EVENT | Yoga Boogie; Solstice Shake Down

Yoga Boogie; Solstice Shake Down
Friday, December 21st 8pm 
$15 advanced | $20 door 

Although it's the end of the world as we know it, let it all begin at Shakti House for an event like no other -- Yoga Boogie! This two hour blast of meditation-in-motion, pranayama, asana, and trance dance will guide you into the wise and powerful arms of these ancient truths. You are invited to allow world beats, psychedelic rhythms, and electronic grooves to unleash your hunger to move and to make your tribal spirit flourish!

Pre-registration at http://shaktihousepdx.com/

MUSIC | Winky Winky Bum Bum Song

EVENT | Yoga Groove : July 22, 2012

Yoga Groove; discover what moves you

The hunger to move ecstatically is within all of us. Invite this potential energy to flourish with "Yoga Groove," a two hour blast of meditation in motion, pranayama, asana, and trance dance! Allow world beats, psychedelic rhythms, and electronic grooves to free your body and guide you into the arms of this ancient wisdom.

Unleash the tribal rhythm of your spirit!

Sunday, July 22 | 7 - 9pm
Yoga on Yamhill
124 SW Yamhill St | Portland, OR
www.yogaonyamhill.com

This is a donation based event. Suggested $15 - 25.
Please come no matter what you can afford.
ALL are welcome!

Roger McKeever is an inspirational teacher, artist, and spiritual activist. He is known for demonstrating the transformational power of yoga, breath, movement and dance. Roger is playful, intuitive and grounded. He invites you to experience your innermost desires, follow your curiosity and indulge your sense of wonder as you attend to your body’s natural rhythms. As a spiritual activist, Roger guides us to the persistent call from within to make more art and make more love.

Visit Roger at www.sacredtremor.com

TED | David Kelley : How to Build Your Creative Confidence

Yet surely, David Kelley suggests, creativity is not the domain of only a chosen few. Telling stories from his legendary design career and his own life, he offers ways to build the confidence to create... 

ROGER WRITES | 30 Day Challenge

My 30 day photo challenge is coming to an end.  A week before I started this commitment,  I took myself out on a date to take pictures.  I was looking to be inspired and to boost my stock pile of photos for my newsletter and blog.   Well, I came home from my date with my head hung low.  I had snapped 3 or 4 humdrum images.   A few days later I came across the 30 Day Challenge video, and I knew instantly that it was going to be a picture-a-day.

Even though the daily undertaking of snapping and posting one picture was simple, it had a great impact on me.  Every picture that I took was consciously taken.  I can look back at each photo and remember where I was, what I was doing, and in some cases, what I was actually thinking.  There were days when it was the first thing I thought of in the morning, and some days I didn't post until almost midnight!  What I realized is that it didn't matter where I was.  I could find inspiration in my very own living room, in a restaurant, out on a walk, anywhere.  Oh, and I took a lot of bad photos.  That's just part of it.  I took more photos this past month then I have all year.

I know that many of you committed to the 30 day challenge, as well.  The variety of commitments was astounding. Several people chose to dance.  Doug has been posting his dance videos on Facebook every day.  I would love to hear how the experience was for you.  Let me know if you are going to start or do another one next month.

I'm already excited about my next 30 day challenge, which will start June 1st:  One muscle a day for 30 days!  I've always wanted to learn more about muscles -- their names, function, etc..  My intention is to select a muscle first thing in the morning, and then throughout the day pay attention to how I'm using it.

If you'd like to join me for this make sure you "like" the Sacred Tremor Facebook page, and check in daily.  I will post the muscle-of-the-day in the morning.  Together, we can think and learn about them all day long!

Make sure you watch the TED talk on the Three Brains.  It gives a scientific explanation of something yogis have known for thousands of years.  It also reveals how activities like the 30 day challenge do, in fact, re-wire the brain and shape how our mind views and experiences the world.

THE SPANDANANDA SHOW | Dear Diary

The Spandananda Show : Season 1 : Episode 8 : Dear Diary

Dear Diary:  I will no longer limit myself with drab entries that all contain the same energetic quality.  Instead, I will embrace a newfound sense of creativity and have variety in my journal in order to gather insight and wisdom and have more fun!

ROGER WRITES | Rut or Groove?

Ok.  So this week's episode of The Spandananda Show was wicked fun to make and totally life changing.  It took three very long days to film, edit and release, which included at least 10 costume changes.   But it's really been in the making for a long time because I've been in a deep process around what makes me come alive for the past few months.  This episode is really the culmination of many different aspects of my life all brought into one dazzling 8 minute video.

Ram Das said that we are in alignment when everything we think, say, feel and do all line up.  I've had moments, brief moments, when that has been true in my life, but honestly, it's mostly been momentary glimmers of it.

So, I sat myself down and contemplated.  (It wasn't really as simple as just sitting. I stood, I drew, I journaled, I walked, I thought, I meditated, I talked about it with friends, etc..) Finally, I listed the things that were important to me, and I realized that the things that are most important to me all fit into a few categories:  being in nature, creating art, moving my body, adventure, and quiet time to contemplate.

At any moment in my life, if I'm in a rut or some kind of funk, I can choose something from this list to turn that rut into a groove. Please watch this video, and even more importantly, make a list for youself of what inspires you.

THE SPANDANANDA SHOW | Rut or Groove?

The Spandananda Show : Episode 6 : Rut or Groove?

Is your potential energy stuck in third gear? Move from a rut to a groove with these five vivacious and contemplative exercises! With a refreshed state of mind, body, or outerwear, you'll be saying "so long" to your blue funk!

1. GET OUTSIDE Getting outside instantly changes your perspective, especially if you have been inside for a lengthy time.   Dress up in your favorite outfit, and walk around the block if you only have a few minutes, or allow yourself more time by going to your nearby park to people watch, sky gaze, or journal.  Be an explorer with how you walk, letting your need for a variation of movement be the impetus that gives you the freedom to do this even with people around.  A slow, contemplative stroll?  A fast, energetic skip?  Try it backwards!  Is it an investigation into the children’s fortress?  Twirling round and round?   Let me tell you how much fun this is!  So, if it’s raining, bring an umbrella!  If it’s not raining, bring an umbrella!  Where do you sit?  At a bench, or on the Earth?  In lotus pose or lying down, fully relaxed?  Listen for your needs, and also be sure to take a risk and try something new!  And remember, you’re outside, so breathe in that fresh air!    2. CREATE ART We all have art supplies, we just may not think of them as such.  Be creative, and use what you have.  Even if you just have magazines, scissors, glue, crayons or markers, there are an infinite number of ways you could use them to create a piece of art that reflects where you are in this moment.  What we’re going after is helping you to make sense of what you’re going through in a way that is outside of your head.  Do something you love, or try something you are totally unfamiliar with.  Perfection is not the goal of this exercise.  What you create may be abstract, or not fully understood by you, and that is the beauty of it!  Do it just for you and keep it private, send it to a friend, or post it on Facebook! 3. MOVE YOUR BODY Ah yes…I really do mean it…DANCE!  Many people have a fear of dancing, when in all honesty, there is nothing more authentic than someone giving themselves permission to move their body in any such way that feels real.  We all have our “home moves” those movements that we feel comfortable with and will do if asked to dance, but I encourage you to vary the way your body typically functions through life, which is a dance in and of itself!  Choose some music:  one song, two songs, a whole playlist, or put your itunes on shuffle and come what may!  Shake, swivel, undulate, spin, bust a move!  A fast thrash, a slow riff,  a waltz or a polka…anything is possible! 4. DRESS UP All of us have costume elements that we pull out once a year for Halloween. Dressing up is not just for a holiday!    Elevate your spirit of fun and frivolity by painting your face, putting on a mish-mash of colors and textures, and do a  photo shoot!  If you are really adventurous, do the shoot with a friend on the street, to fearlessly bring more creativity to yourself and anyone you come in contact with! Talk about a mood changer!  Having a mask or goggles can really allow for further freedom, as no one knows who you are!  Be safe and respectful of course, and interact!  5. MEDITATE Take the time to create a lovely space, which could easily consist of one or more of the following: a shawl, cushion, yoga mat, a candle.  Clear your mind and sit in viparita karani  or lie in savasana.  Just be with your mind still, or pay attention to the thoughts and sensations as they come and go.  Keep experiencing!

THE SPANDANANDA SHOW | Art Cards

The Spandananda Show : Art Cards

Add a new element to your day that will nurture insight and intention!  These art cards are fun to create on your own, or they can be ordered from The Sacred Tremor, and are a great supplement to creating what you long for in life.  Used individually, with friends, or with your intimate, these cards bring symbolism alive! Make your own OR order a desk specifically made for you! Each art card deck is made to order, using a variety of card decks, cases, and images, so the entire gift you give yourself or a loved one is truly unique in its quality of presentation.   All images are intentionally selected and affixed to the cards in order to ensure for a long-lasting deck.  In addition, all decks come with a handy instruction guide! There are many opportunities to use these cards, such as: --During your meditation.  Shuffle the cards and create an intention, and interpret the selected card based off what you wish to have manifested in your intention.  Ponder how it speaks to you. Various interpretations abound even if the same card is picked again and again! --With your friends as a way to entertain, engage, and develop deeper fellowship.   Art cards are a nice alternative to a board game or movie.  One at a time, each person selects a card, and everyone interprets the same image as you go round.  The image is interpreted based off what you see solely in the image, and/or what they see reflected in the image for the specific person who drew the card from the deck. --With you partner, you can interpret the card you pulled, and then your lover can interpret the card for you in a personal way.

VEGETABLE/broth

The Spandananda Show : Episode 4 : Vegetable Broth

Stop throwing away your vegetable scraps!  These castoffs can be quickly transformed into the most nutritious and delicious vegetable broth ever created!  Drunk as a tea, used to cook lentils or grains, or as a base for soup, this liquid is a powerhouse of goodness!

NETI/pothead

In honor of this celebrated holiday I wore my favorite homemade shirt!

MAKING/music

Hey Y'all!

The 2nd episode of The Spandananada Show has been released.  When Doug and I made the first episode a couple weeks ago, I told him that I wanted to have a short, fun, catchy opening segment that would introduce the show every week-- like Dexter!  The problem is, I complained, for I didn't have any non-copyrighted music to use.  He immediately ran into the other room and came back with a bunch of instruments telling me that I should make my own music.  I, in turn, immediately went into resistance, telling the same story that I've always told myself:  I don't play music.

I'm one of those types that tells everyone around me to just create and play and have fun, and that it doesn't matter what it sounds like or looks like.  For the most part that's how I live my life-- except when it comes to musical instruments.  So.  Recognizing my resistance, and the hypocrisy of the talk that I don't walk, I made the decision that I would give it a try.  Still in my pajamas, I plopped myself down on my new fluffy orange meditation cushion, and spread out the instruments around me.  I handed Doug the camera, and without rehearsing told him to start recording.

I took a deep breath and committed myself to doing it. I grabbed an instrument and started.  In literally 45 seconds it was complete.  It only took one take.  What you see as the opening track is an unedited first, final, and only attempt.  It changed the way I relate to playing music, and it gave me the confidence boost to make this show a success.

Read the Rumi poem above again.  What are you resisting?  What creative expression excites you and scares you?  Too often we allow our fears to limit our ability to create, to be happy, to be successful. Whatever it is that makes you come alive please, I beg you, please please please start doing it.  Don't wait for the right moment.  Don't put it off thinking that you need to do something else first.  Now!  Right now is the time. You have nothing to lose and everything, everything to gain.

Lots of love,
Roger

SPANDANANDA/show

The Spandananda Show:

A variety show of wonderments

Spanda - A sanskrit word for the sacred tremor or the creative pulse of the universe.

Ananda - Bliss.

Therefore, spandananda is the bliss we achieve when we are tuned in to that dynamic, creative energy that ignites our spirit.

The Spandananda Show is a variety show of wonderments leading us to greater health, vitality and joy.  Each week, a new episode will debut, all having to do with improving our ability to show up more fully in life.

Indulge your sense of wonder.  Create boldly.  Start now.

EPISODE 1 : Green Juice

Give your body what it needs to be a mean green creatin‘ machine!  Your body and your mind will jump for joy with all the nutrients that this lip-smackin’ green juice recipe provides!

CREATIVE/blast

Fasten your seatbelt and get ready for a storm of inspiration.  Absolutely brilliant!


"Eat, Pray, Love" Author Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk.

BLISS/builder

“Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.” ~Joseph Campbell

Here is a man who is totally following his bliss.  I've watched this several times. Each time it makes me cry. I recognize myself and the hunger I have to be intimately close with the land.


What bliss however small or large you put aside out of fear? Do something today to unleash yourself and move towards that place that gives you joy!

GNARLS/rumi

Your task is not to seek love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.
~Rumi

You are the best. You are the worst. You are average. Your love is a part of you. You try to give it away because you cannot bear its radiance, but you cannot separate it from yourself. To understand your fellow humans, you must understand why you give them your love. You must realize that hate is but a crime-ridden subdivision of love. You must reclaim what you never lost. You must take leave of your sanity, and yet be fully responsible for your actions.
~Gnarls Barkley

BLOW/pony

I'm sitting in a coffeeshop on West Burnside St. in Portland, Oregon.  It's simply called The Coffeeshop Northwest.  I ordered a coffee in a ceramic mug, and was told that the beans are roasted here.  I asked the about the baguette sandwiches wrapped in wax paper and tied with a string.  Come to find out every part of the sandwich is local from the bread to the meat.  That's typical of Portland.  People are interested in local and sustainable foods and services, but without the snobbery and self-righeousness you might expect.  In fact, people here are downright friendly and laid back.  Maybe it's the rain although in the week that I've been here it's been more sunny than rainy.

Our 2nd night in Portland my friend took us out to a once-a-month event called Blow Pony.  I still haven't figured out where the name comes from.  It's not from the various implications you might associate with such a name.  Instead the mission statement reads:

Created due to a callout in our queer community for unity and a place where all our sisters, brothers, others and allies felt safe, welcomed and loved.  We've been riding strong since 2007!

Our concerns are earth liberation, animal liberation, queer liberation, women's liberation, trans liberation, indigenous peoples liberation and searching the dumpsters for more trash!!

There's a big sign at the entrance making it known that if you are racist, homophobic, sexist, or just generally do not like hard-partyin' weirdos, this is not the party for you.  And they mean it.  Not long after we arrived the DJ announced that "This is a queer party. It's not okay to be rude.  This is a safe space for everyone."

The music spanned every dance genre imaginable and everyone was dancing and having a blast.  People were jumping around and what was most impressive is that people were smiling and laughing.  Could this really be true?  People having a good time and being friendly to each other?  After a couple hours of dancing the DJ stopped the music for an announcement:

I was just near the bathroom and heard someone make a nasty comment about someone.  This is a safe space for everyone to be accepted and expressed.  If you want to be nasty go somewhere else.  We won't tolerate your nastiness here.

That was followed by an uproar of applause and acclamation!  The music and merriment continued.

Kindness, laughter and smiles are contagious.  Be as generous as you can with these qualities.  When enough people are self-expressed, passionate and kind the world will follow.  Be part of this movement to throw your arms open as wide as possible in acceptance.  Join this movement to awaken joy, generosity and kindness.  Practice daily.  There's no better time to start than right now.

WHITMAN/grass

A child said What is the grass? fetching
it to me with full hands;
How could I answer the child? I do not
know what it is any more than he.

--Walt Whitman

CIRCLE/shirt

A few months ago I spilled some of my Ayuvedic oil on my favorite brown tank top. I liked the color and the way it fit me so I couldn't throw it out.  So.  I put it in the heap of clothes and fabric for sewing and repair.  The other day I went through that pile thinking I was either going to deal with the stuff or throw it out.  I took this brown tank top and with a brush and some bleach I drew a circle on the front of it where the oil stain was. I let is sit for a couple of hours and then tossed it in the wash.  The above is the result.  I actually like it even more now. 

WATER/color

For Christmas Doug bought me a beautiful bound book of handmade watercolor paper.  At first I was intimidated.  When I was younger I did a lot of watercolor.  I've thought about doing it again.  Year after year went by.  Over time I got rid of the paints, the brushes and the paper.  Doug's gift inspired me to start again.  I bought some watercolor and brushes.  I opened the page, and, after a mini-anxiety attack, I grabbed a lemon from the fruit bowl and started painting.  I was immediately happy to be putting paint on the page without any judgement or need to get it right.  It's my goal this year to fill up this book with experiments in watercolor.  I leave all judgements and unnecessary criticisms behind.