Awakening Ganesha

January 2 , 2007                       Monthly  Newsletter                                        Volume 26                   

Happy New Year! 

It's so good to be home.  Our trip to Nepal was fruitful and interesting, but not easy. Lots of stories and experiences to share.  Hopefully we will have a slide show presentation with pictures and commentary soon.  We were hosted in Nepal by Dr. Punya Dangal of the Vedic Sciences Research Academy and his yoga students, who kept us busy with meetings over multiple cups of Nepalese chai, appearances and dinners.  It was great getting to know them individually, rather than by e-mails.  We also met many dignitaries associated with Dr. Dangal.  We feel that we made progress with the US Consulate in Nepal; however more work is necessary with the potential of a greater project than we had anticipated. Dr. Dangal is interested in introducing yoga into their elementary schools and asked us to do a yoga teacher training in Nepal in 2008. We will see......!!!

We were able to bring back some beautiful Nepalese handiwork - yak shawls, Tibetan door coverings; temple blessed malas, Tibetan monk bags and much more.  Come and visit our retail section. 

*****We start the first teacher training of 2007 on January 6th when we offer Chakra yoga, Kundalini w/ Anandasagar and 5 Elements from 4:30-6:30. Ildiko's Tuesday Hatha class will continue to be at 5:30pm. These along with the usual daily class schedule are open to the public.

We're preparing and looking forward to the New Year - 2007 - and wish you and your dear ones a blessed New Year!                                                    

The Adventures of Lionheart,  Temple Cat

Full Moon and New  Year Intentions

 Here is a practice of using the energy and vibration
of the new and full moon to energize intentions, as suggested by a certain cool cat who communicates regularly with Pleiadians and other star people.
Take a sheet of paper, write the date and place it outside to receive the light on a full moon night (next full moon is January 3rd, 6:57am Sedona time).
The paper becomes saturated with the essence of the full moon energy, representing the brightest light,
the pinnacle of accomplishment, the harvest of the seeds planted. Then, on the new moon, write your intentions for what you want to achieve or manifest in your life. I offer my own suggestions; feel free to substitute yours:
1. I am a good, practicing temple cat.
2. I successfully overcome fleas and worms. (Name an undesirable habit, condition or trait you want to
correct.)
3. I am a skilled, successful hunter of wild things.

Find a picture in a magazine or newspaper that suggests your goal. For example, if you want to be a
successful meditator, attach your picture on top of a news column and paste them onto your full
moon sheet. Your goals are released to the cosmic forces, where they can now become reality.

                     The Ayurvedic Corner

Sesame oil and Tahini  

As we settle into winter, the cooling, drying elements of this season begin to emerge. An excellent ingredient for keeping the body warm and balanced is sesame oil.

     Sesame oil is derived from sesame seeds and ayurvedically it has a sweet and bitter taste and is heating in its digestive action. It nourishes, strengthens and lubricates, pacifying vata, the dosha most likely to be out of balance this time of year.   Sesame oil, rich in linoleic acid, has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Massaging yourself daily (Abhyanga) from head to toe before your morning shower with sesame oil is an excellent way to keep the hair and skin moist, soft, supple and protected. You can also massage the oil into the legs and the soles of the feet before bedtime – a luxurious way to ground the vata dosha. Applying and massaging the oil into the nose (Nasya) with your little finger, then sniffing sharply will lubricate, protect and clear mucous out of the sinuses. Gargling with a few ounces of sesame oil for a couple minutes draws out other mucous and has been shown to reduce gum disease and tartar build-up.

     Cooking with toasted sesame oil is very popular when distinctive Asian flavors are desired. Add it at the end of your Chinese, Korean, Indian or Southeast Asian-inspired dishes to enhance flavor. Cold pressed, raw sesame oil is usually colorless and odorless, and completely different in flavor to the toasted varieties.   Tahini, made from ground up sesame seeds, has similar properties to that of sesame oil and is a popular ingredient in western vegetarian and vegan cooking. It is also an invaluable nutrient in a raw food-based diet. Nutritionally, the seeds of sesame are high in protein, and contain calcium, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin B and iron.   Tahini dressing is a wonderful way to add sesame into your diet. Pour over your favorite salad or use a thicker version as a dip. In this recipe, I have used all raw ingredients, making it friendly for our raw food friends.  

Tahini-Ginger dressing    (1 cup)

9 TBSP raw tahini 6 TBSP raw, cold pressed sesame oil

3 TBSP lime juice 3 TBSP fresh, peeled ginger,

minced (more to taste, if needed)

3TBSP agave nectar or other raw, natural sweetener

3 TBSP Nama Shoyo (raw, aged soy sauce) OR natural sea salt (more to taste, if needed)

Pinch black pepper (more to taste, if needed)

1TBSP black sesame seeds (optional)  

Place first 6 ingredients into a blender and process until smooth. Add water to desired consistency. Place in a water-tight container. Add black seeds and shake well.

 Kevin Afuso is the Chef for the Ayurvedic Kitchen at 7 Centers. He both educates and nurtures the teachers and students with conscious food during yoga trainings.

  Vedic Astrology News

The Branches of Vedic Astrology

Vedic astrology is said to have six branches or limbs, which describe various areas of study. The six branches are: Gola, Ganita, Jataka, Prashna, Muhurtha, and Nimitta.

Of these six, the one most recognized is Jataka, which is the branch that deals with the interpretation of the birth or natal chart. This branch of astrology is practiced when one receives an individual reading and predictions given by an astrologer.

 Gola, also called observational astrology, is the study of the movement of the nine planets used in Vedic astrology. These nine planets are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu.

 Ganita, is the branch of Vedic astrology that involves the mathematical calculations of the positions of the planets. This branch also requires knowledge of astronomy.

 Prashna, is the study of the “question” chart. A horoscope is calculated at the time a client asks a question, and the answer is given from the interpretation of this chart. Prashna is also called horary astrology.

 Muhurtha, is the branch of Vedic astrology that is used to select an appropriate or beneficial date to initiate a specific event or action. It is commonly done to set marriage dates, to start a new business, to begin travel, and to erect temples in India.

 The final branch, called Nimitta, is the interpretation of omens. An example of this would be an observation of a natural occurrence, such as seeing a rainbow, or hearing a bird sing, made by the astrologer at the time of meeting a client. The astrologer would then interpret this event in his session with the client. This is a very fascinating, but more obscure practice used today.

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 Teacher Trainings

       and Special Workshops            

   August 10-19th             500-Hour Teacher Training w/ the International Yoga College

Faculty includes: Hansa Knox, Natasha Korshak, Kristi  Hook, Ruth Hartung, and Kathleen Bryant, among others.  For more information contact Ginny Beal at (928) 203-4002 or go to www.internationalyogacollege.org