WAKE UP! ARTIST

Tonia Pinheiro far right, and her drummer, Ukumbwa Sauti, far left

We all have a gift. Some of my readers are writers, painters, parents, priests, and Tai Chi masters. Have you found your gift, and are you serving others with it?

My friend, Tonia Pinheiro, heals, enchants, entertains, and makes the world a better place. I dare say she even works small miracles. In my case she somehow orchestrated a powerful energy shift and it opened up my life in a whole new way. It was in her presence that I met an extraordinary person who would become my Totoro. I apologize that I am not able to elaborate any more right now, because I will be expanding on that in one of my books. But, Totoro is a reference to one of my favorite films of all time. I will be blogging about it in the next post.

Tonia calls herself a Wake Up! Artist. She uses phrases like banquet of music, sanctuary of expression, sound bath, nectar for the soul, and cosmic cabaret. I don’t know about you, but, in an often unsettling world, those words alone bring comfort.

When I go to see her it’s like going back in time. I feel like I am seeing an ancient warrior, or a wise medicine woman. I have never been in a real Indian teepee, but, being near Tonia conjures up that image. I feel at peace just writing about her now.

If you attend one of her events, you’ll sing, dance, chant, sit quietly, and may even be healed. At the end she holds an enormous healing glass bowl over each willing individual. When she taps it a reverberating sound falls over you. The sound goes right to your core. On the other hand, it’s like an out of body experience. It’s mystical.

Tonia are you in there?

I realize an encounter as freeing, and as uncommon as this, may not be for everyone. But, if you want to enhance your journey, widen your path, or give your inner child a safe place to play, go spend a little time with Miss Pinheiro. And, speaking of time, get rid of your alarm clocks. Tonia will wake you!

To connect with Tonia, go to www.wakeupworks.org



WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING ON TO?

Lots of stuff...

For over five years now, I have been promising myself I will get my living space clean and organized. That’s not so easy to do when every item in your life, holds meaning. And, I do mean everything. I have saved all seven ticket stubs from the film Mama Mia. I went to see it three times with Aunty and Gracie, once with my mother and sister, and, a few times with friends. It was such a happy film, I kept going back for more. Those ticket stubs are a reminder of how much fun I had.

I still have a birthday card someone gave me when I turned twenty five! How can I throw away something that says, you make the world a better place? But, one of my favorites in a long list of things I can’t seem to let go of, is the Christmas wrapping paper from a Christmas long ago. I just love knowing that precious paper was wrapped around a gift from my Aunty and Uncle D. However, as my stuff piles up, it might be worth  exploring my deep attachment to these things. 

I will show you a picture of me with a bad hair day, or even Aunty without her wig. I just can’t show you my clutter. But, it’s starting to get in my way.

Now, I am turning to this blog for help. I have repeatedly stated that I think this blog has some magic to it. When I write about wanting to sell my book, I step out and literally see stars all over my balcony. When I say I love the snow, we get a blizzard. So, maybe, if I put it out there that I need some help getting and staying organized this blog will aid me in some way. I hope this post helps you to let go of whatever you are clinging to. Something tells me that underneath all the clutter is an embryo to a more relaxed and balanced way of being.

What are you holding on to? Make way for Feng Shui. Make room to breathe.

Part of my answer could be in my previous post. Larry Rosenberg, my meditation teacher, would surely say….clinging is a cause for suffering.

I think I might be ready to start throwing out the old ticket stubs, even one at a time. And, take some comfort in knowing that no matter how many trash bags I might fill, I can't throw away memories.

TWO WISE MEN AND THREE BRAZIL NUTS...

Saturday, I went to hear two wise men speak, and was handed wisdom on a silver platter. And, just now, I got the clear and distinct message that; it’s all in what I do with that gift. I can look at my notes, think about what I heard, or I can actually start making better choices and paying more attention to how I am living each day, each moment, and become even more aware of how every morsel of what goes into my mouth counts, and has an enormous effect on my health and how I feel.


One of the speakers was Larry Rosenberg, my meditation guru. He happens to be the wisest person I have ever met. I could listen to him speak for hours. I call Larry my Dalai Lama. He injects humor with his wisdom, and he says profound things in simple ways, like “Pay attention to the way you are actually living, with the emphasis on the actually.” He founded the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center…a place that has helped me make significant changes in my life. By guiding me as I cultivate a meditation practice, CIMC is helping me build a sturdy surfboard to ride the waves of life. I start to see things more clearly just walking the path to their door. My feelings are, just about everyone will reap enormous benefits (much more than you can imagine) with a meditation practice. And, one of the things Larry stressed on Saturday was that life itself is practice. There is just as much wisdom and beauty standing in line at the grocery store, or in your personal relationships, as there is on the cushion. Life is practice!

Paul Schulick, a friend of Larry’s, is a master herbalist, founder, and chief formulator of products for NEWCHAPTER Supplements. NEWCHAPTER has been a pioneer in bringing together the wisdom of nature and cutting edge scientific technology. Having tried Paul’s impeccable products, I can assure you it’s true.

Paul center, Larry on right

These two wise men talked about becoming whole through meditation and by carefully selecting what goes into your body. When you eat well, and take proper supplements, you are more relaxed and in a better state to receive any of the benefits of meditation. And when you meditate you are more aware of what does go into your system. It all works to your benefit. According to them, it’s all about deepening and refining our practice, our life. What could be better than that? And, by taking better care of our bodies and minds now, we have a better chance of reducing the pains of old age!


Because these two wonderful men have so much to offer, I highly recommend Larry’s Books

• L. Rosenberg, Breath by Breath: The Liberating Practice of Insight Meditation, Shambhala Publications, 2004. ISBN 1590301366.

• L. Rosenberg and D. Guy, In the Light of Death: On the Art of Being Truly Alive, Shambhala Publications, 2001. ISBN 1570628203

And, Paul’s superior products http://www.newchapter.com/.

One thing that Paul said is he eats three Brazil nuts a day. It may sound funny but, I looked it up and, these nuts are extremely nutrient-rich and contain protein, copper, niacin, magnesium, fiber, vitamin E and selenium. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that works to neutralize dangerous free radicals. A study at the University of Illinois even found that the high amounts of selenium in Brazil nuts may help prevent breast cancer. But, use in moderation, a handful at a time.

To bring this all together, Paul also recommended Qigong, a wonderful form of martial arts I have suggested throughout this blog. I was tickled too, to know that Larry drinks Rishi tea. You know how much I LOVE that product. Practice wise action and order some Dragon Well or White Peony now…. sip, meditate, and blossom!

http://www.rishi-tea.com/

Artwork by the sublime Deedee Hampton http://www.deedeehampton.com/

THE MAGIC IS BREWING...

This blog is currently undergoing a new look. In the mean time, please excuse things like the LARGE FONT at the top, the missing "subscribe" button, and posts spreading so wide across the screen.

We will return as soon as my computer guru gets better.

We have a lot to share with you. I had lunch with two wise men, experienced a full super-moon gong, with Aunty no less, and for all we know, I might be pulling a rabbit out of my hat! It seems to be the general consensus, if anyone can do it, I can.

Thank you so much for following AGELESS WITH AUNTY, where anything is possible...

And, please don't forget to vote for Aunty and me, in the More Beauty Search. Every vote counts. And, you can vote once a day. If we win, we all win, because the prize money will allow me to continue this blog! I give you my word, there is a lot in it for you if you stick around...I have something MAGICAL up my sleeve. Until then....

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ALL PRAISE TO ST. PATRICK...

Happy St. Patrick’s Day…


Not many people know I have a deep longing to go to Ireland…so; I am celebrating this day by first, going to my local bakery for a Green Bagel. Then after I put in a hard day’s work for two (remember, with Aunty’s dementia, I often have to think and do for two) I will sit down to watch Rick Steve’s DVD of Ireland. Throughout the day, I’ll be sipping Irish Breakfast tea, feasting on Irish Soda Bread, and listening to Van Morrison sing.

The only way this day could be any better, is if I were doing all this by the Lakes of Killarney in County Kerry, with my sister Lauren, who has an affinity for all things Irish.

And, to my charitable Ageless Readers please consider making a donation of green to the Japan Relief Fund (http://www.redcross.org/) or text REDCROSS to 90999.