moment or two or three. But through that process our strengths, our power, our intuition and our warrior spirit shines! If we can face the darkness then surely we can hold the light! We've made some peace with our own struggles and are drawn back into balance.
I think this is the key to opening the heart and understanding the balance of dark and light:::feminine and masculine:::receiving and giving::: for the heart has no boundaries, no limits, no labels, no polarities, no discriminations. In the space of the heart all is ONE. The heart is pure. Love is infinite and all around us, ready to be received.
So if you are like me and have been giving and giving and giving some more and ready to collapse, then ask yourself, "How do YOU feel?" What do you need to fill your cup back up? Are you receiving your own unique gifts and grace with open arms? Or is your Ego stuck in a space of doubt and insecurity? Do those you surround yourself with support you on this path of growth? Are you ready to love and believe in yourself?

Close your eyes and breath. When thoughts arise listen to the breath for information. How do you feel? Breathe into the spaces that feel weak or neglected.
Let yourself be FREE to explore the space of darkness inside. Trust that all is working in YOUR favor.
And allow yourself to emerge with the lightness of who you who TRULY are.
Set an intention to fearlessly Shine Your light.

May you utilize this Equinox to Fall back into Balance.
Cheers and blessings,
the wise owl
XOXOX

Sedona Magic!

We had a BLAST at the Sedona Yoga Trek Day Retreat this last Saturday. Lisa Hecke and I teamed up with a group of fantastic women to explore New Moon energy in beautiful Northern Arizona. 

We ventured around parts of Oak Creek, Crescent Ranch, were soothed by native flutes at Montezuma's Well, swam in cold clear water, wildcrafted some herbs, practiced yoga overlooking beautiful red rocks, bought some amazing new crystals, enjoyed a peaceful picnic & experienced the healing power of the gong outside in the forest. 

It was magical to say the least!

Hope you can join us again sometime for an outdoor yoga adventure!

cheers & blessings,

the wise owl

xoxoxo

the passive-aggressive hippie....

I couldn't resist.....

(isn't aggressive spelled with two "g"s? hmmmm)

I like being able to make fun of myself in the yoga world. You almost have to to survive!

I went to a party once and when a guy asked what I do for a living I said, "I'm a yoga teacher." 

Although he replies with words it could have easily been translated into an immediate erection.

"OHHHHHHH yeahh...so you can put your foot behind your head?"

I'm not stupid. I know he was on the edge of his seat waiting for me to show him right there that I could. Unless I'm trying to pick up a date, why would I entertain that thought in any way?

All you can do is laugh.

There's a stereotype for everyone and everything. And the funny thing is that I think many folks perpetuate their own stereotypes! Just take a look around and OBSERVE what you see. 

So all we can do is laugh.

There is a deeply earnest undercurrent to the science, art and practice of yoga, but ya can't lose your humor! My man helps me with this EVERY DAY. He's the ultimate jokester and drives me insane with his continuous antics of sarcasm. He always says, "I'm just funnin". Although I get uptight sometimes, I love him for it. It's what keeps me sane. It's what draws me away from mental rigidity and back into the space of playful behavior.

Yes meditation is strict business and there are plenty of teachers, spiritual leaders and gurus that will tell you there's no room for smiling, laughing or the distractions of mindless pleasures.

But I believe a lighthearted approach just may save ourselves from ourselves.
Humor can pull us away from our insecurities and sensitivities. With humor we focus less on dogmas and imposing a somewhat passive-aggressive approach upon others, and instead just take a backseat and enjoy the ride.

I remember years ago when I explored the practice of veganism and instantly adopted the approach as the only and one approach (this is my baggage and story, not yours....so if you are a vegan I really don't care either way.....do what makes YOU feel best!).

Suddenly everyone around me got nervous. I couldn't eat anywhere with anyone because the menu didn't fit my life (I was in Iowa at the time, mind you). Suddenly what started as an attempt to regain my health and cleanse my body, mind and spirit from negative karma and acidic foods, turned into a militant passive-aggressive bitch patrol. I was gettin WAY TOO SERIOUS!

It wasn't so much the fact I was abstaining from all animal products that put others on edge, but more so my judgmental, confrontational, intimidating and somewhat dominate attitude that accompanied it.

So when I saw this cartoon I couldn't resist.
Just do what you love and love what you do. 

Let others do the same.

Find what brings you together rather than what pulls you apart.

And for God's sake, just laugh it off.

That's my motto as of late and I hope you can find comfort in it too.

from the cheesiest, tackiest and silliest place within me,
I bow to that same space within you!
NAMASTE!
the wise owl 

xoxox