Thursday, February 18, 2010
Fantastic Intro to Permaculture video - Basics, techniques, set up etc...
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Favorite Quotes, inspiring ideas!
In Lak'ech Ala K'in - the Living Code of the Heart
~ Aluna Joy Yaxkin - www.AlunaJoy.com - 11/2007
"In Mayan tradition, there is a greeting that many people working with Mayan wisdom know of. It is the law of In Lak'ech Ala K'in, which means I am another yourself (A modern day interpretation). It also means I am you, and you are me (A traditional Mayan interpretation). We have come to understand that this Mayan greeting is an honoring for each other. It is a statement of unity and oneness. In Lak'ech Ala K'in mirrors the same sentiment of other beautiful greetings such as Namaste for East India, Wiracocha for the Inca, and Mitakuye Oyasin for the Lakota. It doesn't matter which culture you come from. But when one of these sacred greetings is given, there is always an action of placing the hands over the heart.
The more I walk the Mayan path, the more I understand the depth that In Lak'ech Ala K'in teaches. This greeting has become more than a simple, honorable Maya greeting. It has evolved into a moral code, and a way to create a positive reality for all life. As we near 2012 with all its doom and gloom prophecies, we have a moral obligation to Spirit to live the code of In Lak'ech Ala K'in.
It is common knowledge these days that every action we take in our lives affects all living things. We understand that if we act negatively, our actions impact all life negatively. When we act positively, we affect all life in a positive manner. When we live the Mayan code of In Lak'ech Ala K'in, we know that every action we take is out of respect for all life, and we are living and giving from our hearts.
We can give our hearts in a positive manner every day by saying In Lak'ech Ala K'in to each other, to the trees, to the sky, to the birds, and to the stars. You can greet each sunrise by saying In Lak'ech Ala K'in. Each and every day we have together is sacred, so acknowledge this day by giving it your heart. Remember when you give in this way, you are also giving to yourself! You are not giving your energy away to something separate from yourself. Y ou are giving to another part of yourself!
I understand the challenges in staying positive in these days where the energy is so compressed that we can hardly breathe, but there is one simple exercise that can turn it all around for us. Each day, simply walk in gratefulness. We can say In Lak'ech Ala K'in to that which gives us life everyday, and that is the heart of the Great Spirit. Instead of solely taking from the Great Spirit by asking for insight and direction, give back your heart, love, and appreciation. You will be amazed at the results. If we open our hearts and send gratitude, it opens all doors that were previously closed to us. Remember you are a part of Great Spirit! When you give to Great Spirit you are giving to yourself.
We can practice In Lak'ech Ala K'in tirelessly, because when and what we give to others is giving energy to ourselves. When we give, we receive. So how do we know if we giving right? It is really simple. When we are energized by our giving, we know we are giving from our hearts and from the code of In Lak'ech Ala K'in. If we feel drained or exhausted, it is possible that we gave out of fear, lack, obligation, ego, or a need to be accepted or liked. The more one practices In Lak'ech Ala K'in, the clearer we will become about our motivations regarding our actions, and the more we will receive. Remember . . . what goes around comes around exactly the way it was sent out. If you don't like what life is sending to you, look at what you are sending out to life.
When we begin to live and practice In Lak'ech Ala K'in, a lot of our old ways of doing things will no longer work for us. For instance, we cannot act like victims anymore, and we cannot live out of fear either. We find ourselves no longer preparing for disaster; instead we anticipate a glorious future. It is time for us to rewrite the prophecies. They have become obsolete. The past will become just a bad dream, and the future will become a beautiful vision of which we will create right now.
When we practice In Lak'ech Ala K'in, we quit being neutral in our world, because we understand that Spirit works with those that take action. We begin to take action by adding to the positive experience of this dimension. So what kind of world do you want? Don't just stand there waiting for the world to appear in front of you. Spirit helps those who help themselves. It is up to us.
When we practice the moral code of In Lak'ech Ala K'in, we are producing and sending positive and vital energy that can literally transform our troubled world into Paradise. When we live from In Lak'ech Ala K'in, we are putting to use our natural ability to create our reality. We are affecting the collective consciousness of humanity in a positive way. The Cosmic Maya, also known as the "Star Elders" or "Invisible Council", understood this natural power to create their reality. Their sacred calendars mapped the natural laws of the universe. Now it is our turn to come to this understanding. It is time for us to walk as the Star Elders did so many years ago. The time has come for us to change the world.
The more humanity begins to live In Lak'ech Ala K'in, the less we will think in terms of our separateness. There can be no competition, jealousy or envy between us, because we are pieces of each other. We can share and help each other with our connections, ideas and resources without fear that there will not be enough to go around. When we live the reality of unity, abundance and wholeness, there will be unity, abundance and wholeness! The more of us that participate in the creation of a better world, the quicker it will arrive. We will have peace, love, harmony and unity, and will finally have arrived home."
Interesting Lifestyle: www.earthshiftproject.com
I found these images at www.earthshiftproject.com.The "Standard American Diet" also known as the "SAD die-it" is explained here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_pattern_diet
"Superfoods" are discussed more thoroughly in a book called: "Superfoods: The Food and Medicine of the Future" by David Wolfe. I just recently finished reading this book, and have begun eating the "superfood" smoothies for breakfast. Do I notice a difference? Absolutely! I have endless energy, I have no sugar cravings, I feel genuinely happy, I don't feel hungry, I don't need coffee, I've lost weight, I feel "sharper" and am generally filled with joy. I will continue with my experimentation with "superfood smoothies" and continue posting my results, but I have to share how excited I am about the changes that I have felt and seen.
My Superfood Smoothie:
1. Raw Coconut meat and water.
2. Organic Blueberries
3. Organic Strawberries
4. Organic Maca (a tablespoon)
5. Organic Cacao Nibs
6. Organic dried Goji Berries
7. Organic Shelled Hempseed
8. Organic dried Golden Berries
9. Organic Wheatgrass (juiced)
10. Bee Pollen
11. Organic Spirulina
Monday, February 15, 2010
Short film about obesity and the food industry.
Permaculture!
I've been doing a lot of research lately and have come across a "language" that applies to the lifestyle that I have been looking for. Issues surrounding the health of our environment, bodies and sources of food can be improved through a concept known as Permaculture.
Here is a little history (thank you Wikipedia):
"In the mid 1970s, Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren started to develop ideas about stable agricultural systems. This was a result of rapid growth of destructive industrial-agricultural methods. They saw that these methods were poisoning the land and water, reducing biodiversity, and removing billions of tons of topsoil from previously fertile landscapes. They announced their permaculture" approach with the publication of Permaculture One in 1978.
The term permaculture initially meant "permanent agriculture" but was quickly expanded to also stand for "permanent culture" as it was seen that social aspects were integral to a truly sustainable system.
After Permaculture One, Mollison and Holmgren further refined and developed their ideas by designing hundreds of permaculture sites and organizing this information into more detailed books. Mollison lectured in over 80 countries and taught his two-week Design Course to many hundreds of students. By the early 1980s, the concept had broadened from agricultural systems design towards complete, sustainable human habitats.
By the mid 1980s, many of the students had become successful practitioners and had themselves begun teaching the techniques they had learned. In a short period of time permaculture groups, projects, associations, and institutes were established in over one hundred countries. In 1991 a four-part Television documentary by ABC productions called "The Global Gardener" showed permaculture applied to a range of worldwide situations, bringing the concept to a much broader public. Excerpts are available online through YouTube."
I became interested in these issues when I was an undergrad at UC Davis and took a class on Environmental Sustainability. My goal is to someday grow a garden, open a café somewhere and feed people the delicious, organic, sustainable, healthy foods that so many of us are missing out on. Because I'm still in school this won't happen for a while, but until it does, I will be researching, learning and cooking myself a life.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Goals
1. Spend a month (this July) in Australia or Hawaii. Picking fruit along the coast.
2. Get into the best film school.
3. Finish writing the best screenplay ever.
4. Start a fantastic garden project. Work in an organic garden. Grow my own food. Learn as much as I possibly can about food and growing food.
5. Get an environmental issues internship that facilitates my dream of someday owning my own garden/eden.
6. Help someone find their voice.
7. Get a bus. Go on a road-trip/backpack to Peru, Argentina, Machu Picchu in NOVEMBER.
8. Learn guitar. Write songs. Paint. Jam sessions with musical people. Share more.
9. Love. "I have the best relationship ever with a partner who is beyond my wildest dreams."
10. I experience the best health ever. ("I effervesce with the most radiance, joy and health, and I consistently feel the best ever.")
11. I live sustainably every day, I learn more about the environment always. I Create more and consume only what I need to live.
12. Learn everything about Permaculture.
13. I eat the best food ever.
14. I have the best friends ever. "I surround myself with people who uplift my spirits every time we see each other. I constantly meet people who are bigger than me. People who think bigger, act bigger. (By bigger, I mean individuals of lofty consciousness, language and achievements. People who astonish me with their commitment to love and dedicate their lives to the betterment of themselves and the salvation of the world from ignorance.") *thank you David Wolfe...
15. I drink the best water ever.
16. I eat the best herbs and medicinal plants ever, while learning everything about them.
17. I am consistently inspired and joyful.
18. I experience the best time ever in NYC!
19. Create the best blog "TV" show involving raw foods/spirituality/health/nutrition/interviews with inspired/interesting/passionate/creative/loving people etc... With my sister. Hall Sisters go RAW.
20. I experience the deepest spiritual understanding of our earth and the relationship that we have to nature.
21. I continue to set the best goals ever that continue to fill my life with flow, purpose and meaning.
22. I will own, build, grow and share... or ...become a part of a community spiritual healing center geared to raw foods and the raw food lifestyle, that has a thriving permaculture forest garden in Vilcabamba, Ecuador. The healing center will have raw food/health experts who can help people recover from illnesses and a stable for healing via horse therapy.
23. Complete my CTP 183 internship in June and work for the summer in the gardens at the Tree of Life center in Patagonia AZ.
Adventures Post 1: The Big Concrete Jungle
Here I am, 3 weeks into my new life in NYC and I did it. I finally pressed the reset button, I left Davis to find some perspective and refill my cup, to learn a new way of life and find whatever it is I have been looking for. School is going great. The atmosphere at The Natural Gourmet School is fulfilling and inspiring. So far, I’ve met some incredible people, learned about health supportive, organic, sustainable, gourmet vegetarian cooking, and faced some of my fears. But I cannot put my finger on this feeling that has been pulling on my heart lately.
Maybe I miss California, I miss Davis, I miss my friends, and I miss the sunshine. I miss the smell of trees and soil. I miss wearing sweats all the time, lounging on the quad, bikes, running in fields when the sun was setting, talking about changing the world, solar ovens, squirrels and ducks, delta venus, warm nights and pear cider, riding horses early in the morning, nuggles, film classes. Now that these things are not outside my door, I understand how much they meant to me. Living in this concrete jungle has helped me see that I am my own cliché. I really didn’t know what I had until it was gone. I am grateful that I can say this, and I appreciate the fact that it took 3,000 miles and this change to shock my system into seeing it. I feel lucky and want to express my gratitude to all of the people who touched my life in Davis. Also, I am looking forward to returning for the Whole Earth Festival in May. I can’t wait.
On that note, I move forward, onward and upward. I am here and I am going to Carpe fuckin’ Diem. What I’ve been up to: I’ve been to a few concerts (John Butler Trio – my favorite so far), spent time at the great Museums, gone out to unique wine bars, met some bizarre artistic people and moved out of my comfort zone. Lessons NYC has taught me: 1. If you go outside, you must wear a coat, gloves, scarf, you get the idea. 2. People walk really fast here… Keep up or move out of the way. 3. Eye-contact = fun way to mess with people on the subway. 4.Times Square sucks a big one. 5. Live music as often as possible. 6. If you want to meet people, you have to pursue them, like a creeping predator. (New Yorkers are a suspicious breed) 7. Okay, the last one was a little weird, but it’s true. 8. Ipod outside = only when you want to be isolated. 9. Find a spot to write, the people watching is great. 10. Starbucks has literally taken over the city, like a giant tumor. There are not many quaint café’s left, but the ones that are left are full of really great people. 11. Don’t wear black, everyone else wears black. 12. Go to the Farmers Markets (Union Sq. is a good one). 13. If you want to be cool, and you’re a guy, the new “in” thing is Urban Mountain man. Grow a beard, carry a hatchet, wear hiking boots and quote Thoreau. 14. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. 15. When you feel claustrophobic, go to Central Park, or to the rooftop of some building. 16. Never get on a Subway car if you’re the only girl. 17. Film students are everywhere. (Don’t interrupt them to talk about their projects, they get upset.) 18. If you’re new to the city and you are drinking, take a cab home, it’s easy to get lost. 19. Go to a Friday night burlesque drawing class… 20. EAT in all of the different ethnic “zones” of the city. The food is fantastic. 21. Explore! It really is a jungle out there.
-Peace, Love and Happiness (what could be more important?)
