Wishing all a Happy Dasara! In honor of the occasion, here is my little elephant getting ready for the Mysore Dasara procession. On this auspicious occasion I wish the color, bliss, and beauty of this festival be with you throughout the year. Enjoy the victory of good over evil.
Curious to see more of my art? Follow my art blog at: andysartworks.wordpress.com
Today is Vara(boon) Mahalakshmi(Goddess of Wealth) festival. Celebrated across south of India. The women folk celebrate this for the wellbeing of their families. Eight forces or energies are recognised and they are known as Siri (Wealth), Bhu (Earth), Sarasvathi (learning), Prithi (Love), Keerthi (Fame), Shanthi (Peace), Santhushti(Pleasure) and Pushti(Strength). Each one of these forces is called a Lakshmi and all the eight forces are called the Ashta Lakshmis or the eight Lakshmis of the Hindus.
Here’s wishing one and all a happy Varamahalakshmi.
There’s a new comic book here in India named Priya Shakti, and she fights rape from the back of a tiger.
The comic was created by Ram Devineni, a new york based filmmaker. He was inspired by an incident that occurred a few years ago after a 23-year-old woman was brutally gang-raped on a moving bus in New Delhi. Three days later she died from her injuries. The incident influenced millions in the city and all over India to protest the widespread violence against women.
Priya, India’s new superhero
More info at:
Yoga for brain power.
I had never heard of Super Brain Yoga, until my husband introduced me to this concept. Being that I am someone who suffers from mental illness, and who loves yoga I figured I would give it a try. I have to say that it’s really been helpful and this winter has not been as difficult as most can be, when your living in “Blizzard Central” aka Boston. What originally began as something for devotees at the temples, has given us a new lease on life.
A work out to improve my brain?
The work out pumps up your cell and neuron activity, increases your mental energy. It helps you become smarter, and sharpens your mind. Super brain yoga also helps children with learning disabilities such as autism or dyslexia. Seniors are doing the exercises to help prevent Alzheimer’s. A side note, the exercises also tone your bum.
What is Super Brain Yoga?
This ancient Indian custom and practice has been reinvented, gained popularity, and is being endorsed across the world as “Super Brain Yoga”, a technique to stimulate and energize and recharge the brain and its functioning. It is based on the principles of subtle energy and ear acupuncture holding the ear tips. Squats would activate the Mooladhara Chakra and raise the energy levels in the body.
What is the logical/scientific reasoning behind this technique?
The physical body is a complicated subtle electronic equipment. When proper energy wiring connection is made, it produces the right results. Your brain becomes synchronized. The right ear lobe corresponds to the left brain and the left ear lobe corresponds to the right brain. You hold each lobe and you inhale as squat down and exhale as you come up.
When the right ear lobe is gently squeezed with the left thumb and left index finger with the thumb outside, it produces the necessary energy connection. This connection causes the left brain and pituitary gland to become energized and activated.
Similarly, when the left ear lobe is gently squeezed with the right thumb and right index finger with the thumb outside, it produces necessary energy connection, which causes the right brain and pineal gland to become energized and activated.
It increases the blood flow in the memory cells in brain and stimulates neural pathways via acupressure points in the earlobe sharpening the intelligence. It is being practiced and prescribed as a therapy for all ages to enhance the health.
Want to see a demonstration? Want to see interviews on the results?
Watch this video with interviews from doctors, teachers, therapists, and neurologists thoughts.
Benefits of Super Brain Yoga…
The history of Super Brain Yoga:
In India during Ganesha Chaturthi festival we come across a unique custom, especially in South India, where the devotees performed squats holding their left ear with the right hand, and right ear with the left hand. Religiously this was performed as a mark of respect and obeisance to the elderly God Sri Ganesha (Ganapathi). This convention we come across not only during Ganesha Chaturthi festival, but additionally whenever a devotee visits the Sri Ganesha temple, or worships Lord Ganesha. This action is referred to as Thorpikarnam or Thoppukarnam. In Telugu language it is called Gunjillu.
In fact this is an Indian custom that we come across in the ancient Gurukula system of education where Gurus (teachers) asks their pupils to practice this technique. You may have come across this in schools today when teachers ask students to perform this action as a token of penalty. Example for not doing their homework, not answering a question, or for making noise and disrupting the class room.
The Hindu customs of Ladies/Gents wearing ear studs/rings at the tip of the ears is based on the above concepts of raising energy in the body, and activating the mooladhara chakra.
Still hunting for the perfect last-minute holiday gift? No need to wait on your local shipping company or post office, or deal with the holiday crowds, you can gift it forward this year.
Tis the season to give! be a do-gooder.
here are some recommendations of charity’s or organizations you can donate to:
Greater Good Networks – buy goods and funds are paid to a benefiting organization
The Giving library – Browse nonprofits. Find your passion. make donations to non-profits that match your interests.
Bars of Hoap – artisan soaps made with 100% natural ingredients. All proceeds go towards helping entrepreneurial women in Haiti.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity that fights childhood cancers. A donation helps fund research for cures.
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders – Your donations can help in the fight against the deadly ebola epidemic.
Heifer International – gives livestock and other animals to empower people to earn an income and feed themselves.
Ten Thousand Villages – offers goods from local artisans in 28 different countries.
Feeding America – A gift of cash or food to your local food bank will help feed some of the millions of Americans, including children, seniors and active duty military, who go hungry, according to a
Shopping for a Change – works with artists around the globe, paying them up front for their products and work.
WhyHunger‘s – John Lennon inspired Imagine scarf will help you imagine a world without hunger a little bit easier. All proceeds go towards fighting childhood hunger.
Re:loom – sells uniquely crafted rags made from recycled materials. All of their products are hand woven by employees who were homeless at one time or in risk of becoming homeless. All proceeds go towards employee wages and benefits.
Green Gifts – offers an array of eco and wildlife friendly gifts that are perfect for your green friends or ways to remember loved ones.
A do-gooder’s holiday gift guide: 5 gifts that give back.
If you have an etsy shop here’s 5 ways you can give back.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/16/living/do-gooder-holiday-gift-guide/
Some of us have everything we need, so what do you get the person that has everything? I like to give gifts that give back. I feel like I have so much to be thankful for, and that others deserve the same. I choose to be filled with gratitude and open my heart this holiday season. It fills me with love, warmth, and I feel a sense of purpose that I can bring joy to someone and put a smile on their face.
Gifting it forward is my way of paying it forward each holiday season. I am not looking for any type of recognition, I just want to do what I can to make someone’s holiday season that much merrier. I may not be rich, I work hard just like everyone else, but I have a roof over my head, food on my table, clothes to keep me warm in the blustery winter weather. Not everyone can say that.
Last year in 2013 I sponsored a 4-year-old girl through a local organizations called DFC Department of Children and Families. My instructions were to purchase at least 1 clothing item and 1 non-clothing item and or learning toy. I found some great deals on little things for her so I was able to purchase 2 pairs of leggings, a Merida doll and a learning toy.
This year I decided to go with something that had been weighing on my mind. India holds a special place for me. I have family there, and I wanted to do something to help the future generation. I wanted to give someone the chance to better them self. I kept thinking there must be a way to help support an underprivileged girl. To give her a chance in life. I wanted to be able to provide an opportunity, the tools to succeed in life utilizing the gift of knowledge and support. As a woman who put her own self through school, I feel quite strongly about other girls being able to go to complete school, rise up, and make a better life for themselves and their families.
Facts: One-fifth of the world’s out-of-school girls are in India, and among those that enroll in school, only 3 out of 10 finish 10th grade. Only 65% of India’s women are literate.
I had thought of starting my own organization if something did not already exist. I wanted a way to give back and support many girls in such a way. I wanted a way to make an impact. After much research I found such an organization, Nanhi Kali, already in existence. They help people like me provide a girl the chance to improve her future. Sponsoring a girl child in India provides her a new beginning. Lets work towards making poverty history, promote literacy and higher education, and support the education of under-privileged girl children in India.
If you’d like to do the same here are some details for two ways to donate through Nanhi Kali. Its worth noting that both not only ensure that such girl children get access to quality education but also complete 10 years of it. Academic support towards improving learning levels, material support to provide access to quality education, tutors, uniforms, bags, books, shoes, pencils, notebooks, even hygiene materials so she can attend school with dignity and social support to ensure that she doesn’t drop out. This Christmas send a girl to school, be her Santa.
The Girl Store – Gift her school supplies.
Site gives the flexibility to the donor to donate any variable denominations of payments. You can buy a girl one or all of the items needed to send her to school for a year.
Nanhi Kali Sponsorships – Sponsor her education.
Support the education of under-privileged girl children in India where you can look forward to receiving a detailed profile of the “Nanhi Kali” [little bud/flower] along with her photograph and regular updates of her progress.
#behersanta
#payitforward
#giftitforward
To Follow or Learn more:
https://www.facebook.com/ProjectNanhiKali
http://www.the-girl-store.org/shop
http://donor.nanhikali.org/DonateNowMfusa.aspx
I am in no way affiliated with the site or organization. I am someone who believes in their mission, wants to make a difference and offer you alternative gift ideas for any time.
It’s Mothers Day here in the United States. So with that I dedicate this post, and today’s yoga practice, to my own Mother, and Mother in Law.
Our mothers and grandmothers have handed on the creative spark to us, their children. Today I honor the nurturing spirit of the mothers in my life, with an Apache blessing and wish that you have an absolutely lovely mothers day.
May the sun bring you new energy by day,
may the moon softly restore you by night,
may the rain wash away your worries,
may the breeze blow new strength into your being,
May you walk gently through the world and know it’s beauty all the days of your life.
My own Momma and my Amma [Mother in Law] have touched my life in positive ways. Today, I honor them. They have comforted me, encouraged responsibility, and embraced my unique expression. I show my gratitude by sharing my own innate nurturing spirit with others. Thank You, for your infinite love that is moving through every soul. I am so grateful.
Wishing you infinite blessings on your path.
Love and Light,
RC
I’m playing catch up on posts. Ram Navami was on April 19th. I planned originally to post a “Happy Ram Navami” blessings post that day, however at that time things were a bit out of hand around here. You see that was the same week the Boston Marathon bombings [a few miles from us] happened. The city shut down, the non government office I work in closed the business, and we had to work from home. My family and I are safe, unlike many of those who were at the marathon and injured or lost their lives. My heart goes out to those affected by such a tragic event.
Once stress and safety were no longer a concern, and the random April 19th National Grid power outages stopped, there were still a few niggling things on my plate. I’ve been caught up in some post vacation normal adult life responsibilities [read work, domestic goddess chores, playing tech support guru for family, and uploading vacation photos]. Anyway I am back from such a partially long unplanned posting vacation and….
I wanted to wish you all a belated Ram Navami, Jai Shree Ram. May Lord Ram shower his blessings on you on Ram Navami and always. Happy Belated Ram Navami.
Image Source
Wishing all a lovely Ugadi today. Yugadi Habbada Shubhashayagalu. Wishing your new year is filled with all the rich flavors of life.
May the blessings of Lord Shiva always be with you. OM Namah Shivay.
Warm wishes to you on this Maha Shivatri
Image Source
http://www.mandir.org/news&events/2012/02/mahashivratri/index.htm
The Peaceful Yogini 
