Introducing Nyah Dale Walker Hall

Congratulations to my wonderful friends Meghan & Greg on their BEAUTIFUL new little angel.
(I am so in love) 
K x

Tarot of the day...

The Lust card

Lust (or Strength, Fortitude, Lust for Life) is numbered eleven and is a card of spontaneity and enthusiasm. This is the card which gives us the strength and nourishment we need to get through.

We usually see a young innocent girl opening the jaws of a lion and peering in. She must be reasonably certain she can cope with the results of her actions! There is no sense of competition between the two. Here we see the literal meaning of the card - walking straight into the jaws of danger and relying upon our own experiences and quick-wittedness to see us through.

Lust tells us to joyously accept life - to trust ourselves to make the right choices and to be able to deal with whatever happens. With trust and self-belief we can grow and work towards happiness and fulfilment.

Taken from Angel Paths http://www.angelpaths.com/day.html


K x

Music Spotlight: Agnes Obel

Agnes Obel is a Danish singer, songwriter and musician who lives in Berlin. The purest female vocalist i've heard in a long time matched with haunting piano and amazing lyrics. I hope you enjoy as much as I have been. 


Download her debut album "Philharmonics" here http://www.mediafire.com/?mowvj4cndxwhw


Watch: 

K x

*music is for sampling purposes only – please go out and buy the artists’ records & support them at their shows!

In STYLE???

I am a huge fan of Fashion Magazines. I am also (usually) a big fan of In Style, and although I don't subscribe to it personally, my sister does and when the August 2011 fall preview issue showed up at the cottage with Katie Holmes gracing the cover I was beyond excited for my sunday afternoon sesh. So, you can imagine my disappointment to find that inside the glossy pages were some of the most depressing style predictions I have seen in a very long time.

K x

Grounded

Four things about me: I like to drive in bare feet. Pony tails give me headaches.

I love drinking coffee out of Nicholas Mosse Pottery.

This is where I feel most Grounded.

Have a lovely weekend.
K x

Forever In Our Hearts

On Thursday August 18th, 2011 the world lost a man of great courage, beauty and strength. Bill Bosworth, you will forever live on in the hearts of your family, friends, colleagues and all the lives you've touched with your kind words, wisdom, encouragement and inspiration.
From all of your girls... thank you. We love you, miss you and feel your presence in our hearts.

K x





http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?n=william-bosworth-bill&pid=153248404&fhid=9911

Tribute in today's Toronto Star (Greater Toronto Section, GT5) 
http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/1043803--homelessness-activist-bill-bosworth-championed-housing-first

August Music Mix

Is it just me or did August some how manage to fly by? Here is a new music mix to warm you up. A nice mash up of what has been getting repeated play this month in my world. New Beirut, old Beirut, some delicious remixes and hopefully a little something you haven't heard yet.

Hope this sets your week off on a good note.

August. Download it here ( http://www.mediafire.com/?14jbs2zjcwx47 ) :
1. East Harlem - Beirut
2. Everything In Its Right Place - Radiohead (Gigamesh Remix)
3. Nantes - Beirut
4. Perth - Bon Iver (Blow Oh Remix)
5. Shelter - The XX (Tiga Remix)
6. Shuffle - Bombay Bicylce Club
7. Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye ft. Kimbra
8. Summer House - Typhoon
9. Tokyo - Califormia Wives
10. Towers - Bon Iver

*music is for sampling purposes only – please go out and buy the artists’ records & support them at their shows!

Honourable video mentions:

K x

Connected

I just talked to one of my BF's from Israel on Skype for two hours! Thank god for technology. I can't even begin to tell you the amount of terrain we covered in that conversation; AND the best part... skype didn't go all blair witchy on us like it usually does, total win. I am super lucky to have one of the most solid, supportive, amazing tribes of women in my life. We have been 'sisters' for over 15 years and even as we continue to grow, transform, move away, fall in love, have our hearts broken, etc. etc. the connection we share is unbreakable.

Like most things in my life, everything seems to always relate back to Yoga in some way or another. In this case, my sweet, sweet catch up with Liz gave me the same surge of happiness I get from my daily practice. Here is why a simple phone call with a good friend is Yoga:

Yoga is a Sanskrit word derived from the Sanskrit root "yuj", which means to connect, join or balance.
Whether we are connecting to our breath through Vinyasa, to our inner truth during meditation or with our friends, family or community... this is all Yoga.

Today, find balance, join a class, connect with someone you love.
and for you Liz.... Om Shanti Shanti Shanti baby, can't wait to see you face to face!

K x 

Shhhhhhhhh...

So i'm TRYING my hardest to shut up more this month and just listen. Listen to what other people have to say, listen to the Universe, (to my parents)... but above all else, i'm trying to quiet down so I can listen more closely to myself. Whether you work in an office, on a farm, in sales or as an Artist, we all develop scripts that we lean on when describing what we do, what we have to offer and what inspires us. Language gets lost and we fall victim to the mundane, rehearsed plot line of our lives. As a yoga teacher, language is monumental and when used properly can transform your class! How you theme a class and how you motivate your students, to the importance of how you verbally guide the human body into Asana(s) in a safe, supportive fashion. It's all words. And how you listen to those words will determine not only the depth and stability of your yoga practice, but will also strengthen your ability to listen to yourself; mind, body & spirit. 


I often fall into the routine of my script. Sometimes I feel like I have said "Chatarunga... inhale into upward dog, exhale Down.Ward.Dog..." 100 times in. one. day which only leads me into thinking that people must be exhausted by the sound of my voice. The other sentence I find myself repeating in my classes when encouraging people to honour thier physical limits is to "...Listen to the whispers of the body before they become screams..." THIS was the whole point of my post. I want to listen more. Not only to the whispers of my physical body, but also, the whispers of my heart and my spirit. In those quiet moments of my morning meditation, I sometimes hear the whispers of great inspiration or a hushed idea wanting to manifest itself and end up leaving my mat before really hearing them out.
Changing your script is important. Paying close attention to the whispers may prove to be life changing. The best way to write your story is to listen quietly, speak truthfully and always let yourself experience the eb amd flow of your life. Everything is temporary, and this is a gift.

Shhhhhhhhhh
K x
ps thanks for listening :)

Music Monday

I'm having one of those days where all I want to do is stay in bed, listen to music and daydream... or cook up something that inspires me to change the world (lofty little dreamer). Days like this seem to happen following full moons (or full weekends) and last nights full moon was beyond exceptional, alluring and full of chaotic energy. Also, Mercury is in Retrograde until the end of the month.
**(More info. on Mercury Retro below videos, if you're interested) 
I hope the energy of the full moon moves you forward to new beginnings, creative adventures and deep thoughts. I played this song on repeat yesterday. I hate/love when that happens. I learnt about this guy from my amazingly sweet friend out in NYC. He has now introduced me to two of my new favourite musicians and has me itching to get out to Brooklyn for a visit.

Tribute to the moon... and to being so hopelessly drawn to vocals that sound like this... melt. The first comment uner this video is also amazing... such a sap)

One more from Gregory Alan Isakov...and then you can go support him and buy the album :)

This is the other guy, Luke Rathborne... great little video. Purest voice. Wish I had a box of crayola crayons. rats.

Ok, so my goal for next Monday: Figure out how to share a playlist that YOU can download for free. Mediafire seems pretty simple? Stay tuned, next Monday's playlist is already in the making. 


K x


**(Digression on Mercury in Retrograde: Mercury, the wise communicator and universal trickster, when retro sends all communication into disarray giving rise to personal misunderstandings; flawed or disrupted communications and glitches in technology (not a good time to buy any new electronics!). I would advise anyone to take this time as a break from making any important decisions, since it is likely that such decisions will be clouded by careless thinking. Mercury is all about the power of the mind, so when it is retrograde, these intellectual characteristics tend to be less acute then usual. We'll be called upon to revisit the way we stand behind what we believe, think, and say. How's your throat chakra feeling? Give some thought to the energy of this chakra. As mercury sets out to restructure our thinking processes, unforeseen changes or blockages may present themselves which can be painful and frustrating. For now just learn to roll with the punches and wait it out.)

Sure Beats The Gym!

I never thought of Casaloma as being particularly special, it's well maintained and boasts some of the nicest gardens in the Annex area but as a born and raised Torontonian, it claims its fame as a busy tourist attraction (ugh). BUT what makes Casaloma truly the place to be? BALDWIN STEPS. Sometime around 8 am (give or take depending on how easily you fall out of bed in the morning) the steps become the outdoor enthusiasts morning boot camp. With a quaint parkette equipped with water fountain (yay) at the top, the steps are the gathering place for a good looking community of stair climbers who would all agree, the steps sure beat the gym! Recently, my workout buddy and I have been frequenting the 'outdoor gym'. With a little motivation and some (un)realistic goals, 10 times up the steps proves to be the best way to start the day, rain or shine. As you pass fellow climbers there is this sometimes spoken, often times not, sense of camaraderie that fuels those brutal final 5. It is almost too much to bear the thought of the impending seasonal shift that will inevitably move us all indoors yet again. But until that first snowstorm falls upon our streets, my running shoes have a happy summer home.

K x

Floating in a Sea of Consciousness

page from Toward The One by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan

K x

The Chariot

The Chariot is numbered seven and usually depicts a warrior driving a chariot triumphantly home. The chariot is drawn by powerful and wild creatures. These creatures are our Will - a wayward beast to control at the best of times!

The Chariot represents the principle that the human Will functions only when the whole being is behind it. This card is about the struggles we have with ourselves and with life. It promises that with diligence, honesty and perseverence we can overcome the most insurmountable of obstacles.

This is a hopeful and encouraging card, reminding us that we can climb to the heights if we want to. Here we are taught how to master the opposing forces within us, in order to bring them and thus ourselves into harmony. We are cosmic warriors, unfurling, learning and growing - divine and vital parts of the Universe.

Taken from Angel Paths http://www.angelpaths.com/majors/chariot.html


One of my most favourite and frequent cards. Love it. Night,
K x

Music Mondayyyyyyyy

K x

Happy Birthday Lyn Price Baptist

To the most beautiful, inspiration woman I have ever known, I love you Mummy... to the moon and back. 

K x

Bring your wallet... and your shoes

Falling in love is so sweet! SP-ACE Vintage on Markham is one of those places you can unexpectedly be swept off your feet. A tantalizing aura of nostalgia lingers on the racks filled with "the lost dresses of the 1970's". On the (first) rainy Wednesday of summer, I ended up here with no shoes on and no wallet (?suspect gypsy?) It was lust at first sight, can you blame me? 

K x

Space Vintage

608 A Markham St. (at Bloor St. W.)

416-916-6219

Guess What I Did Today? Compiled a Post! Music Monday/Tarot Tuesday/Wordless Wednesday a.k.a The Long Weekend Wrap-up

I just landed back in the city after my (EXTRA) long, August long weekend.  Sorry! I don't mean to rub it in but I still feel like i'm floating on a cloud, or a raft? ... anyways. There is something to be said for a weekend filled with birthdays, SUN, great music, great friends - old & new, family, food, wine & bubbly, boat tours, dance parties, late night 'dips', tarot cards, yoga and long generous sleeps. Today's post is dedicated to the weekend...

The Playlist:

(PS Beirut is playing in TORONTO TOMORROW NIGHT AT PHEONIX! I"ll be there, tickets still available - just sayin')
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Tarot of the day ~ something we can ALL take a little something from... MORE LOVE (live by it)

The Two of Cups

And here we have the Lord of Love, a card of bliss, deep joyous love reciprocated fully and with great enthusiasm, a card of reconciliations and new growth! Here we see harmonious and contented exchanges of emotion, which vibrate with an ecstatic undercurrent of passion and heat.

Because this card is a reflective and receptive one, there's an issue that people sometimes forget when reading it - to be truly loved, deeply treasured, valued highly by others, we must first and foremost strive to feel those things for ourselves. When we work toward loving ourselves, we hold our inner nature in high regard, treating it with deference and proper respect. When we see ourselves in that light, other people cannot help but respond to our personal sense of value.

Furthermore, when we work to love ourselves, we release so many areas of self-doubt and uncertainty that we become infused by a new energy - and this we can lavish on others. The 2 of Cups is about engaging in a caring and tender fashion with our own needs, first and foremost.

It isn't so much about achieving self-love, as about, in every single day of our lives, striving towards self-love. That action leads us into a positive, self-supportive and accepting approach to life. And also, when we stop wasting energy telling ourselves what's wrong with us, we have lots more energy to enjoy being who we are.

When this card comes up in a reading, if it relates to the inner journey, then it tells you to put your attention in the moment, to leave the past behind, and to let yourself be free to enjoy everything that comes your way.

If it relates to outer events, it may point to a forthcoming reconciliation in a relationship where there has been pain and disappointment - this need not be a love affair, it can cover many different types of loving relationship. It might point up a new relationship which has recently begun and which will grow into a deep and lasting friendship or affair. And finally, it may reassure you that the meaningful relationship in your life will strengthen and grow, developing into exactly what you need it to be!!

Taken from Angel Paths http://www.angelpaths.com/cups/cups2.html

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Special thanks to the MTL girls for making the trek, to JW for your expertise in the kitchen, JC for the hospitality and to LB for being the most patient, supportive friend. Can't wait to get back up to Muskoka. Gros Bisous!

K x