Enjoy a Free Northern Lite Cooler on June 21st!

3rd Annual CoolerFest Celebrate the first official day of summer with a delicious (and FREE) Northern Lite Cooler in your hand! The swimsuit-friendly coolers are lower in fat and calories, so they are a great way to indulge this summer. Don't miss your chance to try a free 12 ounce chocolate, vanilla or caramel Northern Lite Cooler at CoolerFest. Where: Your local Caribou Coffee (Not available at airport locations) When: June 21, 2007 Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. only

Boycott - Bath & Body Works

I found out recently that products from Bath & Body Works, a place I used to work at during high school, are tested on animals. Turns out though they claim their "final product is not tested on animals", the ingredients they use in that finished product are indeed tested on animals.

I find this really outrageous and wrote a letter to them in protest. If you have time, use my letter below as a template to send one of your own......or at least don't buy their products!

****************************************************************************************************

Bath & Body Works
Seven Limited Parkway East
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
main-614-856-6000
Customer Service
800-395-1001
www.BathandBodyWorks.com

To Whom It May Concern,

I am gravely disappointed to learn that your company sells products that have been tested on animals. Furthermore, I believe your claim that your finished product is not tested on animals is deceiving, given that the materials going into that "finished product" are indeed tested on animals.

Not only do I feel outraged morally that you are selling goods tested on animals, but I feel manipulated by your sneaky claims about the "final product" versus the ingredients. In the end, its all the same and the truth is that you do contribute to the senseless and outrageous suffering of animals.

I will no longer use or buy ANY of your products and will make sure to tell everyone I know to stop as well. I hope you reconsider your policy.

With deep displeasure,

Agatha Glowacki
1304 W St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
glowacki@gmail.com

****************************************************************************************************

Catholics are told to get green

Protect God's Creation

John Vidal and Tom Kington in Rome
Friday April 27, 2007
The Guardian


An Arctic coastline yesterday where the sea is usually still frozen at this time of year. The Vatican has added its voice to concerns over global warming. Photograph: Francois Lenoir/Reuters

The Vatican yesterday added its voice to a rising chorus of warnings from churches around the world that climate change and abuse of the environment is against God's will, and that the one billion-strong Catholic church must become far greener.

At a Vatican conference on climate change, Pope Benedict urged bishops, scientists and politicians - including UK environment secretary David Miliband - to "respect creation" while "focusing on the needs of sustainable development".

The Pope's message follows a series of increasingly strong statements about climate change and the environment, including a warning earlier this year that "disregard for the environment always harms human coexistence, and vice versa".

Observers said yesterday that the Catholic church is no longer split between those who advocate development and those who say the environment is the priority. Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, head of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, said: "For environment ... read Creation. The mastery of man over Creation must not be despotic or senseless. Man must cultivate and safeguard God's Creation."

According to Vatican sources, the present Pope is far more engaged in the green debate than John Paul. In the past year Benedict has spoken strongly on the need to preserve rainforests. In the next few weeks he visits Brazil.

"There is no longer a schism. The new interest in climate change and the environment is not surprising really. Benedict comes out of 1960s Germany, where environment and disarmament were major issues. It's conceivable that his ministry could even culminate in a papal encyclical on the environment," said one analyst. This would be the most powerful signal to the world's Catholics about the need for environmental awareness at every level.

The Catholic church is just one major faith group now rapidly moving environment to the fore of its social teachings. "Climate change, biotechnology, trade justice and pollution are all now being debated at a far higher level by the world's major religions," said Martin Palmer, secretary general of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (Arc).

In some cases the debate is dividing traditionalists from younger congregations. In the US the diverse 50m-strong conservative evangelical churches are increasingly at war about the human contribution to global warming.

Many evangelical leaders say they are still not convinced that global warming is human-induced and have argued that the collapse of the world is inevitable and will herald the second coming of Christ.

But most younger leaders have broken ranks. About four years ago the progressives began to argue strongly that man had a responsibility to steward the earth. Redefining environmentalism as "creation care", they are now lobbying President Bush and the US administration to take global warming far more seriously.

"They are the most effective lobby," said one observer yesterday. "They represent the conservative vote so Bush has to listen to them."

Although the World Council of Churches in Geneva has had a department to investigate climate change since 1990, churches have come late to the debate. "The [environment and religion] is a no-brainer, but we are all only now realising it", said Claire Foster, environmental policy adviser to the Church of England.

Many faiths also realise their potential to influence politicians and financiers. A survey by US bank Citigroup found that the 11 major faiths now embrace 85% of the world's population and are the world's third largest group of financial investors. In the US the United methodist church pension fund alone is worth $12bn-$15bn (£6bn-£7bn). Total investment of US churches is nearly $70bn. Switching to ethical investments would be hugely significant.

One Catholic priest impatient for change is Seán McDonagh, a Columban missionary and author of books on ecology and religion. "The Catholic church's social teaching on human rights and justice has been good, but there has been little concern about the impact on the planet. The church has been caught up on its emphasis on development and on resisting population control, but if we are pro-life we should be banging the drum now about climate change."

Backstory

Most of the world's mainstream faiths have at their core a deep respect for nature, but over hundreds of years many have developed an ambivalent attitude towards ecology and the pressures put on the earth by humans. Church leaders have largely stayed silent on the extinction of species and natural capital and have concentrated their ethical teachings on the need to relieve human poverty. But the reality of impending climate change and the effects it will have on the poor is concentrating minds and causing many to fundamentally reassess their understanding of man's place in the world.

Poor and Vulnerable Will Suffer Most from Inaction and Neglect on Climate Change, Says USCCB Official

WASHINGTON (June 8, 2007) — An official of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) told a Senate committee that those who contributed least to the problems of global climate change- - the poor and the vulnerable- - will be most affected, bear the greatest burdens, and have the least capacity to escape.

Citing the Church’s experience in serving those in need, including the poorest people on earth served in 100 countries by Catholic Relief Services, John L. Carr said: “We see with our own eyes that poor people in our country and in poor countries often lack the resources and capacity to adapt and avoid the negative consequences of climate change.”

“Their lives, homes, children and work are most at risk,” he continued. “Ironically the poor and vulnerable generally contribute much less to the problem but are more likely to pay the price of neglect and delay and bear disproportionate burdens of inaction or unwise actions.”

The USCCB Secretary of Social Development and World Peace presented testimony (June 7) on the “Religious and Moral Dimensions of Global Climate Change” to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

“The religious leaders here today share an abiding love for God’s gift of creation and the biblical mandate and moral responsibility to care for creation,” Carr said. “We believe our response to global climate change is a sign of our respect for God’s creation and moral measure of our nation’s leadership and stewardship.”

The Conference officials said the U.S. bishops accept the growing consensus on climate change represented by the International Panel on Climate Change, but also recognize continuing debate and some uncertainties about its speed and severity. “However, it is neither wise nor useful to minimize (or exaggerate) the growing consensus, the continuing uncertainties and policy challenges,” he stated.

Carr cited the U.S. bishops’ insistence:

“(A)t its core, global climate change is not simply about economic theory or political platforms, nor about partisan advantage or interest group pressures. Rather, global climate change is about the future of God’s creation and the one human family. It is about our human stewardship of God’s creation and our responsibility to those generations who will succeed us. If we harm the atmosphere, we dishonor our Creator and the gift of creation.”

In his testimony, Carr said the bishops were “voicing the principled concerns of a community of faith, not an interest group. We are not the Sierra Club at prayer or the Catholic caucus of the coal lobby. The Catholic bishops seek to help sharp this debate by drawing on traditional moral principles of Catholic teaching: prudence, the common good and a priority for the poor. “He said the bishops’ statements and approach were “nuanced, not alarmist; traditional, not trendy; an expression of faith, not politics. For us, this concern began with Genesis, not Earth Day.”

Carr said the Catholic Church has long grappled with the problems of global climate change at many levels. He cited the 2001 statement by the U.S. Catholic Bishops, Global Climate Change: Plea for Dialogue, Prudence and the Common Good; papal statements by John Paul II and Benedict XVI; the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, which recently held state-wide meetings in Florida, Ohio, and Alaska to bring together public officials, leaders from business, labor, environment, and religion; last week’s major Vatican convening on climate change; and the June 1 letter to the leaders of the G-8 Summit by the Presidents of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Germany, Canada, Japan, France, England and Wales, Russia, and the United States.

Noting that the voices and the presence of the poor and vulnerable are often missing in debates and decisions on climate change, the USCCB official called on the Senate committee and the religious community to help ensure those voices are heard, their needs addressed, and their burdens eased.

“This priority for the poor cannot be a marginal concern in climate policy, but rather must be a central focus and clear measure of future legislation and policy choices,” Carr said. “If we do not address climate change and global poverty together, we will fail both morally and practically.”

“While there are no easy answers, the religious community can re-affirm our traditional message of restraint, moderation and sacrifice for our own good, the good of ‘the least of these’ and the good of God’s creation. We are convinced that the moral measure of debate and decisions on climate change will be whether we act with prudence to protect God’s creation, advance the common good, and protect the lives and lift the burdens of the poor,” Carr concluded.

NOTE: The full text of the testimony by John Carr can be found on the USCCB Web site at http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/ http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/ejp/climate/lettersalerts.shtml

Goddess Kali - The First Feminist

Kali, the Black Goddess of Yore

Kali is not what one imagines a typical Hindu woman to be. She is neither gentle, bashful, nor subservient toward her husband. She moves around in the nude; her hair is disheveled; and she gets intoxicated from drinking the blood of demons..

Kali is a Goddess who fights alone. And if she wants help, she accepts it from other females but does not seek it from men. Whenever the male Gods are unable to subdue the demons in battle, they ask the Great Mother Goddess for help, and not until after she has scored a victory can they go back in peace and perform their normal godly duties..

Could it be that God in ancient times was a She? According to Judeo-Christian tradition, this idea is "unthinkable," but if one seriously studies history with an open mind, one cannot exclude the possibility of a Great Mother Goddess that reigned long before the Father God appeared. Primitive man, observing women giving birth, perceived her as magic and prayed to her to make his tribe strong and give him more sons and daughters..

Dating back to Neolithic times, the most ancient images found were always female and depicted fertility. Many are black and mysteriously related. One can't help but ask, "Was the Black Goddess Kali at one time worshipped by peoples all over the world?" Modern research by Westerners certainly points in this direction..

taken from Kali: The Black Goddess by Elizabeth U. Harding

Insight from the Dalai Lama

Morning musings:

"Secular ethics embraces the principles we share as human beings: compassion, tolerance, consideration of others, the responsible use of knowledge and power. These transcend the barriers between religious believers and non-believers; they belong not to one faith, but to all faiths."  -- H.H. The Dalai Lama

These seem universal and non-controversial; why haven't we as human beings been able to agree to disagree about the details, but stick to the common ethics inherent for humans? If all humans, no matter what religion, were to agree to these standards then it would be a huge step forward for peace.

compassion
tolerance
consideration of others
the responsible use of knowledge and power

"In the Buddhist view, hatred, anger, and desire are afflictive emotions, which simply means they tend to cause us discomfort. The discomfort arises from the mental unease that follows the expression of these emotions." -- H.H. The Dalai Lama

Yeah, I have known for a while that anger and hatred cause me to feel bad, and in the end I am only hurting myself. But I never thought of desire being in this category. This is applicable to me right now, since I am burning with this desire to move into my new house. I see how this "desire" is causing all sorts of mental unease, and causing me to do thoughtless and stupid things! I will have to meditate on this some more and try to reign it in........

Agi's ideas for the house

Some general ideas:

1. name our home and name the studio room (kinda like Debra did at FLOW)

2. have a tack board where we put up info about events going on in the community

3. maybe have a weekly "house" meeting just to go over stuff and catch-up?
4. set-up an online calendar to coordinate events/schedules
5. sponsor an adoptive pet (preferably cat!) from ASPCA
6. altar with fresh flowers
7. sparkling waters intead of mainstream sodas

8. meditation retreat (like the kind they have at FLOW)

Some personal goals:

I was thinking about what you said about really focusing on making changes this year and using the support of the house/community to help you. I wanna do the same. These are some things that I wanna work on:

--ending consumption of coffee

--ending consumption of milk (becoming true-blue 100% vegan)

--learning to eat mindfully and slowly

--learning how to relax/unwind/socialize without alcohol

--getting completely off sugar

Some ideas for implementation
1. incorporating an evening of silence one day during the week (an ancient yogic practice of "mauna"); we could write notes to each other if we need to communicate, and there would be no TV or music allowed

2. hosting all-vegan dinner parties and serving juice spritzers (not alcohol!)

3. throwing Barbecue Bashes and serving grilled veggies and meat substitutes (no meat!) and juice spritzers (not alcohol!) and playing uplifting music (not hard core stuff!)

4. inviting people over for board games (as an alternative to going out clubbing or bar hopping)

5. hosting tea parties (not wild crazy parties with alcohol); maybe even calling it " ChariTea" and collecting $$ for a charity; serving some vegan appetizers/desserts

6. hosting Movie Nights, maybe calling it "Spiritual Cinema"

Kathleen's Ideas for the House

Nutrition/Cooking

1) Keeping healthy grains, beans and breads readily available at all times. For example, cooking a dhal or bean soup at least every other day. Cooking brown basmati rice or a whole grain pasta at least every other day. Keeping some nice fresh breads like that great Whole Foods pumpernickel bread. I will do most of the cooking.

2) Keeping fresh fruits and vegetables readily available at all times.

3) Having a weekly vegan dinner where we try new recipes (did you already say that)?

Taking Pride and Joy in a Lovely Home

1) Keeping the kitchen, living area, and studio in "studio order" - pick up/clean up after each day so that everything is ready for the next day.

2) Fresh flowers at least once a week (on me!)

3) Keeping nice smelling candles, room sprays, incense around.

Asana

1) Stocking the studio with what we need for comfortable practice.

2) Anatomy models for education and instruction.

2) Morning asana to start the day.

Events

1) Confidence building for yoga instructors: Focusing on voice, philosophic instruction, assists and other aspects of instruction. Provide a supportive environment and suggestions to help new instructors build confidence in their approach.

2) Anatomy review: Focusing on different parts of the human system.

3) Creative Integration Evenings: Get togethers where we brainstorm and invite ideas about integrating different yoga philosophies and styles, dance, massage, inspirational reading, any form of movement, to bring something new to instruction.

Some ideas of things to buy for the house

Pantry

Soy Coffee
So Delicious Ice Cream
Nutrisoda

Movies
Zen Noir
Into Great Silence

Books
Vegan with a Vengeance
Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World
Spiritual Nutrition

Music/Speaches
Krishna Das
Julia Butterfly - On Spiritual Activism

Altar additions
Florida Water
Kali
Kali 2
Kali 3
Kali 4
Kali 5
Kali 6
Kali 7

House Warming........at least a start!

So Kathleen and I got the keys to our new home yesterday and met together at our new house. By the time I got inside, I was relieved to be in something of my own and almost viewing it as a safe haven.

You see, I had just been yelled at by my old apartment building's management because I was "moving" stuff without pre-arranging AND moving on a Sunday. What this "moving" consisted of was giving Angela a cart-load of stuff I was donating. But we got in trouble anyway, and my landlord will likely get fined because of it. Ughhh. How stupid. I hate all those silly rules of an apartment building that make life so difficult. While the lady was yelling at me, she did make some good points, though – saying that there are hundreds of people in the building who are disturbed when people move and that is why these "moves" must be in specific, scheduled times. I guess it makes sense but makes my life so much more difficult – I was hoping to move a little each day until the Big Move on Saturday (which I HAVE scheduled as my move-out day).

So what could be worse than breaking the rules, pissing everyone off, and moving on a Sunday? Well, if you can imagine it………I did it. I moved a bunch of stuff this morning. So what is worse than a Sunday move? A move at 5am on Monday! I just wasn't thinking; I swear I didn't do it on purpose! I just woke up and was too excited to do my yoga/meditation routine, so started packing up stuff for the new house. And me being the typical "Slavic" scheming individual, I creatively thought up a way to get around the "rules" by stuffing everything into my suitcases, thus hiding the fact that I was "moving". Well, as though it weren't bad enough already, I make it even worse….. For some reason (I just wasn't thinking straight at 5am!), I decided to move my kitchen stuff. So, at 5am on Monday, I started packing up all my POTS AND PANS, UTENSILS, and APPLIANCES. Oh my God, they made a lot of noise. After a while, even I became a bit worried about waking up the neighbors. By then it was too late, and I just finished.

Then I wheeled my suitcases (stuffed with kitchen ware) downstairs, past the 74-yr old desk clerk (who was glaring at me but too shy to say anything), sheepishly skirting outside to my car. I think it's safe to say, though, that my landlord will get fined – AGAIN.

But, it ends well. I drove over to my new house. Dropped off my stuff. Figured out the alarm system. Meditated on my new coach for a bit, inaugurating the room. And asked for forgiveness for my actions!!!!

Now, the question is……….do I continue packing this way? Getting my landlord fined? Or just give up, and wait until Saturday? I have this itching burning desire to move in, but I guess it can wait. Ughhhhhh, maybe this is my first lesson to learn. To become patient. Damn, I knew choosing "Kali" as our house patron was gonna be trouble! ;)

P. S.
Yes, Kali is our house patron and if you don't know anything about her, read below:

In union with Lord Siva, who is said to be her spouse, she creates and destroys worlds.

The figure of Kali conveys death, destruction, fear, and the consuming aspects of reality. The sadhaka boldly seeks to confront Kali, and thereby assimilates and transforms her into a vehicle of salvation. The Tantric approach to Kali is to display courage by confronting her on cremation grounds in the dead of night, despite her terrible appearance. The goal of the devotee is to become reconciled with the dark side of life (suffering, death and destruction) and to learn acceptance of the way things are. Kali is said to not give what is expected. To the devotee, it is perhaps her very refusal to do so that enables her devotees to reflect on dimensions of themselves and of reality that go beyond the material world.

In her most famous pose as Daksinakali, it is said that Kali, becoming drunk on the blood of her victims on the battlefield, dances with destructive frenzy. In her fury she fails to see the body of her husband Siva who lies among the corpses on the battlefield. Ultimately the cries of Shiva attract Kali's attention, calming her fury.

Kali first appears in the Rig Veda, not as that of a goddess, but as that of the black tongue of the seven flickering tongues of Agni, the Hindu god of fire. She is also described in the Devi Mahatmya (also known as the Chandi or the Durgasaptasati) from the Markandeya Purana, circa 300-600CE, where she is said to have emanated from the brow of the goddess Durga, a slayer of demons or avidya, during one of the battles between the divine and anti-divine forces. In this context, Kali is considered the 'forceful' form of the great goddess Durga.

At the dissolution of things, it is Kala [Time] Who will devour all, and by reason of this He is called Mahakala [an epithet of Lord Shiva], and since Thou devourest Mahakala Himself, it is Thou who art the Supreme Primordial Kalika. Because Thou devourest Kala, Thou art Kali, the original form of all things, and because Thou art the Origin of and devourest all things Thou art called the Adya [primordial Kali]. Resuming after Dissolution Thine own form, dark and formless, Thou alone remainest as One ineffable and inconceivable. Though having a form, yet art Thou formless; though Thyself without beginning, multiform by the power of Maya, Thou art the Beginning of all, Creatrix, Protectress, and Destructress that Thou art. ---Mahanirvana-tantra

Vegan goodies!

Baking vegan desserts is becoming really hip as more and more people are becoming more socially and health conscious. Plus, once you taste vegan sweets - you will never go back! They are yummy!

Some outstanding vegan bakeries, which were highlighted in REAL SIMPLE:
http://babycakesnyc.com/
http://www.blacksheepbakery.com/site/687531/

And Washington DC's very own, "Sticky Fingers" bakery:
http://www.stickyfingersbakery.com/index.php