Oh How Sweet It Is: The Nectar of Life

Today was one of those days when I felt pure magic.  For REAL.  

Whatever the package, the tool, the vehicle that gets us to this juicy spot - yoga, massage, art, performance, whatever it is that moves you to the point of feeling Love, feeling God, this is the point of it all.  

It is not the ego-bullshit that society preys upon; the one which tells us that a fulfilled, happy life is Success, Money, etc - we all know the rant.  When we think (already thinking is a problem) that some external accomplishment, that winning (whatever the heck that means), when anything which strokes the ego, is it, is the juiciness, is the nectar of life ---- WE HAVE LOST THE PLOT. 

 

It is moments like today when I am typically dreading what comes next: people lingering in the hallway, or maybe no one at all.  I am about to teach a two hour yoga class.  Students are usually useful if I want to teach.  The clock ticks down, minute by minute.  Doesn't matter what time of day, which day of the week.  The low-student-count classes are completely random, it seems.  They are my least favorite.  

photo cred: The Mind UnLeashed

Yep, that's right.  Along with everything else I do: run ZAHARA JADE a brand of conscious fashion products, write for Elephant Journal, other publications and now my own book, I also teach yoga.  The yoga path is what, in part, drew me far away from home on a journey inwards, looking to connect with my higher self, with life, with more than what I experienced in the material world.  

It is deep passion and dedication to my own practice, the energy exchange and transformation I watch happen when I teach students, and my ability to share this with others -- along with fortune of Universal flow -- that keep me wishing to pass on the lineage and teachings.

At times I lose my way, lose my connection to The Path.  My body struggles with disease, teaching becomes less realistic, forcing me to chillax.  I lose sight of my passion in these moments.  I believe it's not for me, that I must find another way to connect with the powerful healing energy --- part of how I came to develop ZAHARA JADE in the first place.

Someone, some place, somehow, I am inevitably moved to step back onto my Path and my purpose, to share what little I know, for I know it is useful to others.

Today is one of the days when teaching yoga at first seemed a bit daunting.  4 hours of class.  Heat, humidity, Ashtanga followed by a Vinyasa class.  A lot, considering I am recovering from a fever earlier in the week.  Yet it seemed that when I taught the other day, the energy I gained from teaching healed me.

So I found myself at my temporary mid-day Ashtanga class.  

Side Note for my beloved & respected Authorized Ashtanga Teachers - I wish I could say in honor of the lineage and my teacher that I don't teach traditional Ashtanga, but truthfully, in honor of the lineage and my teacher, when asked to cover an Ashtanga class, or have the choice to teach Ashtanga vs. Vinyasa or some other style of yoga, I cannot/ will not make up some crazy Ashtanga vinyasa modified something-or-other.  I will teach what I know, otherwise I feel it would be doing a disservice to the students, myself, and the lineage.  There is not a surplus of Mysore-studied teachers in my part, and I feel 100% confident in my practice and knowledge of the practice enough to teach a ["Modified"] Primary Led Class.

Now that that's out of the way....

There were only two students to attend class this afternoon when the class is often packed.  No surprise, seems many are unsure about the idea of an actual Ashtanga class rather than a cat-cow-pose-do-whatever-you-want-I-don't-know-what-I'm-doing-but-I'm-gonna-call-it-Modified-Ashtanga-Vinyasa-Class.  No offense to those who teach, I respect all teachers, I simply move on my own path and do my best when I can to call it what it is.  

Well here I am, two willing students.  Normally two students is not enough for me to teach (a vinyasa class), but this afternoon I did not hesitate for a second.  I knew I would teach the class.  Both students, luckily, have fairly solid practices.  Instead of the usual Ashtanga Primary Led Class (love, but after a while....snooze....) I got to teach a Mysore-style practice.  We went through the entire Primary Series to the degree of each student.  

BEYOND amazing.  Completely unexpected, out of nowhere.  Pure joy resonating from the core of my being, through my entire self, connecting to everything.  

Higher self, Source, God, some may call this.  Love.  I am not sure.  And it was so simple.  A shala, two students.  Practicing, breathing, moving. In their own time, in their own bodies.  

Silence other than the beautiful sound of breathing, and my occasional soft voice.  To witness, assist, and simply be present during the practice was beyond powerful.  It has been too long since I have taught a Mysore style Ashtanga practice.  I have missed it dearly.

The deep feeling and magical spark I felt at the beginning was not felt only by me.  As I was leaving the shala, both students thank me profusely for the class.  I began to turn around when they continued.......one expressed how the practice today changed his life.  The other said that he moved into places he has never ever gone before in practice, never thought he could do.  Like I said, these are advanced practitioners who have agile bodies, know the Primaries Series for the most part.  I did not realize during the class that this was happening, I was simply honored to be giving a Mysore Style class.  

Listen, as someone who teaches on a regular basis, I get compliments.  Oh this class was amazing, yada yada.  It's simply not the same thing.  We KNOW when an authentic moment, an authentic shift has occurred.  We feel the energetic shift of a powerful transformation in the air, in the room.  It's impossible to miss.  For me, this is the heartbeat of life.  This is the sweet nectar worth living for.  

If you find your sweet nectar, and the tool which helps you feel the sweetness of life - even for a moment, every once in a while - then you have found the secret of life.

With Love, ZJ

www.zaharajade.com

ZAHARA JADE: Bringing Conscious Lifestyle Products to YOU

One year to the day.
I moved to Chiang Mai June 11th, 2013, to be exact.  In my mind, however, I did not "move" to Chiang Mai.  I was simply passing through, another traveler stopping on the way to my real destination.  If there is such a thing.

Chiang Mai Magic

In typical ZAHARA JADE style, flowing without conscious awareness, but rather higher conscious awareness, it was this very day, June 11, 2014, one year later, that I announced the evolution of my brand to ZAHARA JADE.

Today is a full moon.  The full power and force of my work this entire past year: my daily intentions, actions, strong vision, dreams, are unfolding before my eyes.  Something about the energy in the full moon allows me to feel the enormity of this blessing.  My ability to remain determined when others told me I needed to "face reality", my strength in character & belief in self when those who doubt themselves brought their doubt upon me, worried I cannot make dreams come true.

I'm here to show that dreams are possible, to inspire you to go after your dreams, and on a tangible level provide you with tools to help you fulfill your dreams.  

Because MAN does it feel damn good when they start to come true.  Like for REAL.  Not your "almost" dreams.  But your actual visions and dreams.

TWO years ago to the day, I sat in the swanky Ubud cafes dreaming up what I would create with my life if I did not return to Vietnam to teach yoga.  What would I do?  What would I become?  What DO I WANT?  I want to create.  I want to design.  Making jewelry, creating my own clothing throughout my entire life, I had never gone for it.  Ubud is one of those magical places for me where I am able to realize my destiny.  Yes, my Astrocartography says so.

There in the mothering rice paddies of Ubud, supported by nature, earth, energy, community, creativity abound, I had and endless outpouring of vision.  The strongest was a brand.  I could not see clearly at the time what the brand was or how it would take shape, but  I knew it would involve clothing.  Given that I know jewelry design, it felt right to begin there, and so I did.

ZAHARA JADE
Zahara Jade-ness

At the time I conceptualized my line of jewelry and brand, I still went by my given name, Shana Bilfield.  Zahara Jade had not been born.  And as everything comes in its' due time, so did my name, my Zahara Jade-ness, the embodiment of ME.

Here I am, 2 years to the day of PRAY conception, announcing the launch and re-branding of ZAHARA JADE.  One year to the day, developing and sharing the P.R.A.Y. Jewelry brand with the world, it is time to expand.

~ It was a dream and intention I set forth 2 years ago, the same moment I conceptualized P.R.A.Y.: Become a well-known, high-end, conscious "lifestyle" brand.  Today I am very excited to announce to you, my most loyal & fabulous supporters, customers, students, friends, that the PRAYvolution has arrived!  We are announcing our re-branding as ZAHARA JADE, Conscious Lifestyle Brand, P.R.A.Y. Jewelry only one of our many offerings.~ 

Follow us on FACEBOOK to receive the latest in Conscious Lifestyle tips, ways, ideas, products.  

www.zaharajade.com

ZAHARA JADE is here to support your most Beautiful, Sexy, Awakened, Conscious Self.  After all, ~Consciousness is Sexy~

I’m turning 35, so…Fill In the Blank!

About to turn 35

Like most people, my birthdays sneak up on me.  I'm exceptionally good at living in the moment.  The ultimate goal of many people nowadays is to let go of past and future.  I'd like to think I'm special, but honestly, birthday sneak-attacks are merely one peril of living day to day, in the moment, in the present.  Don’t get me wrong, I still have a mind, an ego, and things that happened yesterday still run through my mind.  One of my human "superpowers" is considered by Western society as a coping mechanism: the ability to only be capable of dealing with the here-and-now.  

This human super power/ super strength developed as a benefit of managing and coping with an autoimmune disease for a lifetime.  I lived every day, not knowing what the day held, what my body would do, what kind of pain or suffering the day would bring.  Would there be relief?  Would I see a day without pain?  Would I feel pleasure?  I did not dare consider these questions; they were simply too heavy and daunting to entertain.  Instead, my ability to Be Here Now strengthened.  I got through, one day at a time, and sometimes, one moment at a time.  

Only later in adulthood, once I was more free from disease symptoms and able to explore the world in a healthier body, was I in a position to consider my life, my truth, my future.  What does the world hold for me?  What do I want?  These questions have only been available to me in the past 5 or 6 years.  Undoing a lifetime of non-planning, living day-to-day, working to be happy with what is – is not easy, or really necessary, to undo. 

Inevitably days pass quickly, without notice, and my birthday sneaks up on me.  35 has come as though 10 years was nothing.  I’m not sure how it happened.  Everyone says this, I know.  Now I’m legitimately middle age for lifespan in this day in age.  Shit.  Actually, not shit.  By this brilliant age of 35, I have accomplished what many people will never do in their entire lives.  I examined my life early-ish on, decided I was not on a course in line with my highest-self (though I did not know what that course was), so I re-routed to the unknown.  While there are always more things I want and would ask for, overall my soul is quite content with the path I have chosen.  I do not regret a single moment, whereas had I continued down the old road, undoubtedly I would have felt my soul die a slow death.

4 yrs ago. Hmmm, more
doable now at 35.

Now, at 35, I get to live the dream: the “I’m 35 – now FILL IN THE BLANK – dream”, because I have created the space for it.  I did not lock myself in unnecessary corporate or societal handcuffs.  I am not bound to obligations beyond my desire.  I am free to say and do what I wish.  Even better?  I have finally reached THE age when such actions are completely acceptable.  32 is inconsequential.  34, no one cares.  36, so anticlimactic.  Even 38 is getting cool again, but the only other 30’s age aside from 35 which seems to be a “fuck it all” age is 39, because you are about to turn the big 4-0.  So here I am, just about to turn 35, and MAN I am excited!  Finally have the wisdom I lacked 5 years ago, even 1 year ago.  I still look fairly young and sometimes if I’m really fortunate I get to cash in on my good genes when people mistake me for looking like I’m in my early 20’s.  35 is the year this pays off, not 22.

Still sometimes pass as mid-20 yr old

And the best part?  Those ridiculous antics I pulled a few years ago as a result of feeling FREEdom from a bound culture and sick body, which at the time were iffy at best, are now totally acceptable.  Because I’m 35.  It’s just that age.  My sister and I had this conversation a couple of days ago, and she’s often right even though she hasn’t even hit this age yet.  She’s 32, but knows she could never pull of some of the stuff I’m about to ;).  Like, I’m 35, I can wear tie dye leggings to a wedding if I want.  I’m 35, I can eat Dairy Queen at 2am just because.  I’m 35, I’m going to go dancing in the jungle for 2 weeks with fairy wings.  ….  No questions asked.  It’s no longer a situation of explaining why, rationalizing my decisions to anyone around me, let alone myself.  It’s a “just because” scenario at this point, this year in particular.  I’m 35….Fill In The Blank. 

All you 35 year olds, and 35 year olds to be, get EXCITED!  This is your YEAR!  Do what you feel.  Do what your intuition tells you.  Do what you don’t feel, something on a whim, just because.  I'm not talking about doing crazy things, necessarily, or even stepping out of your boundaries.  I'm suggesting you begin to live the life you have always dreamed.  Do things you always wanted to do but felt constricted, held back for one reason or another.  Guess what!?  Those reasons are illusions, manufactured constructs of the mind, of an illusory reality.  Time to blow that right up and blow your own mind, creating the most magnificent life you could have ever imagined.  

Live it up, girls & boys.  You only have ½ a life to go, maybe less, we don’t even know at this point.  We are damn lucky to have lived this long, better live it up NOW.  

My only question for you now: how will you fill in the BLANK? 

An Unexpected, Healthy Charoset Recipe!

Sometimes coincidences are simply too much to pass up as mere coincidences.  I have never made a fruit salad with these exact ingredients.  Perhaps it was the Moringa.  I think it has magical powers, and when combined with honey and juices from the rose apple, taste like a watered down Manischewitz.

Spring.  One of my favorite times of year.  Everything is fresh and new after being frozen and in hibernation for the winter months (in the Western hemisphere).  Living for a few years now overseas, I haven’t experienced this shift in seasons for a long time.  Do I miss it?  I suppose there are moments when I miss certain times, rituals, traditions.  Growing up and even in my adult years, one of the best things to do in the autumn was pick apples.  This year I was aching for a good hot cider and elephant’s ear at the apple-picking farm.  So strange.

Days roll into one another and are seemingly all the same, weather-wise, routine-wise, here, and many of the beloved traditions from childhood easily slip by.  My all-time favorites, however, are rarely forgotten. 

One of my favorite traditions is related to the Jewish holiday, Passover.  I do not celebrate the holiday in a religious fashion by any means; I am not religious.  The power of tradition and family was instilled in me from a young age.  Nowadays this concept has expanded to far ends of the world, as those I consider family span across the globe. 

Most years traveling I make a point of hosting a Passover gathering wherever I was in the world: India, San Francisco, Cleveland, Bali.  No, we don’t sit around and read from the Hagada.  Although my spiritual friends in India brought passages they thought we would read, but we really just sat around discussing the Kabbalah, yoga, and then giving each other massages.  After, of course, having a delicious meal, which always involves carrying on my favorite tradition: homemade charoset. 

The charoset is the centerpiece of the “holiday” for me.  Perhaps I simply come from a foodie family, but this was always my favorite dish growing up.  Of all-time.  I could eat it year-round if I chose.  Apples, walnuts, brown sugar, and Manischewitz.  Who doesn’t want that!?  I know you are wondering how in the world I found Manischewitz in India.  Well, as luck would have it, the only red wine they sell in the tiny liquor in Mysore happens to taste exactly like Manischewitz. 

Songkran Festivities

Last year I was living on an island during Passover, so we had a gathering.  This year I am in another new town, but frankly completely forgot the holiday --- or so I thought.  Today is the 3^rd day of the Thai New Year, Songkran.  Water blessing for the New Year when water is thrown upon others.  If you are outside, you will get soaked.  I made two attempts to drive out of town a bit to the grocery store and soaked by bucketful’s of water both times.  With all of this holiday madness on my mind; hiding out, how to remain dry, how to get food, Passover has completely slipped my mind.

Last night after a mad dash to the grocery store, I picked up fruit, nuts, and simple foods to eat for the next day.  I was thinking, “easy to carry, snacks, yummy”.  Nothing too fancy.  Then I made a fruit salad this morning out of my procurements from last night’s adventure.  Guava, dragonfruit, rose apples.  I figured I would throw my almonds in there to spice it up, along with some Moringa to keep me healthy, and honey for sweetness.  As I’m eating it, I have a flood of memories come back to me that condense into one thought: PASSOVER!  I was eating what tasted like Passover! 

How can this be!  I made a Thai fruit salad, but it tasted so similar to my charoset.  I blew own mind this morning!  Of course I immediately Googled “Passover 2014”, to discover the first night is, of course, today.   

Why, at the last minute, I picked up one rose apple for my "fruit salad", which no doubt completed the taste to make my breakfast taste eerily similar to my favorite Passover dish, I will never know.  Was it a deep connection to higher self, was it intuition, or was it mere chance?   All I know is that I’m quite happy to wish you all a very happy Songkran, and a very happy Passover.  

Healthy, Asian-Inspired Charoset Recipe:

- 2 Guava

- 2 Rose Apples

- 1 Dragonfruit

- 1-2 packs of smoked almonds (may substitute with walnuts)

- Moringa: 1-2 tbsp to taste

- Honey: 1-2 tbsp to taste

Let me know what you think!  It won't taste like your mom's charoset, but it will sure be good for you, and a nice, healthy substitute if away from home!!!

photo cred: Songkran2014.com

Rock into Spring

Rock into Spring by rockangelyogi featuring ankle tie flat sandals

Free People mesh top
freepeople.com

Charlotte Russe cotton stretch legging
charlotterusse.com

Valentino ankle tie flat sandals
$890 - brownsfashion.com



ZAHARA JADE pre-Volution.....P.R.A.Y. Jewelry goodies this Spring.  Get ready as we launch our Latest Edgy, Sexy, Conscious Collection for Winter 2014/ Spring 2015!!!

www.zaharajade.com

Dharma Charm Collection – P.R.A.Y. Jewelry (Coming SOON!)

Dharma Charm Collection – P.R.A.Y. Jewelry (Coming SOON!) (clipped to polyvore.com)

Xanadu True Bullet Necklace – P.R.A.Y. Jewelry

Xanadu True Bullet Necklace – P.R.A.Y. Jewelry (clipped to polyvore.com)

Azure Crystal Bullet Necklace – P.R.A.Y. Jewelry

Azure Crystal Bullet Necklace – P.R.A.Y. Jewelry (clipped to polyvore.com)

To P.R.A.Y., With Love

The lofty vision to "Healing the world 1 piece of jewelry at a time", is just that....lofty.  Many days I am in my home studio working on design or writing, disconnected from the experience of my P.R.A.Y. customer.  What I would love, and what is in large part the truth, that P.R.A.Y. customers are a community to their own, and a large community at that.  People who may one day reach out to one another from the other side of the world to connect, perfect strangers.  I believe seven-year-old Amaya is my inspiration for this idea.  Thank you, Amaya.  

A few days P.R.A.Y. Jewelry lauched its' inaugural P.R.A.Y. Ambassadors Rock! Campaign.  In the works for over 6 months, conceptualized nearly one year ago, I felt we are in need of community leaders, people who inspire others, teachers, who love P.R.A.Y., believe in the work, to share our message as they teach and inspire around the globe.  What resulted from the launch has been an astounding return of support, praise, and sharing of individual's experience with P.R.A.Y. Jewelry.  

My favorite arrived in the form of an application to join the P.R.A.Y. Ambassadors Rock! Team, by seven-year-old Amaya.  Reading her email melted my heart, brought tears to my eyes, and reminded me why I do what I do, day in and day out.  She reminded me that not one second of my time and efforts are misappropriated.  The work I do, the vision I am building through P.R.A.Y., is happening.

 

The message I received from Amaya:

"Hi my name is Amaya. I am 7 years old. I am changing the world with healing people with my crystals, touch and yoga. I go to yoga with my momma and sometimes I get to help the teacher assist and help people heal. I also got one of the necklaces that you made from my Auntie for christmas. It has helped me so much since I got it. I sleep with it by my head every night and it healed my nightmares that I was having. I also wear it all the time. People ask me all the time where it is from. I would LOVE to be apart of your Ambassadors Rock Program and rock more of your jewelry around all the time and help promote your jewelry because I believe that it has helped me heal and will help others. Thank you.  xo Amaya"

1.  I would like to hear more about how you are helping to heal the world through crystals, touch, & yoga: What specifically do you do with crystals or touch to help heal?  

I hold my crystals in my hand. The power of the crystals go thru my heart and come out my other hand that is touching the person that I am healing. I also smile or hug people to help heal them. 

2. Which piece of P.R.A.Y. Jewelry do you own & how has it affected you?

I have the duality crystal bullet necklace. I'm so in love with it. When I wear my necklace it brings so much joy and love into my heart. When I first got it I was having nightmares, I started to sleep with it by my head every night and my nightmares went away. 

  3. Why do you believe PRAY Jewelry will be useful as healing  to other people?

  I believe that PRAY Jewelry will help heal others because they are  powerful crystals and filled with so much LOVE. Plus they are  beautiful. 

 4. What is your favorite thing to do?

I love being a competitive cheerleader. My favorite part is flying and  tumbling. I also love playing outside with the fairies. I make houses for them and play with them. The fairies are amazing and help me in so many ways. 

5. Do you have a pet or favorite cartoon or stuffed animal?  If so, what is their name?  

My dog named Karma. When Im sleeping Karma meets me in dreamland and he talks to me. He is special. I love him so much! 

6.  What would you like to do when you grow up?

When I grow up I want to be a yoga teacher.

Thank you, Amaya.  It is because of you and all of the beautiful souls around the world like you who co-create to make our world beautiful, to make P.R.A.Y. possible.  Thank you for sharing your story, I am honored to share it with the world.  Love, Z.