Nan's Shortbread Cookies

1 cup of butter
1 cup of sugar
4 cups of flour

Mix butter and sugar, work in flour.
Bake at 350 for around 10 minutes.

I like to add vanilla, rosemary or lavender........
mmmmmmmmm

Remember

Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are, when you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

~ Lao Tzu

Bastian: Why is it so dark?
Empress: In the beginning, it is always dark.

~ The NeverEnding Story, 1984

For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. 

— Sam Levenson

The Promise of Hatha

Excerpts Via: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/12/the-promise-of-hatha/

Hatha yoga is a delightful aspect of the Path of Light.

There seems to be a promise inherent in it.

The Light is present as compassion as each person listens to his or her body, learning how to make adjustments independently, taking responsibility, watching when habitual drives push, demand, cajole. Turning to the Light.

The meaning of the word “Hatha” itself affirms it: “ha” meaning sun and “tha” moon.

If Hatha has to do with celestial bodies—sun radiating light and moon reflecting light—by practicing Hatha yoga, can we discover our own celestial bodies, shining and reflective?

The Light works. This reflective, symbolic approach to Hatha yoga brings people in touch with themselves at an intimate level and encourages the Light of understanding to grow.

The effects of the Light are as evident from the black mornings of January to the extended spring light of April.

Our first practice together each morning is the Divine Light Invocation. It is our wake-up call.

The Light Invocation is a complete integration of body, mind and speech. Focus is concentrated through breath and tension, the mind is nourished by the Mantra and finer feelings expressed as we open our hearts.

It is like a statement of purpose as we extend up, concentrate and reach for the Light beyond our limitations, acknowledging our connection to this Light. We start with the body, taking a stand for the Light, expressing a desire to be in the Light.

As practice progresses - light takes the form of awareness, of caring for the body, of willingness to hear whatever comes up.

After warming up the body through movement and the mind through observation, participants move into one pose with more intensity, writing down key words associated around the name of the asana.

Sometimes, they will take a personal association into the pose and see what opens up as the body and symbol work together. Or, they will take a question from the Hidden Language book and reflect, listening to the body, listening to the mind.

When we do the Light Invocation and then do the pose again, there is inevitably a breakthrough; it surprises me how consistently this happens.

The Light seems to create a fluidity so insights become brighter, more lucid and succinct. Maybe it’s because in the Divine Light Invocation, we invite the Light to penetrate the cells of the body and every level of consciousness. If the invitation is sincere, it really happens.

One student comments, “I marvel at the power of the Divine Light Invocation. It makes it almost effortless to shift focus, to let go.” Another says, “Lightness allows the body to lift in new ways. It starts in my thoughts.”

Others note the interplay of will and surrender: “Using tensing and relaxing with the Divine Light Mantra, I find I can go further with the pose without pushing or increased effort. Surrender—so gentle.”

“The combination of surrender and will, gradually stretches me toward my goal at the right rate for my body and understanding.”

Class ends with Savasana, relaxing body and mind into the Light. As the body relaxes and the mind relaxes, awareness increases—awareness of Self, not as body or mind, but as Light.

People arise refreshed, finding surrender is not so hard. We read significant reflections and repeat the mantra of the Light together.

In Hatha, we become aware that our bodies are vehicles for the Light, a Light that both reveals obstacles and also dissolves them. We carry the power of this Light into the day.

And each day during the Course, the Light grows, inside and out.

A promise manifests.

The Divine Light Invocation

The Divine Light Invocation aims at activating the healing forces latent within every one of us. It bring Light to all levels of consciousness, emphasizing the positive side of our nature and taking energy away from the negative – the resentments, complaints and self-pity we hang onto and identify with. Sort out the positive and the negative within yourself. Give emphasis to the positive, go beyond your past mistakes and future fantasies, and fill the mind with positive images. Your practice of the Divine Light Invocation will act as an efficient therapy in three main ways:

Physically: It will have a positive effect on your health because the Light is a healing and regenerating force. by thinking of the Light and by identifying with the Light you stimulate the sustaining and energizing forces within the body. By changing your habitual physical and mental posture, even for a short time, your internal processes are beneficially reactivated.

Mentally: By inviting the activity and influences of the Divine Light, you can restore mental balance and establish a sense of proportion and perspective in your affairs. Working and identifying with the Light helps to dissolve negative thought patterns by emphasizing the positive image of Light.

Spiritually: The mind is trained to understand and perceive the reality and all-pervasiveness of higher forces, of cosmic energy in the form of Divine Light. In the light of the new understanding and growth, identification with the Light is seen to be a basic truth common to all religions.

Instructions

Stand erect, feet shoulder width apart. Keep your eyes closed and focus them on the space between the eyebrows. Lift your arms above your head at the same time as you smoothly and gradually tense the whole body while you inhale. (Your arms should be kept straight and the tension maintained throughout the body.) Hold the tension and the breath. Make the following affirmation to yourself silently, (with all the concentration possible):
I am created by Divine Light.
I am sustained by Divine Light.
I am protected by Divine Light.
I am surrounded by Divine Light.
I am ever growing into Divine Light.
Then slowly lower your arms as you exhale and relax. Keep your eyes closed and use your imagination to see yourself standing in a shower of brilliant while Light. See the Light pouring down upon you, 
flowing into the body through the top of your head, filling your entire being.
Now without raising the arms, keeping them at your sides, tense the body and inhale. Hold the tension and the breath. Mentally repeat the Invocation:

I am created by Divine Light.
I am sustained by Divine Light.
I am protected by Divine Light.
I am surrounded by Divine Light.
I am ever growing into Divine Light.

Slowly exhale and relax. With your arms at the side of the body, concentrate on feeling a warm glow of Light suffuse your entire body, outside as well as inside. Acknowledge silently to yourself:

Every cell of this, my physical body, is filled with Divine Light. Every level of consciousness is illumined with Divine Light. Divine Light penetrates every single cell of my being, every level of consciousness. I have become a channel of pure Light. I am one with the Light.

The Divine Light Invocation is an exercise of will, as well as an act of surrender. Be receptive to the Light and accept that you are now a channel of Divine Light. 

Express your gratitude with deep feeling. Have the desire to share this gift with someone you wish to help. Turn your palms forward.

You can now share the Divine Light with any friend or relative. Keep your eyes closed and visualize him or her standing before you. Mentally open the doors of your heart centre and let the Light stream forth toward the feet of this person. See the Light encircling this person and spiraling up in a clockwise direction, enveloping the body completely. See the spiral moving high up into the sky, taking his or her image along with it.  Finally, the person merges into the source of Light and becomes one with the Light.  (You may even lift your head, following the spiral of Light, keeping your eyes closed.)

When the person has passed from your view, relax and silently give thanks for the opportunity to help someone in need.  (You are now ready to begin over again, putting others into the light in the same way.) 

Via: http://www.yasodhara.org/

Now

BE BRAVE (i love this, it will serve as a reminder)

Via Bryonie Wise, Elephant Journal

on Dec 19, 2012

Be Brave.

“A kind of light spread out from her. And everything changed color. And the world opened out. And a day was good to awaken to. And there were no limits to anything. And the people of the world were good and handsome. And I was not afraid any more.”

~ John Steinbeck, East of Eden

Be brave in your goodbyes and let the tears fall wear they may; invite them to be big and juicy and sprinkle them near and far.

Be brave in your truth and know that in telling it, you will be freed to be you (the real you, the one you’ve met in your dreams).

Be brave and know that being scared is okay and it doesn’t make you weak…in fact, being brave and being scared is the very same thing and it makes you as strong as the sea.

Be brave enough to show your face, to take off your mask, to admit when you are wrong and to look each person you greet in the eye (including yourself).

Be brave and know that that earth will hold you and the stars will love you and the moon and the sun will always shine from your heart.

Be brave and know that you are deserving of a love that’s as big as the universe and that you have a right to be happy, if you so choose.

Be brave and know that when you empty your closets of the skeletons you hid away so carefully, that for awhile it will feel like your world is unraveling (and know, please know, that although this might feel like the end, it’s the very beginning.)

Be brave and know that despite of the sorrow, the endless pit of despair, joy will slowly start to seep in and make a home right there, in that very same place.

Be brave and be human and be kind and be strong.

And most of all…be you.

Why won't everyone understand!

“Eventually you will come to understand that love heals everything, and love is all there is.”

~ Gary Zukav

Time again for gratitude

So many wise ones say you need gratitude to be happy.  I find it hard to be happy during the cold  lonely winters in Calgary.  So, again I come to gratitude:

~ My job stresses me out - I'm happy to have a job (although I know simply having a well-paying job is not everything
~ Most mornings I listen to the World BBC News and often cry

Take a deep breath.

Fill up with life,

and open

To the eternal.

the Connector.

the Sustainer.

the Creator.

Blessed Love -

filling you up,

and you are Light

as a feather,

and everything else

made up of Light.

Amazing Quotes on Gratitude

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

~ Thornton Wilder

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

~ Albert Einstein

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.

~ William Arthur Ward

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

~ John F. Kennedy

There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy.

~ Ralph H. Blum

The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.

~ Richard Bach

Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.

~ Maya Angelou, Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

~ Albert Schweitzer

Forget yesterday—it has already forgotten you. Don’t sweat tomorrow—you haven’t even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift—today.

~ Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life

Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.

~ Alphonse Karr

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

~ William Arthur Ward

If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.

~ Winnie the Pooh

Dare to Be

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

Dare to be the best you can—

At all times, Dare to be!

~ Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free