January 4, 2009 Hi Everyone,     The beginning of a new year is a great time to wipe the slate clean and begin again. Periodic self examination of your emotional / spiritual self is very important to your health. Think of your yearly check up where they search for something amiss, like detectives looking for clues. If you are thinking of renewing your body or your life do not skip what you hold in your heart.               Dissolving resentments is one of the most important aspects of good health and vitality. Grudges and resentments weigh you down. The feeling of burdens and accumulations of hurts or grievances can be deadly for your health and damaging to your spirit.               Here is a great ritual to help the process. Take a week to dredge up all the past hurts that you still play over and over again. Look at your own behavior and see if you need to forgive yourself. This is also the time to forgive yourself for being too fat, thin, short, tall or whatever you keep dwelling on. Write it all down as briefly as possible. Pick a day, putting all your stuff in a metal bowl go outside and set them on fire. As you watch the flames turn them into ash say a ‘thank you’ that all of that is gone forever. Let it all go up in flames and begin again.   Posture: The above ritual   Pose:  Seated Forward Bend: sit on the floor on a small pillow with your back against the wall- legs out straight. Put a fluffy pillow on your lap, stretch forward chin first then looking down towards your knees- let your chest lay on the pillow and take several deep breaths relaxing into the pose.  When you come up, bring your navel to the spine and roll up very slowly- sit for a few minutes to re balance the blood- you can stay in this pose for several minutes. It is very relaxing to the nervous system.     Recipe: Pasta with dandelion, garlic and tomatoes 1 lb. fresh dandelion leaves, washed and cut into bite size pieces ½ lb pasta ¼ cup olive oil, extra virgin 1 lb. grape tomatoes cut into ¼’s Parmesan cheese, grated Hot pepper flakes, a tiny pinch Salt and pepper to taste   In a skillet sauté the garlic in the oil until lightly golden put the tomatoes in for about 3 more minutes, stirring. Add the bite size pieces of Dandelion leaves until wilted. Add the pinch of red pepper flakes. Serve over cooked pasta. Sprinkle with cheese.   Recommended Reading: The Shack by William P. Young / A story that explores God’s role in suffering.