Hello Beautiful People!!

It's Jessica :)

Happy Wednesday. It's time again to welcome a few of our new lovely members to the site so you can see the fresh friendly and inspired faces of Gaia.


Remember when you first joined? Maybe you were a little nervous, not quite sure how to get around and invite new friends, looking for gems and pearls of wisdom? Well, you can help these beautiful souls along and welcome them with warm arms into the world of Gaia ;)

First, let's send our love to Heather aka wisdom-rider. She's poetic and a lover of philosophy and religion. Here's what she had to say to Gaia:

Gaia: What in your life gives you the most joy?  
Heather: Most joy? Conversations about the mysteries of life with complete strangers and seeing how those very mysteries and more unfold as the dialog continues.

What called you to Gaia? What were you seeking?
I was seeking to reacquaint myself with the Internet.  I used to bash it for its technological dehumanization, but Gaia is showing me that not all technology is as destructive in the ways I once thought.

What would you most like to learn, or what would you most like help with
I would like to learn how to let myself be loved.  I would also like to learn how to sell things, para-glide, and speak French.

What is your favorite animal? 
Humans. Without a doubt.  They're just so damn wild.

I think she's awesome.

Now, please share your warmth with Sally aka mindfulsally, who is, as we speak returning to the simple life and started one of those magical special shops in Virginia dedicated to helping others find peace.

Gaia: What in your life gives you the most joy?
Sally: On a personal level, I love quiet pursuits such as picnicking on the Potomac with my boyfriend.  In my work, I feel wonderful when people come into my shop, Mindful Hands in Alexandria, VA, and feel as if they've left all their stress behind.  We try to keep a very peaceful and relaxing atmosphere in the shop - we light incense, run water fountains, and play soft music - all to give others an idea of how to bring more serenity into their lives.

What called you to Gaia? What were you seeking?
Networking opportunities and connecting with community.  The Washington, DC-area is fairly conservative, with only a small (but growing!) spiritually-inclined and socially-conscious community.

What would you most like to learn, or what would you most like help with?
I'm hoping to get some ideas from others of new ways to reach out to my local area - either through new products or new classes or events I could offer or host at Mindful Hands.

What is your favorite animal and why?
Definitely, cats.  I had two cats of my own, Felix and Cleo, for over 15 years.  In many ways, they were my best friends and saw me through many hard times and many good ones, too!  Now I foster cats in my shop for a local cat shelter, The King Street Cats, in Alexandria.  My foster cats are wonderful companions for me in the shop and I enjoy knowing that I will have helped them find good homes.

Please don't be shy and say hello to these two lovely ladies!

Gaia beings!

Hello Beautiful Gaians.

Today I want to immerse myself in beauty. There is so much around us and yet the world can feel so full of difficulty and challenge us, but sometimes the challenge is to see the beauty in times both dark and light. So, please, come find beauty in the world with me today for our Friday Five.

Let me know...

1) What have you seen today that is beautiful?
2) Who in your life is beautiful inside and out?
3) What part(s) of nature do you find beautiful?
4) Is there a piece of music or song(s) you think are beautiful?
5) What color(s) are most beautiful to you?

Please share and help us all realize and revel in the beauty of this big world.

Here's what moves me.

Posted by Jessica with love and appreciation.

Hello Gaia!

All of us have a special spark, some call it a divine light, some call it the still small voice or or spirit. It can give us strength to create and be our best selves in the world. It gives us something to rely on when times are tough and something to build on when we're ready and life looks beautiful. It is our unique will and ability to make the world a brighter place. our Friday Five is about that special strength.

1) What makes you feel strong and confident? (teaching, learning, yoga, dance)
2) Whose strength do you admire?
3) Who keeps you going when times are tough? (a friend, family member, a teacher)
4) What creative activities do you enjoy?
5) Do you have a special name for that inner spark? If not, what's a word or two that it makes you think of?

Posted by Jessica.

Hello Lovelies!

Jessica here.

You know what? It's the weekend and sometimes it's just good to let go and have some fun, to relax and enjoy life. So, I'm thinking about entertainment. It can seem frivolous, but can also help us lighten up, shift our state of mind and learn. I know I enjoy the films from Spiritual Cinema Circle (did you know there's a group?) and enjoy just reading blogs on Gaia or going to a play.

What do you enjoy?

1) What's the last movie you watched?
2) What's the last book, comic, poem or story you read for fun?
3) Do you like to go to the theatre?
4) Do you watch t.v.? If so, what shows?
5) Who makes you laugh? Do you have a favorite comedian or just a really funny friend?

Here's what entertains me :)

Hello lovely Gaia people!

Today we're featuring a special member, Enmi, with a big idea and a beautiful heart. She has created a truly conscious business called replyforall that lets you include a signature on your email for a cause you choose, from clean water to fighting AIDS and ending poverty. They donate their advertising dollars to your favorite cause every time you use the signature. You just have to sign-up and it doesn't cost you a thing. Just look below to learn a little more about Enmi and her inspiration:

Gaia: What do you love/ enjoy most?

Enmi: I love seeing a problem and finding ways to solve it. I love that shift from when you’re hearing the same things over and over again to when you start to ‘listen’. I love when work feels like play. I love learning from my husband who is almost exactly opposite of me.

I love learning from people you never would've imagined you'd learn from. I love running till my mind is completely clear of yesterday’s worries, today’s problems, and tomorrow’s to-do lists. I love lists.

Hello Beautiful Gaia :)

Today there were sweeping fires in Los Angeles. The sky was grey with smoke, hazing the Sun and to turn it orange. The air was filled with a dry-hot haze and it was hard to breathe. Those fires can burn down towns with the help of a strong wind and they all start with a tiny spark. That's why I'm thinking about the elements. They are so strong. We're often at their mercy, but they also give us life and allow the Earth to fill with living things. We need the blaze of the Sun, the air, fresh water, ground to stand on and even tiny metal floating in our veins to nourish our blood.

So,  join me in this week's elemental Friday Five, whether you like the Taoist version of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water, the more traditional Earth, Fire, Water and Wind, or the periodic table :)

1) Do you have a favorite element? Is so, what is it?

2) What's the weather like where you live? (hot, sunny, wet, dry, windy or cold, etc.)

3) Do you like to swim in the ocean?

4) Did you study chemistry in school? Did you like it?

5) Do the elements show up in your spiritual life or religion? (symbolic candles, the smoke of incense, the cleansing of water, or a connection to the land)

Here's a bit of my elemental experience. Please share yours!

Posted by Jessica