GEMSTONE - AQUAMARINE

In Ancient, as well as Modern times, the aquamarine is said to have countless positive effects on the wearer. The attributes of aquamarine were first recorded by Damigeron in the second century BC. “This stone is good besides for damage to the eyes, and for all sickness, if it is put in water and given as a drink.” Pliny the Elder’s Natural History also lists the stone as an excellent cure for eye diseases. The eye was supposed to be washed in water in which an aquamarine was immersed. To cure serious eye ailments, it was recommended to place the powder of the gem in the eyes each morning. Ancient Romans believed aquamarine would be useful in curing illnesses of the stomach, liver, jaws and throat. Today, modern healers believe that the aquamarine stone aids in fluid retention, a further association with the water aspects of aquamarine. Modern healers also believe the stone will help deal with glandular disorders, as well as aiding in maintaining the health of your eyes, as the Ancient healers believed. Some consider the stone specific for treating most afflictions associated with the oral cavity. It is associated with the throat charka, including the faculties of speech and singing, a quality perhaps associated with the therapeutic value of the color, rather than of the actual composition of the stone.

There are also many beliefs that regard aquamarine as a healing stone for mental afflictions as well as physical. The stone is considered an “all purpose” healing stone as it treats spiritual and psychological disturbances as well as physiological disorders and disease. Aquamarine is used in conjunction with the Hanged Man card of the Tarot, helping people understand the value of suspending activities in life in order to seek solitude and time for contemplation. It helps one be better in communion with an inner tranquility, and is known for its ability to calm nervous tension as it is calming and soothing. Aquamarine is a wonderful stone for meditation as it quiets the mind and facilitates obtaining communication from higher planes. Clearing extra thoughts, it invokes a high state of consciousness and spiritual awareness, and encourages dispassionate service to humanity. If the spiritual and physical bodies have become misaligned, aquamarine gently realigns them, releasing intuitive communication on all levels.

Working with the stone improves one’s overall sense of well-being. Some suggest that aquamarine is used to treat people for whom procrastination is an affliction. It is believed that one who wears aquamarine has a better ability to think clearly and make quick decisions. In addition, it increases one’s access to courage. It promotes motivation and comforts in times of intense physical and emotional release, while supporting one through the process. The stone aids a life of service, shields and protects, reminds us of love and caring through times of change and in one’s life and path and purpose. It aids in promoting spiritual and psychic awareness, brings about core soul repair and healing, aids soul retrieval, and heals deeply at all levels. It is used spiritually to bring purification to one’s entire being, as it allows the inner self to better pursue one’s Highest Ideals, keeping attachments to the mundane world in perspective. In addition to its remedial values, it is an excellent stone with which to make changes in your life, holding more true to your inner, spiritual self, and helping yourself remain calm and purified of your own self-polluting behavioral patterns.

http://gemstone.org

ART – BLUB WOODEN LIGHT BY FERMETTI

Made in natural oak, Blub lights are handcrafted in the laboratory of Belgian designer Fermetti. Available in four different shapes Blub lights are all characterized by an ironic and playful aesthetics.

Color and material finishes available: Natural oak / white fabric cord

http://ex-t.it

DESTINATION – QUEEN MARY 2 VOYAGES

Set sail on Cunard’s legendary flagship, Queen Mary 2. Uniting two legends of unsurpassed excellence, Canyon Ranch SpaClub® on Queen Mary 2 is an expansive, beautifully appointed spa that travels with you to exotic ports of call. Wherever you are in the world, you can enjoy the best pampering spa treatments including själ gemstone facial, rejuvenating body rituals and personalized fitness training.

Choose from endless possibilities for relaxation and healthy living, including signature Canyon Ranch services that reflect our emphasis on wellness. Learn about healthy living and savor Canyon Ranch resort's award-winning spa cuisine at lunch and dinner in the Britannia Restaurant.

http://cunard.com

ARCHITECT / DESIGN – KOLONIHAVEHUS BY TOM FRUIN

New York artist Tom Fruin’s outdoor sculpture Kolonihavehus in the plaza of the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen has the appearance of a friendly and colorful stained-glass house, yet it also evokes thoughts of churches and Charles Rennie Macintosh.

Fruin’s sculpture is constructed of a thousand reclaimed pieces of plexiglass ranging in size from 2x2 to 24x36 inches. They originate from many sources, including a closed- down plexi distributorship near Copenhagen, a framing shop, the basement of the Danish State Art Workshops, and the dumpsters outside the Danish Architecture Center.

The sculpture was brought to life by daily performances by Copenhagen-based CoreAct headed by Anika Barkan and Helene Kvint. The performances included poetry of the Danish Vagn Steen, Computer-controlled light sequences by Nuno Neto and a sound installation by Astrid Lomholt.

Kolonihavehuses were originally small garden sheds that were designed to give cramped and often impoverished city-dwellers a small plot and a refuge from city life. - Bill Tikos

http://thecoolhunter.net

NUTRITION – KALE THE SUPERFOOD

Kale is a vegetable unfamiliar to most American palates, but it's one leafy green you ought to get to know. A member of the Brassica family, kale is closely related to cabbage, collards, and Brussels sprouts. Like its relatives, kale is a nutritional powerhouse, packing a wallop of vitamins, minerals and fiber into a very compact package.

While there are several varieties of kale, the one you're likely to find at the market is known as curly kale. If you run across lacinato kale, also known as Tuscan or dinosaur kale, snap it up quickly, because its deep green leaves are considered the tastiest of all kales.

No matter which variety of kale you choose, however, they all have the same stunning nutritional profile. Here then, is a comprehensive breakdown of the nutritional value of kale.

Fat

Like nearly all vegetables, kale is extremely low in fat, with only 3.9 calories of fat in an average 1-cup (67g) serving. Kale is low in saturated fat and cholesterol-free.

Calories

Kale has 33 calories per serving — 1 cup of chopped kale. This makes it a very low-calorie food.

Carbohydrates

There are 7g of carbohydrates per serving of kale — 2 percent of the daily recommended total for carbs.

Protein

For its calories, kale is also a good source of protein. You get 2g of protein in each 67g serving.

Fiber

Kale is a good source of dietary fiber. Each serving of kale has 1g of dietary fiber. A serving of kale will deliver 5 percent of the recommended daily value for dietary fiber.

Vitamins

Kale, considered a "superfood," is brimming with vitamins. It is an excellent source of vitamin A, delivering 206 percent of the daily value per 67g serving, as well as having 134 percent of the recommended daily value for vitamin C.

Kale is an outstanding source of vitamin K, providing 684 percent of the daily value per serving.

Kale is a good source of vitamin B6 as well. It is also very high in thiamin (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), and niacin (vitamin B3).

Minerals

Kale is no slouch when it comes to minerals, either. It is a very good source of minerals such as calcium (9 percent daily value), copper (10 percent daily value), and potassium (9 percent daily value).

And at 0.5 micrograms (mcg) per 67g serving, kale delivers 26 percent of the recommended daily value for manganese.

Kale is also a good source of folate, phosphorus, iron and magnesium.

Final Thoughts

Considering the vitamin-packed nutritional value of kale, there's no reason not to incorporate kale into your diet. Picked at the proper time (after a frost) and properly prepared, kale isn't at all bitter as one might fear. Eating kale will deliver a good source of many vitamins, minerals, and fiber to anyone's diet.

http://brighthub.com

EVENTS - HAUTELOOK SRING '11

själ will be featured on Hautlook on March 10-12, 2011.

http://hautelook.com

GEMSTONE - AMAZONITE

Amazonite is a gem variety of microcline feldspar and is usually polished as a cabochon. It displays a schiller of light which is caused by inclusions. Schiller is a lustrous reflection from planes in a mineral grain and is similar to what is more commonly known as iridescence. The schiller is caused by a feature of the stone's crystal structure. Orthoclase feldspar and albite are present in close association, arranged in layers. This causes an interference effect of light.

Amazonite is found in the United States, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Russia, Australia, Namibia. Amazonite is a relatively soft stone, usually light green to blue-green, mottled and sometimes contains light striations.

Amazonite varies from bright verdigris green to a bluish green.

Folklore, Legend, and Healing Properties:

Enhances creative expression, aligns astral bodies, unity with life. Improves self worth. Amazonite is considered a soothing stone that offers confidence and works on the throat chakra. It is called the "hope stone" because it inspires confidence and hope. One source says it is useful to activate lazy teenagers.

A semi-opaque stone that was used extensively by the Egyptians it is called the stone of courage and is said to be named after the Amazon women warriors. Some archaeological evidence suggests that the Amazonians were a matriarchal society during the Bronze Age.

Another legend says the name Amazonite comes from the belief that it was found in the Amazon river.

http://bernardine.com

DESTINATION - SOUTH AFRICA / GAUTENG

An oasis of style and comfort set amongst South Africa's raw wilderness. Only two groups stay at any time, allowing visitors to enjoy a private pool, chef, and tours ... privately.

If, indeed, there were a Lion King, he would likely demand accommodations at Morukuru Family. Perched at the river's edge in the Madikwe Game Reserve, this two-family lodge is nothing less than shockingly beautiful. The colonial exterior fits seamlessly with Morukuru's carefully selected modern interior design touches and furnishings. Morukuru Family walks the line between untamed nature, and unabashed luxury. 

The Madikwe Reserve is home to almost every type of big African game, not to mention over 350 varieties of birds, and an innumerable spectrum of fish. Whether guests choose to venture out on Jeep safari, bush walk, or fishing safari, they're sure to leave with a greater connection to nature in all its forms.

After a day on the savannah, and a dip in the infinity pool, guests are sure to have worked up an appetite. Thank goodness for that. How else would the private chefs keep busy? All diners are encouraged to eat outside, serenaded by animal calls echoing in the distance.

http://kiwicollection.com

ART - SEEBRUHNE BREGENZ THEATER

Bregenz Festival - Floating Stage

Every year, the Bregenz Festival takes place in the Austrian city of Bregenz at the Lake Constance. Every summer the audience can experience excellent open-air opera performances 

on the biggest floating stage worldwide.

The creative spirit is perhaps one of the greatest gifts which we humans have been endowed with. Our task as a festival is not only to act as custodians of past creativity, but also to carry this creative power into the lives of our visitors.  

This year we celebrate the courage of the poet André Chénier, whose dedication to justice did not falter even in the face of revolutionary terror. Giordano's opera tells the story of a life that experienced both the wasteful luxury of the Ancien Régime and the radical policies of the Revolution; in the centre stands a passionate individual compelled by his conscience to place his hand in the hellfire of history. This is the stuff that perfect Seebühne operas are made of! All the more so if they come with music of such breathtaking emotional intensity as is the case with Umberto Giordano's André Chénier. 

With the opera in the Festspielhaus, we celebrate creation and creativity in a more direct way, having commissioned a new work from the Scottish composer Judith Weir. With the same single-mindedness with which we placed Mieczysław Weinberg centre-stage in the 2010 festival, this season we are assisting in the birth of a new opera: an opera written just for you! 

Judith Weir has always been fascinated by the age-old art of storytelling. In her very beautiful and accessible works, she draws on the mythical power of folk tales, many of which deal with age-old problems of human existence. Achterbahn / Miss Fortune is the modern retelling of such a tale – a story about the dizzying vicissitudes of life where, in the blink of an eye, a millionaire can be reduced to washing dishes for a living.

Many have called our programme daring, even risky.

We reply in Chénier's own words: "Obstacles make us great!"

http://bregenzerfestspiele.com

INSIGHT – PH MIRACLE DIET

The pH Miracle diet is a new healthy diet plan with a number of unique benefits. This diet has appealed to so many as it is a complete turn-around from the high protein, low carb diets people have been on in the last few years. The pH Miracle diet, also called the alkaline diet or the Young diet (after it's creator Robert Young) has a whole new approach to nutrition. Many holistic doctors, dieticians and nutritionists view this as a much better balanced approach to nutrition that is based on the true needs of the body.

The basis for the pH Miracle diet is that the human body has a pH that is slightly alkaline. The theory goes that as the body functions at this slightly alkaline level then our diet should comprise mostly alkaline foods. The standard American diet includes a lot of foods that are high in acidity like sugar, caffeine, packaged foods and animal protein. These foods and more can disrupt the body's pH balance and cause a whole lot of health problems. The proponents of the pH Miracle diet say that too many of these acidic foods can disrupt the body's use of alkaline minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium, which in turn can make people prone to various chronic diseases.

http://phmiracleliving.com

http://ph-miracle-diet.org

RESTAURANT – IMPERIAL NO.9

Mondrian Soho has a new opening date of February 22. According to a press release, Sam Talbot’s Imperial No. 9 will open March 1. Here’s a description of the space from the release, if you can make sense of it.

At the highly anticipated Imperial No. 9, located just off the lobby, Chef Sam Talbot will introduce his sustainable seafood concept with a 150-seat restaurant. In keeping with Noriega's dream-like theme, an opulent cluster of crystal chandeliers hangs over a large, mirror-topped communal table and anchors the main dining room. White washed oak floors and sandy-beige walls accented with antique mirrors embellish the airy atmosphere. A long bar clad in white-washed oak and cream colored stone serves as a casual imbibing spot with a selection of handcrafted cocktails that Morgans Hotel Group's nightlife destinations are famous for. A play of sand colors and textures compliment subtle references to ocean motifs, giving the room a sense of refined elegance while maintaining the allure found throughout the hotel.

The garden building at Imperial No. 9 boasts a romantic setting complemented by an elegant crystal chandelier collection and accented with potted plants and natural ficus trees, all beneath the shelter of a dramatic glass roof. The centerpiece of the space is a delicate over-sized glass sculpture created by acclaimed artist Beth Lipman, and serving as a reference to Cocteau's story in which seduction takes the form of an elaborate feast, prepared nightly. A zinc-topped, potting shed -style bar features wood shelving with potted plants, complimenting the elegant garden atmosphere. A Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz signature double-sided cottage swing completes the casual playfulness of the room and references the whimsy of the designer's swing in the lobby of Mondrian Los Angeles.

http://kiwicollection.com

NUTRITION - SEAWEED AND ITS HEALTH BENEFIT

Edible seaweed burst with multi-nutrients, no other plant life in the world can give! They feed and support every cell, tissue and organs of our bodies. Seaweed is the world’s most basic yet complete food. Ancient super food is our ancestor’s secret to health and longevity.

For thousands of years now, our forefathers fed on a diet of edible seaweed. They roamed the earth, shorelines and harvested what turned out to be the deepest secret to super health and long life.

In fact, sea or ocean vegetables were so prized during those times that at one point, sea vegetable gardens were kept in Hawaii specifically for royalty. And the first ever-recorded proof that seaweed is a perfect food source dates back to 300 B.C. in China.

Not only are they bearers of complete nourishment but also are natural weight loss and anti-aging “agents” as well. Now, scientists have proved that, seaweed has a very positive effect on the human body.

Gillian McKeith, author of Living Food for Health, says sea vegetables contain key minerals not found anywhere else in plant form. Ms. Gillian also mentions that the body more easily absorbs the protein found in ocean vegetables than meat protein, making it one of nature’s best anti-ageing foods on earth.

Read more here about the benefits:

http://oceanvegetables.com


Seaweed salad recipe:
http://anjasfood4thought.com