Manifest the Life of Your Dreams with Rituals

Have you made your New Year resolutions this year? If so, 75% of us will not be able to follow through with our goal after the first month. It requires focus and dedication, two things that do not come easily in the daily humdrum of work, school, and home life. With the tools of ritual expert and spiritual lecturer-Barbara Biziou, you will find that all of your life goals are within arm’s reach—bring on the inspiration!

Barbara Biziou specializes in helping men and women create what she calls “work life harmony”. Her goal is to help people break old patterns and ignite their personal creativity as they forge ahead into another year. She has written two books, The Joy of Ritual and The Joys of Family Rituals, and also has a DVD program out called Momentary Meditations in which she focuses on helping people calm their minds to improve their focus and help them lead a happier, more productive life. She is a firm believer in utilizing visualization techniques to create collages that inspire people to stay on track with their goals, and often has workshops that allow you to connect with your creative side in order to stay on the right track to accomplish the visions you have for yourself in the future.

Right now Barbara Biziou is having a powerful workshop in Los Angeles the weekend of January 28-30. Her powerful workshops involve fire ceremonies to help abolish old habits, defining and sticking to goals, brainstorming with others to map out action plans, constructing vision collages, as well as learning important tools for decreasing stress, sustaining energy, and following the path of your vision!

“This workshop is a phenomena, an oasis in the midst and the chaos of everyday life, in which you can stop, clear the decks, and create a vision for a rich and rewarding life.” -Cathy Gins

Click here to review the details of her LA workshop!

References:

http://www.joyofritual.com/calendar.cfm?tag=tag_cal

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Discovering the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Deceased author Stieg Larsson of the famed Millenium series was never able to see the success of his books, but the life he did lead was a captivating one. As a financially crippled investigative journalist for his magazine Expo, the Rolling Stone recently reported that Larsson strongly opposed racism and right-wing extremism. Larsson was so obsessed in fact, that he even used six tall filing cabinets to store a mass collection of newspaper clippings and articles on the subject. What’s more, the Stone arranged an interview with Larsson’s niece, Therese Larsson, who is allegedly the woman famed Dragon Tattoo character Lisbeth Salander was modeled after, and what a character she was!

Having recently seen The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo movie, I think Larsson’s star character Lisbeth Salander is decidedly memorable. If you are a fan of the books, you will surely agree. The first movie mainly revolves around uncovering a mystery, but Salander plays a tough sidekick with a callous exterior to reporter Mikael Blomkvist, and in my book she is a character I can both respect and admire.

What intrigued me most about her was her ability to live life in the moment. To me, living in the moment and following your inner voice frees you from any negative emotion- anger, fear, guilt, stress etc. From the way she dresses to the vengeful stunts she performs on people who are cruel to her, Salander does whatever she pleases without a thought to how anyone else will react. She is one hundred percent unique and repeatedly throws on a brave face despite all of the tragedy she faces. More than anything, Salander is in complete control of her actions and respects herself, which is something I always encourage.

Like Salander, you can create the strength within yourself to walk away with something good from all of your experiences and truly be the person you want to be in this lifetime. I love walking away from books and movies feeling like I have connected with the characters—if only Stieg Larsson could see how influential his free-spirited character has become!

References:

http://www.stieglarsson.com/

http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/the-secret-obsessions-of-dragon-tattoo-author-stieg-larsson-20101214

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Anderson Cooper Reports the Truth

Anderson Cooper is both an author and journalist whose claim to fame is the show Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN. While he may be unknown to some, he is an excellent news anchor who has appeared live on the scene for several groundbreaking news events including the recent oil spill in the Gulf. Over time, I have come to appreciate his honesty and sincere compassion for the stories he reports on. When I hear a story by Anderson Cooper, I can rest assured I am getting information that is both accurate and truthful.

With the great Vanderbilt name in his bloodline, Anderson Cooper was lucky enough to have a prominent education, graduating from Yale in 1989 after studying International Relations and Political Science. His interest in journalism began shortly after his brother committed suicide in 1988. Cooper later cited this loss as a theme that would rope him his career as a journalist, as it quickly manifested into a genuine interest in learning why some people thrived in times of distress and others did not.

Working his way up from fact checking at a youth news program to having his own show on CNN, Cooper has risen through the ranks not with ease, but with a down-to-earth ability to connect with people on basic, human terms. Unlike other reporters, Cooper is interested in discovering the truth rather than spinning it in different directions. He has been all over the world, and has always been right at ground zero with the people when major events happened in Iraq and during Hurricane Katrina. Above all, he is an amazing humanitarian who provides the news in a very real, objective way, and not his opinion, which is what we as a captive audience deserve!

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Santana and the Spirit of Love

Named number 15 on Rolling Stones list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, Carlos Santana is one of the most iconic Latin rock artists to date. Over the years people both young and old have come to cherish Santana’s music as ethereal, enchanting, and hypnotic. Having come from a musical family background, Santana was taught the guitar by his father early on, and has since been inspiring people with his smooth, melodic guitar sound for more than forty years. I personally have been playing the electric guitar for the past 2 years and I have become a student of Santana’s music. Some of my favorite songs include Europa and Black Magic Woman!

Having grown up listening to Carlos Santana, I have always identified with his music. His career has spanned over some of the greatest classic rock eras of all time, from Clapton to Zeppelin. With influences like B.B. King and John Lee Hooker, he made a name for himself in the early 1960’s with The Santana Blues Band, incorporating elements of rock, jazz, and Latin music that would be his claim to fame for years to come.

For me, what resonates most about Santana’s music is his message. He has always been into spirituality and meditation; his musical presence gives off a seductive vibe infused with the spirit of love. His relationships with others are built on love and trust, and he is a big believer in being of service to humanity. While not all his records were equally well received, he has always been dedicated to providing the world with a cultural sound that “makes people jump with joy and cry at the same time.”

The biographer on Santana’s website had it right when he said Carlos’s music was like the “soundtrack for the world”. It has definitely been the soundtrack for mine!

References:

http://www.santana.com/carlos/default.aspx

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Paul Newman’s Own Organics

As a huge fan of locally-grown organic ingredients, I am so thrilled to tell you about my favorite goods from Newman’s Own Organics. Paul Newman, known to most as an actor, started his own company back in 1982 making lemonade, salsa, pasta, and steak sauce. In 1993 however, Newman’s Own branched off into Newman’s Own Organics, a division created by his philanthropic and eco-friendly daughter Nell.

Newman’s Own Organics uses only certified organic ingredients to sell scrumptious treats like organic popcorn, pretzels, and dried fruit, among other things. Heading up the business with her father, Nell has made a concerted effort to incorporate organic eating into new snacks and meals that she and her father used to enjoy when she was a kid. In fact, Nell convinced Paul to start Newman’s Own Organics after cooking him a delicious Thanksgiving dinner completely organically. Needless to say, he was convinced.

Personally, I am a big fan of Newman’s Own Organic balsamic vinegar and olive oil and Tuscan Italian Organic Salad Dressing.  In addition, what I really enjoy about Newman’s products is that they have expanded their consumer base to animals—they make healthy, organic food for your pets too! Each package of Newman’s Own Organics Premium Pet Food comes with whole grains, vitamins, and minerals that far exceed the nutrition in regular pet food. Now the whole family can be healthy, human or not!

References:

http://www.newmansownorganics.com/index.php

http://www.newmansownorganics.com/pet/home/

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Organic Like Obama

Organic gardening has become one of the most natural ways to insure that your meals are rich in healthy, nutritious unprocessed food. While it has become wildly popular in recent years, gardening organically has been around for centuries, before chemical fertilizers ever existed. Studies show that the rate of obesity is rapidly increasing in America and I do believe that the types of food and how it is grown has a strong impact on obesity and other modern diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and even cancer. It is important now more than ever to go the natural-food route with organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables.

No one understands this more than our very own first lady, Michelle Obama, who has made it her duty to pave the way for Americans to learn how to maximize and sustain their health by creating their own organic gardens. Planted in early 2009, the Obama garden continues to thrive on the South Lawn of the White House with spinach, collards, black kale, butter lettuce, green oak leaf, Thai basil, and berries for dessert. Fruits and vegetables from the garden are regularly handpicked by the White House staff to serve as portions in formal dinners.

The now 1500 square foot garden contains 55 types of vegetables, as well as herbs, fertilized with compost from the White House. For pest control, Michelle Obama and the staff use lady bugs and praying mantis, rather than harmful pesticides.

Growing a small organic garden, even if you live in an urban area, isn’t the Herculean effort most people think it is. At Farmer’s markets you can buy pots with herb seedlings, and grow them in your house if you don’t have the land space. I personal grow basil at home, which I love to add to my organic Bolognese sauce, and fresh green onions are a treat too. There is something inherently satisfying about eating a meal grown and handled only by you, with your tender loving care, and no added pesticides or fertilizers. The fruit just tastes that much more rich, and even sweeter than store-bought produce. Go ahead, have fun and dig into your back yard- organic for life!

References:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/dining/20garden.html

http://www.organicgardeningguru.com/

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Thankful For All We Have

Today’s post is a little different than usual, simply because it is a special time for a feast! Thanksgiving brings together family, friends, and food in a jaunty, relaxing atmosphere where good times can be had by all. In the spirit of the holiday, I decided to forego our usual post and share a poem I found perfect for this Thanksgiving by U.S. veteran Roger J. Robicheau.

Dubbed the “poetic plumber” on his website, Robicheau is both poet and songwriter. He frequently pens poems about national holidays like Veterans Day and Memorial Day, no doubt using his past experiences to enlighten us all on days of remembrance. If anything, today is the best day for patriotism and remembering, as we have many things to be thankful for day in and day out that often get left unsaid.

With that, I leave you to enjoy the turkey and fine wine, join hands, and celebrate this holiday season with a light spirit and a grateful disposition. Happy Thanksgiving!

For All We Have

A table with chairs, that welcome sight
Our family, our friends, pure delight

A caring kiss with a gentle smile
Each tender hug lasts that country mile

The presence of love so fills the air
This gift of God brings our hearts so near

Reflections of past bring nurtured thought
Great visions come by, what life has taught

In thankful ways we embrace this day
And often think of loved ones away

Those serving us proud are often gone
But their spirit remains, closely drawn

Our Nation should praise each special one
For all we have is through what they’ve done

The freedom to have Thanksgiving Day
Keeps certain plates bare, please truly pray

References:

http://thepoeticplumber.com/

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Robert Redford: Actor, Director, Conservationist

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Robert Redford, the dashing, 1970’s heart throb of Sundance fame has turned more than a few heads in his time. While the actor and director has received numerous awards of achievement for his contribution to the arts, not many people are aware of his gallant philanthropic efforts for environmental advocacy, wildlife and nature conservation.

Before actors like Leo DiCaprio or Daryl Hannah ever stepped foot in the green political spotlight, Redford has been a dedicated liberal and environmentalist for nearly forty years, contributing to one of the largest public interest groups in the country, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). To date, the group has over a million members and activists nationwide. The NRDC’s mission ultimately is to “safeguard the Earth: its people its plants and animals and the natural systems of which all life depends”, which include efforts in controlling energy efficiency, protecting endangered species, preserving marine life, curbing global warming, preventing pollution, and creating a clean energy future.

Over the years Redford has teamed up with NRDC to lobby for environmental legislation, block oil drilling in the Arctic, host a U.S. to Soviet Union global warming summit and most recently, recorded a new NRDC video in support of the “Clean Energy Legislation”. In 2003, The NRDC opened their Santa Monica headquarters and building and dedicated it to Mr. Redford. NRDC received the highest certification available for green building design, a Platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. Aptly named the “Robert Redford Building”, it uses sixty percent less energy than a typical office building with no carbon dioxide emissions, with non-toxic furniture and flooring.

The next time you are in Santa Monica, please take a peek at NRDC’s green building on 2nd Street. Frequently known to pop in now and then, you just might catch a glimpse of Mr. Sundance himself!

Address:

Robert Redford Building

1314 2nd Street

Santa Monica, CA 90401

References:

http://www.nrdc.org/media/pressreleases/031113.asp

http://www.ecorazzi.com/2010/05/21/robert-redford-records-new-nrdc-video-supporting-clean-energy-legislation/

http://eponline.com/articles/2005/11/01/has-the-nrdc-gone-hollywood.aspx

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Bridging the Gap Between Science and Spirit

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If you have ever wondered how your mental thoughts could control your physiology, you may be very interested in Bruce Lipton’s life long studies. Declaring an astonishing link between science and spirit, Lipton is an influential speaker in the field of an emerging science called epigenetics, he is interested in the manipulation of the environment of our cells and genes through the power of our mind.

One of the most powerful voices in the integration of spirit and science, Lipton has spent over twenty years researching the way quantum physics influences the outer layers of cells, what he calls the “brain” of the cell. His research in quantum physics revealed that our environment is what really controls the behavior of a cell, rather than our genes. From this emerged the idea that certain molecular pathways in the brain have the potential to bridge the gap between cellular biology and spirit, heightening the way in which the mind can control the function of our bodies.

Lipton’s cellular discovery, in my opinion, is phenomenal. Hard science often unfairly discredits holistic ways of healing, and Bruce Lipton successfully bridges the chasm that divides the two branches of knowledge. Patients who have experienced my energetic techniques for allergy elimination, nutrient assimilation, detoxification and optimal organ function-all know the power of quantum physics and “intention” and that your cells can “hear” you. Your brain is amazingly powerful and every thought can affect our behavior and physiological outcome. I am a big believer in using positive energy to influence our body and environment- by visualizing and “thinking from the end” you can manifest the outcome you desire. Be the best you can be from this moment on and you will be delightfully surprised that all that you have desired in this lifetime is within you!

References:

http://www.brucelipton.com/

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The Power of Intention

Most of us go through life simply going through the motions–work, home, school, the occasional night out, and over and over again. But sometimes you stumble upon a motivational speaker like Dr. Wayne Dyer, who opens your heart, and helps you discover your true purpose in life. Dr. Dyer believes that the energy of intention you create can very well change your life.

Dr. Wayne Dyer is a lecturer, teacher, and motivational speaker who has published over thirty books in the realm of self-improvement. He earned his PhD in Educational Counseling from Wayne State University, and quickly gained ground as the “Father of Motivation” for his inspirational teachings on destiny and living a life of meaning, all while advocating kindness, support, and spirituality.

I personally recommend Dr. Dyer ‘s book, The Power of Intention to my patients. Dr. Dyer researched “intention” as a force in the Universe that allows the act of creation to take place. He will inspire you to develop your vision and shape a new reality by utilizing your “power of intention”.

For many years, I have listened to his 6 CD audio set called “The Secrets of the Power of Intention”. Each time I listen to him, I learn something new. The CDs are easy to listen to after a stressful day, and can be enjoyed really at any point in your life. If you’re struggling with anxiety, having difficulties in your relationships, feeling pressured at work, or simply grappling with your purpose in life, I highly suggest letting Wayne Dyer point you in the right direction.

References:

http://www.drwaynedyer.com/

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