La Luz Light

Photo credit:  M. Gallo, Muskoka, ON Vol. 1, Iss. 4,   JULY 1, 2017 Welcome to Summer!! School’s out, vacation days are getting used up, or at the very least being planned for in all sorts of ways, and the “livin’ is easy”, as the tune promises!! While Canada boasts great winter sports and activities, summer, albeit short crams in an abundance of things to see, experience and enjoy.  Whether you stay close to home or travel the globe, creating unforgettable memories with family and friends, that will last a lifetime, is the order of the day. BBQs are cleaned greased and ready to grill your favourite veggies, meats and fruit to help you celebrate the return of summer.  Some mouth-watering vegetarian grilling recipes will always keep dining or picnicking new, fresh and very yummy!  If salads are your favourite go-to during those scorching days, add some of these spectacular ideas to your menus . As I promised in my June Newsletter, I will abridge the editi

Photo Credit:  Pixabay Cosmic Trends Sensing the Energies that Support Us Summer is but a few weeks old but once the sun begins to gently kiss our skin leaving that familiar pink glow, the warmth that seems to sink deep into our soul, we instantly think about all the summers gone by and how joyful this season makes us feel. The memory of our last winter quickly melts away as it is replaced by the loving rays from this wondrous ball of fire in our galaxy and how we would die without it. July is also the season of Cancer and Leo. While Cancer, a water sign symbolized by the crab carries   tender-hearted and family oriented traits with that tough exterior with a jelly belly, Leo, a fire sign, symbolized by the fierce lion can be warm and passionate with a very keen wit. Notably, July 9 th will see a Full Moon in hard working and down-to-earth Capricorn.  It is also referred to as the Buck Moon as it is during this time that the buck’s antlers are fully grown.  Ad

Watercolor:  Francesco Panceri, Avezzano, Italy Vol 1. Iss. 3: June 2017 Welcome to June 2017! Do you find yourself alone while you delve deeper and experience spirituality more wholly? Do you look over your shoulder when entering a yoga studio or holistic center, or quickly browse through a metaphysical shop in fear someone you know will see you there? Do the people in your life openly or secretly speak of their concerns or discomfort over your chosen path, or are you seeing them with a new set of eyes? I will be the first to tell you that choosing to be “awake” can be a very lonely path if you are not supported by like-minded people or at the very least, those who are not judgmental and “let you be”. Once you do choose to open your eyes and heart to understanding the various subjects in spirituality, you can’t undo that. You can’t un-know what you now know. It changes everything when you look beyond the veil and feel with every cell of your being that

Photo Credit:  Pixabay – PIRO4D SPIRITUAL MUSINGS: Connecting to Divine Energy Here we are at the half way point of 2017! Have you achieved some of what you intended at the start of the year? Have you discovered truths about yourself that have put you on a different path altogether, and you’re loving it? Are opportunities falling at your feet because you finally decided that you are worth it and have become open to abundance? Or are you stalled because of fears or lack of support? This half-year review is a useful exercise to examine your progress. If you have the support of like-minded family and friends, you should then be well on your way. If, however, you find yourself taking two steps forward and one step back, then perhaps you need to re-examine your methods, your state of mind and state of heart, or the people that surround you. If this is you, perhaps spending time alone to answer these questions, and dedicate regularly to check ins, and to stay focused on

Photo Credit: Pixabay (PD) Cosmic Trends: Sensing the Energies That Support Us   As the season would dictate, Spring is a time of renewal, seeding, rolling up your sleeves and cleaning things up. I recently dug out some old perennials that had seen better days….Note to self….do lots of stretching before attempting garden work! Ouch! Not only did my garden receive a well-needed workout and reboot, so did my body! See how things just flow and are aligned with Mother Nature and all of her wisdom? It was not only a reminder to weed and clean the garden, and plant new and fresh life, but a reminder to do the same for my body and mind. The energies in Spring are very powerful and even if you don’t feel up to doing the heavy lifting, you may be enticed to visit a nursery and choose a colorful bloom for your window box. June 21st welcomes Summer in the Northern Hemisphere while this marks the beginning of Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Wherever you are on the globe, you

Photo Credit: Pixabay - congerdesign BOOKS THAT INSPIRE: Empowering Yourself  Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. - Francis Bacon, Essays (1625), "Of Studies". This statement by Sir Frances Bacon sums up very well how I read my books and honestly, how others should to. Let me explain.  There are books that are page turners and keep you fascinated, hooked, obsessed until the very last word.  These are books that tell a story in which answers will eventually be revealed and keeping your anxiety cranked to high. Whether the climax is to your liking or not, it kept you riveted nonetheless. You may ponder over the plot, and the characters over a short while or remember bits and pieces, which held the most emotion for you, for a lifetime, Th

Photo Credit: Pixabay - JosvdV AFFIRMATIONS: The Thoughts, Words and Actions Connection When mantras meet music, we get Kirtan!  Kirtan is a Sanskrit word that means reciting a story or prayer, or mantra and is considered a form of devotion to a specific deity of ancient Vedic times. In modern times, a kirtana, the musical experience of the call and response, is practiced globally by many, not only for devotion but in an attempt to build a strong spiritual connection in an effort to meditate and heal. Very similar to the ancient practice of yoga, chanting mantras help to ground, focus and release energetic blockages which keep us from living blissfully. Mantras, similar to affirmations, are said to carry spiritual powers when recited over several times. Not unlike Gospel choirs, kirtanas are meant to be uplifting and meditative all the while practicing a devotion to a higher power. Devotional contemporary singers in the Sikh traditions have popularized this anc

FOODS THAT HEAL - Nourishing and Grounding Your Body and Spirit Gut health has been connected to so many health issues that naturopaths and other holistic practitioners look there first when a client comes knocking on their door.  Perhaps Hippocrates had something to say about this over 2000 years ago when he said, “All disease begins in the gut”.  Although conventional doctors historically take the Hippocratic Oath, in which physicians swear to follow and uphold certain standards, advancements in medicine has lead the health industry far away from Hippocrates’ observation so long ago.  While Big Pharma gain profits ‘hand over fist’ by proverbially pushing drugs to address symptoms rather than causes, it is no surprise that many of us are seeking alternative medicine. Medicine, however, comes in many forms.  Exercise including all cardio, weight training, stretching, yoga, Pilates, routines are one medicine.  You know that after any of these activities, you feel g