Eden & Elle Magazine June 2008 - Page 1 - This free magazine aimed at the 'everyday' women contains uplifting advice, photography and ideas for the women of today. Contents 3 4 5 7 Editors letter Congratulations to .... Debra – Woman of Prosperity Interview with Leela Francis, VividExistence 12 Noticeboard 13 Erotic Joy of the Month 17 Ekaterina – Worldly Woman (NEW!) 21 97% Model of the Month - Angel 26 Beauty Tips 27 Steve – Coaching Life 31 Suz – I Am 34 Monthly Alternative – Holistic Manifestation 38 Poetic Thoughts & Feelings of Readers Dear Gals & Pals, Welcome to the pre summer June edition of Eden & Elle, the magazine which combines eye opening, true to the heart articles with timely information on a multitude of subjects, a revealing and in depth interview and features the 'everyday' woman – women of all shapes, size and ages in a photo shoot showing that they can look just as beautiful posing for a glamour photographer as the latest centerfold. With summer approaching, the team of Eden & Elle will be spreading their wings to venture out into different corners of this exhilarating world to return with new discoveries, interviews and gorgeous models in September. But...no fret, this issue is well worth the summer stop! We had the opportunity to interview Leela Francis, a body, self and mind expert and CEO of VividExistence and VividlyWoman, both organisations who aid women globally who are less fortunate. The combination of Leelas' selfless acts and her calling to help women discover their own sensuality makes for avid reading! The 97% model of the month is Angel and as Tavares sings 'Heaven must have sent me an Angel' , we were lucky enough to have her descend into our photostudio and we are sure you will agree when you see the photo's, she is just heavenly. We say goodbye to Jamie, as he has moved on to other ventures but thank him for the thoughts and ideas he gave us these past few months. We wish him every success! Charissas' Diary didn't make it this month due to technical challenges, but she will be back with us in September. But....we have a new writer this month who I am sure will help you forget Jamies' departure. Ekaterina is an enticing, kind hearted woman of Russian origin, her articles written in such a way that you don't want the words to stop, just an absolute joy to read! The Erotic Joy of the month is a little more 'technical' this month but much can be learned from it, to find out what I mean, go to page 13. As for the Monthly Alternative, we learn more about holistic manifesting and how to apply this method of bringing your dreams to reality. Suz is back with us again, this time a wonderful article about motherhood, Debra talks about growing up the right and wrong way, and Steve has you tapping into a new healing technique that is simple but extremely effective. Have a sunny, warm, fun Summer - Enjoy ! Yours warmly Désirée Deul Chief Editor Eden & Elle Magazine Congratulates Nancy Jarecki as WINNER INDIE AWARD 2008 ! (the Oscars of the beauty Industry) www.bettybeauty.com Debra – Woman of Loving Prosperity Debra Schneider is a single mom with prosperity consciousness, is old enough to have wisdom and young and healthy enough to enjoy it. After having travelled extensively through Europe and The States, she now resides in New York State together with her daughter. What do you want to be when you grow up? What do you do? What have you done with your life? These are the questions that define the passage of time in the western world. What happens when we start asking ourselves these questions out of order? When we start to expect our children to have accomplished something before they hit puberty? When we are in our 50's and we are asking ourselves what we want to be when we grow up? What happens is stress. Not that I think there is any way to avoid stress in our world. Anyone with an ounce of sensitivity is going to have a certain amount of stress. We are living in times when there is very little that is familiar to our ancient bodies. When most of our food, even the “healthy” food we eat has been modified by our need for convenience or the desire to experience the pleasurable. This is not a bad thing, just important to understand when we somehow don’t feel just right. I am fortunate enough to live across the street from a wise healer, who also happens to be a brilliant dentist. I just had a consult to determine my dental plan of action. What I left with was a remedy. Buzzy “felt” that my gums were under great stress, that they were angry. He gave me a remedy for 9 different ailments, after he tested them with reflexology. Is he a normal dentist? Unfortunately he is not. He is one in a million. What if I had gone to a “normal” dentist…would he have just recommended surgery or drugs, creating even more stress for my body? Here is where this is going. We are living in a world where we are as far away from what is natural for our bodies as if we were living on Mars. Terrifying news from all corners of the globe bombards us. We eat and drink foods that have no value for our bodies. THEN on top of that we hold ourselves to ridiculous standards imposed by some external judge that is living in the confines of our heavily stressed bodies. And we begin this assault on our children before they are even out of diapers by expecting them to read and count before they leave kindergarten. The expectations don’t stop there…this is where they have only begun. Who am I? What am I doing here? Instead, these questions ask us about a part of ourselves that we forget exists on our journey through this thing we call life. These questions address a far bigger, more valuable experience. And they don’t compare us to anyone else. They don’t create unachievable expectations. They can be asked at any stage of our lives. They should be asked at every stage of our lives. They are where our focus needs to be when we somehow don’t feel things are going according to plan. I had a near death experience almost 25 years ago (another story). Here is the question I had to answer. “Did you finish what you came to do”? I have spent 25 years contemplating what that meant. One thing I know for sure. It has nothing to do with how much money I make or what kind of car I drive. It has everything to do with what kind of person I have become. When you get that feeling that you are not quite accomplished enough, smart enough, rich enough, ask yourself “Who am I? What am I doing here?” And wait, and listen for the answer. If you don’t get the answer right away, ask again, and again. Develop the ability to ask the question and have the answer arise from deep within your heart. There are many methods. Meditation, Contemplation, Study, Dance. Whatever stops your mind from judging you in that moment.. And the next time someone asks you “What do you do”?. Ask them who they are. That might make for far more interesting conversation. Hugs, Debra Debra can be reached at thoughts@edenandelle.com May Interview With this issue being the last before the summer, Eden & Elle felt it very fitting to have the chance to interview Leela Francis. With her incredibly dynamic personality she embraces her womanhood and vast experience in Nia, yoga, dance and massage therapy with amazing results. She is an expert in the the field of body, self and soul, devoted to helping and teaching others ways to fully enjoy their lives while transforming themselves from the core. Leela Francis E&E: Your personal story is quite magnificent. Can you tell our readers a little about who you are and what inspired you to be and do what you do today? L.F.: I have danced all my life. As a young girl I began training as a dancer. It was very rigorous, demanding and competitive. In my teens, when my father died very suddenly, dance became my healing practice. The grief and shock of the sudden loss caused me to contract inwardly and dance is what I found myself turning to over and over again to help me open my heart. I often say that until that time I only trained as a dancer. It was only after my father’s death that I really began to dance. I have been dancing ever since. Equally as penetrating, I found my connection to nature as a healing elixir in my life. She has been so very effective in bringing me home to myself, to an inner peace and state of belonging. Together, dance and nature have sustained me over the years and convinced me that the sacred sensuality and celebration they inspire are vital elements in the healing of our ourselves and our planet. When I learned of the mass numbers of women being violated sexually during war time conflict, I recognized that what is actually being exploited is that very sacred sensuality. It also happens to be the very essence of what many of us in first world cultures have sacrificed in our busy, technically modern lives. I strongly believe re-connecting and honouring our own sacred sensuality is an essential act of support for our surviving sisters. It is the restoration of sacred sensuality for all women that has become the focus of my mission. E&E: You run a community called Vividly Womens circles, what exactly does this entail and how does one become a part of the community? L.F.: Vividly Woman; Body, Self and Soul is a community of womens circles. Hundreds of women across North America participate in the Tele-circle and on-line Vividly Woman Community through a monthly curriculum of readings and exercises that inspire the union of creativity, sensuality and spirituality, the essence of the divine feminine. As part of this on-line course, participants are part of a circle of sisters that meet monthly on the phone to connect, network and resource each other and are also invited to join in on a tele-conference call with myself and special guest speakers. Collectively, each circle also sponsors one sister survivor of war in the 3rd world for a full year to recreate her life. This sponsorship is through a non profit organization called Women for Women International. The intent here is that as you do your own self inquiry, reclaiming your sacred sensuality, you actually benefit women everywhere. I believe that restoring the divine feminine in ourselves is a valuable currency of tremendous worth to our sisters globally. E&E.: Women for Women International is an organization that you work with closely, If a woman is interested in helping or joining the Vividly Womens circle & Women for Women, how should she go about doing so? L.F.: Anyone is welcome to contact women for Women International directly and donate or sponsor a woman in their program. If you want to take action in your own life as a gesture of support for your sisters, the Vividly Woman Tele-circle, a weekend circle or retreat is another way to contribute. All the information is on my website. The 10 month on-line program begins each September and the workshops and retreats are scattered throughout the year. E&E.: As a woman, what kind of barriers have you encountered in business that men may not have? L.F.: I have never been one to immerse myself deeply in the world of business, simply because business is still largely run by masculine energy and does not nurture that which I strongly thirst for; connection at a heart and soul level. I have not been willing to compromise my need for those qualities for very long. As a result the growth of my business is slow and steady rather than fast and furious. I have had the privilege of working with brilliant and heartful groups of women in certain care giving and social service settings, I am richly inspired by the way women co-create and optimistic that our way will be more prevalant in business in the coming years. E&E.: You talk a lot about a womans' sensuality, can you elaborate on what you feel that means and what the difference is between sensuality and sexuality? L.F.: Sensuality is a connective force in the universe. When we live sensually we connect with that which we are sensing. We naturally become more sensitive to the world around us when we appreciate our connection with it. It is this connection that is the very “oneness” we are striving for. As we connect, we begin to identify with, rather than objectify, which I believe is at the heart of a major paradigm shift necessary for global peace. When we identify with the earth and each other, we move from seeking to save anything or anyone, to behaving in ways that naturally honour and nurture, as we would nurture and honour ourselves. When I talk about sensuality I am referring to an embodied way of being in the world. When we live an embodied existence, we check in with sensation, the language of our bodies, the inner response to external stimuli. Women are naturally very embodied, however in the media bombarded world in which we live, we have all been encouraged to focus on what our bodies look like rather than what our bodies feel like. A sensual existence means connecting through our bodies to the myriad textures of life, savouring the nuances and subtleties inherent in each moment as a result of that connecting, and delighting in what is naturally beautiful and what that feels like, from the inside out. Cultivating our sensuality can have tremendous benefits for our sexuality, but it is distinctive from sexuality. Sensuality pertains directly to communication through the senses while sexuality may engage the senses and also includes an erogenous expression of body arousal and active expression in response to that arousal. E&E.: Can you explain what VividExistence is and what it entails? L.F.: Vividexistence is a 5 stage system of energy management. The 5 stages, sense , ground, mobilize, harness and express, help us to track the flow, the dance of energy in our lives and to optimize it so that we are consciously connected to that dance of life energy, our source. E&E.: What is the difference between a VividlyWomen weekend circle and the VividExistence retreat? L.F.: Vividly woman events and products are about women’s sacred sensuality as a vital healing force in the universe. They may use the VividExistence 5 stage system as a road map but only in service of this focus. VividExistence retreats focus on the study of the 5 stage system. E&E.: Are there any Vividly Women or VividExistence retreats and/or workshops planned in Europe? If so, when? L.F.: Not at this time. E&E.: Your dvd Vividance is one of your latest products, can you elaborate what the dvd is about? L.F.: Vividance was created out of my desire to support individuals to move in nature as a way to connect more deeply with her healing powers. I wanted to liberate people from their tv/computer screen rather than create more dependency on it. I made the practice easy enough to learn so that you can take it outdoors, whether that be backyard or back country. Like all my audiovisual products, it is a movement practice that journeys through the 5 stages of VividExistence. E&E.: You have a variety of choices (workshop,tele-circle,weekend circle, retreat, dvds) when it comes to bringing out the best in a woman, if our readers are complete novices in the feeling great about themselves challenge, what do you suggest they follow first? L.F.: A live event is always the greatest impact. Connection to others on the same or similar path can be so inspiring. Creating community will often help to support us on our journeys and keep us engaged in a more committed way. E&E.: You were recently invited to collaborate with a well known writer. Who was it and what did it entail? L.F.: I was blessed to be part of a gathering led by one of my mentors/teachers Jean Shinoda Bolen. Dr Bolen has been instrumental in forwarding the feminist movement towards a spiritualist movement. She is responsible for the Millionth Circle, a movement to bring about healing peace and harmony through women’s circles. E&E.: Do you have any other projects or plans for future projects separate from VividlyWomen and VividExistence? L.F.: I am passionate about engaging men in the 1st world to support the education of men in third world to become advocates for women’s rights there. It is a project I call “Men for Women Worldwide”. I am also working on a project to re-sensualize our society. I call it “Tickle the Universe”. It is a movement to encourage random acts of sensual kindness. E&E.: If you could give advice to our readers on how they could lead such a fulfilling and rewarding life, what would it be? L.F.: Live as many moments as possible as if they are among your very last. This practice always brings me so fully into the moment, appreciating deeply the beauty of life around me, connecting to creation in a profound and vivid way. It brings us instantly to the soul of things. That and have as much fun as possible as often as possible! E&E.: What does your daily work life look like? L.F.: That depends on where I am and what I am working on. I try to spend as much time as possible outdoors wherever I am. I am fortunate to have work opportunities that support that. When I am not actually facilitating, I spend more time on the computer than I woud like, so I make sure to balance it with daily practice of movement, meditation and fun. E&E.: Are/were you a mentor to anyone? L.F.: I suppose those who participate in my 10 month course are being mentored by me. E&E: Now that you have accomplished so much, do you still have dreams you wish to come true? L.F.: Yes, I have many dreams. I never intend to stop dreaming. Mostly I dream of a world where we care for others instead of compete with them. I dream of being at peace within myself so that I can better inspire that in others. E&E.: Is there anything in your life you would change if you had the possibility to do it over again? L.F.: Everything in my life has afforded me learning so it has all been of value. I would have to say that I would not change anything. I have had a very exciting and creative life so far and intend to continue in that spirit. I feel so incredibly blessed to have had the freedoms and opportunities that I have had. If I had to wish for one thing in my own life, it would be for even greater awareness to always feel gratitude for what I have. Visit the website : www.vividexistence.com to find out more about Leela and her wonderful products. Brand new Spring 2007 Vividance; Reconnecting through movement and nature DVD Filmed in Troncones , Mexico Enjoy a flowing and sensual 20 minute movement practice that awakens, conditions and connects you to the body of nature. Learn the sequences infront of your screen and then take the practice outdoors as a path of communion with the beauty and healing qualities of Praise nature. $30 USD Radiant Heart Groove, Dance workout DVD and CD Set Embody the 5 stages of VividExistence™ as you move and groove to inspiring music, expressive, energy building choreography and all out free dancin’ fun! 2 Disc set contains one audiovisual DVD Sample Video and one music only soundtrack CD Sample Music $60 USD Praise VividExistence Body & Breath Meditation CD– Journey through the 5 stages of VividExistence™ with guided meditations, breathing exercises and affirmations. Sample Praise $25 USD Buy both (Radiant Heart Groove DVD/CD Set and VividExistence Body & Breath Meditation CD) and save. $75 USD . Buy all Three (Vividance DVD, Radiant Heart Groove DVD/CD Set and VividExistence Body & Breath Meditation CD) and save even more! $100 USD VividExistence 2005 All Rights Reserved ©. | Home | Outreach | Online Store | Contact Us
Eden & Elle Magazine June 2008 - Page 1
Eden & Elle Magazine June 2008 - Page 2
wobook