End of Summer Yoga with Ashley

To all the Cats and Dogs who love to do Downward Dog and Cat alike~ I have some fun yoga concepts to introduce around town and hope you can join in when it works for you! Also, I'm sub-teaching at numerous studios so KIT via facebook for updates if I send out a last minute change to my schedule!

Matisyahu at the Moore

Saturday night was like going to the temple, or synagogue of higher consciousness. I went to hear and dance to the music of Matisyahu. Such an incredible upliftment of light and love via sound.

These past months, I have been so fully focused on the spirit which is all around me, I am in such a different mind and body space than I can remember from the past. I have been on my path of continual self development, every day meditating, working more fully for the goal ahead of me, while trying to remain present in all that I do and all of the people sharing their presence with me.

I have cherished those who have come into my life, on this ever continually changing path to learning more about myself through other's influence. Most recently, it has been so aparent that all who are coming into my life at every point in every day, are coming for a greater reason. I have been open-eyed with astonishment that each time I am graced by the presence of someone for even a short moment, such as a conversation on the bus, or catching eyes as we pass along the street, I know it is a gifts shared by those influenced by the spirit within and all around us. I am acceptant of these lessons and I give thanks to all who are sharing the light and love of the spirit.

At this moment, I am in gratitude once again for the sound of music, the dub base which reverberates through my ears, my stomach and my chest. I give thanks to the honesty and the beauty of this musician who has shared his path of struggle and triumph with us all through his music. Like this song's lyrics, I feel the spirit in my body, in my chest like lightning.

To those who are continually sharing this light and love, I welcome you into my life at present for all the gifts I will share with you and embrace the gifts you share with gratitude and love. May my loved ones from paths and lives past if we have departed, continue to come back into my life at present, I welcome you with open arms, heart, mind, body and soul.

Yiggi Yiggi yo! Yiggi Yiggi Yo!

http://www.matisyahuworld.com/

King Without a Crown Lyrics:

See you're all that I have and you're all that I need
Each and every day I pray to get to know you please
I want to be close to you, yes I'm so hungry
You're like water for my soul when it gets thirsty
Without you there's no me
You're the air that I breathe
So sometimes the world is dark and I just can't see
With these, demons surround all around to bring me down to negativity
But I believe, yes I believe, I said I believe
I'll stand on my own two feet
Won't be brought down on one knee
Fight with all of my might and get these demons to flee
Hashem's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Hashem's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Out of darkness comes light, twilight unto the heights
Crown Heights ya burnin' up all through till twilight
Said, thank you to my God, now I finally got it right
And I'll fight with all of my heart, and all a' my soul, and all a' my might


What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being and I
Sing to my God, songs of love and healing
I want Moshiach now, time we start revealing
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being and I
Sing to my God, songs of love and healing
I want Moshiach now


Strip away the layers and reveal your soul
You got to give yourself up and then you become whole
You're a slave to yourself and you don't even know
You want to live the fast life but your brain moves slow
If you're trying to stay high, ya bound to stay low
You want God but you couldn't deflate your ego
If you're already there then there's nowhere to go
If you're cup's already full then its bound to overflow
If you're drowning in the water's and you can't stay afloat
Ask Hashem for mercy, and he'll throw you a rope
You're looking for help from God you say he couldn't be found
Searching up to the sky and looking beneath the ground
Like a King without his Crown
You keep fallin' down
You really want to live but can't get rid of your frown
Tried to reach unto the heights and wound bound down on the ground
Given up your pride and the you heard a sound
Out of night comes day and out of day comes light
Nullified to the One like sunlight in a ray,
Makin' room for his love and a fire gone blaze
Makin' room for his love and a fire gone blaze


What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being and I
Sing to my God, songs of love and healing
I want Moshiach now, time we start revealing
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a skylight in the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being and I
Sing to my God, songs of love and healing
Yo


I lift up my eyes where my help come from
Seen it circling around from the mountain
Thunder!
You feel it in your chest
You keep my mind at ease and my soul at rest
And I look to the sky where my help come from
Seen it circling around from the mountain
Thunder!
You feel it in your chest


Say thunder, you feel it in you, i feel it in you
Thunder you feel it in you, i feel it in you
Thunder you feel it in you, i feel it in you


What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
I give myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my God,

early morning awakeness

So this morning I awoke 2 hours before my alarm with a more clear mind than the fog I am used to finding myself within. This awake-ness is uncommon to me at any time that I am brought back from my dream world. An urgency to come back to ground, but nothing pressing to do, no commitments to others or myself, other than to start my day.

I began my normal routine:

walk like a zombie to put a pot of water to boil and start my day with a cup of tea
roll around on the ground a bit *my version of morning yoga and a poor girls’ massage
open the blinds to the light of the sun,
light the floral incense sending my prayers to God within and all around,
rock in my chair which rocks,
tap the singing bowl which sings,
guide the wind chime to meet the other hanging limbs of former bamboo trees, *grateful that they are now a part of my home so far from their former home
open my door facing East to start my day on the mat giving namaskara to rising surya
feel the sun rays warmly on my fingertips as the energy flows through me
give thanks to this early morning

Thank you for this early morning
for it transforms the *stuck which I feel each day I awake, into a reason to continue forward on this path

Thank you to all my spirit guides whom I may not know of you from this lifetime, and have forgotten from the many lifetimes we have traveled together. Thank you to my ancestors for planting your seed which continues to grow through me. Thank you to my family who has been through the years of this lifetime with me, and for the wisdom of my grandparents past and present. Oh sherm, thank you for visiting me in the morning of my early awakeness, for the songs you share and continue to speak through to me. I know you are with me in the night when I am alone, when I sleep we meet up again in that etheral world of consciousness, and when I awake, I know you continue to guide and protect me as I travel through this human existance. Thank you to the children who bring shining rays of light back into my life to remind me that we are connected to God. When we honor the presence of the child, there is no difference from that innocent child energy and the energy of the sun God consciousness: joyful, energetic, continual growth, vibrant light.

darkness into light

One year ago Saturday, July 17, was the aniversary of Sherm's passing. The entire previous week, and even month, has been a heinsight 20/20 of how 365 days later we can find ourselves in the same place of location, within the same season and sometimes amongst the same people, but perhaps things are different or perhaps things are the same in some ways.

This past month of returning to Seattle, I knew would be marked by difficulties coming back to a place where I left while I was in such a mentally clouded and dark place. Anyone who knows me and unfortunately at that time, may have just met me, would have seen the light dimming in my eyes. I know that I was not my brilliant, shining full of life and love self during that time.

The heartache which I felt so deeply after the loss of my dear loved one was overwhelming. It was not until seperating myself from this place, and taking time to get back to my self in a space surrounded by healing mountains, the gentle peace which the Winter snow brings, my loving family surrounding me, and my every day dedication to come out of the misery and back into the joy of life, has brought me back here to Seattle.

Ready once again with passion, excitement and energy to share my light and love with all. I had to be reminded of my connection to the spirit all around me when I returned. Accepting that not all that happens is by coincidence and that some things are clear ahead of us if we pay attention to our dreams, the de-ja vus and most especially the music which shines through with a clear message.

This past month was a reminder of how life continues onward, how we are continuing in the life of existance even though we may be in a state of darkness, sadness, suffering, or depression. There is light all around our existance, and there are messangers in our life to share this light and love. Unless we are open to the light and love that is being shared, we will not come out of our darkness.

Saturday was spent walking in the sunshine, embracing the beauty of the day, the water by the lake, the cleansing feeling of not needing to do anything, or be anywhere but present.

Sunday as I walked down the hill, the sun was shining, piercing through the buildings eminating the glorious rays of light into the concrete jungle which we reside. A day, a weekend, a season in the sun ~ I am embraced by this brilliant light. Rays upon my skin as the sun lowered in to the western sky, I feel the golden heat of that ball of orange yellow in that big blue sky. My arms spread wide, I embraced the light of the sun, taking in big full breaths of the prana - lifeforce energy all around me.

Last night, the Avett Brothers sang a list of songs which I felt at the time were singing to my heart and soul (see previous set list and listen, you will understand the words which I cannot fully express). Overall, I was reminded that love is painful and blissful at the same time. It is worth all of this as long as we are learning more about ourselves along the way and being grateful for the moments shared with the other.

I wrote these words in my journal last night after the show:
When I hear songs about love, and my lost union with my loved one, of course I think back to the most recent love lost. I'm still holding on, not letting go and why? Is it because the love was so true? That it was true love but for whatever reason we are currently seperated? I beleve that we are never quite seperated once a love has been in our life. We are forever influenced by this person in our life, by the love which was shared in our life. I will forever believe this about all of my loves lost. They serve their purpose for the moment, then the moment continues on the path as it is supposed to.

As my lady cab driver drove down the ridgeline we saw in the distance the half moon shining orange in the sky and I was reminded of the connection between the sun and the moon. I came home and wrote for hours about my understanding of love, the sun and moon, and the light and love which is all around. This is what ensued:

Presently I am here, and you are there, our bodies no longer sharing the space in relative proximity, every day and every night. Neither our words nor our eyes share the encounter of proximity; I feel as though you and I are not apart. Just as I am not apart from the tree which grows outside my front porch, or the sun which shines through my windows as I lift my arms up to feel the rays of light in the morning. I am a part of all which is surrounding, near and far. You are a part of this shining light. We are all basking in the sun giving thanks and praises. Even during the months of clouds and darkness surrounding, the sun continues to shine. We are blessed by this forever light.

The night comes and the moon, in its orange glow, reflects the sun, shining brightly above. Within the night of darkness, we are guided by the light of the moon. But once again, as the night slowly returns to day, we lose sight of the light and eventually comes an even greater darkness. It is during the night in the most dark of places, when the moon is no longer in sight, that our eyes can see the simple sparkle of the shimmering lights even more brightly, more clearly than before. The stars ignite a curiosity as they twinkle gently from a far and once again, we are in gratitude for the darkness. Staring beyond, the lights of the universe weave wonder into our minds of what other worlds may be, beyond our simple state of existence. The connectedness is even stronger out here in the darkness, from you to me, and from me to you. From you to that star and that star back to me. It is no wonder why the energy is transmitted through the stars and reflected by the moon: so vibrant and full of life that they sustain this prana through which we are all intertwined.

You are the light of the shining sun by day, and I graciously reflect the light by night as an orange moon. A namaskara to the surya (sun) and the chandra (moon) I give thanks and praises. I embrace the light, I take it in and I share it in return with all surrounding me. Any darkness, and negativity, I shield from my existence, though I shower that energy with an asha of peace and love. Inhaling deeply and exhaling wide, I open my heart and my soul to all, though I know there are only few who will understand this brilliance, so I must gently share only pieces of myself at a time.

This light can also be dimmed by other forces and sometimes may come close to being suffocated by dark, black holes. I hope that even when the force of that dark energy is drawing us closer, it can only make our light dim to the point that we remember, once again, our brilliance. We can shine brightly into the energy of the darkness and transform it into light. We have the power within ourselves to shine more brightly than the darkness of a black hole.

We are like the stars surrounding our earthly bodies and planet. We are amongst each other without planning, without complete understanding for the reason at this time. We are astral beings within a stellar universe of energy that has, and always will be interconnected. Alone we shine brightly, but together we create a configuration of shapes as a constellation. It is special when we surround ourselves with other brilliant beings. We may be luminous alone during the day, as the one shining star illuminating our Earth giving warmth and creating life. We shine even more brightly within the darkness of the universal sky when combined with the light and energy of those around. We must choose careful those we surround ourselves with to reflect our shining light, though just like shining rays of the sun, our light and love will be transmitted to all who surround us. May we always be surrounded by and go in the direction of the light, for as you have shared once before, even in the darkness, you are bright.

My morning meditation today was a reminder of the light and the darkness which is all around. It is ironic when we need to learn something once again, it becomes clear all around us that this is our lesson. Pema Chondron reminds me of the Tonglen way - a meditation to breathe in the pain and acknowledge suffering of the world, acknowledge my own fears and sufferings, then when breathing out, open up and connect with the feelings of joy, well-being, satisfaction, tender heartedness, fresh, clean, wholesome goodness.

I find it ever so "on the path" that today while listening to the radio, it was as though all the songs needed to be heard by my ears: http://www.kexp.org/playlist/playlist.aspx
* the song that would be the KEXP song of the day - is by Sebastian Blanck << Don’t Let The Darkness Gather Me>>
*the Who "Mary Anne and the Shakey Hand"
*Spoon "I saw the light"
*Curtis Mayfield "Trippin out" (cont) "over you Babe"
*Noah and the Whale "5 years time" with lyrics I am on my way back to where I started
*Band of Horses "Everything all the Time" ending with lyrics there will be fun fun fun, and there was sun sun sun all over our bodies!
*and ending with a little Tegan and Sara "back in your head" "I just want back into your head"

With my every morning meditaion I take the Bodhisattva vow to become fearless enough to help others, acknowledging my own fear but aspiring to have my hearts wake up completly.

Every morning I meditate with the rising sun, and every evening I process the deja-vus and coincidences of my day before I can slip into the slumber of the dream world connection with the divine. It is here that I find the peace of the darkness and allow my self to truly be connected to the spirit within and all around.

Blessings of light and love

Sounds and Energetic movement

Avett Brothers Seattle Paramount 7.18.10
the set list:

1. Go To Sleep
2. And It Spreads
3. The Lowering
4. Shame
5. DDD
6. Skin and Bones
7. Head Full of Doubt
9. Denouncing
10. SSS
11. TinMan
12. The Fall
13. I&L&Y
14. Jan Wedding
15. Glisten Shine
16. Average People
17. I'll With Want
18. Paranoia
19. Sallys Lover
20. PGfCL
21. Colorshow
ENCORE
21. Murdered in the City
22. Kickdrum Heart

No words to share, the sound of voices singing and instruments moving the energy is all that needs to be communicated

http://www.theavettbrothers.com/us/home

Phoenix Rising Above the Ashes

Rise Above, Burn it down…. LIVING FIRE

I have strongly claimed my 25% Mexican blood since childhood having spent with my extended Mexican family….My Lita Tillie Padilla would be proud of her Blonde Mi hija **as a child I was naturally blonde ;)

So last night I attended a SIFF movie called “Backyard”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebPEc9IGT4Q

There have been others of this genre which depict the struggles of border life and Mexican people wanting to make a better life for themselves, such as La Misma Luna Under the Same Moon). And other films such as Maria Full of Grace or Traffic which portray the drug industry of Mexico and the US involvement.

This film “Backyard” illustrates in full graphic display, the vicious impact our continued denial of involvement as so called “American Citizens” has on our neighbors to the south, our “Backyard.” It takes a spin on the over-popularized condemnation of the drug industry to show that for some unknown reason, WOMEN are being kidnapped, tortured, raped, and not just killed but slaughtered only miles from our secured borders.

This film was about the missing and murdered women in Juarez, Mexico which has been going on for over a shocking 14 years. I was one of the ignorant many who read a headline in our New York Times, or kept up to current event of the NPR news at the time, but as with any sensational media, this coverage has reduced, and I lost focus on the issue.

It couldn’t have been a more perfect timing of this movie to be released and the current issues of my beloved home state (mind the sarcasm) of Arizona. Living there and seeing these problems escalate within our state from ring-side-view, all the other states are thinking how could this happen that Arizona is now doing this? Well this is why I moved away, these issues have been going on since my teens, back to when these issues in Juarez were being publicized but our government and society of the US seems to be removed because of a BORDER.

These escalated problems are created by fear
*Fear of our control being taken away as so-called “US Citizens”
*Fear of being less powerful than any other nation
*Fear of “those people” taking our JOBS – that US Citizens won’t even do because of their sur-real MTV world concept of themselves. Check out www.dirtyscottsdale.com and you’ll perhaps understand that the 30 thousand dollar millionaires of John McCain and Janet Brewer’s infamous Scottsdale are the ones making the choices for this state – absolutely frightening!

Even more frightening now, is the FEAR of KIDNAPPING, RAPE, MURDER. On both sides of the border we are in a fear

* US Citizens are putting up borders in fear that Mexican Illegal Immigrants are the reason for our higher crime rates of drug, rape, murder, etc… but check out our country’s two highest murder cities – far removed from the Mexican borders – Detroit and Chicago. Does this mean we need to be fearfully monitoring our border of Canada to the North?

*As this film shows, our impact as a US society’s NEED for goods at a CHEEP COST- immigrant workers and laborers who will work for pennies, OUR “American people’s” need for drugs, OUR “American people’s” need for prostitution, OUR American government’s need for power and corruption to continue the deception of the “American People”

We Arizonans who believe in social welfare, education and shockingly care about the welfare of our neighbors to the south (unlike the obvious population creating the current hoopla) knew that the leave of our Governor Janet Napolitano to join the Obama Administration would be an unfortunate defeat overall for Arizona’s government. And what’ll ya know…it allowed Arizona’s Secretary of State Janet Brewer to come into office out of succession, under Arizona’s Senator McCain. To think, this mentality of a person, influencing the laws of Arizona, which are shaking up our nation, could have been our President! THANK GOD ABOVE THAT HE WASN’T ELECTED OUR PRESIDENT.

Anyone with a pulse in Maricopa County knows of Sheriff Joe’s Shenanigans (sooo many thanks to our local New Times http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/specialReports/view/1166737 for the continued front page media of his never ending escapades).

Far too many years have we as progressive voters opposed his tactics, trying to give him the boot, yet all of those blinded old bats in Sun City and 30-thousand-dollar-millionaires of Slutty Scottsdale CONTINUALLY dismiss his antics. It is SCHOCKING that he continually gets reelected to be our Sheriff with his posse of renegades!!!

To further this saga of Arizona, we now have a law passed by these lawmakers in denial of the truth. How have we let this go on Arizona? I will admit my need to “get out” of Arizona because I was not surrounded by like-minded people who I felt were making a difference. I came to a Mecca of pc minded, sustainable and organic here in Seattle, but my “heart bleeds for you” Arizona, as was stated in “Backyard”

For a deeper look at the Senate Bill 1070 in it’s full glory of Legal jargon, here you go:
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf

The article in the NY Times expresses the Napolitano-Brewer-McCain political struggles for Arizona.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/us/politics/24immig.html

We activists have talked the talk….now we MUST walk the walk……
IT IS TIME TO RISE ABOVE…

Keep connected if you are a passionate, involved person wanting to collaborate for change… AshaVie - find the start up fan page on Facebook and blog: www.ashavieorg.blogspot.com or email ashavie@gmail.com

As a loved one has inscribed forever on his arm…….
Rise Above, Burn it Down: LIVING FIRE
Bless!

Sooooo excited about numerous projects in the works.

Check out my new blog/ facebook page for Asha Vie and soon to come BanyanTri. Collaboration & support for these projects is my intention at present. Very content with the way things are going, thanks to the spirit guidance at every moment.

Om Ganesha Namaha. (may the obstacles be removed)
May I continue to be on the path, guided God within and all around.