Category: Spirituality

The 21-Day Technology Challenge ~ Days 1 through 5

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For 21 days, participants do a small act daily, and share stories and photos with the community. One small step at a time, we change ourselves and the world.  We have been participating for the past several days … Today is Day 5.  Join us now and let’s complete this technology challenge together … unplug and Live Aloha now.

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DAY 1:  Take Mindful Screen Breaks

Screens have a way of hijacking our time without our knowledge or conscious consent. When we login to our computers we can get sucked into a digital world and forget to come up for air. The body and mind are revitalized by mindful breaks. Today, whether you are tackling a stream of emails, editing a voluminous document or creating a PowerPoint presentation, make sure to take regular screen breaks. Set an alarm for every hour, and when it rings, make a practice of turning away from your screen for a few minutes. Maybe you’ll do a mindfulness exercise, connect with someone, or reorganize your desk. Perhaps do some deep stretches, or take a quick walk around the block … or a refreshing swim! At the end of the day, notice how your energy and productivity levels are impacted by this simple practice of taking conscious breaks.

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DAY 2:  Experiment With Single-Tasking

Our waking lives play out on various platforms – we interact with each other in-person, over the phone, on instant messaging, video chats, email and more. Such layers of activity often leave us shuttling between different conversations and contexts. Often times we try and tackle them simultaneously. We eat lunch at our desk, while reading emails. We talk on the phone while driving, and send text messages in the middle of dinner. Multi-tasking has become commonplace in our day-to-day lives. Yet not only does it dilute the quality of our presence, it can often hamper efficiency and compromise our brain’s ability to commit what we are learning to long-term memory. Today, make an effort to do one thing at a time. Eat breakfast at the table. Focus on the road while driving. Have only one internet browser open at a time. Not only will your brain breathe a sigh of relief, but your productivity may receive a boost from your efforts!

 

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DAY 3:  Enjoy a device-free meal.

“In our fast-forward culture, we have lost the art of eating well.” — Carl Honore

Enjoy A Device-Free Meal – In January of this year, Twitter released an analysis of tweets made during the last week of December, examining the phrases most linked with “New Year’s resolutions.” Alongside “workout” and “quit smoking” came the phrase “unplug.” Many of us have the desire to healthily separate ourselves from our devices and social media platforms. But we need that extra nudge to make it happen. For inspiration, consider this whimsical equation, and its ring of truth: Constant use of digital devices + dining = digital indigestion. Today, try to eat at least one meal with your family, friends or colleagues, with every nearby appliance, including the TV on the wall, turned off. Practice being fully present and tuned in to the meal, the conversation, and the people you might be with. Notice how the quality of attention you bring to the table enhances your experience.

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DAY 4:  Pay Attention To Your Posture.

“A good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind.” — Morihei Ueshiba

Pay Attention To Your Posture – Whether our minds are deep in inbox-response mode, single-pointedly typing away a looming deadline, or attentively laying out colors for a new graphic, it’s easy to forget about our bodies. Until hours, days, or weeks later, when a wrist starts to throb or a spot on the back aches or our neck stiffens and we wonder why. Our posture during the many hours spent on our devices, has a tremendous impact on the wellbeing of our muscles, joints and long-term physical health. Today, tune into your posture. Are your eyes resting comfortably on the screen, or is your neck craning up or down? Do your elbows fall naturally by your side as you type on the keyboard, or are they strained at an angle with your shoulders hunched up? A simple adjustment, like placing your monitor or laptop on top of a book, tilting your keyboard on a slanted platform, or adjusting the height of your chair can make a world of difference.

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DAY 5 ~ Create A Gadget-Free Zone!

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” — Hans Hofmann

Create A Gadget-Free Zone – When Steve Jobs was asked if his children loved the iPad, he replied, “They haven’t used it. We limit how much technology our kids use it at home.” The creators of our most popular devices are aware of the dangers that come with them. Take a cue from Jobs today. Set aside a gadget-free zone at home. Maybe it’s the dining room, family room or your bedroom. Setting these intentional boundaries will have an effect not just on you, but all those you share your space with. Whether parents, partners or children, the people we live alongside are often our greatest mirrors. Our own mindfulness with gadgets and attentive presence can ripple out in profound and wonderful ways to those we care about.

Join us tomorrow and let’s take back control and give technology a definite, but more limited place in our lives.  Mālama kekahi ī kekahi … Let’s take care of each other, today and always.  Aloha!

Huber Learning Trinagle April 22 to May 11, 2015i

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Grandtrines's avatarGrandtrines

Solar Fire 8’s electional search identifies a “Huber Learning Triangle 2” that is in play from April 22 to May 11, 2015.  This pattern involves Pluto, Uranus, and Mars, and we think that this may bring us some difficult “lessons” in this period involving power and violence:

Huber Learning Triangle 2 April 22

[Click Image to Enlarge]

On the more positive side, this pattern may give some of us the focus and energy to accomplish some important project.  Just remember the lesson of the magic genie: make certain what you ask for is what you really want!

This will tend to affect Capricorn (especially early January), Aries (especially near April 10th), and Taurus (near May 5th) the most.  Opposite points in Cancer (near July 1), Libra (near October 1), and Scorpio (near November 3rd) will also feel this more than others.

Maybe the best explanation of what these lessons are about might be Whole Astrology’s recent…

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Pistachio–Orange Blossom Cake

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Pistachio-Orange Blossom Cake

Our monthly Sunday Family Dinners have kind of morphed into Saturday Family Dinners. It may not have the same ring to it but after an evening of consuming tons of goodness, the last thing I want to do is to drive back home to San Diego to make it to work the next morning.

March 2013 Family Dinner

So last weekend, we held our monthly Fam-Din at my seester’s casa where we jumped into a Middle Eastern inspired menu. The seesters made Roasted Garlic Hummus, Cucumber-Chickpea-Feta Salad, Shish Tawook and Basmati Rice.

March 2013 Family Dinner

Shish Tawook are chicken skewers that are marinated in yogurt, citrus, spices and then grilled. My seester served them with toum which was a super garlicky sauce that she was obsessed with. Truth be told, I had no idea what toum was before this weekend but it was fantastic over the chicken. As for the salad, it went really…

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Aloha Spirit ~ A Musical Journey with May Lili’uokalani Ross – Full Show

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Aired on Na Leo ‘O Hawaii as Kukui Hele Po, Let Your Light Shine
Songs By: May Lili’uokalani Ross…..SEE BELOW TO SKIP TO SONGS
Filmed in Kea’au on Hawai’i Island (Big Island)
Photography: Keaka Makanani.

Music and Lyrics:
“As One”- Opening Credits
“I Love The Rain” 3:40
“Spirit Speak” 17:01
“Kiss Me My Love (With Your Eyes)” 21:52
“Kimokeo and I” 25:36
“Rainbows” 29:03
“Kealaula” – Background
“You and I” – Background
“Foreign, Fraud, Fiction” 45:26
“As One” – Ending Credits

Bloopers 49:38

Aloha Po’aha

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Aloha kakou a aloha kakahiaka.  Hoihoi keia nani Pōʻaha hoaloha.  O ka maluhia no me oe.

Hello everyone and good morning.  Enjoy this beautiful Thursday, Friends.  Peace be with you.

Don’t know about what’s going on with the protests on Mauna Kea volcano?  It’s the first time EVER that Hawai’i is being talked about in countries all over our world.  Na Kanaka Maoli are spotlighting the issue of self-determination for People everywhere.  Check it out here …

Aloha ‘oe, Mr. R

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This is our feline friend, Rhubarb, whom I call “Mr. R”. He’s really a very sweet, super cuddly old Ginger Tom with beautiful green eyes. But, Mr. R is feeling quite poorly tonight. He had been losing weight, first around his hind quarters and it seems his shoulders are also thinning. He eventually got a clouded over-right eye that was beginning to spread into the left eye … and then, last night, his hind legs failed him.

Rhubarb (2002-2015)
Rhubarb (2002-2015)

This was Mr. R’s first time to venture out of the house last year, July 4, 2014. He enjoyed the sun that day … this is how David and I will remember this lovable being.

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The first day we met Mr. R … May 17, 2014

This morning, we laid him to rest.  The pain is gone, Rhubarb … now you can join your brother, Alfredo.  Good journey, Mr. R.  We’ll always welcome you at our door.  Aloha ‘oe.

Seeds for Meditation

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flowers_calla_lily_sunrise

Now the benefit is to walk with like-minded people, fellow pilgrims. Move away from those who suck your energy by raising doubts, fears, or envy.

The ego, the critic, the inner judge, will try to sneak in while you are traveling on your path and tell you that you need to be reasonable, clever, suspicious, and, above all, to look good in others’ eyes. It would have you create imaginary problems that would cause you to incorrectly evaluate the situation before you. The crux of the teaching in this hexagram is to remain aware and fully present. This will be found in stillness.

Consciously let go of trying to get approval from others. This is the ego trying to interfere and keep you from fully appreciating the beauty and the myriad gifts of life. As you slow down, and allow your childlike innocense to appreciate the beauty all around you, there will emerge a strength that you have not known before. You will find strength wrought not from pain or angst, but from peace, laughter, and joy.

Rainbow Roasted Vegetables

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trishlee75's avatarCook Plant Meditate

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This colorful and yummy side dish is really easy to prepare and gorgeous to look at.  Pan searing the vegetables before putting them in the oven really brings out the natural flavor of the ingredients.  A big thanks to the Berkeley Bowl in Berkeley, CA for always having the most gorgeous organic produce at a great price!

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Rainbow Roasted Vegetables

10 oz pearl onions, peeled with ends cut off
5-6 carrots (rainbow or otherwise), peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 ½ pounds marble potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper
sprig of thyme (optional)
1 bay leaf (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Heat a large skillet to medium high heat.  Pour in olive oil and vegetables.  Stirring occasionally, cook vegetables until they are starting to blister (around 5 or so minutes).

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Transfer vegetables to a roasting pan, sprinkle with just a small bit of…

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Coconut Phyllo Dessert Cups

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MMMmmmm …

trishlee75's avatarCook Plant Meditate

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Want to look like a rock star at your next gathering?  These delectable dessert cups are simple to throw together, quick to cook and will take whatever dessert you put in them to the next level.  If you don’t like coconut, you could always switch it up and use slivered almonds, graham cracker crumb, chocolate shavings or even cinnamon.

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Coconut Phyllo Dessert Cups

5 sheets phyllo dough
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
½ stick unsalted butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a small pan, heat butter on medium low heat until just melted, remove from burner and skim off milk solids.

On a large work surface, place one sheet of phyllo dough, brush lightly with butter, sprinkle with ½ teaspoon sugar and ½ tablespoon coconut.  Repeat with 3 more sheets of phyllo.  Cover with last sheet of phyllo and brush with butter only.

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Using a pizza cutter…

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Tools

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A perspective shared by one of our Reiki Sensei Shinpiden Roxanne Mapu Cottell, from Pomona, CA

ReverendRoxie22's avatarThe Ghetto Allegory

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~MEDIUMSHIP~

It is something that not a lot of people understand, and more than that, it is something that not a lot of people realize they use, or even know that they have the ability for.

The Sixth Sense. We all know what it is.

Okay, most of us know what it is, but lots of us don’t know that we can all utilize it, and even more people on this planet, due to all of the wrong representation of it in movies, on television, and in books, are too scared to use this one gift from Spirit.

There is nothing to be afraid of 

This is not to say that there are not ugly energies that can and do seep through the veil between consciousness and are the types of energies that are malevolent. However, this IS to say that there are ways to use this in your everyday…

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