Full Moon in Pisces

Greetings from our farm in the Cowichan Valley. As the Full moon is almost upon us, we are planting our winter greens and putting many garden beds to sleep for the winter.

This full moon in Pisces on Thursday, September 7th at 11:42am PST is about the celebration of commitment to the enlightenment of all sentient beings. A spiritually potent moon with the lunar eclipse. Pisces is known for its desire to let go of self-identification thereby allowing the soul to merge with its source, pure consciousness.

On this Full Moon it is important to recognize the fundamental relationship between gratefulness and non-attachment. Use this Full Moon to look at what you cling to and your fear of letting it go.

The Feast of Fields

It is almost time for the culinary event of the year on Vancouver Island, The Feast of Fields. Mark your calendars for September 17th from 2-6pm at The Glendale Gardens and Woodland at the Horticultural Center of the Pacific in Victoria.

The Feast of Fields is celebrates the gastronomic excellence of Vancouver Island. With a wine glass and cotton serviette in hand, you will be awed by diverse tastes, sights and smells as you wander through fields sampling from over eighty restaurants, microbreweries, wineries and producers.

Thanksgiving in Tofino

Join Anahata Yoga and Milagro Retreats for a bountiful Thanksgiving Retreat. Deepen your practice of yoga with a long weekend retreat in breathtaking Tofino BC with teacher Sarah Savoy.

Accommodations are available at the Clayoquot Field Station in Tofino's Botanical Gardens and delicious vegetarian meals will be provided by Milagro Retreats.

This retreat will include 15 hours of teaching on the fundamental principles of Vijnana yoga with a focus on fundamental anatomy as it relates to asana. Embodying these principles we bring lightness and ease to our practice and natural grace is restore

Yoga Teachers Special Immersion in Baja Mexico October 31-November 5th, 2006

Join Jennifer Steed, ryt, rmt in Cabo San Lucas, Baja, Mexico to continue your studies, share your insights, and refine yourselves as yoga teachers. Open to any level of teacher or experienced student in hatha vinyasa flow or restorative style flow yoga. Special focus will be on refining teaching skills, technique and alignment, injury prevention, presence, Sutra studies plus more.

Retreat into Baja Bliss A Women's Retreat November 4-11th, 2006

Join Milagro Retreats and Theresa Morin in The Lush Oasis of Todos Santos Baja, Mexico for a Full Moon Women's Retreat. Enjoy this gathering and explore the transformative power of yoga, meditation, the ocean, friends and deep healing. We will create space to play, practice, rest, laugh, celebrate and return totally rejuvenated. Early Registration discount valid until September 15th!!

Spicy Corn Chowder

With the abundance of sweet local corn on the cob, we created this hearty chowder. add a simple green salad and crusty baguette to create a complete meal. If you don't have Chipotle Peppers, substitute 1/2 fresh jalapeno seeded.


Sweet and Spicy Corn Chowder
Serves 6

Corn Stock

8 cups water
4 corn cobs (corn removed and saved for soup)
4 dried shitake mushrooms
1 onion chopped
1 leek green tops only
2 carrots chopped
2 stalks celery chopped
2 cloves garlic smashed
1 inch piece ginger chopped
4 kaffir lime leaves
½ tsp peppercorns
1 tsp sea salt


1) bring all ingredients to a boil and turn to low. Simmer for 1 hour and strain (should have 5-6 cups of stock

Soup

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 leek diced (whites only)
2 cloves garlic
2 carrots diced
1 stalk celery diced
½ tsp chipotle pepper puree
2 red potatoes cubed
corn kernels from 4 cobs
I red pepper diced
1 cup chopped greens (kale, beet greens or collards)
1 can coconut milk
1-2 Tbsp fresh dill or 2 tsp dried
1 tsp sea salt
1) sauté leek in olive oil over medium heat until translucent
2) add garlic, carrots, celery and ½ tsp sea salt. Turn to low and allow to soften. About 10 minutes
3) add chipotle puree, potatoes, corn and stock. Bring to a boil and turn to low, simmer 15 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked (not mushy, still firm)
4) add coconut milk, red pepper and dill, simmer 10 more minutes to all flavors to meld.
5) Season with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper. Garnish with Greens

Words of Wisdom

In the wise words of Henry David Thoreau,

~If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.~


Enjoy these precious last days of summer!!!
Blessings,
Shani Cranston
Founder
Milagro Retreats

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