Aurama

It is ideas and thoughts first conceived in the mind, which construct reality.

Aurama is Marina Gkiasta’s vision of living in harmony with nature and in balance of body, mind and spirit, which according to her classics education and further studies on humans, nature and natural therapy, and in combination with her cultural and familial background, her philosophy and life experience, is what determines quality of life. ‘Orama’ in greek means vision, but ‘aura’ refers to a more etheric state of being. It is based on a holistic view of the world and focuses on ways of perception, living, prevention and healing that promote the balance with ourselves and the world around us. Aurama is also the brand name of her home industry of herbs and herbal products.

After a deep long dive into human history, human nature, the relationship between humans and the rest of the natural world, and understanding the principles of life and the state of health and dis-ease, it feels only natural that Marina understands why a balanced relationship with nature should be our most worthy goal. It is a precondition for environmental, social and personal prosperity, which is what we deserve and should aim for. Even when we live in an urban environment, we should try for the healthiest possible relationship with nature and our own nature.

In the beginnings of 2010’s Marina moved to the countryside of the island of Crete, a place that still preserves environmental and cultural richness quite unique for the modern Western world. Realizing a dream she has had since adolescence she is delving into the knowledge and experience of living in the countryside and practicing natural healing. Together with Michalis Pavlakis (teacher of mechanical engineering and musician) and with contributions from other worthy people, they built an environmentally friendly house and applying modern and ancient techniques of energy flow. They are developing a modest, permaculture garden with trees, eatable and medicinal plants, mostly wild or growing in natural conditions, and they are transforming a marginal piece of land (rocky and overgrazed) into an ecosystem of high biodiversity. Weather conditions can also be extreme and it has been an amazing school for us to observe how plants respond and how we all adapt to living together. They produce a range of herbs and herbal products while the garden’s plants and the garden as a whole, forms part of Marina’s holistic practice.

Aurama is not about a luxurious lifestyle.
It concerns the luxury of living well.

Goals

To offer individualised consultations and therapy sessions that focus on the particular, personal needs of an individual and draw up upon the healing power of plants, medical knowledge throughout time, approaches from the ancient path of classical Indian yoga, and the therapeutic potential of talking and speech expression.
To offer educational and therapeutic workshops, seminars and activities of an holistic approach to life, health and well-being.
To contribute to pathways of meeting, co-creating and sharing knowledge about life in physical spaces and natural environments.
To propose an ecological, therapeutic and educational model of Permaculture food and herb gardens through the safeguarding of biodiversity, since it is the harmonious coexistence/cohabitation with the other living organisms that sustains and promotes life, health and well-being.
To foster relationships of cooperation and co-creativity that promote medical herbalism, holistic healing, personal and social well-being and that support both the preservation of environmental and cultural diversity, and the appreciation of traditional wisdom.
To produce and promote high-quality medicinal plants and herbal products of biodynamic, organic, and sustainable cultivation.
To promote awareness of the medicinal value of Cretan plants and traditional lifestyles.
To support and share principles of self consciousness and understanding/awareness of the world we are part of.
To explore and share experiences and knowledge regarding ways of living that are actually compatible with Life.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

The world is a whole

The most common point of convergence among philosophers, scientists and humanitarians throughout time is the understanding that:

Nature is a whole.

The human being as part of nature is a whole of mind, spirit and body.

Happiness is to live in wholeness.

A holistic view, which recognizes the indissoluble relationship between humans and the natural world and which makes good use of the knowledge we have inherited since antiquity is, I believe, the only road towards health and well-being. Although modern scientific developments have benefited humanity in various ways, the current perception of dichotomy between humans and (their own) Nature has caused severe disruption / dis–ease as much to individuals, as to the whole planet and our society.

People are part of Nature and can never respond to their natural needs except if they are in tune with nature, namely, if they respect their own nature and enjoy environmental and social prosperity.

Nature, Health and Well-being

Nature is all the features, processes and forces that constitute the universe.

Nature makes life possible.

Life is a dance of biological processes that creates a unity of form, thoughts and feelings in all living beings.

Health is the state of balance among mind, body and spirit.

Happiness is the enjoyment of the best possible balance among mind, body and spirit.

There is no health and well-being without positive emotions, which presuppose living in a natural environment, but also living in peace, freedom, justice and solidarity.

How the natural environment impacts on health and well-being:

Α. At the level of the individual as a natural entity, body, mind and soul: the environment which we live in impacts on our survival as much directly, e.g. breath, food and socio-economic activities and identity construction, as indirectly, influencing our senses and our microbiome. It is through our senses and microbiome that we receive messages from the outside world so as to adopt suitable strategies of adaptation, defence and survival. Both play an active role in our health, that is our mental and psychological state.

Β. The natural environment is also linked to the sociocultural evolution and ideology, which influence in a direct manner a person’s psychological and emotional development. When a society evolves in a harmonious relationship with its ecosystem, it can ensure a friendlier social environment for the individuals that comprise it, fostering a positive emotional development and healthy social relationships.

The harmonious coexistence and coevolution of humans with their natural environment is a prerequisite for personal and social health and well-being.

AURAMA