Learning to Live Aloha

by Heather Sullivan

Ho'opiapia O Ke Nalu--show up perfect wave, please.  So I can meet you  So I can be receiving.

This traditional Hawaiian chant is from the legendary surfers--calling in the perfect wave.  This call for the wave is both "a surrender to the mighty ocean and a command flying gloriously over it."  I felt a call or a push to visit the  Hawaiian Islands this January.  Without any planning, I embarked on a journey with a good friend Naomi from Yosemite to the exotic islands.  We found every day to be a wonderful wealth of abundance, experience, and receiving.

Just as I'd been called to Hawaii, I was also called to enroll in an eight-day yoga and massage training at Kalani Retreat Center on the Big Island of Hawaii.  The focus of the training was on Sacred Lomi massage.  Relying on faith,  I showed up the first day of the course with zero background or history in what Lomi Lomi is all about.  What unfolded before me was a beautiful healing lineage and modality that is deeply rooted in the natural world, in community, in breath, in music, in the ocean, and in the sacred connection to all.

Our class of 37 practitioners and students shared beautiful classroom space and beach time, communal meals, and an intense week of giving and receiving.  There are several different lineages to the Lomi Lomi tradition and the one we studied has its foundation in the "intention of awakening the divine in every cell and in the spaces between cells.  The energy work and healing experiences we received on and off the table were unbelievable as there was a focus on "unraveling deep ancestral or childhood patterning to enlighten cell and embody divinity in daily life."

Tom Cocoran and Donna Jason were fabulous facilitators, organizers and instructors and it was a delight to share the experience with their son, Jonah who was on the trip.  We were blessed to have a blessing and hula lesson by local resident Jonathan,  and a talk with Kahuna Harry Uhane Jim.

The tropical setting of Kalani relaxed us, the delicious locally grown and made food nourished us daily, and the ocean was a constant teacher, reminding us of the vastness of our beings and all that we are a part of.

Here I was introduced to the Seven Hawaiian Shamanic Principles:

These principles seem to echo many other earth-based traditions of spirituality and ways to live that I have studied or come into contact with over the years.

The Sacred Lomi Principles we learned can apply to the sessions as well as to daily life:

-Prayer and Intention
-Breath
-Movement
-Focus and Attention
-Change in Flight
-Sacred Space
-Sacredness of all things:  Honor/Respect/Divinity
-Presence
-Facilitation
-Feng Shui

I actually found the principles of Sacred Lomi to mirror the way I prepare my yoga classes as well as structure a Balanced Rock course-- almost exactly.  I believe this is why I am drawn to both the work of Balanced Rock and Sacred Lomi healing modality.

This week was a true gift.  I felt and still feel the waves of Aloha (love) continuously wash over me, healing deep places I didn't even know need healing.  I feel continuous gratitude for all the teachers and lessons in my life and deep acknowledgement and love for my family and friends.
I feel blessed to share this experience with my community.

Aloha.

www.sacredlomi.com
www.kalani.com

Calling the Wave.  photo by:  Naomi Chakrin

March El Portal Community Yoga Schedule

El Portal Community Yoga

Monday Evenings 6:00pm-7:15pm

Wednesday Mornings 6:30am-7:15 am

El Portal School Multi-Purpose Room

Come join the growing yoga community of Yosemite at our ongoing series of yoga classes. Classes take place bi-weekly, and every class is open to and geared towards all levels of yoga, from absolute beginner to seasoned practitioner. Classes are donation-based. All donations received go to support the El Portal Community Yoga program as well as the scholarship fund of the Balanced Rock Foundation.

March Teaching Schedule

Monday,  March 4                             6:00pm-7:15pm         Marya Carr    

Wednesday, March 6                         6:30am-7:15am         Schuyler Greenleaf 

Monday, March 11                            6:00pm-7:15pm         Arin Trook     

Wednesday, March 13                       6:30am-7:15am         Eliza Kerr      

Monday , March 18                           6:00pm-7:15pm         Jon Paul Salonen                

Wednesday ,  March 20                     6:30 am-7:15am        Eliza Kerr      

Monday, March 25                            6:00pm-7:15pm         Heather Sullivan     

Wednesday,  March 27                      6:30am-7:15pm         Paula Wild

Balanced Rock Administrative Staff at Pt. Reyes National Seashore

A Reminder to Raise Awareness, Inspire Change

by Heather Sullivan, Balanced Rock Program Director

"The garden teaches us there is something we are all capable of doing." -Dr. Vandana Shiva

This winter, the highlight of my five-week Hawaiian travel was not swimming and napping with sea turtles, viewing Humpback whales daily with a chance to hear their mating songs, surfing and paddle-boarding beautiful and occasionally terrifying waves, eating insanely delicious local foods and exploring abundant farmer's markets, and being accepted as part of a few loving communities (ohana); it was for sure a talk held on the island of Kauai on food justice and sustainable agriculture.

On January 17th, the Kauai Memorial Convention Hall in Lihue hosted a packed auditorium overflowing into a cafeteria where speakers and a projector were hastily set up to accommodate the huge crowd.  Local non-profit organizations, Hawaii Seed, GMO Free Kauai, and Ceres Trust sponsored the evening beginning with a  local seed exchange, informational booths, dinner, and networking opportunity.  The goal of the evening was to raise awareness to the current situation around food security on the islands and to promote a GMO free Hawaii.  As it stands, Hawaii is one of the largest GMO seed test sites and the majority of food sold on the islands is imported.  On Kauai, 90% of all food is imported.

The opening blessing consisted of local high school charter school students setting the tone for hope and change as the young generation, barefoot on stage, sang and welcomed the community giving Mahalo (thanks) to the land (aina) and all present.

                                                 -taro field

The first speaker, respected and local activist, Walter Ritte,  from the island of Molokai, set the tone remembering this year as the 120th Anniversary of Hawaii's "takeover".  Ritte is a strong figure in the Hawaiian sovereignty movement.  Ritte has also worked to stop genetic engineering of the taro plant, one of Hawaii's biggest and sacred crops.  Ritte spoke of the Molokai people who are fiercely protective of the precious natural resources and the dangers and health threats GMO's are bringing to the islands.

Andrew Kimbrall followed Ritte.  Kimbrall is Executive Director for International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA) and Executive Director for the Center for Food Safety.  He is one of the country's leading environmental attorneys and has won multiple cases against the mega-power, Monsanto.  Kimbrall's hard work and dedication filled me with hope as he successfully works at what can feel like a loosing or insurmountable battle.

Dr. Vandana Shiva (my new heroine), is an Indian philosopher, environmental activist, and physicist.  She has started over 100 seed banks in India and has written over 20 books on anti-globalization.
Dr. Shiva began her talk with,

"For a millenium we have lived in natural harmony with the world.  In less than 150 years we have become a terminal threat to the planet."

All three speakers, though coming from different angles and backgrounds were unified on the fact that genetically modified food is unhealthy for our planet.  They are unified that we should rule by the Higher Laws of Planet--that all creatures are created equal.  They are unified on the belief that it is a right for all creatures to have healthy water, healthy food, and that all humans should have the right to save seeds and grow food without chemicals.

The community (ohana) that formed around this evening deeply inspired me.  The strong spiritual practice of knowing the land, realizing the connection to everything around us, and being vehicles of positive change through our food choices and practices invigorated me and gave me deep hope.
Ritte used a Hawaiian term in his talk POHO--which is to fill with knowledge but then forget about what was learned.  He cautioned us against this.

I do not want to forget the importance of growing even a small kale crop, or even one single plant with a seed.  I do not want to forget to fight for clean water and clean food for all.  I do not want to forget to BE the change I wish to see in the world. (Ghandi)

The Upanishad reminds us,  "Everything is food.  Everything is something else's food."  By making responsible choices and not being afraid to act for what is right for the planet, we can make positive and healthy change.  One of Kimbrall's thoughts that continues to stick with me from the evening is that we can choose to be creators rather than consumers.  He says, "Rather than read poetry, write poetry.  Rather than listen to music, learn an instrument.  Rather than talk about change, act.  Rather than eat a vegetable, grow a vegetable."

So today, I write about and share my experience in Hawaii.  It is now time to  move outside to plant some kale and onions and really remember.

To this earth, my ancestors, this moment, and future generations.  Mahalo (thanks).  Mahalo.

To hear the talk written about in this blog visit:

Hawaii Seed Tour - Kauai - Dr. Vandana Shiva - YouTube

► 68:03► 68:03

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV8DXjj6NWk

For more info on the inspiring Dr. Vandana Shiva visit:  www.navdanya.org

Other inspiring links:  www.hawaiiseed.org