Monthly Archives: December 2013
$100 Off Early Bird Discount for Reiki Retreat Ends in 2 Days – Perfect Holiday Gift of Empowerment for the New Year
Parrot friend in Grenada at sunrise
Only 2 days left to register for the Early-Bird $100 discount for our upcoming Reiki Renewal Retreat in March.
Remember that you will receive $100 off your weekend or class choices, if you register on or before this Thursday 12/12.
This pertains to locals as well as out of town guests. Past students are welcome to join the classes as a refresher, but you will need to let me know ahead of time in terms of food (which will need to be purchased) and any activities you want to join in on, as space is limited.
Makes a powerful holiday gift to yourself or someone you love. You can hold your spot and lock in the $100 off with a deposit, and still have time to take advantage of a payment plan for the balance, which will be due 30 days before the retreat start date of 3/20.
All details of the weekend can be found here:
Reiki Renewal Retreat ~ Spring Equinox in Laguna Beach, California
Message me or email at tania@taniamarie.com if you have any questions, need individual rates for your specific choices/needs, and to register.
This is a perfect way to celebrate the renewal of Spring, as a mirror to your own revitalization, and to do something for you that has far-reaching benefit.
Yes, Vegans Enjoy the Holidays Too – A Couple of Easy Dessert Recipes for All Year Round
Many people feel that they will miss out on all of the tastes and comforts that they have enjoyed, if they were to choose a vegan lifestyle. And this is especially so around the holidays when even vegetarians and vegans may put their lifestyle aside, to be able to eat with family and friends.
However, there really isn’t a reason you have to give up what your heart desires, unless that’s a choice you truly want to make. I guess that boils down to what is important to you and only you know what reflects your authenticity.
This post is NOT about discussing ethics, beliefs, or dietary health issues (if you want to read My Vegan Journey and Then Some you’ll learn a bit about how I came to be vegan), but it IS meant to discuss enjoying the life you’ve chosen to live, which includes food – and that is something that YES, vegans do too! AND, something I in particular really enjoy.
If you want to explore the other issues, there’s plenty of info out there and informative books like Meatonomics, The China Study, The Food Revolution, etc. that can help you to make better informed decisions, but whatever you choose, it’s important you learn how to do it in a healthy, more conscious way, as there are many herbivores and omnivores, alike, that have unhealthy eating habits and a lot of that has to do with not educating themselves about food.
Since that post about my own vegan journey and thoughts, my raw and cooked vegan ratios have changed, and will continue to, as I do what is supportive of my body and current energy cycles in my life. But no matter what ratio, as I believe all of that just isn’t important to get stuck on like I see many people doing, I thoroughly enjoy food and have never once felt deprived or like I was sacrificing. If anything, I have felt that there were more options, tastes, and creative possibilities, not to mention richer appreciation for food because your taste buds shift and you suddenly realize the vibrancy that is within each whole food just as it beautifully and naturally is.
In my opinion, eating should not only be conscious (in an all-inclusive way), but fun!
In the last year I have also been doing gluten-free or very low gluten and once again, nope…no deprivation or sacrifice going on in my world.
This brings me to the holidays and all of the feasting and parties that take place around this time of year that for new vegans or people considering becoming vegan, seem to get worried about.
But not only are there more and more options in stores of vegan foods you can purchase pre-ready to pop in the oven, an array of improved gluten-free mixes, freshly made foods in the “deli” section, not to mention more and more restaurants and food delivery services, personal chefs, etc…but there are also a ton of amazing, easy recipes out there you can find online just by googling, checking out blog sites, or in recipe books you can purchase. It’s really becoming a challenge “not” to be able to have your vegan cake and eat it too.
Plus, if you have a friend or two, or more! you can gather together to create dishes shared among all of you, which is not only easier on the prep time, but a fun way to come together and swap recipe ideas, while sampling new dishes.
We spent our Thanksgiving this year at a vegan restaurant, with a bunch of friends, where they had an all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving buffet with the works – and yes, all vegan! This satisfied my lazy, not wanting to cook and clean up desires, but didn’t compromise or leave any sort of deprivation on any level. On the contrary, several people, including Dave, stuffed themselves so much that their stomachs were in bliss overload. I, on the other hand, have learned to not let my eyes dictate my stomach. 😉
I’ve enjoyed my eclectic, non-traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations the most, especially ones with friends. Most memorable have been raw vegan Thanksgiving feasting adventures at Cafe Gratitude with my dear faery, shared-bottomless-stomach (at the time), Laura Bruno. But, I’ve also had great holiday meals with my family where my mom has prepared additional items for my brother and I to enjoy since we had a different lifestyle, and with Dave’s family where we bring our own things to cook or they order and pick up stuff for us.
I find that most people are more than willing to accommodate your needs if they understand what’s important to your heart. It’s not a bad thing to ask for what you need and want. They won’t know it, if you don’t share it. And if they have a problem with it, then that’s for them to reconcile, but you can still make your holiday meal one of compassion and gratitude and simply handle taking care of your own food, if it feels to be too much for them to do, so that you are living by the example of your truth, yet not intruding on their choices.
I find it important to live my life consistently by my beliefs and values, and while I feel that includes being compassionate of other’s unique journeys and ability to choose, it also entails my not compromising what is most important to me. This can all be done with a loving heart and with that, you just may be able to share some of your yummyness with others who will likely be inquisitive to taste-test your scrumptious creations and discover new ways to incorporate other options into their life.
I’m not one that needs to have foods that mimic things I used to eat when I wasn’t vegan, but if that’s what you desire, and I know it helps to make transitions easier, you will find vegan “faux” options to be more than satisfying, and perhaps even gluttonous. And you can find all of these things in organic and non-gmo options, which I also feel is highly important to be conscious of.
I’m someone who likes things simple, so when making things myself I want something with as little ingredients as possible, not much to it, and quick and easy, but not skimping on taste.
And that goes for desserts too. There are a ton of great recipes out there, but if I have to spend tons of time preparing something, I’m over it, unless I’m really feeling inspired and want to set aside the time to do just that.
I do find that my kitchen creativity happens in cycles. Sometimes I want nothing to do with it, so that means easy and fast. And sometimes that outlet is a way to channel my current creative energy needs. In which case, it will be a pure joy and so much fun to be in that process.
I know many of you love your desserts, and I recently had the opportunity to make a bunch of them for others, which was fun to experiment with new recipes I’d never made. Again, I realized how you can bring health, taste, and fun to everyone, without there needing to be any feelings of lack.
Gluten-free items, like baked goods, used to be a bit lacking in the department of taste, but as things progress and people start figuring out the right elements and mix, you can really make some yummy baked goods without knowing the difference. It does take some experimenting when you make something from scratch, which I’ve been learning :), but once you get it, you’ll be amazed at the results. And there are some great, pre-ready, organic base mixes you can purchase at the store too for your gluten-free and vegan baked goods that are amazingly moist and yummy and only take one or two ingredients to add and voila!
Take a look at these photos in the post of holiday dessert fun I was able to create. The array of all vegan and gluten-free tastes included hostess cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes with chocolate mint icing, blueberry crumble cobbler, chocolate coconut haystack bars, raw fudge balls rolled in coconut and goji berries, and pumpkin spice ice cream (not in photo since it was freezing), and a special raw chocolate butterfly.
First time I made most of these. I found most of these recipes, tweaked a few, and some are my own. I thought I’d share two of the favs which are the raw fudge balls and the haystack bars. The raw fudge balls I make a lot, as they are healthy desserts and snacks (good at any time of the day) that satisfy the sweet tooth, but only use the natural sugar of dates. The haystack bars were new, but are now another new fav that definitely give you that chocolate fix if you need it, plus are similar to almond joy, minus the almond 😉 – mmmm….
The other good thing is that one really is enough on either of these, as they are both rich in their own way, but definitely easy to make.
CHOCOLATE COCONUT HAYSTACK BARS
It depends how big you cut your bars, as to how many it will yield. The original recipe for the Tupperware size below said it makes 4 to 6 generous portions, which would make larger pieces and more elongated bars. I doubled the recipe and used a 10 x 5″ Tupperware container and cut smaller portions, which I was able to get 32 smaller square bars from (as seen in the photo). They will look more rustic and rough at the edges than factory made non-vegan ones, but these are much healthier, easy, likely addictive (although quite potent so you really don’t need more than one at a time and will be satisfied with that), and DELICIOUS!
The recipe called for an approximately 5.5 x 4″ Tupperware container, but you can use whatever size you want and adjust the recipe accordingly. Or, use several of the same-sized containers to make a larger batch for parties, or to have dessert snacks on hand, as they keep well in the refrigerator for a few days. You will need to line the base of the containers with grease-proof paper of some sort. I used parchment paper.
INGREDIENTS FOR THE CHOCOLATE (adjust according to size of containers used)
- 7 oz (200 g) good quality, organic vegan chocolate – you can also use vegan chocolate chips (which I did). These two options will be the quickest because you only then have to melt them. But you could also make your own chocolate from cacao powder, coconut oil, agave or vanilla stevia if you prefer, which is super easy too and only takes a couple more minutes.
- a pinch of salt (Himalayan Pink Salt or Sea Salt are good options)
- 1 heaped tsp organic coconut oil
INGREDIENTS FOR THE FILLING
- 1½ cups shredded organic coconut
- 1 Tbsp white vegan sugar (This time I used organic coconut sugar, which isn’t white, but I prefer it over regular sugar. You could also use Stevia or agave)
- 1½ Tbsp organic coconut oil
- 4 Tbsp (60 mL) water
ASSEMBLY
- First you’ll need to melt your chocolate. Some people may do this in a glass bowl in the microwave (likely a minute in there would do) if you don’t mind using one. I prefer not to, so you can use the bain marie method or an improvised version like this photo. For info on this visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bain-marie.
- Then place the coconut oil in a small saucepan, and heat gently until melted. Then add the shredded coconut, sugar and water. Mix for a couple of minutes, then remove and set aside to cool.
- Next, pour a few spoons of the chocolate in the base of the tupperware bowl (therefore sitting on top of the greaseproof paper base). You need to make sure you have a decently thick layer of it, maybe like 1/4″, unless you prefer thinner chocolate layers, and make sure it is evenly layed. Then place in the freezer to solidify – 20 minutes or so should do the trick.
- Remove from freezer, and spoon the coconut filling on top of the chocolate base, and place in the freezer for a further 15 minutes. It will be a nice thick layer and make sure to press it down evenly. You may have about an inch of this layer or 3/4″. It depends how much you made and how you adjusted the recipe.
- Remove from freezer, and pour the remaining chocolate on top of the coconut filling following the same procedure as the first layer and once again, place in the freezer for a further 20 minutes.
- When it is solid, but not frozen, remove from freezer, and turn upside down. Remove the greaseproof paper, and cut into your desired sizes. Keep in an airtight container, and consume within 3 days.
RAW FUDGE BALLS ROLLED IN COCONUT AND GOJI BERRIES
I doubled this recipe so there would be more. It made 35 larger balls. It depends how big you roll your balls, as to how many you will get. But this gives you an idea of what a double recipe yields. You could likely get more out of it if you do them a little smaller than I did and they would still be plenty of a mouth-full! I love using coconut and goji berries all year round, but it is especially festive around Christmas to have little white and red snow balls.
INGREDIENTS FOR THE BALLS
2 cups of organic almonds (if you can find raw ones online you can make this a raw dessert) – (you can also use walnuts, hazelnuts, or any mixture of these) I prefer almonds and did also enjoy once doing this with an almond/hazelnut mixture. I like to soak them just a little, as it adds some moisture making the consistency better, but you could also just use them dry and add a little water when blending, which is what I did this last time around to save a little time and it came out just as amazing.
20 – 25 pitted medjool dates
2/3 cup raw organic cacao
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp sea salt
INGREDIENTS FOR THE COATING
1 small 8 oz bag of organic goji berries
about 1/2 cup of shredded organic coconut (you can either get larger coconut shreds and blend them with your goji berries until smaller, or just purchase the already extra fine cut coconut and just add them to you goji blend, mixed well)
METHOD
Put your nut choice and dates in a food processor first until blended to a nice consistency. Don’t over-do, but a little smaller than a pebble, larger than grain of salt is a good gauge. Then add the rest and blend until you have fudgy clumps. Check the consistency to make sure it is moist/sticky. Then remove your fudginess from the processor onto a plate and set aside. In the meantime, clean out your processor’s holder and add in your coconut and goji berries or just goji berries, if you purchased the extra fine coconut. Then blend these until it’s a nice size to roll your balls in, pour into a smaller bowl and put aside. Then get ready for some fudge fun by pinching out small portions from your large clump and rolling them between your palms to make little balls. You can make these as small or large as you desire. You should have a sticky consistency that will easily absorb the goji and coconut layer when you roll your balls in the bowl with that mixture. If by some chance it doesn’t stick, you can spray them with a water bottle to moisten and then roll. You can also sprinkle your balls with cinnamon if you prefer or any variation of topping that suits your taste buds. It’s actually a fun and super easy recipe to get your hands into for the child within or to share in making with your own children. It can also be formed into a cake if you want and layered with fruit or topped with whatever you desire, including home-made chocolate icing or your own favorite vegan ice cream.
Here’s to a happy, healthy and enjoyable Holiday season. I hope that however you choose to enjoy your meals, that you make it fun and that it mirrors your heart.
Iceman, Otzi – One of the First Known Humans to Wear Tattoos
In my book, Spiritual Skin, I included a little history of tattoos in my chapter, “Retracing the Origins of Tattoos: Evolution of Understanding.” One of the things I touched briefly upon, was the Iceman, Otzi, who is one of the first known humans to wear tattoos.
His body is carbon-dated at around 5,200 – 5,500 years old and has over 50 tattoos that can be clearly seen on his mummified body still. The parts of the body that the tattoos were found, correspond to stress-induced degeneration areas suggesting they may have been applied to help alleviate joint pain, which would mean they were therapeutic in nature. But there is also evidence that some may have served as a form of status marker.
Dave sent me this fun article by Andy Mills that has great close up photos of Otzi’s tattoos:
Otzi Confirms: Tattoos Have Always Been Cool
I thought you might enjoy perusing them and found it synchronous that the same day I got sent this article, I was also sent a spiritual tattoo video, as well as had the day before been talking tattoos with a girlfriend and discussing my past transformational experiences leading up to my latest concluding tattoo I just received is to come.
I also love the warning Andy posts at the onset:
(WARNING: the following contains an unapologetic pro-tattoo bias. If this upsets you, please complain loudly to Soren Wheeler at seriouslywhoareyoukidding@wnyc.org)
LOL!
But, seriously, what do Otzi’s tattoos point to?
That humans have been marking their bodies for thousands upon thousands of years, and even longer than our historical “written” records document, in my opinion.
And throughout the ages, tattooing has served many varying purposes – as adornments, status and rank symbols, devices for security and magical protection, symbols of religious belief and spiritual devotion, tools for therapeutic healing, sexual lures, and marks of fertility, symbols of rights or seniority, declarations of love, and even marks of punishment or status as an outcast, convict, or slave.
My book delves into an overview of other points of interest across time, and cycles us back around to a “present day resurgence” and how we are recapturing the ancient ways and infusing them with current energy and wisdom for how we can utilize sacred tattoos to create a more empowered life.
If interested in learning more, you can order your personal copy of “Spiritual Skin ~ Sacred Tattoos: More than Skin Deep” here, in time for Christmas: Signed and Inscribed Copy of Spiritual Skin
It’s also available on Amazon here: Spiritual Skin
And in Kindle format on Amazon here: Spiritual Skin
If you would like to partner in co-creating your own sacred tattoo design to embody the empowerment you desire, you can contact me at tania@spiritualskin.com.
For more information about the process and pricing please visit: What is a Tattoo Design Consultation
Remember that current rates for designing are good through December 2013 only (3 more weeks) and will be increasing January 1st. You can lock in the rate, if you put in your deposit by end of the year. There is a waiting list, so a deposit will hold your space.
Surreal Made Real – Inside the Pure Imagination of Visionary Artist/Photographer Jee Young Lee
I woke up still “imagining” from the surreal dreamscapes of photographer and artist, Jee Young Lee, and thought that her images may be a perfect way to greet your day – through the world of YOUR imagination.
Thanks to my good friend Jason for sharing her visionary world with me. As a fellow visionary artist and self-proclaimed dreamer, she had my heart immediately and reminded me of our limitless potentials where anything is possible…and with a lot of heart – probable!
Imagination is unlimited power. We can utilize our imagination to create each experience of each day 
to be exactly as we desire and we can imagine our current perspectives of what we are experiencing to shift and become as we would prefer them to be as well. Imagination is your inner vision that you can intentionally decide to visualize, which will change your life in accordance with your will.
There is always evidence of your creative power at work. You just may be too busy to see it, your “conditioned” mind just might be tricking you not to believe it, or your old pains may be scaring you out of trusting it.
Every day is an experience “I” am creating by my choices in each moment and my decisions to utilize part or all of what I have available. And every moment I create from this space, from my sovereign free will and creative power, I free myself a little more.
The man who has no imagination has no wings. ~Muhammad Ali
Abundance is imagination realized. ~Jon Rappoport
I LOVE this visionary artist’s explorative journey demonstrating the unlimited potentials of creative energy. And some of the images she created expressed my current experiences so beautifully, as well as feelings I have had. Perhaps you’ll find some that speak to you as well.
I hope you enjoy immersing in Jee Young Lee’s photoshop-free photography (at the link below) from her exhibition named “Stage of Mind” where she melds imagination with skilled precision to transform her small studio in Seoul, into magick!
So…Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination. Take a look and you’ll see into your imagination …
Jee Young Lee’s “Stage of Mind”
And to conclude, in the words of Willy Wonka:
If you want to view paradise
Simply look around and view it
Anything you want to, do it
Wanta change the world?
There’s nothing
To it
There is no
Life I know
To compare with
Pure imagination
Living there
You’ll be free
If you truly wish to be
1 Week Left for Early-Bird Registration Discount on the Upcoming Reiki Renewal Retreat
We’re now only 1 week away from the Early-Bird Registration deadline of 12/12 for our upcoming Reiki Renewal Retreat in March.
Remember that you will receive $100 off your weekend or class choices, if you register on or before this day. This pertains to locals as well as out of town guests.
So if you’re feeling drawn to come, you may want to take advantage, perhaps as a holiday gift to yourself. You can hold your spot and lock in the $100 off with a deposit, and still have time to take advantage of a payment plan for the balance.
All details of the weekend can be found here:
Reiki Renewal Retreat ~ Spring Equinox in Laguna Beach, California
Message me or email at tania@taniamarie.com if you have any questions, need individual rates for your specific choices/needs, and to register.
Immerse yourself in an extended weekend away from everyday life and allow yourself permission to be empowered, inspired, transformed, and renewed. This is a perfect way to celebrate the renewal of Spring, as a mirror to your own revitalization, and to do something for you that has far-reaching benefit. The Reiki Renewal Retreat is not only a Certification Retreat designed to provide you with a quantum leap in personal healing integration, but will also give you powerful tools to support the full scope of your life and help you to make meaningful changes with positive impact.
The Unification of Human & Spirit – December 2013 Energy Forecast with Lee Harris
If you’ve been feeling a lot of things coming at you from every which way, old stories, not your stories, and things that feel chaotic, then this will be a supportive energy forecast to listen to.
Lee concludes 2013 with some supportive insights and hints at the unified field of energy we are experiencing as a collective and things we can do to align more with what is being asked of us at this time.
Unifying is the key right now – on all levels.
He shares that this is a time where finding your own center and who YOU are in the midst of everything is most crucial right now and from here forth. Returning to your own energy field is very important and honing in on your unique frequency, while realizing the collective, bigger picture importance this plays out as.
Lee continues on how we’ve over-worked our minds to try to figure things out and how to make our bodies healthy, and it really is necessary to stop this and know ourselves as a whole sensory being on every level. Everything we are experiencing that is feeling like a challenge or painful is just our whole sensory being, asking and needing to be unified in wholeness.
This goes back to the integration I speak of so much. You need ALL of you and you need to stop denying anything.
You may also be finding yourself in need of resolving conflicts and pains, which is part of this unification and integration. So many of your dreams, as Lee shares (and I have been experiencing as well) will be working these things out. Things are being resolved and will need to be resolved, one way or another, whether in waking or dream state.
This includes resolution within yourself, even if you’ve been someone who has been very spiritual for a very long time and enjoyed just that. You cannot deny your humanity any longer, and this is why many spiritual people have been having a really challenging and rough go at things because part of your unification comes in your being asked to return back to humanity.
You are needed and required here. If you’re alive, you have something still here to experience and if you say you don’t want to be here, that simply just isn’t the reality, as the truth is, you ARE here and it means you aren’t willing to look at some things you’ve agreed to do/share while being here.
And for the people who have found themselves busy with everything BUT time for themselves and their spirituality, or simply knowing your home frequency of you, you will need to safeguard time to “just” sit back, even if for 10 minutes.
Unification goes for everyone and it starts within you…not jumping to the collective field of Oneness, but focusing on YOUR individual, unified field that reflects that Oneness. This is what is needed.
Lee also shares again about being loving with your boundaries and with those of other’s, as well as realizing the wounds we all have, so you can better understand the feeling of a demand and learn how to act in a responsibly loving way.
The good news is, the paradigm of right and wrong is dropping away… yay!! But that can also be really unnerving for people who live by black and white rules. This is a time to “allow” yourself to JUST live and experience.
And remember, you have to trust yourself! Lee shares that this is the most important focus if nothing else.
Nothing is happening that we didn’t know would. So it would help to relax into yourself and trust on all levels that you have what you need within.
I love the last thing Lee shares which is this:
If you live from detail you will be forever disempowered. If you live from essence, inner body and senses, your life will start to come alive.
Here’s to coming ALIVE !!!
Holiday Giving Blowout Sale – Crystal Shop Closing & Announcements About Crystals & Paintings
I love change and love when it calls. I also love new regenerative inspiration. It makes life such an adventure with something new always around each twist and turn. Like all of you I have been experiencing my own major shifts and am embracing where that flow is taking me. In doing so, once again many things within my world are shifting form, as well as calling for new expressions to come forth. So while everything I do is always authentic to who I am, at any given moment, the way the energy chooses to channel will always be different, if I am truly honoring the current natural flow.
That being said, there are many aspects of my life and work evolving, which means some things are fading, while others are taking the spot light, as other layers of myself are asking for my energy, time, and expressive attention.
This means that I am shifting focuses and with that, will no longer have my online Crystal Illumination shop, as well as will be ceasing any new “original” Crystal Illuminations paintings or any other paintings.
So what does this mean about crystals and painting for me?
The only crystal work I will be doing is my own or within my healing practice, or taking some special, custom requests for particular crystal procurement. For now, I feel that my larger work in helping to unite crystals with their keepers has wound down to close and any crystal help I do now will only take place on individual, private levels for people that seek me out for this. And if I happen to have a crystal that does come through as ready to move on, you can let me know that you are a crystal keeper that is open to receiving a special crystal, and I will add you to my “special crystal client” list and can contact you when/if that happens.
And as my creative self-expression is also sharing new needs, the only new paintings I will be creating are custom commissioned requests. I will no longer be creating an output of original paintings at this time. So the series work and a few other originals are of course available, along with prints, but no new work in sight unless you commission it.
That brings us back to the Holiday Giving Blowout Sale taking place in my Etsy Shop where you will find some “rock” bottom prices (pun intended) on crystal items, which reflect largely discounted prices on all unique items for the gift-giving season PLUS FREE SHIPPING within the U.S.!
Once gone, there will be no more. So if you’ve been eyeing a special piece, especially the one-of-a-kind Crystal Illuminations paintings (there are only 12 remaining – a little over a 1/3 left), you’ll want to snatch them up now whether for yourself or as special gifts for Christmas. People who have purchased these have shared that the energy and beauty in person far out-does the photos. And at these prices, where not only do I pay processing fees, materials, and shipping, I am practically giving them away in terms of their retail value and the time and energy put into each.
You will find a wide range of gift items for every budget with prices starting at $9 and up. Everything you see is intuitively chosen for its unique energy, quality, and infused with Reiki love and special goodies from my heart to yours.
There are two very rare, large crystals in the shop that many people have marveled over and have wanted to welcome into their home. The prices have been dropped as far as possible on these, which may not seem like much, but they are basically now at cost. What I am willing to do is create a payment plan if you feel truly called that one of these are meant for you. This includes the rare, giant and pristine Aquamarine and the powerful, giant “Twin Warrior” Lemurian Seed Crystal. Photos never do anything justice, as each piece is an energy to experience. These two crystals are not only amazing to work with, but are fantastic for your overall space, having the ability to shift the energy in your entire room, home, center, or any sanctuary. If interested in these with a payment plan option, please message me with your requests at tania@taniamarie.com.
And here are some other gift-giving ideas for this holiday, and all year-round, that carry meaning, including: unique merchandise featuring my art, a free Reiki Healing Attunement with purchase of 1, “The Empowered Visionary” intuitive email support, signed and inscribed “Spiritual Skin” books, $100 off your upcoming Reiki Renewal Retreat ~ Spring Equinox in Laguna Beach, CA this March if registered by 12/12 (just 9 days away), any original paintings and prints, or gift certificates for any service as a way to support someone you love.
Enjoy some Holiday shopping fun for self or others at:
Tons of love, inspiration, and empowered experiences to each of you!!
Creative Education – Hackschooling for Happiness and Health as Shared by 13 Year-Old Logan LaPlante
This is an awesome talk by 13 year-old Logan LaPlante that adults and children alike would benefit greatly from watching. I so honor and support his parents choice to pull him from the traditional school system at age 9 (believing as Sir Ken Robinson does that creativity is as important as literacy) and having the courage to take the backlash from other’s criticism, to follow what they felt right for their child based on the values they held important.
You can see from Logan’s talk that he is an amazingly bright and gifted soul that has greatly benefited, not suffered, from this new way of “hackschooling”, as he puts it, which you can learn more about in his TEDx Talk.
Logan shares how he feels the current school system is teaching you how to make a living, not a life. His only goal is to be happy and healthy and the ingredients he feels that lead to this and are important to teach include: exercise, diet and nutrition, time in nature, contribution and service, relationships, relaxation and stress management, and religious and spiritual involvement.
He is a visionary leader and example of the new that we are co-creating.
Native American Wisdom: “We breathe what the tree exhales; the tree breathes what we exhale. So we have a common destiny with the tree.”
This is an important and thought-provoking short film to really digest and not just feel the beauty and meaning while you watch it, but to integrate it deeply into your conscious experience on a consistent, action-basis daily. It’s time to claim your sovereign free will and responsible duty to walk in highest truth for the highest good of ALL concerned. <3 Thanks Laura for sharing.
Signed & Inscribed Copies of Spiritual Skin Now Available in Time for Christmas – Plus New 2014 Tattoo Design Rates
Many people are discovering how an intentionally sacred design can support spiritual awakening and fulfill their deepest drive for authentic self-expression.
Spiritual Skin ~ Sacred Tattoos: More Than Skin Deep is a ground-breaking book that channeled through me, which creates a bridge between physical and spiritual, showing you how to create the life you choose as you embark on your most powerfully transformative tattoos AND life ever.
After several custom orders for this, I once again understood the Universal nudge. Now you can get your own unique, original copy of Spiritual Skin, signed by the author (me) 🙂 and inscribed to anyone you choose. Makes a great holiday gift for the tattoo aficionado, or anyone interested in tattoos, thinking about getting one (or another one), or simply wonders about why a person might want a tattoo.
You’ll learn a lot more than just “tattoos” from this book.
The price is only $24.95, plus $5.00 shipping/handling (within the U.S.) for a total of only $29.95. For more details see the link below, including info about international orders.
You can order your personal copy here, in time for Christmas:
Signed and Inscribed Copy of Spiritual Skin
I’ve been so moved by the experiences people share having with their new “skin”, as well as have been humbled by the beautiful words people have shared about my book. It’s been amazing to witness the journeys that have unfolded through the process of co-creating with each of my clients and so fun to witness the changes that are continuing to unfold in their lives.
And as things shift in my own life, so too does everything in my life reflect those changes.
As mentioned back in June of this year, because of expansion and deepening taking place with the designing process, as well as many shifts with my own life’s work, the design rates will be mirroring an increase to reflect a new balanced value of exchange come January 1st of our new year of 2014.
That means this month, or the last 29 days of 2013, are all that remain of the current hourly rate of $125 for my design work. So if you’ve been interested in a design you can still take advantage of this rate until the end of December. You can also make the 1st hour’s deposit this month (which is always needed to commission the work, as well as secure a place if there’s a waiting list) and have your tattoo completed after December, but locked in at the $125 rate.
A few people are also using the designs not for tattoos, but as powerful meditative images to reflect on and to capture their soul in a symbolic and sacred visual. Many share the synchronous way in which they are led to me and find how their powerful intents and personal frequency is aligning them with what is perfectly mirroring.
That brings me to an email that came through a few weeks ago, that felt important to share, as perhaps this may be something you are feeling too. Recently, someone had come to me sharing that it was (as they wrote) “my expertise and knowledge of spiritual designs that drew them to me,” but being their first time with the process, were concerned at the rate, a deposit upfront, and shared that a couple of artists they had asked, could do it for less. They hoped that, in their words, “we can arrange something that can reassure me.”
My response was this:
Design consultation does not mean simply a dialogue. Design “consultation” is just a term to describe the entire process with me. I actually put in hours of work, besides the pencil to paper design time, which includes any preliminary questions, reading through sometimes dozens of pages of information people share with me about themselves, my intuitive process of channeling and piecing the visual story together, and any research needed (these things I actually don’t charge for). I only charge for the time I take to draw the design after all of this. The $125/hr is for an artist’s skilled design work and the unique service I provide.
There are tattoo artists who have waiting lists that will also require deposits to hold your space. Since I do my work on a first come first served basis, this is the way to secure that, as well as offset any potential preliminary time put into the process. It is also customary in terms of commissioning an artist, to pay a deposit upfront for them to start the work, which can vary in percentage depending on the artist.
If you would like to read some testimonials, those are found on the website link I sent you. I understand you also have found artists willing to help you for less and if that works better for your peace of mind all around, then I feel you should follow what supports that, as my first desire is that each person is fully happy and feeling good about the entire process. I’m sure the artists you have inquired with each have beautiful artistic talents and so following your feelings I know will provide exactly what is perfect.
This should be a special and sacred process, in my opinion, and whatever you need to do to help support this with sense of calm, is what is best.
That being shared, the new 2014 rate will be $175/hour for each loving co-creation embarked upon with me.
I also will continue to provide payment plan options for those who receive support from that, as well as continue to offer discounts and specials.
My time I have spent supporting others with this process has been an invaluable gift that is equally enriching for me. I love the shared journey I have been blessed and honored to travel with each soul across the globe and have passionately donated 40+ hours of design work to help raise money for non-profit organizations close to my heart, because of this love.
I hope you understand the changes in effect. Everything reflects the constant evolution we are going through. Things are evolving in my own life that is shifting focuses for me. What the future holds in terms of sacred tattoo designs and my role in it, I do not know, but for now I am embracing what is here and now and am grateful I can be of assistance with this time of shifts through what I can offer.
If you would like to partner in co-creating your own sacred tattoo design to embody the empowerment you desire, you can contact me at tania@spiritualskin.com.
For more information about the process and pricing please visit: What is a Tattoo Design Consultation
Some people have preferred to read my book, Spiritual Skin ~ Sacred Tattoos: More than Skin Deep, especially if they are new to sacred tattoo designs, before embarking on this journey.
If you are drawn to learn more about sacred tattoos you can order a copy of the book on Amazon here: Spiritual Skin
It is also available in Kindle format on Amazon here: Spiritual Skin