Baked Apples with Honey

Here is an amazing recipe from Alan and Denise Thornhill taken from the September issue of The Whole Person Magazine. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 6 firm medium to large apples (Macintosh, Red Delicious, or Pippins)
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 Tablespoon milk or cream 
• 1/2 cup raw, unfiltered honey 
• 1/2 cup chopped rosadted walnuts, unsalted
• 1/2 cup chopped raisins
• 1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
• boiling water

Lets go!

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Core the apples, leaving the skins intact.
3. Mix or beat ricotta with milk or cream and 1/4 of the honey.
4. Add in Raisins and 1/4 of the walnuts.
5. Stuff center of apples and place in a shallow backing pan (glassware is good!) 
6. Add 1/2 inch of boiling water to the pan.
7. Bake in the center of the oven for 20 minutes, then drizzle with the remaining honey, and the rest of the walnuts.
8. Bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until apples have reached the desired softness and before walnuts are burnt.

Bone appetit!

Schedule of Performers for Topanga Earth Day!

Here is the music line up for the Topanga Earth Day festival! Please come by my "Sacred Sound Shrine" for some TLC with massage, sound bowls, and over all good vibration!
Saturday April 17th 2010 Master Ceremonies Edwin Lemus, Truth I   10am to11:30am Yoga with Govindas & Radha www.bhaktiyogashala.com 11:30am to 12:45pm Opening Ceremony with Edwin Lemus, Prayer for Peace Flags, Gaia Mama, John Densmore, Hani Naser, Cari Ann Shim Sham Carribean Skirt Dancers, African Drummers & Dancers www.worldpeace.org www.gaiamama.com www.cariannshimsham.com 12:45pm to 1:30pm The Chiefs www.myspace.com/thefolksmusic 1:40pm to 2:10pm Dana Wood & Dina www.myspace.com/danawood13 2:20pm to 2:50 Griffith Frank www.myspace.com/griffithfrank 3pm to 3:35pm Arlan & Kara www.karagrainger.com 3:50pm to 5:20pm Moonalice www.moonalice.com 5:35pm to 6:05pm HunnyBunch www.hunnybunch.org 6:05 to 6:15 Victor Bisetti & Danny Frankel www.moderndrummer.com/updatefull/200001258 6:30pm to 8pm Buffy Sainte-Marie www.creative-native.com 8:15pm to 9:30pm Cubensis www.cubensis.com Sunday April 18th 2010 10am to11:45am Yoga with Govindas & Radha www.bhaktiyogashala.com 12pm to 12:45pm   Custom www.myspace.com/oyelive 1pm to 1:30pm   I,Star www.i-starcreations.com 1:40pm to 2:10pm   Rowan Storm www.rowanstorm.com 2:20pm to 3:20pm   Donna Delory www.donnadelory.com 3:35pm to 4:20pm   Luis Conte www.luisconte.com 4:20pm to 4:50pm   Melanie Kareem Belly Dancers www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIRFi8iebzw 5pm to 6:30pm   Leon Mobley & Da Lion www.leonmobley.com 6:30pm   Drumming & Closing Ceremony with Everybody!

Topanga Earth Days!

I am so excited for the 11th Annual Topanga Earth Day Festival this weekend!

"The 11th annual Topanga Earth Day festival, a 90 percent waste-free non-profit event, will unify people from around the world in celebration and promotion of ecological awareness, cultural respect, and music on Saturday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., through Sunday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Set in Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles’ original conscious-living community, the festival will give attendees the unique opportunity to learn about a variety of sustainable and holistic-living solutions through guest speakers and workshops, a healing village and ecological vendors who are “living by example”."

I feel very blessed to have been asked to facilitate a
Sound Bath/Sound Healing experience on
Saturday, April 17th at 12:45pm.
You can view the invite on Facebook : Sacred Sound

Here are the details:

Experience the PEACE of sound and sound healing.

Experience your Body, Mind, and Spirit as WHOLE.

Experience yourself as a BALANCED and HEALTHY being.

Jaqueline Marie provides a beautiful soundscape to journey into Self.
This one hour sound bath will attune the Chakras (energy centers), free stagnant energy in the meridians, and encourage the listener to tap into Alpha brain wave patterns, opening the gateways to creativity and genius.

The suggested Donation is $20
ALL are welcome!

Later in the afternoon I will also be offering a
Couples Yoga Class at 2:45pm
with the very talented Hatha Yoga teacher, Geoffrey Earendil.
You can view the invitation on facebook: Couples Tantra Yoga

Here are the details:

Join Jaqueline Marie and Geoffrey Earendil for a heart-centered, fun, and playful yoga experience.

This Partner Tantra Yoga class is appropriate for ALL levels, from novice to skilled yogi.

Partner Yoga is two or more people joining together to deepen the impact and experience of a yoga practice.

The word Tantra essentially means to weave, and the core of its philosophy is using everything that we relate to as the part of the path.

Partner Yoga holds the philosophy of using relationship as a tool for awakening to our true nature.

Come and play with a friend, a lover, a family member, your neighbor, whomever!

Suggested Donation: $20
ALL are welcome!

I look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Crazymaking

Theatre for the Claremont Colleges, Pomona College Department of Theatre and Dance presents the world premiere of: Crazymaking!

Crazymaking follows the character Casana Lee, from her dreams of being a rock star in 1980s Los Angeles to her destiny as a teacher and healer in her native Hawai’i. The play begins with Casana trying to gain celebrity, but failing at using her own voice. When an unexpected series of encounters return her to her family roots in Hawai’i, Casana uncovers how the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 continues to impact her life. As she slowly learns to trust her ‘aumakua, they lead her to back and forth between the dream world and her waking life in order to heal her past and find her true voice.

Playwright C. Mamo Kim, Ph.D. holds a doctorate in Political Science from the University of Hawai’i at M`anoa (UHM). She was the first publicly identified Native Hawaiian student in the history of UHM who became president of both the Associated Students and the Graduate Student Organization of UHM and was instrumental in many of the actions that furthered decolonization of the university including the implementation of a new vision and strategic plan (2002-2010) and the founding of Hawaiinuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, one of the largest schools of indigenous knowledge in the nation.

Crazymaking chronicles the main character’s journey to: come to terms with the abuse in her life that stems from the violence of colonization; to find herself, her connection to spirit, and her purpose in life. The figure of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, figures prominently in the story, because she is an ancestor of Kim’s and, as Kim points out, “Pele is a huge Hawaiian female archetype. . .everyone should have a bit of Pele in them but especially for women, that aspect has been conditioned out of us. Pele is your spark of life. That spark is all you have. Everybody has a right to that spark. You have a right to be in our integrity and your power. You have to honor the Pele in you.”

Joyce Lu, Ph.D. directs this production of Crazymaking in collaboration with Kumu Hula Keoni Chang of Chino Hills’ Halau Na Pua Lehua I Ka Ua Noe.

Crazymaking features three young dancers from this Halau who play the parts of Pele, Hi’iaka, and Kamapua’a.

Live sound created by sound healer, and vibrational coach Jaqueline Marie.

Topanga Music - Fernwood

Tucked away in the picturesque mountains towering above the Pacific ocean Topanga Canyon attracts artists of all kinds, each adding their own unique vibration. I've been delighted to discover Fernwood, the eclectic and inspirational music creation of Todd Montgomery and Gayle Ellett.

The duo have released two albums,"Almeria" and "Sangita" which have gained recognition worldwide. Their acoustic, cinematic compositions take the listener on an epic journey colored by the traditional instrumental sounds of Morocco, India, Greece, Turkey, China, and Italy, to name a few.

Theirs is the kind of music one can sail away on. It swirls and flows in unexpected and delightful harmonies. While painting, free writing, or journaling it provides the perfect sound scape to entice and encourage creativity.

You can preview and purchase their music on CD Baby here: Fernwood

Radio:
Fernwood's music can be heard locally on KCRW-FM
throughout the country on National Public Radio and ECHOES Radio,
internationally on RADIO CENTRAAL

Reviews:

"This month's Spotlight is a beautiful acoustic based track featuring a combination of instruments that we rarely hear. While the writing, arranging and performances are of the highest order, it is the blend of the various instruments in the mix that really makes "Open Seas" something special to our ears. Gayle and Todd have skillfully managed to combine numerous stringed instruments, many with competing frequency ranges, into an open, airy mix that leaves space for each individual sound source, while maintaining a full cohesive feel, free of artifact and digital "nasties." Relax and enjoy! Well done! Highly Recomended"
~ RECORDING Magazine

"Using only instruments made of wood, Todd Montgomery and Djam Karet's Gayle Ellett blend Old-World and contemporary musical styles on their new all-acoustic project Fernwood. This colorful sonic palette results in Almeria, a remarkably cohesive and compelling debut record. Peaceful but never dull... the duo's sophisticated arrangements and deft touch on a variety of instruments bring songs with vivid titles like "Open Seas" and "Hungarian Holiday" to life."
"Progressive" in the purest sense of the term."
~SEA OF TRANQUILITY

Sound And Presence

Recently I facilitated a workshop at the Claremont Colleges. The students were preparing for an art performance piece that will include toning and chant as part of the production. I was invited to demonstrate the power and depth of these ancient modalities, and to teach the young men and women how to FEEL their emotions and BE in their bodies both on stage and in everyday life.

The workshop consisted of two parts. The first portion was an experiential sound bath created with crystal bowls and voice. To hear a sample of the music created click here: Sound

The second half included instruction on correct vocal placement, proper breathing, and body awareness. For many of these young adults it was their first time chanting and it was really difficult to create sound (be heard) in a group. It was beautiful to watch them support and encourage each other.

Here are some photos:



Working with the youth is always an amazing experience. I'm continuously blown away by the wisdom reflected back to me in their open approach and unbiased attitude to experience something new. There is no comparison to witnessing a person tap into their power and experience their greatness.

I hope we can all learn to be more like children.



To inquire about workshops, performances, or one on one sessions you may email me at Sacred.Sound@Live.com

To See As God Sees

Meister Echkart is one of history's great mystics. He was a Catholic monk and scholar who lived from 1260 to 1328.
In his own words,

To SEE AS God Sees

It is your destiny to see as God sees,
to know as God knows,
to feel as God
feels.

How is it possible? How?
Because divine love cannot defy its very self.

Divine love will be eternally true o its owns being,
and its being is giving all it can,
at the perfect
moment.

And the greatest gift
God can give is Her own experience.

Every objedt, every creature, every man, woman and child
has a soul and it is the destiny of all,

to see as God sees, to know as God knows,
to feel as God feels, to Be
as God
Is.