Lullaby for a Stormy Night

Happy Hallowe'en!

Today it is my wish that you are seated gently on a chair of tranquility, untouched by fierce winds of fear.

There will probably never be a time when any of us are completely without fear. Because "no horror means no imagination"! Let's bless our talented, creative mind and gently guide it back to focus on the sweetest outcome we can imagine. And to so keep on creating the beautiful and positive, rather than the uncomfortable and worrisome, all we need to do is (ha! sounds so easy, dunnit?) follow the golden rule.

Happy spirits! Should you need a soft lullaby to keep you strong tonight, you may enjoy this as much as I do..."Lullaby for a Stormy Night".

xx

You, me & the Sea

for whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it's always ourselves we find in the sea.

- e.e. cummings

Anuttara ~Highest Tantra Yoga~

this image is part of Anuttara's beautiful cover...











Some very special news...
FENG SHUI FOR LOVE BOOK NOW AVAILABLE

"Samantha Honey and Gail Pisani are delighted to bring you Anuttara, a text of Highest Tantra Yoga. Gail's dream is to see Tantric principles evolve as the normal way of relating.
(Read Gail's inspirational history here!)

The text comes with two beautiful Tantra meditation CDs, perfect for creating sensual, respectful energy in a room of love; and a compilation of Feng Shui for love strategies and tips, including Chinese Astrology tables for love matching.

Tantric yoga is a way of sensual experience through one or more bodies and the knowledge of how energy flows to create true bliss. Anuttara is privately printed and is sold together with the CDs for AUD$65 plus postage."

Please email me to order your own!

The greatest gift

Winner of June competition is Lily Hasbani! You get the lovely House Healing crystals , Lily, worth US$50, for confirming that the upbeat Daisy is indeed a flight attendant! Thank you everyone for your entries!

more news... I've loved providing feng shui tips and holistic musings via this blog for the past sixteen months. I hope something of what you read here will inspire you to make a feng shui change and you will receive excellent results. And now, excitingly, it's time to focus myself full-strength on feng shui books for publication. You'll next be updated right here when you can purchase copies.

Blessing you on your journey to creating the life of your dreams!

May the road be joyful and may you have the company of muchos other lovers-of-life to pour your beauty all over.

love,

Samantha.

The greatest gift you can give anyone is to be happy. And we will take that further. The greatest gift you can give to any partner, past, present or future is to be so connected with who you truly are that they are irrelevant to your connection. And when they are irrelevant to your connection, then you are going to have a really good time together.

-Abraham-Hicks

pic 1 from elle decor via love my earth, and pic 3 from the romantic nsp studios.

Making it better

A taste of discontent has me itching for success. Time to refocus on joy, passion, confidence and- why not? A little- or a lot- of luxury!



Here's some beautiful pics to put you in the mood, too...
fancy a dip in Sardinia?













snuggling with your favourite person on a wave hammock?



















a private flight to Ascot? And passes for the Royal enclosure?



























such a pretty hat!













moss carpet for the bathroom?



















I'm out to make it all better than ever before. See you soon! remember to enter June competition to win more harmony for your home!




pictures from Luxuo
and the Times online

Sweet from Sour

One of those "how unfair!" moments has just happened and I've wondered how to deal with it. One of the fun aspects of having trained in NLP is the ability it gives you to switch focus by asking such empowering questions as, "How else could I look at this?" when you expected a slice of Limoncello cake... but life gives you a squirt in the eye.


Details aren't neccessary, but I'll tell you that I was a complete numpty. It's too easy for me to call myself a failure, a time-waster, and a wee westrel for my silly mistake.

But why should I do that? Even if these accusations have a smidge of truth, it will only make me feel terrible.

There's wonderful power harnessed when you consciously decide what a challenge means to your life experience. Instead of remaining beetroot with dismay, I'm going to ask myself, "What lovely things willl I be able to experience now I have to wait a while longer?" I feel, honestly, as if there is a reason linked in with the universe for this. Explaining it this way helps me feel good. I thank the angels because they were there- I asked them to be- and somehow, even if I can't see it yet, they've really helped me.

Another fun little game was deciding what to do to Celebrate the squirt of lemon. I think I will turn this sour episode into a delicious sweet by baking a Limoncello cake. Recipe below! May even make a list of 100 things I will enjoy doing in lieu of what I was hoping to achieve- whilst it's in the oven.

Limoncello Cake
Serves 8, from Italian Cooking & Living

For the sponge cake:
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 eggs, separated
1 1/4 cups sugar
grated zest of 1 lemon (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the limoncello cream:
9 eggs yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon limoncello
1 cup whipping cream

For garnish:
2 1/2 cups whipping cream
1 1/4 cups sugar

To layer:
6 tablespoons limoncello

For the sponge cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 10” springform pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; set aside.
Beat the egg yolks and sugar in an electric mixer using the whisk attachment until thick and pale yellow on high speed for 2 minutes.
Reduce to medium speed: slowly add 5 tablespoons of boiling water; the lemon zest and vanilla. Return to high speed; beat for 5 minutes or until thick. Add the flour mixture, little by little, still beating with the whisk attachment.
Turn out into a bowl.
Beat the egg whites in a clean bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold into the egg yolk mixture with a rubber spatula, being careful not to deflate it.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
Cool on a rack and slice into three layers with a serrated knife.

For the limoncello cream:
Beat the egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a large stainless steel bowl over a pot of simmering water. Whisk in the limoncello. Whisk vigorously for 5 minutes, or until the mixture is thick and triples in volume.
Remove and let cool over a seperate bowl filled with ice cubes, continue to whisk until completely cooled. Beat the cream until soft peaks form. Fold into the limoncello mixture; refrigerate until needed.

For the garnish:
Beat the cream until soft peaks form in an electric mixture; add 1/4 cup of the sugar by the spoon until all is incorporated; beat until firm. Refrigerate.

Layer the cake:
Place the bottom layer of one cake on a serving platter. Brush with 2 tablespoons of the limoncello using a pastry brush.
Top with one-quarter of the limoncello cream, spreading it almost to the edges.
Continue with this procedure with the second layer, Finish with the top cake layer; turning it upside down first, to brush on the limoncello. Using a metal spatula, cover the top and sides of the cake with the whipped cream.

The sweet and the sour: this is what makes great art. -Ward Jenkins

creative forgiveness

I love this idea by Clarissa Pinkola Estes- it's so refreshingly creative and do-able...

"Forgiveness is an act of creation. You can choose from many ways to do it. You can forgive for now, forgive till then, forgive till the next time, forgive but give no more chances it’s a whole new game if there is another incident. You can give one more chance, give several more chances, give many chances, give chances only if. You can forgive part, all, or half of the offense. You can devise a blanket of forgiveness. You decide"

How does one know if one's forgiven "properly"? Well, you'll feel no anger left at the person or situation, only pity or compassion...

picture "Balcony in Buenos Aires" by Fabian Perez

Fresh panache for a home office

have just spent a delicious half hour playing with the fresh summer colours recommended at Pottery Barn- don't you adore this room set in Simply White ?












It represents such excellent accessorising to boost helpful friends & travel energy! (i.e. the picture board, metallic lamp, plants and neatly stacked books)

A home office with a view makes me want to write yards of wonderful stories...

A fresh colour is such an effective change of energy for a room. Change of energy= change of experience! The dark walls are stunning too! You can play the colour wheel here.

Your Life By The Sea- Gail Pisani

I hope you enjoy this! It's a very special glimpse into the Life By The Sea of one of my favourite people on earth- Gail Pisani.



Something of a guru within the natural health circle of Australia, I met Gail many years ago in my feng shui work and have been blessed to inspect and recommend most places she has subsequently lent her magical, healing touch. She is one of these beings who radiates a deep sense of peace and self-acceptance. And you will discover, as she shares with us below, she is also as playful as a dolphin and light hearted as a fairy!


Gail, where by the sea do you feel most relaxed yet energised?
"I am so blessed to live by the sea at Cronulla (a beachside suburb of Sydney). I have a few favourite places nearby, and they are places where I sit with my back against the warm and solid rocks and I watch the waves rolling endlessly. My eyes feast on the surrounding greenery of grasses and trees. Sometimes I close my eyes and hear the soft breeze, feeling it against my skin, and the warm sunlight kissing me. When the weather is hot, I play in the water in the rock pool, swimming back and forth like a mermaid, and then I lay on the velvety warm sand and float in a daze of quiet contentment.
The feel of the cool water nourishes me, revitalising my blood flow; the warmth of the sun penetrates my central core, and the sights and sounds of my private paradise uplift me. I am at peace and quietly restored. "


What is the favourite room in your home, and why?
"The central room in my home is the lounge room, and it is empty, except for a huge picture of a golden Buddha, painted by one of my yoga students as a gift for me. I love this room because it reminds me to continually empty my mind.
It has a little balcony with plants and a buddha statue, and sunlight bathes the room in bliss all day.
All the other rooms are energised by this central room which contains nothing but bliss and emptiness. Sometimes, students come to practice yoga and sit in meditation with me in this womb like room. I enter this room when I come home from an excitable day of social and worldly interactions and it returns me to connection with my inner being, shedding all the busyness of the external world. I enter this room when I wake in the morning, after a night of rich and sensual slumbers and it sets the tone for the day, reminding me to move through the day with gratitude for my life, sourcing my life from this centre of emptiness and bliss.
I enter this room after being in my bathroom of cleansing rituals, and I feel fresh and pure and innocent. I enter this room after honouring my clients with massage or counselling, and I feel humbled by the gifts that I have developed - to be of benefit and service to others."

What an amazing feng shui meditation that room is for you! So, do you have a favourite or lucky object?
"Looking around my current home, I wonder what I have brought with me from my previous home that I would call my favourite or lucky object. I would have to say no - there is no special favourite or lucky object. I could leave here and walk out the door right now and not need to take any special thing with me. Of course, there are many objects in my home that give me pleasure, as they have been given as gifts from those who share love with me.
But I cannot feel an affinity with any one as a favourite. My lucky object is my laughter - it turns any situation into a winner!!"

Beautiful! And what places can you recommend in your local area which offer positive and joyful energy?
"We are blessed with an endless list - but here are just a few....





Shelley park - where the mums and dads, kids and prams, dogs and balls, walkers and swimmers, surfers and divers, come daily to enjoy the facilities and bustling activities by the sea.
Darook Park - where the rowers, lovers, picnic makers, and kookaburras find calm and peaceful time by the Bay, especially great to watch the magnificent sky at sunset.

North Cronulla Kiosk - where the coffee drinkers and early morning surfers and swimmers enjoy the warm sun and pavement chatter as a positive start to the day

South Cronulla Steps - the best place in the Shire to catch the magical morning sunshine and sparkling blue ocean, you can find a quiet spot to be on your own, or join in with the groups of fitness enthusiasts

Gunnamatta Park - where the gumtrees and bayviews and laughter of children in the playground uplift the heart and soothe the soul

Camelia Gardens - a peaceful paradise of plants and waterfalls and ducks and devonshire teas

Local National Parks - where there are numerous bushwalks and special waterholes for an amazing day of positive and joyful energy."


Thank you, Goddess Gail, for your divine inspiration for a life of joy and magic by the sea!



Gail Pisani has been part of the natural therapies industry for over 30 years. Her career credits include establishing and developing Caringbah Healing Centre; the largest and most respected Natural Therapies Clinic in Southern Sydney, and The Premier College, an institution offering nationally recognized courses in natural therapies.


Gail's passion is sharing the gifts of Tantra with the world through her work, Tantric Teachings. She offers yoga, massage, tantra CDs and counselling in Sydneys South. Tel: 0422 643573 Watch this space for details of her workshops, upcoming publications and website!







images of Cronulla: 1 via flickr, 2 via oceanswims.com

Healers needed!

Have you heard of the Distance Healing Network? It is somewhere you can submit a prayer request for yourself or loved one, and a healer will send their light and love to your issue.

















If you are a healer in any way (reiki is especially appreciated), the DH-N needs you for their overwhelming prayer requests! I have been a member now for about a year, and it simply involves sending an email to your "client", who is allocated to you by a group leader. And then, of course, sending healing to that person. So incredibly simple- and so powerful! Please do consider joining, if you have a few minutes a day spare! You can volunteer here.

"To bless is to acknowledge the omnipresent, universal beauty hidden from material eyes; it is to achieve the law of attraction which, from the furthest reaches of the universe, will bring into your life exactly what you need to experience and enjoy."

- from The Gentle Art of Blessing.

Love this

June Competition!

Isn't it refreshing to meet someone who loves the work they do? I wanted to share with you the thoughts of someone called Daisy. Her delightful outlook is inspiring no matter how we earn our living!

So I decided to make it into a competition for subscribers to the June Cheat Sheet- and also, why not?, for you lovely blog readers!

Based on her thoughts below... Can you guess what she does for a living?

Please email your answer by June 20. One lucky correct winner will be sent Feng Shui By The Sea House Healing Crystals (view here) to the value of US$50!

Here's Daisy!

"[what I do] is not a job. It is a lifestyle. It's about being happy, being brave, being diligent, and being yourself. It's about understanding that the people who you work with, eventually become like your extended family. It's true.

I think the best thing about [what I do] is that you get to see the world. For free. You get to spend up to 24 hours with fabulous and gorgeous people. For free. You get to see the world from 35,000 feet up every single day. For free. You get to be social and talk to random and generally lovely people. For free.

You get to smile every single day, for free. In fact, they pay you! For all these things and more, you get paid. What more can you ask for?! What more do you want?!
If like me, you appreciate the stars and the moon in the night sky, then imagine how lucky you'll feel when you see them above the still, calm blanket of cloud.....`Always aim for the moon and if you cannot reach the moon then at least you can say you danced with the stars'. That's what [what I do] is. You get to dance with the stars."

Email me your answer to win! you can also leave a comment below.

And another thing... do you think with an attitude like this her job keeps getting better and better, and more positive attraction is swinging her way? You better believe it! Law of Attraction, voila!

photo 1. via flickr, 2. via scatterjoy. Daisy's credit posted after the comp!

Clutter-busting for summer

Clutter in everyway results in a life of ideas half-formed, projects just started and not completed, unchecked lists and beautiful moments that sparkle and fade. It reminds me that for everything there is a time, especially "A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together"- from Ecclesiastes.

And when this life cluttered full of beautiful and irritating grates on us, we know a different time has come true. We may not even know what it is yet... we'll just have to play along and follow our bliss.

So it's a sunny day, perfect for throwing open the windows and out the half-baked ideas and mass of brochures collected from winter and spring- time to let the sun in!

clutter busting for summer is a special process that can heal and deeply ready us for new positive energy. June newsletter features a special how to, and how to create fantastic interactions using the Law of Attraction. If you're a resolute "planner" you will LOVE becoming a person who easily attracts fun times.. please sign up in the box at the top of the page so you can benefit!

Dream-life for ducks

A few days ago, Husby rescued a lost duckling at one of the Castles he frequents, and now they travel together in the helicopter everywhere. It even follows him when he goes out jogging. Pampered by various chefs, staying in lovely hotels...

This little duck has the law of attraction well sorted!

Live the life you love!

Life is amazing! Isn't it wild how differently we all live? Do you love where you live, who you are, what you do? Are you the star of your own dream-life?

Take the chance -if you have a few moments!- to think way beyond present reality...

daydream or journal at least 4 dream lives you'd like to lead.

... if you need an imagination jump-start, perhaps consider-: What would you do for work if money was no object? Where would you live, with whom, and how would you go about your day?

more disney dream photo series here!

If this time-space reality has within it the ability to inspire a desire within you, it is absolute that this time-space reality has the ability to yield you a full and satisfying manifestation of that same desire. It is Law.

- Abraham-Hicks

A soft place to land

"The soft place to land that you create should inspire within you the mantra, "I can breathe here. I can relax here. I know I am safe here." When you return to your home after braving worldly rigors, you will feel a subtle yet tranquil shift occur inside of you as you settle in to this most personal of retreats and feel centered once again. "

-from the Daily Om

although we are children of the universe and life is our safe, abundant playground, isn't it wonderful to have our own, special, soft place to land?

Feel-good Food and great Feng Shui

Food, fitness and feeling good have alot to do with feng shui. I love to visit the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York online for their concepts on how to create harmony in the body through food which will enhance our lives.

May I share with you two of my favourite concepts from their form of nutrition that absolutely apply themselves most aptly to successful feng shui?

1. The concept of "Crowding out"

Integrative Nutrition says: that the reason so many diets fail, is because they limit or prohibit the foods we eat that we love, but which are unhealthy. The secret to successfully eating well is to ADD more vegetables, more healthy proteins, more quality fats and more wholegrains to our diet.

How it works: If you're eating an omelette and large vegie juice for breakfast with green tea and wholegrain toast, where are you going to find room to put the donut?

With a Feng Shui By the Sea perspective: many people are focused on the things that aren't working or perfect yet in their lives. Yet there are so many things that are going right! When we look at, talk about, and try to fix the problems in our life, they remain foremost in our minds and consequently, our experience.

How it works: By filling our minds each morning wih counting blessings and looking for the things we want to see all through the day, there's limited chance to focus on negative predictions, and life takes an upswing.

2. The concept of a "Does it work for you?" Food Journal.

Integrative Nutrition says: Foods have different effects on different people at different times. Keep a diary of what you eat, record how you feel when you eat it, then record how you feel two hours after.

With a Feng Shui By The Sea perspective: Different feng shui remedies work in different areas. When you are drawn to move furniture or bring a new piece into your home, note how you feel when you first position it, then note how you feel two hours after.

How it works for both: Impulse, habit, or the "norm" causes us to feel good in the short term, but in a very short period of time we know if something is truly right for us!

I'd like to add here the word chronic... any by the way, did you know this doesn't mean permanent, it comes from the word root "chron" meaning "over time"... what choices do you continually make in your home decor (or diet) that really you feel are not in alignment with the person you truly are inside?

Truly food for thought!

much love!

PS Don't you just love this little pic of "the happiest eggs in the world"! Had to show you! i bought them last week in Surfers Paradise from the nearby granite belt region of Queensland. what a beautiful marketing idea... such feel good energy.

non-violence

gorgeous images by tanja askani





Knowing how powerful it is to have an intent, i was moved by Deepak Chopras on intent.com...

to have at least 100 million people join me in taking a vow for non violence in thought, speech and action asap







It reminds me of the day in A Course in Miracles, where the meditation is, "I will not hurt myself again to-day".



now i see... Non-violence is not just ignoring the spider busy spinning in the corner of the room. It's saying, "Do I really know this to be true? What else could this mean?"
when i am tempted to get offended or feel any sort of negative emotion.


What does non-violence in thought, speech and action mean to you?

On many things magic

I believe in magic. I believe that wishes come true. And I believe because there’s evidence all around us- when we really look to see...


Full moon last night- wasn’t it strong?- did you feel inner changes calling you, or did random events seemingly happen to you?

Went down to the ocean to get a picture- for tonight I’ll leave this wide sandy beach- and the full moon held a special message for lovers! Look carefully!



An Upside-down love heart hangs in the full moon sky
Love’s reflection in the water.. its time to say good-bye.










The sunrise this morning reminds us that every cloud holds a rose-gold lining; it’s not the most magnificent we’ve seen, but I did promise you:

Now, as I write, the last of the washing hangs in strong sunshine and flaps gently in the sea breeze. It’s another perfect, sunny day in paradise.





Don’t really know what else to say, except that I am blessed with my favourite way to travel in style, as will be whisked off in a few hours by emirates chauffeur service to Brisbane and then on through Singapore, Dubai, Gatwick and onto the Isle of Man. Woo hoo! I feel so blessed! Looking forward to one of these delicious flat bed seats!

Husby’s pictures from yesterday, acting like a siren-song, luring me away from golden sands to his distant land…

Point of Ayre: the Isle of Man has beaches too, it’s just not Surfer’s Paradise…














Carlingford:

The weather forecast is wet, cold and windy,
And I can’t think of anywhere on earth I’d rather be.





To all Australian and US mummies; have a magical Mother’s Day!

May your road lead you home to those you love today.

Life's a garden..

"Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

-Mother Teresa.

I do love this quote. Some of the words are a little hard: that's why i think every line should be preceded by the word When...

Here's another, not said by Mother Teresa:

Life's a garden- dig it!

Day dawns in 'paradise

Let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

-Kahlil Gibran

... Have been blessed to witness the most beautiful sunrises here from my balcony over the past 3 months. With all their reminders of what to do with a precious day! ~*~ how much the universe loves us ~*~ forgiveness ~*~ new beginnings ~*~ new possibilities...

Now, I have only one sunrise left to see- tomorrow's. Because then- I'm going home!

Hope you enjoy these sunrises, too!

xxx