February 2nd–Imbolc–Crêpes Day!!!

Posted on February 2, 2012 | 2 Comments


It’s Imbolc!

February 2nd and right on schedule, the lambs are being born. (One of the symbols for Imbolc is the lamb.) We couldn’t believe our luck yesterday, as we saw three new-born little lambs just down the road from us. There was a white ewe with her two white babies and a black ewe with her one black lamb. We watched and observed them for quite some time as the babies followed their mothers everywhere, drinking milk, and snuggling.

In my house, preparations for Imbolc have been going on since New Year. I’m really excited about our Imbolc celebration, as we have quite a day planned.

I’ve started the spring cleaning ritual. As Imbolc marks the time where we move from internal stillness to external action and putting our intentions out there into the world, we definitely want to make this transition with a sense of freedom.

Whenever we ask for change, or intend for new things, people, events to come into our lives, we’ve got to be sure that there’s room for the new stuff. If our home is cluttered, if we’ve literally got too much baggage, it’s going to be tough to allow for the new to enter our experience.

I’m quite pleased that our home is very simple and our possessions have been refined to “not to little, not too much.” It is a process, though, to keep it that way and so opportunities like spring cleaning are welcomed. Plus, it’s great knowing that spring cleaning really isn’t that big a deal when there’s not that much to clean.

I did the closets yesterday. I did Léo’s room last week. We’ve got nothing in our room besides the bed. Tomorrow I’ll do the bathroom, toiletries, beauty products, first-aid, etc. Then all that’s left is the kitchen (which I started decluttering a couple of weeks ago), and the storage closet. The storage closet, on the other hand, is daunting I have to admit. There’s not a whole lot of stuff in there, but the stuff that is in there, I don’t really know what to do with. We’ll see.

I’m going to do my Mining the Mandala Imbolc practice on February 1st with my yoga students. That will be my time to honor Imbolc in a deep and personal way and also to reconfirm and fine-tune my intentions for 2012 before I send them out into the world.

February 2nd, the actual day of Imbolc will be a day to share this special celebration with family and friends.

Our celebration will be blend of a few traditions.

In the morning, we’ll tell the story of the Queen of Four Fires—the story of the Goddess Brigid, the goddess of Imbolc.

Then we’ll end with this Imbolc prayer:

Imbolc Prayer

We’ve made it to the mid-point
of the Winter dark and bleak.
From this day on the Sun
will climb and thaw the
ground and creeks.
Bless us now, oh Maiden fair,
and keep us in your loving care.
Showing signs of new life everywhere
as you awaken from your sleep.

–Akasha

Next, we will plant bulbs in the garden. Planting bulbs is a very tangible and rather quick way for children to see the transition of interior to exterior as the bulbs bloom into early spring flowers.

We have a ritual with the bulbs and that is to first, know what intentions we want to send out into the world. You can get the bulb ritual here.

Imbolc is also known as Candlemas, which is a Catholic holiday. As with Christmas, the Catholic church superimposed a Catholic holiday on top of a pagan celebration. So, February 2nd, also has to do with the blessing of the candles for the church. Here in France, Candlemas is known as La Chandeleur. Here, you go to church and gets a candle to bring back home. If you make it back home without the candle going out, then you get all sorts of good luck. So, we’re going to go to church and try to bring a lit candle home.

We are also going to make our own candles. Traditionally, we would make all the candles we would need for the entire year on this day. I would totally be down for that, it would be really meditative, but I’ve got a five-year-old and a one-year-old and that would never work. So, we’re just going to do a few. We’ve found a local bee product store from which we ordered our beeswax sheets and wicks to make easy rolled candles. Then we’ll bring a few of our homemade candles to a natural spring, as a pilgrimage to a spring is another Imbolc tradition. We just discovered a spring at La Chapelle de Fonpeyrine in the neighboring village of Tursac that is known for being miraculously healing.

La Chandeleur is also the day of the first crêpes of the year. “First crêpes?” I asked my husband. The answer is that over Christmas, there are all kinds of traditional Christmas foods to eat that no one is thinking of crêpes. In January, we have La Galette des Rois—the cake of the kings—so again, no one is thinking of crêpes. But finally, on February 2nd,one starts to think of crêpes again. AND, when making the crêpes, you hold a coin in one hand and if you manage to properly flip the crêpe in the pan, you’ll enjoy prosperity for the year. This will be a fun moment, as our friends will join us for crêpe-making and eating!

When the crêpes are done, we will have another story-time where we will tell the story of Ollie in the Land of King Winter, by Elsa Beskow. I’ve been needle-felting the puppets for the story, and I hope that they’ll be ready. This story is about little Ollie as he reluctantly experiences the transition from winter to spring. We’ve been so focused on Winter poems and stories, that while we’re ready to transition to Spring verses and tales, we’ll miss our beloved Jack Frost, Dame Hiver (Lady Winter), Mr. Cold, and Vieux Bonhomme Hiver (Old Man Winter).

I am so excited to mark this point in the year Mandala, not only for myself, but with my whole family. I’m eager to see how the children react to all of the activities and how Léo integrates the planting of the bulbs ritual.

Take advantage of this very special time in the year to prepare to emerge from winter’s cocoon, spread your wings, and see where they’ll take you in 2012.

Loads of Imbolc blessings to you,

Mira

When inspiration fills you and enthusiasm for beauty, heart energy, and global connection pervade your being, support Global Goddess Works with a heart donation and watch your support in action.

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Posted in Animals, Children, France, Intentions, Spirituality, Uncategorized

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My Panic Story

Posted on January 23, 2012 | 3 Comments

I was invited by Gina Rafkind from www.vedasun.com to participate in her Anxiety Busting Virtual Retreat.

This is the first time I’ve written about and shared my panic story.

Click here.

Love,

Mira

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Posted in Healing, Health, Personal Development, Spirituality, Uncategorized, yoga

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Seduction, Witches, and Long Hair

Posted on January 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

Seduction, Witches, and Long Hair

an article by Katarina Silva

It happened to me once, in a little Indian village bordering Bangladesh and tucked into the foothills of the Himalayas. Sneaking past armed guards into wilderness forbidden to tourists, I left modernity behind and entered into a remote part of our planet where backward superstitions ruled.

How dare I subject myself to such danger? The locals scolded. But they didn’t alert me to the danger of neighboring tribes descending from the hills to hack us with machetes, as the ministry of tourism had. Instead, the village women were trying to protect me from being falsely accused of witchcraft!

You see, I had behaved in ways that were questionable: Neglecting to avoid eye contact with men when they spoke to me. Not covering my head with a veil. Even worse, wearing my long hair down during twilight! That dangerous, most bewitching hour in which the pisachis appeared, the witches. “You wouldn’t want the men to think you are one of them, do you, with your long, loose hair?” The superstitious villagers asked, in all sincerity, their eyebrows twisted with concern.

A witch? me? because of my long hair? But why would being a witch be a dangerous accusation? What would they do to me, if they did decide I was a witch?

(to read the rest of this article, click here)

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First Full Moon Blessings 2012

Posted on January 9, 2012 | 6 Comments

Full Moon Blessings!

This is our first Full Moon of the New Year.  As I move into a sacred space for my Full Moon practice (from Mining the Mandala), I start to take inventory of all of the gifts that I have already received since the Earth’s new year, the Winter Solstice.   I think that the greatest gift that I have received so far would have to be the gift of transformation.  I feel that since the New Year, my perspective on important areas of my life has totally shifted.  While these transformations have been intense, tiring (they’ve happened in such a short space of time), and challenging, I have a lot to celebrate this Full Moon.

I came upon this Full Moon forecast from Cathy Lynn Pagano’s site wisdom-of-astrology.com and it speaks to me as it points to the biggest area of transformation for me this year:  motherhood.

Since becoming a mom 5 1/2 years ago, I’ve had a lot of ideas zipping in and out of my head as to what my role as a mother is.  Until this New Year, none of my ideas seemed to stick.

My son Léo is an energetic, creative, intelligent, and loving boy.  In recent months, however, one would think that he’s anything but.  He goes to an “alternative” school here in France, which we thought would be fitting as traditional schools definitely don’t fit with the values of our family.

Well, Léo has been coming home spewing swear words, displaying rough and aggressive actions, and having out of control temper tantrums.  He hijacked the general peaceful energy of our home and created a dynamic in which we parents and Léo were in constant conflict.  We didn’t recognize this boy.

I was dreading Christmas vacation as I couldn’t imagine being at home with Léo for two weeks straight.  But, then a shift in my thinking happened.

I went proactive and researched and went into mama bear mode.  I wanted to created an environment that reflected our family’s values and that spoke to Léo’s soul.

It took about a week of committed care and attention to our little boy, but at the end of one week, we got our darling back.  It made me go into deep contemplation about the needs of our son, our family, and about my role as a mother.

The school days in France are insanely long.  Léo, who is in the equivalent of kindergarten, starts the school day at 9:00 and ends at 4:30, with Wednesdays off.  Even with Wednesdays off, that gives very little contact time with him four days out of the week.  That gives him a lot of contact time with other people that may not have the same values that we do.

Léo has demanded my transformation as a mother and has demanded me to step into my role with courage and conviction.  I absolutely realize now that my role is keep my child out of any educational institution and oversee his education myself in order to make sure that Léo holds on to his childhood, his innocence, creativity, loving nature, and connection to spirit for as long as he can.

Just as I am here to help his soul unfold and reveal its true nature, he came into this family in order to do the same.

Excerpts from Cathy Lynn Pagano’s site wisdom-of-astrology.com for the Full Moon 2012 that speak directly to my current personal transformation.

“This first full Moon of 2012 highlights the opposition between the Sun in Capricorn and the Moon in Cancer, and speaks to the nurturing, creating and protecting aspects of life and society.  It brings up the archetypal powers of mother and father, the issues of nurturing and protecting, and impacts our emotional body as well as our social body. The energies of family and state begin our new year, the structures that bind us together.”

Sun in Capricorn

“The Cosmic Story of Christmas Eve’s Capricorn New Moon, as well as of the Winter Solstice, promises deep change for us individually as well as collectively.  It occurred at a degree that Pluto had already worked over, so the seed-time of the Capricorn new Moon was fertile for something new to take form.  As we face the dying patriarchy, we seem to have the heavens’ assurance that if we do our work and get free of the patriarchal rules within our personal psyche, we will change our world.

What old cultural ‘goals’ are no longer valid for you?  What parts of our society can you no longer buy into?  How free are you from patriarchal rules that govern your behavior as well as your potentials?”

Capricorn as Father and as Patriarchy

 “Capricorn is also the sign of the Father whose job it is to protect the life of his child, to be a guide into the world for his child and to let go of power when it is time for his child to create the next phase of life.  ‘Patriarchy’ is ‘the rule of the fathers’, and its sin is its unwillingness of give over power to the next phase of life – to equal partnership between men and women, masculine and feminine energies.  In rejecting its own death, it creates death for everyone.”

 Cancer Full Moon – The Great Mother

 “The Cancer Moon wants to nourish and mother the new King born within each of us at this Winter Solstice.  Being a mom and having a Cancer Moon, I can tell you it’s not an easy job.  Cancer moons ‘feel’ what people need and have a great desire to give it to them.  But because we are off-balance due to the patriarchal view that all things masculine are more worthwhile than our feminine talents, our mothering can become smothering.  Or it can be a cold disregard for the true needs of the child.  Being a mother is the hardest job in the world!  And often there is no gratitude for the things we do, because all of us see nurturing as our due.  But it wouldn’t hurt to be grateful to the Great Mother more often for all the ways we are nurtured – by each other, by our food, by Mother Earth.  Learning to be grateful is good for us.  Gratitude makes life holy, because a grateful heart gives value to everything and everyone.  When we live in that awareness, our creative imagination opens up – another of Cancer’s gifts – and we know how to nurture life.”

“This Cancer full Moon asks us to look at what is happening to our world and nurture a new way of being in ourselves and in our world.   To do that, we have to discern when to literally help, when to offer advice, when to stand silent and be a witness to new ideas and growth without entangling ourselves where we are not needed.  A good mother gives what is necessary for her child’s growth and consciousness, and sometimes this entails ‘not giving’ them what they think they need.”

“When your own mother, or your inner mother, cannot give you the love you deserve and need, turn to the Goddess, for she is the Great Mother of us all.  And don’t forget to be grateful for her love.”

“A good mother loves and accepts her child enough to encourage her/his unique development.  A good father helps his child go out into the world and offer his/her unique talents to our collective destiny.  This is the promise of the Cancer full Moon – to nurture the new Light being born within you and to learn how to bring it into the world for our communal benefit later this year.”

“What does your intuition tell you to do about your life situation?  Are you taking care of your needs so you can help others achieve theirs?  What old patriarchal complexes – both in the mother and father complex- do you need to heal?  Become aware of how your life interacts with the life of the culture.  Are you bringing your nurturing gifts to our collective table?”

Do any of Cathy Lynn’s questions speak to you?  What transformations are you going through this New Year?  What are you celebrating on the first Full Moon of 2012?

Brightest Blessings to you!

Love,

Mira

When inspiration fills you and enthusiasm for beauty, heart energy, and global connection pervade your being, support Global Goddess Works with a heart donation and watch your support in action.

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Posted in Children, France, Moon Cycle, Personal Development, Uncategorized

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Total Relaxation

Posted on January 9, 2012 | 5 Comments

My action step (from the Daily Pages in Mining the Mandala)today is—total relaxation.  Seems to be an oxymoron, doesn’t it?

Yesterday I realized that the most important thing that I could do, the most important thing that I needed to practice, the thing that I have never done before, is to totally relax.

Now, I don’t mean that I’m going to relax all day long lying on my couch, snuggled up with a great book, and a cup of chai (Sounds like heaven!).  I have two small children and that kind of relaxation is just not going to happen right now.  Even if it could happen, that’s not the kind of relaxation that I need anyway.

Dr. Wayne Dyer says that he always chooses beauty and always takes the path of least resistance.  I first heard him express this way of moving through life years ago on a PBS special.  For some reason it’s stayed with me even though I have not been able to apply it to my own life up until now.

Whenever insights come to me, I often have this feeling of “This is so logical.  Why didn’t I know/understand this before?”  That’s how I feel about choosing beauty and the path of least resistance.  Why didn’t I get this before?  It’s so simple.

I see so clearly now that I’ve always chosen the path of most resistance.  It seems to me that I’m constantly resisting what is instead of surrendering to the present moment.  Just the thought of surrendering starts to make my heart palpitate.

As it usually happens, things occur in my yoga practice that lead to new insights a few days later.  I’ve been intensely working on opening my front body (quads, hip flexors, psoas) for some time now.  When I say that I’ve been working intensely, that’s precisely what I mean.  Working.  Intensely.

I’m a yoga teacher and somehow I totally missed the full understanding that the body will not open when you are trying to will it to open.  Just as we as people put our guard up when someone is trying to force us to do something, so does our body.  But, when someone approaches us an takes us into their loving arms and accepts us for who we are, we melt and we are much more willing to fulfill his or her needs.  So is the body.

Opening my quads is like torture to me.  The sensation is so intense that I tense up when trying open them.  The other day, it occurred to me that a person who is open in the front body is someone whose heart is soft, who is open to Life, who is open to other people.  Someone who is open like that is someone who is totally relaxed.

I decided to commit to a relaxed feeling as I practiced the quad stretch.  I allowed the stretch to take time, to allow it to happen on its own.  Lo and behold, the quads opened like never before.  So much tension was released all over my body that I was completely exhausted for the rest of the day.  Resisting is exhausting.

Bringing my yoga pracitice into my life off the mat, I realized that I’ve been holding on to this idea that if I want to advance, improve, grow, and evolve, I’ve got to be in conflict with the present.  I’m fearful of surrendering to the present as it feels as though that means that I’m allowing myself to get stuck, that I’m giving into evolutionary homeostasis, that I’m going to die without having realized my dreams.

But, you don’t know what you don’t know, right?

When you function in a certain way for years, you really don’t know that there’s another way.  Sure, you may get clues about a different way of being, like I did with Wayne Dyer.  But, hearing it and even intellectualizing is not enough.  You really do have to experience the contrast between your way and the other way.  I had that experience yesterday.

Philippe, my husband, just started a new job that keeps him away a lot.  So, now I’m the primary housekeeper and child caregiver.  Yesterday morning I found myself with a pile of dishes be done, laundry to be hung and folded, floors to be swept and washed, meals to organize, and also keeping connected to the little ones.  I saw that my mind was absolutely resisting this situation.  Thoughts were racing through my head about how Philippe has to help me more (pretty near impossible otherwise the guy would never sleep), how I can’t manage this or that, how I need to get my own work done, how the kids need to…., how I need to…., how if only….blah blah blah.

Then I had a miraculous thought.  An ego check.  I reminded myself that this is what I wanted.  When my first-born was still a baby, I went back to work and cried every day.  I swore that when the second one arrived, I would stay home.  I said that didn’t matter if Philippe had to work more and that I would never see him.  I just wanted to be with my baby.  I chose this situation, I got what I wanted, and I’m still not happy?  How could that be?

At that moment I realized that I had a choice.  I could continue with utterly exhausting conflict with what is, or I could relax into it fully and completely and with total surrender—the path of least resistance.

When I allowed myself to relax into the moment, I had that realization that not once in my life had I ever allowed myself to do so.  I have never fully accepted my life situation as it is.

Suddenly, I had a sense of what living a life without resistance and always choosing beauty could feel like.  Yes, I teach Prana Flow yoga, but I am realizing that I haven’t really known and experienced what flow really is.  Suddenly, I was able to accept that thinking that I could control anything, like the present moment, is utterly ridiculous.  I have the sense the magic can begin to flow into my experience and that I can trust that Life will guide me, instead of me trying to guide it.  I can fully accept my role in the family at this moment and find the beauty and love in it and allow it to transform me and be a beneficial presence in my family.

So, this is my action step today, my sacred practice.  I have a feeling that it’s going to be radical.

Surrendering to the blessings,

Mira

When inspiration fills you and enthusiasm for beauty, heart energy, and global connection pervade your being, support Global Goddess Works with a heart donation and watch your support in action.

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Posted in Uncategorized, Spirituality, yoga, Personal Development, Intentions

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Happy New Year!

Posted on January 1, 2012 | Leave a comment

So, we’ve arrived at the much anticipated 2012.  So far, so great, right?

It seems that so many people around me are vibrating with renewed energy and a clear and focused vision for 2012.  I have friends who are barely sleeping because they have so much energy they don’t need it.  I have friends who find themselves eating less because they seem to have an abundance of inner energy and don’t need food.  I have friends who are riding intense creative waves.  Something interesting is happening.

I know that something big has happened to me.  I’ve experienced a significant shift in my understanding of who I really am and what I’m really supposed to create in this lifetime.  It’s as if feelings, clues, and hints as to who I really am that would only lurk about in the shadows of my awareness, have risen to the surface of my consciousness where they can’t be ignored.

In the past, I would dream about my radiant life, but still be held back by my fears and uncertainties.  Now, as if having gone through an alchemical transmutation, I can only see my radiant vision and feel its absolute reality.  I can still see the fear and uncertainty, but this time, they’re the ones being held at bay by the very realness of what I know to be the full expression of my being.

The inner work that I’ve been doing over the years has been helping me to build my inner strength so that now my true being is so strong and powerful that it’s overpowering, overcoming, and taking over the life that was constructed on a false self.  That false self is crumbling away….

That’s what 2012 is for, dear friends!  Time to get clear!  Time to serious about authenticity!  We have no more time to waste.  Now is the time for absolute faith.  Now is the time to get over yourself, over your ego attachments, and get into the reality of your true Self.  Question everything about anything you ever thought about your life—about the identity that you’ve created, about your opinions, your beliefs, your likes and dislikes.  Question it all and find out what your Truth really is.   (*No matter what, no matter who you are, no matter what you’ve done in your life, your Truth is absolutely MAGNIFICENT.)

Be willing to change, to evolve, to become more, to become less, to shift, to burn to ash, to rebuild, to start your life anew.

Happy, Joyous, Courageous 2012!

Love and Blessings,

Mira

When inspiration fills you and enthusiasm for beauty, heart energy, and global connection pervade your being, support Global Goddess Works with a heart donation and watch your support in action.

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5 Reasons Why I Love the Winter Solstice and Gift!

Posted on December 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

5 Reasons Why I Love the Winter Solstice

1.I have an excuse to rest and relax.

So sad that I need an excuse to relax, isn’t it?  But, at least I know now the importance of rest and relaxation.  In our western society, especially in our American culture, resting is not particularly appreciated.  In fact, resting can be taken for laziness or lack of motivation.  But, we know that rest is absolutely important to our well-being.  When we take our cues from nature, we see that nature rests in the winter.  We know that just going, going, going, isn’t’ sustainable.  We cannot go, go, go all the time.  Impossible.  When do attempt to be “on” all the time, without true, deep rest, we become sick or have emotional breakdowns.  I love moving into the Winter Solstice because it reminds me to tune into the natural rhythms of my body that are calling for me to rest at this time.  It’s preventative medicine.  It feels good.

2. I get to spend time with myself.

No, I don’t spend this period in isolation.  When I do, however, have moments throughout the day when I have a little open mental space, I bring my awareness deep inside my being.  Like shows us, winter is about moving inward.  It doesn’t have the outward moving energy that, say, the Summer Solstice does.    I like to be able to dive into the deepest part of my life and observe, look around, and figure out what’s going on in there.  How was my year?  What were my accomplishments?  What were the positive aspects of my year?  What didn’t work so well?  What might I do differently next time?  I get to take stock of how I navigated through the year, so that I can be sure to create a vision of the coming year that will be even better.

3.  I get to spend time upside down on my head.

Leading up to the Winter Solstice, I spend a lot of time upside down on my head in variations of headstand.  This season is the best time for head standing.  As we move into a headstand, we make contact between our crown chakra and the earth.  In doing so, we open our awareness and consciousness to the earth’s healing and stable energy.  When we go upside down, we are like a seed buried in the ground during winter.  Come spring, we bloom with brand new fantastic, creative, and inspired ideas.

4.  I get to call in the light.

After the precise moment of the Solstice—the darkest day of the year– the amount of light that we have during the day increases.  Our ancestors performed ritual at the Winter Solstice to call in the light for fear that they would possibly be left in total darkness forever.  We know now that the light will definitely come, but I like to call in the light as a metaphor for my own evolution and beyond.  I call in the highest vision that I have of myself, of the people I’m closest to, of my community, and of the world. During the Winter Solstice, I get to focus on all of the reasons why life is good and how amazing it will be and why I love to be alive.

5.  I get to connect with feelings of peace, love, and optimism.

When I’m busy living my life, I can honestly say that I don’t necessarily have my thoughts on peace, love, and optimism all the time.  It is one of my practices, though, to increase my daily attention to these aspects.  Luckily, we have the Winter Solstice to remind us about peace, love, and optimism.  As we enter a new cycle around the sun, we look forward to the future and all that is good about life.  When we align ourselves with nature and go deep within at this time, we naturally start to feel the call to focus on what is truly important in life.  Instead of our mind being occupied with outward action, our mind is connecting to things that really count.  Everyone on this planet truly wants peace, love, and optimism in their lives, even the people that we think are the meanest, baddest, most horrible creatures to walk the planet.  At the Winter Solstice, we go down to the bare essentials, like a tree that’s lost all of its leaves, and reconnect to what we want above all:  Peace, love, and optimism.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

***As a Solstice gift to you, I am offering FREE access to module 1 of my Into the Gold program.  Here you will be able to download a special Solstice audio meditation, the Solstice practice with worksheets, and a video tutorial.
Into the Gold is a year long pilgrimage through the sacred junctures of time to a radiant, soul satisfying life! The program is based on my new book  Mining the Mandela: A Step by Step Workbook to Reveal and Realize Your Year of Intentions.
The first module is part one of 15 and will take you through a beautiful process of setting your intentions powerfully or the year to come.
I hope you enjoy it!  And if you feel called, please share one thing from your experience either with me directly at mira@intothegold.com or in the comments below the downloads (website).

A great big Winter Solstice blessing to you!

~Mira

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Mari Visits La Dordogne-Léo Dances Michael Jackson

Posted on December 19, 2011 | Leave a comment

Mari and Armando came to visit us last month in La Dordogne.

They made this gorgeous video of my family that also showcases our beautiful region.

Made me little teary eyed….

Enjoy!

Mira

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The Speechless Full Moon..Rumi

Posted on December 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

In honor of the Full Moon/Eclipse…

Inside this new love, die.
Your way begins on the other side.
Become the sky.
Take an axe to the prison wall.
Escape.
Walk out like someone suddenly born into color.
Do it now.
You’re covered with a thick cloud.
Slide out the side. Die,
and be quiet. Quiteness is the surest sign
that you’ve died.
Your old life was a frantic running
from silence.

The speechless full moon
comes out now.

 Rumi - The Essential Rumi – Coleman Barks

*Check out my Full Moon ritual here.

Full Moon Blessings,

Mira

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I Found Her!

Posted on December 8, 2011 | 2 Comments

I found her!

The reason why we moved to La Dordogne is this goddess:

The Venus of Laussel

Well, I didn’t actually find her, but I did discover the approximate location where she was found.

Le Château de Commarque

In the land of 1001 châteaux, there is one particular châteaux that I feel drawn to over and over again–Le Château de Commarque.  I’m not really a big fan of castles, but the walking path leading up to the château is magical.  As you approach the end of the path, wondering where in the world the castle is, you just pivot to the left and there is this castle in ruins, rising out of the rock. Underneath this rock and in the rock across the way, is evidence of prehistoric and medieval dwellings.  A small stream flows in front of the castle where Léo loves to get his feet wet.

I can’t say what it is, but I feel good there.  It is my favorite spot in La Dordogne.

Le Château de Commarque is hidden in a small valley.  There is a field stretched out in front of it and on the other end of the field another rock rises out of the earth and on top of that rock is Le Château de Laussel–de  LAUSSEL!!!   As in the Venus of Laussel.

Across the valley–Le Château de Laussel

At first I didn’t make the connection–Laussel– one is a prehistoric venus and the other a medieval castle-but inside Le Château de Commarque, there is a small exhibit explaining the amazing archeological findings in that valley. Printed on one poster was, yes, you guessed it…the Venus of Laussel.

Now I know why I love this spot so much.

The Venus herself, does not live in this valley anymore.  She’s at Le Musée d’Aquitaine à Bordeaux–I haven’t been there yet, but I will soon.

My photographer sister, Mari, and her photographer fiancé, Armando, and I went out to shoot some yoga photos and we chose Le Château de Commarque area as our location.

Here are some sneak peaks of the yoga shoot:

‘Til next time…

~Mira

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Posted in France, Goddess, History, Travel, Uncategorized, yoga

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