Happy New Year Everyone ! 
I started the New Year at a party or was it a funeral! (I had a choice of 3 parties and chose the wrong one). 12 years ago I worked in the costume department of various different films being shot in this area.  When we had party scenes to shoot we had to employ up to 100 extras to fill up the room/garden.  Most extras are asked to use their own clothes, so we would ask them to bring along evening clothes for the occasion and always ask them not to bring anything BLACK, which meant that 80% brought a black dress. 
At this New Year’s Eve party it was the same, 80% in black dresses or should I say ‘uniform’.  It really did look more like a funeral.
So my New Years resolution is to get more colour into our lives……

This quotation comes from an inspiring book called ‘Oneness’ by Rasha

Winter started on the 21st December solstice and will last until the 21st of March which is the spring Equinox.  It is a time for going within and recharging our energy for the spring flourishing.

All plants and animals do that during the winter ‘hibernation’, the trees and plants have dropped their leaves and flowers and concentrate on strengthening their roots and trunk during the winter months.  A variety of animals and insects literally hibernate and don’t eat for a few months
We should also do this, sleep more, meditate and generally stay in front of a log fire.  Instead we have New Years Eve where a lot of us start OUR new year with a hangover, or digestion problems, then need to brighten our dark winter days by organizing things to do.

Spring is natures New Year, when after rebuilding their energy plants and trees burst forth in buds and flowers.  If we did the same we would spend the winter thinking about what we don’t like in our lives and gradually put into place what is needed for change, so that the new us with new ideas and a fresh outlook wakes up fresh again in Spring.

At the moment I’m reading ‘A Druid’s Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year’, it explains that the Druid months are named after the activities of the Celtic year. Each month starts 6 days after the new moon. So Rivros started on the 22 Dec. 09 and is the month of frost. And Anagantios will start on the 21st Jan. and is the month to stay indoors.  Ogronios is the cool month starting on the 20th Feb
They were so much more in touch with nature – but we are gradually learning the old ways and getting there with a modern twist.

A few suggestions for going within :

• Take up ‘Tai Chi’ or ‘Qi Gong’ check out Gordon Stuart for Qi Gong in Biot, Monday lunchtimes 06 18 24 19 94.
• There are monthly ‘Sweat Lodges’ held in the grounds of a private property above Tourettes sur Loup phone Gilles (French only)  06 47 31 54 12.
• Anne Naylor’s chanting sessions.
• Alternatively try out Maya Spiritual Healing – check the web site for more info
• Or of course receiving a massage of any sort, helps us to relax and cut out that little voice of the ego that goes over and over the same repetitive scenarios…..we have all been there, or we wouldn’t be here!

As usual there are a few different things on during January :

Tuesday 12th and Sunday 17th are the dates for this months Chanting in Cannes. Phone Anne Naylor on 04 92 18 05 51  For the times and address.
 
Saturday 16th at 10h30 is the Possible Dream meeting. Phone Anne Naylor for more information 04 92 18 05 51

Sunday 17th Sweat Lodge at 9am, above Tourettes, phone Gilles for information in French on how to get there and what to bring (bathing costume, towel, some food to share afterwards in the warm kitchen etc). 50€ . You won’t be finished until about 3pm.

Friday 22nd is the beginning of the Comedy Season at The Holy Trinity Church in Cannes there will be1 or 2 films a month, their first film will be ‘Bringing up Baby’ with Cary Grant. Entrance is free, for more information and to get future dates and films phone 04 93 94 54 61

Saturday 30th  Sweat Lodge in Apte (84 region of France) also at 9am. Phone Gilles (above) for information on how to get there etc.

Sunday 31st  There is a “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” all day workshop in Nice. 120€   Call Anne Pilling for info and book 04 93 8718 97

I’m going to be in Belize during most of February, doing Certification in Maya Abdominal Massage and Spiritual Healing, so won’t be sending you out a newsletter that month – but will be back with loads of energy in March here are a couple of tempting things to wet your appetites in the meantime….. 
 

The next Munay-Ki gifting day will be on Tuesday 2nd March – I probably won’t have the next mail out before then. For further info. check out the www.holisticmaya.com/public/munay-ki_uk.html contact Gaby if you would like to come along 04 93 60 07 37.

I am organizing a workshop in Biot from the 19th to 21st March. click here for more details (for the french version click here)