Dear Yogis,

WEEKEND. ZOOM AND STUDIO DATES

ZOOM:  Saturday at 2pm ART and Sunday Gita at 10am – we are up to chapter 13, so only 5 more chapters to go!.  It took us right through Covid lock-downs to read through the Gita from end to end last time.  This time not even 6 months.  Maybe next we could take the Bible or the Qur’an, or  “Jesus The Man”. Monday “Forgiveness” 6.30.  and Tuesday Rumi at 7.30 of course – the Qur’an and Rumi and The Gita are very close.  Can’t learn one without the other.  Rumi isn’t just a “nice” poet, he is apocalyptic as are the Sufis.  To learn more – come to class.

STUDIO:  I only have Monday yoga at 1pm and Wednesdays yoga at 5.30 as regular studio dates.  I do one-on-ones via the studio and zoom if you are interested in special classes email me for an appointment to suit you..

 

 THE DEPARTMENT STORE…

Keeping with my idea of the department store life, this week in my department store, I am focussing on some new art pieces I will be able to put in the window next week!  I have been working small. Now I want to work BIG.

Here is something I have learned about this way of thinking.  If I want to put something in the window next week, I will have to plan when I will have it ready for display.  It doesn’t happen right away.  This means that this week, whilst I am working on next week, I also have to keep the store open by bringing to you what I finished and got ready for you LAST WEEK.  Complicated…?  It is all a matter of timing, but I like it because it doesn’t nail me down to producing one thing forever.  I am also doing all the admin relative to my store.  Of course Etsy has always tried to get me to do this, but they used language that was too businesslike, so I didn’t listen.

Now I am doing it for myself I can see the wisdom in this way of thinking FOR ME.  It may not work for you, although I have a suspicion it will.

This week in my Store….

On the ground floor – YOGA is still happening.  Not as much as used to because other floors are being featured, but it is registration time and I always am studying and catching up for zoom and books I am writing –  that keeps me marginally busy but in a controllable way. Philosophy (a great love), takes up a lot of mind space no matter which “floor” I am on.

On the second Floor – ART – I am preparing two new works, if I can do more, that would be even better.  I do have small pieces to frame… First I have to MAKE THE BRUSHES (can’t buy the shape I want), and then prepare the boards.

On the Third Floor – ADMIN AND HOUSEKEEPING – I have been organising a Facebook page for my new book, I have also got the printer organised.. The garden and the house are benefitting from the new electrical gadgets I have.  I also bought a backyard tap timer, because now I am cleaning windows (and everything) with the new Karcher “Pirana”, and trimming and clipping hedges and borders with the Ozito implements, I can be so busy and involved – I forget to turn off the sprinklers…. A timer will solve this (that is the theory).  Cheaper than excess water bills.

In the morning when I look at the garden sparkling with sunlight on frost, and I  thank God for the responsibility He gave me when I arrived at this house and garden.  If I can’t look after this, then how will I look after what comes next?  Will I be going bigger or smaller.  If I look at the garden and think it’s terrific, but fantasise  about something half the size,   am I  saying I don’t know what I want or I don’t know what I can handle?  Or am I saying God doesn’t know what I want or can handle? I handled 100 acres well and when opportunities arose was not afraid,  took them, and  grew it from 15 acres…..  Although just a large house block,  I have radically improved where I am – the photo to the left was taken about 3 years ago.. the photo on the right taken last year.    I am excited to discover what comes next.  For me, changes happen suddenly.  Maybe all that is needed is for me to change my mind, not where I live?  Only God knows – I am open to the next chapter.

Our next Philosophy classes may be about achieving your destiny.

SEE YOU ON THE MAT – IT HAS BEEN MY DESTINY TO BE THERE FOR YOU.  I AM STILL HERE.

NAMASTE.  JAHNE

 

Dear Yogis,

ZOOM THIS WEEK:  
Monday 6.30pm FREE TEACHER TRAINING.  (“Forgiveness” pt.II)
Tuesday 7.30:  The Rumi Class
Saturday 2pm: Art and Tarot.
Sunday 10am: The Glorious Gita.
STUDIO THIS WEEK:
Monday 1pm – Hatha.  Wednesday 5.30pm – Restorative.

It has been a beautiful day in Woodend, and I spent that afternoon in the garden after our “Glorious Gita Class” .  How can you bear to miss it???        “For attractive lips speak words of kindness.  For lovely eyes seek out the good in people.. for poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone”.

I am recovering from what I diagnose as a rather unfortunate bout of sinusitis caused by too enthusiastically flinging around the garden some FABULOUS chook poo mulch.

It was strong, and I realised about half an hour into the job that perhaps on such a windy day,  a mask would be a good idea.  Too late actually.  The harm had been done.  Thank goodness for neti, Vitamin C, and for the new enthusiasm of Herbal Smoke.

Last nite I had a blend of Damiana, Mullein, Hops (hardly any hops in the mix – mine are strong), and some mint all spritzed with water and honey.  Lovely, relaxing and I had a good nites sleep lying down (sinus problems are usually best addressed by sleeping sitting up!).  When I told Sunday morning’s class about the blend I chose I only had to say “Damiana” and they all fell about laughing.  It was a lovely, mellow mix I must say.

Whilst I am not just taking the herbs via smoke, I am also reading and researching and discovered that smoke has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda as a therapy.  It is a very serious practice, and one has to pay attention to the administration of the herbs in order to get the desired effect.  It is not just a matter of blissing out.  I guess it is a bit like CBD.  With CBD, you are working with the endocannabinoid system.  It is  not “instant” as is  marijuana, but it is therapeutic – a therapy, whilst Cannabis Indicus (marijuana)  just swamps all sensation, and when the high is over nothing has changed.

This is an excerpt from my book on Smoking I am working on at the moment.

HERBS:  TIMES OF ADMINISTRATION.   I guess you may not have thought about taking an herbal cigarette or pipe as a part of your therapy,  however,  Ayurveda recognises that the times of taking your herbs in whichever way you take them (especially smoking them – but it also applies to oils, tinctures, as moxa and other herbal therapies), are important in strengthening their effects.

A good simple rule to follow in this is…

Herbs taken about half an hour before meals tend to work on the colon and the lower part of the body, on apana-vayu, the air or vata governing eliminatory functions.

Herbs taken with a meal tend to work on the stomach and small intestine, on the middle part of the body and samana-vayu, the air governing the digestive functions.

Herbs taken after meals tend to work on the lungs, on the upper part of the body and on prana-vayu the air governing respiratory function.  Herbs that target the lungs, heart or brain should always be taken after meals. (This is an excerpt  from “SMOKIN’ – The Yoga of Smoke”  by me,  J.Hope-Williams)

(Keep in mind that when you are smoking cigarettes in a haphazard way through the day – because of their chemical and nicotine content – you are effecting NEGATIVELY the same systems that you could be working on POSITIVELY with herbs).  

In my  book, which is about a month away from being finished I think, you will find a very detailed work on Smoking and Smoking herbs.  This will encompass which herbs to use for what effect or therapy.  I am finding it most interesting, and it is very freeing.

I have always been terribly opposed to smoking, and now realised how little I knew about its therapeutic effects, and I had not heard at all about the Ayurvedic use of smoking herbs.  I have been like the government.  They have banned CBD, not because it doesn’t work, not because people don’t want it, but because they don’t understand that they are holding back a great gift to humanity.  That was me – it is not me now.

I have always had respect for herbs, and I am discovering this greater aspect called SMOKING that people everywhere could use everyday.  It could enhance their body mind and spirit, instead of using the tobacco which is killing them.. and emptying out their bank account at the same time.

Imagine how much you could save if you could identify the smoking herbs you already have in your garden or from foraging.
Imagine how much you could save on doctors bills from using herbs that were therapeutic and not harmful….
Imagine if you didn’t get consistent coughs and colds from weakening your system by smoking tobacco.
Imagine how it would feel to be really relaxed after smoking relaxing herbs – not smoking a chemically saturated “cancer stick!

Imagine how it would feel to be independent even in this!

If you or your beloved, or family are smokers – then this could be you.  It is simple.  Smoking the right herbs at the right time (according to Ayurveda) can even enhance your yoga and meditation.  

I will see you on the mat.

NAMASTE – JAHNE

 

 

 

Dear Yogis,

Things are changing is big ways.  You are all getting back to studio yoga (or no yoga), and the zoom classes are gradually closing down apart from the Monday Teacher Training, Tuesday Rumi Study and Sunday Gita.  And even they are contracting.  The next Teacher Training in the Studio is Sunday the 2nd May at 2pm, and the next after that the 6th June – always has been the first Sunday in each month.

 

SMOKIN’

At the moment I am writing a booklet on SMOKING HERBS (called “SMOKIN’).  This is extraordinary for me – I have always been pathologically opposed to smoking in every form, however, in order to be of service, it is falling to me to introduce you to alternatives to nicotine and there are many and most grow in your garden.  That is the lovely part – knowing what you are growing and understanding why we were given these plants.  Even hemp was given by Shiva to benefit mankind, that is why it will grown just anywhere, and give multiple yearly harvests.  But we in Australia are not allowed to know about this herb.  Sorry about that, but there are relaxing alternatives.  Damiana, Marijuanilla and Hops for instance.

After seeing what is happening in my community, those people who have received bad news, who have gone through trauma, and who should be looking for healthy alternatives to handling grief, turn to nicotine.  This may feel like it helps, but down deep you know it doesn’t.  Yes you may like to believe you are relaxing but your body is being flooded with harmful chemicals with every breath.   The pictures on the packs must give you a clue. They are truly shocking.  The nicotine is still in the cigarettes together with sugar and other addictive chemicals, but you are being shown the terrible effects of that addiction.  Does this make sense? CHANGE UP.

There are alternatives to store bought.  I have learned that although you may have herbs growing that can help, you have to know how to harvest and dry them and then how to mix them.  It is not just a matter of cutting them up and putting them in a pipe.  It would be easy if it were.  I am not an expert, not an herbalist, but I am learning more about this group of herbs..

It is also important that you know the action of the various herbs.  How they can help apart from just giving you something to do with your hands!   Once you have got these simple how-to’s organised, you can have a lovely smoking experience that will make you feel better, and more relaxed with no long term nasty chemical effects. I am my own experiment.

When the book (SMOKIN’) is finished, I will selling it together with a bag of basic herbs so you can add signature herbs of your choice to get the effect that you want easily.  I will also be giving directions for you to make your own pipe – once again not as easy as you might think.  The position of the stem, the entry of the air into the bowl, the size of the bowl and the ability of the clay or wood that you choose to stand up to heat,  all need to be taken into account – or you could buy something beautiful on line (or one of mine).

I am now making them in terra-cotta clay, and have road tested a clay made out of common kitchen ingredients which seems to be fine. I decoupaged this one and added a crystal.  I  also store my herbs with crystals to add another positive vibration..

What started out to be a small book, is going to be very exhaustive, and will help you on many levels.  How to make pipes – what herbs to grow and harvest – how to harvest – the effect of herbs – ancient rites – spells.  Whatever information  I can bring that I believe will help you.

Smokers among you who are encouraged to go down this route – I do encourage you to do your own research.  However, this booklet will give you the pointers for your own foray into this ancient field.  People throughout the ages have smoked herbs for many reasons, physical, spiritual and mystical.   Only we added addictive chemicals, but you can choose if you are going to buy into this.  It will take time to learn, to change,  but it is worth it.  I will keep you informed of my progress through these newsletters.

Down the track I will have studio or zoom classes.  It is a big subject.

NAMASTE JAHNE