Chai Coconut Tea

Sara & Sheila's Imaginary Chai

~ Chai Powder Coconut Butter Paste (or regular butter)
~ Back Tea (steeped), possibly w/Vanilla, Pomegranate, Raspberry, Strawberry
~ Scoop butter into blender, pour hot tea over, blend

Mmmm

YogaDork Ed: Get Off the Cuff, the Rotator Cuff

YogaDork Ed: Get Off the Cuff, the Rotator Cuff

Sorrow & Life is messy. Dig deep.

I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.


~ Agatha Christie


Life has never been easy. Nor is it meant to be. It is a matter of being joyous in the face of sorrow. 


~Dirk Benedict


Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.


~Lao Tzu


Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
Kahlil Gibran



For me, the aim to transcend has proved to be a distraction. Maybe enlightenment is not attained with out of body experiences, or astral travel, or rising above the mundane, profane and banal of everyday life.
Perhaps, as activist Parker Palmer puts it, God is down, not up. Perhaps God has temper and likes Her meat rare. Maybe He hangs out with crazy people and likes a bargain. Perhaps God is waiting to be found in the things we try to avoid.
The hours I’ve logged in the lotus position have expanded my mind, and even sweetened me. Examining cosmological concepts has sharpened my intellect and fueled my charisma. My higher pursuits are decent. But my life always calls me, sometimes wrenches me, back down to the ground. Back to my little home, like a million other homes on earth, filled with minutiae and temperaments and soft tiny experiences of joy.
My greatest lessons have not come from my time in Ashrams or on retreat. Retreats are where I go to process what I learn from everyday living. My greatest growth comes from the black mucky fertile mess of my relationships.
When I do the hard work of loving someone the way they deserve to be loved.
When I go down into the sensuality of the present. When I go down into surprising self-hatred. Down into feeling helpless in the face of Gaza and Sudan and ignorance and toxins and homelessness.

Down to nuzzle a crying friend or baby.
Down into the dirt to lift branches and clear space, and carry boxes into a new little home, like a million other homes on the earth.

Maybe God is something you need to “get into” rather than aspire to. When I retired from rising above my life and just “settled” with being here and being human, something amazing happened: I stopped feeling guilty for being…me. If you’re not ascending you’re stuck with yourself, and that’s much more fun than I ever thought possible.
Life is messy. Dig deep.
-Danielle LaPorte

Nadis: Understanding our body

Nadis are described as network of subtle channels. In the olden text, there are 72,000 Nadis in the psychic body. They are the visible current of light for the person who has developed the psychic vision. There are 14 principal Nadis but Ida, Pingla and Sushumna are the most Important. Nadis are also called as Nerves; Nadis are the subtle channels, through which Pranic forces flow. In the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna, last one is most important.

Sushmana: It is most important; it is originated form the Mooldhara chakra and end at the Sahasra chakra at the crown of the head passes through each chakra. It is a central channel and it is associated with river Sharsavti.

Pingla: Pingla Nadi Originated form the right side of the Moolsdhara chakra and passes in an opposite manner to that of Ida, terminating at the right side of the ajan chakra. It is red, masculine, hot, represents the Sun. It is associated with River Yamuna. It is active, extrovert Sun Nadi.

Ida: It is left channel, originated left side of the Mooldhara chakra in the spinal cord making criss-cross pathway and terminate at the left side of the Ajan chakra. It is passive, introvert, feminine. It is also called Moon Nadi.

Mooldhara is the meeting place of the all three nadis, the pranic current flows through all the three nadis alternatively. We can measure it by checking the flow of breath in the Nostril. When flow of air is greater in the left nostril, Ida is dominant, if the flow of air in the right nostril is much, Pingla is dominant, if the flow of air is equal in the both Nostril, Sushumna is predominant.

In case of Pingla is predominant, there is more vital energy for the physical work digestion of the food, body is extrovert, it generate more heat. If Pingla nadi flows at night, sleep will be restless and disturbed.

In case of Ida is dominant in the body, mental energy is dominant, mind is introvert. Mental work may be under taken. During the sleep, Ida nadi flows in the body. If Ida flows, digestive process may be slow, causing indigestion.

We can alter the flow (nadi) with help of Pranayam to get maximum benefits in performing our day today activity. In case, we have to do some mental work; we can direct the flow through Ida nadi to get maximum benefit. In twenty four hours, 12 hours Ida should dominate and the remaining 12 hours Pingla should dominate.

When Ida and Pingla nadis are balanced, most important nadis sushumna flows. If we want success in the field of meditation, sushumna should flow in our body. It awakens Kundalini and rise through the chakras. In case sushusma not flow in the body and we want to perform meditation (due to pingla nadi body will be restless and due to Ida mind will be over reactive), we will not get desirable results.

There are two type of system work for Ida and Pingla, one is sympathetic (Ida) and other is parasympathetic. Sympathetic is related to stimulation and acceleration of the activities concerned with the external environment and the deceleration of the organs to utilize lots of energy internally. It speeds up the heart, dilate the blood vessels, and increase the respiration rate and efficiency of the eyes, ears and their sense organs.

The parasympathetic is related to reduction of the heart beat, constrict the blood vessels and slow the respiration. Pranas flow in the Ida and pingla involuntary and unconsciously but we can control it with help yogic practices.

The 7 Chakras



Chakra balancing meditation is good for the body, mind and sprit. Chakras are the junction point between physiology and consciousness. There are seven chakras. Let’s go in details of the each chakra one by one.

-1st chakra is root of the spine. Color is red. Mantra is “LAM”. It is primordial sound or vibration. We need to be in the position of sitting or standing. We should be having our attention on the root of the spine and our spine should be straight. Pronounce the mantra LAM, while chanting mantra, we should visualize the color red with our eyes closed. Initially pronounce mantra loudly and than silently.

-Lets talk about the second chakra. It is on the back of the spine, near the genital area. Color of the second chakra is orange and its mantra is “VAM“. We should visualize the color orangeand pronounce the mantra “VAM” first loudly than silently.

-Lets concentrate on the third chakra. It is on the pit of the stomach (solar plexus). The mantra of the third chakra is “RAM” and it color is “yellow“. We should visualize the color yellow while pronouncing the mantra “RAM”. We should always remember that first we have to pronounce mantra loudly and than silently.

-Now, we will practice the fourth chakra i.e. heart chakra. This chakra is associated with love, compaction and peace. The color of the heart chakra is green and the point of concentration is heart. The mantra of the heart chakra is “YAM”, so close your eyes and visualize the color green and pronounce the mantra “YAM“.

-Our next chakra is “throat chakra”. Its color is blue. Mantra of the throat chakra is “HAM” and point of concentration is throat. Visualize color blue after closing your eyes and pronounce the mantra “HAM“.

-Lets concentrate on the sixth chakra. Its color is “Indigo”. We should concentrate on the third eye (head) i.e. eye of intuition. Mantra of the sixth chakra is “OM“, so close your eye, visualize color indigo and pronounce the mantra OM first loudly than silently.

-Finally, let’s practice the Crown Chakra. Color is all colors of the rainbow. Maintain silence while concentrating on the crown chakra. Visualize all the color of the rainbow but violet (color of spirituality) dominates.


Healing, Balancing, and Opening Your Chakras with Exercises, Foods, Colors

The Sanskrit word “chakra” means wheel or disk that symbolizes one of seven basic energy centers in the body in which energy flows through.  Each of these centers correlates to major nerves branching forth from the spinal column.  Each point also correlates to levels of consciousness, emotional states, colors, body functions and much more.
 
Since chakras are like power stations of our energy, it’s wise to keep these centers tuned and in balance and working in harmony.   Chakras absorb energy that we encounter in our lives such as from our thoughts, feelings, the outside environment and people we meet. Our body is affected by the quality of the energy that passes through these chakras.  For example, if we harbor negative feelings, we will be filtering negative energy through our chakras and into our body.  Over time this can make our body ill.   There are many different ways to tune your chakras.  There are too many to discuss in this short blog, but do some research, ask your teacher, and explore the many books available out there.

Here is a brief description of each chakra, their colors, symbols and what they represent, starting from the top:

7 Chakras for Beginners: Healing, Balancing, Opening Chakras: Exercises, Foods, Colors The 7 Chakras are the energy centers in our body in which energy flows through.

Blocked energy in our 7 Chakras can often lead to illness so it's important to understand what each Chakra represents and what we can do to keep this energy flowing freely.

Here's our quick summary of the 7 Chakras:

1. Root Chakra - Represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded.
Location: Base of spine in tailbone area.
Emotional issues: Survival issues such as financial independence, money, and food.
More on Root Chakra healing

1st chakra

2. Sacral Chakra - Our connection and ability to accept others and new experiences.
Location: Lower abdomen, about 2 inches below the navel and 2 inches in.
Emotional issues: Sense of abundance, well-being, pleasure, sexuality.
More on Sacral Chakra healing

2nd chakra

3. Solar Plexus Chakra - Our ability to be confident and in-control of our lives.
Location: Upper abdomen in the stomach area.
Emotional issues: Self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem.
More on Solar Plexus Chakra healing
3rd chakra

4. Heart Chakra - Our ability to love.
Location: Center of chest just above heart.
Emotional issues: Love, joy, inner peace.
More on Heart Chakra healing

4th chakra
5. Throat Chakra - Our ability to communicate.
Location: Throat.
Emotional issues: Communication, self-expression of feelings, the truth.
More on Throat Chakra healing5th chakra

6. Third Eye Chakra - Our ability to focus on and see the big picture.
Location: Forehead between the eyes. (Also called the Brow Chakra)
Emotional issues: Intuition, imagination, wisdom, ability to think and make decisions.
More on Third Eye Chakra healing6th chakra

7. Crown Chakra - The highest Chakra represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually.
Location: The very top of the head.
Emotional issues: Inner and outer beauty, our connection to spirituality, pure bliss.
More on Crown Chakra healing
7th chakra

Leaves Of Anusara, Roots Of Tantra. ~ Emma Magenta & Bernadette Birney

Leaves Of Anusara, Roots Of Tantra. ~ Emma Magenta & Bernadette Birney

A Conversation: the Living Tradition of Tantra.

Emma: Hey Bern, did you read that EJ blog on Tantra and Walt Whitman? I appreciate Horton’s talented writing, but I found her view of Tantra limited.
Bernadette: I did read the article, and I think her article offers a great opportunity to clarify what Tantra is, and why Anusara yogins self-identify as tantrikas.
Emma: Truly! Tantra is a vast tapestry of esoteric philosophy and practice, and has meant different things to different people during its complex, 2,000-year history.

[ed's note: this discussion of tantra does not appear to include Buddhist tantra or Vajrayana tradition or lineage, which was the focus of my personal comment in support of Carol Horton's original article. I also discussed this issue in some depth with John Friend personally in LA this month—it was a fun and informative conversation.]

Having taught Anusara yoga for 10 years, we both know that Tantra cannot be reduced to three practices from one particular epoch and location, as Horton writes in her article. Anusara yogis don’t hang out in cremation grounds, but we seek to embody Tantric philosophy, orient ourselves around Tantric texts, and perform Tantric practices. We follow many of Tantra’s fundamental principles, but adapt them to modern Western society.

Bernadette: Let’s start by defining Tantra: it’s a technology for expansion of Spirit. Tantra uses the manifest world as a means to experience Enlightenment. Unlike other yoga philosophies, Tantric Enlightenment doesn’t transcend the everyday world; it points us back to it, in a more joyful, appreciative way.
Although yoga and Tantra are living, ever-evolving traditions, there are key distinguishing principles of Tantric philosophy that transcend historical, cultural, and religious parameters. For example: tantrikas identify everything, absolutely everything, as Supreme Consciousness and Creative Power—including body, mind and Spirit.

Anusara yoga’s Shiva-Shakti Tantra philosophy is easily identifiable as Tantric. We teach that Spirit is Good, Free, Full, Pulsating, All-Knowing and Blissful. We teach that yoga is a practice that celebrates this Supreme Spirit as it manifests in ourselves and the world around us. We teach that humans have the common desire to experience the freedom of our true nature. We teach that through skillful action, we can reflect upon and joyfully recognize who we really are, who we always have been and what we may yet become.

In this way, Anusara yoga holds a tradition that has been around for thousands of years, yet is still as relevant and applicable today in our 21st century as it was at its inception. John Friend didn’t invent these ideas: he learned them over a lifetime of study and practice. No matter how much we like Walt Whitman, we can’t attribute the origination of these ideas to him, either.

Emma: Which begs the question, what is the origin of these ideas? Fortunately, John Friend has always encouraged Anusara yoga teachers to study with experts. We’re blessed to have scholars in our community (like Douglas Brooks and Paul Muller-Ortega, to name two) who are grounded in Western academia, yet informed by serious, life-long sadhana, or spiritual practice.

Because of our studies, we are able to answer questions about the roots and history of Tantra in its full spectrum. We’re better able to honor our past, live fully in the present, and serve the future. Because of our studies, we know we’re participating in and co-creating a rich tradition, rather than randomly making up ideas and calling them Tantric because it’s exotic.

Historically, Tantra emerged from a rich environment of Shiva worshippers (some of whom were known as “Kapalikas”) who were originally active in the 2nd – 5th century CE. These early “Shaivites” courted disapproval through outrageous behavior. They practiced in cremation grounds, where the veil between life and death was thinnest, and believed that violation of conventions brought them closer to the incomprehensible heart of the Divine.

Tantra then evolved in a number of different directions. In the south, a philosophy called “Sri Vidya” began to coalesce around the 8th century. A little later, Northern India saw the flowering of a form of Tantra called “Kashmir Shaivism.” At some point, in certain circles, the highly unorthodox nature of early, proto-Tantra went through a rehabilitation. External, more transgressive practices were refined and translated into internal rituals of meditation.

Some scholars refer to more socially acceptable forms of Tantra as “right-handed”, and more transgressive forms as “left-handed”. The convention-shattering, “left-handed” practices have given Tantra a reputation for black magic that persists even in modern-day India. However, the “left-handed” path is just one aspect of Tantra—it is extremely limiting to evaluate all of Tantric philosophy according to the behavior of one group at one point in time. You don’t have to hang out in cremation grounds to be tantrika!

Anusara yoga doesn’t generally identify with “left-handed” Tantra. However, there are aspects of Anusara yoga that are unconventional, even by the lights of the yoga community. Our Shiva Shakti Tantra considers the manifest world to be a blessing. We radically affirm life’s fundamental value by looking for the good first. We acknowledge and integrate life’s darkness by honoring the full spectrum of experience. We cultivate a wild creative freedom by playing and expanding the edge. These are not necessarily the predominant values of our society. Like our forebears, Anusara yoga is willing to explore unconventionality. We just don’t do it by smearing ourselves with ashes.

Bernadette: That’s Anusara philosophy, but not all modern yogas hold the same ideas to be true! Pigeonholing all traditions in the same category does a disservice to the marvelous diversity of modern yoga. It’s simply inaccurate to say all modern yoga philosophy is Tantric.

For example, the Advaita Vedanta tradition teaches that the manifest world we can see, touch, and experience is an illusory distraction from the fundamental Unity of the universe. The Classical yoga tradition considers the manifest world to be a very real yogic obstacle, a minefield of attachments and aversions that distracts us from eternal Spirit.

This is very different from the Tantric point of view, but when Anusara yoginis study the history of yoga, we study Advaita Vedanta and Classical Yoga, too. As tantrikas, we approach our selves, our world, and our practice differently, yet we readily acknowledge that we are indebted to many traditions. Tantra’s conversational partners have played significant roles in evolving the modern dialogue of yoga: you and I couldn’t be having this conversation, today, had other traditions not had it first.

Anusara yoga honors our shared history, and the genuine diversity of the great ocean of yoga traditions. We know we stand on the shoulders of giants! Embodying these living teachings in the present, rather than embalming them, we carry the conversation of yoga forward into the future.

Emma: Well, Bern, it’s been divine having this conversation with you.

Bernadette: Always a pleasure, fellow tantrika.

Surfing: A Great Metaphor for Life! fall down, get back up

I haven't tried surfing (I'm a cyclist), but I should...
Fantastic article by Pilar Stella

Catch a wave... and a few pretty important lessons as well!

As we enter the fall, and conclude the summer season, we may find some lessons from this summer that may inform us as we move forward. For me, what better place than starting with surfing.

Surfing is a great metaphor for life. I have done many different sports. I have been an athlete my whole life - from swimming to lacrosse to gymnastics to soccer to tennis to cycling to triathlons to track and field to skiing to mountaineering to rock climbing and beyond. Yet, none have translated more to my life than surfing.

Many of you know my passion and excitement for surfing. It has been a transformative force in my life since I moved to LA three years ago (can you believe it?)! When I got here, I knew I wanted to learn how to surf. I heard about several surf programs like Youth Mentoring Connection (www.youthmentoring.org) and Stoked (www.stoked.org) that took at risk youth to the beach to learn to surf. That was it - a perfect combination of my passions - giving back, youth, the beach and, hopefully soon, surfing!

I attended one event my first summer and decided to come back out the following summer. I "co-taught" the youth to surf and learned in the process - what could be better. It wasn't until fall of last year 2010 that I became hooked and officially bought a board, wetsuit and became a "real surfer."

It has been in these last nine months of surfing that I have learned so much from surfing that has helped me grow in my personal, professional and spiritual life. Click below for a few lessons of my favorite lessons...
that I have learned from surfing that can be translated to life.

1.   Every time you fall down, get back up. There is no other sport I have done that you fall off EVERY time and have to get back up to go again. What an incredible reminder for life. So many of us are trained to be afraid of trying things because we are afraid to fail. Yet with surfing, it is expected that you will fall off over and over again. Very quickly it teaches us to try things and be ok with risk and failure. It becomes second nature and teaches us that failure leads to learning and opportunity which then leads to improvement and success.

2.   Patience pays. How many times in life do you want things to happen now and on your time and they don't? The waves are no different. There is nothing like sitting out on the water on a day when the waves and sets have a mind of their own and decide to come on their own time. You can get upset and frustrated that they aren't coming or you can accept it and look around, enjoy the scenery, breathe, feel the wind in your hair, the sunrise or sunset, the people chatting and laughing around you and fully take in the moment. Exercising a little patience goes a long way in life, as well as surfing.

3.Be present. Surfing forces us to be present in the here and now. If you get ahead of yourself and think about the last wave or what you need to do for the upcoming wave, it can throw you off from being able to respond to the changes with each wave because every wave is different. By staying very present in each moment, you are able to adapt and adjust your paddle, pop up, stance or otherwise to make magic happen. This is no different than life. When we are really present to what is right now and not what was or what will be, we begin to enjoy the journey and find the miracles in every moment.

4.   Persistence and perseverance pave the way. Taking that extra paddle and making that extra effort paves the way for that pay off of the wave you catch. If you fail once, fail twice, fail thrice, try, try again and keep at it. Your effort will pay off. In life, if you take that extra step and persist and persevere, you can't fail. You may "fail" but what you gain in experience, opportunity and learning will put you ahead of the curve the next time you get out there. So don't give up, keep going until your effort paves the way for more joy, success and excitement.

5.   Ego is no amigo. This one I credit to one of my dear surfer sisters. Just like in life, you can come to anything with your heart open or you can come with an ego. In the end, which will make you happier and which will get you where you are going faster? One of the most famous surf quotes is, "The best surfer is the one having the most fun." Then for sure I am the best surfer as I am constantly laughing, giggling, singing and enjoying the waves. Imagine if more people could approach their lives and work with a little more heart and a little less ego? Imagine the world we would live in.

6.   Your mind creates your reality. Our attitudes shape our reality. If you think you can't, you won't. If you think you can, you will. It is that simple. In surfing, if you get in the water and think you can't handle this or you are not going to have fun or if you are paddling for a wave and think, "I am not going to get this," you won't. It is that simple. In life it is no different. If we act as if and even continually repeat to ourselves, I can do this, I will have fun or whatever positive affirmation can replace a negative, over time it will stick and will become our realities. It just starts with the right positive mental attitude.

7.   Choose love over fear. Fear is a state of mind. We all have fears in life and surfing. It is what we do with that fear that is most important. In surfing, if we see a wave or a break or a set that we are afraid of, do we shrink in the face of our fears or do we face them and allow ourselves to stretch, grow and expand beyond. We each have a bubble that makes up our life experience and over time we can expand the bubble (and the fears within it) or we can allow them to contract and constrict, and ultimately imprison ourselves from our own making. Every time we stretch and choose love, we are choosing to overcome our fears. We break the patterning that holds us back and we free ourselves more and more each time. When we lean into love, we reinforce a pattern of trust and faith that further enables us to overcome future fears.

8.   One as a part of a whole. The ocean consists of many waves and one wave, while singular, is part of the greater whole. We as human beings are no different. We each have our own unique characteristics, passions and fears. Yet the actions that we each make have an impact, or ripple effect, on others. With surfing you have to be present and stay focused on yourself and your wave, yet you also have to have an awareness of the others in the water. So is the case in life, while we may focus on our own needs, we must also pay attention to the ramifications for others and the planet at large and be considerate and compassionate of the whole.

These are just a few of the lessons from surfing that translate to life. Surfing brings out your true essence and authenticity. It is as though it requires us to rekindle that inner light, that inner child and shine it bright and share it with others to radiate out in the world and remind others to do the same.

As I say to many people I know, "Surfing is the new golf." Really surfing is much more than that and has been a gift in my life to rekindle my own inner child, inner giggler and inner guru.

How might these lessons translate in your own life?

Bring light to the shadows

“To engage in the journey that takes us from living outside of ourselves to processing the world inside ourselves means bringing light to our shadow. Your shadow aspects are primarily rooted in fear patterns that have more control over your behavior than does your conscious mind.”

“Eventually we have to confront each of our shadow aspects. Confronting your shadow requires that you strike out on your own.”

“ If you do decide to follow an inner call and its unavoidable psychic ritual of separation, you have to withdraw your spirit from the magnetic field created by the collective power of your group’s will so that you can organize your own energy, much as a mystic or seer might withdraw to hear divine promptings.”

“You will have to strengthen your soul identity until it is strong enough to eclipse all these fears.”

“You are birthing your power of individual choice, increasing your potential for insight and opportunities serving your highest potential. In dealing with the shadows, you ready yourself to accept full responsibility for the management of your spirit and the consequences of your choices.”

“Your highest potential then, is that part of you that is not limited in its expression by the fears. It is what you actualize when you are willing to confront your shadow, openly acknowledge the reality of its presence within you, and then take steps to deal with it.”

“To rely on your inner resources and to follow your inner guidance before all else is to express your highest potential at all times. It shows you who you would be if you could live within the knowledge that genuine power exists inside the self, and never outside of it.”

~Caroline Myss from Sacred Contracts via Mystic Mamma

Anything that....

Anything that annoys you is "for" teaching you patience.
Anyone who abandons you is "for" teaching you how to stand up on your own two feet.
Anything that angers you is "for" teaching you forgiveness and compassion.
Anything that has power over you is "for" teaching you how to take your power back.
Anything you hate is "for" teaching you unconditional love.
... Anything you fear is "for" teaching you courage to overcome your fear.
Anything you can't control is "for" teaching you how to let go and trust the Universe."

- Jackson Kiddard, author

I Blame Coco ft Robyn - Caesar (Diplo Remix)

...begin to interact with like-minded people throughout the world...

‎"We must begin to send out ideological visions rather than be the consumers of them. We need to turn off the metaphorical televisions which are hooking us into the network of cultural assumptions... We need, instead, to turn on our terminals, and to begin to interact with like-minded people throughout the world... people will then feel the interrelatedness of their fates, feel the interrelatedness as a thing which transcends national divisions, ideological divisions, feel the primacy of being part of the human family.” ~ Terence McKenna

via.Alex Theory

Burning Man 2011

Welcome to my messy blog.  Finally the photos are posted from my first adventure to Black Rock City (aka) Dreamland and it was fantastic!  I miss it already...

Friends, enjoy the photos (click to download images)





https://picasaweb.google.com/sheschillaxing/BurningMan2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCL2imNqr4bb9sgE&feat=directlink

Beauty

~ Beauty is a dynamic event that occurs between you and something else...Beauty is thus an altered state of consciousness, an extraordinary moment of poetry and grace.

"Director", the Imaginary Foundation


Richard Seymour: How beauty feels
Video on TED.com

www.ted.com

A story, a work of art, a face, a designed object -- how do we tell that something is beautiful? And why does it matter so much to us? Designer Richard Seymour explores our response to beauty and the surprising power of objects that exhibit it.


"There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age."

- Sophia Loren via The Daily Love

i must not fear - fear is the mind killer

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
... And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

~ F. Herbert, Dune