Astral Medicine - 9 Card Art Deck

"Astral Medicine" Set of 9 Spiritual Art Cards - $40

                                    Original Artwork by Clarity West & by Bhaki Ruggiero
                                           (Shipping to US & Canada Included in price)

   

                               

Native American influence on the Land and Our Lives

I can't help but notice the small pink teepee resurrected in my parent's kitchen and wonder at the Aboriginal influence that permeates the lives of us all here in BC, maybe in all of North America.

How did I, a white girl of French descent start sweating at a Native American sweat lodge at the age of 23? And eventually end up taking part in the Sun Dance ceremony for four years at the Lakota Sioux reserve in Middle America?
Well I must digress into some history first to answer those questions.

There is a tribe of people living here in the North West Coast that I have had the pleasure of encountering over the last few months. This mixed tribe of people or "Rainbow tribe" as we are calling it is of every color, nationality, creed and belief. I love these people and they are some of the most tuned in, caring and active people I have encountered. They care about life, about Earth, about making a difference and they aren't afraid to share it. These are my people, they are my tribe. We are sometimes referred to as the Water Tribe. No matter how many beliefs, the underlying tie or connection: the Native American ways seem to influence and underlie all of our values or practices. Tibetan, yogic, Christian. I have been meeting many of these mixed breeds lately and I firmly believe that the Native American spirituality, heritage, way of life is embedded into the land.

I was introduced to the Native ways first through a Classic book called Black Elk Speaks. The book is a first person account from an Oglala Lakota Sioux, Holy man known by the name Black Elk. The book documents the first interactions between the Native peoples and wasichus or white soldiers when they first began to colonize the US and Canada. It is shocking to hear the stories of the famous battles such as Wounded Knee and Little Big Horn. Now memorial sites to these famous massacres, I went to visit this summer for the first time. You could feel the energy permeated in the land, it was a bit chilling to look around and see the hundreds of little crosses sticking up out of the ground. These battles were some of the first interaction between the native people of this land and the people who were coming to settle here. For a long time I was caught up in the horror and the sadness of these stories as it felt as if it had happened to me and maybe in a way, it had happened to all of us.

Shortly after reading the book Black Elk and hearing those words "Lakota Sioux" echo through my brain day and night, a very interesting young man showed up at my work one day. He was wearing a big necklace made of Eagle claws and thick turquoise beads and he was Indian. We very fast became friends and I started to teach him Photoshop and the world of Design and he taught me about the Native ways he had been raised in. I went to my first sweat lodge in Washington and I was hooked.


I say I've died 3 times in this lifetime already. One was at the Sundance the first year I went, shortly after the sweat lodge experience. The second was in the one Ayahusca ceremony I took part in. And the third was this summer in Salt Spring Island on the healing table of a Powerful healer. RIP.

But what really intrigued me about the Native ways was the connection with the Earth and the groundedness of it all. Coming from a flighty North American family there was so much disconnect from life, from real life. It was all about rushing around, money and madness, everything but the important things, what felt to me.

I fell in love with how the Native ways focused on the family as the center of life and the connection with all life. It drew me in. I fell in love with the ways. I felt a connection with my spirit and felt how I had a connection with life. I experienced deep awakening and connection that I had not experienced ever.

I ended up getting sobriety from my weekly attendance at the sweat lodge which went on for months and then years. Being sober meant a lot to me coming from a strong addiction to alcohol from the age of 13. By 24 I was virtually sober. A great feeling for me at that age.



Why do I talk about all these things now? Well it is surfacing strong in my life and my path as I question the last 6 years of my life and interconnectedness with the Native ways.

With my connection to this land in BC, where I was born there is a strong bond which continuously seems to present itself no matter where I go or for how long. This time the call came from the Likely mining spill that has infiltrated the rivers and certain lakes in Northern BC. One that houses close to 1/4 of the Salmon population. Now all this sludge which seeped out from a mining tailings pond is headed straight down the Fraser River to Vancouver.

I felt a call to attend a meeting with friends of the "rainbow tribe" which discussed solutions for these amazing disasters that are happening to Mother Earth right now, particularly the waters, oceans, rivers. The conclusion was that if the water is sick, we are sick. If she is being poisoned, it's all of us, not just "them". It also greatly affects the Coastal Native people's drinking water. We all have to take responsibility and stand up, even if it's just spreading the awareness.

I don't know what the connection is here with the Native people and the land but it's permeated in many of us and touches somewhere deep.



I guess what my question is is whether we are Hindus, Buddhists, Jews or spiritualists on this land, do we all have a Native connection? If we are tuned in, or not. Maybe we were Natives Americans once or maybe the spirit of the land and it's people are permeated here for all time.

The Native peoples are rising up much stronger these days especially with all the action needed to protect and ensure the right treatment of the land. I heard said that the Natives are the stewards of the land for this planet. The white man, the steward of the fire. The Asians, stewards of the air element and the black people, the water. Who knows.

This was a longer post than I had intended but I cared to explore these thoughts and I ask you to do the same. If you are from BC and care to comment or post about this or anything happening right now with the water, please do so or msg me. I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject.

Much love and gratitude.

love,
Clarity

Yoga Fest - Art for India Project

Two girls in India, achieving their dreams of creating art, doing yoga and volunteering with children.


Anandamayi Ma, a well known woman saint from India was famous for her Kheyal, the divine inner prompting that shaped all her movements and activities. Ma was famous for her intuition that would sometimes carry her suddenly deep in the night, hundreds of miles away, only to answer the inner call of one lonely devotee who cried deep enough for her. This divine intuition was so mystical that Ma sometimes appeared crazy or reckless to those who did not understand her inner promptings. This call carried her along the sacred path she walked helping many to attune themselves to God and to a deeper understanding of themselves. Ma’s legacy continues on...

Clarity West
  Over the past four years, I have been on an intense spiritual quest which started in 2009 when I gave up everything and traveled around the US. I wanted truth and I knew that I needed to find the people who had it.

I ended up interviewing several teachers and enlightened beings around the Globe including Swami Kriyananda, Brooke Medicine Eagle, Pi Villaraza, Dr Peter Van Houten and Sunny Baba among other world proponents on spirituality around the US and Asia. Now that my 4 year journey is complete, I am sharing the wisdom, strength and skills I have learned. 

This is expressing itself in several ways including working with children, painting and exploring my journey through the documentary film I created over the course of my travels.  You can view the trailer online.

I am interested in an alternative Education system called  EFL (Education for Life) which is a well-rounded view on childhood development discovered by J. Donald Walters (Swami Kriyananda). It is a similar system to the gurukul, which is the ancient Indian system of schooling which focuses on the child as the whole being; body, mind and soul. It inspired me deeply and I began to develop my gifts and talents in art and creativity not only for myself but also to share with children. India has some of the greatest wealth when it comes to knowledge but unfortunately the education system is depleted or in many areas, non-existent. This does not give children much chance to become more than simple laborers. We can only do our part, which is to start with one or two schools.

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.” ― Khalil Gibran

What we are doing
We have the opportunity to go to India and teach at a small school after being invited by a woman named Vanamali Devi who has an ashram near Rishikesh. After speaking to a friend, Bhakti Ruggiero another Education for Life (pre-school) teacher, the whole journey started to unfold.

We would like to go to the school near Rishikesh to volunteer as well as visit the Mother Miracle School. We have been invited to give presentations on EFL in South India for parents, teachers and children. The journey will be approx 6months leaving fall 2014, God willing and dependent on your support.

There are many social areas in India that are in need of assistance, Education for children is one of the biggest. In our small way, Bhakti and Clarity will make an impact in the lives of the children whom we meet.

Our Offering

In exchange (for your offering), Bhakti and her friend Clarity West are creating original photographic, painting and mixed media pieces for you and your involvement in the project.

Clarity West is a trained graphic artist, painter, designer and filmmaker. She creates original pieces, mixing bright colors & spiritual imagery to create modern, uplifting pieces of art on canvas, paper or wood board.     

http://claritycreative.blogspot.ca

Art speaks to us an intuitive and almost mystical level and when it is channeled from a higher source can offer much upliftment and inspiration. I like to use colors and images that uplift and inspire. If we are going to have imagery up on our walls why not have beautiful uplifting colors and imagery that resonates with who we are and makes us feel naturally good.

You can view many pieces through my Art Blog: http://claritycreative.blogspot.ca/

or through my Facebook page.

We are offering the following:

• Art Prints
• Giclee; high quality canvas prints, stretched, ready to hang - delivered
• Original paintings 
• Commissions- You choose what you would like me to paint. 
• Original artworks which I will create in India and with the children
  

  Breakdown of Costs Raised with Indiegogo (Covered) 1000 Misc Expenses; Travel Insurance, Remedies, etc. 500 Home Expenses (while in India) 500 India Travel Expenses 1000 Air Fare to India (for two) 3000 Food, lodging 6000 Total Needed 11,000
  The Impact   The impact of this project is a win-win-win situation. The girls putting on this project will be given the chance to express the deep love and concern they have for children in India and assist kids in expressing themselves through music, yoga and art.  The participants in this project will receive beautiful art work and other gifts (see below) and a part in a truly dynamic vision that has been held for some time. The girls creating this project will actualize their goals and be able to fulfill a life long desire to return to India where the history and lineage of their life teachings were founded.

  Gifts

$5 USD- Namaste 
We will chant Om at the Ganga for you.

$20 USD
Memorable Gift from India. 
We'll bring you back something niiice.
 

$30 USD
Child's Play. 
We'll send you a child's painting from one of the school's we visit in India.

$45 USD
Art Deco. Set of 9 Art Postcards
Fine Art Original Designs by Clarity West & Bhakti Ruggiero. 
Shipping included

$60 USD 
Ready to Print Yoga. High res Digital File - Ready to print.  
Choice of Images - Original Artwork by 
Clarity West & Bhakti Ruggiero. 

$85
Om Beauty in Color 
8x8 Framed Print in 8x10 Frame. Your choice of Art. 
Delivery Included
                                                                 

$125
Om Beauty in Color 
12x12 Giclee Fine Art Print. Signed
Delivery Included

$175
Bhakti Marg
18x24 Matted Giclee or Canvas Print
High Quality Archival Materials
Your choice of image or Clarity West & Bhakti Ruggiero Art Works
Delivery Included
(Framing Optional)

$275
Saints
Original Painting completed in India or 
current relevant work-20x24-Giclee on Canvas or Wood

 $325
Om Namah Shivaya
Astrology reading with World Class Vedic Astrologer,
Drupada Macdonald. Have a chart made that will outline your life path. 
1.5hr Session on the phone. Includes recording
 

 $475
Ma
Original Painting Ma (Anandamoyi Ma)
Acrylic Paint w Mixed Media
18x24 or  2 - 8 x 10  set ???
 

 $680
India Express
Mixed Media on Canvas - Saint or Personage (of your choice) 
with original painting by Clarity West, Bhakti Ruggieor and Kids in India. 
24x30
Delivery

 $1000
Mahatma Ghandiji
Large Scale Original Painting - 30x40 
Collage of your favorite Saints/persons with original painting 
by Clarity West - Delivery

 

$3500
One week (7 day) All Inclusive Stay
World renowned Yoga Retreat Center
The Expanding Light at Ananda Village,
Northern California.
Meals, Accommodations and Yoga Classes 
Personal Retreat - Any Season
 

  
Feature

$100 Kashiraja - 

Over the phone personal astrology reading 

with Vedic Astrologer and author of "Astrology of a Yogi" - Massimo Kashiraja

It is a blessing to offer our service and go deeper into our own practices as well, both inevitably help others to do the same. 

Blessings for your offering and supporting the inspiration that dreams become a reality when we put energy behind them.

Many Blessings to you, :)



                   Bhakti Ruggiero & Clarity West

Death

What do you think of this?

My life thus far

About 4 or 5 months ago I arrived back in Vancouver and I started to read the book: Power vs Force by David Hawkins. Dramatic shifts in my perceptions, consciousness and overall relationship to life began to shift. The previous months leading up to reading this bookI had become much more self aware and "in my self". I was getting to know myself on a whole new level after having practiced bramacharya vows "in the city" for close to two years. I was getting to a deeper level of power in my relationship to the world and was acting from a powerful place. What I wanted and needed was falling into alignment with almost seemingless effort. I was meeting incredible, like minded souls who were also operating and relating from high levels of existence. And then, I started to read this book by Dr Hawkins and it all started to crumble.

I can only explain it as I was getting in touch with my heart center. A place I had not visited for some time. My heart center was connecting me with my feeling body and thus, more and more connection with the spirit realms started to unravel. My deep, deep connection with healing and the metaphysical world came on with expedited force. Sri Tatata, a Saint from Kerala, India arrived and after 3 days, initiated me into some ancient Vedic rights. This seemed to immediately spiral my life into a deep unraveling of the unworkable and unneeded patterns and situations in my life that needed to end. This is where it all started to become interesting to me.

Things started to become rather difficult to "do". Thinking ahead and planning had become almost unworkable and I stopped being able to multi-task completely. Each thing I did became the only thing in itself that I could handle from moment to moment. It was if my mind was slowing down and I could not ignore it.

In a short period of time I found myself moving to the coast. In fact I was pulled and propelled by a series of extreme events to leave the city. I ended up in a small coastal city outside of Sechelt. I worked on the land in the gardens of a small retreat and healing center called the Self Realization Meditation Healing Center. I went into deep healing mode there where many things were revealed and unearthed in a short amount of time. My periods of silence were in long increments and I became highly functional focusing on one task at a time in a steady day to day routine starting at 6am and ending at approx 7pm. Mediation and steady work seemed conducive to focusing on other aspects of life. Life was good until it was again shaken up after one month's time.

I discovered a community freshly starting not far from where I was based. Ruby Lake, there were many bright lights converging and connecting, some excellent and insanely similarly minded souls. I was in Canada and here were my peeps. Unheard of since I had essentially spent 10 years searching for them all over the globe, primarily in the US. The events that transpired with the people of Ruby Lake caused me to enter a deep heart space where I was able to release and let go to allow for life to unfold what it had in store for me.

So after a series of twists and turns which led me to end up on Salt Spring Island painting a large scale mural in connection with a Tibetan Buddhist Center, I am back again on the mainland.

What drew me here?
On set film work which I got called to be part of and then...let go after 2 days. It was ok because I was not vibing with what once felt quite normal and do-able for me. The film scene was a vibe I had not been around for a couple months and I was changed. It made me question my hopes and dreams of working in the commercial film industry as a director. Did I really want to dedicate the next 10-20 years of my life to work up to this position and then have to pump out this incredible shit into the mainstream. These films which I had worked on a couple of were not only bad but the consciousness in which they were being made was downright inhumane. The film industry is by no means glorious or glamorous. And the content these days in questionable to say the least.

So the common theme is it has taken me great efforts to do very simple things. Getting through the day at this point is the major theme but I've found ways to ground myself such as doing laundry and always having clean clothes. Also eating at least one good meal a day, usually breakfast, ensures that if I'm flying off in the astral planes, at least it's not because I didn't eat.  I am doing my best not to judge my state as unproductive because though it seems like I am not "doing" much, I am doing exactly what I need to and I am hyper aware of this.My saving grace has been painting and art which I have been spending many hours dedicated and deeply
involved in.

Basically, it feels as though I am having a blow out. Not like a blow out sale but more like a spiritual dry cleaning. Yeah.

I am having trouble being clear in communications lately for fear of upsetting or forcing myself upon anyone.  But my sensitivities have become hyper aware and yet at times I am able to deliver truth with surprising precision and strength when needed. My psyche is certainly changing and my ability to go after money or success is close to none at this moment. This has not been good on the old bank account but I know all things will come in good time and at the moment I am being sustained amply. I have more and more been relying on the day to guidance and support that has come from within and through friends and guiding lights. I am allowing healing to take place, right here in my home town and I am loving it.


The process is unravelling as I continue to judge not and allow it to be. The perfectionism and attachment to productivity and results has to be released on a daily level. My ability to care or worry about what others think is prevalent but no longer dominating my life. It has become about the inner guidance, which also come without. I have more and more trust in the divine forces above all else.

Mother India 2014 Indiegogo Campaign

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mother-india-2014/x/1788839

Check out our Indiegogo Campaign and help us make volunteering with Kids in India a reality.
Read our story by following the link.
Thanks,
Love Charity (Clarity) & Bhakti (Carrie)

Travel therapy escapism

Being sober is like waking up to another world.
It really is another life living when you are just here and not avoiding it with something else.
When your on drugs, if the philosophy of a dualistic nature is correct, if you swing so far, you always have to swing equally back in the opposite direction.
So if you are "high" on drugs for 5 years, I believe it may take 5 or more years to slowly start to recover and come back to "normal", whatever that is.

Today, I felt high in a sense, just on life. Actually I had a kombucha and I actually got kind of woozy from it and that's what got me thinking about all of this.
I thought, man, I'm really happy and grateful for all the other worlds I explored back in the day but I am so happy to be back in this world. Most of my inspiration, art, ideas come from that other realm, so I guess it was good that I got familiarized with it.

There's a sensitivity to life that comes when you're playing in the other realms and one should not loose that either. It's like when your tuned in to the other realms, be it on drugs or meditation you tend to look and receive life in a different way. Such as if you start having a friend come to mind over and over again, you start to feel "oh maybe there is some reason I should get in touch with this person", so you do and it turns out there's a very good reason or they were thinking about you to. If you are not tuned into the spiritual world you may think, "Oh, I should call such and such, but nah, I'll do it some other time, it's not important." Which we all do but the point is, the sensitivity to life and how it works in magical ways. Don't forget!

There is a tendency to start to think and feel like this is all there is. A de-sensitivity to life in plain words, just taking everything for granted. Come home from work, eat, watch tv, do some social activity, go home, go to bed. Get up, rinse, repeat. This is what I hated as a kid, I couldn't understand it for the life of me why anyone would possibly want to do this?
Hence, the Drugs.

But there is a sweetness that comes to normal, everyday life. Like walking to the store on a sunny day to buy your mom a Mother's day card. You just live and things just balance out.
Your worst days become less and less worse.
Unfortunately the other side of the coin is I haven't half developed my actual earth life as much as say someone who has focused 30+ years just on the material plane. I've focused maybe 15 good years and most of those were before I was 15!  Spiritual, yes, yes, yes and half on the material.

Now that I'm turning 30 in a couple months, oh boy, I feel that a big shift is about to change things around for me. I am getting to the point where I am settling in. In to myself, in to life, in to this "game" for the long run.
I tried to beat it, escape, curse it, understand it, avoid it, stomp on it and run from it. But you know that saying "if you can't beat em, join em", well: Here I am! Here I am in Vancouver working, renting a place, grocery shopping, paying bills, having a cel phone, all these seemingly normal things that never seemed normal before. For an escapist (be it drugs or whatever) everything is a lot harder to do than it may seem. And also, they feel very proud of themselves when they can do any normal little thing. The thing is, society praises people for the wrong reasons. It's not about what you can accomplish, it's about everyone being true to yourself and "your" own personal best. There is no way to compare! And we should be proud of ourselves for every accomplishment we do, each and every day. And acknowledge others too. Even one good day, really, it means so much.

What makes you the happiest? Are you doing it? ..... And why not?

I'm doing things differently than before though. I went for a walk to the market today and I just enjoyed "being" there. I didn't need to buy anything or be with anyone. I'm not in the city anymore working to make material gains or to get in debt, or to look good. I am just saving, doing my thing, keeping a low pro and keeping my inner spiritual center as my focus and circumference in everything I do.