Sedona

There are are places that call to me on a bigger scale than just a pretty place to visit. Sedona, AZ is one such place, for me a sacred place that has filled my soul.Can you say red mountains! This is one picture taken in one of many places there. I have visited here twice and both times were connected to my business. I went the first time in 2006 for a week's training in Myofascial Release. At the time I was a part-time practicing massage therapist and studying MFR. I was very excited to be going to a part of the country that I had never visited before and had reserved several tours to Native American sites and also with a local person to visit some of the energy vortexes.

What is pictured here is one of the many places I visited. This was a community where the people climbed up the rock face to their living quarters. I could not imagine doing this as part of ever day life. I visited many sites in the surrounding area and drank in all the history and beauty of the area. I also visited Sunset Crater Volcano National Park in nearby Scottsdale, AZ which has a 30 mile road with the Lava Flow on one end and a Native American Pueblo on the other end and in between you come over a hill and in the far distance you have a view of the Painted Desert. This was one of the many surprises that I discovered on this great adventure.

I also spent time with afew of the local tour guides that I felt were more spiritual than the normal touristy guides. One was a young man who I hiked with that took me to some out of the way places like here and we spent time meditating with him playing a flute. I also spent time with a woman that another fellow traveler recommended and we toured some of the energy vortexes which was a very powerful experience.

I also went on a few hikes and went up to Airport Hill that overlooks a valley with red rock formations. One morning while I was there, several hot air balloons drifted lazily into view and I made a promise to myself that the next time I visit I will definitely do this!

I came back home full of energy and full of awe and love for that special place of red rocks. I know I will go back there some day as it stills calls me.

What sort of places fill you up and touch that deep place in your heart that resonates with your soul?

I think this video says it all - have a wonderful and awe-inspiring day!

You can find out what this wonderful therapy is  at www.myofascialrelease.com as there are therapist across the US that practice this wonderful therapy.

Roman Baths in Bath, UK

In May,2009 I was able to take a trip to England, got my first passport and was a real tourist. I visited the town of Bath since bathing is one of my favorite things. Could you imagine bathing in a place like this - it was called The Great Bath.
We had a tour guide who was dressed as a Roman Legionaire and walked us through all the various rooms. There were rooms that were set aside for different temperatures- for tepid water tepidarium, another one for warmer water caldarium, one for hot water aconicum and lastly a cold pool frigidarium. There were dressing rooms, rooms for exercise, massage and classrooms. What an amazing experience!

"The way in which a civilization integrates bathing into its daily life, as well as the type of bathing it prefers, yields an insight into the inner nature of that period..." Fikret Yegul Baths & Bathing in Classical Antiquity

I would also want to add, yields an insight into the inner nature of the soul of that period. Greek and Roman times promoted baths and bathing as a way to general good health and to relieve ailments such as rheumatism and digestive disorders.We all know that a good soak in the tub with epsom salts helps tired and sore muscles and rejuvenates the body and calms the spirit.

In this time of jumping into the shower and then jumping out and rushing to get dressed and out the door we have lost that ritual of the bath. I feel we have also lost that time to connect with ourselves also. We don't need an elaborate building to create this space but we can close the bathroom door, run some water, light a candle and play some music and enjoy our time to reinvent for our selves a ritual for the bath. So what is holding you back?

What a Beautiful Day

My Azaleas are in bloom and I had to take a picture of one of the bushes to share it. I also spied some Iris buds and Columbine flowers getting ready to open up. I even saw this year's first butterfly- black and gold wings. A great promise of things to come. I love this time of year and luckily am not affected by the pollen that seems to be so abundant now. Next weekend I really need to get out into my flower beds and get them ready so maybe I can plant afew more flower beds and herbs. What sort of things are you planting this Spring?

My windows were open to the warm air and sun and my cats took full advantage, sitting there and looking out at the world. Oh to be a lazy cat sleeping in the sun for major cat nap. But today is Monday and I must be off to work.

I found the above video with some beautiful flowers and music  and wanted to share it- enjoy!

Ingredients - Calendula officinalis

Calendula officinalis is a wonderful herb that we use in several of our products. This beautiful flower is a perennial that is also known by the name of "pot marigold". Please note that it is not considered the "common marigold" or Mexican mariold as these are part of the Tagetes family and do NOT have the same properties.
The Calendula plant is easy to grow and will tolerate most soils if you are a gardener. The flowers are considered edible which I thought interesting and they vary in color from yellow to various shades of orange. This wonderful plant has been used as a dye plant to color butter and cheese in Europe and to flavor soups and stews. We add Calendula petals to our Calendula soap and the petals keep their wonderful orange color and do not turn brown. I have been wanting to try adding Calendula powder to the soap to see if it will impart a yellow color that stays through the soap curing. For the Calendula soap I infuse olive oil with Calendula flowers to make a nice soap for sensitive skin.
Calendula has many medicinal properties as it has anti-inflamatory, antiseptic properties, and is also antibacterial and antifungal. This makes it a great addition to any cream or salve and helps soothe irritated, chapped skin, eczema, and insect bites. We use Calendula infused olive oil in our Herbal Salve and all Lip Balms for these reasons.
We will be showcasing more of our ingredients in the coming weeks to explore why we choose our materials carefully in preparing our products for your use.
 

What has changed in Ritual Waters Soaps

I had made a decision several weeks ago to remove Palm Kernel oil from my soap formula. I had been using Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil to add hardness and lather to my bars for many years. But, in reading of the effects of the increased demand for Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil on the cutting down of the Rain Forests in Malaysia and Indonesia I am joining other soapmakers who have also decided to change over to other oils for their soap. The Oil Palm production is affecting the Rain Forest wildlife, particularly the Sumatran, Bornean Orangutans, Sumatran Tigers, Asian Elephant, and Sumatran Rhino are all in danger of disappearing. It appears that levelling and clearing the rain forest is cheaper than reworking the land that was used for rice paddies but at what cost? Sometimes the fires used to clear the Rain Forest burn out of control.  The Oil Palm is used mainly as an edible oil that China, India, the European Union, and the US supposedly use in processed foods to eliminate the trans fat from our diet. There are other oils that can help with this like Soybean Oil or Olive Oil but these are more costly than Oil Palm but the cost to the environment far outweighs the dollars saved. Oil Palm is sometimes the only oil in some US processed foods like packaged cookies, crackers and pop corn. Oil Palm is not as healthy as some would like us to believe and has been shown to promote heart disease. Please follow this link to learn more and read the full article - http://www.cspinet.org/palm/PalmOilReport.pdf

 

My soaps now have more Coco Butter which will replace the Palm Kernel Oil for its hardness and will make a more moisturizing bar. I feel this will hopefully have better impact on the environment. Please read ingredient labels and avoid processed foods that contain Palm Oil as a way to voice your opinion to save the Rain Forests in Malaysia and Indonesia. 

My start of my Crazy Sexy Diet

I know the title of this post sounds crazy, at least for me but I also took a picture of the book so that you don't think I am crazy. I am putting this year, 2012, as the year I start taking better care of myself and begin by eating better. The woman that wrote this book,Kris Carr was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She took control of her life and the fight to stay healthy.She has written several books and has a website and a following of wellness warriors. You can read more about her at  crazysexydiet.com .

One of her mainstays besides a vegan diet is her green juicing. So here is the juicer that I purchased to try to get myself on the road to health. Several wise guys in my household have called it my new kitchen decoration as I also have a beautiful cappuccino machine that is more of a kitchen decoration than has been used. But we shall see.

I am starting a 21 day cleanse meaning no alcohol- no coffee- no gluten- no sugar - meat or dairy products. This will be a challenge but I will get through this. So this is day one and I made a green juice this morning with one green apple, cucumber and 2 stalks of celery. Yum and abit frothy but not bad for a  first try.  

Join the bath challenge!

I saw this picture on Pin-Interest and had to share it. I have always dreamed of having a clawfoot tub in my bathroom and hopefully one day that will happen or a garden tub. But a tub big enough to spread out and relax and not have my knees under my chin so much.  :o) So I am dreaming of this tub !  But I do have lots of candles and music and take that time when people are out of the house to grab the tub while all is quiet for some very important me time!
What sorts of baths do you have and what is your bathtime like?
I would love to have some feedback and hear what you all have to say with a picture of your bath and one that you love.  I am getting excited about this.
How about a challenge for the best bath story and we can start it next Monday 1/23 and end it 2/6. The winner will receive a jar of Lavender Bath Soaking Salts and a bar of Lavender Soap. Are you game ?