Electronics and Melatonin levels

From the GOOP newsletter link I posted earlier, but something I'm being more conscious of:

Have an “electronic sundown.” At around 10 pm, turn off your computer, charge your cell in the other room and turn off the TV. Scan your bedroom for blinking or glowing lights – the alarm clock, the charging indicator on your cell phone, the DVD clock and timer, etc. Turn these off or cover the lights. Each little bit of light can stop your melatonin levels from rising, which you need to induce sleep and to reach the deep restorative sleep your body requires. If you can’t darken your room, wear a sleep mask. This period of darkness will help reset your natural rhythm.

Planetary Consciousness

Open up to infinity and you become infinity.

No its not a mystery, its everything

We are experiencing a mass extinction, click to read/learn more. The current loss of species is overwhelming. Here's another video from Species Alliance, which is working to raise awareness of the extreme loss of biodiversity our planet is facing.
And, an Inspiring Obama Film -thanks Katherine

Check out the Art Whino Blog!

Crystal Couture in Crystal City, February 13-28, 2008, going on now!

Masala Bhangara, a dance/fitness activity that's been gaining recent popularity.

Washington Post's Going out Guide

Music I've been checking out lately:
Royksopp Happy Up Here
Kid Cudi
Flying Lotus
Acid crunk genre

David Wolfe's Beauty through Mineralization I haven't gotten any emails back after I signed up, and I haven't had time to look into it further yet, but: "You’ll learn the exact minerals your body needs, PLUS the exact sources you can get these minerals from. We even give you checklists to ensure you get the mineralization you need to achieve the results you desire. Minerals are the foundation of our body’s health and longevity. And unfortunately, you won’t get all the minerals you need just by consuming a raw or superfood diet."

IMEEM: what's on your playlist?

Melissa Harris will be coming to Sacred Circle on Sunday May 3. In her own words, here is what she will be offering:

Have you ever wondered what aspects of your being would reveal themselves to a psychic or "intuitive" and what these qualities would look like in a painting?

I am now happy to combine my background as a clairvoyant with my artistic abilities to create your own spirit essence portrait. I will tune into you and do a 7" x 10" watercolor painting of your unique essence as it appears to me in a semi-trance state. I combine the elements of what I find into your painting in a way that will be helpful for you in your path of development. For example, this might include reminders of issues you are working on, aspects of yourself that you may want to honor, patterns of behavior that you are working on changing, etc. I never know. These are just some examples. The session takes 60 minutes and you receive the double benefit of learning what I "see" as well as owning a Melissa Harris original painting.

9am Sunday Morning: Yoga for Athletes at Radiance Yoga in Old Town. A little tidbit about Radiance Yoga from this month's email:

Some of you may have noticed a wooden box on top of the fridge with a sign above it that reads, "God Box," and you might be wondering what it is and why we have it.

I learned about the God Box from Julia Cameron's book, "The Artist's Way." She describes the God Box as a place to put your fears, your resentments, your hopes, your dreams, and your worries. The God Box is a reminder that "God's got it," so you can stop worrying.

I use a God Box at home because I feel lighter and more relaxed after I write down my worries and drop them in the box. This simple ritual reinforces my belief that I'm supported by a greater energy and allows me to focus on happy thoughts.

I wanted to share this tool with all of you and welcome you to use our God Box at the studio. Next time you're in for a class, take a few minutes to write down your worries, drop them in the box, and give yourself permission to release and relax. When the box is full I'll take it home, say a few prayers, and burn the contents to release the energy.

Quotes of the day:
"Enjoy the trip!!! And remember, there is no such thing as a wrong decision..." -Melissa Harris

"Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature.
The way of nature is unchanging.
Knowing constancy is insight." - Lao Tzu

"I honor the place in you - where the whole universe resides. I honor the place in you of love, light, peace and truth. I honor the place in you - where if you are in that place in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us."

Book of the day: The Tree of Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar

Question of the day: What images lead you to parallel realities?

Meditation Retreat Warrenton, VA

I just got back from a lovely overnight retreat with the Earth Sangha. There was a small group of us, and I really hope to carry the positive momentum and energy from the mediation retreat with me into daily practice. This morning we did 108 "prostrations" which consisted of kneeling and bowing; the number reminded me of being in Raleigh for the Winter Solstice this past year, and the yoga studio/school I visited was doing 108 sun salutations on the solstice. There is power in the number:) Below is the sutra that we chanted after each sitting. It was beautiful to be in a country house for the night, with fresh air, open spaces, and a long and winding driveway. The property was about 100 acres, with a large meadow and walking trail through a forest. It was absolutely lovely :)

The Maha Prajnaparamita Hridaya Sutra

The Bodhisattva of Great Compassion from the deep practice of Prajnaparamita perceived the emptiness of all five skandas and delivered all beings from their suffering.

O Sariputra, form is no other than emptiness,
emptiness no other than form.
Form is emptiness, emptiness form.
The same is true of feeling, thought, impulse and consciousness.

O Sariputra, all dharmas are empty. They are not born or annihilated. They are not defiled nor immaculate. They do not increase nor decrease. So in emptiness no form, no feeling, no thought, no impulse, no consciousness.

No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or objects of mind, no realm of sight, no realm of consciousness.
No ignorance, nor extinction of ignorance, no old age and death, nor extinction of them.

No suffering, no cause of suffering, no cease from suffering, no path to lead out of suffering,
no knowledge, no attainment, no realization,
for there is nothing to attain.

The Bodhisattva holds on to nothing but Prajnaparamita therefore the mind is clear of any delusive hindrance.Without hindrance there is no fear, away from all perceived views one reaches final nirvana.

All Buddhas of past, present and future through faith in Prajnaparamita attain to the highest perfect enlightenment.
Know then the Prajnaparamita is the great dharani,
the radiant peerless mantram, the utmost supreme mantram,
which is capable of allaying all pain.
This is true beyond all doubt.

Proclaim now the highest wisdom, the Prajnaparamita.

Gate, Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi, Svaha!

Currently listening to this awesome mix by Nature Rage

I've begun subscribing to the GOOP newsletter, I particularly liked this week's, click here to read. Dr. Frank Lipman has a theory about why we are all so tired, exhausted, "spent", most of the time as he calls it. He references the DNA we have from our ancestors, chronobiology, and viewing each human as a microcosm of the macrocosm, all topics I have been interested in the past few years. He basically writes a book about becoming in tune with nature's rhythms again, which is one of the main views of Taoism and Chinese Medicine. I feel like if I had put my thoughts together, I could have written everything that he said! But maybe I will one day. And he has done a good job of explaining it, in the newsletter, I think.

Empty yourself of everything.
Let the mind become still.
The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches their return.
They grow and flourish and then return to the source.
-Lao Tzu

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Early Valentine's Day! I'll be in Blacksburg this weekend so I probably will be detoxing from the computer and won't be posting.
Keep your celebration green with organic and fair trade gifts and chocolate, homemade cards, and candlelight! :)

Quote of the Day: The feeling many call love is the sensation caused by two minds and bodies linking. You can fall in love with anybody if you stand next to them long enough. - Scott T. Mallory, Jr.

A new, safe water bottle

Here's a safe water bottle alternative that does NOT contain Bisphenol_A (BPA).

It's beautifully designed, durable and dishwasher safe. Click here

National Sustainable Design Expo P3: "The Fifth Annual National Sustainable Design Expo is scheduled to be held April 18-20, 2009 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. We will have over 40 P3 teams and over 40 non-profit and government exhibitors demonstrating their sustainable designs for alternative energy sources, agricultural applications, green chemistry, green buildings, sustainable water use, and many more sustainable technologies."

Wiki-of-the-day: Rapini

Quote of the day:
"We think that success is only measured by your money
But money never lasts
In fact its only last on the list of impactful things we can ask for" - Wale, the Perfect Plan

Yummy Recipe :)

Did you know that along with its wealth of vitamins and minerals, cauliflower, like the other cruciferous vegetables, contains powerful sulfur compounds that have repeatedly been found to help prevent cancer? These include sulforaphane and isothyiocyanates, two compounds that help the liver to neutralize potentially harmful cancer causing compounds and to suppress tumor cell growth and the movement of cancer to other parts of the body (metastasis).

I like this recipe, via the "World's Healthiest Foods" weekly email.

5-Minute Cauliflower

Enjoy the extra flavor and health benefits from combining cauliflower with turmeric for this easy-to-prepare great tasting side dish that will complement almost any meal. Turmeric has long been recognized as a powerful anti-inflammatory in both Chinese and Indian systems of medicine and modern scientific research continues to reinforce the benefits of this tasty spice. One serving of this dish also provides 181% of the daily value (DV) for vitamin C, 46% DV for vitamin, and 33% DV for folate. Enjoy!

Prep and Cook Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 lb cauliflower
• 5 TBS low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 tsp turmeric
• Mediterranean Dressing
• 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 2 medium cloves garlic
• sea salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cut cauliflower florets into quarters and let sit for 5 minutes to bring out their hidden health benefits.
2. Press or chop garlic and let for 5 minutes.
3. Heat 5 TBS broth in a stainless steel skillet on medium heat.
4. When broth begins to steam, add cauliflower and turmeric and cover. For al dente cauliflower, cook for no more than 5 minutes.
5. Transfer to a bowl. For more flavor toss cauliflower with the remaining ingredients while it is still hot. (Mediterranean Dressing does not need to be made separately.) Research shows that carotenoids found in foods are best absorbed when consumed with oils.
6. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

Serves 2

Healthy Cooking Tips:

To mellow the flavor of garlic, add garlic to cauliflower for the last 2 minutes of sautéing. You may need to add a little more liquid to keep garlic from sticking to the pan.

The Virtue of Surrender

My meditation group on Tuesday was extremely enlightening, focusing on the virtue of surrender, to the universal force, in which you trust that everything that is happening is exactly what is supposed to be happening. Its such a great feeling to surrender to this force, so that your desires are perfectly aligned with it.

A great article from the Earth Policy Institute, on Planting Trees and Managing Soils to Sequester Carbon.

Things going on around DC:

Ice Skating in the Sculpture Garden (although maybe not this weekend, its supposed to be gorgeous!)
Earth Sangha fieldwork on Sunday at Canterbury Woods Park in Farifax from 10am-1pm
Meditation at Mindful Hands, 211 King St. Sunday morning at 10 am with Palyul Changchub Dargyeling.
The Bellydance Superstars are coming to DC on March 3rd.
Heart Art at the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria on February 12th, from 6-9 pm will feature live music, open studios and galleries, and refreshments. A bonus: The first 300 guests will be given a flower. This is a part of their monthly second Thursday art nights.
DC Wine&Food Festival, February 14-15th.
Washington DC Winter Restaurant Week, February 16th-22nd.

The National Capital Astronomers is a non-profit, membership supported, volunteer run, public service corporation dedicated to advancing space technology, astronomy, and related sciences through information, participation, and inspiration, via research, lectures and presentations, publications, expeditions, tours, public interpretation, and education.

Random thought: I would like to hike the Appalachian Trail one day, and also to pick coriander seeds.
Currently researching/looking into the health benefits of cod liver oil.

My friend Marcus got a research paper published: Nicotine pre-exposure does not potentiate the locomotor or rewarding effects of Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in rats.

Saw this DJ at the Phillips Collection last night, thought his tunes were excellent: Adrian Loving.

Wiki link-of-the-day: Synchronicity

Quote of the day: "Sit down, shut up and ask yourself, "What's true?" until you know." - Jed McKenna

February

An excerpt from local yoga studio's monthly email:

Yogic texts remind us that our life circumstances are partly karmic and partly up to our own will. The choice is yours to engage this energy that’s moving us forward. times are changing and shifting to greater horizons and as with any shift, it’s time to let your fears go and have faith. know that you can co-create your reality no matter what the external environment is like and flow with the momentum of change for the better.

Also from the pure prana email, MC Yogi.

Yoga with Rodney Yee, a sample. Recommended by a lovely soul, thanks Jen.

DC This Week, a blog I came across...the "Everyday Reads" list is pretty intense.

EPA and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced an on-line video, “Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In,” that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff. The video highlights green techniques on display in 2008 at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s “One Planet – Ours!” Exhibit" and at the EPA in Washington, D.C., including recently completed cisterns.

To watch the video click here, and then click on the link on the right hand side of the page.

Chill out to this (excellent music)
and
Bay to LA :D so excited about moving to Cali. Just waiting on a start date from the office out there, and if it doesn't work, I'm going to set a date to move and job search when I arrive.

Books on my list to read:
Pale Blue Dot, Carl Sagan
Ultra Prevention, Mark Hyman
Release your Brilliance, Simon T. Bradley

Also I think that some of my earliest posts were some of my best for links and info..I would recommend checking out some of the earlier months of this blog too if you're a new reader.

More to come on this post..