announcement Artist vs Holistic Professional

Dear friends: just in case you are a little confused if you know me only as a full time artists. I've decided that for better balance in life I would like to contribute more to my own as well as other's wellbeing and sense of balance. I remain adamant to exhibit in Venice at the most glorious Art Biennale there is, rather sooner than later, I continue to make art and take it professionally serious

. But Health is a gift that I would like to remind everyone to value. And I would like to support friends and strangers as they become my students and clients in finding their best balance.

I choose to earn my living not with bar/cafe work or selling items that clutter our beautiful and fragile planet but instead with something that I see as a gift to our health. A gift that leaves no trace other than a sense of wellbeing, improved immune system, greater flexibility, better focus of mind, better sleep.... (endless benefits).. I wonder if you understand this. I would like to invite you to book a treatment with me before the end of august as I have some plans that may take me out of Liverpool (art plans). In january I might teach in Cambodia, which would mean that I will continue bodywork training in Thailand straight after. Which would in turn mean that your next chance of a treatment will be around february/march, at potentially increased cost unless you are an existing client... Don't leave your body hanging, take the opportunity now. Looking forward to seeing you for Massage or Yoga. (if you really want to you can also massage your brain: I still teach German language)

A brief notice

A brief note: I will NOT be offering Fabio style Yoga Classes any time soon, unless money gets even tighter.. I give it about one more week...

This is my good friend Nakry

This is my friend whom I wish I could look out for more. I realize I am not even great in looking out for myself. But all the same: All donations that I can raise go towards his families basic support and beyond that: they have dreams of education ! Like school! Or a year long apprenticeship to become an electrician (Nakry's brother would like of this) Can we make it possible? Do you want to help out?

my paypal account is linked to my e-mail address: birgitdeubner(AT) gmx(dot)net

I forward increments of $100+ via Wstern Union to him and his family. You can read more in earlier posts on this blog. You can follow this link: overthesevenseas.blogspot.co.uk/ most posts are made in 2011, and some before actually. I haven't posted anything new, as there is not much new to say: the need is great. Small help, helps hugely.

I hope to see my friend again in 2013 when I might be going to Cambodia to teach.

*** update: a key post to read about the struggles of many Cambodian families, due to last year's flooding, may be this: overthesevenseas.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/cambodia-5.html

I am so many things:

"Physical Theatre training (basic - maybe intermediate) Professional Artist (accomplished) Yoga Teacher (qualified) Thai Massage Practitioner (qualified) vegetarian/vegan cook (applauded)"


and that's not all: "German teacher (experienced), photographer (experienced), workshop leader & assistant (experienced), Art teacher (very experienced), Art Handling Technician, bookshop employee, Art invigilator, Theatre Lighting Technician, Theatre front of House staff, Volunteer Coordinator, Drama Workshop leader (experienced in them all - except the lighting is so long ago I wouldn't like to call myself proficient now),  dog sitter (yes, I've done that, too), snail hunting (yes)"

Message from the universe,

 via Birgit: A special gift this week for You or your friend


If you come to my house and bring just £20,  90 minutes and your lovely self, THEN I would like to invite you for a footmassage (+ lower leg) this week that will make you feel like you are floating. I will use oils mixed with cream, you will sit back in silence, enjoying the green trees outside of my window and sips of endless herbal tea. 
You would not have a big meal before, but rather eat a little than come hungry. You would have washed your feet that day (small dust and a day's-use-traces no problem at all, that's what they are there for) 
You would smile, cry, breathe, mostly breathe and enjoy your treat. 
Which day is suitable for you?  
Your friend the universe via Birgit. xxx
location: Liverpool UK

+44 (0)7415 188 944

(Normal price for this massage £45-£50, normal low income concession limited to 2 clients per week (on application): £25)

new items in my etsy shop

and it's the project:

'A wild sheep chase' 

the photo isn't listed, but the drawing is.

CLICK on the sheep to be taken to my shop

to see more drawings. 

my birthday is sneaking upon me

I know I'm not meant to ask, but it would make me extra happy..: 
It's my Birthday on Monday the 23rd.. If you send messages via letter pigeon..

interview with Richard Freeman

I wish I could embed the whole video, here is a link to it,
https://projectrestoration.com/richardfreeman
below is a snack sized section of the 20 minute interview
(for full interview follow the link above).


I seem to have taken a very long time to find my way to Richard Freeman, from
what I have seen of his talks and practice demonstrations he resonates with me
so much. I am for the first time in years considering to spend real money on a yoga
publication. Perhaps his dvd, perhaps the cd of chants.. Both expensive for me at
the moment, but I think the sooner the better...

I found Sounds True in America (through which Richard Freeman runs an interactive
pranayama talks series) - they have a special offer on his cds and dvds at the moment -
in case the hyperlink doesn't work use the next link and navigate the site:
http://www.soundstrue.com/

making truffles

celebrating feeling better

with homemade: organic cocoa, date and nut truffles. no sugar, no butter, no eggs, no dairy, no flour.. delicious !

daily miracles we forget to notice

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child — our own two eyes. All is a miracle.

 ~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~

(I found this quote on www.sheof108names.wordpress.com)

BKS Iyengar / The Wealth of Health versus Appearances

There is something so awe inspiring about watching this 45 year old film footage of BKS Iyengar demonstrating asana. Who was the audience? Did they have any understanding or was this a form of outlandish gymnastics to them? After all these years of practicing yoga even I still find it strange to watch a yoga asana practice. It definitely is an experience to be had within, rather than observed externally.

In my parallel life I am a professional Artist, from this perspective I really should promote my work, chase the career, socialize strategically.. The more I practice Yoga Asana, the more my life changes, and it becomes increasingly impossible to abuse my body with 16 hour work days for the sake of appearing ‘successful’. In reality my name gains credential, it does indeed, and at the same time my body gains internal wounds from exhaustion, from one too many times rushed to meet a deadline..

In the past year I have spent significantly more time thinking about the Wealth of Health than about which gallery to attempt to impress into exhibiting and selling my work. I am still finding my way, but while it scares me I also feel that it was the only sensible decision to take a full 18 months out from even considering to make any Art work or engage in the Art crowd. My feet feel like they landed on the ground a little. My health is improving, and still I am fragile. The healthiest years in my life were those when I practiced yoga 3-4 times a week without fail. 6 days a week seems to deplete me.

I believe it is possible that this has to do with my approach to the practice and my approach to the days following. I strongly believe that Ashtanga practice can be restorative, in my experience it was depleting, but I have a feeling that was my way of practicing and living that could have been responsible.

What do you think?

life essentials; in the words of a friend of mine

"Passionate about healthy conscious living in the full spectrum of life: work, relationships and the rest." Julian Giacomelli chief at: http://www.crudessence.com

question: am I extra terrestrial or am I not?

I feel just a little bit like an incomprehensible alien at the moment. Nobody I know well enough leads an alternative life, with long distance relationship spells, and far away travel, and exhibitions at galleries, some of which damage or not return art work for months or longer; and not a plan that is very similar to the plans other people make when they feel they are making a sensible, standard type plan. I think I am incredibly sensible, but certainly not standard. Of the people I know who are not standard, I don't know (m)any who are sensible and plan for the future. My friends, even the ones who on paper aren't actually so standard at all, appear to despair at my lack of standard.. I may after all be an alien. 
------------
standard = average = normal = predictable = steady = having the illusion of being plan-able ≠ actually life isn't plan-able, I understand it may appear so, and I also try and emulate the pattern, the plan-ability but... is life plan-able?

Andrei Ram Om teaching Handstand

lovely insights into how to work towards handstand. I love this.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Ritual in Motion

A nice introduction to aspects of Ashtanga Yoga Asana practice.
There is just one thing that David Robson says that I disagree with. He says that Asana is difficult, and that it should be difficult. I am not sure I agree. I think it can be gentle and easy, too. Asana being difficult, the way he seems to mean it, seems focused on achievement of a kind that actually I don't support. The implication seems to be that one ought to achieve certain 'goals' that are too attached to the physical 'look' for my understanding. I think Asana can be easy. 

open hearts

In the last days I have been thinking about meeting the world with an open heart. Or rather, I have been thinking about how difficult that can be. I see some other people, their blogs and websites just overflow with open-ness and love for life and the world. 

What every young cow needs..

..a Z300i mobile telephone with digital clock pretending to be an analog one. A discarded doll, 2 combs, some bottles and containers of medicine, various junk and empty coke and pop drinks...

............

(image DSC_5703)

some days are easier than others...

occasionally it feels a little more like this...

I'm definitely a communicator

.. I write 300 word messages and e-mails all the time, being generous with information and suggestions and I get back 3 to 7 work replies ALL the time. (Occasionally replies stretch to 2 sentences...)

funny.. Am I over-generous? Or are you annoyed by my wordy communication?

Thai Massage and Yoga Teacher qualifications / ONE definite 'knowable'

below are my recent Yoga teaching and Thai Massage practitioner qualifications. What any qualification you ever achieve should first and foremost remind you of is that these pieces of paper signify the beginning of your journey, or a mark along a journey of learning that will continue forever. If you are to be a good teacher, if you wish to be a good massage practitioner, if indeed you hope to be a good artist, mother, father, friend or lover, then you will know that you have never learnt 'it all', that you are never 'fully qualified'. Our whole lives are lives lived learning if they are lives lived well. My most alive periods of my life have been those in which I was most active seeking understanding and knowledge. You will always find that no matter how many signposts you find along the way, the path forward is kind of unknowable. 

Life will always offer you new learning curves, new reasons to remember or re-learn old lessons learnt but forgotten. There is SO much to learn. Always. That is one definite knowable.

above are my Thai Massage and Yoga qualifications to date:

treasured fresh handmade paper notebooks from India ...

aren't these notebooks adorable!? 

I have a little bunch of them for sale. The large books are £12 

and the small ones £7. If you buy a large and a small together you will get a £1 discount! 

One daily cup of coffee blog and book

You probably already know about my love of coffee.. I used to take photographs of ever coffee I drank. In recent years I didn't keep up as diligently. I think this is a good time to review past coffees
(gathered in my coffee blog as flashback coffee moments) and once I catch up consider a fresh start.
I once had a coffee blog on which I would review coffee qualities and service, ambient and clients of cafe's I visited. I started a postgraduate degree just as I got really into the blogging / critiquing. It may be the future for this coffee blog: One daily cup of coffee.

One Daily Cup of Coffee
Q: What do you think?.. What would you like to see on my coffee blog?
Q: and what would you like to find in my coffee book?
I would love to hear from you.

below is a first draught for my first coffee collection book. It will be small format and paperback. But I would like to build up to a larger book in hardback in the future... Something to enjoy over a cup of coffee... perhaps.

Coffee by One daily cup of Coffee
Birgit Deubner from onedailycupofcoffee.blogspot.co.uk | Make Your Own Book

Over 7 Seas & Birgit Deubner Etsy Stores pledge to Donate to a family in Cambodia

This is very important to me:

I WILL DONATE 5% of profit made through Etsy to Nakry's Family in Cambodia. (To calculate I will deduct only production costs, not my time or any other costs)

I will keep a public tally of how much is raised on this blog. I also accept donations for Nakry's family.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Birgit75

============================================================
The backstory:
I want to donate money to the family of a friend I made in Cambodia. I know first hand of several very good charity and NGO organizations who are active in supporting children and people of all ages to have a better future. I will update this post with a link to my blog that I have to write more about these causes.

My friend's family lost 50-60% of their rice crop to last years terrible flooding that swept across Asia. My friend's name is Nakry, his family live in a small house on stilts, the wood of which is splitting and they fear it will snap if another flood hits them before they can replace it. Nakry's family, like countless families in Cambodia, rely on their family's rice harvest to supplement their basic food needs.

I don't know how cambodian families will get through this time. Food across Cambodia will have run out some time ago (it is June now, the next harvest is not due until around december, most farmers only have enough water supply for one crop a year, few are lucky and can try their luck twice annually)

My friend's name is Nakry, his home has an open door policy welcoming any children from the extended family, if they are hungry Nakry's family will share their already tight food. Tight food? The children of the family have stunted growth, as has Nakry, he is rather small, the children who are 13 years old, look as if they are 7. The loss of the rice crop is dramatic on a family like this. It is all part of why for example Nakry's cousin left school before she finished, to work for small change as day laborer on other people's fields. She is 16, she could have become fluent in french had she stayed in school. This is a can of worms. I hope you will visit my blog when I forward the address in the next weeks (I need to update the stories, or at least make a strong start).

What is needed? Money to flood proof the house, the family fear that the wooden stilts it stands on will snap if the house is submerged once more for 2-3 months in 2 foot / half a meter of water.

collage of quirky leg photographs

Nakry and his Family

I just wanted to anounce that I am still collecting donations for Nakry's family, to help with recovery from last year's flooding. There is a real danger of renewed flooding this year. I would like the family to have a safety net: enough to eat, and maybe the needed tools should their house collapse due to the high water levels. (The stilts of their old house have split last year in the 2 month submerge-ion in the flood waters. It would be good to have a tool kit of some kind of temporary patches to hold it up (I am thinking a sort of brace reinforcement!