Have you seen this? I hope so. Just wanted to post it for those who may have missed.
One of many amazing things continuing on the Isla de Ometepe.
http://www.inanitah.com/giving/introduction/massage-program-2/
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Feeling the Flow, Riding the Wave: A Prayer to Bali, Burning Man, and Other Places On Earth.
Tonight, as the sacred temple burns, may the crazy, beautiful magic of the mulitverse shine brightly
within us, illuminating us with unimaginable blessings.
Opening doors, windows, breaking down walls,
to reveal to us the multi-dimensional nature
of our co-creative selves.
Weaving this into the morphic fields of consciousness.
May this recognition propel us to journey wildly, ecstatically, and courageously
into life as well as into death.
Warriors of light, beings of love.
Listening deeply to the voice of that which arises in inspiration.
Trusting deeply that which saturates our hearts with achy, joyful, fullness.
Healing and being healed by the hearts, minds, and souls of all those we encounter.
Gracefully we balance in the temporal blessing of embodiment
as well as to our eternal belonging to all that is and all that ever will be.
Allow us to be
vibrantly awakened and connected.
As within, so without.
Valerie Hope Cherrin
September 4, 2011
Asheville, NC
within us, illuminating us with unimaginable blessings.
Opening doors, windows, breaking down walls,
to reveal to us the multi-dimensional nature
of our co-creative selves.
Weaving this into the morphic fields of consciousness.
May this recognition propel us to journey wildly, ecstatically, and courageously
into life as well as into death.
Warriors of light, beings of love.
Listening deeply to the voice of that which arises in inspiration.
Trusting deeply that which saturates our hearts with achy, joyful, fullness.
Healing and being healed by the hearts, minds, and souls of all those we encounter.
Gracefully we balance in the temporal blessing of embodiment
as well as to our eternal belonging to all that is and all that ever will be.
Allow us to be
vibrantly awakened and connected.
As within, so without.
Valerie Hope Cherrin
September 4, 2011
Asheville, NC
Saturday, September 3, 2011
On the Move, In the Mood
Today I'm sitting in my dear friend's apartment in Asheville, NC. My observation about Asheville is that there are people creating conscious community here like nowhere else I've seen in the states in a town this size (83,000 aprox). It's quite inspiring to see. This weekend is the LAAFF festival, Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival with local music and expression in the streets. More on that after I've visited.
I've been hanging out back in the USA for just over 2 months now and will be here for close to another 2 before going back down to Latin America and towards my new home on Ometepe. (www.Inanitah.com) to teach yoga and massage.
When I first came back to the states the thing that shook me most was the price tag shock. Food in Nicaragua is roughly 1/3 of the cost here. Needless to say that walking out of the grocery store in Wilmington, Delaware with a small bag of produce, honey, and grains costing around $20 was a shock when I had been spending about $20-40/week on food in Nicaragua/Guatemala (mostly buying from the grocery and cooking).
I started lurking around the dumpsters near Trader Joes and asking at the local bakery's when they got rid of their bread, existing as much as possible on "free food", almost solely on principal. It's not that I completely couldn't afford it, it's that WE, as a nation, can't afford it!
We are paying for shelf space, lights, and utilization of huge corporations to fly things from around the world for our convenience. Granted, in Central America, I do not have the opportunity to buy Israeli cous-cous or imported coffee beans, or gogi berries. The difference is that in Central America, the local markets are where people buy mostly directly from the families that grow the produce. In fact on Inanitah, we are growing as much as possible ourselves and purchasing eggs and milk from our neighbors who have cows and chickens.
How did it get so complicated here? Annie Lenord has some thoughts on this in the Story of Stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/storyofstuffproject#p/u/22/9GorqroigqM
We are paying for these massive external structures that are, on the large, unnecessary. How we live is a choice. It's always a choice. We get to say how we live and it requires us being willing to unplug from the status quo of being a consumer and beginning to trust ourselves enough to see that we can make choices from an informed place. Choosing from clarity around what our own personal truths are telling us.
How do we achieve this clarity? There are many paths. The most simple is through the art of listening. When we listen to our own inner voices instead of the ones that come from outside, we gain clarity as to what is alive inside of us. This is part of the Great Turning as Joanna Macy calls it:
lhttp://www.joannamacy.net/thegreatturning.html
Enough for now. Peace to you and this song to enliven and inspire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qd-fAnHjPg&feature=related
I've been hanging out back in the USA for just over 2 months now and will be here for close to another 2 before going back down to Latin America and towards my new home on Ometepe. (www.Inanitah.com) to teach yoga and massage.
When I first came back to the states the thing that shook me most was the price tag shock. Food in Nicaragua is roughly 1/3 of the cost here. Needless to say that walking out of the grocery store in Wilmington, Delaware with a small bag of produce, honey, and grains costing around $20 was a shock when I had been spending about $20-40/week on food in Nicaragua/Guatemala (mostly buying from the grocery and cooking).
I started lurking around the dumpsters near Trader Joes and asking at the local bakery's when they got rid of their bread, existing as much as possible on "free food", almost solely on principal. It's not that I completely couldn't afford it, it's that WE, as a nation, can't afford it!
We are paying for shelf space, lights, and utilization of huge corporations to fly things from around the world for our convenience. Granted, in Central America, I do not have the opportunity to buy Israeli cous-cous or imported coffee beans, or gogi berries. The difference is that in Central America, the local markets are where people buy mostly directly from the families that grow the produce. In fact on Inanitah, we are growing as much as possible ourselves and purchasing eggs and milk from our neighbors who have cows and chickens.
How did it get so complicated here? Annie Lenord has some thoughts on this in the Story of Stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/storyofstuffproject#p/u/22/9GorqroigqM
We are paying for these massive external structures that are, on the large, unnecessary. How we live is a choice. It's always a choice. We get to say how we live and it requires us being willing to unplug from the status quo of being a consumer and beginning to trust ourselves enough to see that we can make choices from an informed place. Choosing from clarity around what our own personal truths are telling us.
How do we achieve this clarity? There are many paths. The most simple is through the art of listening. When we listen to our own inner voices instead of the ones that come from outside, we gain clarity as to what is alive inside of us. This is part of the Great Turning as Joanna Macy calls it:
lhttp://www.joannamacy.net/thegreatturning.html
Enough for now. Peace to you and this song to enliven and inspire. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qd-fAnHjPg&feature=related
Monday, July 18, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Leaving Xela
Before boarding the bus, I got some comida typica. Sopa gallina (chicken). I think if they give you the foot, they really like you, and I got both of them, one is hidden behind the spoon.
I made it to San Pedro la Laguna. Sitting at an internet cafe, listening to cheesy 80's music. MY FAVORITE!!
(Now playing~ Bee-Gee's, "How Deep Is Your Love?")
I'm clean, warm, and at peace. My love is deep...way...dude.
Out of the city and next to the lake. Life is good. I think part of the issue for me in Xela was the loudness of the nightlife and the constant buzz of so many people. I have discovered I tend to go a little whacky without nature around for too long. I have a sense that everyone does and a lot of people are suffering from that disconnection on a daily basis without having a sense of why they are suffering.
(Now playing~Foreigner: I Want to Know What Love Is)
Tomorrow morning I have a dentist appointment here. I went in for a cleaning when we were here over a week ago, and she showed me the epic amount of cavities I have. I got half of them filled the next day, and now will get the remainder done. All for a total of 1800 Quetzales or $230. USD.
If you are without health insurance, like myself. It's almost less expensive to come down to Central America to get your basic needs taken care of, including a plane ticket and a week of vacation!
I made it to San Pedro la Laguna. Sitting at an internet cafe, listening to cheesy 80's music. MY FAVORITE!!(Now playing~ Bee-Gee's, "How Deep Is Your Love?")
I'm clean, warm, and at peace. My love is deep...way...dude.
Out of the city and next to the lake. Life is good. I think part of the issue for me in Xela was the loudness of the nightlife and the constant buzz of so many people. I have discovered I tend to go a little whacky without nature around for too long. I have a sense that everyone does and a lot of people are suffering from that disconnection on a daily basis without having a sense of why they are suffering.
(Now playing~Foreigner: I Want to Know What Love Is)
Tomorrow morning I have a dentist appointment here. I went in for a cleaning when we were here over a week ago, and she showed me the epic amount of cavities I have. I got half of them filled the next day, and now will get the remainder done. All for a total of 1800 Quetzales or $230. USD.
If you are without health insurance, like myself. It's almost less expensive to come down to Central America to get your basic needs taken care of, including a plane ticket and a week of vacation!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Complaining can be good, thanks for listening.
I have been taking classes in spanish all week at a place called Celas Maya here in Xela, highlands of Guatemala. Excellent school. Recommend highly.
I am COLD.
I can not wait to go to lowlands again (tomorrow...less than 24 hours). I havent quite known what to do with myself. The water in my hostel is cold as well. In fact, I dont think Ive had a hot shower in months but I havent cared because I have been living in 90+ degree heat! Who needs a hot shower when they are sweating?
So, I have been wearing all my clothes, consuming hot food/beverages, and not bathing properly.
The city of Xela is very nice, I`m sure, I just haven`t quite been able to get into it because most of what´s in my backpack is about as cold resistant as a bikini and flip flops. Oh yea, and it´s raining a lot too. Sunscreen, anyone?
Ok, better mood in a day or two. Looking forward to espcaping. Sometimes scarcity is necessary to appricate what you`re lacking. Right now that`s sunshine, heat, and comfort in my own skin.
But, on the bright side, I´m speaking a lot more spanish and a lot less spanglish.
I am COLD.
I can not wait to go to lowlands again (tomorrow...less than 24 hours). I havent quite known what to do with myself. The water in my hostel is cold as well. In fact, I dont think Ive had a hot shower in months but I havent cared because I have been living in 90+ degree heat! Who needs a hot shower when they are sweating?
So, I have been wearing all my clothes, consuming hot food/beverages, and not bathing properly.
The city of Xela is very nice, I`m sure, I just haven`t quite been able to get into it because most of what´s in my backpack is about as cold resistant as a bikini and flip flops. Oh yea, and it´s raining a lot too. Sunscreen, anyone?
Ok, better mood in a day or two. Looking forward to espcaping. Sometimes scarcity is necessary to appricate what you`re lacking. Right now that`s sunshine, heat, and comfort in my own skin.
But, on the bright side, I´m speaking a lot more spanish and a lot less spanglish.
Monday, May 30, 2011
LAKE ATITLAN, Guatemala
Introducing, Volcan San Pedro (arriba)
and, again...
beautiful artwork....
and, a shot of the fuller scope of the lake. 3 Volcans create a caldero here, what a magical place! I'll be going back again next week to spend more time.
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