I am so blissed out! I made a conscious choice to do things which bring more joy into my life and the more I participate in those activities, the better I feel. By choosing to be happy and in a state of love and joy as often as possible, I find my life has a blissful and blessed rhythm and flow to it which has not only awakened me to my highest potential, but aligns me with my highest good and thus I am seeing much greater synchronicity in my life. After all, we are creators of our universe, in an interconnected web of life. The more we choose to be in a state of love, joy, and bliss, the more it comes into our lives in the form of uplifting experiences and like-minded people. The more you give, the more you get. So I shall share some of these blissful activities in hopes that you, my beloved reader, shall in turn share your ideas. What a beautiful way to love each other. Right?
1.) Using your creativity/artistic endeavours: we are all creators and it is important to utilize this artistic nature in a playful way. Set your angsty/perfectionistic artist aside and let your inner child play and create. Paint, draw, sculpt… take out crayons or finger paints and just have fun!
2.) Music: listen to something inspiring and feel your spirits lift!
3.) Movies: hopefully by now you have a few all-time favourites which bring a smile to your face, or inspire you; watch them!
4.) Laughter: is the best medicine! There is nothing like laughter to make you feel good! I highly recommend belly laughing to raise your vibration quickly and renew your sense of joy. By the way, I laugh all the time! I now awaken laughing! haha
5.) Books: I have been a book lover since I was a young child. I love to immerse myself in a great story which inspires or transports me into a great fantasy. I have to believe this aids in visualization skills as well, and thus my ability to create.
6.) Dance: You know that expression, “dance like nobody’s watching”? Yes! Do! I dance daily and it makes me so happy! I dance around the house, and even dance in my car! You know? At stoplights and such! 
7.) Exercise/yoga: I believe that there is a form of exercise out there for everybody! There are so many ways to move the body. Find something you enjoy and do it today. Your body will thank you by pumping out endorphins which will make you feel really good! Besides, when you look good, you feel good!
8.) Meditation: are you meditating yet? You’ll be really glad that you did! It will ground and center you, make you feel peaceful and will get you in tune with your inner guidance system so that you can follow your intuition. You can read my post on meditation to help get you started or google ‘meditation’ as there are plenty of resources available.
9.) Sing: in the shower, in the car, wherever! Sing loud and proud and tell me it doesn’t make you happy!
10.) Breath work: sit with a straight spine and just breathe into your core. Even just stopping during the day to take three deep, thoughtful breathes, will help to center you and make you feel peaceful and at ease.
11.) Affirmations/mindful thinking: it is very important to be aware of your thinking because what you think and put out there in word and thought, is what you in turn create in your life. Purposefully begin monitoring your thinking and replace negative thoughts, ie “Bad things always happen to me,” with positive thoughts such as “My life is blessed beyond measure.”
This takes some work, but reprogramming your subconscious mind will change your life.
12.) Gratitude/being thankful: spend some time everyday to appreciate what you do have in your life. Call or write a friend and thank them for their loving presence in your life. This will bring about a sense of joy in you and them! Being in gratitude is an important and powerful practice which will bring about even more things for which to be grateful.
13.) Hot bath/spa/jacuzzi/hot tub: soaking in hot water is bliss!
14.) Massage/Acupuncture: getting a massage or acupuncture is such a gift to yourself. It’ll relax your body, destress you and bring about wellness. Besides, it feels amazing!
15.) Aromatherapy: there are many scents out there, so find the ones which you enjoy. Use high quality, essential oils to perk you up or relax you. Place a couple of drops in a hot bath, or to scent your linens (lavender is great for relaxation).
16.) Turn off the television: so much of what is in the media tends to be fear-based, and out of this fear, one feels the need to watch even more, bringing one into a negative spiral. Turn it off! I’m not saying to tune out what is happening in the world, but do not be driven by the negativity put out by the media at large.
17.) Reconnect with nature/gardening: go outside! Take off your shoes and feel the Earth beneath your feet. Dig down and get your hands dirty! Go to the mountains, beach, or a local park. Love and admire the trees, plants, flowers, and birds chirping and feel that interconnectedness with all that is and ever will be, allowing that love to be returned. It will remind you of who you are and of what you are capable.
18.) Watch a sunrise/sunset/moon and star gaze:go outside and look up! Watching the sunrise, or sunset brings such a powerful sense of bliss for me. I also love to honour the moon, stars and heavens above. It’s a wonderous place, this planet we call our home; and I feel that by appreciating it I am reconnecting with source.
19.) Cooking/baking: creating beautifully prepared meals with love is a fantastic way to bring more joy into your life, as is baking. There’s something so centering and loving about these activities and it makes me happy!
20.) Eating: I love a great meal! Especially when it involves fresh fruits, vegetables and other such ingredients which have been specially prepared with love (yes, I really believe the ‘love factor’ is key).
21.) Chocolate: Mmmmmmmmmmmmm chocolate! 
22.) Smiling at strangers/random acts of kindness: it makes my heart sing to share smiles with strangers. And random acts of kindness! Have you tried it lately? One of my favourites has always been to pay for the car behind me when I cross the Golden Gate Bridge. I try to take off before they can thank me! Although, I secretly (in a lovingly detached way) hope they pass it on to the car behind them! Find a way to be a blessing in another’s life.
23.) Being around loved ones: share quality time with your favourite people!
24.) Sharing ideas/thoughts/beliefs: in a loving way, will lift spirits and inspire!
25.) Pets: spending time with furry family members is such a blessed gift!
26.) Donate: time, money, things to your community and feel a sense of purpose and meaning, because giving back is a blessed experience and a gift to yourself.
27.) myspace: haha! what?!?! I know! The friends I have found on myspace are such an amazing gift! I am Loving, Learning and Laughing so much! I highly recommend it! It’s a way to connect with like-minded individuals from around the globe.
28.) Take a drive: roadtrips are such fun! Rediscover a neighboring town, take a drive up the coast, or up into the mountains. Roll your windows down, put on your favourite music and enjoy!
29.) Traveling: I am passionate about traveling to new places and learning about the food, language and customs of the culture. Learning from other societies is a treasured gift!
30.) Make Love: need I say more?
So many blessings to you dear friends. I hope that you use these methods, or your own, to let your heart spirit soar!
Please share your favourite blissful activity with me and fellow readers. Thank you!!!
I have spring fever! How can one not? Of course it does not help that my mom keeps sending me pictures of her early blooming garden, which I am sharing here with you in this post. Mother Earth is stirring from her slumber, and we too feel the need to shake off the winter’s state of inertia to get up, get out and do something! As I watched two beautiful hummingbirds dance their way around my backyard this morning, the squirrels in the treetops, and birds searching for nesting material, I felt it was finally here. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it is rapidly approaching and will be marked by the spring/vernal equinox on 20 March. The following day is Ostara, Good Friday and a full moon, called The Seed Moon. Then on Sunday is Easter. What do all of these have in common? Let’s take a look.
Spring/vernal equinox (“equal night”) occurs when the sun is positioned above the equator and thus day and night stand in perfect balance, with light on the increase. It marks the beginning of spring, when light conquers darkness (also symbolized as life overtaking death). It appears to be the oldest celebration in the history of the world. The earliest reference to which comes from Babylon, 2400 BCE. Also, the early Egyptians built the Great Sphinx so that it points directly toward the rising Sun on the day of the vernal equinox.
Ostara is the Pagan fertility celebration in honour of the Saxon Lunar Goddess of fertility, Eostre (from which we get the word estrogen, and most likely the word Easter). The young Sun God now celebrates a sacred marriage to the young Maiden Goddess, who now conceives, and in nine months will become the Great Mother. There are a few theories about how she became associated with the hare and eggs. The reference most commonly found is that her worshippers saw a hare in the full moon and the eggs symbolize her fertility. The legend I find sweet says that while entertaining a group of children, she turned a bird into a rabbit. To the amusement of the children, the bewitched animal laid colored eggs. (Ohh ho ho, you see how it’s all coming together now, right? It gets better!)
Setting Eostre’s story aside, let us take a quick look at the symbolism of eggs, which have been the symbols for rebirth and fertility for so long, it could easily date back to the beginning of time. It was certainly used by the Ancient Romans and Greeks. The egg white represents the all-encompassing nature of the Goddess, while the yolk symbolizes the virile qualities of the Sun god. The two are bound together by the symmetrical outer shell, sealing their fertility and perfect love for each other. Let us then take the symbolism one step further and suggest that seeds, being embryonic and shell-covered, are egg-like in nature. Pretty interesting considering that the full moon in March is called The Seed Moon.
It has been well documented that the Christian church incorporated Pagan practices into Christian festivals. Easter, which is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon, is one of those holidays. I know that some Christian groups have denounced Easter specifically because of its Pagan roots. I personally do not feel comfortable equating the rebirth of Jesus with the rebirth of Mother Earth alone. It is up to you readers to have your own interpretations. I will say that the concept of the Easter bunny was brought over to America from Germany. On the German celebration of Oschter Haws, a bunny brings colored eggs for all of the children to discover the following morning.
It is very rare that the equinox, full moon, Ostara, and Easter all fall together so closely. Whatever your religious beliefs, I hope that you will welcome spring by doing something special. Whether you choose to utilize this renewed energy by attending a church service which inspires your spiritual side, by plant seeds and new life into your garden, or expressing your creative energy in your favorite artistic endeavors, I hope that you focus upon an expression which betters your life and brings you more into harmony with nature and humankind. Many blessings to you all.
The first time I saw the Foo, I was in my early twenties and they were new on the circuit. A girlfriend and I had become quick fans and were excited to see them perform in an all-day music festival put on by a local Bay Area (Northern California) radio station. They had just begun touring and, to put it nicely, the objection went something like, “Dude. The drummer of Nirvana has a band?” Man, were they ever wrong. (Not to mention untrue, fans, since Dave totally wrote and sang for Nirvana! Hello?) But those putting on the concert knew what they were doing, even if they had to put them up really early in the show when attendance was pathetically low. Down in front, my girlfriend and I didn’t care about that which was or wasn’t around us as we sang along, danced and cheered. Dave Grohl was kind enough to notice and commented, “Thank you! Thank you *both* very much.” Anytime, Dave! You’ve been inside my head and rocking my world for many years. I just wish I had seen you drum for Queens of the Stone Age! Darn it!
My excitement at going to see the Foo Fighters at the Forum (Los Angeles) was palpable, and, perhaps a bit annoying to my friends. Sorry!!! I’ve been a fan for twelve, going on thirteen years and have not seen them perform for two long years! Besides I’ve been listening to Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace (their latest, Grammy Award winning album) endlessly since its release. I had heard that they rocked for over two hours the prior night, as they were playing two sold-out shows back to back, and wondered if they could bring it a second night.
The show was opened by Serj Tankian, the Lebanese-born, Armenian-American poet who was the voice of alternative hard rock band, System Of A Down. I friggin’ love System and was disappointed when they took their “extended hiatus” in August of 2006. Both System and Tankian’s solo debut album, Elect the Dead, is music with a conscience and a message. There were many fans in the audience, and a good energy went out as he performed songs such as “Empty Walls”, “The Unthinking Majority” and “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition” a great commentary on the hypocrisy of our existing government officials. (Not naming names here, Bush. Haha. Oops!) Check out Tankian when he tours with Rage Against the Machine’s guitarist Tom Morello in their Axis of Justice Tour beginning this Spring 2008. The Justice Tour celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights and encourages grass roots and national political and social causes. I guarantee it’ll be a great show!
As we waited for the Foo to take the stage, a very bizarre thing happened. Now let me say that I was not down on the floor, as I usually am, but about ten rows up in the first section. The Forum, located in Inglewood, CA near LAX, seats 18,000 people by a somewhat precarious construction in a tightly raised form guaranteed to give anyone vertigo, and better traversed in sobriety. So, I am sitting anticipating the Foo one moment and had a young, attractive brunette in my lap the next. WTF?!?! It was her skull smacking into my knee that registered first. Then, the realization that I had a woman lying across me, her head in my lap. She looked up at me, more dazed than embarrassed. Her girlfriend was only minorly less inebriated, so we had to assist in getting them to safety. The guy next to me said, “I think you saved her life! Had you not been there, she would have kept flying!” I looked at the empty seats in front of me and realized what he was saying. Dude!!! Suddenly my bruised knee didn’t seem too big a price to pay!
Finally the Foo took the stage in a rousing rendition of “Let It Die”. They had come to Rock, and Rock they did! Next up was their popular single “Pretender” as Dave expertly covered the stage and engaged the audience. Dave, dude, you have come a long way and you Jammed So hard! Beautiful! They played “Long Road to Ruin”, “This Is A Call”, “Times Like These”, “Best of You”, “Learning to Fly” amongst others. Old, new (and yet to be released, but since they will be touring all of this year the next album will probably not be released until mid-2009 
) and even some guitar jammin’. Jessy Greene was fantastic on violin, cello and singing a duet with Dave. Mr.Kilmister, lead singer of Motorhead, was the guest performer. My favorites were the acoustic version of “Everlong” and a treat, Prince’s “Darling Nikki”, which Dave swears they have not played in ages and only play in Los Angeles. Home advantage! And well deserved, because the crowd was electric! GO LA!!! We fuckin’ Rocked it too! You know I did!
The art of meditation was introduced to me as a very young child. I remember being completely fascinated by the practice of an Indian woman who lived next door to us when I was about eight. I would carefully tip-toe around her as she sat in the lotus position, meditating. Then I was told that I could trumpet my way past her and not disturb her, as she had been meditating all of her life. Haha, now I was really curious! Where did she go? I could see her there, so how could she not hear me walking right by her?
Despite this fascination, it took me until a few of years ago to actually begin practicing meditation regularly. I have yet to become so adept that one could trumpet about and not disturb me, but I am able to go deeper all the time and finally understand where she went. By quieting my busy mind, I am able to focus upon myself in the moment, experiencing my thoughts in a subjective way, acknowledging, then releasing them.
I have made it a daily practice because it makes such a big difference in my life. I discovered this at a time when I was working on television and movie sets. I recognized that if I began my day with at least ten to twenty minutes of meditation, the entire day went more smoothly and so did my interactions with others. My daily commute through Los Angeles traffic was less harried. The ten to fifteen hour days on sets were more manageable. I was more grounded, centered, and had an inner peace I had not experienced before.
There are many forms of meditation. I personally use different forms from day to day, because it is what works best for me. The first form that worked well for me, to which I most frequently return, is open-eyed meditation. In the lotus position, I focus upon a candle flame. This is concentration meditation, using a target to keep one anchored in the present moment. I find this the best method for centering myself and allowing myself to be in expanded consciousness and in the present moment. Another great one for the beginner is to get comfortable sitting or lying down (the key is to have a straightened back) and just to focus upon your breath, which is called mindfulness meditation. The intention is not to be focused, but mindful of the thoughts as they pass through. You still use breath as an anchor to the present moment, but no attempt is made to direct the attention.
Why are you going to set aside at least ten minutes a day to do this? Because the benefits are so numerous, it’s easy, it’s free, it can be done almost anywhere, and it’s going to make you feel really good. Meditation is going to make you feel grounded, less reactive, your interactions with others will become more harmonious, you will feel happier, less stressed, and you will have a greater sense of inner peace, as well as a knowledge of who you are.
Still not convinced? Let’s take a quick look at the numerous health benefits then, shall we? Did I mention less stress, depression and anxiety? This is because meditation shifts brain activity from the stress-prone right frontal cortex to the calmer left frontal cortex. That means that there is less brain activity in the amygdale, which is where the brain processes fear. (Getting the picture?) You will thus have better concentration levels, increased blood flow (which also means healthier skin), lower blood pressure, decreased muscle tension, increased serotonin production, enhanced immune system, reduced pre-menstrual syndrome, better sleep, help with chronic diseases, and increased post-operative healing. I ask you to try it because it will change your life. There is plenty of information and different resources out there to help get you started. Just start today! Try it, you’ll like it! Enjoy! I know you will!
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