Picture taken by Cléa Rochon August 12th, 2012
“Take your heart out into vast fields of light and let it breathe!”
~ Hafiz
Summer time is here with its heat, sunshine, opportunities for joy, celebration and connectedness.
We can finally have our body free to move in and out with only light clothing, walk bare feet on mother Earth, lie somewhere on a beach or on the grass under the sun.
It is the time to soften to the experience of gratitude for life, and to welcome the deep sense of joy that follows!
We can chose to deliberately experience joy, and the summer is here for us to lean into it.
Happiness has a powerful influence on our whole body. It has been demonstrated that happy people have a stronger immune system than average, as well as less nervous conditions, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, diabetes, hypertension, colds and upper-respiratory infections.
There is one quote from Gabrielle Roth* that I like to use. She says: ”In many shamanic societies, if you came to a shaman or medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions. When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence? Where we have stopped dancing, singing, being enchanted by stories, or finding comfort in silence is where we have experience the loss of soul. Dancing, singing, storytelling, and silence are the four universal healing salves”.
It is always what we feel inside that is most important, not what comes from the outside.
So lets create new moments of joy and happiness in our lives and lets remember all of those moments of joy that we have experienced in our past. This way all of those times when we can perceive the beauty and meaning of life, are accessible, when we most need them!
*Gabrielle Roth (February 4, 1941 – October 22, 2012): American dancer and musician, she created the 5Rhythms approach to movement
“…Find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing. For to miss the joy is to miss all”.
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
HEALTH TIP OF THE MONTH
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In The Heart Of The Summer
Inflammation is a natural response of the body to protect itself from different challenges such as in injuries, traumas, infections, allergens, stress and toxicity. Too
RECIPES OF THE MONTH
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Rose Recipes
Roses are the symbol of the alchemy of the self, and are the pure expression of grace and love (see previous blog). They are also delectable
INSPIRATION OF THE MONTH
In the Spirit of the the Joy that the summer brings to us and to continue to be inspired on our relationship to health, our earth and universe, here is a beautiful film created by Madeleine aka Bachan Kaur and friends. She is an artist, musician and teacher from Victoria, B.C. She is currently working on her 6th album and going to school to further her path as an art educator – empowering the creative spirit within. Madeleine, thank you for your kindred playful creativity! It makes my heart rejoice!
“…We’re all trying to find some peace of mind
~Madeleine Bachan Kaur
in this labyrinth of space and time
that we find ourselves, can feel like such a bind
sometimes the illusion and confusion passing by
just remember it’s a moment, just a blink of an eye
but that moment lasts forever so we got to treat it fine
like a diamond in the rough, we’re gonna make it shine
find the curtains to your windows, open up them blinds
cause the world outside’s a waiting and it’s full of surprise
and a brand new wind that will help you realize
all the beauty and the lovin, that you’ve got inside”
And again… Please, accept my gratitude for the possibility to share, and for the precious and endless teachings that I receive from each and every one!
In Gratitude, Love, Health and Happiness,
Denise
Several of you over the years have known our gentle and loving Lulu. I wanted to share with those of you, that she has passed away three days ago. We are missing her dearly!
Dogs are our virtual connection to the heart. Since she left, I deeply realized that she will keep teaching me how to navigate the relationship I have to myself. She gave us way more than I can ever imagine giving to anyone or even to myself, in term of quality of unconditional love and presence. She was constantly reminding us of the importance to play, experience joy and to live in the moment. A little Buddha, a real inspiration…and also a teacher.
So many good memories and much gratitude for the time we had with her!
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it!”
-Thich Nhät Hanh