Sonho, visualização... e por fim, realidade.

“There is only one important point you must keep in your mind and let it be your guide. No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. You must ask yourself how is it you want to live your life. We live and we die, this is the truth that we can only face alone. No one can help us, not even the Buddha. So consider carefully, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life?”

—	The Dalai Lama (via lazyyogi)

 

“When a warrior has put an end to his routines, when he doesn’t care anymore whether he has company or is alone, because he has heard the silent whisper of the spirit; then you can say that, truly, he has died. From that point on, even the simplest things in life become extraordinary for him.”

—	Carlos Castaneda

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”

—

Lao Tzu

“I suppose in the end, the whole of life becomes an act of letting go, but what always hurts the most is not taking a moment to say goodbye.”

—

Pi, Life of Pi

The Tiger That Never Was

Tigers are animals feared by many types of preys, and non-preys coming to think about it. Even elephants might not be completely safe as Tigers might take advantage of any kind of physical weakness.

With a natural capacity to adapt to any kind of environment, they’re fast and thorough creatures. They are felines, but they can actually be very good swimmers.

Besides all their innate physical stamina and horse power when it comes to chase their preys, they are also, inequivitably, beautifully looking beings. Their fur is exquisite, being many times used in the fashion industry to represent sophistication, power and a sensuality that holds the essence of the wild side of life.

Tigers are the “femme fatales” of the animal kingdom, languish and apparently lazy, but nonetheless always very present of their goal. Their ultimate wish is to satisfy their very own desire of physical satisfaction, which comes from eating well, resting well and procreating.

As any “femme fatale”, they have very individualistic manners. They prefer to be more in the quietness of their solitude, than in the confusion of too much noise and thoughts. They have their own “moral” code. There’s no wrong or right way to do things. If they want something to be done then they are right in doing it for it’s in their gut, the desire to do it comes from their very own instinct. It’s their life unique experiences that lead them towards nature’s spiritual laws of existence. Their astonishingly balance comes from that primordial paradigm: nature is the essence of all Life, so being naturally a Tiger is what they’ll be best.

A day well lived in a Tiger’s life starts with a nice siesta in the warm sun. Only after their body temperature becomes naturally ready for movement then they might go for a “stroll”, to smell everything, to become aware of their surroundings. To know exactly where they are, and with whom, it’s vital for the sake of their security and peace of mind. Tigers know that very well so they need to explore the room, explore the space.

If they’re not hungry, they’ll go back to that nice siesta left back some hours ago, but if it’s time to be fulfilled, then they will change their mindset, and focus on their primal mission: to hunt and eat.

When they hunt all their power and energy is used. They scanvenger until they are sure they’ve found the right prey. They’ll watch it for the necessary amount of time until they’re certain about the way they will carefully and successfully approach it. Once committed to their choice, then it’s just a matter of opportunity, and in a fast and powerful single action they will chase down and paralyze their victim...

They’ll eat the necessary amount, and mark the rest as theirs, in case they need to come back for a second meal, but probably once the hunt is consumed, their belly is full, and the appeal for a long sweet nap is stronger than the need to protect it’s hunt. Remember, their immediate satisfaction comes first... yeah... well, but that was a long time ago. Now I’m married, and I don’t think I’ve really trusted my instinct that much to be that tiger I thought to be. Trying to please everyone but yourself gets you a bit off of who you truly are. So, I guess I am the tiger that never was

.

Hippie is the real you & me...

A bit more on caring (about yourself 1st)

“Tell everyone you know: “My happiness depends on me, so you’re off the hook.” And then demonstrate it. Be happy, no matter what they’re doing. Practice feeling good, no matter what. And before you know it, you will not give anyone else responsibility for the way you feel - and then, you’ll love them all. Because the only reason you don’t love them, is because you’re using them as your excuse to not feel good.”  - Esther Hicks (via cosmofilius)  An important step to make this a true statement is to really Forgive and Forget. To stop trying to find  fault, and instead to look for a solution based on Love.

A Positive Attitude makes a Huge difference...

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”  

- Kahlil Gibran

Word! ... so true.

In so many cases, if I knew that people were OK, I would feel so much happier. And in so many cases, if people were feeling OK, they would do so much better good to people around them. So, it's really not about worrying if others are pleased with life, but instead, if you're OK, if you're doing good...

 

Good stuff...

15 THINGS WE BELIEVE ABOUT LIFE : A MINDVALLEY MANIFESTO

1. Dream Big. We tend to overestimate what we can do in a year. But we underestimate what we're capable of in 5 years. So think big. Visualize your life 5 years ahead.

2. Human beings are mostly good. Trust more. Love more. Take a risk with exposing your heart. (It's more resilient than you think!). Some people might let you down, but most will elevate you.

3. Don't let dogma hold you back or trap you into previous generations way of life. Always question.

4. Don't attach your happiness to your goals. Be happy before you attain them. You'll find attaining them much easier when you make the journey and not the destination the key to your happiness.

5. No person is an island. We all need each other. Borders, countries, nations, religions and anything that makes us feel 'different' from each other should be things of the past. Do not believe the priests, the media, the politicians who divide us with "us vs them".

6. This is the only life you'll ever live. Don't waste it pursuing others people's expectations of you. Make a bucket list of everything you want to experience. And start crossing things off like this is your last year on earth.

7. You're here to grow. So learn, absorb and soak up knowledge. Growth is a goal, a quest in itself.

8. Happiness may come from gaining things. But true fulfillment comes from giving things. Give, contribute, share. You become happy when you make others happy.

9. Leadership is recognizing that we are all ONE. That every person you lead is as brilliant as you, as talented as you, and has the same capacity for growth and accomplishment. They simply need to be reminded of this fact. The best leaders, in short, are those that create other leaders.

10. Treat humanity like you're it's mom. Never do business that makes humanity worse off. The money isn't worth it. Good entrepreneurs and employees create things that push the human race forward. This is the ultimate goal.

11. When you complain or whine, you become a giant living, breathing crap magnet.

12. When you appreciate and are grateful, you'll always find more good things falling onto your lap. Gratitude gives you God-like powers over the things that show up in your life.

13. Here's the truth: You are literally bending reality every single day with your thoughts. So watch what you think.

14. You are more powerful than you think. No matter what you've been told in the past.

15. If you aren’t growing, your doing a disservice to your mission and to the world. Dream big, play big and push your boundaries. By letting yourself shine, you grant permission for others to do the same.

~ The Mindvalley Manifesto

To push for it...

Give that 1st step. Stop waiting for the right mood. Go ahead, go for it...

Lovely!

Rainbow Family

A gathering of people who share the same desire of freedom. No rules, no leader, just true respect towards each other, and respect for Nature. Here's a video of what happens when you do things based on LOVE. Everything simply becomes possible...

WE LOVE YOU

WE LOVE YOU from Jonathan Kalafer on Vimeo.

Do you recognize that the thoughts you think, your attitude, the words you speak, and the actions you take are responsible for who you are and for the life you are living?

“Be an individual if you want to be happy. If you want to be happy, then start choosing on your own. There are many times when you will have to be disobedient — be! There are many times when you will have to be rebellious — be! There is no disrespect implied in it. Be respectful to your parents. But remember that your deepest responsibility is towards your own being.”
 - Osho

So you lack in self confidence. Feeling confused about your true nature, your strengths. Maybe we should start with some mind cleansing. Get rid of those dark stains that causes us to feel unbalanced. How can we do that?  To heal yourself you need to identify your little demons (broken pieces). You can identify them any time you do something that is in disagreement with what you believe. So,

Any time you lie about anything tale a look;

Any time you feel the need do pretend, question that;

Any time you feel inadequate, analyze that...

Pause and question the source of that struggle.
Why did you feel or react that way?

You can change the perception of yourself. What you are, core wise, will never change. You're innately loving, innately you are the way you are. But you can change the way you see yourself, and the way you interact with others.

Whatever the dark places you think you have, let them be the crack where the light comes in. Let the sunshine in...

Nice suggestion from a friend: to call a different friend everyday... so simple and great to keep your heart warm : )

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."  – Maya Angelou

 

Gratitude Log

Words are not enough.

We hear thoughts of wisdom in every corner of our way to somewhere. They make sense. They say, 'Happiness is accepting who you are', 'Your dreams will come true if you follow them'...  I don't know, there are so many proverbs, and fabulous quotes about living life... But, here’s what I’ve just realized. The idea of Happiness, of Love, of Gratitude it’s just a thought, words put together to create a sense of something that could be real, but it’s not. So, while we're feeding ourselves of lovely ideas about Life, and we should live it, we’re just grasping the whole “choose life” stuff.

Practice is Life.

We need inspiration to feed our mind, like we need nutritive food to feed our body, but we taste the food, the temperature, the consistency, its flavor. So, how do we taste inspiration? We get inspired and then what happens?

We need to make things happen. We need to touch, to feel, to smell, to build with our owns hands, to get cut, to get all cover in dirt, paint or soaking wet from the rain, to live the INSPIRATION. To be inspired means to have been directly and immediately incited by some “divine” influence to act.

We were born inspired. This is such a powerful thought.
We were born inspired.

Who tamed* the lioness?

* made docile and submissive; lacking spirit, zest, interest, or the capacity to excite.

This will be a post a bit off of what is usual here, but the proximity of the full moon brings up deeper feelings of my inner animal side. I chose the title "who tamed the lioness" because I was thinking on how most people I know, including myself obviously, have become a softer version of themselves. A more domesticable, tamed, version of what they are.

Freud had this theory of deep inner energetic impulses, stronger than our consciousness, that controlled our decision making process. He called them "pulsões" (from latin: action pousser, pellere, pulsum). According to him, the behavior generated from those energetic impulses came from certain inputs of our unconscious being. Of course this was all connected to our sexuality. Everything in Freud is deeply rooted into the eroticly fetished sexuality of the human being.

I don’t agree with a lot of Freud theories, but I can’t blame him for being sometimes so wrong about women psychology, those were very different times (1856-1939), but what brings me here is exactly that same topic. Our sexual energy as primal energy, as source of our most inner desires and truths.
When I walk around appreciating people and life, and when I stop and look also at myself, there’s part of me, as in others, that feels dull, dormant, asleep, greyish.

So I have to ask, are we forgetting to be more wild and less domesticated?
Are we becoming so technological driven, that our sexual energy levels have become more fake and entertaining than real and spectacular?

Well, no one resists the involuntary adaptation of coupling and from coupling comes mating, and with mating comes that softer version of ourselves. But if you’re the dreamer type, the artist, the fool, that is something that once happening means your loosing an important part of your creative juice. 

So what can we do to keep that inner sexual impulse alive without falling into wild orchids affairs?
 

Create. Vibrate and resonate through music. Dance. Especially keep dreaming and don’t be shy to be the way you are. Yes, most people will think you’re a bit out of this world, but others will potentiate the best in you, and that way you will continue having orgasmic joyful ideas, and you’ll continue smiling naturally for no reason at all, except that you feel good in your skin. Your skin...

 

 

"'I am free,’ he said suddenly. And his joy changed, on the spot, to a crushing sense of anguish."

- Jean-Paul Sartre
 

Founder of a free school for slum children Rajesh Kumar Sharma, second from right, and Laxmi Chandra, right, write on black boards, painted on a building wall, at a free school run under a metro bridge in New Delhi, India. At least 30 children living in the nearby slums have been receiving free education from this school for the last three years. via politics-war

More on Happiness

We almost extenuating try to understand what make us happy, and the answers repeat themselves over and over, in more or less words, in philosophical, spiritual or scientific ways. Happiness is a question of mental attitude, and that’s all. Whether you discipline yourself through meditation, pray or re-program your own mental thoughts, the goal is to perceive reality in a kind and positive way.

Bad things happen, bad choices are made, things break or get lost, people leave, things change, but we live, and we either react to it in a good way, or we take in the sadness and anger.

To make my point here, I’ll share a short story.

A woman, when she was about 16, was raped brutally on the back seat of a taxi. Afterwards she found out she was pregnant. She decided to have the baby. Some women are capable of differentiating the two episodes. The rape, and the miracle of birth. When the interviewer asked this woman how she felt about the man that raped her, if she was still angry, beyond understanding, she replied: No, I pity that man. Pity? What you mean? And she continued: I feel pity because I know that man, and I know he has two daughters and granddaughters but he doesn’t know that, he doesn’t know what love is. I love my daughter. I have love...

FROM PODCAST "FRESH AIR" - Parenting A Child Who's Fallen 'Far From The Tree

The good die young.

Austin Peralta (October 25, 1990 – November 21, 2012)

I have to share the amazing energy with which he plays the piano. Absolutely flowing from the heart and from a mind highly trained.

Engage...



More:

A bit of what made us so portuguese...

The history of Portuguese rock’n’roll since the late 50s to modern days captured on screen. Precious...

Driven by...

"(...) se não formos audazes, o que não é sinónimo de irresponsabilidade, se não formos terrivelmente audazes com os nossos sonhos e não acreditarmos neles até se tornarem realidade, então os nossos sonhos murcham, morrem, e , com eles, nós também."

- Luís Spúlveda, em "O poder dos sonhos"

Acrescento: ... mas outros sonhos surgem em lugar dos que murcharam. Haja força para sonhar mesmo seriamente, com pormenores, cheiros, sabor, sonhar como se fosse realidade. É que a realidade depois acontece mesmo e parece um sonho.

"“Find something you’re passionate about and
keep tremendously interested in it.”

- Julia Child



“You will know when you are doing your specific work when there is a deep resonance within your being. The ease and grace with which your life flows is also a clear indication that you are aligned with your true function.” 

- ET 101: The Cosmic Instruction

Man's Nature

Our loss of wisdom...

Heading up towards mediocrity...

In this I believe... if only there were no guns.

We can be in peace. We can be tolerant. We can be brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers, grandparents, teachers and students of everyone we encounter in our lives. There's no "we" in war, in fanatism, in greed, in selfishness, in ignorance, in indolence, in inertia. To practice Kindness can bring such a wonderful and powerful energy to the world.

I can't understand why war, rape, torture, extreme poverty and other monstrous acts are still happening in this world. I really can't. And there isn't much I can do to stop any of those wounds that keep bleeding, everyday, except trying the best of me to "be the change I want to see in this world". In that I believe. Let us not forget that important role we can have in our own lives.

Transparency.

“We need people in our lives with whom we can be as open as possible. To have real conversation with people may seem like such a simple, obvious suggestion, but it involves courage and risk.”

- Thomas Moore

Aayubowan...*

Breathe into balance, intuition, simplicity, and always, above all, gratitude, and Life will flow. If you let yourself be closed and tight inside, those angry, frustrated, and sad feelings will take over your smile and positivity. Let go. What can not be changed must be accepted with grace.

*meaning: wish you a long life) cultural symbol in Sri Lankan hospitality.

“Words, like nature, half reveal and half conceal the soul within.”

- Alfred Lord Tennyson

IMAGE & TEXT FOUND ON: http://shaktilover.tumblr.com/

Wishful Living...

Too many dreams create the feeling of an existence that seems far from being my own. Who dreamt this place where I am now? How did I end up living a life behind the computer, with almost no time to be with friends, to go for long walks in nature, with a constant need of reconnecting with my spirit through pictures and written words, only having sometimes a glimpse of what there is beyond all this cement, metal, plastic and asphalt. Why have I created a life that does not fit my entire body and soul?

- MAX RITCHER "Recomposed Vivaldi's Four Seasons"

Restful silence... create the mood.

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” 

 
― Albert Einstein


Let me share with you how important is the act of Silence.
In the quietness of stillness, believe, your mind and your spirit really become intertwined, and your heart opens up, as if finally it can have that deep long breath that melts you away, and the relief of all the pressure you carry inside fades into a shinning blue sky.

Like a morning fog, heavy and misty, that hides all the trees, buildings and roads you know that stand in front of you, the same occurs in our mind when we forget to sit, even just for a moment, in silence. We know that we know, yet we fail to see things that stand obvious, things that alert us, things that might appease us, because wee keep ourselves in the mist of the daily rushing life.

The monkey mind, constantly chattering, and making plans, and questioning, keeps us so busy, that we loose sight of a different perspective, a different approach, different answers. That’s why “problems” are so difficult to solve. We rarely have the distance from the problem to actually deconstruct what is made off. We need to step away from ourselves and look impartially at things to understand them more clearly.

But you think you don’t have the time! You think it’s silly! ‘What? With so many things to do you’re going to suddenly stop everything and sit quietly??’... Yes! That’s it. You stop everything you’re doing, you stop thinking of all is left undone and you don’t create any more things to do.

You stop. You stop and you breath.

Give it a try, at least once.

Sit somewhere where you know no one will interrupt you. Put some inspiring music, the kind that really turns you brain into a different wave length, or don’t put any sound on. Just create that soft ambient as if for slow and sexy love making. So candles are a good idea. Then sit in a comfortable away, but imagine the posture of a king or queen, expanded, great, to open up your chest. Get in the mood, get sensually spirited. You’ll start relaxing and your mind slipping into a more subtle existence. Keep your focus on that breath, ‘I’m breathing in, now I hold, then I let go, I hold again (feel that quietness when there’s no air inside of you) and breath again. Keep doing this and let it slowly change into a gentler breath. Your mind will pop up with thoughts. Give thanks to your ego for reminding you of that though, but tell it that right now you’re in the zone, so no need to worry, you’re not going to do anything about it right now, and go back to the breath....

If you put some music on, than you’ll know that when it ends, 10, 15, 20 minutes will have passed, and that’s the enough amount of stillness for a healthy way of being.

Try. It might be it for you.

Ommmm... ; )

Image taken from: http://amolife.com/image/women/women-and-nature.html

From nothing to everything...

"Everything in your body, and everything you can see around you, is made up of tiny objects called atoms. Atoms come in different types called elements. Hydrogen, oxygen and carbon are three of the most important elements in your body […] How did those elements get into our bodies? The only way they could have got there, to make up all the material on our Earth, is if some of those stars exploded a long time ago, spewing all the elements from their cores into space. Then, about four and a half billion years ago, in our part of our galaxy, the material in space began to collapse. This is how the Sun was formed, and the solar system around it, as well as the material that forms all life on earth. So, most of the atoms that now make up your body were created inside stars! The atoms in your left hand might have come from a different star from those in your right hand. You are really a child of the stars."

- Particle physicist and cosmologist Lawrence Krauss

Lawrence Krauss on Cosmic Connections from The School of Life on Vimeo.

“If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame.”

- Lao Tzu

The Courage to show Vulnerability

The root of the word courage is cor—the Latin word for heart.

So, being courageous meant, to speak, to act from your heart.

But how many outhere do that? I feel so many times that I've been innopportune because I did speak my mind...

What is the problem to say I don't know; I've never seen it; I'm afraid; can you teach me?

The problem is the constant expectations people, and mainly, ourselves have about who we are. We're not supposed to feel insecure; we're not supposed to feel vulnerable; we're not allowed to be tired, we're not allowed to change our minds.

But if you have compassion towards yourself, and towards others, you're not vulnerable anymore, you're just as anybody else. Not more, not less.

"Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity." 
- Pema Chödrön

"Practicing courage, compassion, and connection in our daily lives is how we cultivate worthiness. The key word is practice. Mary Daly, a theologian, writes, “Courage is like—it’s a habitus, a habit, a virtue: You get it by courageous acts. It’s like you learn to swim by swimming. You learn courage by couraging.” The same is true for compassion and connection. We invite compassion into our lives when we act compassionately toward ourselves and others, and we feel connected in our lives when we reach out and connect."
- Brene Brown

Practice progress, not perfection.
http://tinybuddha.com

wow... I wish.

"Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder."

- Rumi

So, so Powerful! I am an emotional creature!

I love being a girl.
I can feel what you're feeling
as you're feeling it inside
the feeling
before.
I am an emotional creature.
Things do not come to me
as intellectual theories or hard-shaped ideas.
They pulse through my organs and legs
and burn up my ears.
I know when your girlfriend's really pissed off
even though she appears to give you what you want.
I know when a storm is coming.
I can feel the invisible stirrings in the air.
I can tell you he won't call back.
It's a vibe I share.

I am an emotional creature.
I love that I do not take things lightly.
Everything is intense to me.
The way I walk in the street.
The way my mother wakes me up.
The way I hear bad news.
The way it's unbearable when I lose.

I am an emotional creature.
I am connected to everything and everyone.
I was born like that.
Don't you dare say all negative that it's a
teenage thing
or it's only only because I'm a girl.
 

These feelings make me better.
They make me ready.
They make me present.
They make me strong.

I am an emotional creature.
There is a particular way of knowing.
It's like the older women somehow forgot.
I rejoice that it's still in my body.

I know when the coconut's about to fall.
I know that we've pushed the earth too far.
I know my father isn't coming back.
That no one's prepared for the fire.
I know that lipstick means
more than show.
I know that boys feel super-insecure
and so-called terrorists are made, not born.
 

I know that one kiss can take away all my decision-making ability
and sometimes, you know, it should.

This is not extreme.
It's a girl thing.
What we would all be
if the big door inside us flew open.
Don't tell me not to cry.
To calm it down
Not to be so extreme
To be reasonable.
I am an emotional creature.
It's how the earth got made.
How the wind continues to pollinate.
 

You don't tell the Atlantic ocean
to behave.

I am an emotional creature.
Why would you want to shut me down
or turn me off?
I am your remaining memory.
I am connecting you to your source.
Nothing's been diluted.
Nothing's leaked out.
I can take you back.

I love that I can feel the inside
of the feelings in you,
even if it stops my life
even if it hurts too much
or takes me off track
even if it breaks my heart.
It makes me responsible.
I am an emotional
I am an emotional, devotional,
incandotional, creature.
And I love, hear me,
love love love
being a girl.

- Eve Ensler: Embrace your inner girl

WATCH THE VIDEO, IT'S POWERFUL!

or if you want to know more about her actions: TED TALKhttp://www.ted.com/talks/eve_ensler_embrace_your_inner_girl.html

... crossing the line.

Effort is necessary to step onto the path. But once on it, it is easy to let go of the very concept of effort. No effort need be made when you re-discover your inborn naturalness. (...) The more you express your nature, the more natural you become. 
 - http://lazyyogi.org 



"(...) Sometimes said its suntime
Let it sunshine on my mind
Healing I need healing
A good feeling I can Shine
Feel it like you can see it
Like you can dream it in your mind
Sunny Hallelujah comin to ya
Rain or shine

All the same its Conscience waiting
Cross the line"

- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros lyrics

When you folow that innner artist in you, it feels like this...

But you need courage to believe you're not selfish, you're not lazy.
Society needs all kinds of colors, I mean, people. Society needs people who enjoy their lives, who don’t feel alienated from reality. So, whatever is that you like to do as work, as creation, as your life, don’t be afraid if it looks like it’s not socially recognize as something important.

You’re important. Doing the best of what you like to do is important.



VIDEO: http://dropanchors.tumblr.com/

Primal energy... oneness

IMAGE: http://16-bars.tumblr.com/

Where I Lived, and What I Lived For (cont.)

"(...) "Não faz muito tempo, um índio errante foi vender cestas na casa de um advogado muito conhecido na minha vizinhança. "Quer comprar alguma cesta?" perguntou. "Não, não queremos nenhuma", foi a resposta. "O quê?", reclamou o índio enquanto se dirigia ao portão, "está querendo matar a gente de fome?" Tendo visto que seus industriosos vizinhos brancos estavam tão bem na vida — já que cabia ao advogado apenas tecer argumentos e num passe de magia seguiam-lhe a riqueza e o prestígio — dissera a si mesmo: Vou abrir um negócio. Vou tecer cestas, eis uma coisa que posso muito bem fazer. Pensava que ao aprontar as cestas teria cumprido a sua parte e que então caberia aos brancos comprá-las. Não se havia dado conta de que precisava torná-las valiosas para o outro, ou pelo menos convencê-lo de que valia a pena adquiri-las, levando-o a isso." (...)

 

"Cada dia que passa mais as nossas roupas se assimilam a nós, recebendo a marca do carácter de quem as veste, de tal modo que hesitamos ao abandoná-las. Nenhum homem alguma vez perdeu a minha estima por ter um remendo na roupa.  Ainda assim estou seguro de que, geralmente, existe maior ansiedade em estar na moda, ou pelos menos de ter roupa limpa e sem remendos, do que em ter a consciência sã."

- Henry David Thoreau

IMAGE: http://beautefragile.tumblr.com/post/66546332/we-heart-it-deep-down-in-the-woods

"No matter what plans you make, no matter what you acquire, the thief will enter from the unguarded side. Be occupied, then, with what you really value and let the thief take something less."

- Rumi

... Home ...

"The words you speak become the house you live in."  

- Hafiz

on Love

“Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it, we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two.”

― Louis de Bernières, Captain Corelli's Mandolin

The real drive in life, what a beautiful example...

Design your own Life...

A different raison d’être

"(...) We are here because the Earth wants us here. Life requires a very specific kind of environment in order to survive and evolve. Life is a phenomenon that emerges when the right balance of ingredients come together. The right distance from the sun, the right amount of oxygen in the air, the right ratio of salt in the ocean, etc.

We exist because everything is right in this world.

It is only when we start looking for a reason to exist from a culture or society or other people that we open ourselves to suffering and insecurity. Look around. We are all hairless apes in suits and dresses playing out an amnesiac drama. Take a moment to laugh, because it’s pretty funny when you think about and acknowledge that.

The human game is amusing. It isn’t bad or good; nature leaves nothing to be improved upon. The game is for fun. If we can innovate and provide aid to those in need, wonderful. But there is no winning or losing; it’s all just organic chemistry playing around.

Shift your mandate, your raison d’être, from something describable in words to an awareness of your interdependence with nature. You are nature.

When Buddha was grilled about his new state of Being, and about his reason for still being here, he simply touched the ground in response. The cosmos thrummed in reply.
Touch the earth and let go of everything else."

- Namaste, sangha (http://lazyyogi.org/)

More surf phylosophie...

Drowning in negative thoughts...

... and you feel like you're being overwhelmed by your own thoughts. You're drowning in your own thoughts. And it's wave after wave, you think: Damn, I'm getting depressed, but why am I getting depressed, everyone is out there fighting and creating a future and I'm not doing anything, I'm just sobbing, I should be doing this, and that, oh I'm so worthless... and there you are, going down the negative thoughts spiral...

Just as if you're in the water, take a deep breath and wait for the big set to end. Let those big waves come and pound you, and don't fight it, it will just get you even more tired. Talk yourself into a calmer state. Become aware of where they're coming and what you need to do. Breathe deeply, let them crush above, come up to the surface again, get ready for the next one, and the next, until finally you can paddle out of there.

The important thing to also remember is that those waves are not you, you're just experiencing them, but they'll pass and you'll return to a more peaceful place in no time.

So, if you're feeling emotionally overwhelmed, remember to breath deeply and quiet your mind. Take 10 minutes to breathe and to let those waves pass through you. You'll feel better. Guaranteed.

Saltwater Buddha: Jaimal Yogis

Saltwater Buddha: Jaimal Yogis from Books Inc on FORA.tv

Introspective playlist

Beautiful video and song...

Ode to Oxytocin...

... What's wrong with you, he asked!
Nothing's wrong... 

Maybe I just lack a bit of oxytocin, the "cuddle hormone"...

Oxytocin has been described as the hormone of love. This tiny chemical, released from the hypothalamus region of the brain, gives rat mothers the urge to nurse their pups, keeps male prairie voles monogamous and, even more remarkable, makes people trust each other more. 

But, the love and trust it promotes are not toward the world in general, just toward a person’s in-group. So, Oxytocin turns out to be the hormone of the clan, not of universal brotherhood. 

Also, physiologically, oxytocin rewards those who maintain good social bonds with feelings of well-being, but when it comes on board during times of high social stress or pain, it may "lead people to seek out more and better social contacts", so stress-related manifestations of oxytocin may produce physiological changes that then encourage people to seek contact with others,

Better not stress too much...

Hum, so how do we stimulate it???

Ingestion of food triggers oxytocin release by activation of vagal afferent nerves*
*(Besides output to the various organs in the body, the vagus nerve conveys sensory information about the state of the body's organs to the central nervous system. 80-90% of the nerve fibers in the vagus nerve are afferent (sensory) nerves communicating the state of the viscera to the brain.)

So most likely, it can also be released by stimulation of other senses such as olfaction, as well as by certain types of sound and light. In addition, purely psychological mechanisms can trigger the release. This means that positive interaction involving touch and psychological support may be health-promoting.

So that brings us to the effects of a relaxing Massage...
Oxytocin can be released by various types of sensory stimulation, for example by touch and warmth. Bloodstream levels of oxytocin have been shown to rise during massage.

Sex, Smiling, Holding hands...
Adults seeking an oxytocin surge should head for the bedroom. The hugging and touching during foreplay fires up the love chemical, and orgasm spikes the hormone level to two times the normal amount. This opens the door to a relaxed feeling and a greater opportunity to bond with your partner.

If you're too tired to seek out a bit of badabim badaboom, get a pet ; )
Petting a dog or cat you love can also increase oxytocin levels

Don't have a pet, don't have a partner, don't have food on your fridge, no one you can call?  Well daydream about your most exciting fantasies...

Ah, and another postive aspect: Oxytocin reduces fear...
Animal and human studies indicate the major role of the amygdala in controlling fear and anxiety. Oxytocin tempers the excitatory inputs into the amygdala. 

Ok, people let's cuddle, let's daydream, let's get our Oxytpcin levels higher!

- The previous information was taken from many different websites, not all of them scientifically certified ; ) 

The Quiet World, By Jeffrey McDaniel

What is Prayer?

* Taken from the blog lazyyogi.org

"The common understanding of prayer involves you talking or communicating with something else, something more powerful, with the intent of getting something out of it, receiving something you don’t already have.

As many self-proclaimed free thinkers and atheists have pointed out, this is little different than talking to an imaginary friend with the hope that it will somehow solve your problems or create miracles.

If you ask me, both perspectives are pretty useless.

Prayer is an ancient and timeless technology. You have prayed before, even if it wasn’t under the pretense of prayer. It is a natural happening that overtakes us in very special moments. But it is up to us to allow those moments to go from being special to absolutely ordinary in the most beautiful way.

Prayer is about listening, not speaking. When you pray, you connect with the larger picture. You connect not as a small piece of a large puzzle but rather as a piece that contains the whole. Everything is in You and You are in Everything. Prayer is the remembrance of this basic truth.
For prayer you need to become a receiver. You need to empty yourself so that the divine may fill you."

(...)

Experiment praying before going to sleep...

So many things happen throughout the course of a day. Every day someone new is trying to condition you. New experiences are trying to condition you. Everything is trying to tell you who you are. And you are so desperate to know who you are that you are willing to listen.

Before going to sleep, silence the voices of the world. And then silence your own voice. Sit somewhere that feels right to you and enter Stillness. Let your existence shine through you. Let Existence shine into you.

There is nowhere to go, nothing to become, nothing to attain. Give gratitude to the opportunity to appreciate this moment.

Then go to sleep. :)

"Surrender becomes so much easier when you realize the fleeting nature of all experiences and that the world cannot give you anything of lasting value. You then continue to meet people, to be involved in experiences and activities, but without the wants and fears of the egoic self. That is to say, you no longer demand that a situation, person, place, or event should satisfy you or make you happy. Its passing and imperfect nature is allowed to be. And the miracle is that when you are no longer placing an impossible demand on it, every situation, person, place, or event becomes not only satisfying but also more harmonious, more peaceful."

- Eckhart Tolle

Love is a Thing, que bonito...

"(...) love is a thing
that gets inside of your brain
and it makes you wanna shout
yeah it makes you wanna sing
love, you see
it's just this thing (...)"

Free Music Archive: Tinyfolk - Black Bears

To give up on security

Somethings are really scary to try, but sometimes it's even more scary to be in a life that does not fulfill our dreams. if it hurts to wonder what for are you working so hard, then it's time to let go your inner "monster". Be inspired!

ECHOES "Echoes of a parallel life, of the life we were expected, or trained to live, but there, just on the periphery, just out of reach, is another life – a life – a much better life – the life we all hope to live, but not many do ... It's there, just there – bouncing, echoing around in everyone's head, but it is just that, an echo, a parallel never to be reached or experienced...'
- Nick Bullock

Echoes . Outside is hot and sticky from MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT on Vimeo.

The intellegence of asking questions

When you look at yourself in the mirror, when you quietly appreciate the rhythm of life and its colors, when you sit back and distance yourself from the things and people around you, in order to have a greater look of where you're standing, you ask questions, and those questions make who you are.

We're constantly asking questions: either in doubt, by curiosity, when trying to explain or to justify something, when we wonder about the next step... Questions tell the story inside our minds.

So, realizing that, maybe we haven't been paying attention to the questions we pose.

I've notice many times how my questions annoy people, even more if they're close to me. Because my questions make them think beyond their safe limits.

Questions are teasers or threats. Perhaps you can stand by indifferent to an answer, but never to a question. I guess also the brain must not like unanswered questions.

When you create a poem, a song, a drawing, or whatever is that comes from unconscious thinking, you immediately start asking what is the purpose of what you did, or what is the meaning behind it. If you tired of thinking too much, you'll ask if all those questions are really necessary?

Is it really necessary to ask: why did I fell in love? why was I feeling a bit sad? Why did I find that joke so funny? Why does this song feel so in touch with my soul?

If you're able to answer those questions, you'll know yourself better. If you keep on asking questions and you don't give up in trying to answer them, your connection to the present world becomes more conscious and more alive. You can even question yourself, why is that you're questioning so much???

The answer is always that you want to know more, you want to get closer. You might feel you're not in touch to what is happening, to whom you're speaking, to what you're feeling, and you just absolutely need to ask questions to tease or to threat a fear, a doubt, a friend, your stubbornness, your knowledge.

When you ask questions and you can't find one single, even silly, answer, than it's really time for you think deeper on what you're doing.

I strongly believe that until we're still asking questions our presence in this world is relevant. It might be that when we stop asking questions our interest in life dissipates and consequently everything becomes this big grey wash and our soul gets sick.

Let's keep our minds in a vivid state, and let's practice asking questions. Just a word of warning. Most people will feel either threaten or uncomfortable, and might walk away. But don't give up, there are others for whom your questions might reveal to be important, or your questions might even take to whom you've been searching for answers. Good luck.