A delightfully graceful, delicious, yet simple and easy to make lavender cake. This cake is fit for the most elegant of tea rooms! Check this recipe out!
Recipe ~ French Almond Cake with Lemon Lavendar Glaze
Author: Hālau ʻĀha Hūi Lanakila
Aloha Ke 'Ākua! Māhālo nūi lōa for visiting Nā Hālau ʻĀha Hūi Lanakila!
We established our Sanctuary for the exploration and awakening of consciousness, the unfolding of our collective creative and healing potential and realisation of our essential Unity.
Our teachings arise out of direct experience of awakened awareness and emanates the untamable fragrance of freedom whilst radically embracing the mystery and mess of human existence. Our invitation is for you to open to the fullness of life, to say YES to the totality of your experience and to meet reality with radical compassion. Our doors are an open invitation to all who seek authentic freedom and are willing to meet heart to heart in honest and open inquiry.
We were taught that the goal of life is to move through life walking up the mountain of experiences with your Aloha, your Bowl of Light. Life is filled with lessons to learn and teaching moments along the way. When you become angry or jealous, you drop those stones into your bowl of light and those rocks cause leaks in your Mana-sacred power. When your bowl becomes filled with stones, you become a stone that cannot grow. No Aloha! The solution is that at any moment, you can turn your bowl upside down emptying these stones out of your bowl to naturally refill it with YOUR golden light -- your natural Aware and Awakened state of Aloha, your natural state of Divinity. This is the power of Pure Aloha: an Awakened Heart Awakens the Mind.
Awakening hinges on your genuine desire for the discovery of your true nature. If it is to flower in you, you must truly want liberation from everything that is false in you, you must want to give yourself totally to the inquiry into what is true beyond all inherited concepts, ideas and beliefs.
The purpose of our teachings is to ignite this wanting in you. When the flame of this desire becomes an untamable fire, it flips a switch inside of you and the direction of your destiny is irrevocably altered. It’s like turning on the light only to discover that you are this light. This in itself is extra-ordinary: even though you may have heard the words a thousand times, nothing can prepare you for the naked reality that is revealed.
And yet the living experience of this revelation is very ordinary: you have simply re-discovered the innocent wholeness of your essential nature. It’s the you that never was and never will be separate from anything at all. This discovery is the end of suffering and the beginning of freedom.
But awakening is just the beginning. The adventure begins, not in the rarified atmosphere of transcendence, but in the midst of the chaos of life. And living the truth of awakening has perhaps never been more of an imperative than in today’s rapidly changing world.
The invitation is for you to awaken to the pristine perfection of your inner light and then to fully embody and express this light amidst the mystery and mess of human existence.
Come join us!
Health ~ The Different Trade Names for Formaldehyde
DID YOU KNOW …
About the myriad of trade names for formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is a highly toxic substance and one of the most common indoor air pollutants. It is a highly suspected cancer-causing agent. It is an irritant to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs and may cause a wide variety of reactions, including skin reactions, ear infections, headaches, depression, joint pain, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, sleep disturbances, and many more. How many of these names would you have recognized as formaldehyde? Manufactures can legally use over 30 different trade names for this chemical, such as the following:
Formalin
Quaternium-15 (formaldehyde releasing agent)
Methanal
Methyl Aldehyde
Methylene Oxide
Oxymethylene
Bfv*
Fannoform*
Formol*
Fyde*
Karsan*
Methaldehyde
Formalith*
Methylene Glycol
Ivalon*
Oxomethane
Formalin 40
Formic Aldehyde
Hoch
Paraform
Lysoform*
Morbocid
Trioxane
Polyoxmethylene
Check your house and do your homework by reading your labels. We all need to be aware of these environmental toxins affecting our health. Get safer products in your home for yourselves and your family NOW!
Hau’oli la Po’aha
Aloha Kakahiaka kakou. Hau’oli la Po’aha! He lā nani keia lā oukou. Hoihoi e kuʻu aku!
Greetings and Good Morning to all. Happy Thursday! Today is a beautiful day. Relax and enjoy it!
Daily Inspiration
he only way to do great work is to LOVE what you do …
Daily Words of the Buddha ~ November 12, 2014
Na tena paṇḍito hoti
yāvatā bahu bhāsati.
Khemī, averī abhayo
‘‘paṇḍito’’ti pavuccati.
One is not wise
because one speaks much.
One who is peaceable, friendly and fearless
is called “wise”.
Dhammapada 19.258
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom,
translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita
Pāli Word a Day ~ November 12, 2014
assāsana — encouraging
New Moon November 2014
Here is the New Moon chart for November 2014. At 0 degrees Sagittarius, this NM makes a statement (and it precedes the even stronger statement by the Capricorn NM at the Winter’s Solstice this year). Here is the basic chart:
[Click to Enlarge]
We will leave the discussion of the significance of the NM at 0 degrees Sadge to others and focus on the patterns of aspects instead.
First, if one includes the asteroid Hygeia (health, healing, and healthcare) and the North Node (not a planet but an indicator of “karma” or “work to be done”), the continuing Uranus/Pluto square forms a grand cross (as discussed in an earlier post). We will not duplicate that post here but instead note that a great deal of “tension” to “get things done” will be felt at this time by many. Key issues will include unexpected events (Uranus) or hopefully insights regarding…
View original post 416 more words
Hau’oli Aloha Po’akolu
Aloha kakahiaka a Hau’oli aloha Po’akolu oukou …
Good morning and Happy Aloha Wednesday, everyone!
Easy Peasy Pomegranate Seed Removal
At a recent stop to a local fruit stand, I came across these gorgeous pomegranates for only $5 a bag. I had to jump at the bargain. As a neighbor saw me unloading the bags from my car she said “I love those but it’s too hard to get the seeds out.” The 8-year-old version of me would totally agree but I learned the easiest technique to deseed the crimson beauties – whacking!
To deseed-simply cut the pomegranate in half or quarters. Over a large bowl, invert the section onto the palm of your hand and whack several times with the back of a large spoon or other utensil. Seeds fall right out. All clean!
Eat Well!
~Trish
Just For Today
Next time you need to get somewhere, see if you can rely on a map and the guidance of others to help make your way. You never know who you’ll meet or what you may see!
When’s the last time you pulled out a map to find where you were, or how to get where you were going? Do you even remember the last time you unfolded a map? When we gaze at our devices and scurry through the world in thoroughly efficient ways, we are forgetting the most important part of our sojourn on this watery planet. To connect with the other people who are here with us. You just might like to dig up some maps or peek into an atlas today …
“Not all those who wander are lost.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
Pāli Word a Day ~ November 11, 2014
okappati— to believe in, arrange, make ready, settle on, feel confident in, trust in
Daily Words of the Buddha ~ November 11, 2014
Sukho viveko tuṭṭhassa,
sutadhammassa passato.
Abyāpajjaṃ sukhaṃ loke —
pāṇabhūtesu saṃyamo.
Solitude is happiness for one who is content,
who has heard the Dhamma and clearly sees.
Non-affliction is happiness in the world —
harmlessness towards all living beings.
Udāna 2.11
Gemstones of the Good Dhamma,
compiled and translated by Ven. S. Dhammika
Hau’oli la Koa!
Aloha kakahiaka oukou … Hau’oli la Po’alua … Hau’oli la Koa.
Good morning and Happy Tuesday, everyone. Happy Veteran’s Day!
Seeds for Meditation ~ “Practice of Being Real,” by Carol Carnes
The practice of being real is something highly underrated. We have been taught to appear in certain ways to get the approval of others. We may have fallen prey to the image makers who tell us how to dress, what colors are “ours” and how to be politically correct. The pressure to fit in is strong but not very intelligent. The really great people we admire, the ones who have contributed to our greater good, are always those who refuse to comply! They invariably are radical thinkers, fearlessly individual but at the same time allow for others to also stand out.
Shakespeare said it best “to thine own self be true and as the night follows the day, thou canst be false to any man.” Those who know who they are, are not confused about what is theirs to do! They are able to enroll others by simply being present with their energy and vision. This is spiritual maturity. The opposite of that is psychologically adolescent. We are all unique and have something to bring unlike anyone else. To be afraid to shine is to deny our spiritual nature.
That being said, being real does not mean complaining and holding others responsible for our experience. Martin Luther King Jr. did not complain. He had a vision and he stood up for it, unwilling to be silenced. He learned from Gandhi, but he did not copy him or dress like him or shave his head. He brought his own true self into the movement for freedom that Gandhi modeled so well. We are not a different species of human from these two fine examples, but we do need to drop the pretenses and let ourselves be seen and known for who we truly are.
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What does the practice of being real mean to you?
Can you share a personal experience of a time you were not afraid to shine?
What helps you avoid falling into the trap of the ego while being true to your voice?
Health ~ Healing Herbs For Your Apothecary
This list covers a wide area of herbal healing remedies, from lavender for dry dry skin to mint for an upset tummy, these remedies and herbs are a great alternative to turn to instead of store bought medicines!
Head over to this website now to start your herbal journey!
Daily Affirmation
Detox Your Thoughts
Dedicate yourself to the practice of nonviolence in your thoughts today. Watch as it extends to your words and deeds. Consider making it a daily practice.
How does true transformation happen? People don’t ever change by becoming someone else. People change by seeking, finding, and nourishing the best of who they are. They persist through the dark, heart-shredding times. They reach deeper into their true nature, the source of their best wisdom, courage, and passion.
“I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be; and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Hau’oli la Po’akahi
Aloha kakahiaka oukou a Hau’oli la Po’akahi. Mahalo Ke Akua no kei nani lā.
Good morning and Happy Monday, everyone. Thank God for this beautiful day.
Moon in Cancer in November of 2014: T-Squares and Grand Trines
The Moon in Cancer in November of 2014 creates a series of interesting (and contradictory!) patterns. On one hand, Moon will join with Uranus and Pluto (in the well known and often discussed Uranus/Pluto square pattern) to form a T-Square. On the other hand, the Moon will join with Mars and Neptune to form a Grand Trine (Grand Water Trine). The first causes conflict and energizes people to “take action” while the second tends to be gentler and more relaxed (and sometimes an opportunity to make a quite a bit of money).
We we examine the T-Square:
[Click to Enlarge]
Moments of greatest tension occur when (1) Moon opposes Pluto, (2) Moon squares Uranus, and (3) Moon conjoins Hygeia (an asteroid governing health and health issues). If one counts the node (a point and not an actual body), then one might argue this is an (ongoing) grand cross.
Ordinarily, we…
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Daily Affirmation
I know my inner self will guide me to the right decision.
Daily Words of the Buddha ~ November 09, 2014
Mattāsukhapariccāgā
passe ce vipulaṃ sukhaṃ,
caje mattāsukhaṃ dhīro,
sampassaṃ vipulaṃ sukhaṃ.
If by renouncing a lesser happiness
one may realize a greater happiness,
let the wise one renounce the lesser,
having regard for the greater.
Dhammapada 21.290
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom,
translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita
Hau’oli aloha Lapule
“Mohala I ka wai ka maka o ka pua.” Aloha kakahiaka oukou a Hau’oli Aloha Lapule.
“Unfolded by the water are the faces of the flower.” Good morning and Happy Aloha Sunday, everyone.
Recipe ~ Shortbread flavored with Earl Grey Tea & Pistachios
Yield: 30 pieces
Preparation time: 20 minutes + 1 hour chilling time
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Main Ingredient: tea and pistachios
Ingredients:
115 gm butter, softened
40 gm. icing/confectioners sugar
150 gm. plain/all-purpose flour
1 tbsp finely ground good-quality Earl Grey tea leaves
½ tsp salt
1 tsp lemon zest (optional)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup pistachios, chopped (you can substitute nuts of choice or omit completely for a plainer but still flavorsome cookie)
—
Instructions:
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and icing sugar until pale and fluffy.
Add the flour, vanilla, ground tea leaves,salt and zest and combine
Blend in pistachios until just combined.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour.
Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake. Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper.
Lightly flour a surface and roll out the dough to a ½ cm thickness. Using a cookie cutter of your choice, cut out as many cookies as possible.
Place on the baking sheets approximately 3 cm apart.
Bake for approximately 15 minutes until the bottoms are just golden.
Let the cookies cool and firm on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for up to a week.
Recipe ~ Coconut Shrimp Curry
Ingredients
4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into fours
1 large carrot, peeled and sliced
2 lbs shrimp, peeled, butterflied and deveined
1 large onion, cubed
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 can coconut milk
1/4 cup water
1 box S&B med-hot curry blocks
2 1/2 cups water
1 tsp cilantro, this is just a topping on top of your curry (optional)
Start to boil your carrots and potatoes in the 2 1/2 cups water, boil until fork goes half way through then lower heat to simmer.
While waiting for the vegetables to cook you’re going to start frying the onions in a separate pan with 1 tbsp oil until lightly brown in color. Now add in the curry blocks by crushing it between your fingers to make smaller pieces add in the 1/4 cup water and coconut milk and let it simmer for 5 minutes. This is just like making a coconut curry thickener for your curry.
Next step is to add the coconut mixture into the potatoes and carrots (leaving it in the water it’s already simmering in) stir together and cover.
Last step is to pan fry the shrimp until light orange in color and drain out any fluid that came out of the shrimp and add it straight into the curry. Simmer together for another 5-8 minutes before serving over hot rice.
Seeds for Meditation
“Each today, well-lived, makes yesterday a dream of happiness and each tomorrow a vision of hope. Look, therefore, to this one day, for it and it alone is life.“ ~ Sanskrit poem
Hau’oli Aloha Po’aono
Aloha kakhiaka oukou. Hau’oli aloha Po’aono. Ku’u aku a hoihoi keia nani Po’aono a me kou ‘ohana.
Good morning and Happy Aloha Saturday! Relax and enjoy this beautiful Saturday with your family.
Daily Words of the Buddha ~ November 08, 2014
Yogā ve jāyatī bhūri,
ayogā bhūrisaṅkhayo.
Etaṃ dvedhāpathaṃ ñatvā bhavāya vibhavāya ca,
tathāttānaṃ niveseyya yathā bhūri pavaḍḍhati.
Wisdom springs from meditation;
without meditation wisdom wanes.
Having known these two paths of progress and decline,
let one so conduct oneself that one’s wisdom may increase.
Dhammapada 20.282
The Dhammapada: The Buddha’s Path of Wisdom,
translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita
Double Thor’s Hammer Period of 2014 November 14
As we have mentioned elsewhere, some events in astrology simply are not well described as a “point.” Here we have a Double Thor’s Hammer (we call it a “Double Thor’s Hammer Key”) on the evening (in Plano) of November 14th:
Daily Affirmation
I may not understand the good in this situation yet, but it is there.
Pāli Word a Day ~ November 07, 2014
jotati—to shine, be splendid
Daily Words of the Buddha ~ November 07, 2014
Appaṃ vata jīvitaṃ idaṃ!
Oraṃ vassasatāpi miyyati,
yo cepi aticca jīvati,
atha kho so jarasāpi miyyati.
How short this life!
You die this side of a century,
but even if you live past,
you die of old age.
Sutta Nipāta 4.810
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Seeds For Meditation
Are you tired of the daily grind? Do you wonder what it would feel like to be your own boss, set your own schedule, and be in complete control of your future?
If so – you’re not alone.
Job dissatisfaction is a common issue these days. Just last year a report published by The Conference Board stated that more than half of all Americans report dissatisfaction with their jobs. With a challenging job market, more and more people stay stuck in careers that leave them feeling drained and unhappy, rather than pursuing a new life that nourishes them.
It’s ok to want change and to look for a better life.
For me, once I dared to dream that I could have a different life – In 1999, under the light of a Yule Super Moon, I launched my own Reiki practice and healing school. I soon had paying clients and students supplementing my income as an attorney … and, little by little I gained the confidence to fully transition away from my soul-crushing day job in the Law.
But how do you know it’s the right time to change?
Here are three little questions to consider that can make a huge impact …
1. How will you feel in five years if you’re still doing exactly what you’re doing now?
2. If you could paint a picture of a healthier, happier you – what would that look like?
3. What are three things you can do right now to get you closer to that new you?
Change begins with choice.
If you feel inspired or excited by that vision of a new future – I encourage you to get support, ask questions, and allow yourself to make an educated and informed decision that’s right for you.
Me ke aloha pumahana oukou … Lana
Aloha ‘ahiahi oukou ~ Good evening, Everyone!
Thank you, God, for this beautiful night.
Today’s Inspiration
A beautiful motivational video, blending supreme words from powerful individuals into a backdrop of moving imagery from uplifting cinema. When you feel down, watch this to remember how great you are.
Health ~ Master Tonic Immune Booster
Master Tonic is an amazingly beneficial immune booster, and your grandmother probably keeps a bottle somewhere in the house!Most of the evidence proving its efficacy is kept as a secret, but the number of people who have experienced and witnessed its benefits should have already convinced you to try it.
A simple shot of the Master Tonic Immune Booster every day keeps the most aggressive forms of viruses and infections away. We have listed all the ingredients you need to prepare this powerful immune booster ….
Source: Healthy Food House
Just For Today
Take a moment and think back to when you were half your current age. What advice would you have given yourself, and how can this inform the way you move through life today?
“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” ~ Anne Frank
