Awakening Ganesha

May 2, 2006                       Monthly  Newsletter                                            Volume 18        

Namaste, 

Sat Kartar & Friends will be joining us once again in June, just in time to begin our June/July teacher training!  What a treat.  She will be here Saturday, June 10th, for an evening of Kirtan from 7:00-9:00pm.  We are expecting, as always, a lovely evening filled with joy and song.  Tickets available in advance both here and at www.spiritvoyage.com.  $15 advance/$20 at the door.

Rebekah Crisp is back from Costa Rica and is offering a 5 week series entitled "Wisdom Circle and Asana".  It will be an exploration of the body, mind, spirit through meditation and asana, and much more.  Series begins this Thursday, May 4th.  Call Rebekah for more information.  928-282-6060. See Calendar of Events below.

Interested in a Yoga Retreat?  Jeff and Michele from InnerVision Yoga will host a 3 day Memorial Day all-inclusive yoga retreat in Sedona.  For more details, see Calendar of Special Events below.

The Adventures of Lionheart,  Temple Cat

   " Our New Territory "     

 During my usual patrol of the grounds of 7 Centers, I came upon a hole in the ground.  Actually, I discovered an entire subway system of tunnels all around the yard. Already overworked from my duties with the chipmunks, lizards, snakes and birds, I did not consider this to be part of my job description, so a dowser was called in.  Michele, a lover of animals and nature spirits, recoiled at the suggestions of poisoning, trapping or drowning the family of gophers that had now set up residence under the yurt. "Noxious energy," she pronounced, was what attracted the gophers, along with soft dirt from the new plantings, water and tender roots. And so began a complex negotiation with the Species of Gopher, the plants whose roots had been eaten, and the ancestral spirits of the Land.  It was agreed that the gophers would move if they had a new territory - a Gopher Sanctuary.  The terms of the agreement were: underground water, a prickly pear garden, and a hawk-free zone. Because they needed 8 days to vacate the premises, they agreed to move after the first of the month. Michele first used her dowsing rods to locate the noxious energy, then protect the plants whose roots had been eaten, and finally find the New Territory up the hill. However, during the gopher negotiation, several plants began to clamor for Michele's attention. (The Lilac-and-Pampas Grass Affair is another story, to be continued next month.) I assisted Michele with her preparations, finding the gophers' New Territory of particular interest. Her last instructions to me, however, seemed to indicate she no longer needed my help: "Remember that these gophers are under our protection, including from you, Lionheart!"

The Ayurvedic Corner

                                  Guacamole

                        Makes 12 servings

1/2 avocado per person            1 tsp sea salt          

6 medium to large avocados      1/2 tsp pepper

2 finely chopped radish             1 Tbsp olive oil

Juice of 1 medium size lime        1 Cup finely chopped                                               cilantro

Cut avocados in small cubes.  Add all ingredients and mash slightly making sure some slightly thick texture remains.   Serve with sprouted whole wheat tortilla.

Vedic Astrology News       Venus in Pisces

During the first 3 weeks of May, the planet Venus will be transiting the sign of Pisces, the sign of its exaltation. What does the exaltation of a planet mean? Each planet has a sign in which it is most powerful and gives its full strength. For the planet Venus, that sign is Pisces.

 Venus will transit the sign of Pisces from April 27, 2006 until May 24, 2006.  So during most of May, Venus will be expressing and amplifying some of its more exceptional traits, such as compassion, love, devotion,  romance, creativity, artistry, diplomacy, and beauty.

    Also during the time that Venus is traveling through Pisces, the planet Jupiter is transiting the sign of Libra. This is called Parivartana Yoga, in which there is a mutual exchange of the rulers of the signs (Venus is transiting the sign of Pisces, ruled by Jupiter; Jupiter is transiting the sign of Libra, ruled by Venus). When this occurs it strengthens both planets and their significations.  This could bring more prosperity, generosity, universal love, and creativity in greater degrees with Jupiter in the mix. Jupiter expands what it touches.

Exalted planets can have their downside too – in the form of expressing more ego. So in the case of an exalted Venus transit, watch for overindulgence, excess, and extravagance. We could also be too self-sacrificing on the other end of the spectrum.  

      This might be a time to explore Bhakti Yoga (yoga of devotional surrender), work with the heart chakra, and be more creative and dedicated in your spiritual practices. It also a time to be helpful and generous to others and those in need, adopting a more humanitarian approach to life.

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

 7 Centers Yoga Arts

Upcoming Yoga Trainings and Special Workshops

May 8-12        Chakra Yoga Series - NYC   5-7am daily

                   Ruth Hartung

                   The Sports Club/LA Rockefeller Center

                   Contact edmeecherdieu@thesportsclub.com

May 6 & 8      Kundalini Yoga - Pranamandir

                   Go to www.pranamandir.com

Teacher Training Alumni News

Congratulations to our newest alumni:

Rachel Jackson

Dong Huan Ahn

Jessica McKneally

Dianna Lynn Banzhaf

Kasia Buchta

Melanaea Mather

David Lipsius

Margaret Brown

Christopher Colella

Erin Shannon

What a great month we had.... best wishes to all of you in your teaching endeavors.   Keep us posted.

Ceil Drucker (January, 2006) wrote a great article in the April, 2006 issue of "The Big Bend Gazette" entitled "How the West Was One: Yoga Blossoms in the Big Bend".   You can view it at www.bigbendgazette.com.  We really enjoyed it, Ceil.

Claudia Richards (January, 2006) wrote recently and is wondering about her fellow classmates.  Anyone want to send her an update?  You can contact her at claudiatr@yahoo.com