Realign + Reignite: An Afternoon of Yoga with Mars
Namaste yogis!
Thank you to all you beautiful souls who came and joined me for this special afternoon of yoga, meditation and singing at The Yoga Room Bunbury on Saturday 8th August, 2020.
As requested, below are the lovely poems, mantras and recipes for the the yummy vegan chocolate brownie and masala chai, I shared.
Have fun with them, and I look forward to seeing you all on the mat again soon!
Blessings
Mars xxx
Behind the Thunder
By Mark Nepo
I keep looking for one more teacher,
only to find that fish learn from water
and birds learn from sky.
If you want to learn about the sea, it helps to be at sea. If you want to learn about compassion, it helps to be in love. If you want to learn about healing, it helps to know of suffering. The strong live in the storm without worshipping the storm.
Let it Go
By Danna Faulds
Let go of the ways you thought life would unfold;
the holding of plans or dreams or expectations
– Let it all go.
Save your strength to swim with the tide.
The choice to fight what is here before you now
will only result in struggle, fear,
and desperate attempts to flee from the very energy you long for.
Let go.
Let it all go and flow with the grace that washes through your days whether you receive it gently or with all your quills raised to defend against invaders.
Take this on faith;
the mind may never find the explanations that it seeks,
but you will move forward nonetheless.
Let go,
and the wave’s crest will carry you to unknown shores,
beyond your wildest dreams or destinations.
Let it all go and find the place of rest and peace, and certain transformation.
Just For Now
By Danna Faulds
Just for now, without asking how,
let yourself sink into stillness.
Just for now, lay down the weight
you so patiently bear upon your shoulders.
Feel the earth receive you, and the infinite expanse of sky grow even wider
as your awareness reaches up to meet it.
Just for now, allow a wave of breath
to enliven your experience.
Breathe out whatever blocks you from the truth.
Just for now, be boundless, free,
awakened energy tingling in your hands and feet.
Drink in the possibility of being who and what you really are
so fully alive that when you open your eyes the world looks different,
newly born and vibrant,
just for now.
The Creator’s Gift
In Ancient times, The Creator wanted to hide something from humans until they were ready to see.
The Creator gathered all the animals and sought their advice. “I want to hide something special from the humans until they are really ready for it, it is the realization that they create their own reality.”
The Eagle said: “Give it to me. I will take it to the highest mountain and keep it there.”
The Creator replied: “One day, the humans will conquer the highest mountain, and find it.”
The Salmon said: “Give it to me. I will take it to the deepest ocean and keep it there.”
The Creator replied: “One day, the humans will explore the deepest depths of the ocean, and find it.”
The Buffalo said: “Give it to me. I will bury it in the heart of the great plains and keep it there.
The Creator replied: “One day, humans will rip open the earth, and find it there.”
All were stumped until Little Grandmother Mole who lives within the heart of Mother Earth and sees with her spiritual eyes (not her physical eyes) spoke up:
“Why don’t we hide it inside them? That is the last place they will look.”
The Creator replied in an instant: “It is done.”
Traditional American Indian Folk Tale
An old Cherokee Indian was telling her granddaughter about a fight that was going on inside herself.
She said it was between two wolves.
‘One is evil,’ she recounted: ‘Anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.
The other is good: Joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.’
The granddaughter thought about this for a minute, then asked her grandmother, ‘Which wolf wins?’
The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one I feed.’
Om Ganesha
Om gam Ganapataye namaha
Ganesha sharanam
Ganesha om sharanam
Om gam Ganapataye namaha
Om Ganesha om Ganapati
Om Ganesha, om gam Ganapati
Salutations to Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, lord of new beginnings, success and wisdom
Lokah Samastah
Lokah Samastah
Sukhino Bhavantu
Om, shanti, shanti, shanti
May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all
Vegan Chocolate Brownie*
Ingredients
5 tablespoons of olive oil, plus extra for greasing
200g of dairy free 80% dark chocolate
170g of self raising flour
3 heaped tablespoons of cocoa powder
150g of brown sugar
pinch or two of sea salt
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
230ml of almond milk
200g mix of chopped walnuts, pepitas, almonds, cranberries or whatever else you like
Method
Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Grease a baking tin with olive oil
Place a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water, making sure the base doesn’t touch the water. Break 150g of chocolate into the bowl and allow it to melt, then set aside to cool slightly.
Mix the self raising flour and cocoa powder into a large bowl, then stir in the sugar and a pinch of salt. Stir in the vanilla essence, olive oil, almond milk and melted chocolate until combined.
Roughly chop and stir in the remaining chocolate and mix of nuts and cranberries, reserving a few for the top. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin, spreading it out evenly. Sprinkle over with pepitas and a little sea salt, then place into a hot oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until cooked on the outside, but still gooey in the middle.
Leave to cool for around 5 minutes, turn out onto a wire cooling rack. Serve warm or cold.
*My take on this Jamie Oliver recipe.
Masala Chai Tea
Ingredients to make about 2L
10 cups of water (give or take)
An inch or more of freshly grated or chopped ginger
Four sticks of cinnamon bark
12 cloves
15 cardamon pods
10 black peppercorns
4 star anise
6-8 Black tea bags (can also use loose tea)
2 cups Almond milk (or your prefered milk)
3 tablespoons of jaggery
Method
Bring the water and spices to the boil, then simmer for about 15 minutes. I then turned the heat off and left the concoction to stew overnight with a lid on. But you can continue following the recipe if you're making Masala Chai to be drunk then and there...
The next day I reboiled the water with the spices still inside, and reduced the heat adding the teabags, and letting it steep for about 3 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.
Next I added the milk and jaggery and adjusted the quantities for creaminess and sweetness.
Enjoy warm or cool! PS, if you make a big batch you can keep the stewed Masala Chai minus the milk and jaggery in the fridge for a few days, adding the milk and jaggery when you want.