Yoga

Yoga

Have you ever taken a few brief moments to breathe deeply or gently stretch your body? Then you actually practiced some natural yoga. Yoga originates from ancient East Indian philosophies and is more than 6000 years old. It can alter consciousness in its pure form. Originally, the goals of yoga were the liberation of the body from earthly desires, as well as cleansing and quieting of the mind. Yoga is a primary source of all mind body fitness programs, it’s a discipline unifying mind, body and spirit.  Hatha yoga (yoga for strength) is most commonly practiced today. It consists of a combination of body postures, gentle stretching, breathing exercises, meditation and relaxation techniques. This helps to balance and attune opposing energy forces in the body generating improved health, well being and inner peace.

Arts & Entertainment:

Warner Bros. to adapt ‘Discovery of Witches’ David Auburn is looking for witches and vampires and has come on to adapt Deborah Harkness’ “A Discovery of Witches” for Warner Bros. and producers Denise Di Novi and Allison Greenspan.

Studio acquired the property last summer. Story centers on a reluctant witch and a 1,500-year-old vampire. The witch – a direct descendant of the first woman executed in the Salem Witch trials – accidentally unlocks an enchanted manuscript and finds herself in a race to prevent an interspecies war.

An interview by Raymond Buckland by Bernadette Montana
It is with great pleasure that I post this interview today! Raymond Buckland has always been a huge influence on me, and is someone who has helped to shape our wiccan community today. Read full story from sacredmistsblog.com

Merlin Stone Memorial Sept. 24th
On April 10th, Z Budapest has called for a global remembrance of Merlin Stone. Here’s what Z posted to her Facebook account:

In case you missed anything, here are highlights from this past week. I hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Highlights!

Who Are We? By Stacy Evans

We can be anyone we want to be, more so because Wicca can encompass anything. We are everyone. We are kind and loving. We can be mean, because we are only human. We are not better than anyone else, but we are equal to everyone else.

New Zealand earthquake strikes Christchurch, killing at least 65 people
At least 65 people have died and more than 100 are missing after a powerful earthquake struck the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch, collapsing buildings, burying vehicles under debris and sending rescuers scrambling to help people trapped under rubble.

The 6.3-magnitude quake struck the country’s second largest city on a busy weekday afternoon.

The mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, has declared a state of emergency and ordered people to evacuate the city centre. “Make no mistake this is going to be a very black day for this shaken city,” he said.

International Pagan Coming Out Day - May 2
Coming out to someone is a decision only you can make and it’s a decision best made when you are ready to do so. IPCOD encourages Pagans who are ready to come on out!

There are benefits, personally and for our religious community as a whole, as more Pagans come out. Some of these benefits include the reduction of anxiety caused by living a double life and creating a climate of greater acceptance for all Pagans. Read full story from pagancomingoutday.com

Celebrating paganism with a winter solstice
A solstice is the celebration of the sun’s rebirth. Every year, Sudbury’s pagan community celebrates a summer and winter solstice, noting the longest and shortest days of the year.

Kristan Cannon-Nixon, one of five organizers who helps run both annual events, said its a way for pagans of all denominations to celebrate their beliefs together, and celebrate the shifting of seasons as it’s happening.

Reindeer ‘cruelty’ slammed by rights group Reindeer are being tormented when slaughtered, according to the animal rights organisation World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA).

• Dead goat scares recycling depot visitors (31 Oct 10)
• Outrage after rabbit slaughter broadcast (28 Oct 10)
• 17,000 minks set free in southern Sweden (4 Oct 10)

WSPA released a video on Monday that shows reindeer in distress when herded and transported, and while at the slaughterhouse.

Can Green Visionaries and Eco Realists Coexist?
When I wrote about the UK government’s apparent redefinition of ‘zero carbon homes’, an anonymous commenter noted how amusing it is “when governments figure out that it’s much harder to actually do something, than to say you’re going to do it.” And that got me thinking—given the urgency of climate change, peak oil and resource depletion, we need radical visions and bold plans to create a better world. But then we also need people who can actually help get us there. Unfortunately, being visionary and being realistic are often seen as mutually exclusive. Read full story from treehugger.com

A Jacksonville witch explains what witches are - and aren’t
Delaware’s U.S. Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell created a stir by declaring, in a televised political ad, that she is not a witch.

While meant to ease the concerns of evangelicals over reports of her interest in witchcraft many years ago, the ad has offended real witches by implying they are evil, says Jacksonville’s Judith “Holly” Charland. Read full story from jacksonville.com