Spirituality and metaphysics, Vastu Shastra, yoga, mantra, tantra, house dancing, psychology (somatic, chakra, yoga, environmental), traveling, urban exploration, nature (specially the mountains and the ocean), healthy & ethnic cooking (Indian, Thai, Cuban, Middle Eastern, etc)
Music
Although I can appreciate many genres, artists, and bands, my favorites are Deep House (specially Afro-Brazilian or sexy) like music by Joe Claussell, Ron Trent, DJ Pope, Stacey Mallory, MAW, Naked Music stuff, The Rurals, Naeem Johnson, Shauna Slevin, Lola; Divas - Lisa Shaw, Amel Larrieux, Gaelle, and Brenda Garcia a.k.a. Ocean; R&B - Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, India Arie, Maxwell, classics like Teena Marie, Gwen Guthrie, Chaka Khan, Jocelyn Brown; the depth in the music and lyrics of Sting. EBTG - Tracy Thorn & Beth Orton. My former boss, Cyndi Lauper. The Ramones. Depeche Mode. Evanescence. Sade. Janet Jackson. World music: Zap Mama, Anushka Shankar, Niyaz, Azam Ali, Ojos de Brujo, Concha Buika, kirtan music & bhajans (mantra chanting); the crass and witty writing of Amy Winehouse.
House Cat
Movies
Night on Earth is an all-time favorite; Kill Bill, 300, Punch-Drunk Love, Kung Fu Hustle, Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, Mad Max, Blade Runner, most sci fi and fantasy movies, Warriors, Will Farrell movies, The Usual Suspects, The Illusionist, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Pay It Forward, Breakfast Club, Volver, Almadovar movies, The Namesake, The Secret, Crash, Babel, What the Bleep!, Peaceful Warrior. Classics like Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark; Dune
Television
TV is the Devil.
Books
Blue Truth (David Deida) - actually, any David Deida book...A Path With Heart (Jack Kornfield), The Essential Rumi (Coleman Barks), Yoga and the Quest for the True Self and The Wisdom of Yoga(both by Stephen Cope), Ask and It Is Given (Abraham-Hicks), The Power of Intention, Real Magic (both by Dr. Wayne Dyer), Healing Mantras (Thomas Ashley-Farrand), Moving Into Stillness (Eric Schiffman), The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Satchidananda), Left to Tell (Immaculee Ilibigaza)
Heroes
Immaculee Ilibagiza, Lance Armstrong, Dave Pelzer, Oprah, Rosa Parks...
My Grandmother, who passed away at the age of 91 on September 2003. She loved life so much - there was nothing that could take away her joy of living. My best friend Roxanne.
Mosaic...
I am a woman, a mother, a lover, a friend, a daughter and a sister... a teacher, seeker, soul scientist, lone wolf, lioness in a pride... a lackadaisical pleasure seeker and diligent worker bee. I am shakti with a little shiva, a geek and a mystic, traditional and bohemian, an expressive dork that becomes a dancer when my spirit moves to deep soulful house music. I am fire and water, passion and apathy, sunny and surly, a simple soul in search of the simple things in life: love, friendship, the delicousness of connection... I am a lightbearer, or at times lighting and thunder, the blade of Kali, or simply a child playing in the sun - the same child that told the emperor he was buck naked. I bear deep wounds and yet I am she that heals, and the one that stays when all others have left. I am fiery anger and warm compassion, gripping fear and raw courage, hilarious laughter and the wrath of Gods... out of the same mouth speaking wisdom and dirty jokes. I try to cut back on saying the F word, while seeking divine intervention on behalf of my most vicious critic. I have been a wife, a warrior, and a giver of life, a protector and avenger. I am you, you are me and we are ALL.
Bio:
A "soul scientist" all her life, Sramani Sandy Soto was originally introduced to Yoga as a child. She stumbled upon the practice again years later while seeking a new fitness routine, however, when her meditation practice quickly deepened, she knew she was on to something amazing.
It was through Yoga that Sandy found equanimity and experienced the embodied mind and spirit--a blissful, unitive state of inner stillness and integration of her being. Thus began an incredible journey of profound personal transformation. She endeavors to share with others from these experiences, her studies and spirituality via Yoga, meditation, and inspiration. Her Sanskrit name, Sramani, came to her in a dream. Sramanas were mystics—explorers of inner space who dedicated their lives to spiritual and psychological experimentation, or "soul scientists."
This layout was handmade with love by the folks at My space or yours? Go get one!
Your Personality is the Rarest - Counselor (iNFj)
Your personality type is introverted, complex, empathic, and sensitive.
Only about 2% of all people have your personality - including 3% of all women and around 1% of all men.
You are Idealistic, Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging.
My talented son singing a song he made up while my daughter films it...
Who I'd like to meet: Open, positive, loving, friendly people; househeads; people who don't just LISTEN to music, they FEEL music; yoginis and meditators; spiritual people that I can have deep conversations with about anything from meditation to what brand of peanut butter; people who want to connect, or re-connect (if I already know you)
Hey mamasota! I thought I'd send you some hugs times the power of 1,000,000,000,000,000. May the Creator continue to provide you with strength and light. Blessings, Ocean
Thanks for the request and for supporting Ms. Roy!
"The only dream worth having is to dream that you will live while you are alive, and die only when you are dead. To love, to be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and vulgar disparity of the life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget." - Arundhati Roy
I had no idea that you were into Azam Ali's music. I've loved her stuff for years, including her music with VAS. Her voice is so haunting and beautiful at the same time.
Thanks for being a friend. Now are we celebrating our b-days together or what? :-) I've reached out to Rhina, since her's is the 9th, and to Kervyn Mark.
OMG Sandra, how are you?! Thank you so much for reaching out to me. You look amazing!!! We need to go out for coffee and do some catching up. We can invite Molly and have a girls day out. Let me know what you think. :)
Hey Sandy! So glad that my essay made a difference for you. It's the kind of writing that I'll be doing more of. I'm so happy to have you in my life even if we don't get to see each other that much. Through whatever circumstances we may experience we can come out on top so long as we stay true to our hearts. Thanks for being the wonderful spirit that you are.
Love,
Alex
