Easter!

these are colored eggs that we received as an Easter gift in the monastery
at the end of the service, foto by Nadia

Xristos Voskrese!

Today is Orthodox Easter!

We went to all night service to the Panagia Prousiotissa - Greek Orthodox Monastery in Troy, NC. The monastery is part of 13 Orthodox Monastic communities in USA founded by the Elder Ephrem from Holy Mountain of Athos.

We are so fortunate to have two of them in North Carolina, in only 1 hour and 30 min from Winston-Salem.

Wonderful service, from 11 am until 4 am!
Nightingales were singing in the darkness when we came out of the church.
A lot of stars above!

Gurdjieff work

Yesterday I finished reading The Inner Journey: Views From the Gurdjieff Work. Edited by Jacob Needleman. 2008. It is an anthology. Most of the artcile have been published in Parabola. The book starts with this saying - To the path makers and the pilgrims on the path. The book contains the DVD of the movie Meetings With Remarkable Men produced by Peter Brooks. The movie based on the book written by Gurdjiev himself. It is a story of the search through the Middle East and Central Asia for answers about the meaning of life. I have read the book in Russian and then later in English :) The movie was made on location in the forbidding, rarely photograped mountains and deserts of Afganistan. Finally I saw it!

The scene when they survided the sand storm in the desert by getting on stilts is very interesting. But the most impressive scene is the dance. I found it on you tube (see above). It made a strong impression, almost scared me.

Lower back - taoist method

Soft and gentle exercise for healthy lower back.
All you need to practice is a big stone in your back yard :)

My favorite Winston-Salem coach - Michael :)

hot springs - recommended :)

Nadia in mineral water :)
photo copyright © Natalia Tuchina-2009

Went to the mountains, to the place Hot Springs, it is our local Kislovodsk (or Baden-Baden?). Seems that we have everything in NC, absolutely everything! Hot Springs is a village not far from Asheville, 3 hours from Winston-Salem, almost in Tennessee.

The road was easy, the weather was good.

In Hot Springs they have... mineral springs coming up from the mountains. The water is pumped through the tubs. This water not only mineral - it is hot! The temperature is about +104 F. Spa effect without any chlorine! And it's healing. View the healing chemicals here . Lots of health benefits. And a lot of pleasure (especially if you take a bottle of champagne with you! :)

Hot Springs is located at the confluence of the French Broad River and Spring Creek. A natural hot spring is the only such spring known in North Carolina and in much of the southeastern United States. Thus, this area has long since been a destination for those looking for therapeutic relief from their ailments. Native Americans were the first to discover the 100+ degree mineral waters, and European immigrants settled the area over 200 years ago. It is reported that people were visiting the springs by 1778 for the waters' reported healing properties. In 1828, a major road was constructed through the current town making the area more accessible.

By 1831, James Patton of Asheville bought the springs and had erected 350 room Warm Springs Hotel with its 13 tall columns representing the 13 original colonies in 1837. The dining room of this large hotel could seat 600 people! The railroad reached the village - then called Warm Springs - in 1882. A higher temperature spring was found, and the town's name was changed from Warm Springs to Hot Springs in 1886. Sixteen marble pools were surrounded by landscaped lawns with croquet and tennis courts, and it was know as one of the most lavish resorts in the Southeast. By May 1917, the hotel and grounds were leased to the US Government to be used as an internment camp.

Today, the springs are privately owned as a spa. Water is piped to outdoor tubs beside the river and Spring Creek.

The view from our tub was to the river. We had 2 pm reservation, but pulled in being 20 min late. We stopped at Engles in Black Mountain, and loved it there so much that had lunch :) Very nice grocery store, in the size of a stadium, the selection (of champagne) was almost unlimited :)

Hot Springs is a rustic place, tubs are located in deep woods (see this one :), grounds are very natural. Nadia was in hot tubs in Japan. She said it is very similar. The tub was offered to us for one hour - barely enough as we not only were splashing the water and enjoying sunshine, but also making pictures. Here is the result:)


Nadia in mineral bliss :)
photo copyright ©Natalia Tuchina-2009

If you decide on going there, take a jar for water with you. There is a spring on the grounds. Anyone can collect some mineral water and take home. We did! When we came home the water was still warm! It has so much energy stored..

hang loose!

hang loose! even if you're in Winston!

photo Nadia Bakhireva-2009

Gaurang Doshi

Gaurang and me in his studio
Click on the picture to enlarge
(photo by Nadia Bakireva)


We have visited Gaurang Doshi today in his home studio in Winston-Salem. Gaurang had a very nice concert in the library several weeks ago. I really got interested in his music. He plays sarod and sitar. Both instruments produce the sound that is very unique and out of this world.

Sarod has 25 strings, 15 of them are sympathetic strings for producing resonant sound. String resonate and sometimes even hit one another making that specific sounds that you won't find in any other instrument in the world. Not even human voice... Sounds awesome! Fingers go up and down the strings to produce the sounds (compare to a guitar where fingers go up, and the movement is wasted on the way down).

For plectrum Gaurang used a coconut shell :) He played for us sitting on the carpet in his living room turned into the studio. His instrument is very precious. The lower part of it is made out of goat skin. Main part is wooden, the space under the strings are metal, probably for resonance. Strings are so thin, so tender, almost like hairs. You can barely see them.

It was an honor that Gaurag brought the instrument out to show to us. Sarod is very sensitive to the temperature. Sometimes light on the stage during the performance, Gaurang said, can change the way the instrument sounds. He has to bring the instrument on the stage way before the performance so that the instrument can adjust to the temperature of the concert hall.

Gaurang was playing sarod, and time by time he was placing his fingers in the small round box to press on what appear to be a piece of cloth . I asked him what it was. He said that strings are harsh on fingers, and he uses oil to soften the skin.

And it was absolutely awesome that he has played for us! For the rhythm he used the electric tabla sound. It could go faster or slower; the entire thing has created the meditative experience. I loved it! Soon we'll have Gaurang's consert in Winston-Salem. "My father told me, - he says, - the best you can do for your teacher is start teaching". Gaurang revere his father who taught him how to play. Now his 11 years old daughter Anusha is playing sitar. He has students who come to his studio and use his instruments to learn how to play.



Gaurang's website - click here

be water, my friend

Golden Tread book

Finished reading "The Golden Thread: Essential Principles of Self Defense" by Michael Joyce. Very inspirational reading.

I remember one day Michael came to the class and said: "I went to a bookstore to flip through some of these self-defense books... made me think "Would it really work?" - mine is so much better!" He laughed ("as he always does" :)) but it is true - he wrote a very good book. Of course you can't learn self-defense from a book. But if you are having a practical training, the book can help to put mind into what you're learning. I like his line - "Never settle with what you think you know".

"Do not play the game the opponent wants you to play. If the attacker is pushing - you pull. If he is pulling - you push. He grabs high - you go low. This is called using "the reverse energy". This is good for a wide variety of applications.

Or about blocking. Self-defense is not an art of blocking, but the art of moving and redirecting. Blocking is instinctual and arises in time of panic. You can't win with blocking. Moving is creating distance, redirecting is deflecting, and jamming - stopping the strike before it happens - are proactive techniques. Never rely on blocking as a means of self-defense.

I absolutely love this one - "You intend to move; I already moved" (Chen Zhonghua). Or this one - "Opportunities multiply as they are ceased" (Sun Tzu). Michael wanted us to come with a motto that we can use to put all the energy together. I remember the example of this "energy summoning exercise" in the movie "The Edge" (great movie!) - "I am going to kill this bear!"

Also I like the line "Buffalo will win the Super Bowl!" (page 79), i laughed :)))

Great advice i think is this one - "Focus on the task at hand by moving, not by "intellectualizing". Opportunities are like windows, and open and close frequently but shut hard and fast". I really appreciate Michael makes videos of his classes so we can watch them later on youtube to visualize, and review to get a mental visual picture of what we should be doing. Helps! Before you can "react instinctively" (page 72) you need to train your body to have the reaction you want.

Also the classes in push hands really help to learn how to redirect someones energy and instead of letting it stuck into your body (the intention of the opponent) - let it fly by. It is a very helpful technique in hostile conversations, or any energy assault. Do not play by their rules! Play by your rules. Have your rules, train your body and mind to play. And be playful! :)

"Violence endures, but so does love".

pushing hands and fencing

We have done some fencing in the park this morning. Only two people came, so it was almost one on one, pretty cool. Michael is a great coach! Here is his website - http://www.chencenter.com/. We used sticks, no real weapon allowed in Reynolda. Stick is heavy. I had trouble to hold two fingers straight on the handle. The vocabulary was new as well. Some movements were good by tai-chi kind of. But i am not stuck with the "form". I liked it!

Here are some shots from the last week push hands morning. Done with Michael's little (but digital! :) camera. All images clickable to open in larger size.

children's concert

The concert went really well! Nadia's piano and voice students performed on the stage for the first time in their lives. It was very joyful and happy event! More than 120 people came to enjoy the concert. I would like to thank parents for supporting their children's talents! Your kids are in good hands of a very talanted and very unique person. Nadia is so passionate about teaching - she loves it!

It was the first concert of Nadia's music studio that recently has celebrated the first year anniversary. Here is the link to pictures from the concert that Nadia organized in the retirement community in Winston-Salem.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/-dash-/sets/72157609309352098/

Susan and Raegen

Librarians Susan Ayers and Raegen Luntz dressed up as Steelers for Halloween helping customers at Periodicals desk! :))) Photo by Don Dwiggings, Forsyth County Public Library.

Click on pictures to enlarge.

Kirov Orchestra

Nadia and i are going to the consert tonight - Kirov Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, with Valery Gergiev, conductor. Prokofiev: Selections from Cinderella, Op. 87. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58. Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Act 1.

www.carolinaperformingarts.org

Jean Block

Going to the funerals... Jean Block. Gone.


"It is not how much love you receive, but how much love you give..." Jean Block... We worked together for 2 years...
Many people came. Many people spoke. Many people cried.
Elegant - this is how they describe Jean and her life. Elegant...

Panagia Pammakaristos

I went to Greek Orthodox Monastery Panagia Pammakaristos to Lawsonville, NC. This is one of the monasteries founded by Elder Efrem from Mount Athos, Greece. The main monastery where the Elder resides is in Arizona, 2 hours from Phoenix. I have been there two summers ago. Mons have recreated Arizona in North Carolina! Grapes are growing, olives, lemons. Pal trees and cactus are everywhere. They grow well here. Panagia Pammakaristos, the icon of Mother of God, was venerated during a long service yesterday and this morning Monks served the liturgy. Then we all had festive meal. Greeks like to wear black, kids are not very obedient and run everywhere. They are so funny! One woman had a praying ropes as long as her own height! They were pink.

Interesting that a turtle was crossing the road when i was going to the monastery. How that turtles claimed up our mountains?

All pictures are clickable for a larger view.
All pictures are under copyright. Permission required.


the entrance


greek girl


not everyone could fit into the small church


Panagia Pammakaristos
the icon of the Mother of God


monk walking by the main monastery building


main building, the church and 'cells' are there


greek girlfriends


two girls and greek mama with a child


building where pilgrims can stay - a lot of rooms,
place for everyone.


greek girl in the monastery


greek style bell to call fro the church service


incredible cactus!


Arizona desert in North Carolina


cactus with needles that are not sharp at all


i could not take my eyes off this cactus! :)

all rights on photos reserved
copyright Наталья Тучина 2008

walk in Reynolda..

click on each photo to enlarge..
































all rights on photos reserved
copyright Natalia Tuchina 2008

back from Alaska

Came back from Alaska.

I am missing Alaska's oxygen. Very much. Here is the map of my travels. No cruse. My american friends ask me "Did you take a cruse?". No. I didn't. Air-plane, float-plane, motor-boat, 4wheel drive SUV (2 thousand miles i put on its wheels!) - this was my transportation. First three islands - Kodiak, Spruce and St.Nilus island. Than main land. I have marked my run on the map with the pink marker. Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks, Yukon, Tok (where Alaska 1 and Alaska 2 meet :), Kenai penunsula (went to Russian Old Believers there!). You can't really see the road to Yukon and Dalton highway on the map, didn't fit. But you cam imagine that the pink line goes up from Fairbanks...

Here it is, my great adventure in Alaska mapped!



Вот так.

in search of oxygen

After Alaska it is just not enough oxygen for me in the air. In search of oxygen i went to Pilot mountain today for a hike. This mountain was a landmark for indians. It is beautiful. Looks like like a green hat. Only eagles live on the top. No people allow to climb, but they can walk around in a ribbon trail. I also hikes 2 miles Ledge Spring trail, they say it is strenuous. Not with my camera :) I stop every inch to make my shots.

In several places i noticed a red ribbon, no go. Yellow jackets are nesting. We'd better not disturb them. They bite. It is their time to do their thing. I didn't know what these red ribbons are for till i came to the start of the trail - no wonder, i went the other way around, against the clock.

Have met two Romanians - Camelia and Alexandy. She works in our grocery store, and her husband is in electronics. Mesa is their last name. It means 'a table' in Spanish. Everything is so mixed up. I pictured them, and then gave my camera to Camelia, asking her to make a photo of me. She pressed the button, it was a loooooot of blue skies in the picture, but from the third try i got a chance to be in the picture to and didn't blink :))





me :)


the knob of the Pilot mountain, only eagles live on the top


trees grow holding to the rocks


lizard with a blue tail - probably prehistorical


Camelia and Alexandry from Romania


this is North Carolina and hwy 52 that i took to come to Pilot mountain


hwy 52 goes to Winston-Salem