Full Moon and a Castle

Happy Friday, everyone. I just noticed it is almost the Full Moon. So, I decided to write about a Full Moon experience. When Jim and I lived in Santa Barbara, we sometimes attended the full moon drum circle at Knapp's Castle in the Los Padres National Forest. People would arrive around sunset or after 9pm and some would stay until after midnight. After you parked your car, you had to walk around 10 - 15 minutes with the light of the full moon and a flashlight up the hill to Knapp's Castle. It was a mystical experience. If you arrived later in the evening as Jim liked to do, you entered a space filled with people drumming and dancing amongst the ruins of the castle perched high with panoramic views. Some were dressed like hippies which also gave it a certain nostalgic flavor. Frequently, there was the additional treat of watching fire performers. Once you started dancing or drumming and did it for a period of time, you enter a trance like state which is very magical. It is a form of meditation. You feel at peace and one with everything. Yes, you arrive at that meditative state without “those” substances which I don’t ingest. Maybe, we can all start drumming or dancing and have world peace.

Knapp’s Castle was built in 1916. It was a 100 ft. long mansion complete with pipe organ, observatory, servants’ quarters, etc. Now you have the idea of the amazing structure it was. It took 4 years to build and was destroyed just 5 weeks later by a fire. When I read that this amazing mansion was destroyed a little over a month after it was built, made me remember about enjoying the moment because sometimes we don’t even realize how wonderful something is until it is gone. This leads me to the bits of wisdom part of my blog. It’s not a new thought. Remember to enjoy the moment and not wait until this or that to happen before we can enjoy life. We all can find something to be happy about now. Remember not to get stuck in your thoughts that cause you to be unhappy.

As the master of your own mind, remember to live your life with a sense of awareness of being present to appreciate the “now” part of our lives. This is how to live life with joy. Sometimes we get stuck in thoughts that cause you to be unhappy. If you cannot think differently, remember to ask for help from God, Universe, Higher Power, etc. to help you think differently. When you do, you will find whatever was causing you the unhappiness will shift in one way or another.

If you are enjoying reading my blogs, please "follow" me and write comments. Thank you. Wishing you much love and many magical moments. Osha

Please check out my yoga dvd and watch a sample video at http://www.yogawithosharay.com/

Friends

Happy Friday everyone. I made a commttment to write once a week, and it seems the week flies by and it's Friday and I haven't written yet. I never know what I am going to write about. Yesterday was Jim's birthday and he was happy to see all of the birthday wishes on Facebook. I was thinking how wonderful it is that we have so many ways to stay in contact with each other now. Most of us who use our computers or phones to text or email rarely call each other. I am guilty of that as well. I have one friend who says she is not planning to get a computer (I can't even imagine that) she is NOT going to be emailing, tweeting, or facebooking. She said it is too impersonal. But, the magnificent benefit is that we, who do, get to keep in contact with hundreds, if not thousands of friends, acquaintances, family members - and even meet people that become friends. I do call occasionally and have a nice chat on the phone, or in person which is so wonderful. It is a real treat. In the mean time, I am so very happy to be able to stay in touch via these "impersonal ways."

I took the photo of these three old men sitting there in Carpentaria (near Santa Barbara) and they looked so chummy and content. I just love that picture. Gosh, now I am missing living in Santa Barbara. Not only is it so breathtakingly beautiful, but it has such a great dance, yoga, art, and poetry community - oh, and great coffee houses too. Of course, it is fun and exciting to move to new cities and start over meeting people, making friends and finding new favorite places. Okay, getting back to friendships, I think the most important thing is to stay in contact whatever way you prefer, no matter how busy and how much we have to do, our frienship with our family, friends, acquaintances, students, co-workers is important and valuable. Some have found that sending "forwards" when they email is as a way of staying in contact. I especially like it when there is a little personal note too. I must add that I don't like it when someone sends frequent "forwards".

I did promise to add the bits of wisdom I learned along the way. So, here it is: I find that when I remember to release others from the expectations I have of them, I create peace of mind for myself, and it is a true form of love and respect for them. Let people be themselves. Shower them with unconditional love and understanding rather than attack and blame. We have the choice of keeping them in our lives or not. It is not for us to change them. In one of Shirley Maclaine's books, she wrote that when her father was dying he said, "Nothing matters but love." Certainly, not a new revelation, but one we forget and need to be reminded of time and time again. And, that's okay.

Please check out my yoga dvd and watch a sample video at http://www.yogawithosharay.com/
If you are enjoying reading my blogs, please "follow" me and write comments. Thank you. Wishing you much love and many magical moments. Osha

Happy Valentines Day to you and me

It's that time of year again. Hearts, flowers, and chocolate day, known as Valentine's Day, and it's round the corner. I guess this is another one of those holidays which can be depressing. We all know how we are going to celebrate Valentine's Day if we have that someone special in our lives.  But, what about those who don't. What about doing something special just for you? You know, all the self-help books tell us to do that, but are you? When I started taking time weekly to treat myself to something special, I had trouble deciding what to do.  Let's see about listing some ideas here. You know, "special" can be just finding a comfortable place, indoors or out, to just sit and "be." I find that very enjoyable because I am usually in the "do" mode. Just sitting in quiet observation is so peaceful and I find that to be a real treat. Okay, I am going to just ramble some ideas off now. Going to the movies - yes by myself, eating dessert out, eating lox and bagels out, eating sushi out - okay, enough about eating out. I love being in Borders with a stack of magazines or books, and a cappuccino. Taking a walk in nature in silence and really seeing everything without any judgment. Visiting with a friend on the phone or in person.  Getting under the covers and reading a good book. Looking in a cookbook, finding a new recipe, getting the ingredients and making something yummy. Taking in the sights as a tourist in my own town. Signing up for a class and learning something new. Joining a book club. Laying down with an eyepillow, headset, and listening to a meditation or visulization c.d.  Going shopping and buying something that gives me joy just looking at it. Listening to music in my home and dancing as if no one is watching! Having you in my life is special! Happy Valentine's Day everyone:)
See sample video of my yoga dvd
 http://www.youcandoityoga.com/  or http://www.yogawithosharay.com/  

Birthdays and Reflections

Happy Birthday to my dear daughter Monica who is now 37 years old today - oh my! And...she is my youngest. Monica is mother to two adorable daughters, Ruby who is almost two and Maezy who was born January 5th. Yes, we all agree the years just fly by and one day your babies have babies of their own. I am reflecting on how I could have done things differently, but what is most important is that I continue to grow and learn from my experiences. There is the expression "older and wiser," but that is not necessarily true. I certainly know my share of old "unwise" people. Why is that? I think it is about having the intention of becoming more enlightened. Of course, not everyone uses that particular word, but you know what I'm talking about. I almost always remember to ask myself the question "What am I learning when I'm having experiences I consider to be negative?" I do my best to remember I created that experience and own it rather than blaming others. Once I own it, and take responsibility for creating the experience so I can learn from it, then I notice I either have less of those experiences or don't have any more at all. Once an experience is learned, I don't have to create it anymore. It is amazing and true for all. "You Can Do It." Millions of magical moments, Osha

See sample of my yoga dvd http://www.youcandoityoga.com/ http://www.yogawithosharay.com/