The witty and charming Loren Crawford and his yogis from Ottawa just left the Island yesterday with big smiles on their faces after a Thursday to Sunday stay with us. Guests left feeling rested, rejuvenated, enlivened and informed, after a full weekend of practice and self-inquiry.  Throughout the weekend, Loren’s offerings included meaningful discussions and lectures on tantra and ayurveda, and these teachings were beautifully interwoven into his asana classes in the yurt. Guests learned about how to practice and live in a way that respects their unique ayurvedic constitutions, as well as how to use aromatherapy and essential oils as medicine.

It is inspiring and also hopeful to witness how yoga in the west has continued to unfold; it is coming full circle, I feel. “A yoga retreat is a catalyst for healing and change,” writes Loren. When yoga first arrived in the West, most of its roots made it here, for it was initially practiced in a way that closely resembled the sacred Eastern practice and way of life. As time went on, and as we have evolved into an appearance-focused, fitness-friendly, consumerist society, a lot of what yoga once was has dissolved. Yoga has become commercial, and a business, and something to invest in. But what a lot of practitioners in the West today are forgetting is the original flavour of yoga, the original investment: an investment in and a compassionate connection to the self, to the heart, to stillness. The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root yuji, which means “to join” or “to yoke” – merging and uniting opposites into a sacred Oneness;  finding centeredness amidst polarities; sensing peace within chaos. Yoga is a conscious connection, and awareness is the secret of yoga. Loren’s retreat this past weekend had a way of bringing Shanti guests back to the core of yoga, through the open and safe space for discussion and inquiry provided all weekend. It is warming to see and to feel the origins of yoga being reignited here in the West.

It was lovely to have Loren back on the Island again this season, and we look forward to having him back next season for further yogic investigation and inquiry.

It’s almost a guarantee that oatmeal raisin cookies will win over a crowd. They have this nostalgic quality to them and taste good, not matter your age.

The Shanti kitchen team prepares these cookies to sell as nutritious and delicious snacks during afternoon free time. This past weekend, Shanti’s newest volunteer, Isabelle, suggested that we add lemon zest to the cookies…and let’s just say there is no turning back.

We used cranberries in this batch, but feel free to stick to the classic raisin recipe or any dried fruit that you enjoy.

Ingredients

2.5 cups spelt flour

2 cups rolled oats

1 tsp bakin soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

1.5 cups dried raisins or cranberries

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup coconut oil

1 cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

1-2 tbsp lemon zest

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Whisk together the flour, oats, baking soda and powder, and salt in a large bowl. Toss in dried fruit, nuts, and cinnamon.

Mix the coconut oil (room temperature), maple syrup, vanilla and lemon zest thoroughly in another bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix just until all the flour has been absorbed.

Drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto a baking sheet. Bake for 13 minutes.

Enjoy out of the oven or allow to cool.

Makes 25 giant cookies, or more if smaller.

Inspired by Jae Steele, in Ripe from Around Here

By Lacey Budge

On Sunday May the 31st, the magical and bright-eyed David Hickey of Hamilton, Ontario visited Shanti for the third time for his Crystal Journey performance. He arrived Saturday evening with his beautiful wife and daughter just short of 2, in a ginormous white van filled with a stunning set of quartz crystal singing bowls, a vibraphone, santoor, and 8 18 Paiste Planet, symphonic and sound creation gongs. He also came with a table full of beautiful mala beads and CDs of his sets to share. Crystal Journey has toured and touched Canada and the US from coast to coast for the past ten years, performing over 1,000 live shows, and we were lucky enough to have David and his family of gongs back again for another cozy, meditative and rainy Sunday afternoon of “gong bathing.”

Each of his gongs feature a “strong fundamental note tuned to represent a natural harmonic series based on the orbital properties of the Sun, the Earth, the Moon and the other planets. It’s like having a full orchestra” or a “sound odyssey.” These gongs resonate in harmony with the celestial bodies, and communicate a distinct aspect of the Music of the Spheres, first documented by philosopher Pythagoras in the 6^th century BC.

David’s sound odysseys, also known as sound journeys, take place usually in two 40 to 50 minute sets. Nothing is ever amplified or rehearsed, leaving him a lot of space to intuitively see what feels and sounds right, to improvise spontaneously in each passing moment. This is yoga. At his performances, guests are invited to sit or lay down as close to the gongs as possible to feel the subtle frequencies and vibrations of his gongs and bowls, and to really connect with the set up close. There aren’t words that exist that fully match the sensations felt at one of his concerts; you simply have to experience them yourself. It’s a beautiful process and journey to be a part of. “It took me to another place,” our head chef Sheran says.

Essentially, every thing and everyone is in a constant state of vibration. The planets vibrate. All matter vibrates. Everything consists of atomic material in constant motion. Motion is manifested in everything in the Universe, and nothing is at a state of complete rest. This motion generates frequencies which thus generate sound in the form of waves known as sound waves. Whether we hear them, everything has a sound, a vibration, all of its own. These frequencies of movement determine specific sounds. Hazrat Inayat Khan, an ancient Sufi master, says that “the knower of the mystery of sound knows the mystery of the whole Universe.”

Sound waves have a tremendous influence on human functionality. Sound is vibration that causes resonance and rhythm in our bodies. It moves us both physically and emotionally, and therefore spiritually as well. Because of the demands we are subjected to in our modern day to day lives, the increase in stress-related dis-ease is of little wonder. Many external and internal influences have a proven effect on our well being, including the sounds of a gong and a singing bowl meditation experience. When asked about the intentions behind David’s sound creations, he says his aim “is to try and bring some peace to the current times that we’re living through on the planet. A lot of people, myself included, are having a time of it, just trying to adjust to all the energies that we seem to be bombarded with. We clear one thing out, and another thing comes up, then we clear that out, and another thing comes up, and it seems to be endless, so I really find that this music helps with not only clearing it, but helping to understand it, why we’re clearing it, and then letting it go. It’s a very peaceful process.”

If the opportunity arises for you to partake in one of David’s sound journeys, I highly, highly recommend you take advantage of it! Allow your body to melt and soul to dance among the gongs and bowls, dissolving into loving spaciousness and freedom. If you are curious about his whereabouts and want to learn more about his performances and his instruments, head on over to his website at www.crystaljourney.ca. Here you will find a photo gallery as well as videos of his work.

On May 29^th, we welcomed the return of the lovely and inspiring Ichih Wang from just east of us, Ottawa.  Again this year, she was accompanied by the musically gifted Lucila Al Mar for a Saturday evening satsang filled with guitars, drums, chanting and journaling. And, for the first time, friend and guest instructor Nigel Walker, who lead us through a restorative Saturday afternoon yin practice.

Ichih’s weekends with us at Shanti always have a light and playful energy to them. Her classes invigorate the body and soul, and offer opportunities to warm, strengthen, release and heal.

Guests also had the chance to purchase from a table full of goodies for sale from her travels – mala beads, bracelets and necklaces from her travels through Mexico, India and Costa Rica.

As our head chef of last season, Landon, has taken off into the beautiful unknown, we officially warmly welcome our new head chef for the 2015 Shanti season, Sheran. He graced us in the kitchen with a Greek night on Friday – spanakopita and halva balls, along with a delicious vegan creamy broccoli soup and a raw sunflower seed pate on Saturday for lunch. For dinner, a classic and rustic squash and black bean chili topped with cacao and served with guacamole. Sunday’s brunch frittata were as excellent as ever, and helped fuel up Ichih’s guests after a weekend of vinyasa flow.

We look forward to welcoming you back this time next year, Ichih. Thank you for the energy, the support, and for reminding us to play while “holding hands with our feet!”

By Andrew Burrows