There are some wonderful  traditions associated with Beltane - many have been "adopted" and cleaned up to take the fertility and sexiness away from them, but we all know what the real intent is when you dance around a maypole!
Here's a great site with details of different Beltane traditions, including what happens at a Handfasting (pagan wedding)

 http://www.goddessandgreenman.co.uk/beltane

I really like Lourdes and Tara from
 HealingCrystals.com!  They don't take themselves too seriously and are so enthusiastic about crystals but offer some good advice about how to use them.  If you like their style, check out their other videos. 

We are really big on recycling - especially clothes, so I hope you have a bit of fun with this no sew       t-shirt bag.  Imagine this with your old band t-shirts or the ones you can't bear to part with but just don't fit any more!  Have fun and let us see your creations :-)

Fi  xxx

This video shows you a good way to hold the bowl and get different tones from it.

I've always been fascinated by the lovely sound and feel of the Chinese exercise balls but have never really understood what they do or what their benefits are.  
Found some straightforward advice on a website called http://www.about.com/religion/


The use of Chinese exercise balls is based on the theory of jing luo (merdians) and xue (acupuncture points). Two or more balls are placed in the palm and manipulated by the hand and fingers. As the balls are rotated clockwise and counter-clockwise by the finger movements vital acupuncture points in the hand are stimulated.

Exercising with Chinese health balls is intended to restore energy and blood flow to the brain, muscle, and bones, and as a result improve overall health and ultimately prolong life. According to Chinese medicine the ten fingers are connected to the cranial nerve, and the body's vital organs (heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, gallbladder, and stomach).

History of Chinese Exercise BallsTraditional Chinese exercise balls date back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Original balls were solid. Later the balls were made hollow and were generally made from metal. Sounding plates are housed inside a paired set of metal exercise balls creating chime sounds when they are handled. One sounds high representing "yin" and the other sounds low representing "yang."Today you can find a variety of exercise balls sculpted from different mediums (wood, metal, and stone). Many of them are quite beautiful and have artistic value. Metal balls are the most commonly used for exercise because they are more durable, and the metal health balls are also considered to be the most therapeutic.

Chinese exercise balls typically are sold in pairs. It is recommended that children use the balls measuring 30 millimeters while tall adults can rely on the balls measuring up to 60 millimeters. For an average woman, 35mm to 40mm balls are recommended and 40 to 50 mm balls are suggested for an average man. Smaller balls are recommended if you wish to advance your exercise by manipulating 3, 4, or even 5 balls together in your hand.Other Names for Chinese Exercise Balls

• Baoding balls
• Chinese Therapy Balls
• Chinese Stress Balls
• Chinese Health Balls
• Yin and Yang Balls

A no nonsense approach to making your own incense from kitchen indredients