In this period of new life emerging, we have an opportunity to welcome more fully life’s abundance, as we practice seeing our self flower into the fullness of who we are. It is a time to fall in love with life and taste the sweetness of it. It is a time to love our body, feel grateful to be alive, and work in the spirit of selflessly serving this amazing world.

Please enjoy the series of articles that were generously written by an abundant group of talented writers, who are devoted to helping you blossom into the magnificence that you are.

Happy blooming!
Parvati

Parvati Devi is the editor-in-chief of Parvati Magazine. In addition to being an internationally acclaimed Canadian singer, songwriter, producer and performer, she is a yoga teacher and holistic educator, having studied yoga and meditation since 1987, and developed her own yoga teaching style called YEM™: Yoga as Energy Medicine. Her current show, “Natamba”, brings forward a conscious energy into the pop mainstream.

Do yourself a favor and go say hello to the budding trees. Notice how they do not struggle to be, but are in a rapturous state of deep surrender. Rooted in the rich Earth, trunks strong, growing up to meet the sky, the trees’ leaves dance in the flowing wind. Watch carefully. Each tree is flowing within the whole, just as you are. The trees do not try to be other than within this connection. Our ego, however, would want us to feel otherwise.

Through nature, we can see our true nature, and bloom into the fullness of who we are. Let us look at examples within nature. The chrysalis that transforms into a butterfly, does it doubt, angst and stress over the process it undergoes? Or is the cocooned creature in a surrendered state held perfectly within an intelligent whole? Really think about it. When the flower springs from the soil, is it thinking “gotta get it right” or “gotta work harder”? Or is it simply being, expressing a flow within the whole? The same for the budding leaves on the tree branches, the thawing ice, the animals awakening. Can you imagine the hibernating bear coming out in a rush from its cave with the thought, “Man! I gotta hurry. I am going to be late again”?

Yet how many of us wake up everyday, supposedly refreshed, already feeling stressed and having somehow failed? That is the baggage we carry. It is our own state of disconnection from the whole. No one is “doing it” to us. It is the story we place over our lives. It is not our fullest, most natural self, but what we have become habituated to be, usually as an expression of the ego to feel greater than or less than another as a distorted cry for love we perceive is not there. We tend to hold on to stress, fearing the jungle lion even when the lion exists only in our imagination. This fear exists because deep down we don’t feel love or loved.

But is there no love? I believe that we really need to challenge our disconnected tendencies and ask ourselves this question often. Do we need to rely on that old story of rush, push and pull to make us feel better? Ultimately, does not our push/pull make us suffer? Remember the chrysalis perfectly cocooned. Would nature take such perfect care of that caterpillar and abandon us? Or have we somehow, somewhere along our life path let go of our connection to nature instead? We believe our own distorted perceptions and go running because a coiled rope looks like a cobra to our dulled eyes. Nature is not doing that “to” us. We do that to ourselves. We place the disconnected story on each perfect moment. Ah! Beautiful butterfly, that does not have the busy mind we do, that surrenders to its magnificent transformation and flies free!

We must remember that we are part of nature, not voyeurs into it or separate from it. Nature continually holds, feeds, supports and sustains us. Now that is love!

For nature, life just is. Resting into this “isness” is surrender. Surrender is gentle, quiet, powerful, active, alive, vital… because it relies on a state of feeling connected, interconnected, a part of it all. We are constantly held within the whole, cradled in a perfect life-force cocoon, completely loved, fully supported and totally cared for. Our minds may be attached to distortions that tell us otherwise, but that does not change the fact that the loving support is here, if we are willing to let go and receive.

Parvati Devi is the editor-in-chief of Parvati Magazine. In addition to being an internationally acclaimed Canadian singer, songwriter, producer and performer, she is a yoga teacher and holistic educator, having studied yoga and meditation since 1987, and developed her own yoga teaching style called YEM™: Yoga as Energy Medicine. Her current show, “Natamba”, brings forward a conscious energy into the pop mainstream.

Spring emerges. Flowers in the garden are not looking over at the other flowers wanting to be like them. Each flower is its own natural self. Each flower is unique in the garden, blooming in its own time, in its own way, in harmonious balance with nature.

We tend to either push our practice or run from it. Forcing or laziness during our practice comes from vritti, the agitated fluctuations of the mind that are fed by our ego. These come from a disconnected state, not from our sense of being an integral part, within an intelligent whole, which is the root of yoga.

Pushing at our practice or running from it is simply a reflection of our relationship to our thoughts and ultimately, ourselves. We tend to run from or try to grab onto this moment, rather than meet it as it is. We can run from our magnificence, or doubt it and try to push it into being. Yet nature does not push or pull, but emerges, in a powerful balanced state within the whole.

Our yoga practice is about the return to this balanced state within the whole of being in each moment. Our practice on the yoga mat ultimately is geared to cultivate that state of mind in each moment throughout our daily life. In this way, yoga is emblematic of the lotus flower that emerges from the mud, effortless beauty in the midst of the crazy fullness of all of life.

To bring your mat yoga practice alive, cultivate the practice of being present with exactly what you find as you meet that forward bend, or that downward dog. Meet your body with respect and kindness, as you would a flower. You would not lean over a flower and expect it to be more bendy, or vibrant. You would accept and witness it as it is and breathe in its full presence.

If your body feels tight, rather than trying to stretch, meet the tension with kindness and acceptance. There is no nirvana wanting for you at the end of that stretch. That is an illusion that many fall into. The more stretched we get, the more bendy we are, but are we happier and more fulfilled spiritually?

Wanting to stretch brings us back to the same push/pull dynamic. Thought a great stretch can feel liberating, if the stretch is animated by wanting and push/pull, tension will eventually arise as a result of that action. When we meet the body as it is and allow it to flower, the tissues in our muscles literally soften and the body naturally unfolds. All we had to do was show up, open, ready and willing to meet the moment exactly as it is.

Allow your practice to be a blossoming of body/being, inspired by flowers. May it find you opening to the fullness of this moment and welcoming the beauty of spring, that is a reflection of your true flowering nature.

Parvati Devi is the editor-in-chief of Parvati Magazine. In addition to being an internationally acclaimed Canadian singer, songwriter, producer and performer, she is a yoga teacher and holistic educator, having studied yoga and meditation since 1987, and developed her own yoga teaching style called YEM™: Yoga as Energy Medicine. Her current show, “Natamba”, brings forward a conscious energy into the pop mainstream.

A certain inner space is required to recognize, see through and eventually let go of these temporary incorrect perceptions. That is where meditation comes in. The practice of meditation in any form brings fullness into our life, not by giving us more stuff, but by creating more internal space through the power of non-attachment and non-resistance to what is.

Each day, I come to my meditation cushion with the intention to simply witness that which arises. As I do so, I get less caught up in the fluctuations of my mind, and begin to experience more space between my thoughts and my reactions. In that space, there is pure possibility and the birth of I AM consciousness.

My spiritual practice is the source of wealth and richness in my life. It is what brings and nourishes my experiences of joy, ease, rooted expansion and abundance.

The creative impulse and expression that move through me, be it in song, writing, composing, producing or performing are a reflection of my practice. They move through this body/being in the experience of fullness developed in meditation practice. Through “isness” arises a creative voice, to which I am of service.

People often say they do not have time to meditate. But I know that the more I meditate, the more time I have. Because I have more internal space, I am open to possibilities. My tasks move with greater speed and ease. I rest more deeply. I have more energy.

Even taking five minutes a day to quietly center, be present with yourself, and tune into how you feel, is a good start to a meditation practice. You do not need to feel that you have to start with an hour-long sit. Have a quiet corner in your home that is your zen corner, a place you can go to that feels neutral and undisturbed. This become symbolic of the inner zen space you can go to and develop when you go sit there.

Ultimately, we begin to see that all circumstances in our life are opportunities for transcendent awakening and flowering into I AM consciousness. The more we practice being open, ready and willing to be here, to be now, the more we meet the fullness of this moment. It is not to say that all we encounter is sweet and lovely. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it is not. The more we meet this moment as it is, the more what we find feels sweet, because in that moment, we find life itself, in the fullness of all its textures, shapes, sizes, and colours.

Yet what we perceive to be sweet or not, ultimately does not matter. It is not our job to determine what the nature of reality is, to try to label, fix or arrange it. It is our job to simply meet that which is.

Through the courage to meet that which is, expansion occurs. When we practice non-resistance to what is, we awaken to the jewels of this moment. We learn to allow our self to expand and meet this present moment, rather than contract, run and hide from it.

I share in my song “Open To This Love” some words about this process:

“The present is the present, depending on intention.
Take the dare and be aware of how deeply you do care.
Believe and conceive. Surely you’ll receive.
Feel the joy, even cry. There are no reasons why.
Just open.”

Parvati Devi is the editor-in-chief of Parvati Magazine. In addition to being an internationally acclaimed Canadian singer, songwriter, producer and performer, she is a yoga teacher and holistic educator, having studied yoga and meditation since 1987, and developed her own yoga teaching style called YEM™: Yoga as Energy Medicine. Her current show, “Natamba”, brings forward a conscious energy into the pop mainstream.

The most potent essential oils can do more than relieve an upset stomach or take away a headache – although they do that, too. They also have the ability to open windows in the heart and mind that allow us to feel more expansive, more loving, and more abundant.

Abundance of All Kinds

My favourite online dictionary, Dictionary.com, defines abundance as:

a · bund · dance (noun)

1. an extremely plentiful or oversufficient quantity or supply.
2. overflowing fullness.
3. affluence; wealth.

Overflowing fullness is a pretty perfect description of spiritual and emotional abundance. Even people who seek material wealth and affluence are usually searching for the same feeling of fullness in their hearts and minds.

As much as it might seem to come from sources and pleasures outside ourselves, true abundance is a source of emotional nourishment. What’s more, the sense of wholeness and receptivity that internal abundance creates is the most reliable way to bring wealth, friends, business success, and other outward benefits into your life. This principle is usually called “the law of attraction.”

Whether you’re hoping to attract physical wealth, a boom in your business, a new romantic partner, or the sense that all is right in your world – or, maybe, all of the above – the key is to be open to abundance and willing to feel its richness in your life. Essential oils are a beautiful tool that can help on the journey by inspiring and enhancing your feelings of receptivity, joy and prosperity.

Welcoming Abundance into Your Life with Essential Oils

In addition to their beautiful aroma, essential oils carry an energetic charge. Some essential oils are soothing, while others inspire feelings of prosperity and attraction. These oils can be used to enhance almost any abundance practice.

One of the best ways to use essential oils is in meditation and ritual. Whatever your usual practice might be, a drop or two of essential oil on your tools or diffused into your environment will enhance and further meditation and intentions. Cold-air diffusers are a great way to go, since they emit the essential oils into the air without burning or damaging them.

It’s also possible to use essential oils on the body like an energetically-charged perfume. A drop of patchouli or myrrh on your pulse points serves as a powerful abundance magnet that can inspire confidence while drawing good things into your life. You’ll also smell great!

Which essential oils are best for abundance? Any aroma that makes you feel more expansive can help instill a spirit of abundance, but some essential oils have an especially powerful connection to prosperity, such as:

• Cedarwood
• Cinnamon
• Clove
• Frankincense
• Ginger
• Jasmine
• Myrrh
• Orange
• Patchouli

Always select an essential oil whose fragrance makes you feel uplifted, energized and well. Choose your favourite, or combine two or more for a blend of essential oils that will help you rediscover your most open, receptive, generous, loving self.

Victoria Anisman-Reiner is a freelance writer who specializes in copywriting for holistic health professionals. With a background in natural health that began in early childhood, she has trained in Energy Medicine, EFT, dowsing, and is a certified clinical aromatherapist. Today, Victoria works from her home office in Toronto to help therapists and wellness practitioners communicate the heart and soul of their work and promote their services. Her website is TheNaturalWriter.com.

There is a very simple way to do this. It will most likely feel very strange and uncomfortable at first, but I strongly encourage you to stay with it for a full forty days and notice the changes it creates. Stand in front of a mirror and look yourself in the eye. See yourself at a soul level, see the essence of who you truly are. Now tell yourself, “I love you unconditionally.” Repeat this, while maintaining eye contact with yourself for one minute. Work your way up to five minutes and do it twice a day. It is easy to schedule in during your morning and evening routines of basic hygiene while brushing teeth and washing your face. The changes you will experience in yourself are worth any feelings of discomfort you may encounter initially.

The notion of loving oneself unconditionally is not something taught in schools or society at large. We are advised to care more about how another feels then about respecting our own feelings. We teach our children to kiss or hug strangers, and/or family members they are not comfortable doing. We say yes to events or helping others, when on the inside we feel over-extended or resentful for “having” to do so. We care more about others’ perceptions then our own inner guidance system. I am not suggesting we become cold-hearted and stop caring about each other. I am suggesting we trust and respect our gut feelings more and care not so much about what others think. Each of us is ultimately responsible for our own happiness. When we put something else ahead of our true desires and needs, we are not only doing a disservice to ourselves, but to every other relationship we have.

Connecting fully to the true essence of who we are, will always allow for flow and joy in all other areas of life. Our bodies are vehicles to fully express the work we are each here to do. In order to fully do this, we must love ourselves unconditionally to best facilitate our true work.

Our bodies are beautiful. They breathe, flow nutrients to cells and organs, repair themselves and continue without any thought or actions by us. They are a very real reflection of divine intelligence. Not accepting our bodies, as they now are, is to reject the universe itself. Accept what now is. You created it. If you are anything less than thrilled with it, I encourage you to change your thoughts and witness the changes which will follow. Abundance of all begins with unconditional love of self.

Sandra O’Brien is mother to the world’s three most fabulous children. She is also a Law of Attraction Life Coach, Personal Trainer, and Reiki healer. She is creator of the Bootcamp Goddess system, a female fitness program to blowtorch body fat, sculpt sexy lean muscle and empower women everywhere to be the best version of themselves, inside and out. She enjoys the ocean, fire walking, reading, long walks, meditation, men in linen shirts and a full moon.

In this 60 Minutes show, honey was lumped in with the rest of the sweeteners as equally problematic as refined cane sugar. I would say in many cases when a consumer is buying “honey” they are in fact buying a highly processed product that is primarily refined sugar with a bit of honey flavour thrown in. Honey laundering is a dirty business and an area of the food industry that is not very well monitored.

Raw unpasteurized honey is a different animal from other sweeteners. It contains small amounts of Folate, Choline, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Selenium but the biggest benefit is the Hydrogen Peroxide.

Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

When honey is used topically (as, for example, a wound dressing), hydrogen peroxide is produced by dilution of the honey with body fluids. As a result, hydrogen peroxide is released slowly and acts as an antiseptic.

Use for diabetic ulcers: topical honey has been used successfully in a comprehensive treatment of diabetic ulcers when the patient cannot use topical antibiotics.[72]

Acidity: the pH of honey is commonly between 3.2 and 4.5.[68] This relatively acidic pH level prevents the growth of many bacteria.

Nutraceutical effects: antioxidants in honey have even been associated with reducing the damage done to the colon in colitis in a study involving administering honey enemas to rats.[73] Such claims are consistent with its use in many traditions of folk medicine.[74]

So is it okay to consume honey on a daily basis?

It really depends on you. If you are an athlete that requires carbs to refuel your muscles, etc. then a daily dose of raw honey is fine. If you have any issues with candida, I would seek the advice of an ND and cut out all sweeteners all together. The 60 Minutes segment suggests 150 calories per day in sweeteners for men and 100 for women. That would be about two tbsp of honey per day (1 tbsp has 64 calories). As they suggest, maintaining your blood sugar level is key to so many health issues, so if you can spread your honey consumption over the course of the day with other nutrients such as healthy fats, fibre and protein, you are better off.

Sugar cane is my personal kryptonite. I actually have an allergic response to it that can be detected in minutes. I work to keep my blood sugar even all day long with a balance of carbs from vegetation along with organic protein and healthy fats. I barely consume extra sweeteners, even in the form of honey, for my own health needs. My 18-year-old athletic nephew, on the other hand, benefits from consuming 300 extra calories from honey or dates (with raw nuts or coconut to slow the absorption process) post workout as much of this fuel goes directly back to his muscles. Without the proper glycogen stores in the muscles athletes do not have the fuel to burn during a workout.

When it comes right down to it, many of us really don’t “earn” our carbohydrate intake. If you want to consume large amounts of organic concentrated forms of carbohydrates such as raw honey, dates, raisins or maple syrup, then you have to start increasing your activity level to keep your blood sugar balanced.

Julie Daniluk, RHN, hosts Healthy Gourmet, a reality cooking show that highlights the ongoing battle between taste and nutrition by using unique groups such as bikers, dragon boat racers and ballroom dancers to challenge their taste buds with nutritious foods. Julie is excited that her show was chosen to be part of OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network). Similar to Oprah’s book club, programs on OWN explore stories of strength and transformation. Television viewers also recognize Julie from her “busted” segments on The Right Fit (W Network) and The Marilyn Dennis Show (CTV) where she examines the foods people need to stay healthy, acting as a nutrition encyclopedia. Her fun and engaging style comes in handy when she creates a recipe a week that is packed with health tips for www.chatelaine.com. Her new book Meals That Heal Inflammation is available in stores now.

For post-secondary students, the academic year is coming to an end. As we walk out into the spring sunshine from our last exam, the voice of our soul may ask, “What’s next?”

Whatever the case may be, we may now feel able to dedicate ourselves, or rededicate ourselves, to one or more goals in our life. If one of your goals is awakened living or spiritual evolution, you may wish to try performing the Rose Ceremony, a simple and non-denominational ritual created by Swami Sivananda Radha using roses to symbolize self-dedication to the Divine (by whatever name you may refer to the Divine).

Swami Sivananda Radha lived from 1911 to 1995. Born in Berlin, twice widowed, emigrated to Canada, she felt the call in her meditation practice to travel to India where she met her Guru, Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. After she returned to Canada, she founded the Yasodhara Ashram in Quebec. Her collected writings and talks are published by Timeless Books, the imprint she founded in 1978. Timeless Books also published Ascent Magazine, the award-winning, non-commercial quarterly yoga magazine that was published from 1999 to 2009.

The Rose Ceremony is a small book (83 pages). The ceremony was devised by Swami Radha after witnessing the beautiful and elaborate ritual worship, or puja, that was done in India using flower petals and other items. Seeking to make this experience available to people who might not be familiar with Hindu practices, she created a practice that is simple for anyone to do using just roses, a bowl, water, and later a small fire. In the book The Rose Ceremony, she guides you through the ceremony and invites you to go as deeply as you wish into introspection, dedication, and willingness to release what no longer serves.

We often become caught up in opposites in this world: knowledge and ignorance, love and hate, light and dark, punishment and reward, push and pull, surrender and control. The Rose Ceremony is an invitation to release attachment to these opposites and make space instead for Divine love. The book is a satsang with a very wise teacher. If you are ready for your evolution to blossom in new ways, give the Rose Ceremony a try.

Pranada Devi is a communications professional living in Toronto, Canada. She manages the Politics, Books and Activism sections for Parvati Magazine in addition to serving as Managing Editor for the magazine overall. She serves as an advisor on marketing communications for Parvati’s various projects.

A part of me wants to share this experience with the love of my life and since I haven’t found her yet (as of this writing) I sometimes think that maybe she’s in Paris waiting for me.

Paris, Je T’Aime 2006

Recently I discovered a movie that took me on a mini vacation to Paris called Paris, Je T’Aime. It is a series of 18 short films directed by several renowned directors showing the different sides to love in the diverse neighborhoods of Paris.

These slices of life are happy, sad, funny, and ultimately all about love. And it was the final story that touched me the most. It’s about a woman who goes on a vacation alone in Paris, falls in love with Paris and Paris falls in love with her and then falls in love with herself.

It is this amazing and profound message that many motivational speakers and authors say about finding the love of your life. Before you can fall in love with someone you first have to fall in love with yourself. I’ve embraced this message and continue each day to love every part of who I am. And I know that one day I will find the love of my life who has fallen in love with herself too.

So whether you are with someone special now or still yearn for someone to fall in love with remember to fall in love with yourself first. Love every aspect of who you are. Celebrate all your successes big or small. Be fully aware of everything you are passionate about. Enjoy each delicious bite of your favourite chocolate or treat!

These actions fill you with positive emotional energy and that becomes magnetic. It’s the law of attraction in action so focus on feeling good and you’ll radiate such positive energy into the world!

Featured in The NEW YORK TIMES, The WASHINGTON POST and The TORONTO STAR. Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman is an Author, Motivational Speaker, Movie Blogger and an award-winning illustrator. THE WASHINGTON POST has featured his blog, Movies That Motivate for its motivational tips and inspiring movie examples. Emmanuel helps individuals increase PASSION and build optimistic mindsets through articles in ZOOMER MAGAZINE, EXAMINER.COM and empowering keynotes and seminars at organizations such as TD Canada Trust, Ontario Ministry of Finance, The Art Institute of Boston and Royal Ontario Museum. For info on booking keynotes and seminars see:www.motivatorman.com

If you believe that the vibration of our reality can be transmitted through sound then you will understand why Forte, Maya’s new record, is so lovely and lovable. Not only does this independent release sound like a massive major label production, this record is also full of vitality, playfulness, and most importantly love.

One might expect a big sound from multi-Grammy-winning producer Bob Brockman whose production credits include Notorious BIG, Christina Aguilera and Bob Dylan. However, those recordings lack one thing that Forte has: love. The romantic relationship that Bob and Maya openly share is all over this record and believe me, it is contagious. The love that is communicated through this record is abundant. For example, the romantic sounds of the grand piano, the rolling drums, and cinematic orchestration in the single “Bigger Man” as Maya intimately sings about the courage of being in love is a true testament to love. All the other tracks on this record are equally tantalizing and potent.

Forte demonstrates an artist who has come into bloom. There is a maturity and fullness on this record that can only come from years of cultivation, grooming and a willingness to grow. It takes maturity for a songwriter to share writing credits. Not only does Maya share in the writing credits, she leads off with a catchy, fun and playful song about the innocence of love. The track is called “Ring Ring Ring”, it is written by Eric Maltz and Forte is better off for having this song on the record. It is a lovely and playful number about the possibilities of young love. The song ends with the following words “We are young, and we are planting time”. What could have more possibility than that?

All the songs stand perfectly on their own as well as a collection of six excellent recordings. Forte is a powerful, tender, delicate, soulful, intimate and a masterful act of love where the listener is taken on a magical journey witnessing the unfolding.

This record is Americana folk/pop at its finest. It is finely crafted and magnificently produced. The record showcases Maya Solovey’s forte as a singer and songwriter. If you like soulful, cinematic, mature folk/pop, then this should be your next purchase. If you like Josh Rouse, Aimee Mann, Ray LaMontagne and Nick Drake you will unquestionably love Maya Solovey’s Forte.

You are going to have to wait until June 19th for the full record. However, if you click on the following link http://www.mayasolovey.com/ you can download the first single “Bigger Man” for free. Even at 99 cents the track is a bargain. But don’t just take my word for it; go discover a new artist in full bloom.

Rishi Gerald is the CEO of Kupid’s Play Records. He describes Kupid’s Play like this: “Kupid’s Play is the Sound of the I Am Revolution. As an international record label devoted to raising global consciousness we bring awakened artists to the commercial mainstream. Our vision extends beyond a traditional record label. We know impossibilities are not real and build non-traditional revenue models by embracing new technologies in the current economic landscape. We know music is everywhere. Kupid’s Play actively seeks out creative opportunities to get its artists’ music to their fans in new ways ensuring that the Sound of the I Am Revolution is heard.” With two decades of experience in the music industry, Rishi has been nominated for numerous marketing awards and earned a Gold Record in the music industry for management.