Aromatherapy

Tomorrow I'm going to visit the Aromatherapy Institute and purchase soap-making supplies, as well as inquire about enrolling in courses for their programs in holistic health care.

The start-up fee is only $200, which isn't bad, since the numbers show that amount could create over 300 bars of natural specialty soap.

And so far the process of writing down all my ideas for recipes has been exhilarating, to say the least.

It will also be fun to give out free samples to people and get their feedback before I consider selling them on a serious basis (it's been a few years since I've made soap, so I need to practice). But the soap I did make was sold through the Children's Aid Society, so I thought it might be worth it to try my hand at it again.

My friend is also going to be taking courses with me in the new year, and we hope to have a modest line of skin care items for sale in the summer. She wants to specialize in natural make-up, whereas I am big on soaps, creams, shampoos, and spa facial treatments.

We were even thinking of aiming for a merchant booth at Eclipse Festival or some other summer music fest that would get us some exposure.

And it seems the most logical next step is to add some charity influence to the sales. One charity I came across recently particularly moved me, and it was a fund that supports a girls' orphanage in Israel. Since beauty products are quite girly to begin with, it made perfect sense to me to empower disadvantaged Jewish women of tomorrow.

Also, since it's specialty soap that's eco-friendly, there are two reasons people can feel good when buying it.

Oh, and I'm glad I didn't throw out my flame retardant lab coat and goggles from my first year chemistry lab while cleaning recently. They will come in handy tomorrow!

I will post pictures of the work in progress.

Lyla tov.

Kibbutz Ha'on

Somewhere in the Middle East, that is Israel, on the south-eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, near the borders between Syria and Jordan lies a beautiful kibbutz village called Ha'on.

Here are some highlights from my first overnight encounter with Eretz Yisrael.

Looking at these photos instantly sends me back my stay there. Drinking fruity Golani wine, dancing and singing along to The Doors and Bob Marley coming from the patio bar stereo, and gazing across the water to Tiberias. I remember how connected to H-shem I felt. Also, it was clear as crystal to see the Kabbalistic connection between Northern Israel and the element of water. The emotional intensity of being somewhere that instantly felt like home was unreal. It actually brought me to tears on the second night, while chilling by the water with some of my trip mates.

We were discussing our identities as Jews and Canadians, and which we see first when identifying ourselves and why. I mentioned the pull from my grandmother (who is now passed on) to come to Israel, and how I think she would have wanted this.

The next day, after crying (again) from trancing out at the Kotel (Western Wall) over Tehillim (Psalms), our Israeli tour guide told me my grandmother is probably very proud of me right now.

I hope he is right.

*taps mic* Is this thing on?

It was advised to me recently that I should start blogging my thoughts, due to me being in the "flamer" phase of becoming a baal teshuva, or returnee to Orthodox Judaism.

It's hard to gain the support of family and friends when you've gone from being a drug using hippie to Torah studying, siddur reading, skirt wearing BT in less than a year.

It was told to me to try and avoid taking on too much at once, for it is very possible to burn out after becoming a flamer.

And there was a time, around Pesach this past year, when I was still wearing pants a few days of the week, where I told myself I'd never just flip like that. No, I'd be one of those people who takes years and years of careful consideration and study before committing to all these mitzvot.

But after a while it became less of a chore, or tourist experience and more of a joy for which to look forward, especially since returning from Israel for the first time this past summer. I can see now why observant Jews literally live for the experience of Shabbat. It is a beautiful day to reflect upon the week that just ended, and the one that is about to start.

Hopefully I will find the catharsis I am looking for during this difficult transition into a new chapter of life. All other online outlets I've tried have failed miserably thus far, and it is surely my duty to maintain this space as a conduit for positivity, and not reckless loshon hora.

Shabbat Shalom.