What I’m Reading: Positive Energy: 10 Extraordinary Prescriptions for Transforming Fatigue, Stress, and Fear into Vibrance, Strength & Love by Judith Orloff, M.D.
“Energy isn’t some vague phenomenon…”
Dr. Judith Orloff is a clinical psychiatrist who believes that the future of medicine involves integrating traditional medicine with intuition and energy medicine to achieve a better grasp of total wellness. She frames intuition as the language of energy – something to be trusted & valued.
While certain sections were a little too new age for my own personal tastes, I took away a lot of helpful ideas. Her description of intuitive empaths and in turn, the challenges they face as a result was illuminating. Regardless of whether or not you identify yourself as an empath, her exercises for learning to center & protect yourself against energy vampires are helpful.
“In just the right light, with just the right attitude, you’ll be able to see the soles of your shoes sparkle. They do. They will. Let that wonder in. Be dazzled by the energies interwoven throughout the day-to-day.”
I saw this at my local library & grabbed it on a whim. It is based on the author’s time working in a psychiatric ward while studying to be a mental health nurse. I really enjoyed this. It is a powerful look at getting rid of the stigma and preconceptions of mental illness. I felt like there could have been several volumes! Darryl Cunningham‘s stories were heartfelt and the illustrations were simple & enhancing to the message. I feel like I could easily recommend this to anyone to give them a taste of mental health activism.
Do you remember the book Trumpet of the Swan by EB White? It was about a swan named Louis who is born without a voice. So eventually (through criminal acts) he gets his wings on a trumpet, learns how to play, & crazy hijinks ensue. I remember being enthralled by how he learns to read + write with a little chalkboard he hangs around his neck. & how delicious the watercress sandwiches sounded.
Over the weekend, we took advantage of a break between rain showers & walked down to the Lake.
& found our very own quiet shutterbug swan.
I think I’m finally getting over my post-vacation blues. It didn’t help my readjustment to the “real” world to have an odd back injury that has left me trying to pick up things with my toes (it’s a skill you need to practice…)
Last night was helpful: we put on some already-seen-&-well-loved-movies & I drew for the first time in ages.
Except I don’t really draw. I doodle. I doodle weird creatures battling each other with bendy straws. Evidence to come.
& today I went to the Toronto Reference Library with some hot cocoa, spent $1 & got FIVE books I’m looking forward to reading. If my back wasn’t hurting, I probably would have tried to carry even more.
Stifle those giggles & hear me out.
I let my Y-membership lapse more than a few months ago. At first, I thought that once we moved to our new neighborhood – I would renew it at the new branch. But I didn’t. Like so many things – it fell on the back burner until I was in the throes of winter & feeling really ‘blah’ about my level of inactivity.
I’m logging more than a few hours in Comfortable Cubicle City & the weather is such that going for a run isn’t my cup o’ tea. & harnessing the power of the budget has crossed out too many ‘extras’.
Cue the library.
My love knows no boundaries for public libraries or the Toronto Public Library specifically. But that’s a post for another day.
This post is about Goddess Yoga Booty Ballet.
That’s right. Note the part where it says “Master Series” (I didn’t notice that prior to trying it out) I was quite sore the next day in muscles that haven’t been awake in a while.
PROS:
- If you want to giggle while exercising – this is it. These ladies are bizarrely entertaining (& fit) – “What a beautiful bun” comments & all.
- It mixed fun movements with difficult movements.
- They start & end their sessions with mudras. I found it corny but focusing. & a little bit of woo-woo can be good for the soul.
- There are modifications to ‘boost’ up the workout, depending on skill level.
CONS:
- Yoga Core was a little too hard on my wrists & knees.
- Horrible weight loss infomercial from the production company right after the closing comment about loving yourself in & out.
- Since it is part of the Master Series, it is just the two of them on screen. I prefer seeing some less-fit-non-instructor types in the background.
- A few too many close-ups of hard abs & firm booties. I get it! You’re quite fit. I felt too voyeuristic.
I’m looking forward to trying out one of their dance exercise DVD’s.
How should we be able to forget those
ancient myths about dragons that at the last moment turn into
princesses; perhaps all the dragons of our lives are princesses
who are only waiting to see us once beautiful and brave. Perhaps
everything terrible is in its deepest being something helpless
that wants help from us.
Rainer Maria Rilke
.
“I’m satisfied with my own research on the subject. I’m not in the mood to learn anything new.”
Claudia said, “But Mrs. Frankweiler, you should want to learn one new thing every day. We did, even at the museum.”
“No,” I answered, “I don’t agree with that. I think you should learn, of course, and some days you must learn a great deal. But you should also have days when you allow what is already in you to swell up inside you until it touches everything, and you can feel it inside you. If you never take time out to let that happen, then you just accumulate facts and the begin to rattle around inside of you. You can make noise with them, but never really feel anything with them. It’s hollow.”
-From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs.Basil E. Frankweiler
Hard to imagine, isn’t it? I grew up in a book friendly household. My mom used to be a teacher before she stayed at home & taught us. We went to the library all the time. I loved it. I knew every nook & cranny, where all my favorite authors were, & when my favorite librarian was on duty.
The concept of banning books seemed absurd to me from the beginning. How could someone dictate what someone could or could not read? Think of all the ideas that wouldn’t be challenged…all the new adventures that would be missed out upon…
“There must be something in books, something we can’t imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don’t stay for nothing.”
–Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451)
Have any of your favorite books been banned? Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger & Animal Farm by George Orwell are two that I wouldn’t want to part with.
“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.”
–Mark Twain
Twyla Tharp is an amazing American choreographer who is known for her cross-over ballets, which include both modern dance & ballet techniques. Her first book was her autobiography “Push Comes to Shove”.
In her second book – “The Creative Habit: Learn It & Use It For Life” – she takes the lessons she has learned from her 35+ year dance career & shares her routines, problem-solving techniques & creativity exercises. When she is at a creative dead end, she has a long list of exercises to help get her out of the rut.
In her mind, self-sustained creativity is linked to routine, organization, & self knowledge – something that all types can identify with. No matter what creative pathway you would like to harness, there is always an entrance to get there.
Getting into a “hoop rut” isn’t uncommon & while everyone tackles it differently, this book might give some new insight to your own process of getting back into the swing of things.
