Worry ~ The World’s Favorite Past Time

Life can be excruciatingly painful. So much so, that it becomes difficult to deny the pain that exists within our human condition. This awareness reminds us that we are not always in complete control of the circumstances of our life, no matter how hard we try.

As I began delving into the idea that “Suffering is Optional”, I felt a heavy sense of responsibility looming in the distance.

If suffering really is optional, why do we allow it to exist within our lives?

As Human Beings, we continuously allow our minds to be contaminated with thoughts that are ruled by

These thoughts then control our emotions and they wreak havoc within all aspects of our physical life.  I began to realize that we cannot always prevent or avoid pain, yet suffering (physically, mentally and emotionally) are all completely within our control.

We believe that pain causes our suffering, but the truth is,

We simply cannot let the “person, place, memory, feeling, emotion, desire, choice, conversation, action, regret or frustration” go.  We must drown in it, roll around in it and beat this dead horse to the point of pure agony before we release it. And often times we refuse to release it at all.

Once you have done all that you can do in any situation, you must let it go, release it and refuse to allow it to continue to affect your mental and emotional well being.

How many times, within each and every day, do you cause suffering within your own life?

How often do you focus negatively on things that you cannot control?

These negative thoughts contaminate our mind, control our emotions and perpetuate the suffering within our physical life.

We must make a conscious effort to release all suffering.  While the circumstances of our life are not always within our control, our thoughts always are. We must understand that worrying promotes suffering.  The very act of worrying does nothing to positively effect the outcome of our life, or the lives of those around us.

We must understand that we are the cause of our suffering, therefore we are the only cure. It is time for each of us to take responsibility for our suffering.  We must stop allowing ourselves to become engulfed in the self destructive process of worry, fear, doubt and anxiety. We all hold within us, the power to stop all suffering within our life.

It is time to take your power back. It is time to release your pain, anguish and trauma once and for all. Every being on this planet has suffered long enough. It is time to find a new past time, a new hobby, a new way of life. It is time to stop the self sabotage, self destruction and self inflicted suffering.

You owe it to yourself to let it go.

Welcoming Discipline And Grounding My Guru

Can I just be real with you for a minute?

I am notoriously flaky and non-committal. I have been this way my entire life. I chalk it up to an overwhelming character flaw that has plagued my very existence.

Yet the older I get, the more I am driven to be something more. This overwhelming desire to complete something, to finish something, to see something through to the end has become an incessant nagging that refuses to go away.

And then one day, I found something that I knew would would fix all of my problems.

I swore to myself that

would be different.

Yoga would change my life. Yoga would bring me inner peace, balance and oneness. I would become a Yoga Guru, who would perform amazingly difficult poses with ease and grace. I would study Yoga, practice Yoga and fully embody all things Yoga.

Don’t get me wrong, I always start every endeavor with the best intentions. Completely unrealistic and overly exaggerated expectations are my forte.

But then, life happens.

Life can be busy, stressful and frustrating. It can leave even the most ambitiously inclined person up a creek, without a paddle. Before I knew it, I got sucked in to the current of my usual habits, daily routines and busy work schedule. My dream of being a Yoga Guru took a back seat to, well, life.

As a Gemini,

is my element.

My head is quite literally in the clouds and my heart is never far behind.  I flow effortlessly from one thing to the next and I welcome change with pure, childlike excitement.

It is no wonder my life has become a series of un-finished projects and good intentions left floating in the wind.

There is one element that I just cannot seem to wrap my head around…

 Earth, is needed to maintain grounding, stability, growth and nourishment. Balance can never be achieved without these key ingredients. I had to find a way to incorporate these aspects into my life.

Yoga, quite literally, forced me to take time out of my extremely Air influenced existence, to plant my feet firmly on the ground.

Through Yoga I created

I became grounded and rooted within the Earth element.  I began planting seeds of knowledge, wisdom and desire. I would return, each day, to nourish and perfect everything I’ve planted.  As these seeds of intent grew, I became more firmly rooted in my perspective of self. I found my place in this amazing existence. I became one with all that is. I became whole.

This is it.  This is my reminder.  My mantra that encompasses all that I truly desire.

When I am feeling lost, frustrated and overwhelmed, I can find my purpose and motivation here.

It is so easy to let life get in the way of our journey.

I realized that I could no longer continue to do the same thing and expect different results. Sometimes we need to get out of our own way. We must welcome the discipline we know we so desperately need and focus on grounding our Inner Guru.

Yoga did not change me. The practice and discipline that Yoga provides, allowed me to change myself.

When Life Gives You…. Wait. Those are my Organic Lemons, Dammit.

The April Full (Blood) Moon and coinciding Lunar Eclipse exploded with my Elemental energy

When April arrived, I couldn’t help but notice that my life somehow managed to cast the leading role in a weird, ironic Sour Patch commercial. It is the only thing that describes the utter ridiculousness I’ve been subjected to.

Mystic Mamma describes April’s Chaotic Energies perfectly…

Yet, as I continued my research, I was continuously reminded that this would be such an amazing time for a

With the energy of the April Full Moon rising, my emotions ran rampant, my thoughts teetered on the brink of insanity and endless irrational fears fought their way to the surface. I was frustrated with literally everything in my life. I was loosing my ever lovin’ mind.

Everyone I came in contact with, mirrored and reflected this negative energy nightmare right back to me. I couldn’t avoid it. I was sucking up negativity like a fucking Dyson.

I became one

I just couldn’t get my shit together.

With the Full Moon Goddess perched at her highest point in the sky, I finally had a moment of clarity…

Everything I’ve feared, everything I’ve run from, everything I’ve pushed aside, everything I’ve buried-

brought by the Full Moon Goddess through my own Air Element.

I was forced to face my reflection head on. I didn’t like it. I hated it. I even fought it tooth and nail. The Full Moon Goddess awakened a dark, dormant, ‘not so nice’ aspect of me.  I stood in horror as my Shadow Self worked endlessly, day after day, to claw it’s way to the surface. I could no longer continue to hide, push aside or bury, who I am.

Everything that blew up, caught fire and crumbled around me- Every last bit of it…Was totally and completely

Every single aspect of the drama and negativity I experienced was self inflicted. That was one hell of a realization to wrap my head around.

But I knew in my heart, that it was true.  And yet, don’t we all ignore, put off and forget about the things we so carefully choose not to deal with?

This prolonged negative frequency, will eventually manifest in our physical lives as

It is amazing how easily we begin putting off those seemingly irritating tasks, we really

“Don’t Want To Do…”

If we continue to make the choice to avoid, bury, repress or ignore the seemingly frustrating aspects of our Self, rest assured that our physical reality will respond to match that negative frequency. How many of us are walking around, fuming like a volcano, just waiting to explode?

Take a look at your life as it stands right now. How much of your daily life is affected and influenced by Procrastination?  If you begin to see a repeating pattern unfold, dig a little deeper into what the Root of that problem could be. Emotions are always the key. We must first acknowledge the “not so nice” aspects of Self, before we can begin to release and move forward on our journey.

The Skeletons In Your Closet Are Masters of Tarot

The past few weeks have been a complete and total

With the end of one month and beginning of another, I found myself drowning in paperwork, deadlines and general ‘To Do List’ drudgery.

I just couldn’t seem to catch my breath.

There was a light at the end of the tunnel. I was so excited to volunteer for

event this year. The Melting Pot is the largest (FREE) Pagan event in Houston. Hundreds of Pagans, Witches, Covens and Kin all gather to learn, share knowledge and have a amazing heathen celebration that would make our ancestors proud.

A few weeks before the event, I was informed that my knowledge and experience with Tarot cards would be put on display, for the entire Pagan community.

Here’s the thing, I love Tarot cards, I really do, but I normally downright refuse to read for others.

Lets be honest, I really do not want to know the inner most private things about your life. Some things are deeply personal. So it should be your choice as my client, to tell me or to keep slamming that closet door shut and pocketing the key.

Can we all agree that Tarot has a tendency to be an awkward

encounter that drags every single skeleton out of every last closet, seats them right at the table, cross legged, begging to be acknowledged.

I have another issue with Tarot that is not so simple

I can actually see what happened to you in your past

There have only been a handful of times in my life that this has occurred, without a deck of cards in front of me, but each left me emotionally and physically drained. Yet every single time I read for someone, this “ability” kicks in full force and I find myself struggling to keep up.
It is very difficult to read for others and be a successful third party adviser when I not only see but also fully embody the actual event; weather it is drug addiction, rape or a personal life crisis. Everything you experience becomes my own.

But, I decided to shove all of my fears, doubts and worries into the back of my own closet of neatly stacked skeletons.

I would make the most of this experience. Dammit.

Now, I have to admit, The Melting Pot event was absolutely amazing! With workshops, classes, rituals and even a Pagan Scout troop- it was a helluva heathen celebration indeed! I read Tarot cards non stop from the time I arrived until the final ritual ended, with only one potty break in between.

The reaction from every single client was a mixture of surprise, joy and gratitude. I was able to help so many people open up, release and acknowledge the past trauma that still plagues their current life.

I, on the other hand, was a total emotional wreck.

My body hurt, my head hurt, my everything hurt. I don’t think I have ever been more physically and emotionally drained in my entire life. When I went home, I knew something was ‘off’ other than the exhaustion from volunteering all day. I had not only cleared the endless trauma of every client I read for, I had attached every last bit of it to me.

I immediately ran to my altar and started digging for supplies. I had to get cleansed and grounded and I had to do it fast. Holding on to your own negative energy is terrible, holding on to the negative energy and past trauma of 50+ people is insane. I started the ritual and began diligently working to release all of the pent up negative energy I had accumulated throughout the day.

After closing the circle, I made my way outdoors. With the warmth of the beautiful  Moon Goddess shining down on me, I snuggled into the soft grass. I focused on sending any excess energy to Gaia, so that she could cleanse, purify and transform it.

As I laid there, meditating on the days events, I wondered why I had been so afraid. I had spent the day reaching out to those in need, helping others in ways they weren’t able to help them self and honoring the abilities I hold within me.

Even though I didn’t shield myself at all and even though I attracted every single ounce of negativity from every person I encountered, I was still OK.

I was more than OK.

My fears began to vanish and the emptiness was replaced with gratitude. I was grateful for who I am. I was grateful for my ability to help others.

As I laid there, with the Moon Goddess watching over me, and Gaia’s strength supporting me, I opened the door and watched as the Goddesses transformed every last skeleton I had carefully hidden away.

Adventures in Chinatown….

If your boss called you today and explained that you would have to ‘help out’ at another location, one that was a good 45 minute drive from your house, for the next two months– most people would fight the urge to tell their boss

‘exactly where to shove it.’

When I received this particular tid bit of news, I was so excited that I nearly fell out of my chair.  My sister property, happens to be located off of Bellaire Boulevard which means I would be working right smack dab in the middle of

I could not wait to explore this amazing culture first hand.   I counted the days until I left for my new adventure.

 I had one hell of a time with the Street Signs…

especially since the signs in English never seemed to face the right direction.

With grocery stores, restaurants, gift shops, tea houses and literally everything – all insanely crammed into a couple of blocks worth of real estate, I counted down the minutes until my lunch break every day!

I found an amazing Gift Shop on the corner of Bellaire Boulevard and Rochester Road.

When I opened the door, I stood for a moment in utter shock and awe!  Tissue paper fans, parrots, lanterns and scrolls were delicately hung from the ceiling.  I giggled as hundreds of Maneki-neko figurines waved a warm welcome, all in perfect sync, as I entered.

Covering nearly every surface, I stood in awe of the incredibly detailed statues of Buddha, Jade Emperor (Yuhuang Dadi), Krishna, Lakshmi, Guanyin and even The Virgin Mary.  Exquisite Tea pots, tea cups, hand carved Tibetan Altars, an endless selection of incense sticks, burners and Chinese fireworks of nearly every shape and size lined the walls of this intricate little store.

The shop owner warmed up to me immediately; she was eager to walk with me, show me her items and explain the purpose and meaning behind each one.  I am eternally grateful for her knowledge and kindness.

After making a few laps around the shop together, making sure I had touched and viewed each item she offered, she allowed me to shop on my own with one last thought

Do not choose for yourself, for your choice is ignorant. The Gods will choose for you. They are wise. Listen…

We both looked around, to the various statues of deity surrounding the tiny shop.  We stood for a moment in silence, allowing the Gods to speak.  Finally, she looked at me and smiled,

“Ahhhhh… Yes! Pay attention! The Gods have something for you. Find it. Now, go!

I was in shock, anxious and actually surprisingly nervous.  My palms began to sweat as I walked down the isles, inspecting every single item on every shelf with utter scrutiny.

What if I picked the wrong thing? How do I know what is “right” or “wrong”? I can’t even speak Chinese – I don’t even know what half of this stuff is!

I was beginning to panic.  I glanced towards the door.  Maybe I could slowly make my way to the exit without her noticing.

Not. A. Chance.

I took a few deep breaths and decided to just Roll With It…

How hard could it be?

As if right on Que, I saw it….

It was a beautiful statue of the Hindu God Ganesha.

I picked up the statue and felt a warmth and sense of pure joy overwhelm me immediately.  I knew I had made the right choice.  I could just feel it.

I began skipping (yes, literally!) to the register.  I was so excited to show her what I had chosen.  Nearly halfway to the register, I glanced down and saw this beautiful

Tibetan Offering Bowl

I couldn’t imagine how something so small and dainty could stop me in my tracks.  There were literally hundreds of bowls, of all shapes, sizes and colors, lined on various shelves throughout the little store.

What was so special about this one?  

I made my way to the register and handed over my items to the shop owner.  She smiled and nodded in approval.  She rang up my items and carefully wrapped them in tissue paper.  She paused for a moment and looked up at the statues along the wall once more.  Her gaze shifted back to me and she whispered

Come with me…

I followed her to the last aisle toward the very back of the shop.  She lifted a beautiful silk tapestry and pulled out an intricately carved trunk with thick metal handles on both sides.  She lifted the lid and I peered down to see strange octagonal shaped pieces of hand painted wood with various types of circular mirrors inlaid in the middle of each one.  She looked up at me and said

“These are Bagua Mirrors. You will choose one, take it home and immediately hang it outside of your front or back door. Do NOT hang it inside your home! The Bagua will protect against Shar-Chi and will create good fortune and harmony.

 I took a moment to examine each Bagua; to hold each one in my hand.  Finally, I made my decision…

This would be MY Bagua Mirror.

The shop owner smiled and nodded.  I asked her to explain the difference between the various types of Bagua Mirrors and what each was specifically used for.  She explained that there are 3 Types of Bagua Mirrors:

The Concave Bagua Mirror – absorbs negative energy and Shar-Chi.  If it is not handled properly, it could bring IN negative energy to the Bagua owner; which would cause conflict and turmoil in their life.

The Convex Bagua Mirror – reflects negative energy and Shar-Chi.  If it is not handled properly, it could send negative energy to your neighbors and to those who enter your home; which would bring negative Karma to the Bagua owner.

The Neutral Bagua Mirror (MY Bagua Mirror) – balances ALL energy, by neutralizing it before it enters the home. This is the safest Bagua Mirror to own.

I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend in Chinatown.  What may have seemed like an inconvenience at first glance, ended up being the most amazing two months of my Spiritual journey so far this year.  The kindness, compassion and genuine giving nature of everyone I met while exploring Chinatown has had such an incredible effect on my life.  I cannot wait  for the opportunity to return and learn so much more!

I hope this inspires you to explore, experience and enjoy the amazing cultures that surround you!

Namaste & Blessed Be!

Upcoming Pagan Events – March & April 2015 – Houston, TX

Calling all Pagan, Wicca, Witches & Kin! 

Join us this Saturday!

For the

4th Annual Ostara Egg Hunt Celebration & Ritual

This Interfaith event is FREE to the public. All are welcome to come out & join the fun!

~Event Details~

When: Saturday March 21st, 2015

Where: Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center

Address: 20634 Kenswick Dr Humble, Texas 77338

Time: Event starts at 11:00 AM 

What to Bring: This is a Pot Luck event, so we ask that everyone please bring at least one food dish to share with the group.

Additional Items: If anyone would like to donate candy, plastic eggs, silverware, plates, cups, napkins, drinks, etc. – please do so!

Also, please bring your own chairs, coolers, sunscreen or any other items you & your family may personally require.

For More Information or to RSVP to this event please click here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/940049059347367/

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Join us

Sunday March 22nd, 2015

for

The 8th Annual HOLI- Festival of Colors Houston!

~Event Details~ 

When: Sunday March 22nd, 2015

Where: Houston Farm & Ranch

Address: 1 Abercrombie St, Houston, TX 77084

Time: Event starts at 12:00 PM 

Price: Kids 10 & Under are FREE! Adult Tickets $5.00

What is HOLI -HOUSTON?

Masala Radio’s HOLI 2015 (also referred to as “HOLI MELA” or “HOLI FESTIVAL”) is the largest celebration of HOLI in Houston (one of the largest in the nation) last year attracting between 13,500 and 15,000.

Festival highlights include:

* All day color–powder throwing

* Amazing Indian Classical and Bollywood Entertainment

* Audience Rain Dance

* Free Kids Rides

* A ceremonial HOLI Pragitya (HOLI Bonfire Lighting)

The festival will be teaming with Indian merchandise and delicious street food booths. Holi 2015 is the largest Indo-American event in Houston!

    HOLI is a religious festival from India, celebrating the triumph of Good over Evil. HOLI celebrations include music, dance, food, and the throwing of colored powder. So wear white (something you are not attached to!) and come enjoy HOLI 2015!

For More Information or to RSVP to this event please click here:

https://www.facebook.com/HoustonHoli/timeline

http://www.houstonholi.com/tickets.html

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Join us

Sunday March 29th

For the

The 2nd Annual Melting POT- Pagans In The Park! 

~Event Details~ 

When: Sunday March 29th, 2015

Where: Burroughs Park

Address: 9738 Hufsmith Road, Tomball Texas 77375 

Time: Event starts at 12:00 PM  

The Melting POT caters to every Group, Coven & Solitary in Houston, TX and the surrounding areas. This is a Family Friendly event and All Paths are Welcome!

It is our goal to provide a Fully FREE event, where anything that is given, is given freely. Wether that is smiles, food, fun, group brochures, crafts, gifts, workshops, learning and education.

Pagan stores, business owners & entrepreneurs are all welcome to attend- but we ask that everyone remember that there is “No Selling Allowed!” Businesses are welcome to pass out business cards & samples to guests.

We encourage everyone to become a participating part of the largest Pagan Social Network that Houston has to offer!

Some of the Amazing Events to Look Forward to include:

* Potluck Luncheon

* Free Workshops

* Swap &Trade

* Crafts (Adults & Children)

* Contests

And so much more! 

For More Information or to RSVP to this event please click here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/408690705959177/

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Join us

Saturday April 11th, 2015

for the

Into Tarot Reading Workshop!

~Event Details~ 

When: Saturday April 11th, 2015

Where: Joy Yoga Center

Address: 4500 Washington Ave, Suite 900, Houston Texas 77007

Time: Event starts at 12:00 PM  

Tarot card reading is a centuries old tradition that combines symbolism, astrology and numerology into a system designed to provide personal insight into our everyday situations. Tarot cards help you determine the patterns in your life that affect your relationships, career and family.

In this workshop you will learn:
~Card interpretations
~Tarot spreads for everyday and long range use
~What to know when reading yourself and when reading for others
~Some of my favorite tips

You’ll receive a handout with my basic card interpretations and some of my favorite inexpensive reference books and free websites. Then we’ll have an hour or so to practice on each other.

Location: Joy Yoga Washington
Workshop $40, 15% discount for members
Email info@joyyogacenter.com or Call 713-868-9642 to sign up!

For More Information or to RSVP to this event please click here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1062598783755206/

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Do YOU have a Holistic Event you would like Vegan Pagan Yogi’s Path to Bodhi to Include?

Please shoot us an email at

veganpaganyogi@mail.com

with the Event Information and we will add your event to our updated Blog posts, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

The Woman Behind the Labels

“I would like to welcome everyone out this evening. Thank you all for coming. Let’s just take a moment to go around the room for a quick icebreaker. Please stand up, state your name, tell us where you are from and say a little something about yourself…”

It is this exact moment, when seemingly normal words, perfectly align into what quickly becomes the gut wrenching

“Welcome Speech”

that every impulse in my body screams “Retreat!” Before I know it, I carve a path towards the closest

EXIT

awkwardly debuting my white girl moon walk in slow motion. I want to high-five the genius who created those beautiful neon Exit signs.

Did he feel the same panic ensue at every meeting? Maybe I’m not so weird after all.

Dammit, who am I kidding?

I put my hands behind my back and gently shift my weight towards the obnoxious metal door handle.

“Click”

Shit!

I cringe and hold my breath. Everyone in this god forsaken meeting turns…

and stares…

at me.

“Great! Dex, Thank you for being the first to Volunteer!”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

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Namaste my fellow bloggers and readers, I have always dreaded the

“Icebreaker”

games we all are forced to play at business meetings and large events. The nerve-wracking “

About Me”

section of any social media account usually induces such severe panic that I am left wondering how I’ve managed to speak to anyone at all for the past 30 years. How the hell do you describe yourself to a group of people who know nothing about you, in just a few sentences?

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Thankfully, I have designed an amazing Bio over at about.me that you can find here:

www.about.me/veganpaganyogi

How cool is that? Click on “Backstory” to get more in-depth details about my Vegan, Pagan, Yogi life and path.

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Here are a few things I usually don’t include in my “About Me” section – isn’t that the kind of stuff you really want to know anyway?

•  I have studied Paganism for 3 years but have only actually practiced for a little over a year.

Why?

Honestly, I was terrified I would screw something up. My desire for perfection and mastery often ends with “No Action At All.”

• I am not a Yogi. I am nowhere near even being considered a Yogi.

Let’s just get that out-of-the-way. Ohhhh snap, liar liar pants on fire!

The truth is. I have a bad habit of being flaky, finicky and completely non-committal. Strangely, I’ve been happily married for 7 years!

What a persistent little shit my amazing husband is.

I know quite a bit about a lot of things, but I never actually master anything. This blog and its ominous title is my day of reckoning.

“Think it. See it. Feel it. Believe it. Achieve it.”

How can I write a Vegan Pagan Yogi blog if I am not aspiring to be any of those things?

I can’t.

I want to be real, to be honest, to join others who wake up every morning loving who they are (flaws and quirks included). It is my desire to inspire millions of people around the world who are constantly growing, learning, awakening and moving forward on their own path to enlightenment (Bodhi.)

Will you join me on the Path to Bodhi?