Archive for the ‘Travel and Leisure’ Category

Kevin J. Todeschi, A.R.E.’s Executive Director and CEO, is offering a free online virtual conference presentation -  Edgar Cayce on the Akashic Records. Explore the mystery of the Akashic Records, the storehouse of all information for every individual who has ever lived upon the earth, and the source from which famed psychic Edgar Cayce received many of his remarkable insights. For more information and available dates, visit EdgarCayce.org

“Know that it is not all just to live—not all just to be good, but good for something; that ye may fulfill that purpose for which ye entered this experience.”
Edgar Cayce reading 2030-1

In May during the film release of Angels and Demons, a continuation from the Da Vinci Code movie, I spoke with Margaret Starbird about her book, 14 Steps to Awaken the Sacred Feminine. The 14 steps workbook and guide invites you to form small groups or “circles” to explore your own spiritual journey using Mary Magdalene’s “story” as a template for your own experience and spiritual “journey.” You can listen to the interview with Margaret and I here on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show. The co-author of the book is Joan Norton, a Jungian therapist, and author of the book Mary Magdalene Within. Based on this experience of women sharing in a small group, Joan and Margaret Starbird have collaborated to create this workbook to encourage formation of women’s circles.

Margaret and Joan are now hosting an event at Kripalu with details as follows:

Who was Mary Magdalene? Why was her story suppressed and why must we now reclaim it? Lodged deep in the heart of Christian mythology and the communal psyche of the Western world is the Lost Bride, the Beloved of Christ, whose voice was silenced by those who labeled her a prostitute and sent her, defiled and defamed, into exile. Join Margaret Starbird, whose book launched Dan Brown’s quest and resulted in The DaVinci Code, and Jungian therapist Joan Norton for a discovery of the archetypal journey of the Goddess in the Gospels. Using Mary Magdalene’s life as a template, we will examine our own spiritual growth and development as “chosen” and “beloved.” The weekend will include slides from medieval art that support the view that the “sacred union” of Jesus and Mary Magdalene was brutally suppressed by the Inquisition. Music, artwork, guided meditations, journaling, and in-depth sharing will encourage the awakening of the “Sleeping Beauty” in our hearts and our lives.

More information on the event…. Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting the art and science of yoga to produce thriving and health in individuals and society. For more than 30 years, Kripalu has been teaching skills for optimal living through experiential education for the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. Programs at Kripalu are led by many of the world’s most accomplished teachers in yoga, self-discovery, and holistic health and are designed to provide people with tools they can apply in their daily lives. Program topics include wellness, Ayurveda, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, relationships, meditation, spiritual practice, professional training, and much more.  More info at www.Kripalu.org

Listen to the interview with Kala and Margaret Starbird as they discuss her new book, 14 Steps to Awaken the Sacred Feminine, The DaVinci Code, the Divine Feminine, and Angels and Demons on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show here: http://exploreyourspirit.com/Media/shows1.shtml#STARBIRD

Margaret is a Guest Blogger on Kala’s Bohemian Blog, you can read here article entitled  “Mary Magdalene – The Greatest Story Never Told”: http://exploreyourspirit.com/blog/2009/05/14/mary-magdalene-the-greatest-story-never-told/

In my experience, Fall is the most inspiring time of the year. Mother Nature treats us to the turning of the leaves, the crisp fresh air, fresh apples, pumpkins, the smell of cinnamon and pine, and chilly evenings spent under starry skies.   When I think about Fall and where best to enjoy the sights, scents and scenery, my soul is drawn to the inspiring landscape of the Northeast and the enchanting kaleidoscope of colors as the leaves gives us a show, radiating brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow and green.

I connect with Fall as a time to take stock of (harvest) what was accomplished this year and to plant seeds (dreams) to bloom in the spring. It’s back to school, a time to learn something new.  When one can find a way to expand the mind while enjoying nature and be nurtured in body, mind, spirit and soul, true inspiration begins on all levels. If you’re in the Northeast this September, one of the best ways to accomplish this is by taking a walk to enjoy the fall foliage and attending New England’s largest holistic event – the 3rd Annual Natural Living Expo.

The Natural Living Expo is located in Sturbridge, MA, an hour away from Boston, Northampton, Hartford & Providence, making the area and the event a beautiful retreat for the Fall season. The Natural Living expo is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, September 26th and 27th, 2009 and features over 75 workshops, concerts and a variety of activities for both adults and children. Workshops are held both indoor & outdoors, so remember  to bring weather-appropriate clothing, should you choose to attend an outdoor event.

KeyNote Speakers for the Event include:

• Donna Eden
• Bernie Siegel
• John Holland
• David Feinstein.

The Expo offers over 135 Exhibits, 90 Workshops and the EcoKids Discovery Trail.

More Information:

Have you noticed how quickly time is moving as we shift into the new age of consciousness? It seems like we were just celebrating the New Year and here we are days away from August… We set goals of wanting to take more time for ourselves this year and to read more about subjects that inspire, educate and sometimes just entertain us.  Yet it’s hard to carry around a stack of books to read in the few moments we have to ourselves… on a quick lunch break, waiting in the carpool to pick up the children, on the train to work or if we’re really lucky, a few heavenly moments curled up in a chair reading a wonderful story….

While nothing will replace a paper book for me, I love it all, the smell, the paper, the feel of it in my hands, I also realize that in this age of communication, there are times when the purpose of technology is to create time saving shortcuts to help us in all that we do each day.  One  example of these tech evolutions is the Kindle, which allows books to be read in an electronic format. The Kindle is compact, portable and holds over 200 books in its database. It’s the perfect gift for someone who travels often and can’t take a bag of books with them,  the busy executive who can read on the way into work on the train, moms and dads waiting to pick up children from an activity and for those techies, who we all know, who love playing with new technology, just because it’s new!  I don’t think Kindle will be the demise of books, too many people love books in their paper format, but Kindle will find its place in this world. One option that I see in the future, will be for high school and college students, who lug around so many heavy books from class to class, putting a strain on their backs and shoulders. Kindle would allow for all of their textbooks to be downloaded into the reader and the students will be able to search for certain paragraphs of information and mark these areas for study later.  The costly replacement due to the wear and tear on the books along with the children’s health, would be worth it alone!

I’m proud to say that my book 9 Life Altering Lessons: Secrets of the Mystery Schools Unveiled is now available on Amazon for Kindle. If you have a Kindle and you’ve read my book in this format, I’d love to hear from you about how you found the experience.  Drop in and share your thoughts with me on our new Explore Your Spirit Community where we discuss this book and others.

All the best to you on your journey,

*~Kala~*

The festivals of Midsummer (also known as Summer Solstice) welcome the natural abundance of gifts presented by Mother Earth, as well as offering a time of gathering in celebration of the cycles of the seasons and the sun. Midsummer has been venerated since the most ancient of times in many cultures around the world and is perhaps best known in Celtic lore as the prime time to see fairies.  Summer Solstice is a time of light and of fire. It is a time to embrace the joy of the season: the seeds planted previously in the earth are now in full bloom as are the seeds of love planted in our hearts.  The change of seasons allows us to reflect on the beauty of the earth, on the cycles of time, and on ourselves.

Legends also state that what you dream on this eve, will come to pass. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year.  It is officially the first day of summer and referred to as Midsummer because it is roughly the middle of the growing season throughout much of Europe. This year, the Summer Solstice begins on June 21, 1:45 am EDT.  The moon of Midsummer in pagan tradition, was called the “Honey Moon” from mead made of fermented honey, which was consumed after the marriage ceremonies held on the Summer Solstice.

Summer goes by quickly. Life is short. Take some time on this glorious Summer Solstice to Revel in the Sun, Dance with Abandon, and in the evening at Twilight, sit under a tree and perhaps you’ll view the fairies in their circle of celebration…

If you’re in North Carolina during this time, be sure not to miss this event:

The North Carolina Renaissance Faire, also known as The Historical Enrichment Society is a nonprofit organization which promotes the arts, history and culture, as well as the fantasy and folklore of the Medieval/Renaissance era.

On MidSummer, June 20th and 21st, 2009 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm both days, the Historical Enrichment Society will celebrate a MidSummer Fairy Festival with the fantasy characters and creatures and fairies of old . This unique event, held at 13239 Capital Blvd, Wake Forest NC,  opens the hearts and imaginations of all who enter by celebrating the wonderful medieval traditions of the fay and their evolution into the present.

Activities include: Music, Dancing, LARP, Games, Food, Artisans, Sword Fighting, the hatching of the Baby Dragon for younger Fae, a Maypole and Fairy Court.

Tickets are $5 and children under 5 are free.

More information can be found at: www.ncrenfaire.org

The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show is a proud sponsor of the North Carolina Renaissance Faire which was just held in April in their new location in Wake Forest. At The North Carolina Renaissance Faire, you can step back 400 years into time and history.  This full scale, interactive theater experience is like no other. The Faire offers you a chance to visit the days of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I. At this 16th Century Faire, you’ll find over 110 artisans hawking their wares, you’ll enjoy musicians, jugglers, and the ribaldry of actors in many distinct staging areas. You’ll see brave and bold knights competing for the favor of the Her Majesty’s Court (and for their lady’s affection) during any one of three full-contact jousts held in the Queen’s Tiltyard

The North Carolina Renaissance Faire, Inc. actively seeks out local period themed entertainments and merchants to include in our festivals. The next event scheduled is the MidSummer Fairy Fest. Join the NC Historical Society for their 1st Annual Fairy Festival to benefit the Historical Enrichment Society on June 20th and 21st, 2009.

A wonderful photographer, Craig Carpenter from Luster Studios shared some photos with me that he took during the Ren Faire, which are spectacular! Craig has a talent in capturing the real feel and flaire of what the Ren Faire is like. You can view his photography here: http://www.lusterstudios.com/renaissance-fair-north-carolina-wake-forest-renaissance-faire/ 

Thanks for sharing these Craig!

All the best,

*~Kala~*

At The North Carolina Renaissance Faire, you can step back 400 years into time and history! This full scale, interactive theater experience is like no other. The Faire offers you a chance to visit the days of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I! At this 16th Century Faire, you’ll find over 110 artisans hawking their wares, you’ll enjoy musicians, jugglers, and the ribaldry of actors in many distinct staging areas. You’ll see brave and bold knights competing for the favor of the Her Majesty’s Court (and for their lady’s affection) during any one of three full-contact jousts held in the Queen’s Tiltyard.

The theme of this Year’s Faire is….

Queen Elizabeth and her Royal Court have been invited by the Earl of Bedford to come and visit with him at his estate in Kingston-Upon-Hull, a major shipping port about ten days journey north of London. Good Queen Bess has accepted his invitation and the town is all abuzz with the exciting news of her imminent arrival. Lord Mayor Charles Babington has requested that the Towne Cryer, Master Harold, gather the citizens into the Towne Square for some important announcements. Just as his honour, Lord Mayor Babington, finishes checking with each of the towne merchants to verify that all preparations are in order for the Queen’s arrival, the gathering is interrupted by Count Bernadino Mendoza, the Spanish ambassador, who asks to address the crowd. It seems, he announces, that a courier, sent by King Philip with an important dispatch for the Queen, is missing. The Count offers a generous reward for anyone who locates the diplomatic pouch containing the dispatch, generating much excitement amongst the crowd.

Suddenly, Captain Richard Langstrom of the Mermaid’s Revenge pushes his way through the crowd, dragging a drunk and disheveled Spaniard behind him. “Is this the scurvy dog you be looking for?” he asks roughly. Indeed, it is the missing courier but, alas, he has misplaced the diplomatic pouch and too much ale has dulled his memory. The search for the missing pouch is on, with Count Mendoza leading the charge and enlisting the aid of the Sheriff and his Deputy and the good citizens of Kingston-Upon-Hull in the hunt.

Where is the missing pouch? What important message for Queen Elizabeth is contained within? And… what is the story behind the mysterious ship, the Mermaid’s Revenge, and its questionable crew? Come to the North Carolina Renaissance Faire and find the answer these questions and more. The fun and excitement of Elizabethan England is right around the corner.

Relive the old days and visit the NC Ren Faire this April 4th and 5th! For more information, visit: http://ncrenfaire.com

We used to go on vacations in order to ‘vacate’, to empty out our built up stress, our ‘backed up’ clogged up energies. We’d plop ourselves on the beach just ‘vegging’ and often using alcohol to force our bodies to relax. This is the old model that we are shifting out of. And then there came an ‘Eco Travel’ trend, or ‘Adventure Travel’ with mountain biking and ‘ziplining’ or white water rafting.  All fun and energizing. But we still weren’t able to ‘Be still and know That I Am God’ – we still weren’t able to truly relax and receive. So the pendulum swung from total ‘vacating, vegging out vacations’ to ‘Adventure Activity Vacations’- strenuous physical activity Adventures. As with all polarity paradigms the pendulum swings between the oppo-sites and eventually finds center balance.

Now there is a new balance emerging – the best of all worlds’ type of travel coming forth- Eco Spiritual Travel – where enjoying, caring, appreciating the Natural World – being in touch with Mother Nature combines with personal Spiritual growth & a rejuvenating, relaxing vacation. Is it ‘Work’ or ‘Play’? We also used to have very distinct boundaries between ‘work’ & ‘play’. We had to ‘work’ in order to save up enough $ and time to ‘play’ or ‘take time off’. This model is also starting to melt, blur and merge into something new where work & play are joining into something new. The new model is becoming more of – just Being. We are working-playing-being-doing all together at once. Perhaps we will outgrow the word ‘work’ and we will come up with a new word – or perhaps no word. ‘No Pain, No Gain’ is the old Model.

When we started doing ‘workshops’, retreats, awakening seminars – we were still under the old model of ‘no pain, no gain’. We felt in order to get something out of our ‘workshop’ there had to be some ‘pain’ involved. We had to get up early, spend most of the day in our ‘work’ shop with short breaks for food – and with very little time left over for just fun. These models were the right stepping stones at the time – at least we were ‘working’ on our Selves and not for someone else. But now things are moving towards more merging- unifying ways of being & doing in our lives. What if we can combine Fun, Relaxing & Play with personal Awakening &  Spiritual Growth? And how about we add contributing to the health of the Planet and the Ecosphere to that? This is a ‘light bulb moment’ when we see it –a win-win-win for everyone and everything involved. The old model of ‘if it’s good for me it tastes bad or is hard and no fun’ or ‘if it’s fun it has to be either illegal, immoral or fattening’ – those days are leaving.

Eco Spiritual Travel – is travel where you go somewhere you really enjoy, can really feel good in body, mind & spirit and enjoying Nature-Mother Earth- the Eco Sphere. Part of your ‘vacation’ may be to lie on the beach in Kona, Hawaii but not for all day for days on end. That’s like eating too much cheesecake! Instead your day might look like this – you may get up leisurely around 8-9am, enjoy the open air restaurant breakfast – an hour after breakfast you join your Spiritual Retreat Seminar being conducted under the palm trees . You do some breathing meditation and learn to feel your Inner Body more fully. After these simple timeless spiritual exercises & some social interaction time with likeminded new friends you have free time to swim with turtles, go into town to shop, or read a book in the hammock, go visit a Kona coffee farm or snorkel on the reef. Then in the late afternoon you meet back up with your retreat group and you go for short drive to a protected bay and swim with wild dolphins carefully respecting the dolphins’ natural boundaries. Then a Sunset meditation at an ancient Heiau – temple area where you can feel the ancient rhythms of true old Hawaii. And back to the resort for evening dinner overlooking the protected lagoons, watching the turtles swim below you. Private time, beach time, group spiritual time, dolphin time, sunset time, food time, hammock time… true en-join-ment.

En-join-ment = the new model is that when we truly en-joy we are ‘In Joy’ – en‘join’ing back up with God, reconnecting with our own Spirit. The old model is that we can only reach ‘God’, ‘Salvation’, ‘Nirvana’, ‘Enlightenment’ through pain, struggle, sore backs from meditation postures, having to ‘sacrifice’, fighting our minds to be ‘quiet’, “It’s in our Pleasure we find our Treasure.” Do flowers not en-joy opening into blooming? Do trees struggle? Does the Ocean have to ‘work’ when its waves move? Do Birds effort and huff and puff when flying? Isn’t this effortless flow perhaps what St. Francis was pointing to when he quotes – “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow – they neither toil nor spin – and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”  What is a flow-er? Maybe the Angels of Language left clues for us – a flower is a Flow-er, a flow of God-Spirit Energy erupting into our world to remind us to also surrender to this Flow of God-Source.

Sound too good to be true? To be able to relax, have fun, have pleasure all while Spiritually Awakening, respecting Mother Nature, and contributing financially to a group providing sanctuaries for animals? It’s happening now. These Eco Spiritual Vacations are a growth segment of travel for the future. They are here and available now. Small, boutique operators are creating truly connecting, spiritual experiences for small groups of travelers all over the world – that feed the travelers and the whole Eco Sphere – Mother Earth at the same time. “It’s not either/or — it’s both and more!” OSHO.

So why not make your next Vacation an ‘Eco Spiritual Travel’ Vacation – and feed your Self, re-connect with your Spirit while en-Joy-ing Nature-Mother Earth-the Eco Sphere.

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Listen to Kala’s interview with Tobias Lars on The Explore Your Spirit with Kala Show here: http://exploreyourspirit.com/Media/shows4.shtml#LARS

More About Tobias Lars:
While attending undergraduate school Tobias Lars had an awakening experience where the energy centers of the body opened up and spontaneously reactivated ancient yogic energy practices. This happened without any work. The Yogic ‘Asanas’ – the postures came back to the conscious awareness and he felt other lifetimes of practicing yoga. As he did each posture they felt like a key unlocking energy grids in the body that had been previously locked and these energies were then released and flooded through the body. These powerful effects were undeniable to his young western scientific mind. That started a 25 year journey of spiritual study. Tobias spent time in India with a master teacher, studied shamanic practices with Native American free beings, heart centered Tantra, ego confrontation, the path of divine romantic love and with the help of a mentor opened back up to the energies of the nature kingdom of Pan and the Devic Kingdom. During this time Tobias Lars also received a Masters Degree in International Business and founded ventures in international business. A few years later another series of ‘wake up calls’ came through business ‘failure’, divorce and bankruptcy. He next spent a period of 5 years away from the day to day world going through another level of awakening of the soul.  Much of what he believed and thought he ‘knew’ – especially ideas of what spirituality really was – and what was previously held as reality, was transformed-exploded-shifted.  More info at: www.spiritravel.com

USA Today’s reporter Cathy Lynn Grossman reports on a new trend, Summer Camps catering to young people and their parents who want to explore the metaphysical realms, such as Belladonna Fairy Camp in Berkeley, Calif where children learn to perceive auras with clairvoyant counselors or Little Priestess Camp, which is setting up for young girls in August on a horse farm in Killingworth, Conn.

Read Grossman’s article on USA Today:  http://www.usatoday.com/life/2006-07-26-camp_x.htm?POE=click-refer