Moving Forward

Buddha Blessings - Beet of my Heart Green Smoothie, recipe below

Life truly takes us on an exciting journey with twists and turns abound.  My life, so far, has been filled with many of them - from good to bad to WTF... and everything in between.  And now, another one begins.

This is going to be an exciting journey!  One that I've been waiting to happen for many years, but just didn't know exactly what it was going to be.  Let me briefly explain...

For many years I worked in the corporate and medical world, then ended up horribly sick with CFIDS and could no longer work, let alone function at home.  Food, holistic medicine, Mark, family and my own perseverance (aka: never give up) is what got me well - even though it sneaks up on me sometimes.  Out of that sickness I discovered a talent I didn't know I had, which ended up as my successful metalwork career for the past 7 plus years.  I've had other medical blows and other crappy things happen in my journey, with the most recent one of early breast cancer (1 1/2 years cancer-free this month!) .  With each one of the blows, I eventually got back up, became stronger and continued on with life. Hence my nickname Rocki - as in Rocky Balboa which one of my docs had tagged me with years ago.

Moving forward.  The past few years I've told Mark how I wish I could do something more profound with my life that would help others in some way or another.  I had no idea what I wanted to do, but something that was close to heart.  He suggested for me to take the same nutritional class that he took as he loved it and said I would too.  While I thought about it, no bells went off.  Another thing to mention is that due to my wrists and arm issues, metalworking is not going to be a lifelong career for me. 

Sometimes when you stop looking for something, it appears right before your eyes.

It's going on two years since I became a raw foodist/raw vegan and I cannot express enough I very much I LOVE eating a clean diet and creating recipes.  My head spins sometimes with thoughts of what to make next!  I think I actually eat, sleep and dream it.  Mark sure isn't complaining, especially since he's my official recipe taster.  Well, so are our friends at SKW (his office).

I've always enjoyed learning about healthy eating and treating food as medicine. I have several books that I've read cover to cover, more than once and cannot seem to get enough knowledge.  In fact, my dad is the same way - not a raw vegan, but he sure loves his raw veggies!  We used to talk for hours on end about nutrition, healing with food, etc.  Now we share recipes too.

Okay, so let me get to my next journey in this life that I'm going on or else I'll just keep writing and writing about how much I love my raw vegan life!  Two things that I'm extremely passionate about and are close to my heart (besides family of course) is my Buddhist path and my raw vegan healthy lifestyle.  Well, this could not be any more perfect for me as I'm now enrolled in the Body Mind Institute to get my Raw Nutrition Certificate!  After that, I'm going to take a course to become a Raw Vegan Chef!  After that, I don't know.  I'm leaving the door wide open.

To manage my class and studio time, I'm going to work only part-time in the studio as that is the only way I can achieve my goal.  Yes, I do actually have a goal in mind as to where I want to be in a couple years and with perseverance, I will get there.

Moving forward.

Peace and love,
Rocki

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Here's the smoothie recipe that is in the picture with Buddha:

Beet of my Heart Green Smoothie
2 handfuls baby spinach
1 small beet
2 bananas
1 cup strawberries
1 cup hemp milk (or milk of choice - adjust as needed)
1 Tbs flax meal (optional)
1 Tbs maca powder (optional)
1 Tbs raw vegan protein powder (optional)
optional ice if you like a cold smoothie like I do :)

Blend, pour, be thankful for the little things, and enjoy.

Buddhaful Buddha Wall Art

Buddha Wall Art

If you've been on my blog for a while you know that I shop at Goodwill and Savers for clothing and other household goods.  Sometimes we find the most unexpected items.

This took place just a few weeks ago.  We walked into Goodwill and right smack in front of us, hanging off the front of one of the clothes sections, was this beautiful Buddha wall hanging.  Of course we immediately went to look at it.  It was perfect.  Simple made, a tad worn, but absolutely nothing wrong with it. 

Let me say here that we have a variety of Buddha's in our home, but not expensive ones.  We are simple people for the most part and do not shop at expensive stores.   

Anyway, we turned the Buddha over and there was the price tag.  Mark and I looked at each other in confusion after seeing the price.  This couldn't be right.  We searched for another price tag just in case.  Nope, just that one stuck on the back.  It was shameful, the price that is. We didn't give it another thought and bought it for $1.00.  Yes, stop rubbing your eyes. One whole buck.

Buddha find at Goodwill

After we got home and cleaned it off a little, we measured it out of curiosity.  The entire length is a little over 3 1/2 feet from top to bottom of tassels.  We hung it on the wall in the living room right next to the arcadia door. 

Our new to us Buddha looks absolutely Buddhaful in his new home.

Peace,
Rocki

Blue Buddha and the Dragonfly

 

Every day holds the possibility of a miracle

This beautiful blue Buddha is one of many throughout our home and sits on the shelf above the kitchen counter. 

We found the dragonfly art picture this weekend at the World Market.

A perfect combination.

Peace,
Rocki

Be Happy Now

A Buddha-ful day!

Last week I received our Buddha-ful artwork that I purchased from my extremely talented and lovely friend Angie of Artangel. It is one of the most profound purchases we've made and will forever cherish it.

I had my eye on this Buddha painting for some time and don't know why it took so long to purchase it. We have several Buddha paintings, prints and figurines throughout the house, but nothing of this magnitude - meaning the type of artwork, not that any of them are less worthy as they all have special meaning to us.

I told this story to Angie, but I'll share it with you as well. Our Buddha-ful artwork was traveling all the way from the UK to sunny Arizona. I had the front door open as our weather has been Buddha-ful lately. Oh, and no the 'kids' can't run out as we have a security screen door. I was working in the studio when the 'kids' started barking, then I heard footsteps coming up the walkway. I went to the door to see our mailman carrying a large package and I said out loud "OH IT'S BUDDHA!"

Angie commented that she wondered what the mailman thought as I shouted "OH IT'S BUDDHA!" at him! LOL! Maybe he thought that was one of our 'kids' names. In any case, he just smiled.

When I opened the package, held the painting in my hands and looked at this most Buddha-ful artwork, tears came to my eyes and goosebumps throughout my body. He is much more Buddha-ful in person. Angie captured the very essence of Buddha and every time we glance up at our new Buddha-ful Buddha, we feel at peace.

Angie is a very talented artist. Her work has been exhibited at various locations throughout the UK and since selling online, her work has been sold throughout Europe and the U.S. You can visit her Artangel Etsy shop to see her online gallery for yourself.

Thank you Angie! Have a Buddha-ful day everyone!

Rocki

Tonglen

Tonglen is a Tibetan word for a "sending and receiving" practice. As a Buddhist layperson, I practice this often. However, you do not need to be a Buddhist to benefit from this most compassionate form of healing as it can be done by anyone.

What does it do? In my way of describing it, Tonglen is a visualization technique to receive the pain, hurt and suffering from others, as well as yourself, and to send out healing love, peace and happiness.

How do you do it? It can be done in full meditation style or anywhere, even in line at the grocery store. Visualize the person (eventually we want to visualize the world as a whole, but it's easier to start with yourself or another person). While breathing in, visualize dark black smoke - this is the pain and suffering. Turn this pain and suffering into healing love, peace and happiness while breathing out clean white smoke. Repeat this during your meditation period or for as long as you want. It actually makes you feel as though you are healing the other person, even though in reality we do not have that full power, yet. You, in return, receive healing from this practice.

Here's a quote from Pema Chodron's book "In Start Where You Are":

"When we encounter life situations that spontaneously evoke compassion, it is not necessary to go through all four stages. It's fine to begin with the third stage, the stage of breathing in the pain in the situation that confronts us and breathing out something that will help. It's fine to breathe in the pain and send out relief or love. There is no need to do the other parts-flashing absolute bodhichitta or working with the black, heavy, and hot and white, light, and cool. These can be skipped in daily life when you do tonglen on the spot."

So today I'm doing this practice for a someone near and dear to my heart that is going through a rough time right now. I hope she feels the healing love, peace and happiness that is in my heart.

Much love to all,
Rocki

Peaceful Surroundings

We recently had our patio extended by my brother-in-law, who also put in a lattice patio cover and replaced our bedroom window with an arcadia door. Then Mark & I, along with 2 of our nephews, removed the grass and installed granite. Oh, and of course added more rocks & small boulders that we've collected over the years. You know me and rocks - love'em all.

Our favorite place to relax is out on our bedroom patio (above). The view from our bedroom is absolutely gorgeous with the blooms of our Bougainvillea's and other blossoming plants, the pool and the sounds of the waterfall. Now with Kuan Yin overlooking our yard, it makes it even more peaceful and relaxing.

This is a view from our main patio. I can't express enough how peaceful it truly is, at least to us. We like the simple things really. We are humble and enjoy making the most of what we can with what we have. Being able to fix up our home is a good feeling, especially when we do it ourselves. We can sit back and truly enjoy what we have accomplished with our own two hands.

Kuan Yin is known as the Chinese Bodhisattva of Compassion, a female deity (also known by other names). In Mahayana Tibetan Buddhism, Avalokiteshvara (hard to pronounce at first, but trust me it gets easier) is recognized as the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

May everyone have compassion, love, peace and happiness.

☼ Rocki