Look Up

Making Just One Change

2012-01-21T14:29:00.005-05:00

I have been talking to a lot of people lately about how to improve their lives. To me, it all really comes down to make ONE change, just one! Don't get all caught up in doing everything at once, or else you overwhelm yourself, freak out, and then nothing gets done. You can start anywhere and I mean ANYWHERE.

So what do you want your one change to be?

Don't check your e-mail 1 hour before bed time?
Drink juice instead of coffee at breakfast?
Replace white bread with whole grain?
Eat a Trader Joe's Burrito instead of Taco Bell?
Drink one more glass of water per day?
Do abhyanga one day a week?
Get to yoga class on Saturday morning?
Sleep 15 minutes early?
Call a loved one once a month?
Bring lunch to work once a week?
Stretch hourly at work?

Do you see what I'm getting at here? There are so many little changes you can make to improve your life, that it's doable to make just ONE! And who knows, you might be able to make a second change somewhere down the line!

Do you have the courage to get started?

Everything in our culture tells us to put others first, that you can look after yourself,

"once you get one more thing done."

Have the courage to invest in yourself. Have the courage to make just one change!

Ayurvedic Tips For Cold Weather

2011-12-10T09:17:00.006-05:00

Here are some ways to stay balanced during the dryer, colder months.

Eat plenty of seasonal produce: apples, beets, and other root vegetables (cooked only). Cook with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, and cumin.
Make sure you get your fats. Think of it as moisturizing the skin on your insides. Good fats are olive oil, ghee, avocado, and coconut oil.
Moisturize your skin. Give yourself a good coat of sesame oil in the shower (and then soap only parts with hair). Stand under the warm water for a few minutes to open up your pores, allowing oil to be absorbed.
Drink only warm or hot water. This means no ice, people. It also means what it says, i.e. hot tea does not count. This keeps the lymph moving and wards off vata derangement.
Sleep. Make it a point to sleep early. The days are shorter for a reason at this time of year. Take your rest!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-10T09:15:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone is gearing up for the holidays properly and making sure to stay well-rested and stress-free in the process!

Wild Ride

2011-11-11T08:21:00.002-05:00

Untitled, a photo by holkyholcomb on Flickr.

Sunset

2011-08-28T21:37:00.002-04:00

Untitled, a photo by holkyholcomb on Flickr.

Foppema's Farm

2011-08-28T21:36:00.002-04:00

Untitled, a photo by holkyholcomb on Flickr.

Craigville

2011-08-21T22:49:00.004-04:00

Untitled, a photo by holkyholcomb on Flickr.

Vacation

2011-08-12T07:55:00.003-04:00

I have been on vacation down here in the Cape for the past two weeks. I always cherish this time of year for the warm weather, lovely beach days, and the freedom to do what I want, when I want!

Of course, down here, that's a whole lot of much-welcomed nothing. I sleep in, do yoga, eat breakfast, then relax until it's time to go swimming. The main events of the day are making food, reading at the beach, and showering! For a little extra excitement, we have going to Trader Joe's and watching Netflix streaming...

I am blessed and that's all there is to say!

Dale Chihuly is a genius...

2011-08-04T10:59:00.001-04:00

Untitled, a photo by holkyholcomb on Flickr.

2011-06-27T19:49:00.001-04:00

My carrot cake has been a hit lately :) Tonight my mom asked me to make as much as I can make for this weekend. She wants to bring to her co-workers. I'm going bring some when I go out for the 4th of July!

Frustration

2011-06-27T19:44:00.005-04:00

Today, I feel frustrated and am trying to be mindful so that I can practice working skillfully with it. This means pausing before making a rash decision, pausing before saying something hurtful, and just generally trying to create space in my mind so I am not a slave to this unpleasant experience. Mindfulness provides options and infusing it with metta brings warmth, care, compassion, and understanding.

On Attachment

2011-06-24T21:47:00.007-04:00

Me, wearing my old sunglasses in 2009.

Today, I became aware of an attachment to quite an inane object that I own: my old sunglasses.

I went to TJ Maxx today to go shopping, and happened to stumble on a pair of sunglasses that I thought looked cute on me, and they were on sale. So I bought them. Immediately, I noticed an array of thoughts arising, an elaborate story surrounding this seemingly trivial thing. What if the new sunglasses don't last as long as the old ones did? (I've worn them for 2 years.) What if they wound up not fitting right? I could never go back to wearing the old ones once I start wearing the new ones. At least my photos now will look different. But what if they don't look as good? Do they fit my face alright? Do they look too much like the old ones? But I couldn't have just stayed with the old ones, I need a change, I need a new style. But the old ones were in perfectly good shape. But they did have some scratches on the lenses.

Do you see what I'm getting at here? Within the span of just a few moments, I created a story surrounding plastic sunglasses I bought two years ago at Newbury Comics for $9.99. We do stuff like this all of the time, you see? There is nothing inherently wrong with it, but don't you think it's important to notice? Because if we do it with small things like this, we do it with big things, too, and if this is all we do, then we are missing our lives as they are in this moment. You can wind up missing your whole life as a matter of fact, over this kind of thing.

Speaking Of My Lawn...

2011-06-05T16:33:00.003-04:00

I am the proud parent of this lawn. Feels good to do a little landscaping, you know? Especially for my family, whom I love.

Zucchini Bread

2011-06-05T16:31:00.002-04:00

My latest and greatest cooking endeavor :) Ping me if you care about the recipe.

Everyday Insights

2011-06-05T16:29:00.003-04:00

Mowing the lawn is like walking meditation, except your arms get a little bit more of a workout.

Metta (Loving-kindness) Phrases

2011-06-05T16:21:00.001-04:00

May you be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.

May you be happy and peaceful.

May you live in peace and ease.

May you be healthy and strong, and take care of yourself happily.

May I be safe and protected from inner and outer harm.

May I be happy and peaceful.

May I live in peace and ease.

May I be healthy and strong, and take care of myself happily.

Pulitzer Fountain, Central Park

2011-05-24T12:12:00.003-04:00

Untitled, a photo by holkyholcomb on Flickr.

This panoramic is flawed, but it's the only shot I got and I believe it still adequately captures the flavor of the scene. Click to enlarge.

These are Chinese zodiac sculptures by artist Ai Weiwei.

The Big Apple

2011-05-24T12:10:00.002-04:00

Untitled, a photo by holkyholcomb on Flickr.

2011-04-29T19:03:00.001-04:00

On Cooking and Food

2011-04-29T18:55:00.006-04:00

I have been cooking up a storm lately, it has been so great. In the past few weeks I have learned how to bake my own bread and how to make my own mozzarella cheese. Both were far, far easier than I ever would have imagined.

The best part about making your own food is that you get to infuse your love into it and then feed it to people who you love and then it's just one big hippie love fest of awesome :)

Plus, my future husband should be so lucky!

Signs of spring

2011-04-29T18:47:00.002-04:00

Untitled, a photo by holkyholcomb on Flickr.

2011-04-29T18:38:00.005-04:00

Image found here

There are small things that remind me of the impermanence of life and fill me with an immense level of compassion. I feel lucky and grateful when I can be mindful enough to see these things clearly as they arise and pass.

For instance, the other day after I got home from work, I was in the kitchen making my dinner, and my dad was sitting at the kitchen table, giving himself a feeding, or giving himself some medicine or something. I just looked at his hands that are so shaky from his old age and illness and it just broke my heart. There are so many things that I bitch about day in and day out, and here he is, just trying to complete one little daily task with trembling hands.

I went to my room and sat for meditation and just wept and wept. I felt this outpouring of love for my dad and all beings, compassion for the sick, and an experience of deep understanding of just how insanely fragile life on this earth is. It's really quite astonishing if you stop and look.

2011-03-27T17:54:00.002-04:00

Untitled, a photo by holkyholcomb on Flickr.

Little things

2011-03-27T17:44:00.005-04:00

Spring is here, and what a whirlwind it is proving to be. Can you believe it's just about April?

I am in the midst of my spring detox cleanse. It is a little more intense this year. I had to take a break yesterday for a birthday celebration, but essentially my diet has been as follows:

Lemon water
Almonds and cashews
Beans
Raw bars made with nuts, figs and other unsweetened dried fruit, flax seed, tahini, agave, and citrus zest
Fruit
Veggies (60/40 raw/cooked)
Rice

No dairy, no wheat, no caffeine, no alcohol, no cooked oil (except for ghee here and there), and no fish (or meat of any kind, obviously).

I felt terrible for the first 5 days. I had a persistent headache, nausea, and lack of appetite/thirst and I was practically passing out each night at 9 o'clock when I got in bed to read or meditate or whatever. That part is over, I am back to feeling energized, I am also getting back to my asana practice after three months in physical therapy to treat tendinitis. It feels good to move again.

Now I am moving forward :)

Happy Spring!

xoxo
Caroline

2011-03-27T17:43:00.002-04:00

Untitled, a photo by holkyholcomb on Flickr.

Soon the beach will be all mine :)

2011-03-18T23:31:00.002-04:00

The following is my world right now:

Cocaine addiction is a prevalent psychiatric disorder in the United States, classified by drug bingeing, withdrawal dysphoria, and eventual cocaine relapse (Ghitza et al., 2007). It has been hypothesized that the mechanisms underlying cocaine addiction are directly related to dopamine (DA) transporters in the brain, and thus a great deal of research has focused on the effects of cocaine-induced changes in these DA systems. However, there is also a considerable body of research emerging which points to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) neurotransmitter systems as also playing a significant role in the regulation of cocaine-seeking behavior.

2011-03-18T16:32:00.003-04:00

If you guys are looking for a sweet astrology blog, this is it right here. Elsa is phenomenal, just trust me on that.

Neptune Home

2011-03-18T16:20:00.001-04:00

2011-03-18T16:18:00.002-04:00

I am on the Cape today, eating spring detox type foods, being quiet, reading my book, and of course, working on this paper that I have not had a chance to write for weeks!

2011-03-16T12:28:00.001-04:00

Hi, I am here, working, and schooling, and going to physical therapy, and trying to break new ground.

My Lola

2011-02-04T08:22:00.001-05:00

Jamie

2011-01-17T18:16:00.003-05:00

www.flickr.com/photos/holkyholcomb

2011-01-16T18:37:00.011-05:00

I spent the afternoon painting a ceramic tray for which to carry my tea and snacks here at home. Em took me to this place, otherwise I never would have ended up there. It was so nice to do something creative that I don't usually do. Because with photography, there's a certain vision that you can have in the way that you want to frame the subject and in what light, etc., but when you paint, you have to create the whole entire image from scratch, straight from your imagination. And you have to do it with your very own, hopefully steady, hand.

Well, I hope that my work doesn't come out looking akin to that of the kindergartners that probably make up the majority of this place's business. I'll have to wait and see! We have to wait a week to get our ware back because they have to fire it in the kiln. Funny thing is, is that the place was completely empty except for me, Em, and the high school girl in her pajamas that was overseeing the operation. Me and Em were talking about meditation and Buddhism and yoga and spirituality and raw food and that young girl probably thought we were crazy, haha. Also, they closed at 5 o'clock and we were still there working, rushing to leave at 4:48 pm. But we put away our paints and everything at 5 o'clock (on the dot mind you), and the high school girl was smiling as we headed out the door, so we probably redeemed ourselves.

2011-01-15T15:37:00.003-05:00

I have started to study Buddhist meditation. It has been so cool. Check out these dharma talks. Hours and hours and hours of the Buddha's teachings :)

2011-01-15T15:36:00.003-05:00

Originally uploaded by holkyholcomb

2010-12-26T22:51:00.005-05:00

Originally uploaded by holkyholcomb

2010-12-11T10:53:00.000-05:00

2010-12-10T17:40:00.001-05:00

Funny

2010-12-10T09:49:00.002-05:00

2010-12-10T08:04:00.002-05:00

2010-12-04T11:40:00.001-05:00

2010-12-04T11:10:00.002-05:00

Last night, a friend of mine who is making his own website asked me if I might be interested in writing an article for him somewhere down the road. It reminded me of my own blog and how I haven't been too active with its upkeep for quite a number of months now. So I thought I would try and rectify that :)

My friend humorously called me The Essentialist last night, saying something about how I'm good at self-care. Naturally, I was very flattered and it inspired to me to write something in that vein.

So here's what I have to say--When it comes to your personal health, it's a good idea to decide what your essentials are. For me it's usually something like the following:

How does my body feel? Am I tired, hyper, is my stomach upset, do I need rest, or am I feeling good? Do I need exercise? Do I need to shower, do I need to floss?

Did I eat enough today, did I eat enough fruits and veggies, did I eat enough protein, did I drink enough water? Did I take my vitamins?

I always carry water with me, some little fruits, and some nuts. Sometimes tea. Whatever I need to keep me comfortable and nourished and this will be unchangeable regardless of where I end up or who I'm with or what I'm doing over the course of the day or night.

I think we're so often so busy that we don't really think about these things. But it's fairly simple. The bottom line is make it a priority to be well-rested. Make it a priority to eat healthy foods that you enjoy. Make it a priority to drink enough water for God's sake. These are basic needs that are very important and you owe it to yourself to be healthy, in my humble opinion. Not even necessarily as an obligation to yourself, but more like a gift.

That is all. This was much more enjoyable to write than my term assignments on all of which I am procrastinating :)

xoxo
Caroline

2010-12-02T21:23:00.002-05:00

The Odd Logic of How Things Go in My Home

2010-11-12T21:03:00.001-05:00

My mom had heard me mention I was going to make pizza tonight, so she bought went out and bought a pizza from Islington Pizza.

2010-11-06T16:17:00.004-04:00

I have some new stuff up on my Flickr. They did not come out to my liking, really. I have been so frustrated with my 'work' lately, the quality of the photos themselves have just been awful. But I will share them with you anyway.

And I miss that boy Nicholas in the photo! Sigh.

2010-11-05T23:16:00.001-04:00

Getting back more photos tomorrow :)

New Fave Song

2010-11-05T13:48:00.001-04:00

This song captures the attitude of the guys I like best. :)

2010-10-23T21:32:00.003-04:00

Hi,

I never blog anymore, but I'm still alive. I have been super homebody since school started, but it's great. I'm in a different phase of life. This morning I went to yoga, then came home, had some coffee, and have been alternating between reading research papers and the New York Times, and watching foreign films. I'm very warm and comfy in my bed and I have no complaints whatsoever. Teaching yoga is going quite well, I just invested in a new down jacket for the impending Boston winter, and I'm taking my vitamins everyday.

Love,

Caroline

A peek into my art brain

2010-09-28T22:09:00.001-04:00

A textbook review I wrote in 2006...

Review: Roy Craven’s Indian Art: A Concise History

What is Indian art? As in any culture, we have learned from Craven that Indian art is simply cultural representation, manifested through architecture, sculpture, painting, religious iconography and aniconography and influenced by cultures within Asia and without. He frames a great deal of the history and influence of Indian art around the political sphere, beginning with the rise of the Indus Valley civilization through to the modern age and Westernization, describing conquests between nomadic groups, the reign of empires, and imperialism. He introduces the book by “cautioning” the reader “regarding the terms ‘art’ and ‘artist’ in relation to Indian culture. To him, the fact that “most of the objects to be met [in the text] are devotional in nature, created with religious and utilitarian rather than aesthetic motives” (Craven, 8) makes them artistically less authentic because he frames the survey from a Western perspective. In addition, he states that the works of art he discusses in the text “were fashioned by craftsmen who worked in a tradition which dictated strict canons of iconography and manufacture, and who could never have understood the meaning of the word ‘artist’ as it is used today” (Craven, 8). Craven separates Indian art from Western art by attributing its ultimate source to folk traditions (Craven, 247) which is why in the modern age the Western influence seen in much of Indian art today is enough for Craven to disclaim it as authentic.

Craven acknowledges that through to the modern age, Indian “craftsmen” have used not only their own unique brand of ideas but took to their art the ideas borrowed from other cultures as well. Craven seems to have lost sight of the fact that, throughout history, Indian art has often been influenced by other cultures, and he forgets that British imperialism is just another instance of this. For example, one of the earliest known Greek invasions occurred in the fourth century BC in North India (Craven, 35) and however permanent or impermanent, left its mark on Indian art. The earlier influence can be seen on capitals during the Mauryan period. Many Ashokan capitals highly resemble those found in Greek ruins in the “elongated petals which form the fluting on the bell, the bell itself, the realism of the animals portrayed on the abacus, the stylized and strained muscles and deep-carved claws of the four tense lions” (Craven, 41). In addition, another capital found in the ruins at Pataliputra highly resembles Ionic capitals in the “Four cylindrical volutes [that] project from the block’s sides and the two highest support the top abacus which features a running row of rosettes. These volutes... join with the palmettes to document an Indian interpretation of Hellenic and Iranian motifs, which again confirms an Achaemenid influence and taste operative in Mauryan art” (Craven, 42). However, Craven does not make any judgement or evaluation as to the authenticity of these works of art being “Indian”. In this chapter of the book, it goes without question. So then, is not art created in India in the modern age simply an interpretation of British or Western motifs just as art created during the Mauryan period artists interpreted for themselves Hellenic art?

In another instance, during the Kushan period, there were even“the gods of Rome, Alexandria, and the Hellenized Orient [that] include Herakles, Helios, Serapis, and Victory gods on the faces of coins representing Brahmanical India circulating within King Kanishka’s empire (Craven, 83). He even admits that “The impact of the provincial Hellenized Roman art style and imagery in Gandhara was exceedingly strong, and sculptures from the area... would not look too much out of place in Rome” (Craven, 86). This influence can be seen in many sculptures from the period, with one prominent trait being realism of drapery on figures (Craven, 85). Figures of the Buddha during this time were often clothed in “long, toga-like robe[s]” (Craven, 85). Craven even deems “one of the loveliest Gandharan sculptures” (Craven, 86) of the period as a figure of a Greek or Roman goddess, believed to be Athena or Roma. This figure was created by an artist who, whether consciously or not, imitated a style borrowed from another culture. However, again, Craven does not disclaim this art as authentic perhaps because it was still created for some sort of utilitarian purpose.

During the modern period, the same level of influence, this time from British imperialism, occurred as it had at the beginning of the common era. As the British colonized India, modern schools of art were established and many artists began taking on a more Westernized style of art. For example, this can be seen in the paintings created at the Kali Temple in Calcutta. “The Khalighat artists not only adapted the technique of transparent English watercolour to create the illusion of rounded volumes, but occasionally depicted European subjects and events” (Craven, 241). In a painting entitled, “An Englishman shooting Tiger from an Elephant,” we can very clearly see the Western influence in the subject, style, and composition of the piece. However, the perspective in which the Englishman is portrayed is much like that seen in Rajasthani painting in regard to his profile and stiff appearance. Craven does not evaluate this artist as an Indian taking on his own interpretation of Western influence, but seems to imply that this is simply an imitation of Western art.

In the epilogue, Craven discusses in great detail and praise the artist H.M. Husain for the creation of his paintings which are, to Craven, that of “a true Indian artist working in a contemporary style, whose artistic roots are solidly anchored in his cultural past” (Craven, 246) in an age of Western influence in India. He believes that Husain’s art is authentic because “His pictures are rarely serene and their aggressive areas of flat colours and forms are frequently reminiscent of earlier miniatures. This is not a conscious intention of the artist, but rather a manifestation of a cultural memory inherent in the nature of the artist which relates his modern achievement with that of age-old traditions” (Craven, 246). He criticizes the Indian artists that took on the styles taught at the British-established art schools by deeming them as taking on the practice of “the artificial foreign style” (Craven, 244), even though he contradictorily alludes to Husain’s “debt to Picasso” (Craven, 245). Craven also gives no credit to Husain’s artistic license by stating that the merit of the artist’s work is due solely to cultural traditions that have been passed onto him and have manifested themselves unconsciously.

Craven also gives praise to the “lively folk tradition” that “displays the current creativity of an aged but living tradition” (Craven, 247). He tells of how “Villagers still worship images of the ‘Great Mother’, composed of cow dung, straw, and terracotta, whose ancient form has the direct simplicity of much contemporary art” (Craven, 247). Craven believes that the only true authentic Indian art is art that has stayed in line with the historical folk tradition of India, disregarding any interpretations of Western art and passing them off as merely imitation. He does not acknowledge Western influence in art as authentic, but wishes only to keep the idea of Indian art preserved in the minds of the reader only until the age colonization. By entitling the end chapter “Epilogue,” Craven implicitly expresses his “afterthought,” as if the progression of Indian art has ended, but, this certainly cannot be the case. Art takes on many purposes, religious, utilitarian, aesthetic, and more, and it is necessary to adjust the Western view of Indian art in order to appreciate it for all that it is worth.

2010-09-18T22:44:00.002-04:00

I was saying this to my friend, Winter, earlier that I don't know if it's because I live with my family, but staying in Saturday night is somewhat of a comforting thing for me. I've been home all day, just hanging around the house. I woke up really early and did some yoga, read the news, then went to TJ Maxx because, for the first time in a very long while, I felt like shopping, like being a good little American consumer. I could not find anything that I liked, except a bandeau top, and a bra, some socks and some undies. Which is just as well.

When I got some, I made oatmeal with walnuts and yummy Vermont maple syrup (fall isn't so bad), did my tarot, and watched Manufactured Landscapes. I haven't really been into my book, Shogun. I'm in the mood for something more feminine, more emotional. Sorry, Nick. I'm going to give it a few more shots to see if I can become struck otherwise.

Jamie called me tonight and we talked on the phone for two hours. We did a 3-way call with Winter for a few minutes, but then her phone died and then Jamie and I continued talking. It was so nice to catch up with her. Jamie, if you're reading this, I love you!

So I try to keep this blog less focused on personal updates (although it's my personal blog so this is essentially impossible), but I'm just going with the flow and writing what feels right on this fall Saturday night.

xoxo
Caroline

P.S. I got a new laptop and an Android phone, so I can be connected all the time and it totally rocks.

The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D.

2010-09-14T12:16:00.002-04:00

Hopefully this can be me someday.

2010-08-27T11:09:00.000-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted those photos yet...

2010-08-22T12:35:00.003-04:00

What's up, everybody? It's been over a month since I last wrote. Mercury is in retrograde now and the Cardinal T-Square 2010 is just beginning to wind itself down, which means that I now have time for reflection... and also time to write this blog.

Since I last wrote, I've become a pescetarian, which means that I'm a vegetarian, but I still eat seafood. I've been feeling great having made this dietary change, it's just been really awesome. I made up a recipe last night (with some suggestions from Lauren, of course, chef extraordinaire) and it came out pretty good!

Brown Rice & Edamame

Ingredients:
A couple tsp olive oil
Half an onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt & pepper
ginger powder
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup frozen shelled edamame (thawed)
soy sauce
red pepper flakes
1 large tomato, cut into large chunks
fresh basil (optional)

In a medium-sized frying pan, saute onions in a few teaspoons olive oil over medium high heat. When beginning to soften, add garlic and saute for another 3 minutes. Sprinkle in a pinch of salt, pepper, and ginger powder.
Add in brown rice, breaking up chunks, and add a splash of soy sauce, to taste (I added about 1 tbs). Cook for about 2 minutes before adding edamame, then cook for another 5 minutes after sprinkling in red pepper flakes, stirring often.
Add tomato and cook for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and add fresh chopped basil just before serving.

I also will be posting some photos later today. If you're friends with me on Facebook, some of them are already up now.

2010-07-10T10:44:00.002-04:00

Right now, I am so unbelievably thirsty for expanding my mind. I have a lot of boundaries to work within, but that never stopped anyone. My level of ambition is only increasing.

I want to achieve the highest level of education. I want to earn a Ph.D. in perhaps clinical psychology, and then go back for a B.A. in Art History before I die.

I want to get back to traveling; see the world, see all of the art that's out there and let it energize my soul. I can feel it just thinking about it.

I'm going to become certified for Reiki Level III. I feel ready to intensely jump into holistic healing and really start giving. However I can help you, let's do it.

Not only do I want all of these things, but I'm going to do them. Just wait and see, it's gonna be awesome.

Oh, and I still want to get married.

2010-07-05T20:22:00.006-04:00

Hey, everybody.

It's been quite some time since I made a post. Gemini time was pretty crazy, as predicted. One weekend I was in New York, then a couple of weekends I was on the Cape for a wedding and another with some friends, one weekend I was in Plymouth, and I started my new job. Last weekend, I was in Baltimore to visit one of my college girlfriends, and we went to the Phish show both nights which were truly amazing. Finally, this past weekend was the long 4th of July weekend, which included lots of parties, and swimming, and being a nomad. I can say I'm ready to start hunkering down at home for Cancer time :) Laying low, getting back to cooking, doing my asanas, watching movies, and hopefully staying cool will be on the agenda as it's been in the 90s for the past number of days and will continue on for the rest of the entire week.

Last week was really intense what with the Grand Cross in the sky stirring up lots of change. It really gave me a run for my money and I am so looking forward to a little respite until things starting acting up again mid-month. Bottom line is that now I'm starting to look for my own apartment close by to my parents' house, so I can still be near my dad in case he/they need me, but I need some space, freedom, and independence. Thank you, Jupiter and Uranus.

In other news, I have been giving more people reiki lately, and that has been quite fulfilling and energizing and fun. I also stopped eating red meat, pork, and chicken. The French Film is starting this week, too, which is tres super!

I've been taking lots of photos of course, and will post them when I have the loot to get them developed :)

xoxo
Caroline

2010-06-02T13:43:00.000-04:00

Anybody out there?

2010-05-28T20:32:00.001-04:00

The new photos are up, people. Have at 'em. (Yes, I am luring you there by a photo of a really cute puppy.)

www.flickr.com/photos/holkyholcomb

2010-05-28T10:24:00.004-04:00

As predicted, Gemini time has been very busy, full of social events and such. I finally got a little bit of a break this week so I didn't make any posts, but rather took the time to catch up on books and movies and sleeping early. I'm also winding down at my current job (my last day is Tuesday) so I've been busy here wrapping up all of my loose ends. I spent the whole day on Wednesday packing up records to be sent to the archives, which freed up 50% of our shelf space.

I can't stress enough how much art energizes and inspires my mind, heart, and spirit. Last weekend, I went to New York and had a wonderful time as always. I saw a mind-blowing Picasso exhibit at the MOMA, along with a great women photographers exhibit. Anybody reading who has even the remotest interest in art is highly encouraged to check this stuff out.

I have been taking a lot photos, which I'll be getting back from the Camera Co. today and posting later tonight.

I've been getting back to my yoga practice after being diagnosed with mild greater trochanter bursitis, a tight IT band, and a minor hamstring tear all in my right leg. It's been a real challenge for me to learn how to be gentle with myself and to know my limits in my practice. I take this even more seriously because I know that on a grander scale, my yoga practice reflects my life off of the mat, and I intend for nothing but to have balance in my life in all arenas, that place between strength and ease. The intention that I set at the beginning of every practice now is to practice ahimsa or non-harming. Despite the physical setbacks, I have complete trust in the universe and divine order, and astrologically, I'm sure that when Saturn is done transiting my ASC, things will settle down with my body and return to "normal" having learned all of the appropriate lessons along the way.

I also found a fiction book that I'm really enthusiastic about it. It's titled Midwives, and it's a story about a midwife who performs a Cesarean section on a mother who dies during childbirth, and the midwife is later accused of murder.

I hope everybody has a marvelous Memorial Day weekend. I'm really looking forward to sharing my next batch of photos with you all later this evening.

xoxo
Caroline

2010-05-17T19:32:00.004-04:00

I went to my first bachelorette party this weekend. Adults events are starting to phase into my life, and it's completely welcome.

I thought maybe I would feel negatively about the situation, because I'm single (pretty much always have been). I thought maybe I would feel jealous and alone. So many of the girls at the party were either with long-term boyfriends, engaged, or already married. The bride's older sister even has a little baby boy. I didn't feel bad or weird about any of this though. I was very happy to be hanging out with grown-up girls, not to mention the fact that I'm very happy for the bride, who I hadn't seen for over 3 years, since our time at UMass.

She is obviously completely elated over the fact that she's going to get married. I liked being around so many women who seemed so confident and happy and fulfilled, partly due to the fact that they're in stable and committed relationships. So stable, so committed, that it's planned to last forever.

My friend who's been with her guy for 3 or 4 years told me she's still very afraid of marriage. I'm not sure if it's because I'm single and the idea of marriage just seems like an exciting whim, but I don't feel afraid about the prospect of getting married. I've been told this is attributed to the Libra in my chart. I feel like I'm only becoming more and more mature, more and more stable, more and more like I could commit. I'm whole in and of myself, I have so many passions and pursuits and I feel like the me is overflowing so much that maybe I can start to give/share with somebody else. I feel like I'm developing all of these things about me that are making me ready to become and also attract and really great partner. Like how I just learned how to cook, haha. :)

The thought of being with my man, and having a great, fulfilling job, having kids, making dinner, taking the dog out... sleeping early... waking at dawn and just living out the classic idea of an American, married adult... all those things just sound so inviting...

Am I getting way ahead of myself?

Astrology as reflected by my blog

2010-05-12T11:37:00.004-04:00

Recently, I have been noticing real trends on what I write on my blog that correlates with where the Sun is.

Now that the Sun is in Taurus, I've blogged a lot about recipes, stuff that I've made that's been really delicious, full of ingredients that will fortify.

When the Sun was in Aries, whenever I did happen to make an appearance on here, my posts were about adventure, and action, and having all of these new beginnings in my life. Also, I was talking about war a lot.

When the Sun was in Aquarius and Pisces, I was making lots of article-style posts because I wanted to communicate ideas on a broader level, for the collective.

Let's see what happens when the Sun transits into Gemini :)

Chicken Curry

2010-05-12T09:03:00.004-04:00

This recipe is a MUST MAKE. Make sure you get all the fixin's for this dish. Roasted almonds pan-warmed before serving, whole fat plain yogurt, and mango chutney throw this dish totally over the top through the gates of heaven :)

See recipe here. We have Martha to thank.

2010-05-10T10:21:00.007-04:00

Good morning, world. I am now a contributing expert for Yogamint, an online yoga website. Feel free to check out my first article :)

2010-05-07T20:58:00.002-04:00

Another Friday night at home. I haven't gotten tired of them yet. I taught class tonight and then came home, had some leftover strata. Now I'm half watching the Bruins and reading about green stuff on Google Reader. On TreeHugger, there is a story about Concord, MA being the first U.S. town to ban bottled water. How freaking amazing is that?

Happy Weekend, everybody... and sweet dreams :)

Zzzzzzzzz...

xoxo
Caroline

2010-05-06T21:05:00.003-04:00

The oil spill in Louisiana is really freaking me out. How could such a thing happen, you know? I hate sitting here thinking about it, knowing that gallons upon gallons of oil are being released into my precious ocean hour by hour by hour without ceasing. What are the consequences going to be for such a disaster? I feel like this is yet another a big wake up call for humanity. I feel like there has to be something I can do.

Ideas?

Portobello and Asparagus Strata

2010-05-06T20:57:00.004-04:00

It's weird because it's called Portobello and Asparagus Strata, but the ingredients list calls for Baby Bellas. I used Baby Bellas just 'cause they were a little cheaper. This dish takes a little bit longer to prepare (probably an hour and a half total), but since you do mostly everything the night before, it's so worth it. It went right in the oven when I got home from work and was ready right as I returned from my bike ride.

Recipe is here. Bon appetit, mes amis. :)

2010-05-06T15:56:00.005-04:00

Sup, everybody?

I did something bad to my knee while doing yoga and I have to get it checked out. Hope everything's okay... Fairly sure I tore something though. Ouchie!

Other than that, I officially got accepted into BU for the MA psychology program in the fall. I also got a new job, part-time, doing data management for another department in the hospital. It pays more, is less responsibility, and will be flexible to my school schedule in September. I'm also teaching 2-3 yoga classes per week, totally getting into the groove of it and having a great time.

Since my yoga practice has cooled off, I've spent more time cooking (tonight I will be serving mushroom & asparagus strata), and doing things outdoors. I bought a bike this week, too, which is beyond exciting.

I'm so pumped to go back to school and start using my brain again. All my Gemini planets are soooo happy :)

Also, the weather in the Boston-area has been unbelievable lately and that is boosting my spirits to other realms. I went walking by myself in the woods last weekend and it was so peaceful, I could have stayed there forever. Well, until dark anyway, hehe :)

Lots of good things coming up for the summer, too. Jamie is coming to MA next weekend, NYC for my birthday, vaca in between jobs, visiting Maria in CT, Phish in June in MD, 4th of July in ME, and lots and LOTS of Cape time.

Can't beat it.

xoxo
Caroline

Mom's Bolognese

2010-05-02T14:26:00.007-04:00

My mom makes a pretty good bolognese for a Filipina :) This is her recipe... tweaked a little bit by yours truly. As you can see, I've been cooking up a storm... and loving every minute of it! I finally have a little repertoire going for me, for when I'm a grown up and have to cook dinner for my own family.

Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 1 hour

Serves 4-6

Ingredients
1 1/2 tbs olive oil
1 medium onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef
1 14 oz. can tomato sauce
1 tbs tomato paste
a pinch of thyme
a pinch of oregano
a pinch of basil
a pinch of red pepper flakes
a pinch of salt and pepper
1 lb rigatoni

In a 2 quart pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add ground beef and garlic, breaking up ground beef with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 7 minutes, until all pink in the meat has disappeared.
Add tomato sauce and tomato paste. Fill up tomato sauce can with water and add to the pot. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Sprinkle in all of the herbs, salt, and pepper.
Simmer, half-covered, for about 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, in another pot, boil 10 cups of water. Add rigatoni and cooked until al dente, about 15-20 minutes.
When sauce is done, add rigatoni to pot, coating rigatoni evenly. Serve in a big casserole dish, topped with grated peccorino romano.

Strawberry Salad

2010-05-01T21:14:00.006-04:00

This is another recipe that I tried out tonight and turned out really well. Unfortunately, I cannot take credit for making it up. My friend Lauren told me about it in the car this afternoon. Thanks, Lauren :)

Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min

For 2 peeps, you'll need:
5 handfuls of greens (romaine, spring mix, baby spinach, herb mix, whatever you like)
1/2 cup raw walnuts
1 tbs honey
3-4 radishes
5-6 strawberries
2 oz. feta cheese (Greek or French, take your pick. I used Greek.)
4 tbs. raspberry vinaigrette (enough to lightly coat the greens)

Preheat oven to 350.
Place walnuts on cookie sheet, dry, and bake for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, wash and slice strawberries, radishes, and feta (if you didn't buy pre-crumbled)
Remove walnuts from oven and drizzle honey over. Return to oven for another 5 minutes.
Toss greens with vinaigrette.
Sprinkle walnuts, strawberries, radishes, and feta over greens and serve.

Perfect yummy meal for a warm day like today... it could really be spring by this point.

Oh, and I finally bought a bike today! I'm so excited. I can't wait to ride it down the Cape next week (hamstring health pending).

In other good news, I dined in Chinatown for lunch this afternoon and my friend Li brought me to this herb shop to buy dried ginseng root so I can make my own ginseng tea! How cool is that?

xoxo
Caroline

2010-04-30T20:56:00.004-04:00

Do the right thing. Don't ask me what the right thing is, but ask yourself what it is. And once you have an idea of what it is, then just try to follow that feeling all the time.

Dinner that I made tonight

2010-04-27T20:50:00.013-04:00

Not only did I not think of it at the time, but in general, I'm pretty against food photos. It's just overdone and doesn't really say anything. I feel like even if it was delicious, it would be rare to capture that photographically unless you have crazy Martha Stewart food cameras. So you'll just have to trust me when I say that this is a beautiful dish inside and out :)

I made it up, and it came out amazingly well somehow.

Serves 2
Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

2 salmon filets
a pinch of salt and pepper
a pinch of garlic powder
1 tbs olive oil
1 tbs butter
a couple of handfuls of spring mix greens
2 tbs Brianna's vinaigrette
1 lemon

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Coat the bottom of a casserole dish with the olive oil. Lay the salmon, skin side down, onto the dish; Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Cut butter into thin slices and place on top of fillets.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Just before serving, cut lemon into 4 wedges and toss the greens with about 1 1/2-2 tbs of the vinaigrette. Serve salmon with lemon wedges.

A tall glass of Perrier topped off with another lemon wedge is a nice addition, too.

Et voila! Bon appetit!

2010-04-22T11:03:00.000-04:00

ode to the earth

your gravity is grounding
your majesty astounding
the vibe very healing
with the sky as our ceiling
the oceans so wavy
i'm thinking that maybe
we can stay here forever
one way or another, together

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T10:56:00.002-04:00

Image from here

Happy Earth Day, everybody. Find a way to honor the land that you came from! K? :)

2010-04-21T12:00:00.001-04:00

Image from here

More eco information and resources

2010-04-21T10:33:00.005-04:00

My brain is obviously on the eco-spin this week, hardcore. I've subscribed to a couple of green blogs recently, so I'm constantly being fed with so much information about sustainable living all day while I'm sitting at my desk. It's great!

I've followed the Whole Foods blog for a while, and it's a good one. They obviously have their marketing spin on it, but it has provided me with a lot valuable information about the products that I support there.

The more recent blogs I've subscribed to are TreeHugger, as well as Green, Inc., the New York Times environmentalist blog, both of which I highly recommend. There are just too many issues that both blogs cover to recap it all here, but just take my word for it and check 'em out.

As if it wasn't already a mental Thanksgiving for my eco-thirsty brain, Whole Foods also compiled a list of 14 worth-watching food films. I can't wait to dig in!

Mutability

2010-04-20T21:25:00.004-04:00

We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon;
How restlessly they speed, and gleam, and quiver,
Streaking the darkness radiantly! - yet soon
Night closes round, and they are lost forever:

Or like forgotten lyres, whose dissonant strings
Give various response to each varying blast,
To whose frail frame no second motion brings
One mood of modulation like the last.

We rest. - A dream has power to poison sleep;
We rise. - One wandering thought pollutes the day;
We feel, conceive or reason, laugh or weep;
Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away:

It is the same! - For, be it joy or sorrow,
The path of its departure still is free:
Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow;
Nought may endure but Mutability.

-Percy Bysshe Shelley

Elephants are good luck.

2010-04-20T21:01:00.001-04:00

2010-04-20T14:11:00.002-04:00

I am loving how the sun is coming up earlier and earlier now that spring is here. It makes getting up in the AM so much easier and happier. When it's not a torrential downpour :) My goal in life is to practice my asanas first thing in the morning, every morning, even when I have to be at work at 9. I'm still working on it, but I always envision it happening during this time of year when there is light to give me the energy.

Earth Day

2010-04-19T13:07:00.002-04:00

Going to California really renewed my outlook on being green. I've amped it up a lot since I've been home. I started a compost pile in my backyard, and have been paying closer attention to the things that I throw in the garbage and things that I can recycle.

The light bulbs I replaced around my house were all newer, more energy-efficient ones.

I replaced my razor blade with a Preserve razor, one that is made from recycled plastic and once it wears out, you can send it back to the company and they can recycle it again!

I've started cleaning my kitchen cutting board and bathtub drain with baking soda.

I watched No Impact Man.

If it's yellow, let it mellow!

I've resolved to go to my local farmer's market every Wednesday when it opens in June.

The 40th Earth Day is coming up on Thursday. What will you do to celebrate? I'll be seeing the new Disneynature film, Oceans!

Making art & loving life

2010-04-19T13:02:00.000-04:00

Photo by Mike Gens

California Part 2

2010-04-19T12:58:00.003-04:00

California

2010-04-19T11:20:00.004-04:00

2010-04-11T16:20:00.004-04:00

Hey, everybody! I'm back from my beautiful California vacation. Words can't even describe my experience, but I can say that there was definitely some spiritual transformation that happened. It was really nice to give back to myself. I had 7 days straight with some of my closest friends in the world, ate tons and TONS of delicious, fresh, local food, slept a lot (on Mother Nature's clock, of course), got lots of physical activity, saw art, and more nature than I've possibly ever seen in such a short amount of time.

I feel truly aligned with the Earth's vibe and it feels GREAT.

So now I'm back to reality, but there are still lots of good things coming my way. I'm home today with my dad and I gave him his Sunday shave and we have the baseball game on now. I spent the whole afternoon outside, being the maintenance woman of the house now, cleaning up my yard, starting my compost pile, taking down the Christmas lights (yes, I know, it's April), and replacing light bulbs. It feels good to be handy! :)

I'm supposed to get my photos back tomorrow (I shot 6 rolls) so I'll be doin' some more postin' on that soon!

xoxo
Caroline

2010-03-30T19:49:00.003-04:00

Over the past two months, my life has changed a lot. I applied to graduate school, finally started teaching yoga, and started spending more time with my family.

The last Saturn-Pluto square was very intense for me (and for many in the collective, I'm sure) and I became extremely motivated to root out everything that wasn't working for me, and started amping up everything that still is. My father suffers from Parkinson's Disease unfortunately, and doesn't go out too much anymore. He can't do everything that he used to do and my mom and I have to help take care of a lot of things for him. My mom gives him his medicine, helps him take a shower, etc. I shave his face. I can tell now how much he appreciates me staying home and watching lots of movies with him, or sitting together in the family room, both of us reading quietly. Even if I'm napping in my room, or doing laundry, or sitting here on the computer blogging, I can feel how happy he is that I'm nearby and that makes me feel good, too.

I'm much less stressed out than I was just a couple of months ago. My habits have changed a lot. I've been eating almost nothing but unprocessed food and I can't tell you what a difference it's made. I go to bed very early now, too, including weekend nights, so I can wake up early and do yoga first thing the next morning. Weekend days are the only time of the week I can practice first thing in the morning, and I feel so good for the rest of the day that it's worth missing out on hanging out at the bar with acquaintances. I say this all the time, but the statement still stands - I don't miss living in the city. I enjoy the quiet, open land, and trees. It's the suburbs and it's no countryside by any means, but the air is still a little bit fresher.

I've returned to a place of simplicity and peace and balance. I do feel it must look sort of odd for somebody my age to feel and be this way, and I frequently poke fun at myself for being an old lady. But this is very comfortable for me, so who cares? :)

On Technology

2010-03-30T09:24:00.006-04:00

Photo from here

A lot of people I know have gotten fed up with living in the technology age. We can be, and often are, connected at all times, whether it be via cell phone, Twitter, Facebook, Gchat, and what seem like a foray of other social networking websites.

Many people complain of being annoyed by people posting an abundance of status messages per day, publicly chronicling every move - from the first cup of morning coffee to saying goodnight to the world wide web.

I have heard some say that technology will actually be the demise of culture as we know it. What was once good old-fashioned communication like snail mail, using a landline or ::GASP:: talking to somebody in person, has now metamorphosed into faceless and anonymous correspondence devoid of the emotion and humanity of a personal connection.

As a person with a lot of Mercury in my birth chart, I naturally love all modes of communication and I don't have a problem extracting personal meaning from messages that I read when not IRL. If you send me an IM, an e-mail, write on my Facebook wall, or text me, I'll know what you're saying - understanding all emotions that you're expressing because I can hear your voice in my head.

I'll talk to you on the phone for 3 hours if you want. If the conversation is good. And I also find using all these little gadgets as fun. I enjoy tweeting random thoughts that pop into my mind that I would like to express, or insights that I think are important to share with the collective. I find it very fun and entertaining... and also relatively harmless.

I understand that not everybody is this way, and I do agree that there is a fine line between finding a pure level of human interaction, uninhibited by the easy and convenient facade that the internet and other forms of faceless communication seem to offer, but I am choosing to focus on the positive here. New to Facebook, my mom came home from work last night unbelievably excited, and laughing hysterically with joy, hugging me over the fact that she was able to find and connect with two of her best friends from medical school, two people that she hadn't spoken to for over 30 years and this is something that never would have been possible if not for this technology.

I don't believe that it is technology per se that propagates humans from isolating themselves from one another, it is that humans have, either consciously or unconsciously, chosen for it to be this way. If we humans use our technology "powers" for good instead of evil, can you imagine what the world would look like? We don't have to live in a world where at any moment our race could become extinct due to the threat of nuclear weapons. We don't have to live in a world where sources of clean drinking water are becoming less and less abundant by the day. We don't have to live in a nation where the only options for affordable food are actually those that cause increasing percentage rates of disease and death.

I realize that no one human can do it alone, nor do I have any particular suggestions on where exactly we could even start. But I do still have faith that as a united collective, somehow, it is possible for us to change our choices in order to turn things around. And I do think we can use technology to help.

On the planet Neptune

2010-03-27T11:55:00.003-04:00

Photo from here

In Roman mythology, Neptune ruled the sea, a place of the unknown and that which is largely unexplored, even though evolutionarily speaking, this is the origin from which humans came. Symbolically, this archetype represents the depths of human consciousness to a degree that is often mysterious and unexplored in waking life.

On the shadow side, Neptune is the planet of smoke and mirrors. Nicknamed by astrologers as "the Fog Machine," wherever Neptune is on your astrological birth chart, or by transit, you might expect to find that a certain area of your life is confusing and filled with illusion.

At least for me. Neptune falls on the cusp of the 4th house on my birth chart, which rules roots and family. The way that this is manifested in my life is that the house where I grew up, and the house that I live in now, is completely and utterly full of clutter. As a "pack rat" (to put very mildly), my mother has gotten rid of very little in the past 35 years that she and my father have lived in this house. As a result, there is so much disorganization here, it is hard to find anything if you leave it in a certain place. A common statement made around these parts is, "You can't find anything in this house." It can be very frustrating to live in a home where items easily and mysteriously disappear more often than not, and also, things around the house that break and need replacement cannot be repaired. Being the neat freak that I am, coming to terms with living in a disorganized environment has been a big challenge for me for as long as I can remember.

On the positive side, Neptune is the planet of transcendence. Wherever Neptune is in your astrological birth chart, or by transit, you may find that you have the emotional wherewithal to exceed the worldly challenges encountered. My goal in manifesting Neptune's energy in my 4th house of family and home is to transcend this challenge, releasing judgment and hostility, so that I can channel positive energy into the situation instead of negativity and resentment. Also of note, my family throughout the years has transcended a number of very harsh life challenges through spirituality (also Neptune-ruled), prayer, and connection to God.

Do you feel Neptune's influence anywhere in your life?

On war... conclusions

2010-03-26T23:04:00.008-04:00

A while back, I made a couple of posts regarding the topic of war. Well, I am almost finished with For Whom the Bell Tolls, and I have watched what feels like quite a number of war dramas, including Band of Brothers, which I just concluded watching this evening.

My original query:

Is war the opposite of peace, and if so, does that mean we need one to have the other?

Having only explored the very tip of the iceberg through the cultural and artistic realms of mainstream film and literature, I have not reached a cohesive and definitive conclusion on the topic.

What I can say is it seems, to put it gently, that it is a sad reality that war exists, and yes, I suppose while theoretically war is not necessary, speaking from a more pragmatic perspective, what does seem necessary is that a collective, in this case modern-day nations, must stand up to protect their citizens and other citizens of the world who are in danger under their own government and who are, under the perception of the aforementioned nation, not being properly looked after by the society to which they belong. For instance, the U.S. had a moral and ethical obligation to defeat Hitler and the Third Reich. (I realize this is a reductive statement on WWII, but I make it for argument's sake).

Is it fair that innocent bystanders die as the collateral damage of warfare? I don't believe so. Is it fair that young men and women must risk their lives to uphold justice? No, I don't believe so.

But how else, realistically, can justice be served?

This is not a rhetorical question, but an idea I plan on exploring for a long time.

2010-03-26T10:24:00.002-04:00

This morning I found a neat little website, Earth Clinic Folk Remedies. There is information about all sorts of home remedies for all sorts of ailments, with message boards on which people post with their insight and experience. I'm going to be trying apple cider vinegar (lovingly nicknamed "ACV" by users) for my knee and ankle ailments.

2010-03-22T10:40:00.003-04:00

My beautiful friend and fellow yogini, Katie, just started a blog, and I can already tell that this is one for which I will be constantly checking my RSS feed.

Check out this post, which includes the lovely Robert Frost poem "A Prayer in Spring".

Welcome to the blogosphere, Katie! <3

On Cleansing

2010-03-22T09:01:00.009-04:00

Picture from here

In the health world, starting a dietary cleanse in the spring is not uncommon. Along with spring cleaning that we do in the external environment - closets, drawers, cabinets, cars, etc., spring is also a good time to clean out stagnant, leftover, and unneeded junk and toxins in the digestive system.

I started my cleanse on Saturday, the day of the Spring Equinox. There are a million ways to do a cleanse - juice only, fruits only, veggies only, kitchari only, or in tandem with herbs that typically induce regularity and cleansing of the liver. You can buy special kits with these herbs at health food stores.

I'm using the same kit that I used in January. Food-wise, my dietary cleanse will include:

an increase of fruits and vegetables
whole grains and seeds (whole wheat, quinoa, millet, etc.)
lots of water and ginger tea

I won't take:

coffee
alcohol
refined carbohydrates
any food containing artificial ingredients and/or preservatives

To be taken very sparingly:

meat (especially red)
dairy products

I'll be doing the best that I can for the next two weeks to follow this regimen. If I slip up, it won't be the end of the world because my intention is simply to use this time to cultivate heightened awareness of everything that I take into my body.

This is day 3 without coffee and I am noticing a big difference. Coming off caffeine is difficult and I only drink 1 cup per day. I had a headache all weekend (which I think is also a result of the changing weather), and I've been feeling really lethargic and stressed and just blah. I've noticed sugar cravings, but I expect things to start turning around within the next couple days.

I also like to use my cleanse time as a time for taking extra rest, journal writing, cooking, etc. My yoga practice is usually a lot slower, and hopefully I'll also have extra time to do pranayama and meditation.

I've also been turned on to the magical power of turmeric for its skin and joint healing properties, as well as rooibos tea just for the fun of it.

Here's to another quick and happy week...

xoxo
Caroline

2010-03-19T11:22:00.004-04:00

Check out this lovely necklace that Catherine from fraisedesbois-edelweiss sent me! I won her giveaway a couple of weeks ago. Thanks, Catherine!

Enjoy the weekend, everyone. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous in the Boston-area this weekend (although there's still flood damage-control going on in many places.) My car is busted, so you'll find me at home, doing yard work and spring cleaning!

xoxo
Caroline

On Spring

2010-03-17T15:02:00.004-04:00

Spring is the perfect time to reawaken the mind and body and put into action all of the ideas, feelings, and hopes that have been stirring within during the more introverted, cold winter months. It doesn't take much to notice that once the sun is out longer, the flowers bloom, and the temperature warms, so do our spirits and physical energy levels.

The beginning of the zodiac cycle begins with the spring equinox. The energy of fiery Aries, the ram, is one that dives headlong into the pursuits that interest him/her, courageously, strongly, and without giving a moment's hesitation.

Use the time of the Spring Equinox (March 20 17:32 UT) to set intentions as to what areas or goals in your life you'd like to rocket yourself into during the new zodiac cycle. Maybe you will resolve to finally start working on your portfolio, eat more veggies, or simply to give loving kindness to those around you.

On the Irish

2010-03-17T10:44:00.006-04:00

Photo from here

Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Even though my appearance may conceal it, I am in fact, part Irish. My great grand parents came from County Cork to Newfoundland at what must have been the beginning of the 20th century. How they ended up in Boston is still sort of a mystery to me.

In appreciation of green pastures, Guinness, corned beef and cabbage, rainbows, and all that is conventionally or unconventionally associated with the Irish, I wish you all a Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Try not to go too crazy on the drinking, people :)

2010-03-15T13:14:00.003-04:00

Kitty Powers & Spider, 2010

This weekend in the Boston-area was completely rained out. Saturday, Sunday, and today have been nothing but torrential downpour and pseudo-hurricane-like conditions. There has been major flooding and power outages throughout the region. It's bad.

With the weather being what it was, I stayed indoors and introverted. On Saturday, after seeing Alice in Wonderland, Adam and I walked through the Jo Ann Fabrics in the mall and decided to take a look around. I wound up buying some color pastels and drawing paper, and went on a drawing rampage!

All of Saturday night, I drew. I haven't drawn for years, and although I'm by no means the next Picasso, I think I still have some skills and innovation in me! I got completely lost in an imaginative/creative flow and it felt so good to go inside and find that again.

I reminisced on the phone with Caroline yesterday about how when we were young, instead of meeting up at family gatherings, or going to college parties, or doing whatever, how we used to just sit around and draw when we had nothing to do, talk, and laugh, and there was nothing more to life than that. Luckily, it still feels possible to get back to that simplicity.

And even at the bottom of the sea... I could still hear inside my head...

2010-03-13T21:55:00.003-05:00

I'll scan these soon, but I went on a drawing rampage and I couldn't wait to post these. They're just scribbles, but I like them!

Hoot Hoot

2010-03-13T21:53:00.002-05:00

On cycles

2010-03-12T09:38:00.005-05:00

Photo from here

Ahhhh ::sigh:: we've arrived at one of the most pleasant times in the weekly cycle: Friday!

It's amazing how our lives have a certain rhythm to them. Our bodies and nature, in general, operate by these cycles every moment of everyday. They work on a micro level way out into the collective. From seconds in a minute, to the planetary orbit of our solar system, these rhythms exist.

On a daily basis, I wake up with the sun, and if I'm able to, I practice yoga first thing in the AM (although I must admit this tends to happen more on the weekends when I don't have to work). I charge myself up building up my energy in the morning, eat a big lunch at noon, and then slowly as the day goes on, wind down and down and down until it's time to sleep again.

If you're like me, the work week is a very structured cycle, too. Monday is a day where a lot of energy is expended. There's always lots of traffic on Monday morning for the commute. Work energy increases up to Wednesday (Hump Day as I fondly call it) and by the time we get here to Friday, energy and morale have almost, if not entirely, diminished, and we're ready to take rest on the weekend to charge up the batteries. The commute to work on Friday is nothing. There's never any traffic.

If you don't already, you might be interested in observing your energy levels during the lunar cycle. Each phase starts with the New Moon. We build energy out of the darkness, starting from a clean slate and slowly build to the Full Moon where all energy is released. It's common knowledge in a hospital that the day/night of the Full Moon is always very busy, full of people that have injured themselves or have lost their mind due to that release of energy not being properly balanced.

And while we, as a human collective, are constantly evolving, there are ever-present cycles that occur. History repeats itself. There are political cycles from rebellion and anarchy that move to strict dictatorship. Astrology posits that our solar system is set up for these phases of events indefinitely.

Cycles, just like anything else, can be used positively or negatively depending on your intention and how you use them. If you eat a lot of sugar, have lots of energy but then quickly crash and need to seek out more sugary treats, that's a cycle that might not be useful to you. If you start going to bed at the same time every night, and wake up completely refreshed, then maybe that's a good cycle. It's different for every individual, of course.

Today, take the time to notice the cycles in your own life and if they help you or not.

And Happy Friday :)

xoxo
Caroline

On Life's Purpose

2010-03-10T10:50:00.005-05:00

Photo from here

Do you know what your life's purpose is? How are you supposed to know, or how to get there?

Last night, teaching one of my first yoga classes ever, I, for the first time, felt a deep sense that I am fulfilling what is part of my life's true purpose. It is a magical, whole, and joyous feeling and I'm very grateful that I've accessed this.

I think I have gotten here by following the path of my natural desires and being honest with myself. A long time ago, I set an intention to be open to the right opportunities, and with patience, they arrived.

I'm seeing lots of people around me in similar situations and it is truly unbelievable. A colleague of mine recently applied for a job at a hospital in California. She wasn't confident of her qualifications, but decided to give it her best shot. She wound up interviewing really well, got the job, and now she gets to move to the west coast and make almost double the salary that she is making now! My best friend's roommate is exceeding boundaries at her fashion job and is rising to the top at a remarkable speed and leaving her peers in the dust. Another friend who has been looking for a relationship for a long, long time just found herself the most attentive, sweet, and intelligent young man that I've heard of in a looong time.

I think we have Venus (gifts, pleasantries) and Uranus (surprises) to thank for all of this. These two planets were conjunct on March 3. So... THANK YOU!

On exhaustion

2010-03-05T09:51:00.005-05:00

Photo from here

I don't know about you, but these past couple weeks have been very hectic and full of frustration and anger (Mars retrograde) for me, especially at my work (10th house - read more about the houses here). Despite my best efforts to stave off fatigue, I'm totally worn out. I'm so thankful that it's the weekend and I can take a retreat to Cape Cod. Finally.

From my experience this week, I'm reminded how important it is to honor your body and let it rest when it is tired. I got an e-mail newsletter yesterday about sleep and how important it is to get enough of it. The author said that we are meant to "go, go, go" but we're also meant to "rest, rest, rest" afterward. I agree, and believe that it is beyond essential!

Here are my suggestions that can keep you on your A-game when your mind and body are totally fried:

Make the time to recuperate. Cancel plans if need be. I have a bad habit of cramming too many social obligations into my schedule. Working full-time, maintaining a daily yoga practice (or creating any daily routine to do something for yourself), trying to eat healthy, and getting enough sleep - these things in and of themselves take a lot of time and commitment. My good habits start sliding to the wayside when I have meet to so-and-so for dinner, help a friend with a project, go to BJ's for my mom, go to a party. These are extraneous obligations that don't help me when my body wants to stop and rest and counteract stress. I'm not saying that socializing isn't important. I believe that relationships and human connections are at the core of what make life worth living. Just try and be reasonable with your commitments and don't overdo it. Sometimes you have to say no because you need and deserve a few moments to yourself.

Eat right. Honor your body by drinking lots of water and eating fresh and healthy food. I won't outline what that should be, but I'm confident that if you listen to your body, you'll easily figure it out. I've found that lots of fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains typically do the trick as well as cutting out refined carbohydrates, caffeine, booze, and any other toxic junk you might use to get by.

Relax yourself. When we're stressed, the sympathetic nervous system kicks in, making us all fight-or-flight. It's not good for this system to be activated for too prolonged of a period. The adrenals become stressed, the heart has to work harder even though eventually the quality of circulation is decreased, and quality of sleep is decreased, amongst many other things. So whether you want to just go somewhere quiet, spend time outdoors, take a yoga class, have a nice hot bath, get a massage, reiki - do anything you want. Just get that parasympathetic nervous system working because when this component of the nervous system is activated, we're able to tap into the core of the body's healing and rejuvenating powers.

As I mentioned before, sleep! Everybody knows how well we function off a good night's sleep. Sleep can be very grounding, and if you're grounded, you're much less likely to be frazzled with mundane negative events.

Be gentle with yourself. Don't beat yourself up if you're too tired to work out at the gym or if you eat a candy bar. That boy you like, if he's truly cool, will still like you if you take a rain check on the movie date. It's totally all good.

As you can see, there's no magical secret to being energized. Check in when things get hectic in your mind and always be good to yourself. Once you're taken care of, then you can give your best to everyone around you.

Enjoy your weekend, everybody :)

xoxo
Caroline

On Animals

2010-02-23T14:23:00.005-05:00

Photo from here

A dog has no use for fancy cars... or big homes or designer clothes. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor... clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give 'em your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel... extraordinary?

I had the pleasure of watching Marley and Me this weekend, and naturally, I got to thinking about pets and how important the animals in our lives are.

There has been substantial scientific research and media coverage of how pets improve the quality of life for, well, everyone basically, from childhood to old age, from the healthy to the sick. They help to comfort us in time of need as well as teach us nurturing skills, and these are only a couple of examples.

You've probably seen this before in some sort of forwarded e-mail, but I think this is not only cute, but profound:

On how to live like a dog:

1. Live simply.
2. Love generously.
3. Care deeply.
4. Speak kindly.
5. Remember, if a dog was the teacher, you would learn things like:
6. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
7. Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
8. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
9. Take naps.
10. Stretch before rising.
11. Run, romp, and play daily.
12. Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
13. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
14. On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
15. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
16. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
17. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
18. Be loyal.
19. Never pretend to be something you're not.
20. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
21. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

In my family, we have never owned a "pettable" pet like a cat or dog, only parakeets. Although they are pets nonetheless, it's a little bit different. I am only waiting until the right moment when I can adopt my own cat or dog someday.

2010-02-23T14:08:00.008-05:00

Photo from here

There was an owl hooting out my window last night,
He said, "Listen, young girl. You'll be alright."
With that comfort, I slumbered softly and deep,
With forever and always his wisdom to keep.