Global Gypsy

"I travelled twenty thousand kilometers before I realised the best journey was within. I could not have begun my spiritual journey had it not been for my constant desire to explore my potential. That desire was stronger than the fear of the unknown."

The above is the opening to a book written by Gerar Toye who has travelled much of his life, documenting the world through photos and notes. These personal treasures became the basis for his photographic book depicting his spiritual (as well as physical) journey.

The opening pages were so honest and raw and perfect that I wanted to share some of his wisdom...

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"The quotes (herein) are not affirmations, just starting points, where they take us depends on how far we want to go. Their meanings change as we grow and repeatedly investigate the tangent, especially when compared with our latest experiences. The quotes have served my questioning mind. They were all tangents I visited which allowed me to express through words, a plane of existence I felt, an ultimate truth realised."

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"Realisation does not mean understanding something new, but recognising something known but long forgotten."

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There are no answers only questions.

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"None of this book, the images or the insights were planned. It grew through wanting to express what I have felt by listening to my higher self. Its purpose is to inspire others to have the courage to look within, to seek who they truly are, rather than stay caught in the illusion of who they appear to be."

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"If you have not explored your world yet then I hope you will be inspired to do so. Go seek your potential. Seek out real experience and the humble simple life. Have no desire for wealth or ego, they are only distractions. Find who you are by creating and allowing the experiences you need to receive the next answer along the way. Follow your heart. Live your passion. The universe will always lead you towards the next opening experience if you are awake and looking for the signs."

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I love this one, it is so true of our daily journey through life, adapting, being flexible, open to change and willing to see the beautiful opportunity, not the obstacle that we face...

"Travelling with time restrictions does not allow me to feel the subtle miraculous events of life, as I become distracted by the destination instead of being present. I find that when I am not seeking a destination or outcome, I start to feel the lure of the unknown path and the gifts that are there to be found."

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"When I allow myself to be guided, miracles come in a never ending stream. So many people refer to miracles as if they were created by some other entity but we create our own when we are grateful for what we have and are in harmony with heart, mind, body and spirit. Life is the miracle, the universe is conspiring to unfold every opportunity for us to grow. It is ego and mind that sabotage the magic. Now I do not question why miracles happen, but rather why they are not happening."

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"Travellers do not known where they are going, tourists don't know where they have been."

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"We are beings with incredible power. It is no secret! What we imagine, can become reality. When we have a thought, no matter how wonderful, scary or irrational it is, if we hold that thought we create it as a possibility in the universe."

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I hope that these quotes will guide your perceptions as you need them and that from one day to another the words will mean something new and exciting as your personal journey unfolds.

As Gerer says the traveller does not need to leave the country to go on a journey, we are all travellers of this life, hopefully not tourists!

Love J x

Welcome to the Equinox.

We have just welcomed the first 2011 Equinox, which is when the earths tilt is neither towards nor away from the sun, we are parallel. 


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The Equinox also represents a change of season and brings with it the sentiment of renewal and transformation.

Now is the time for cleansing your mind, body and soul. You may be inspired to clean out your home, embark upon a deeper level of consciousness or complete a detox for your body.

I’ll take all three (!) but specifically now is the time to prepare my body for winter.

Our immune system is about to be hammered with winter colds, flus and other virus's floating around, so what can we do to minimise, or avoid completely, the winter blues?

Vitamin C (with bioflavonoids) is great, getting Vitamin C from a food source is the best option, as it is more bioavailable for your body, I am looking into Kakadu Plum and Camu Camu, goji berries are also a great source.

Echinacea is fantastic for immune support, especially for respiratory function. My preference is the tea and the cooler months really suit sipping warm tea, tablet form is available.

Garlic is an amazingly strong anti-bacterial-fungal-viral food, I am adding it to anything and everything that I can!

Fish oil tablets also support the immune system.

Interestingly enough it is important to have healthy gut bacteria for your immune system; nutrient uptake is dependent on a strong presence of good bacteria in your gut, if you are over ridden with bad bacteria - candida - which most people eating the traditional western diet are, one way to help your body get back into balance and function better on every level, is to take a probiotic, you can get this from dairy or soy yoghurt (check the labels as not all yoghurt is probiotic) or take a probiotic capsule (Inner Health Plus).

There are a million and one things that you can do, it depends on your lifestyle and preference, what you will and want to do, as well as your specific health requirements, but the above is a well-rounded approach that you will see results from.

Enjoy the autumn leaves. Crunch!

Love J x

What my dreams are made of...

With Earth Hour around the corner (26th March) people have been sharing their "beyond the hour" pledges of what they will do to make an even bigger impact on our environment. I found these incredibly inspiring...

"I have gone a year commuting by bike and bus. Am converting my lawn to a veg garden this Spring. Less water and fertilizer, more food. All lights are CFL. But most of all, THIS IS FUN!"

"I will commit to planting three trees each day through the Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees Program @ http://www.plantabillion.org"

"I am on the plastic diet and have given up non recyclable plastic. I am running a series of waste and recycling workshops but what am I doing? I decided to look at my own bin and come up with some strategies to limit waste going to landfill. I started a blog and asked kids to help with advise. I am now aiming for Zero Waste. Check out www.millenniumkids.com.au"

"I drive a BMW 3 series and this year I have decided to take my actions of protecting our planet and protecting our environment one step further by selling my pride and joy. I am serious about my carbon footprint. This is a very big step for me, but one that has to be done."

"I will use reusable bag instead plastic bag, bring my own tumbler & lunchbox, use public transportation"

What a bunch of superheros!

What will you do? Make your own pledge at www.earthhour.org.

What have I done?

• Started a compost and worm farm
• Reduced by half my non-recyclable waste
• Begun to use glass rather than plastic
• Committed to eating organic
• Weaned myself from nearly all beauty products that harm the environment... just a few last habits to kick :)
• Use an environmentally friendly lamp at night rather than normal lighting
• Boycotted my air-conditioning
• Pledged to not buy any new clothes for a year (replacement of items I need is ok!)
• Planted out my veggie patch and planted a heap of herbs and fruit trees, vines and shrubs
• Reduced to almost zero our packaged food consumption - this has made a huge impact on our budget, belly and the environment!

And for the future. What my dreams are made of...

Fully self sustainable home off the grid, environmentally friendly vehicle (one horse power!) and larger quantity of home grown food!

Dream big, live big, one wave does not shape the beach but a thousand will...

Love J x

Beginnings

Inspired by David Wolfe's lecture last week, here is what I learnt about his approach to nutrition, life and health.

When you begin a lifestyle change its hard to know where to begin. There are so many options! So much information - a lot contradictory. So many paths. A lot lead to the same place. But where to begin?

According to DW a lifestyle change requires each person to take the responsibility for their own health. No longer can we rely on the medical system as the solution. Lets take a proactive and preventative approach to health. Lets decide to not be sick any longer! (and how powerful is that thought!)

Each and every day you eat, so what about using food as your medicine?

Its important to work with your strengths, if you cant, or simply wont do something, then don't! It wont last and it will cause you more pain than its worth.
Work with what you can, will and want to do. This means, if you wont get up at 6am and jog. Don't. If you will go to the beach in the afternoon for a swim, surf and walk. Do that! If you wont drink a litre of kale juice for breakfast. Don't. But if you will have a super smoothie with goji, maca and cacao in it. Do that!  By following this approach you ensure that these changes will become a part of your life permanently, they will become a part of you.

Next look at your diet, decide what is doing you more harm than good and proactively avoid it, replace it with something healthy and nutritious, add in salad and fruit where possible and add in super foods and super herbs.

A great place to start is with your snacks, replace whatever you snack on with a handful of goji berries and some raw cashews or almonds, throw in some cacao, some shredded coconut/sultanas/sunflower seeds even!

Super foods are highly nutritious foods that will boost nutrient intake and not calorie intake. Super herbs are medicines for everyday so that you never get sick!

DW suggests that because there are so many super foods and herbs choose just a few, start somewhere and go from there. Below are his top picks, choose one or all of them, whatever suits your lifestyle and build, change, adapt and enjoy them...

Super herbs
Resihi
Astragalus
Tulsi
Horsetail
Nettle
Cats Claw
Paul d'Arco
Shisandra

Superfoods
Goji
Cacao
Maca
Coconut products
Bee Products
Spirulina
Chlorella
Camu Camu
Marine Phytoplankton
Noni







The best place to start is where you are right now. Start with what you already have and build a strong foundation. Pull out the blender. Pull out your (finger) motivation and build yourself a wonderful life!

Love J x

Love Letters

 

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 What you focus on grows; your thoughts and beliefs are the seeds from which grow the shape and sway of all your days.

  

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The boundaries between your inner and outer worlds are illusory; it is only your perception (acquired from the mental constructs of your society) which separates them.

Even your unhappiness is worth loving, for it heralds your readiness for change.

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 Never let your own instinctive wit and warmth be crushed by the conventional wisdom of how things 'should' be done.

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 Every individual has the power to make a difference to life on Earth, not through grand, sweeping actions in the future, but by small, steady shifts in attitude and behaviour wherever you are Right Now!

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 Be broad and generous in your embracing of beauty, for there is profound beauty in pain and suffering too. Beauty lives in poignant farewells, in losses and letdowns, in longings and heartache, illness and ageing, even death, for these events can trigger the opening of your heart, the deepening of your understanding, the circulation of care and acceptance between you and others.

 

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 From the tiny breeze generated by the flapping of a butterfly's wings to the almighty surge of a tidal wave - hold equal significance for me. Each one is part of the patterns and inter-relationships between all things on Earth.

   

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Your life may not look 'harmonious' in the static or balanced sense you've come to understand that word, but ultimately even the greatest hardships, the longest delays, can serve your highest good.

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 Wisdom is everywhere, inherent in all things, waiting to be discovered, revealed, unearthed.

  

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 Every being is equally capable of becoming a channel for the Divine.

These exquisite quotes are taken from the insightful and inspiring book "Love Letters from Mother Nature - A Meditative Journey" by Shelley Neller.

Love J x

What a thought!

Something that has inspired me thoroughly is the quote.

“Use each moment to the highest possible productive outcome.”

Hawaiian Jungle

How useful. This unlimited approach to each moment ensures that you live life fully. As I read recently, you live life’s breadth not just its length!

Everything in our life suddenly becomes permeable, it can be improved. Everything can always improve; this is why science has ground breaking discoveries, this is why athletes break world records, why the impossible becomes the possible.

Some people in our world refuse to be satisfied. They use a powerful energy to shift and alter our beliefs, science, medicine, even our DNA. In fact recent evidence is showing that DNA is not permanent, as previously thought, it shifts through a number of factors, one (important) factor being intention. Modern science is discovering the power of intention! Amazing.

This can be used in daily life, using every moment to the highest value. When talking or listening, being present and authentic and giving your whole self, when exercising focusing on your personal bests, when eating, having the best food you can, cooked in the best way, allowing it to nourish you to its full potential. When you relax, you relax. You don’t meditate thinking about what you need to do. You sleep. Soundly. If you keep sleeping you even begin to dream again!

The ancient Hawaiian Huna principles also embody this way of life.

IKE – we make our reality

MAKIA – energy flows where attention goes

MANA – All power comes from within

MANAWA – Now is the moment of power

KALA – All change is possible

PONO – Harmony is a measure of truth

ALOHA – To love is to be happy

These principles were derived from observations the ancient and very wise Hawaiian men and women made on Mother Nature. Huna means The Secret, Hidden Knowledge or Inner Knowledge.

Inner Knowledge. Inner Knowledge. Our true source.

Love J x

Imagine.

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Imagine the earth healed and returned to its sacred form. Pure water, pristine oceans, clean air.
Dense forests, mighty rivers and towering mountain peaks.

Fruit trees growing in loved and nutrient rich soil, providing free and healthy food for all. Homes are built from natural and recycled sources and natural scents of aromatic herbs and wood fill your nostrils as you enter the homes. Gardens adorn the homes filled an abundance of flowers nestled between fruit trees and bushes and large happy vegetable patches.

Imagine caring again about the imprint you leave. Imagine leaving a world to your children, better than the world you came into.

Imagine.

Love J x

Simply refuse to be limited in any way...

Everyone has the ability to succeed as far as their vision permits.

Particularly when living from your internal reference point, your true self. The only restriction comes from within. When you realise this, infinite possibility, creativity and an abundance of life is at your fingertips.

When limited we will never reach our full potential. Our minds busy with what should be. What we think is acceptable. What our friends and family do. And think. Even what strangers think!

How liberating to live without being limited in any way. Allowing the mind to blossom. Sweet and delicious.

I wrote a wish list for 2011, it has evolved into a wish list for life, its big, it has some BIG BIG things on it. And writing this list has made me realise in what ways I was limiting myself.
Once realised, I began to function from a place I had never before and began creating some real magic. My list is huge, and it continues to get bigger, everything I could ever wish for is on it and it excites me, I have already started ticking off things that I have been able to achieve. Truely the power of pen to paper is amazing.

Use your mind to create a beautiful orchard full of perfect days, radiant relationships, long and full health, even super human health!

Whatever you desire... as long as it comes from a place that is pure you will always get what you want, and need.

Love J x

The stunning photos are from isphotography.

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I am existence

How many labels attached to my soul that determine and limit my experience. The ultimate freedom is to strip these barriers that block lifes pure presence.

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This practise came into my conscious a few years ago, a gradual and persistent journey to evolve from this habit.

The ego fuels our label making, tricking us into thinking that we need to define or categorise ourselves. I am this person.

It feels safe to attach a label, it feels like belonging to something and this deceit is the ego personified. The truth is that we all belong to everything, to everyone and to every time.

I. Am. Existence.

Love J x

Feel your emotion

Sadly suffering is everywhere.

Everyone telling their story. An excuse for a behaviour. To rationalise thoughts. To escape reality.

We tell sad stories of things that happened to us. From our childhood. About our friends. About our coworkers. About our loved ones. Sad sad stories.

And when repeated the listener also feels sad. Keep telling this story? Perhaps for the whole of life... and never move on.

The problem is that this story has been conjured up by the perception, the only truth that exists is in what actually happened and it is impossible to speak the truth because it is always swayed by your perception, which is built from your childhood, your relationships, your peace of mind, hormones, the weather, everything.

Someone gently suggested that rather than try to come to terms with the sad story, forget the story. Just feel the pain, feel whatever it is that is harming you and causing you unrest. It could be anger, abandonment, resentment, anything. You can deal with the emotion, you can surrender to it, and you can heal from it.

Love J x

All photography by Renee Bell

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Reform. Transform. Reorganise. Shift.

Perpetually changing. Endlessly evolving. Each and every moment becoming a new person.

Our cells are forever regenerating. In fact I learnt recently that the entire body is renewed every 7 years. A reincarnation within a reincarnation!



If we stop and cling desperately to this moment we will become stagnant. Everything around us is forever reforming, transforming, reorganising and shifting. A tree sheds its leaves, a caterpillar its cocoon. A beautiful flower must lose its petals for future growth.

If we are honest with ourselves and truly present we all know the parts of our soul that require a little spit and shine. I propose that the beginning of the year (and in fact every sun rise) brings a time for some house cleaning within, a time for new beginnings.



Make a decision, allow it to manifest into something tangible and become the best version of yourself. Be that beautiful whole self you aspire to be. A change of season for the soul.

Happy New Year!

Love J x

You and I.

We are not separate, you and I.

Einstein discovered that everything is made up of energy. Or vibration.

Everything vibrates at a frequency, and generally you draw things of your own frequency to yourself. Hence why those bad days... they always seem to get worse and the good days, they just keep getting better!

So if everything is made of vibration, even if we are not touching physically, we are not separate. We are a part of a mass wave of vibrating energy that makes up the entire universe. And we are not separate, you and I.

This concept made me smile today when a lone moth took shelter from the rain in my home. On first sighting, its brown self didn't appear particularly intriguing, however a closer inspection revealed an incredibly complex and equally stunning design upon her wings. It was in that moment of appreciation that I remembered we are not separate.

So next time that you see a sunset or a full moon or something that stops you in your boots, know that you are its reflection and you are something beautiful.

Love J x

Our Children

We lay our hot restless skin down and drift into slumber, this moment I capture, and when I feel big, absorbed and scared, you remind me that I am still small. 


Photography by Nirrimi
www.nirrimi.com

For this I am always thankful.

Love J x

A tea party with Ghosts

I arrive spontaneously into her loving clutch. A legacy of the inward eye. My place.

Sheltered by her embrace and the familiar scent. The warm cushion of velvet moss beneath my feet. A light breeze brushes my cheek and I listen to the soft lull of ancient leaves. Dusk lights my way.

I come here for a tea party with Ghosts.

Body still and mind intense. I collect their memories. They offer threads of my past self. Guide me to a place I will see and a time I will feel. To someone I will Be.  

Clarity ebbs beneath my skin. I honour this moment, this wistful encounter. Thank you for my place.

Love J x

Reap the seeds you sow

"Next year, I shall sow the seeds of longevity."

My inner student alert, sat cross-legged-back-straight and patiently awaited.

"...instant gratification is now redundant, it's about the long term..."

I silently thanked her for imparting this wisdom. Her words blossomed into my own thoughts.

First and foremost my son. A future citizen of this world. Every sliver of my mothering instinct is driven to helping him grow into a kind, generous, moral, useful member of society. My actions as a mother reverberate far beyond this moment. The future is in the hands of the youth. I am currently in this category, but as we fade our children will become the caretakers of this planet.

My nutritional medicine studies. With this I am destined to help others. I need to do this. The bare bones of a book. Local produce. Seasonal eating. Growing food. Combination eating. Superfoods. More. I cant wait to share it!

Community. This is also something that she spoke about. Connecting with others. The community at my own back door. This blog has served as a gateway into a community I previously did not know. This bustle, I now feel a part of, is nurturing my growth. And so I give back.

And creativity. The ability to express myself. This space is for infinite creativity. Nourish a mind, a body. Nurture a thought.

These are the seeds I sow.

Love J x

Be kind to a stranger.

Putting pen to paper has always been something to solidify my thoughts, giving them life. It brings clarity when my mind storms with fragments and shards.
So many notebooks filled with dreams, prayers, ideas, goals, quotes, a scrap of paper or a picture collected from various locations and times. All mean nothing and something.

It's lovely to look back and witness my journey and the different things that captured my attention. Some ideas are fleeting. And some have been floating around for years. What is important to me, is that certain ideas become a reality. 

I have found that the practice of writing, cultivates a (flexible) pledge from myself to the universe. This pledge gives my words a place from which to be born. And so I would love you to share your 'lust list'.
These lust lists are endlessly changing and void of a timeframe, they can be whatever you want them to be. In this very moment what would yours say?

Some fragments from my notebook...

Be present. Surrender.
Find contentment in what I have.
Look for answers from within, or realise that I have no more questions
Om Namah Shivaya - I honour the divinity that resides within me.
Always strive to be the best version of myself.

And this one has been around for a while, it brings me so much happiness... Be kind to a stranger, everyday.

Please share your lists, they can be as simple or complex as you like :)

Love J x

Dharma.

A friend, whom I feel so fortunate to have in my life, taught me about Dharma.

Dharma is our unique gift. No other person possesses this talent, or more accurately our expression of it. Furthermore the law of giving and receiving -Karma- means by giving ourselves, giving our gift, with pure intention, brings about our ultimate happiness.

Deepak Chopra describes it as, "Dharma implies more than seeking work that we love, it implies our unique destiny, our place in the cosmic plan. It implies a shift in consciousness that begins when we align ourselves with our highest vision, and then become the manifestation of that vision."

It is of the highest importance to seek and fulfil this purpose. However in order for Dharma to be expressed as it should be, there are many lessons that must first be learnt. So as we are today, is exactly as we are supposed to be. We learn now what will enable us to overcome challenges in the future. This can be a long, painful journey as some truth can hurt. It can also be a simple, pleasant journey - this is our own decision!

As the Christmas season approaches and giving and receiving is all around us. I hope that everyone receives the gift of consciousness, whatever that may be to the individual and gives the gift of love with pure intention. I hope that Dharma reveals itself to each individual and that everyone has the courage and freedom to follow their own destiny.

Love J x

Oh what mischief!

For fun, I decided to remove the TV from our house. Just to see what mischief could be born.

Its been a week. Oh my!

Singing. Dancing. Gardening. Drawing. Playing music. Writing.  Laughter. Reminiscing. Talking. Talking. Talking. Smile.

It was never meant to be a huge part of our household, however television had managed to escape us and dominate our precious evening hours.

A friend commented of our experiment; that its probably one of the greatest things a modern family can do. I have to say I agree.

Our evenings are well and truly reclaimed. Permanently.

Love J x

A love story

Her lips were as red as blood, her skin so white it was translucent. Her eyes closed.
Absorbing energy from the noise surrounding her. Dancing. Lost.

A smile guarding that heart. That battle-wounded fortress.

Breath in. Breath out.

She pushed away the days, avoiding their reminder of what she missed. Her eyes began to look hollow, as if nothing else mattered.

The winter was cold but she found comfort in that, tasting the pain. When the howling winds peaked, deafening her, threatening to take it all, he stepped into the room.

She opened one eye, the warmth of his gaze illuminated him and she stretched her fragile neck to drink from that glow. It saturated her. The world became motionless and time entwined itself around them.

They began to move, elaborate but cautious. Courteous of one another. Each not missing a beat. As the movement became a dance, they crawled underneath each others skin. Opening each others mind to read the contents. Sifting through the thoughts and memories that made up their whole.

Breath in. Breath out.

Her skin began to glow and those hollow eyes filled with his love. She didn't know if she would survive a moment without him. Songs about the future became stories of today and memories of yesterday.

She smiled once again. This time he was guarding her heart.

Love J x

Wisdom in those words.

Photography by Lisa Löwenborg

"I just follow the path of least resistance." He laughed casually.
The words danced over me and I smiled at their wisdom.

How many times we struggle. Stubbornly. Sheer determination.

Teeth-grit-lips-pursed. Why? Why make it so hard?

Allow a new approach, accept a new outcome. Maintain an open mind, or heart. A simpler, happier, more fluid life...

Yes please.

Love J x