May 2008 Newsletter

We are extremely pleased to announce that in May Rama Jyoti Vernon will be teaching a 3 class series exploring the therapeutic and esoteric Principles of Yoga Postures for students and teachers interested in deepening their own practice. Each class will focus on asana, i.e. Inversions, Back Bends, and Forward Folds. Learn from a master yoga teacher with over 40 years experience and be introduced to the deeper aspects of asana.

Don't miss the upcoming evening concert with Ashana, May 10th at 7:00pm. See Calendar of Events for more information. Tickets now on sale.

ode: a poem that commemorates or celebrates; written for an occasion; contemporary odes (neo-formal) are likely to be about contemporary, more cynical or popular culture subjects

Moved to creativity by the fertile springtime energies, I have begun exploring writing poetry and found inspiration in Pablo Neruda, the famous Chilean poet and politician who penned Ode to the Cat. as well as Ode to my Sock. In good company is the political activist Abbie Hoffman, who has written Ode to the Car Keys.

" Ode to a Velcro Tabs (a poop haiku)
Oh, stinky diaper.
Velcro tabs, not safety pins.
How I love Pampers".

whose claim is restoring the balance between light and dark, feather and fur, war and peace....

The Ayurvedic Corner

Ayurvedic Face Care

Ayurveda dedicates a whole section on beauty care called Lavanya Sutra. Lavanya Sutra texts address specific beauty issues with natural remedies.

Ayurveda understands that outer beauty depends on the overall health of a person. Tejas or glow that shines forth on a persons face comes from good diet, strength of digestion, and adequate hydration. The blood must also be clear of toxins which can cause rashes and breakouts.

Beauty radiates from within. When we are happy and calm internally, that joy is reflected on the face. No beauty products or cosmetics can hide sadness and stress.

Enjoying “Beauty Sleep” keeps us looking young. Proper rest is essential in allowing the body to rejuvenate. That means getting to bed early and avoiding too many late nights.

Following a daily routine of cleansing and moisturizing will keep the skin clear and supple. Since the skin soaks up whatever is placed on it, Ayurveda only uses natural herbal powders, essential oils, and food items on the face.

Gentle herbal cleansers will clear away dirt, toxins, pollutants, and exfoliate dead cells. They can clear out clogged pores, without harshly stripping skin of natural oils. Blended chickpea flour, ground almond meal, and dry milk powder with a tiny dash of turmeric is a good basic cleanser for all skin types.

Moisturizing daily is very important to keep the elasticity of such delicate skin. The best way to moisturize is massing the face with a little sesame or almond oil that is blended with Vitamin E and a few drops of pure essential oils like lavender, rose, sandalwood, or jasmine.

Weekly masks can be helpful for a deeper cleanse or moisturizing Fresh fruit pulp (such as papaya, pineapple, cherry OR strawberries) left on the face for 3-5 minutes provide a “mini peel” with their enzymatic action. Nourishing face packs can be made with aloe vera gel, banana OR avocado pulp.

Last but not least, wearing a genuine smile, makes all of us more beautiful.

For Health Consultations, Herbs, and Ayurvedic Spa Treatments, please contact Avani Robinson
Authentic Ayurveda of Sedona

On May 5, 2008 the nodes of the Moon, Rahu and Ketu, will shift signs. This is a big event, as it takes 18 months for the nodes to transit through a sign. So this marks a new cycle of karmic lessons, as Rahu enters the sign of Capricorn, and Ketu enters the sign of Cancer. They will be mov Moon's Nodes

ing through these signs until November 2, 2009. (If you didn’t know, the nodes always move backwards, so for the previous 18 months, Rahu was in Aquarius, and Ketu in Leo).

The nodes represent many of our karmic challenges, so now we are given some new energies to work with, involving the signs of Capricorn and Cancer. As the nodes change signs, we might feel a bit uneasy, or confused as new lessons will now begin to present themselves.

Rahu, the north node, is a very psychological planet and represents strong desire and ambition, a material or worldly focus, foreign things, and futuristic or alternative modalities. Capricorn is a sign ruled by Saturn, and Rahu sometimes acts like Saturn, so this is a very strong placement for Rahu.

On the high side we may be very goal-oriented and take on more responsibility and work hard! Just watch for any workaholic tendencies and plan some fun and play too! Capricorn rules career, purpose, and character, so with Rahu transiting this sign, we might become more involved in foreign or alternative ventures concerning our career and success. It’s important though to always focus on higher spiritual principles with Rahu in Capricorn, or one can be a bit ruthless or be taken advantage by others. It is time to be practical and realistic on a psychologically, and face one’s karmas in a disciplined and focused way. Just don’t be too hard on yourself!

Ketu, the south node, is about moksha, or spiritual liberation. It carries a very spiritual, out-of-body and otherworldly focus, and demands surrender and detachment. Cancer is a sign ruled by the Moon, so now our deep feeling and emotional nature goes through a sensitive transformation. It’s time to spiritualize and heal our emotional wounds, forgive and surrender past hurts, and now be compassionate and kind with others. This may be a period of increased focus on humanitarian concerns. Just don’t be fearful of the emotions that may surface now, as they are rising now to be healed and released. Cancer is a sign that denotes love of home and family, so very appropriate to spiritualize these areas as well, sensing we truly are one big family here on planet Earth.

Debra Infante, Vedic astrologer, can be reached at (928) 639-0623 for astrological consultations, either in person or by phone.

WANTED: We are looking for someone who loves/wants to tend a garden, water outside plants and watch things grow. 1-2 hours a day during the summer. For more information, call Sydney at 928-203-4400

ALUMNI CORNER