Blog, Music, Podcast.

I've been taking various chinese tonic herbs for about 9 months now and I can say with enthusiasm that they have made a huge difference in my health, energy level and overall mental, emotional and spiritual well being. They allowed me to explore new ideas and possibilities and to evolve new ways of being. They given me insights I've never realized before. They have increased my intuition and interconnectedness They have tuned up my body and allowed me to perform physically like never before! The best part is I'm having so much fun creating elixirs and teas that it doesn't at all feel like work or some "thing" I'm doing for my health. Also, I am only scratching the surface on what herbs I am taking and what they can do for me.

These are some of the herbs I am currently taking on a daily basis: Reishi extract, Cordyceps extract, Ho Shu Wo extract, Goji berry extract, Schizandra berry, Ginseng extract, Astragalus, Asparagus root, Gynostemma and Chaga Mushroom. I have also started taking Deer Antler and Colostrum from Surthrival.com and I'm looking forward to experiencing what these two products/herbs can do for me.

I get my herbs from a few different sources and you can check these links for more information or to buy some and experience them for yourself! Best of luck on your health and longevity journey!!!

http://dragonherbs.com
http://hyperionherbs.com
http://youtube.com/herbgardner00
http://surthrival.com
http://mountainroseherbs.com

I am also an avid shopper of www.hyperionherbs.com -- it's a pretty sweet site that has the highest quality tonic herbs at amazing prices. You should totally check it out. They have some of the most revered herbs of all time like Reishi Mushroom, Cordyceps, Ho Shou Wu, Goji, Eleuthero, Chaga, and Mucuna.

I was thinking of all the things I could do this summer and thinking of all the things I haven't done and the places I have not been. So I came to the decision that I really need to see the Northwest United States. I have heard from many people that there are many beautiful, scenic places to visit. I plan to visit the major national parks and camp and do some biking as well. I also will see Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. I'm really looking forward to this adventure and it will be very nice to have two weeks off to do it. I'm planning on getting some backpacking gear and doing 2-3 day adventures in Glacier National Park and Olympia National Park for sure. I am still researching all the great places to go. Will be fun to be to see the cities and take in some music or a yoga class as well. I'm stoked! If you have anytips for me please leave a comment. 

Jai!

Kirtan or group chanting is an ancient spiritual practice that comes from eastern traditions. It is a practice that is not bound by any religion or belief. It has a mystical nature to it that is indescribable. With practice it has the power to bring joy, bliss and love into your life and into your heart.

Kirtan is sung in a call and response fashion. There is usually a leader who will sing a line and the rest of the group will repeat that same line. Kirtan uses the ancient language of Sanskrit, which is said to contain vibrational qualities that can deeply transform our being. I personally can attest to this. Using simple divine names and mantras, combined with melody and instruments, kirtan can be a magical experience of joy and wonder.

So I've been getting back into meditation. Meaning I'm actually practicing, lol. I get up before work and meditate for an hour and then when I get home before I get into my evening stuff. Let me tell you it feels so good to be returning to this beautiful, simple and amazing breathing practice. For me it changes and shifts everything in my life. I can easily live from my center and find so much peace, joy and bliss throughout the day. I've taken a break from chanting and puja. For a long time kirtan was my main practice. Now it feels like its time for me to just breathe. Don't know why but I can see it will be my thing for sometime. See I go in and out of periods of deep practice. Sometimes I don't do anything at all. But other times I practice 2-3 hours a day. It's weird. But I am grateful that it is here now. For me to enjoy and breath into. It occured to me that meditaiton is extremely important for me right now. And also by my past experiences, it's the only way to create effective change. I think it would be beneficial for this kind of breathing practice to be in schools, taught to all. Instead of taking pills, drinking coffee and other things. People would just mediate and receive lots of relief from there everyday mind troubles and become more focues and easily able to do tasks. Granted meditation cannot heal great physical pains but I beleive it can greatly heal our minds. Free us from fear, pain and feelings of loss. At least that's what it does for me. What if in 10 years meditation was taught to children at an early age? In school's. I think it would work because to me meditation or simply breathing is totally nuetral and doesn't require and religious background. So anyway these are just some random thoughts. I'm gonna keep up my daily practice. I LOVE IT!

This past fourth of July I found myself unexpectedly attending Amma's retreat in Chicago, IL. It was amazing and life changing experience. I had been trying to get there for three years and as the old saying goes, "the third time is the charm." I had a truly wonderful and amazing time. In some ways it was what I had expected and in other ways not at all what I had expected. For years I have been a devotee of Sri Neem Karoli Baba, a great Hindu saint who lived until 1973. So I am very in tune with the whole Guru thing. I had thought a lot about what it would be like to be in the presence of Amma but never could have imagined it would be so powerful. Her presence was very indescribable. It was the most unique thing I have ever come to know. Wow! At one point I found myself trying to wrap my brain around what was actually happening and I couldn't. She was just hugging people and there was something magical in the air.

I remember wanting to go to bed, it was like 3 AM and  I could not leave the hall. I was helpless to witness the life and energy that was present in the space. At one point it felt like I was not there at all, like I had disappeared. I felt like I was lost in love. Like my ego and who I thought I was was far, far in the background. I didn't want to leave but knew I had to return to my life. I also knew that this was ok. I have returned to my everyday life with a renewed sense of bliss, harmony and love that will never be diminished. Thank you Mother!

Since I returned everything has changed. My living situation has improved drastically and so has my financial situation. It's great!  It was all perfect and in harmony with what my spiritual path needed. I feel that I was so ripe for that experience. Yes!  I cant wait until next year! Jai Jai Ma!

For more information about Amma visit: http://amma.org