We make a peaceful retreat...

We "retreated" to Somerset's Gift, a farm near Swellendam over the weekend. The purpose? Mainly to practice yoga, but....put a great group of women together (OK, there were two stalwarts from another sex) and what do you get?! Copious amounts of chocolate, red wine, with some yoga thrown in between.

But it is not a retreat without a few key ingredients:

1. A hidden place, off the beaten track, which requires a 4x4 and day light to reach
2. Nature - preferably mountains and a winding river on your doorsteps
3. Vegetarian food in copious amounts - yogi's are notorious for their wolfish eating

We had all of the above! Safe to say we had 2 days of....pure bliss :)

Namaste

Be still....

Be still -

so I can feel your breath

 

Be still -

so I can find your hand

 

Be still -

so I can follow your heart

 

 

Anne-marie

 

 

 

 

What is your name?

 

 

What is your name?

Not the name I call you,
 when I have no imagination

and enviously watch you soar.

 

What is your name in heaven?

The sound which stirs your soul,

the sound which sets you free.

 

What is your name, here, at early dawn?

Where you sit perched, with knowing eyes.
Brought here by my tears,

because I forgot your name.

 

 

Anne-marie

 

 

 

 





Nature's poetry...

Why did you mate the moonlit night
With the honeysuckle vines?

How did you know Madeira bloom
Distilled ecstatic wines?

How did you weave the velvet disk
Where tangled perfumes are?

God, when you thought of a pine tree,
How did you think of a star?

Source: God the Artist by Angela Morgan

 

 

 

Now...

I have future regrets about yesterday;

and old fears about tomorrow.

But in this glorious nothingness of now -

I am free.

 

Anne-marie

Gaia mantra

~

Om Shri Gaia Ma

Purnatva Gaia Ma

~

Beautiful, Abundant Mother Earth

You Are Perfection, Divine Mother Earth

~


 

My word?!

I try to take time during classes to get to know the students. One of my favorite exercises is to ask them to give me one word which would describe them best.

This is very enlightening, especially after reading Sacred Contracts from Caroline Myss: She uses archetypes to assist you to symbolically understand your relationship with yourself and your environment, in order to let go of those patterns which do not serve you anymore. An excellent read if you are looking to find your purpose in life, but feel a bit stuck.

So after giving it much thought, I came up with my word - Storyteller. Very chuffed I was ready to display this to whomever was available. This word was not received with much enthusiasm by my loved ones: Eye rolls and comments like "is this going to take long..." is currently breaking my stride. But because Student was also a possibility, I keep at it with courage and perseverance.

Although, thinking about it now, Princess might not be a bad one either?!

 

 

 

 

Another special night with special friends!

My "goddess" friends surprised me with an impromptu marking of my birthday...or shall I say birth-month?! We met at Caren's place and after so much sadness and heartache over the last month, it was amazing to see them again - still overflowing with love!

 

 

 

Standing in abundance - what a blessing to receive this gift of feminine energy, grace and of friendship and unconditional love!

 

 

 

A special day with friends...

A special place,

soul friends,

shared connections.

Oh, time has wings!

The last of summer days,

all is love.

Blessed!

I have enough.

Anne-marie 

Same time, same place next year?

The biscuit mill...

So on my mom's previous visit, JC took us to explore the Neighbourhood Goods Market at the Biscuit Mill.

After much spreading, tasting, sipping, pushing...um'hing and a'hing, we left, slightly tipsy and well fed (we had champers and pizza at 10h00 in the morning!) with a few edible organic flowers to fry :)

I just love Cape Town....

Why not?

My words

My words

 

My words are an open wound;

a flame licking in the darkest corner.

Melting skin,

drying tears from empty eyes.

 

My words are my truth;

circling around past hurts and regrets.

Trying to wash away shame,

a guilty red stain from a white shirt collar.

 

My words are a warm, scented bath;

soothing weary flesh.

Lighting a candle,

along the way.

 

 

Anne-marie

 



My mantra...

A sad, sad week...

It started raining this morning in Cape Town, almost as if the rain wants to comfort and wash away all sadness...

This is a mantra in memory of Peet's mom and Merle's husband, who both passed over this week. We honor the love and the light they shared with so many, we acknowledge that they left this world a better place.

"May you meet the Light with your own ready flame.

May all troubles lift from you in the prayer filled air.

May your radiant Spirit be surrounded by those you love.

May your loving heart never waver in the truth.

And without hesitation, may you always shine."

(Adapted from Caroline's mantra) 

Om namah shivaya...

Words...

So easy to say!

Explosions of sound.

Vomiting airwaves -

rippling through the universe.

 

When sounds connects knowing;

the never ending sense

of love, healing, of peace.

Oh, the power of truth!
 

 

Anne-marie