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The corn is as high as an elephants eye - and it looks like it's climbing clear up to the sky"

Oklahoma! - "Oh What A Beautiful Day"

HEALTH HABITRAVELS NEWSLETTER
SUMMER'S MEASURE

Solstice has come and now we're enjoying Midsummer's Eve or Saint John's Day. Summer is a time of abundance, sun workship, and communion. I hope that I am able to share summer moments with you and yours at these retreats and classes:

JULY 17-20th: SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO SOJOURN: Come for that desert high in the high desert. Package starts at $695.00, with the details and reservation form available at www.healthabitravels.com. Daily pilates/gyrokinesis/yoga, hiking, museums and intimate B&B lodgings. THERE'S STILL TIME TO ENROLL!
YMCA Hollywood & South Pasadena, California ongoing Pilates mat classes.
STILL YOGA BOUTIQUE - Ongoing Gyrokinesis and Pilates mat classes in Silver Lake, CA. Schedule available at www.allstill.com.
AUGUST 2, 1:00-3:00: GYROKINESIS® WORKSHOP - An opportunity to experience this subtle energy work. 90minute movement class plus a half hour lecture/Q&A about this healing work. At STILL YOGA 2395 Glendale Blvd. Silver Lake, CA. $25.00.
To register contact STILL: 323-906-8960 or email info@allstill.com.
MISSION STREET YOGA: My core Strength Class Wed. 12:30-1:30 Starts July 2. At 1017 Mission St, South Pasadena - visit www.missionstreetyoga.com for details.
AND AUGUST 1st: Don't forget the $150.00 is deposit due to reserve your space for Cambria, CA Oct. 11-13 Getaway. Details and reservation form available at www.healthabitravels.com.

AND AS TO SUMMER it's and easy season to measure. In my garden sunflowers as big as dinner plates are about to burst into Van Gogh bouquets. Corn stalks standing 6 feet high are sporting flowers soon to be golden ears just begging for butter. Sure signs of the shift in the Northern Hemisphere from spring to summertime when the sun reigns supreme. Right now at the North Pole the summer sun never sets and conversely it never rises in the Antarctic where it is Winter Solstice, signaling much desired shorter nights and longer days on that ice cap. All of us seek out the sun because it lifts our spirits, which stems from our cells sending neurological and biological signals that we require 5-10 minutes daily dose of full sun exposure to stock up on enough Vitamin D to function normally. Positive proof of the mind-body-spirit connect. This is historically the season when Pilgrims travel their spiritual paths, and clans and tribes gather to mingle, mate and trade. Summer officially arrived this weekend with Solstice, and St. John's Day or Midsummer's Eve is observed this week, then it meanders through to August's early harvests - Lammas, Festival of First Fruits, and ends with fall Equinox at full harvest time. We've always measured summer's arrival. Ancient architects built temples to accurately chart the Solstices and the Equinoxes. These sacred sites are rock solid proof of our time honored dependence and devotion to the sun, which guides us in our planting and harvesting schedules and connects us to the Earth's cycles. The great kiva in New Mexico's Chaco Canyon, the Big Horn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming, England's Stonehenge and innumerable Neolithic Menhirs, Chichen Itza in Yucatan, the Inca's Machu Picchu in Peru, and Egypt's Temple at Karnak are all archeo-astronomy calendars that calibrate the exact arrivals of Solstice and Equinox. Solstice occurs when the sun reaches its zenith on that longest day of the year. This week is an optimum time to "go pagan." Try glazing some edible wild rose petals (recipe below) and serving them with desert. Harvest magical of wild St. John's Wort, a natural antidepressant that was traditionally ingested on St. John's Day in honor of John The Baptist. Form a friendship circle with loved ones, sow new friendships and together toss a wreath into a bonfire, grab a flagon of mead (recipe below), or chalice of wine. Relinquish an old pattern or habit, embrace the full measure of growth and renewal of summer energy, and make merry to keep the old traditions vibrant. Once on this track follow it daily, learning from the past, gaining deeper understanding and respect for other cultures. Anthropoligist/Ethnobotanist Wade Davis (author of The Serpent and The Rainbow) and photographer Chris Rainier are studying the "cultural and spiritual web of life" or what they call the Ethnosphere. Visit www.culturesontheedge.com to understand more about the importance of preserving cultural diversity and vanishing cultures. In fall you'll find a page there devoted to updates on world Ehtnosphere events.

If you're looking for summer ceremonies and celebrations they're happening all over Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. I refer you again to Waverly Fitzgerald's site www.schooloftheseasons.com for in depth information on events dates and origins. I'm focusing here on the Americas. In the States we can observe, and in some instances, participate in pagan and earth honoring rituals. We can enjoy multi-cultural fairs as diverse as the continent's populace. Many cities have nationally inspired fairs. I grew up in Santa Barbara, California where they offer Greek Days, Bastille Day celebrations and Old Spanish Days. Other cities in California hold everything from African Market Place to Celtic gatherings and Lotus Festivals. If you're hungry for a happening of any kind www.festivals411.com lists a wide array of events because when there is sun people party, no matter their origins. If you're free July 17-24 and love dance and movement, attend the Sacred Dance Conference at Scripps College in Claremont, CA. visit www.sacreddanceguild.org for details.

Native American drums and dances can be seen and heard across the continent throughout summer months. At the top of the world, on Solstice weekend, the Yukon First Nations Peoples host Yukon Territory's International Story Telling festival. July in Arizona Apache girls' sunrise puberty ceremonies the Nai'es or "getting her ready" take place and are believed to empower the whole Apache universe. Just a note: my July 17-20 Santa Fe Sojourn will include a Pueblo visit and I'm hoping to be able to observe a life affirming ritual dance. Contact me at Tannis@healthabitravels.com if you'd like to join this Health Habitravels journey. Near Boston on July 4th all varieties of people converge to watch a special kind of fireworks at Mashpee Memorial Park as Mashpee Wampanoage men play Fireball, a traditional "medicine" game; think soccer with the ball literally on fire. The players endure the games burns and bruises because they believe their own pain helps heal physically ailing loved ones. Plains tribes pay tribute to the all mighty sun with an extravaganza Powwow featuring Sun Dances. August gives us first harvests and, in arid regions, the dog days of summer. In Hopi land ritual rainmaking ceremonies lasting many days turn the focus from sun to water worship. By summers end we all worship both sun and water - the beaches are jammed and city kids covet back yard sprinklers and pools. Fall's just around the bend with shorter days inclining us inward and away from our gad about summer powwows and romps to reverential rituals. If you're interested in knowing more about any of these Native Peoples' gatherings I recommend E. Barbara Kavasch's book on Native foods and festivals Enduring Harvest, published by The Globe Pequot Press and available at www.amazon.com.

The ancient peoples of South America were also sun devotees. An amazing Peabody Museum exhibit on Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, is traversing the country. June through September The Los Angeles Natural History Museum hosts and you'll find programs and details at www.nhm.org. The exhibit sheds light on mysterious Machu Picchu, a city dedicated to the Sun God Inti. In Peru, where I'll be holding a Health Habitravels retreat in summer or fall of 2004, the local peoples the Quechua who are descended from the Inca fought changing the name of Peru's currency from intis, named for the Sun God, to sols- the Spanish equivalent of gold. They lost that fight, but both the Machu Picchu exhibit and ceremonies they perform, where they welcome travelers into their spiritual circle, keep their culture from vanishing, and enrich the planets Ethnosphere. Late August Quechua perform a first plowing ceremony by offering flowers and fermented corn beer, chichi, (their version of Celtic mead) to Pacha Mama - the spirit of the earth. And the season corn that stood as high as an elephant's eye, now measures out as a cup of elixir that toasts the coming autumn.

AND NOW SOME SUMMER FOOD FOR THE BODY-MIND-SPIRIT

If you travel with me to Peru in 2004 we're guaranteed to do some chichi tasting, but if you can't make that trip try this mead recipe from Joanna Asala's Celtic Cooking, available at www.amazon.com. If you brew it now, it will be ready to bring in the New Year; and better still on Solstice 2004. According to Medieval tradition, be sure that you leave out a jigger as a gift to your house spirit.

MEAD: 1/2 gallon of water, 1 1/2 c. honey, 1/4 c. lemon juice, 1/8 tsp. nutmeg, 1/8 tsp. allspice, 1 package brewer's yeast. In a large stockpot, heat all ingredients but the yeast.
Remove from heat and stir in the yeast. Pour into a wooden cask. Ferment for 6 months, airing the cask daily to allow release of gasses, and pouring at least once a month into a fresh cask.

ALSO from Celtic Cooking: The rose is the symbol of the Goddess and in summer they're most potent symbolizing this is a time of optimum fertility and abundance.
CANDIED ROSE PETALS: 1 c. rose petals (wild roses are best), 1 c. sugar, 3/4 c. water, Confectioner's sugar for powdering the petals. Wash petals gently. Dry on a paper towel. Trim away bitter ends. Combine sugar and water in saucepan; boil until you can spin a thread when the mixture is dropped into ice water. Pour syrup in a bowl on a bed of cracked ice. When syrup begins to crystallize, hold petals with tweezer and dip one at a time into syrup. Place petals on wax paper to dry. As they harden dust with confectioner's sugar. Store in airtight container. Serves 4.

FROM Endurinng Harvests is a recipe that brings together two cultures: the Irish and Choctaw, honoring the shared experience of these peoples, the Irish Potato Famine and the Trail of Tears respectively.
From the book, Choctaw and Irish Foods, Facts, Friendships - compiled by Charlene Samuels and dedicated to enduring cultural traditions. A wonderful way to observe cross-cultural late summer harvests.
CHOCTAW POTATO PATTIES: 2 c. mashed potatoes slightly salted, 1medium egg beaten, 1 small onion finally chopped, 1/3 c. fine cornmeal, corn oil. Combine all ingredients in medium bowl and mix well. Shape into generous patties and sauté in small amount of corn oil. Be careful the oil isn't too hot. Brown 4-6 minutes on both sides. Serves 6-8.

SUMMER READIING - for time and other dimension travels: Harry Potter of course, and if you haven't read it yet Sea Biscuit will travel you back to the days when horse races were the place to and be seen.

CINEMA:
Sea Biscuit (after you've read the book) - opening in July
Winged Migration - travel the world and see it through avian eyes - now playing
Whale Rider - Maori girl coming of age story with dreamtime imagery and great score. - now playing

NOW PUT YOUR BODY IN MOTION:

My new love is GYROKINESIS®, which I now teach. A blend of Tai Chi, Kundalini Yoga, dance and aquatic movement, it both calms and awakens using movement to balance meridians and chakras, and enhances Pilates and yoga practice, and any of your summer sports of choice. Visit www.GYROTONIC.com for more info on this wonderful method, to find studios and classes, and to purchase an instruction video.

Here's a GYROKINESIS® move guaranteed to make your summer fluid and healing If you can, find a class and do a full 90 minute GYROKINESIS® program to fully benefit from this subtle energy work. This move is a simple effective way to revitalize during summer travel. Easy to do when you're up and walking around during a long plane flight, or when you take that necessary rest stop during a lengthy road trip.

SWINGING BEAR: Stand, slightly bend your knees, pull your abs in to support your spine then lean over at the waist but keep your back rounded, and abs engaged. Not restraining the natural breath and flow of movement, shift your weight onto one leg, straighten that knee, spiral around to the other knee in swinging motion, place the opposite hand on the opposite knee and gently stretch your back. Repeat several times on both sides. An overall stress reducer, this move is great a warm up and cool down for summer golf, tennis and swimming.

ROLL-UP: This Pilates move keeps your spine supple and abs strong for all your summer time activities.
Lie on your back, arms over your head - inhale. Bring your arms to shoulder level, curl your chin to your chest, exhale engaging your lower abs deeply, now - and this is the tricky part - roll up WITHOUT using force or lifting your legs. Once upright, keep your abs engaged as if someone is pulling you from behind and you are reaching your arms in the opposite direction. Inhale and exhale to roll down to start position. Repeat 10 times.

Now that you've strengthened your core, and are limbered up go out and have some summer fun. Whatever you encounter on your summer Pilgrimages to new mind-body-spirit inroads take heed of this Irish proverb... "The man who is bad for hospitality is good for directing you on the road"

Tannis Kobrinsky

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