Focus on Life

So, now we have a focus! LIFE

Isn’t it funny how often we think to ourselves, this is our life, yet, it’s not the one we’ve wanted, dreamed of or envisioned for ourselves. But, here we are spending day in and day out – doing things we don’t always like ‘doing’ or ‘being’ in places when we wish we were doing something or being someplace else. 

And then there’s the biggest one – being around people who either do not appreciate us, understand us, like us or who are down right harmful to us - (read toxic to be around). If you are anything like me, you end up soaking up all those negative vibes (absorb!) – taking on board nearly everything, in an effort to make people happy and feel better. 

And such is life. Or is it? 

If this is life, then I don’t want to have anything to do with it. Which is exactly what I figured out a long time ago and have endeavoured to live ever since. The place I was in, timing, people, food, things, the work I was doing and so on, was all wrong for me! 

I did learn things everywhere I went, and I tried to make the most of what I had, where I was and deal with things as they arrived. I always wanted to be positive about ‘things’….but there came a time, when I had to wake up and make decisions about what I wanted and about what was 'healthy'.

Somewhere deep inside of me…..I always knew it wasn’t my life I was living but a mere shadow of something constructed from the thoughts of others around me. I could do so much better if I was creating it myself! 

Of course, I then realized I needed to get out of the situations I found myself in and get focused on the ‘real’ life that I was seeking. And that is an on-going project……Life on the inside and the outside needs to be a mirror and a focus when on the spiritual path.

April

Little lamb......

Motivation for the Day Ahead

I've been hearing a lot about motivation these past few weeks....and indeed this summer in West Cork has been tough! It's rained nearly non-stop, been a few degrees colder than usual and we've all been feeling vitamin D deficient - a bit more than we normally are (LOL!).

Each morning I wake up and wonder about the day ahead.....what I've realised lately is that I am looking for the 'motivation' to get up, get moving and get going. Of course, having a plan helps, so does having a routine, a schedule as well as something to look forward to each day (a little sunshine doesn't hurt either).

For me it has been absolutely essential to have these things in place, or else I seem to lose myself in the doing rather than being. I like discipline and the energy shifts that occur when we allow an unfolding as well as structure to interact with each other.

So....what exactly is motivation and why do we need it? Well, when I look it up, it means a reason or a motive for acting. However, when I look a bit deeper, the words emotion and motivation actually derive from the same place - a Latin word meaning 'to move'. 

This is quite interesting for me this summer in particular - just when I find little to motivate me on the outside (a shortage of sunny days and unable to be in the garden as much as I'd like), I must find my motivation from something inherent inside of me. And perhaps that is emotion - or as I like to call it.....

Passion.

Discovering many of the things we are passionate about, allowing them to develop and grow deep roots in our lives, will provide some of the motivation (emotion) necessary to get us out of bed in them morning and hopefully a whole lot more.

My lesson for this week.....don't push those emotions down - work with them, understand them and allow an open heart to lead us forward into the deeper corridors of feeling. That's where passion resides - and we can't get there without 'feeling'. 

Those feelings will then motivate us to align with our true natures. Onwards! 

Higher Consciousness - Waking Up is a Physical Process

A lot of people are waking up right now....to the things that are happening in their lives and in the world around them. They are questioning their own sanity - because nothing feels right, looks right or seems as if it makes sense. The way things used to be, and that never felt safe, now cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. 

They may be backing away from people, situations, jobs, groups, family and friends - people who are still completely asleep to the fact that so much is wrong with this world and it's time to act on making them right. Welcome to the awareness phase of Higher Consciousness. We are many, you are not alone. 

In order to wake up you will be taken by your Consciousness through emotions, energy, spirituality and finally physical cellular tissues into your inner world. This is a journey that takes some of us many years - don't be in a hurry, there is much to be done with each step of the path. 

Waking up......It's a physical process - look after your body, eat fermented foods (yep, foods that are ALIVE), exercise and stay away from medicines and drugs in all of their forms. Detox regularly and then you will enable the process of awakening within your cells. Sometimes it happens spontaneously - a trigger word, event or location can jump start the process. 

Go to sacred sites, seek the light 

smile emoticon

Saving the Bees....One Backyard Hive At A Time - Bee Keeping Workshop Liss Ard Estate 7th June

Bee Keeping Workshop 7th June 2015 - West Cork

Press Release: Natural Beekeeping Class

Liss Ard Estate, West Cork, Ireland, 7^th June 2015

A chemical free - Natural Beekeeping Class is being offered on Sunday 7^th June 2015 to introduce people to a gentler approach to Beekeeping at Liss Ard Estate in Skibbereen.

This is a perfect venue for the beekeeping class with plenty of space to roam around in their own natural habitat.

Max Danann & Trevor Danann both certified Beekeepers, are offering training in Natural Beekeeping (chemical free) through use of Top Bar Hives and their own hybrid mixed hives. The workshop is geared toward those with no prior experience in beekeeping but Beekeepers of any level are welcome.

April Danann will also be on hand to discuss her research project on Irish honey - The Honey Project - a microbiological review of honeys from around the world and their unique healing properties. 

Top Bar Hives are an alternative type of hive to commercial or national framed style hives currently in use. These are considered to closely resemble natural bee habitat and bees thrive in them. Many long time beekeepers are switching over to using some form of top bar hive. As well, our own mixed hive featuring framed Top Bars will be discussed.

During the class, you will be introduced to some time honoured traditions in beekeeping, learn about honey, equipment needs, initial start-up, bee health; including disease, pesticides, colony collapse disorder and how to keep a bee garden.

Students will be walked through a Top Bar Hive as well as other types – how they work, how to maintain a hive, and how to provide a family with a source of honey. There will be plenty of time for questions during this discussion style workshop.

Bees are everyone’s responsibility – at one time most back gardens had a hive or two – it’s time we came back to supporting these beautiful creatures – this class is a step forward in learning how to do just that.

Date; 7th June 2015

Place; Liss Ard Estate Skibbereen

Time; 1:30 to 4:30pm 

Cost: €55.00 (includes notes, light refreshments)
Contact: Max Danann 0873284762, email info@aprildanann.com or stop by our stall to book your place. Deposit required to hold a seat.

Wild Fermentation Workshop 11 May

Wild Fermentation – Living Water

Fermentation of food & drink is an ancient art and a necessary skill to maintain a healthy, balanced gut – turning ordinary vegetables, fruit and water into a healthy, tasty & probiotic food is the ultimate quest for the Food Alchemist. Join April Danann, a Naturopathic Nutritionist and an expert in Living Water fermentation techniques; for an evening with nature reconnecting to the finer points of nourishing your soul.

During this evening practical workshop you will be introduced to several methods of fermenting foods, various means of increasing nutritional content and bioavailability of nutrients as well as how to create exquisite tasting high vibration tonics. Included in the evening are complete notes, your own sourdough starter to take home, loads of tastings and samples of food that is Alive!

Come out and join an Intuitive Rebel Nutritionist at Liss Ard Estate, Skibbereen West Cork for Wild Fermentation – Living Water!

11 May evening class at 6:30pm to 9:30 (or finish) 

€65 for workshop, includes your very own sourdough fermentation Mother starter with complete notes

On sale on the night - April’s Triple Goddess Mother Cultures, fermenting jar, recipes & notes 

Contact April Danann on; 

mobile 087 236 1616  

email: info@aprildanann.com to book your place...booking essential, spaces limited

Wild Fermented Sourdough Bread 

An Uncommon Light

Such an exciting year to be on this planet! We are waking up - of course, along with that comes looking at the world with those new eyes, clearer head and an unfurling spirit. Each one of these celestial events has been a trigger for the earth and for us - it's time to step forward into a new this uncommon light.

Last week was another powerful event that is only now re-forming through earth time and space, to ultimately become solid matter. If you could re-create your life - what would it be? Well, perhaps - this is your chance! :)

Full Moon April 2015 

Pathways to the Spirit

With all that is going on around us – the world is waking up a little bit more each day – it is often difficult to remain focused on our common goals. I wanted to comment on these times as I have been both living this, working to change things and observing things as they come about for a very long time.

Right now there are a good many people letting out a collective ‘sigh’ as it seems the earth is beginning her stretching, yawning and waking from her enforced slumber. The divine feminine being of our planet has been raising her consciousness and along with it, pulling up those of us who have willing spirits. 

So, if all around you appears to be turbulent, troublesome and as if you are being asked constantly to let go of ever more and more…..do not despair. You are being asked to let go and to make a choice.

There are many roads to the beyond, for higher knowledge and a bright future – but not all lead inwards towards your core. In order to awaken and then remain committed to the goal – each cell in our bodies must ignite. 

This time around – raising vibrational consciousness is a physical process. Of course, there is nothing more dense and toxic right now then our physical bodies. Challenging, but not impossible! 

In my own life I keep coming back to words and phrases to help myself stay the course and not give in to any negativity. I remind myself constantly that there really is nothing to be afraid of…..wonderful things are happening all over, that people are starting to change.

But, more than that, I am always looking for ‘signs’. Those phrases, words, symbols, numbers, chance meetings, coincidences and synchronicities all add up to a path well sign-posted for those who are paying attention. 

Some days it’s a single word written on a city bus noticed as it whizzes by ---- Believe. Or other times it’s a brief discussion with mothers waiting for after school activities & picking up children – nourishing the spirit. 

We have come this way before. There is a clear pathway that leads us home – when we watch the sky, touch the earth and listen to life all around us, we can hear our ancient selves beaconing....... 

How amazing is that?

Full Moon