Blackbook Magazine Article on V Art of Wellness

V For Victory – Health & Beauty – BlackBook
There’s a very good breakfeast buffet at the new St. Regis Bal Harbour. It has lots of sausage and little muffins. You can also avail yourself of a bottomless chafing dish of bacon.

Since I had done that many times during my stay there, I thought it would be best if I tried V-Art of Wellness, the fitness program devised by Christopher and Tracie Vlaun, an exceedingly toothsome couple, and offered at the St. Regis fitness club. Our session began with a half-hour of Aeroga on the beach. Tracie led us through sun salutations as the sun rose. Sweat began to stream down my forehead and I engaged mula bhanda. Aeroga, to me, seems a lot like a quicker version of yoga, with an uplifting techno soundtrack. At one point, we launched a flurry of uppercuts as Tracie squealed around us enthusiastically. I don’t know if it was zen, but it was fun.

Chris was up next. The guy has a big wide smile and a neck as thick as a Corinthian column. He has his own philosophy called the BeFit method, which is outdoor circuit training with a focus on joint stability. We started running along the beach barefoot. “Can you feel the negative ions?” he asked. They supposedly come from the water and engage my hippocampus. I huffed that I didn’t know if I could or not, but I could feel my legs and my butt burning. Jogging on the beach in the soft sand is really, really hard but it builds core strength. Chris bade me sprint, which I did. Early-morning fishermen looked at us like we were crazy. Then he got out the boxing mitts, set up a ring with cones on a wide stretch of sand, and we boxed as the Miami sun worked its way higher into the sky. And then, because I was at the St. Regis, I wiped down with my gently scented post-workout moist towel.

Healing with PEACOCKS!!!!!!

The Meaning of Peacocks
• Vision
• Royalty
• Spirituality
• Awakening
• Immortality
• Refinement
• Incorruptibility
In Greco-Roman mythology the Peacock is identified with Hera (Juno) who created the Peacock from Argus whose hundred eyes (seen on the tail feathers of the Peacock) symbolize the vault of heaven and the “eyes” of the stars.
In Hinduism the Peacock is associated with Lakshmi who is a deity representing benevolence, patience, kindness, compassion and good luck.
Similar to Lakshmi, the Peacock is associated with Kwan-yin in Asian spirituality. Kwan-yin (or Quan Yin) is also an emblem of love, compassionate watchfulness, good-will, nurturing, and kind-heartedness. Legend tells us she chose to remain a mortal even though she could be immortal because she wished to stay behind and aid humanity in their spiritual evolution.
In Babylonia and Persia the Peacock is seen as a guardian to royalty, and is often seen in engravings upon the thrones of royalty.
In Christianity the Peacock symbolism represents the “all-seeing” church, along with the holiness and sanctity associated with it. Additionally, the Peacock represents resurrection, renewal and immortality within the spiritual teachings of Christianity.
Themes of renewal are also linked to alchemical traditions to, as many schools of thought compare the resurrecting phoenix to the modern-day Peacock.
Contemplate the powers of the Peacock when you need more vibrancy and vitality in your experience. The Peacock can also help you on your spiritual Path, and breath new life into your walk of faith.
The Peacock can rejuvenate self-esteem levels too. If you’re feeling “blah” and blue, imagine the glorious, techno-color display the Peacock provides. This puts us in a proper mood to embrace your own nobility. In no time, you’ll be walking tall and proud as a Peacock too!

Today I saw a Dolphin. What does it mean???

The Meaning of Dolphin
• Along with speed, diligence and intelligence the Dolpin is also a messenger of love. This is partly due to its association with Delphi, which signifies the love embodied within the womb. Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, was said to take the form of the dolphin and was also known as the Woman of the Sea. When depicted on an anchor or pierced with a trident the Dolphin is a symbol of the church being guided by the love of Christ.
•
• Playfulness
• Transcendence
• Gentleness
• Harmony
• Intelligence
• Contentment
• Friendship
• Community
• Resurrection
• Generosity
• Power
Christian symbolism conveys the dolphin as an aspect of Christ. Dolphins seen in Christian art are symbolic of resurrection. Some artists utilize the protective, stabilizing, compassionate demeanor of the dolphin as a message of wellbeing to the pure of heart. Some artistic renditions speak of dolphins transporting the spirits of the faithful to Christ’s side upon leaving their physical bodies.
This dolphin meaning is mimicked in ancient Greece where legend tells us the dolphin was responsible for carrying the souls of the dead to the Islands of the Blessed.
Also in Greece, the dolphin is a compatriot of both the god Apollo (sun) and the goddess Aphrodite (moon). Both lunar symbolism and solar symbolism are represented in the dolphin.
• Sun Dolphin meanings: Active, Life, Vibrant, Health, Renewal, Intelligence
• Moon Dolphin meaning: Hidden power, Intuition, Dreams, Conception, Feminine
This is a key understanding because the dolphin meaning is connected with themes of duality. It has to do with the dolphin being both fish and mammal. It is both of the water, and an air breather. Ergo, dolphin symbolism talks to us about “being in two worlds at once.” Indeed, the dolphin is a great conveyor of the concept of yin and yang.
Along with the divine Apollo sun and Aphrodite moon associations, other deities associated with the dolphin include:
• Poseidon (Greek), Neptune (Roman)
Themes of kingship, rulership, authority, strength, dominion, freedom, intelligence, compassion and fatherly protection over the entire kingdom (sea).
• Eros (Greek), Cupid (Roman)
These gods contribute dolphin meaning of: Love, friendliness, playfulness, sensuality, desire, exploration, curiosity, attraction and joy.
• Dionysus (Greek), Bacchus (Roman)
These deities underscore the dolphins ability to uplift, and carries themes of joviality, freedom, wildness, abandon, creative self-expression.
Greek myth indicates Dionysus was known to turn himself into a dolphin and transported the shrine at Delphi where the cult of dolphin worshippers convened.
The term delphi is noteworthy as the Greek word for dolphin is delphis and its derivative, delphys means womb. This incorporates more lunar and feminine attributes to the dolphin scene.
In Celtic animal symbolism, the dolphin as a highly honored creature as it was seen as the protector of sacred wells and sacred water. The dolphin, to the Celtic mind, is the watcher of the waters, and the guardians of all things water-associated.
Pirate lore also hails the dolphin as a symbol of protection. Indeed, legend admits dolphin sightings were often exaggerated into incredibly fantasies of mermaids. Sailors often understood the spirit of mermaids lived in the heart of the dolphin, and ancient stories of the sea refer to dolphins metamorphosing into beautify sea maidens (and mermaids) if seen under just the right conditions.
Whether this is true or not remains to be confirmed. What is true is countless tales of dolphins interacting with humans in friendly, even protective ways. This colors the dolphin meaning in hues of compassion, caring, community and generous spirit in reaching out to connect with another species.