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Cooking for the Soul, Spirit & Stomach!

Hello again, dear bloggers…it’s time for another special guest feature and this time it’s my good friend, and amazing author, Vila SpiderHawk.  Aside from her wonderful, spiritually empowering novels, she’s also a fantastic vegetarian cook and has written several cookbooks.  I’ve been working with her for a while now, designing the covers for her books, and have gotten to know her very well.  Vila does everything from the heart and soul so I thought it’d be interesting to learn about what drives her to lead the vegetarian lifestyle.  So, in her own words…take it away Vila!

People often ask me why I live a vegetarian lifestyle.  And the short answer is the Wiccan Rede: An it harm none, do as you will.

I honestly try to live by that, the only rule in the Craft.  And since I am part of the “none” that I try not to harm, I start with myself and work my way outward.  Therefore, I eschew animal products and all the dietary cholesterol and fat associated with them as well as the hormones and antibiotics injected into farm animals.  Instead I eat a plant-based diet and make a genuine effort to go with organically grown produce.  And, yes, it is possible to consume enough protein that way.  All vegetables contain protein, and vegetable protein is actually easier to absorb than the protein in animal products.

Working my way outward into the world, my refusal to eat animal products insures that I do no harm to the animals either.  I have seen the way animals are raised for food.  It’s a short and very cruel life for them.  They live in conditions that are guaranteed to cause disease, which is why they’re loaded with antibiotics.  Overcrowded and often improperly fed, pumped full of hormones so they’ll fatten up more quickly, these animals go through their entire lives without seeing the sun, without smelling fresh air, often without being able to move.  And then they are slaughtered.  I want no part of that process.

Moving out a bit more into the world, and we talk about the environment: the land and the air and the water.  Eating low on the food chain, as all vegetarians do, is a small step toward saving the planet.  We don’t have to overfish the waterways to satisfy a vegetarian’s needs.  There’s no need to plant fields of grain to feed cattle so that eventually the muscles of those animals can provide protein for vegetarians.  Vegetarians get our protein from the grain itself.  That by definition puts less land under cultivation and allows more of it to be as nature intended.  There’s no need to pump chickens up with cancer-inducing hormones for vegetarians.  Furthermore, if we go for organic produce, there are no pesticides or chemical fertilizers to foul the air, the earth, or the water. 

While I recognize that vegetarians do harm;  Every tomato we eat is dead, having been plucked from its life-giving vine.  But I have to eat something.  Remember, I am also part of the “none” that I am not to harm.  Therefore, I eat everything with reverence and gratitude, asking permission of the fruit before harvesting it and then praying over it before I consume it.  I don’t know who originally wrote this blessing, but I like it. 


We bless the beings that gave their lives for this food.

We bless the hands that brought this food to our table.

We transmute any harm to our highest destiny.

 

We bless this food.

We bless this food.

We bless this food.

 

We bless us.

We bless us.

We bless us.

 

Go into the light.

Go into the light.

Go into the light.

 But there is more than practicality to my spiritual reasons for being a vegetarian.  There is also the pleasure of beauty and good taste. Vegetarian food is a riot of brilliant colors–reds, oranges, yellows, and greens–each hue bearing witness to an outrageous supply of antioxidants.  And, believe me, there is nothing bland about vegetarian food.  Even carnivores love my cooking.  But don’t take my word for it.  Check out my books, Home for Dinner Cookbook and Feasting from the Garden.  Here’s where you can order them:

Each book available

in Amazon’s Kindle Store at http://tinyurl.com/4y9hltc

in Barnes and Noble’s Nook Store at http://tinyurl.com/43lasvk

In PDF (printable form) at

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/vSpiderHawk

And on my website,

http://www.vilaspiderhawk.com

Don’t have a Kindle device? 

Download a FREE Kindle for PC program

from Amazon at http://tinyurl.com/yzcqkcr

ENJOY!!

 Vegetarian Cookbook by Vila SpiderHawkVegetarian Cookbook by Vila SpiderHawk

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A Witch’s Italian Adventure

As some of you know, I LOVE to travel and I try to take at least one trip a year to a new place.  As an artist I get a lot of inspiration and new photographs.  As a Wiccan, I enjoy learning about the mythology of a place and seeing ancient structures and classical art. This past November my friend and I journeyed to Italy…yes, we were two modern Witches visiting the Holy City, Rome and it’s surroundings including a trip to Naples and Pompeii.  Talk about the old meeting the new!!
We were surrounded by ancient structures built almost 2000 years ago yet still looming powerfully today.   There were amazing structures representing two millennium everywhere we turned!  We traveled far below the earth’s surface to the surreal catacombs of Rome that would make a perfect setting (and have) for role-playing video games and fantasy novels.  Seeing the walls pocked with tombs, along with the altar rooms, really made me feel like I was in another world.  The ancient ruins of Pompeii still displayed the colors and glorious past even after the monster volcano froze this city in time.  And amongst these ruins, people from 2011 roamed them like time had frozen.  The Pagan temples still stand in all their columned glory!

I shot over 400 photographs, both 35mm and digital, color and black and white, and am currently working on them for future exhibits (and hopefully print sales).  As someone who is completely fascinated by times past, this was an amazing trip filled with artistic inspiration!  And why did I mention that my traveling buddy and I are Witches (Eclectic Wiccans to be exact)?  Well, because I was booted from the Sistine Chapel!!  OK, it probably had nothing to do with the fact that I was all in black, gothic clothing, or that I have 17+ inch fingernails on both hands and long, black hair & goth-style make-up (although it was greatly toned down for this visit to Vatican City…and I showed no flesh as advised by the tour guides), but had more to do with the fact that I tried to snap a photo of their “money-maker” Michelangelo ceiling; this despite the fact that we were allowed, nay encouraged!, to take tons of pictures everywhere else in the museum and other chapels…and in one room two guards even helped me excavate my digital memory card from its tough, plastic encasing and then proceeded to pose with me!  Plus I was accused by the ornery “Sistine section guard” of taking many photos of the famed ceiling when I shot one with NO flash then turned off my camera.  He was having none of it and shuffled me out of the dark, crowded, eerily silent room.  Well, I still got to see the room and still have my blurred photo as proof I was there.  The hypocritical thing was every other room in the museum sported a gift shop with tacky mugs and puzzles of what???  Yes, the Michelangelo ceiling image!!!  Guess they don’t want anyone else making money off their “big attraction”!  Luckily I got some amazing shots of the ornately carved and painted other rooms throughout the Vatican Museum as well as the gilded and marble statues, jewels, etc. that lined every wall.

Aside from this and an incident with the evil bus ticket Gestapo, our trip was amazing. I took photos from every angle of the Coliseum,  saw Trevi Fountain lit up at night with tons of people throwing in coins and making wishes,  saw intricate and columned war memorials, the ancient Pantheon with it’s domed roof, and walked around down-town Rome enjoying the carved buildings from many eras…and especially enjoying the amazing wine and food (gelato…YUM!).  Judging from the three areas I visited, Italy is truly a country that embraces both the old and the new, ancient myths and culture as well as the modern life-style.  Most of the people were very friendly and accommodating to tourists and made us feel welcome.  In particular the gentleman who owned the little pastry shop down the street from the hotel.  We went there for our daily fix of incredible treats and he gave us surprise, free samples every time!  I think I miss you most of all, Pastry Man!

So, for all of you with adventurous spirits and a love of travel, I highly recommend a visit to Italy where you can experience a multitude of time periods all in one location!   Safe travels, All!

~Lauren
Note: If you’d like to see more Italy photos and are interested in ordering signed prints, please contact me for details.

Grazie!  ;)

http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com(commercial & fine art)
http://www.laurencurtisart.mosaicglobe.com(fine art, photography, art updates)
http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com(cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)
http://www.facebook.com/LaurenCurtisArtTalonArt(Facebook Fan Page)

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I’m on TV! My ODD 15 min. of fame has arrived.

EXCITING NEWS! My episode of Science Channel’s ODDITIES TV show will be airing THIS Saturday Jan. 21, 9:30!! 15 min. of fame has arrived!  The awesome Oddities crew, including Obscura shop owner Evan, arrived at my house this past August (it does resemble the Addams home) to check out my “X-RAYted” digital photo collage series but ended up leaving with an amusingly odd item….watch and see!!

Well, maybe time to “buy my art while it’s hot” because who knows what will happen next…might even have to raise prices for the 1st time in years!?  ;)

Enjoy the show!  And if you missed it it’s in OnDemand (in Comcast at least) & you can see some or all of it here: http://science.discovery.com/videos/oddities-fingernails-and-just-for-males/

:) Lauren
http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com(commercial & fine art)
http://www.laurencurtisart.mosaicglobe.com(fine art, photography, art updates)
http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com(cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)

Power of Words

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The Business of Art & Online Classes To Learn About It

Art and business seems like oil and water. The two just can’t — or shouldn’t — mix. In reality, it takes an understanding of business basics for a professional artist to succeed. This recent Twitter post by Anne Walk leads to a number of links that show how important business is to a successful artist.  http://annewalk.me/2012/02/business-sense-for-artists/ A full-time artist may not have the time or money to attend college classes. But some of the best online classes in business, such as those found on this up-to-date, helpful online studies website, are one way artists can back up their creative talent with some fiscal common sense.   Here’s a link to accredited online classes:   http://www.onlinecollegeclasses.com

So, now that the holidays are over it’s time to get back to work!  Being a full time visual artist, I’m my own boss and am responsible for seeking out new clients and collectors, networking, marketing and promoting!  This is a full time job unto itself, and one that many artists can’t stand, don’t want to do or just don’t know how.  Since my background was in sales and marketing, this never presented a huge problem and I usually enjoy it…who better to work hard to promote than yourself?  So when Mari-lyn Harris, art marketing guru, asked to interviewed me for her website (www.Heartatworkonline.org) about the business of art I was more than happy to do it!

Hope you’ll have a listen: http://ping.fm/RBu4W

Thanks to Mari-lyn for giving me this opportunity!

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Happy 2012! Thanks for reading!

I just want to wish all of you a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Positive New Year and thank you so much for reading, commenting, liking and sharing my blogs…and a special thanks to all you guest bloggers for your interesting articles and photos.  I look forward to sharing more artwork,  stories, info and guest posts with you in the new year!  And, I’m excited to report, that according to my WordPress stats;

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 6,200 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.

WOW!!  Awesome!  There were visitors from across the US & the globe and I hope to reach even more creative people in 2012.

Have a great, creative, inspired new year…coming next, my adventures in Italy!

Ciao!

~Lauren
http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com(commercial & fine art)
http://www.laurencurtisart.mosaicglobe.com(fine art, photography, art updates)
http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com(cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)
http://www.facebook.com/LaurenCurtisArtTalonArt(Facebook Fan Page)

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A Winter Gift of Healing; Reiki & Relaxation

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!  I’d like to wish you all a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Yule, Happy New Year, Blessed Winter Solstice….did I leave anything out?  Whatever you celebrate (or don’t) I hope this coming year will bring you peace, love and prosperity!  And we all know that despite the fact that this is supposed to be a joyous time it’s also one filled with stress and sometimes depression and anxiety.  So, that’s why I invited my long-time friend Robert (Bob) Volinsky to be a guest blogger about his Reiki/ Holistic Energy Work practice.  I feel this will provide you with some helpful insights as to how to take the stress out of this season and heal yourself in a natural way.  Bob has been practicing these therapies for many years and is a caring, skilled healer.  Now, in his words….

Reiki: A Winter Remedy
The season of winter is upon us which marks the shortest day and darkest time of the year. Our bodies crave the light and warmth of the sun. While our neighbors, friends and perhaps we ourselves run around with year end craziness, our sanity and health rest in the stillness our spirits crave during this time. Most are familiar with the effect of short days with little sunlight on the human system. Light is fuel to the soul. It has biochemical reactions with our bodies that create hormones that effect our moods and attitude. Light warms the body, keeps it supple and flexible. During winter, some experience a lack of energy or even symptoms of depression from the lack of light. Finding light, or being in the sun can help relieve some of these symptoms.
Stillness is the other key to balance during the winter. The hibernation which takes place around us in nature, invites us to retreat inside ourselves as well. The deep rest and recharging that can happen now is the underlying fuel that can bring us into the warmer seasons with vitality. When we don’t take the time to rest and be internal during winter, we can feel stiff in our bodies or lack flexibility. We can become irritable and impatient and feel exhausted. Deep rest and relaxation can soften these negative effects.
As an energy worker and bodyworker, I have found  Reiki to be an amazing resource at this time, providing a way to restore balance by providing light energy and stillness. Reiki is a simple form of hands-on-healing that comes to us from Japan. The word Reiki is often translated as “universal life force energy.” A session is literally an infusion of life force and an infusion of light and allows  energy and light to reach deep within us and restore our body and soul on a core level.
A Reiki session will leave you feeling deeply restored. A simple yet profound stillness opens up during a treatment that is replenishing and restful. The energy warms and soothes the body.
I am a Reiki practitioner, but I can vouch for it’s benefits personally. I used to suffer from depression and lethargy, and a general lack of vitality during winter and other months. These symptoms caused me to begin to look for natural resources to help me feel better. That’s when I happened upon Reiki which immediately began to awaken my body, lift my spirits and rebuild my sense of balance and strength. My excitement about the results is what ultimately moved me to become a Reiki teacher over 15 years ago. And I’ve become quite passionate about helping others to find and receive Reiki’s many benefits.
Bio:
Robert Volinsky, BA LMT is a licensed massage therapist, Reiki Master and Regression Therapist.  He works in private practice in New York City in the Union Square area. He is a faculty member at the Swedish Institute for Health Sciences where he teaches Shiatsu, and Ethics for Bodyworkers. He also teaches Reiki privately.
It has always been my goal to help my clients to feel more comfort and ease in their bodies and become more fully alive and free in who they are. Bodywork and energywork are a creative and spiritual practice for me in that each moment with a client is new and unexplored. It is important to ask, “what is the most that can happen in this moment” every time a session begins. Each session, each moment offers unique possibilities that are available then and only then. Part of my job is to tap into what that is and facilitate it’s unfolding in conjunction with the clients goals.
Through my own life experience, journey with self healing and study, I’ve come upon many techniques that have been useful to me and I enjoy sharing them with the clients I get to work with.  By tuning in and listening to what is present, and tapping in to that ineffable place within us that creativity unfolds from, I let the session unfold. By choosing the best technique, or combination of techniques for each client, I can get out of the way and let the session unfold. There is a bit of trust in that. A knowing that the session is being done “through me” not by me. I am often left in a state of wonder from the alchemy that follows. And in that sense, it can be a deeply spiritual experience for both client and me.
To me the power of a good session, and the effectiveness of a good treatment is about trust. Trust that the moment will reveal exactly what is needed. And the wisdom to know that Trust is all you need. The rest will follow, and the technique flows naturally.