I’ve moved over to Blogger at http://gracefulyoga.blogspot.com.

There are pros and cons to both Blogger and WordPress, so not sure which one I prefer yet.

A Natural History of the Senses

Diane Ackerman

 

A Natural History of the Senses is somewhat of an unusual book, it unfortunately didn’t hold my attention or imagination past the first two chapters, “Smell” (by far my favorite) and “Taste.” Although the book did redeem itself a bit in the end with the last chapter, “Synesthesia,” with it’s tales of some of the world’s greatest artists. It was an odd combination of science, history (but not as much as the title would suggest), personal anecdotes, and poetic language–that sometimes worked, and at other times left me scratching my head at the attempts of profundity. There where plenty of times where I was nauseated by the language (it’s a bit “over-the-top”), but it was worth the suffering, I suppose, to get to the real gems.

 

The book has been valuable, as it has helped me rethink the importance of smell. One of my favorite aspects of cooking is the smell, and smell has always been a memory trigger for me, but having grown up in a home with a “scent sensitive” mother, smell was also something to avoid—a sentiment I had unknowingly carried over into my own adult life. The one bottle of perfume I had was saved for special occasions, but now I have three (musk being a favorite) and I feel free to “indulge” regularly. I’ve added a greater variety of incense to my repertoire, and I have a newfound interest in essential oils. I still don’t like smelly face products though (except for natural lip balms). It’s something I have purposefully become more aware of and seek out–and I expect to be even more emerged into the world of scent next spring, now that I am gardening.

Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today by Margot Adler

I finished reading Drawing Down the Moon last night, after reading the bulk of it all weekend–I couldn’t put it down. Unfortunately there were some binding issues with my copy (library book), missing about 50 pages near the beginning (but there was still a lot to read).

As the book points out plenty of times, neo-pagans are a very diverse group of people, and so this book certainly can’t be the “be all and end all” of pagan history, but I finally found the information I was looking for. I’ve read a few books on beginner Wicca and Paganism (I even took Wiccan 101 classes a number of years ago) and while I’ve always been intrigued, I just didn’t connect with it deeply. There was too much focus on the tools and actions, not the experience. Drawing Down the Moon filled that gap. Perhaps it’s because I started out studying Buddhism and Yoga, but the inner spiritual experience is what I’m interested in. Tools are nice, and I love the aesthetics of Neo-Pagan/Wiccan ritual etc, but I really needed the experience (the Why) behind it to “get it.”

…Now I must finish the previous book I was reading, A Natural History of the Senses.

I really enjoyed the idea behind today’s DailyOm article. It’s a technique I’m definitely going to try. Here’s an excerpt:

Light of the Party
Confidence in Social Situations

“The next time there is a social event you feel nervous about attending, you may want to try this exercise: Spend some time with your eyes closed and breathe deeply. When you feel ready, create your own zone of comfort by visualizing yourself surrounded in a warm white light that is protective yet accepting of others. Imagine people at the event being drawn to you because of the open and warm feelings that you are radiating. When you arrive at the event, take a moment to spread this same light of loving acceptance to everyone around you. Smile and greet people warmly. Try going up to someone who is standing alone and introduce yourself. When you radiate acceptance, openness, and receptivity, people can’t help but respond to you in kind.”

For more help with shyness, check out this book: Goodbye to Shy

If I were to be polled on my religious views, I would answer than I was either an atheist or secular humanist. However, when the subject of the goddess or sacred feminine comes up I admit to getting all warm and fuzzy feeling–not that the goddess is all sugar and spice and everything nice, far from it. But I like the stories of the goddess, in all her forms, from an archetypical standpoint. So when I read “Venus for a Day” I was entertained, inspired, and filled with hope. Far from a work of literary genius, at first I couldn’t get into the story. But I kept reading, because sprinkled throughout there were useful tidbits of insight and myth. Eventually the story grew on me and I enjoyed the trip into the female psyche and I wanted to keep reading long after the story ended. The book is offered for free on the author’s website, so you really can’t go wrong.

(Or is it more Gothic than Tribal?)

I recently discover Marjahni on YouTube and was immediately awe struck. These are amazing performances. She’s a very strong dancer with beautiful execution and torso work. I also love the unique music.

As much as I hate to admit, I have let my gardens go. I had plenty of excuses, such as lack of knowledge, experience, and time. I’ve realized that they have become a reflection of the state of my mind and soul. I have let them both be overtaken by invasive plants, have let the weeds get hardier and bigger, have let the thorny bushes grow amongst the gentle flowers, have let the dead stuff linger. But recently I have begun to clear them out. One small space at a time, little by little. Focusing on what’s immediately in front of me, with plans to get to the out-of-sight areas after. I have let the naturally strong and hardy take over the weak–the ones who need a little extra help to stand up for themselves, to claim their rightful space in the garden and show the world just how beautiful they can be. Fall is the time to clear out the old so the new can prosper in the spring. Fall is the time to prepare for the winter ahead. Fall is the time to plant new bulbs whose blooms are to be eagerly anticipated next spring, summer and early fall. It’s hard work, but I’m learning to enjoy the process and creativity of gardening, even if I fail to do it right–and to think I always used the excuse that I could not possibly be expected to be good at everything when I was really just afraid of screwing up.

The path is always a spiral one, and I have gained insights and progress only to end up right back where I started again and again. But each to time I make it further. Each time I learn something new. Each time it lasts a little longer. And to that I hold on to.

I’ve always loved autumn, and so I’m always happy on the day of the Autumnal Equinox (a.k.a Mabon, Harvest Home, the Feast of the Ingathering, Meán Fómhair, Alban Elfed).

For me, autumn’s abundance is a wonderful reminder of the cyclical nature of the universe and the importance and joy of aligning your life around the seasons. It’s a time to celebrate the second harvest and give thanks while preparing for the winter to come.

It symbolizes the dwindling of life as the summer ends and the aging goddess/Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess passes to Crone. It symbolizes balance as day and night are equal for a single day. It is a time of joy as we look forward to new beginnings as the goddess offers wisdom, healing, and rest.

When it comes to ritual, I find simplicity is best. I plan to take a casual walk and notice the beginning of fall’s colors (the trees here have just began to turn), while offering gifts of windfall apples (a practical way to spread the nutrients around). Of course a feast is central to this harvest celebration, and a favorite of mine is apple crisp (from my own tree)! Also on the menu is bean and vegetable soup. The meal is meant to highlight food that is bountiful at this time: Grapes, Wheat Bread, Goat, Cornbread, Corn, Root Crops (i.e. Onions, Carrots, Potatoes, etc.), Nuts, Dried Fruits, Apples, Beans, and Squash. After I type out Cornbread, I realized that sounded pretty good too! I’ll add that to the menu of there’s time. Typical drinks include wine, ale, and cider, so perhaps for once I’ll partake in my DH’s homebrew. The day will end with meditation and journaling.

Photo Source

Müstika Tribal Belly Dance

Emily Alrick – drum solo 2006

Tribal Fest 8 – Kami Liddle’s Incredible Tribal Fusion Solo

EndUser Solo for Cicek Pasaj

Stepping Lightly : simplicity for people and the planet by: Burch, Mark A.

Stepping Lightly is a great introduction to simple living/voluntary simplicity, with more of a focus on the philosophy than the how-to, and debunks many of the stereotypes associated with this way of life. There is a bit of history along with why voluntary simplicity has become so important today with our current state of civilization (i.e. consumerism, values, environment, and economy). Burch stresses that simplicity can be practiced by very different people in a way that fits their individual lifestyles and values, while working toward a more sustainable planet and communities. Central to the book’s theme is practicing mindfulness (discourse from various spiritual traditions is highlighted) and authenticity.

This is the first book I have read on the subject. The book has motivated and encouraged me to find the right balance of simplicity that will work for me and my family. I’m curious how others are implementing simplicity into their lives, so please share.