003: What is Sacred? Desecration of Stonehenge, Vogons and Artisan Craftsmanship.| MAHALO Skin Care

Skin • Spirit • Sacred, hosted by Merina B Eldan

This podcast is your sanctuary to explore beauty, pleasure, and joy in the body, from skin to spirit. Join Merina in this sacred journey as she delves into the layers of beauty, self-care, and connection.

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Hey there, lovely souls! Welcome back to our cozy corner of Skin, Spirit, and Sacred. I’m honored to have you join me on this journey today as we delve into the depths of our beings and explore the sacredness that surrounds us.

(00:25) Introduction:
“May the FOurTH be with you”, our Saturday episode launch falls of May 4th, I just had to do the Star Wars reference. We are finally in a delicious time of the earthy, sensual Taurus season (as a Taurus sun+moon myself, I am biased). As we navigate through the lush blossoms of spring, I invite you to slow down, indulge in life’s pleasures, and join me in this sacred space.

(03:23) Grounding Practice:
To honor your precious time let’s drop into ease by creating a Sacred Space. I invite you to take a deep, beautiful conscious breathe, and exhale. We will do an easy grounding practice to connect our physical body to the Earth. Take another breath. Ahhh. Let’s begin.

(05:13) Exploring Sacredness:
I would like to take us into an auditory exploration on something that’s close to my heart – What is Sacred? I’ve been pondering what makes certain places, objects, and experiences sacred, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Sacred is: something worthy of awe and respect. Sacred is also something that can be and have different meaning to different people. Jerusalem and Bethlehem is a sacred place for many religions, Fenway is a sacred place for Red Sox fans, Hollywood walk of fame is sacred to celebrity fans, an owl is sacred for many Native American and Hawaiian people,

Temple, stadium, a rock, a mountain, picture frame, teddy bear, or an empty jar of skin care – all objects, or memories, places that are infused with the intentional energy and attention of human spirit become sacred.

Something can be sacred to one person, and not to another. Great example is what is currently underway for one of the best known ancient wonders of the world, the 5000+ Stoonehenge monument and Sacred site. In June 2023 UK Govenment gave a go head to burrowing beneath the ritual landscape to build a road tunnel which would cause a “permanent, irreversible harm”, “descecrated” Britain’s most famous World Heritage Site.

So how do we lose the Sacredness. How can a place like Stonehenge that is not just a Sacred site for ancient pagan traditions, but also a world heritage site be so casually ignored by the planning committee developing a new road. (I can’t help but think of Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy where they were building the new superhighway and planet Earth was scheduled for demolition). I believe this goes deeper into the roots of consumerism and the loss of connection with nature. The Amazon Prime same time delivery of goods, or disposable water bottles, one season fashion, one-use cutlery, and the speed of developing and out-dating technology – none of that is sacred, none of that has time or even an ability hold an intentional charge or attention of our energy. And it is our attention and intention that creates Sacred.

(28:23) Personal Updates:
Before we get carried away with our musings, I have some exciting news to share! Mark your calendars for May 11th – not only is it the 11th anniversary of Mahalo Skin Care, but it’s also a special day for me personally. I’ll be launching my new book, “Ground and Be Free,” and hosting a retreat in the mystical land of Glastonbury, UK. I’d be honored to have you join me for these celebrations!

(32:33) Personal Reflection:
As we wrap up our time together, I’m reminded of a childhood memory that still fills me with warmth and wonder. It’s moments like these – connecting with nature, feeling the heartbeat of the earth – that remind me of the sacredness all around us. I encourage you to explore what’s sacred to you, dear friend, and embrace it with open arms.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this intimate space with me today. Your presence and insights mean the world to me. As we part ways, let’s carry the spirit of sacredness with us, infusing every moment with love, reverence, and gratitude.

With love and gratitude, Merina

(39:39) Closing Poem

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran (On Prayer)

Then the priestess said, Speak to us of Prayer.
And he answered, saying:
You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.For what is prayer but the expansion of yourself into the living ether?
And if it is for your comfort to pour your darkness into space, it is also for your delight to pour forth the dawning of your heart.
And if you cannot but weep when your soul summons you to prayer, she should spur you again and yet again, though weeping, until you shall come laughing.
When you pray you rise to meet in the air those who are praying at that very hour, and whom save in prayer you may not meet.
Therefore let your visit to that temple invisible be for naught but ecstasy and sweet communion.
For if you should enter the temple for no other purpose than asking you shall not receive:
And if you should enter into it to humble yourself you shall not be lifted:
Or even if you should enter into it to beg for the good of others you shall not be heard.
It is enough that you enter the temple invisible.I cannot teach you how to pray in words.
God listens not to your words save when He Himself utters them through your lips.
And I cannot teach you the prayer of the seas and the forests and the mountains.
But you who are born of the mountains and the forests and the seas can find their prayer in your heart,
And if you but listen in the stillness of the night your shall hear them saying in silence,
“Our God, who are our winged self, it is thy will in us that willeth.
It is thy desire in us that desireth.
It is thy urge in us that would turn our nights, which are thine, into days which are thine also.
We cannot ask thee for aught, for thou knowest our needs before they are born in us:
Thou art our need; and in giving us more of thyself thou givest us all.”