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How did you first hear of Little Mysteries? We’re always curious to know how people first encounter us - did a friend tell you about the shop or bring you along on one of their shopping expeditions? Did you walk by on Barrington and something in the window caught your eye? Did you see an ad or event poster? Where was that? Did you google “bookstores in Halifax” or some other websearch?
One of the reasons we ask is to better understand how to reach other people who share an interest in spirituality and personal growth. This isn’t an official survey but, if you do want to drop me a line, I’d be most appreciative. Be as specific as you can (if someone told you, was it a friend, your yoga teacher or the concierge at your hotel? If you saw an ad, which publication, that sort of thing).
And if we are one of your favourite shops, we’d love it if you’d tell your like-minded friends. They might not have discovered us yet! Even though we’ve been around for over 13 years, there are still people finding Little Mysteries for the first time! Send them a link to our website or bring them along the next time you’re stopping by. Small businesses thrive on word of mouth! Someone’s willingness to say, “Hey, these folks are great - you should see!” tells us we’re doing a good job and creating the kind of place where you want to be.
And don’t forget to take some time this summer to laze about with a good book (or several, if you’re a bookworm like me). Books in my ‘to-read’ stack include To Bless the Space Between Us, the posthumously published book by John O’Donohue, A World Full of Gods by John Michael Greer (I’ve seen this investigation of polytheism recommended a few places), the sequel to The Dark Mirror, The Blade of Fortriu (Pictish fiction) and maybe re-reading some Jane Austen for variety!
Summer Blessings,
Vanessa Smith |
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Wed. Aug. 6 City Weed Walk with Danette Steele 6:00-7:30pm Identify common wild plants growing in the city and learn about their healing properties - through stories, questions, discussions, recipes and healing songs. Cost: $20.00/$10.00 for students /under waged - pre-registration required as space is limited.
Fri. Sept. 5 Double Booklover’s Stamp Day
Thurs. Sept. 11 Wicca 101 with Vanessa 6-7:30pm An introduction to the spiritual path of Wicca, including history, deities, holidays and ritual structure. Cost: $5.00
Tues. Sept. 23 Introduction to the Pendulum with Melissa 6:30-8:30pm A hands on exploration of this classic divination tool. Cost: $25.00 includes a pendulum (pre-registration required, space is limited).
Fri. Oct. 3 Double Booklover’s Stamp Day
Tues. Oct. 7-28 Learning the Tarot Class with Pierre Belanger 6-8pm This 4 week course will cover major and minor arcana cards, plus learning how the different cards interact in a reading. Students will learn to understand the whole deck, not just individual cards. Students should have a traditional style tarot Cost: $125.00 (pre-registration required)
Wed. Oct. 15 Introduction to the Runes with Steve Vernon 7:00-9:00pm An introduction to the meaning and use of these ancient symbols. Students should bring their own rune set. Cost: $25.00 (pre-registration required, space is limited).
Fri. Nov. 7 Double Booklover’s Stamp Day
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Blue Lace Agate - if you’re bothered by the heat, or if you find yourself with a painful sunburn, try the wonderfully cooling and soothing properties of blue lace agate. Great in a nice, cool bath
Sodalite - if you feel drained of energy as the heat and humidity increase, you may want to wear or carry some sodalite with you. It’s perfect for endurance and stamina, but, unlike many other energy boosting stones, it stimulates without also being warming in its energy. |
Carnelian - summer is often a time of celebration with friends and family, and a great stone to help us really enjoy and get the most out of these gatherings is carnelian. It promotes sociability, enthusiasm and delight. Truly a stone for good times.
All of these stones can also be put into your water bottle so that as you’re keeping hydrated this summer, you are also giving yourself a big dose of the energies associated with these stones. Be careful, however, to be sure to select stones that are large enough that they won’t be accidentally ingested! |
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What image is conjured when you think of bellydance? Swirling veils, sinuous arms, the sounds of exotic music? The dancers are at once sensual and powerful, weightless as birds in flight yet deeply connected to the earth below. If you've had the chance to see a live bellydance performance, you know how entrancing this ancient art form can be. Talented dancers have an extraordinary degree of control over the smallest movements and their grace is only accentuated by the richly embroidered costumes that float and jingle with each step.
Bellydance comes to us from the lands of the Middle East, North Africa (most notably Egypt) and Asia. Various regions are known for their unique style of dance. Over the years, other forms of bellydancing have arisen, including increasingly popular tribal styles, each emphasizing differing moves, costuming and preferred music. While the exact origins of bellydance are clothed in mystery, it is said to have evolved from rituals celebrating womanhood or as a way to prepare a woman’s body for pregnancy and childbirth.
These days, bellydance is very hip. When singer Shakira showed off her dance talents, the popularity of bellydance took off and now you're very likely to see bellydance-inspired moves on the dance floors of the hottest clubs as well as in more traditional dance environments.
Here in Halifax, bellydance is immensely popular. Several local teachers have been guiding dancers for years and performances by their troupes are often sold out events, including a number of successful shows at the Halifax Fringe Festival in recent years. I asked some respected local teachers to share a bit of what inspired them to learn and, later, teach.
One of the best known, Belinda Ferguson of Belindance says, ‘I have studied all kinds of dance, focusing mostly on Modern, Jazz and Ballet when I was in my teens and twenties. My body type is not ideal for those types of dances and I always had to struggle. When I found belly dance not only did I discover a dance that looks good on all body types but one that allowed me to express myself in movement exactly what I was feeling. That is not to say it is less challenging than the other dance forms, just that it suits the way I want to move. I feel most like myself when I am onstage belly dancing, it reveals the core of my being’.
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Monique Ryan offers classes in Tribal Fusion Belly Dance just down the street from us at Studio in Essence and performs as part of the duo, Cabaret Serpentine. ‘It didn't take long after my first class to realize that bellydance is not just another form of exercise. It has a such a profoundly magical way of helping to increase women's (or men's!) self esteem. In the bellydance world there is no pressure to have a certain body type, and classes are not competitive. Bellydance grounds you and connects you to your body while making you feel strong and beautiful at them same time. When I discovered Tribal Fusion Bellydance- dark, earthy, and snake-like, something just "clicked" and I haven't stopped dancing since.’
 Elinor Crosby of Uber Wench Bellydance Productions teaches Cabaret and American Tribal Style bellydance and performs in a variety of eclectic styles about town. Elinor touches on the power of the dance: ‘When I dance I am firmly grounded in my body, but am also connected to something larger and outside myself. I feel powerful, almost like I'm channeling the spirit of the music, or a goddess. I feel like my body was meant to do this style of dance, and when I took my first hour-long workshop at AEPG years ago, it felt like coming home. I also love that bellydance looks beautiful on so many different body types, and that it's unique to each person dancing it.’
Beyond its historic lineage as a dance form, bellydance is an out standing form of exercise, working muscles in all areas of the body (many you might not know you even HAD prior to dancing!) and improving balance, posture and grace. One of our staff says it's the most fun you'll have exercising!
Feel like giving it a whirl (or a shimmy?) Check out our resources or contact one of our talented local teachers (tell 'em Little Mysteries sent you!):
Belinda Ferguson - www.belindance.ca
email: belindance@gmail.com
Monique Ryan - www.cabaretserpentine.com
email: monique@cabaretserpentine.com
Elinor Crosby - http://uberwench.googlepages.com
email: uberwench@gmail.com |
Fabulous Bellydance Stuff!
Books, DVDs and more! |
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Bellydance Music
Traditional Sounds
 Rough Guide to Bellydance (various) $21.95
Music for Belly Dance (Thorton /Ramzy) $21.95
Sensual Art of Bellydance - Slow Rhythms $25.00
Sensual Art of Bellydance - Fast Rhythms $25.00
Modern Rhythms - funkier beats, drawing inspiration from ancient traditions and the dance clubs.
 Tribal Beats for the Urban Streets (various) $22.95
Bellydance Superstars present Babelesque (various) $22.95
Modern Bellydance from Lebanon (Lahibi/Sayyah) $21.95
Bellylicious (various) $21.95
Bodyshock (Bellydance Project) $21.95
And don’t forget, we now have our CDs on a listening station - preview any CD before you buy!
Bellydance Books
Grandmother's Secrets - The Ancient Rituals and Healing Power of Belly Dancing (Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi) - Part personal memoir, part history and theory of this ancient art. This text is considered a must read for serious students. $20.00
 The Way of the Belly - 8 Essential Secrets of Beauty, Sensuality, Health, Happiness and Outrageous Fun (Neena and Veena Bidasha) - a very modern book on bellydance and the secrets of inner and outer beauty that complement it from the famous Belly Twins, renowned dancers, Neena and Veena. Includes introductory bellydance DVD $19.95
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Bellydance DVDs
DVDs are handy whether you’d like to try out your moves in the privacy of your living room or you want some added practice between regular classes
Dance Oriented
Discover Bellydance - Basic Dance $20.00
Discover Bellydance - Beyond Basic Dance $20.00
Discover Bellydance - Mystic Dance $20.00
Discover Bellydance 3 DVD set $45.00
 Tribal Fusion Bellydance with Sharon Kihara - Techniques and Conditioning A Guide to Developing and Deepening your Strength and Precision as a Dancer $25.95
Bellydance Arms and Posture - A Practice for Carriage, Coiling and Serpentine Stylization with Rachel Brice $25.95
Exercise Oriented
Bellydance Fitness for Beginners - Slim Down $23.00
Bellydance Fitness for Weight Loss - Pure Sweat $23.00
Bellydance Fitness for Weight Loss - Daily Quickies $20.00
Bellydance Accessories
Hip Scarves - an essential for the learner, the jingle of the coins lets you know that you’re moving the correct areas and emphasizes those moves. We carry hip scarves with 2 lines of coins ($20.00), and the more elaborate 5 lines ($30.00). Contact us for currently available colours - we usually stock a range from deep, jewel tones to brights
Bellydance Mini-Kit - A nifty little kit with a wee booklet, some fun stick on body jewels and, most importantly, a set of zills or finger cymbals to use in your dance routines. Just $8.95 |
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Manifest Your Desires - 365 Ways to Make Your Dreams Come True (Hicks) and Your Ultimate Calling (Dyer) - Two great books for students of Jerry and Esther Hicks or Wayne Dyer's recent work. The day by day teaching format keeps their work fresh in your mind and into daily practice. $10.95 Healing Mandalas (Tenzin -Dolma) $19.95
Shamans of the World (Connor ed.) - first hand accounts of shamanic practice from around the globe $23.95
Iboga - The Visionary Root of African Shamanism (Ravalec) $21.50
Energy Medicine for Women (Eden) - a companion to her classic Energy Medicine (also recently updated!) $19.50
 Findhorn Garden Story (Findhorn Community) - a new update of this seminal introduction to the community of Findhorn, with updated text and colour images. $27.95
Power, Freedom and Grace (Chopra) - the latest from Deepak Chopra, incorporating eastern wisdom with modern science. $19.95
Spirit Speak (Dominguez) - exploring the spirit world, including guides, ancestors, angels and ghosts $16.95
Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies (Kirk) - a 17th century manuscript with commentary by folklorist, Andrew Lang $7.95
Angel Numbers 101 (Virtue) - newly revised and expanded $10.95
Ghosts Among Us (Van Praagh) - a guide to understanding the other side $26.95 hardcover
Love Crystals (Hall) - crystals and exercises for all heart related matters $10.99 |
 Celtic Folk Soul (DeLyth) - talented Welsh artist, Jen DeLyth, brings together her inspired Celtic art with a collection of Celtic legend and lore. A wonderful gift for a Celtophile. $36.95 hardcover
Fairy Bible (Moorey) - a complete overview of the fairy realms, richly illustrated with lore, rituals and practical advice $15.95
From the Branch - A Dianic Witchcraft Primer (Quarrie) $34.95
Brida (Coelho) - a young Irish girl travels a path of mystery and magic $26.95 hardcover
Reiki Tutor - A Structured Course to Achieve Professional Expertise (Honervogt) - something for the intermediate level students of Reiki who plan to work professionally. $21.95
The Other Side of Virtue (Myers) $27.95
Buddhism for Mothers of Young Children (Napthali) - a guide to mindful parenting $18.95
One Witch's Way - A Magical Year of Stories, Spells and Such (Torgerson) $18.50
The Magic and Power of the Goddess - Initiation, Worship and Ritual in the Western Mystery Tradition (Knight) $16.95
Sea Magic (Kynes) $18.50
Kiss of Death - The True History of the Gospel of Judas (Churton) $21.95
Book of Tibetan Medicine (Forde) $21.95 |
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White Sage and Cedar Spray - A powerful blend of essential oils to cleanse and clear a space. Perfect if you can't use a traditional smudge or incense. 120ml spray bottle $23.00
Wish Upon A Star Kit - new from Monty Farber and Amy Zerner, this would be a wonderful set for a young person. $15.95
 Magic Mirror Kit - excellent introduction to scrying, includes black mirror and stand, 100 page book and instructional CD $27.95
Neti Pot - a traditional nasal cleansing pot with instructions $27.00
Badger Balms - yummy, organic balms.Choose from Yoga and Meditation (1oz) $8.50 for inspiration and calm or Sore Muscle Rub (.75oz) $7.50 or Sleep Balm (.75oz) $7.50 for relaxation.
Sacred Masculine Prayer Flag - from the good folks at Wild Earth Arts in BC, a tribute to the male aspect of the Divine, printed on a blend of hemp and cotton. $23.00
 Dream Catcher Jewellery - delicate, silver toned pendants ($10.00) and earrings ($16.00). Made in Canada
New Incenses - Kyoto Moon Incense from Shoyeido. One of the best incenses on the market, absolutely no synthetic fragrances. Choose from Abundance, Tranquility or Creativity. 40 sticks $7.50 and Triloka Ayurvedic Chakra Incense - another premium line. Choose from any of the seven chakras on their own (10 sticks for $4.75) or a set of all seven (14 sticks $5.50). Includes an informative guide to the chakras too. |
Fabulous Gift Bags - These fantastic gift bags include the bag, tissue paper and a gift card! Plus they're made with a combination of recycled post consumer paper and sugar cane fibres! Very Cool! Two sizes and lots of designs. Don't panic over last minute gifts!
AND... 2009 Calendars and Daybooks are expected any day now - all your favourites plus new styles!
New Audio
 Sacred Circle (Amrit Kirtan) - in the vein of Deva Premal and Snatam Kaur. A classically trained voice accented with gentle instrumentation $17.95
Yoga and Pilates by the Sea (Kamal/Deuter/Cybertribe) - mellow chill for meditation and exercise $18.95
Goddess Chants (Padma Previ) $17.95
Sounding's Global Rhythms Project (various artists including Jai Uttal, Azam Ali, Soulfood and more) $21.95
Celtic Passage (Deirdre Ni Chinnéide) $21.95
Into Silence (Deva Premal) - a selection of her best loved meditation music $22.95
Advancing Your Spirit (Marianne Williamson and Wayne Dyer) 4CDs $24.95
Living with Intention (Lynne McTaggert) - a complete audio learning course focused on her popular The Intention Experiment. 6CDs $74.00
Integral Operating System (Ken Wilber) - another learning system, including DVD, 2 CDs, reference chart and manual. $43.95
Meditation on the Four Elements (Wendy Rule) $24.95
Channeling Grace (Caroline Myss) $21.95 |
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