It's an old saying.. "When one door closes, another one opens". But what happens if we are really attached to what we do, where we are at, our passions, dreams and desires? What happens when the door closes, when we realize that if we want to have a different result, we are going to have to change what we are doing? At first, fears happens. Then a lot of questioning happens. Perhaps some anger. But then answers also start to happen. Then a deeper sense of how much we have changed, and what the desires behind some of our dreams really are. A different level of peace and trust enters into my heart and I surrender, I accept, I move, I breathe, I get onto my mat, I connect with the Wisdom of Spirit within me. I surrender to the Magic of it all, because I feel it giving life to the beating of my heart.
As some of you know I used to work as a photographer. I still do it, but not as much as before. Then I got sick with large quantities of Heavy Metals in my blood that were causing all sorts of reactions. Then I got tired of being sick and having no answers. Then I started listening deep within and my life changed. Everything is the same, yet EVERYTHING has changed. There was a time in my life when all I breathed, ate and dreamed about was photography. I couldn't imagine my life without it. As I continued to heal, I went back to painting. I need that creative outlet of artistic expression. It has been my calling for so long.... but for the last couple of months... I started to react to the subtle and not so subtle scents and fumes of the acrylic paint. Ahhhhh. What? No! Again? Yes!
I have felt fear, I have felt anger that I can't do things that I love because of how they affect my body. I have struggled with it. But I have also sat with it. I asked questions and received answers. I surrendered to the powers above, and awoke to a magical world of synchronicity, love and spirit. As I meditate with it, I realize that most of my work as a photographer and a painter where about the human connection and my own connection to Spirit. Photographically, they were documentary stories about our social conditions, a lot where about the rituals that keep our connection alive. As a painter, I was fascinated with painting the feeling and energy of a landscape as a way to journey to Spirit.
As that door closes, it doesn't mean that I will stop, but the ways in which I can work both photographically and through painting have to change, a bigger door opens! The softening of the heart, the forgiveness to self, others and lives's circumstances is allowing me to trust in the ability of the Universe to guide me, to allow for personal transformation and a more intimate and deep connection to Spirit. All sort of wonderful synchronicity, magical moments & people keep showing up in my life and I am most grateful for the awe I feel inside. So another door opens and it's all Rawllygood. This brave new world has brought me into a different understanding and relationship with myself and with Spirit. I accept. I surrender. My heart is open.
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"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love."- Lao Tzu
Showing posts with label Breath. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breath. Show all posts
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Monday, April 1, 2013
In Loving Memory of those who lead with a golden heart...
I had finally sat down after a long break away from the computer to write about Spring and about releasing the 'someting old' to invite something new.... when we heard the news.. news that make you stop in your tracks, feel a low thump on your heart, deeply appreciate every second that we have and begin to grasp at the fact that we don't have all the answers for the way things happen, that life is more complex and intricate and fragile (if I may) than we would like to think.
I know a lot of you who read this blog are part of our community and are already dealing with the news. On friday morning, the Dunsmuir family passed away in their house due to a fire. Details are not clear, but what is clear is the loss that we all feel.
In our community the Dunsmuirs were the golden heart that lead the way to heart felt interactions, that gave the community strength, courage, and compassion. Mrs. Dunsmuir was the Director of the Queensville Montessori Academy up until 2010, where our kids attended school. A small school full of humanity, openness, universal thinking and awareness. It was an extention of home. It was full of heart, love, integrity, respect and devotion.
I believe that as we interact with one another a small part of ourselves gets left behind, I see it as a gift, an inspiration, a blessing. Mrs. Dunsmuir's blessing that will always be a part of me was her golden heart, for when one leads life with a golden heart, there is a different resonance to one's actions, words, thoughts, there is a different quality to our life. She walked her talk with a smile.
I would like to honour and dedicate this meditation to the Dunsmuir family (parents, Kevin and Jennifer, teenage sons, Robert and Cameron.). To David, their other son who was away at University. and to the community at large.
When we meditate we align ourselves and connect with universal energy, we connect with the source, and we connect with our environment and the people that surround us. For all of you in our community, this meditation is for us to feel connected with the blessings they gave to us. For those of you who perhaps never met the Dunsmuirs, this meditation is for connecting with the blessings and inspirations others have left for you and for leading your life with a golden heart.
The Connection and Golden Heart Meditation
1. Close your eyes and sit in a comfortable position. Breathe, deeply, a few times.
2. Begin to feel your body relax and let go of the stresses it feels.
Focus on your head, and feel your head relax as you gently exhale.
Focus on your face, and feel you face relax as you gently exhale.
Focus on your neck, and feel your neck relax as you gently exhale.
Go through your whole body. Neck, shoulders, arms, hands. Chest, upper abdomen, lower abdomen, organs. Hips, legs, knees, ankles, feet.
3. Come back to your breath. Focus on your breath for 5 rounds of inhalation and exhalation.
4. As you inhale, visualize a beam of golden light entering your heart chakra. Feel its radiance, warmth and love. Feel it filling up your heart chakra (upper chest) with golden light. Continue to be aware of your breath as you feel the golden light begin to travel freely all over your body, bringing along with it radiance, warmth, love, support. Connect with the blessings and inspirations others have left for you. Feel the beauty of life, feel the grace of a helping hand, feel the warmth and the depth of your own heart. Feel this golden light bring in new, fresh, vital energy into your body. Begin to feel refreshed. Begin to feel the lightness of your body as if a huge weight has been lifted of your shoulders. Feel the lightness and love in your heart.
5. Now visualize the golden energy flowing from your heart into the hearts of those around you, into your environment, into loved ones far away and into strangers nearby. This golden energy expands from your heart outwards into the world. Take some time to experience this flow of energy.
6. Come back to your breath. Come back to feeling the golden energy in your heart chakra and filling your whole body with it. Feel the gratitude in your heart for the blessings and inspirations others have given us and for the time shared together. Allow this gratitude to carry your own golden heart into the world. Focus on the inhale and the exhale a few times and then softly open your eyes.
___
"When my tears come, I breathe deeply and rest. I know I am swimming in a hallowed stream where many have gone before. I am not alone, crazy or having a nervous breakdown..... My heart is at work, my soul is awake. "- Mary Margaret Funk. (Thoughts Matter: The Practice of a Spiritual Life)
I know a lot of you who read this blog are part of our community and are already dealing with the news. On friday morning, the Dunsmuir family passed away in their house due to a fire. Details are not clear, but what is clear is the loss that we all feel.
In our community the Dunsmuirs were the golden heart that lead the way to heart felt interactions, that gave the community strength, courage, and compassion. Mrs. Dunsmuir was the Director of the Queensville Montessori Academy up until 2010, where our kids attended school. A small school full of humanity, openness, universal thinking and awareness. It was an extention of home. It was full of heart, love, integrity, respect and devotion.
I believe that as we interact with one another a small part of ourselves gets left behind, I see it as a gift, an inspiration, a blessing. Mrs. Dunsmuir's blessing that will always be a part of me was her golden heart, for when one leads life with a golden heart, there is a different resonance to one's actions, words, thoughts, there is a different quality to our life. She walked her talk with a smile.
When we meditate we align ourselves and connect with universal energy, we connect with the source, and we connect with our environment and the people that surround us. For all of you in our community, this meditation is for us to feel connected with the blessings they gave to us. For those of you who perhaps never met the Dunsmuirs, this meditation is for connecting with the blessings and inspirations others have left for you and for leading your life with a golden heart.
The Connection and Golden Heart Meditation
1. Close your eyes and sit in a comfortable position. Breathe, deeply, a few times.
2. Begin to feel your body relax and let go of the stresses it feels.
Focus on your head, and feel your head relax as you gently exhale.
Focus on your face, and feel you face relax as you gently exhale.
Focus on your neck, and feel your neck relax as you gently exhale.
Go through your whole body. Neck, shoulders, arms, hands. Chest, upper abdomen, lower abdomen, organs. Hips, legs, knees, ankles, feet.
3. Come back to your breath. Focus on your breath for 5 rounds of inhalation and exhalation.
4. As you inhale, visualize a beam of golden light entering your heart chakra. Feel its radiance, warmth and love. Feel it filling up your heart chakra (upper chest) with golden light. Continue to be aware of your breath as you feel the golden light begin to travel freely all over your body, bringing along with it radiance, warmth, love, support. Connect with the blessings and inspirations others have left for you. Feel the beauty of life, feel the grace of a helping hand, feel the warmth and the depth of your own heart. Feel this golden light bring in new, fresh, vital energy into your body. Begin to feel refreshed. Begin to feel the lightness of your body as if a huge weight has been lifted of your shoulders. Feel the lightness and love in your heart.
5. Now visualize the golden energy flowing from your heart into the hearts of those around you, into your environment, into loved ones far away and into strangers nearby. This golden energy expands from your heart outwards into the world. Take some time to experience this flow of energy.
6. Come back to your breath. Come back to feeling the golden energy in your heart chakra and filling your whole body with it. Feel the gratitude in your heart for the blessings and inspirations others have given us and for the time shared together. Allow this gratitude to carry your own golden heart into the world. Focus on the inhale and the exhale a few times and then softly open your eyes.
___
"When my tears come, I breathe deeply and rest. I know I am swimming in a hallowed stream where many have gone before. I am not alone, crazy or having a nervous breakdown..... My heart is at work, my soul is awake. "- Mary Margaret Funk. (Thoughts Matter: The Practice of a Spiritual Life)
Monday, January 7, 2013
My wishes for you...
Well, first things first. Happy New Year! a bit late I know.. but my wishes were with you as we celebrated and accepted the comings of the New Year! Life has been busy with everyone at home and I haven't had a chance to sit my bottom down to write. I have missed it. You see, I write to the great unknown out there, but I also write to the very well known in here, and it feels good.
May it bring many blessings to you and your loved ones, may it be filled with laughter and love, may it be filled with radiant health and the gift of joy, may it bring forth the realization of your most heart felt and desired dreams and may it bring you closer to Spirit.
Now that the wheels of the New Year are well under way and the pressure of the famous last 'resolutions' is off, perhaps a more realistic and compasionate look at the year past is possible, perhaps a more honest look within your heart at what you want to bring forth in your life this year is also possible. I find for myself, I have so many dreams and desires in so many directions it's just hard to keep up with all of them! simply impossible, yet I dream away, yet I plant seeds that perhaps will take years to grow and harvest.. yet I feel the heartfelt desire to bring it on, and let things happen and find the balance between living lightly on this earth and grounding deep roots for my breath to spread.
Here are a few of my Resolutions, some are big, some are small... all take inspiration in the creative potential that life has to manifest the seeds we plant.
1.- Be more present (even when I dream!). Be more realistic of where I am at, of the circumstances that are my current reality.
2.- Become a more positive gardener of my mind-garden. Become very aware and conscious of the seeds I am planting today. TODAY is my future in the making. NOW matters more than what I sometimes consciously accept. Focus on the positive, make it grow, nurture and nourish it to the point there is simply no room left for the negative.
3.- Do more things that FEEL GOOD. Yes we all have duties and responsibilities, but often we (i) get lost in them and in taking care of everyone around us (me). And all though, that feels good, it is not the same as finding things that make me feel really good with an open heart about this beautiful life, away from duties and responsibilities...
4.- Meditate on a daily basis. Deeply connect with nature and Spirit. Have breathing time. Quiet time. Rejuvenation time.
5.- Nourish my heart and listen to the voice within. I don't know about you, but I have periods of great intuition and I have periods of where has my intuition gone?. So nourishing my heart and staying more connected to it is something I want to pursue this year.
6.-Eat Rawllygood Nourishing Deliscious Foods, and of course, share them with you!
7.-Do something totally new to me. (Nope I can't pull it out of the bag yet!)
8.- I could keep going on, but I think I will stop right here.....
What is your revised version of your plan for this year! I got lots of details to sort out, and lots of details to write down... but I like the element of surprise and organic brewing (if you can call it that) in my life.
Whatever it is, make it honest, make it real, feel it within your heart, take off the family/community pressure 'cause really this is about you and your sense of self, your growth, your ride.
I wish for you days filled with bliss, days filled with rain to wash away what you no longer need and to bring new energy into your lives, days filled with earth supporting your feet, days filled with wind carrying you to soaring heights, days filled with the fire of love, lots and lots of love, and last but not least, days filled with the vibration of your breath reaching every corner of your being.
On that note...
Here is a recipe for a Glass of Bliss Smoothie shall you need it on your many wonderful days ahead.
Glass of Bliss Smoothie
1 banana
3 Tbsp of Raw Cacao Nibs
2 Tbsp of fresh mint leafs (or more for a more minty flavour)
3 dates
1 (or 2) droppers of Marine Phytoplancton
1/2 tsp Schinoussa SeaVegetable Powder
1 tsp hemp seeds
2 cups of nut mylk of your choice (almond is nice and sweet) or water (Hado water even better! or Almond mylk made with Hado water!)
Pinch of sea salt
Blend it all up, you want to have some of the Cacao Nibs chunks in there. Yum.
Note: my body doesn't need large amounts of protein. So the amounts of SeaVegetables and Hemps seeds are little. If you find your body does well with more, by all means up it up!
___
Quote of the Day
"I wish for you the wisdom to live only in present time, pursue only what gives you joy and the awareness of how useful these two choices are. And one more: Let compassion to yourself and specially to others, be always in your thinking and in your actions." CZ
__
Announcements
The 40 day meditation practice that started all this is coming up again. It is called "AWinter Feast for the Soul". Starts on January 15th. It is a wonderful way of connecting to the community at large and to experiment with different paths of meditation, and be supported along the way.
__
Book I recommend
"Nourishing Wisdom", a mind-body approach to nutrition and Well-Being, by Marc David.
__
May it bring many blessings to you and your loved ones, may it be filled with laughter and love, may it be filled with radiant health and the gift of joy, may it bring forth the realization of your most heart felt and desired dreams and may it bring you closer to Spirit.
Now that the wheels of the New Year are well under way and the pressure of the famous last 'resolutions' is off, perhaps a more realistic and compasionate look at the year past is possible, perhaps a more honest look within your heart at what you want to bring forth in your life this year is also possible. I find for myself, I have so many dreams and desires in so many directions it's just hard to keep up with all of them! simply impossible, yet I dream away, yet I plant seeds that perhaps will take years to grow and harvest.. yet I feel the heartfelt desire to bring it on, and let things happen and find the balance between living lightly on this earth and grounding deep roots for my breath to spread.
Here are a few of my Resolutions, some are big, some are small... all take inspiration in the creative potential that life has to manifest the seeds we plant.
1.- Be more present (even when I dream!). Be more realistic of where I am at, of the circumstances that are my current reality.
2.- Become a more positive gardener of my mind-garden. Become very aware and conscious of the seeds I am planting today. TODAY is my future in the making. NOW matters more than what I sometimes consciously accept. Focus on the positive, make it grow, nurture and nourish it to the point there is simply no room left for the negative.
3.- Do more things that FEEL GOOD. Yes we all have duties and responsibilities, but often we (i) get lost in them and in taking care of everyone around us (me). And all though, that feels good, it is not the same as finding things that make me feel really good with an open heart about this beautiful life, away from duties and responsibilities...
4.- Meditate on a daily basis. Deeply connect with nature and Spirit. Have breathing time. Quiet time. Rejuvenation time.
5.- Nourish my heart and listen to the voice within. I don't know about you, but I have periods of great intuition and I have periods of where has my intuition gone?. So nourishing my heart and staying more connected to it is something I want to pursue this year.
6.-Eat Rawllygood Nourishing Deliscious Foods, and of course, share them with you!
7.-Do something totally new to me. (Nope I can't pull it out of the bag yet!)
8.- I could keep going on, but I think I will stop right here.....
What is your revised version of your plan for this year! I got lots of details to sort out, and lots of details to write down... but I like the element of surprise and organic brewing (if you can call it that) in my life.
Whatever it is, make it honest, make it real, feel it within your heart, take off the family/community pressure 'cause really this is about you and your sense of self, your growth, your ride.
I wish for you days filled with bliss, days filled with rain to wash away what you no longer need and to bring new energy into your lives, days filled with earth supporting your feet, days filled with wind carrying you to soaring heights, days filled with the fire of love, lots and lots of love, and last but not least, days filled with the vibration of your breath reaching every corner of your being.
On that note...
Here is a recipe for a Glass of Bliss Smoothie shall you need it on your many wonderful days ahead.
Glass of Bliss Smoothie
1 banana
3 Tbsp of Raw Cacao Nibs
2 Tbsp of fresh mint leafs (or more for a more minty flavour)
3 dates
1 (or 2) droppers of Marine Phytoplancton
1/2 tsp Schinoussa SeaVegetable Powder
1 tsp hemp seeds
2 cups of nut mylk of your choice (almond is nice and sweet) or water (Hado water even better! or Almond mylk made with Hado water!)
Pinch of sea salt
Blend it all up, you want to have some of the Cacao Nibs chunks in there. Yum.
Note: my body doesn't need large amounts of protein. So the amounts of SeaVegetables and Hemps seeds are little. If you find your body does well with more, by all means up it up!
___
Quote of the Day
"I wish for you the wisdom to live only in present time, pursue only what gives you joy and the awareness of how useful these two choices are. And one more: Let compassion to yourself and specially to others, be always in your thinking and in your actions." CZ
__
Announcements
The 40 day meditation practice that started all this is coming up again. It is called "AWinter Feast for the Soul". Starts on January 15th. It is a wonderful way of connecting to the community at large and to experiment with different paths of meditation, and be supported along the way.
__
Book I recommend
"Nourishing Wisdom", a mind-body approach to nutrition and Well-Being, by Marc David.
__
Saturday, November 24, 2012
So how goes the goods? dusting off the seed of hope...
Almost there... day 19th out of 21... or perhaps you will be ready to keep the moments of stillness integrated into your life until the end of times...
How is your meditation practice going? Have you been able to find some quiet in midst of our very busy lives? Have you been able to tap into your own source of stillness, where all power, healing, and creation stem from?
Some days are easier than others, even within our meditation practice. Some days I seem to be instantly transported to that place, some days the chatter and the rest of my life seems to offer 'little (or BIG) roadblocks'.. but what can you do... accept accept accept... and keep on showing up...
One day perhaps we might stumble upon our own seed of hope. Hope most likely means something different to all of us, or perhaps it means something different on different days to each of us. To me, hope is the source of unlimited creative potential to be the best possible version of myself I can be to myself and to those around me. On some days, hope means being in radiant vibrant health, or my child's loving embrace at the end of the day. Tonight it means praying for world peace, a few nights ago it meant having peace at the dinner table. Hope is powerful, simple, profound. Hope can be as simple as wishing to create healthier habits in our lives.
Dusting off the seed of hope might just allow us to take action in our lives in the direction of our deepest of heart's desires. So I invite you, to take a breath, or two, and find your seed of hope. Embrace it and allow it to surprise your life with wonder and happiness.
If you have a meditation practice or have recently developed one, or you are still trying to find time, or a place, or the consistancy of showing up.... the fact that we commit to ourselves even just 5 minutes of our day to meditate and find our own seed of hope is a huge step of the process....
Embrace new rituals that bring you peace and witness the joy revolution!
So here is a little early holiday present from me to you...
HEALING ENERGY MEDITATION
Sit in lotus or in a comfortable position.
Close your eyes and take 5 deep breaths, make a letting go sound "aahhhh" as you exhale.
Now take a few more breaths quietly.
Go into the quiet place within you. Bring your awareness to your breath.
If at any point your inner chatter takes over, don't fight it, just keep on coming back to your breath.
Focus your attention on the top of your head.. your crown chakra.
Visualize a beam of healing cosmic golden energy come into your body through the crown chakra. Feel its warmth and radiance come into your body, visualize it coming into your body like water flowing on a stream.
Cosmic golden energy flows into your whole body. Focus on the FEELING of flow of energy as you scan your body, feel the energy move within. Scan your body from top to bottom. Eventually you will feel energy flow into your head, face, neck, arms, chest.. follow its flow into your lower abdomen, hips, legs, knees, ankles, and feet.
Imagine and feel your whole body being filled with warmth as if a candle was lit within you, reaching to every nook, corner and cell of your body.
Stay in this space as long as you want to.
Slowly become aware of your breath.
Bring your right hand to your lower abdomen and your left hand to your heart. Breath deeply into your lower abdomen, feel the movement of your abdomen with your right hand. Feel your heart beat with your left hand. Express gratitude to yourself and to your life and heart's desires.
Slowly open your eyes and stretch your body.
__
"Plant the seed of meditation and reap the fruit of peace of mind."-
How is your meditation practice going? Have you been able to find some quiet in midst of our very busy lives? Have you been able to tap into your own source of stillness, where all power, healing, and creation stem from?
Some days are easier than others, even within our meditation practice. Some days I seem to be instantly transported to that place, some days the chatter and the rest of my life seems to offer 'little (or BIG) roadblocks'.. but what can you do... accept accept accept... and keep on showing up...
One day perhaps we might stumble upon our own seed of hope. Hope most likely means something different to all of us, or perhaps it means something different on different days to each of us. To me, hope is the source of unlimited creative potential to be the best possible version of myself I can be to myself and to those around me. On some days, hope means being in radiant vibrant health, or my child's loving embrace at the end of the day. Tonight it means praying for world peace, a few nights ago it meant having peace at the dinner table. Hope is powerful, simple, profound. Hope can be as simple as wishing to create healthier habits in our lives.
Dusting off the seed of hope might just allow us to take action in our lives in the direction of our deepest of heart's desires. So I invite you, to take a breath, or two, and find your seed of hope. Embrace it and allow it to surprise your life with wonder and happiness.
If you have a meditation practice or have recently developed one, or you are still trying to find time, or a place, or the consistancy of showing up.... the fact that we commit to ourselves even just 5 minutes of our day to meditate and find our own seed of hope is a huge step of the process....
Embrace new rituals that bring you peace and witness the joy revolution!
So here is a little early holiday present from me to you...
HEALING ENERGY MEDITATION
Sit in lotus or in a comfortable position.
Close your eyes and take 5 deep breaths, make a letting go sound "aahhhh" as you exhale.
Now take a few more breaths quietly.
Go into the quiet place within you. Bring your awareness to your breath.
If at any point your inner chatter takes over, don't fight it, just keep on coming back to your breath.
Focus your attention on the top of your head.. your crown chakra.
Visualize a beam of healing cosmic golden energy come into your body through the crown chakra. Feel its warmth and radiance come into your body, visualize it coming into your body like water flowing on a stream.
Cosmic golden energy flows into your whole body. Focus on the FEELING of flow of energy as you scan your body, feel the energy move within. Scan your body from top to bottom. Eventually you will feel energy flow into your head, face, neck, arms, chest.. follow its flow into your lower abdomen, hips, legs, knees, ankles, and feet.
Imagine and feel your whole body being filled with warmth as if a candle was lit within you, reaching to every nook, corner and cell of your body.
Stay in this space as long as you want to.
Slowly become aware of your breath.
Bring your right hand to your lower abdomen and your left hand to your heart. Breath deeply into your lower abdomen, feel the movement of your abdomen with your right hand. Feel your heart beat with your left hand. Express gratitude to yourself and to your life and heart's desires.
Slowly open your eyes and stretch your body.
__
"Plant the seed of meditation and reap the fruit of peace of mind."-
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Happy 100th post! and Join the free 21 day meditation guided by Deepak Chopra- Starts Nov. 5th.
Happy 100th post! Can you believe it and to celebrate it Deepak Chopra is hosting a free 21 day meditation journey!
Just kidding. Deepak Chopra is holding the free 21 day meditation journey, but it has nothing to do with this blog. I just like to celebrate the occasion of the 100th post with the sharing of the information about the meditation journey.
We have all heard of the wonderful effects that Meditation can have on our lives. We have all perhaps meditated for some time, only to be carried away from it by our daily lives, or perhaps we still show up day in and day out to witness our breath.
Some of the benefits of Meditation are:
"It reduces stress, it lowers blood pressure, it disciplines the mind, cultivates peace, purifies the mind, connects us at a deeper level with our intuition, it induces clarity of vision and thinking, it improves concentration and focus, it improves memory, it organizes our energy field". (Excerpt from the Conscious Living Manual by Shantree Kacera.)
So good, right? So climb aboard the journey to grounded and vibrant health, because really, we must be deeply grounded in earth to reach out for heaven.
Starting on November 5th, Deepak Chopra will be guiding a meditation journey for 21 days. It is a free event, but you must register. The three week process is guided towards a place of authentic abundance consciousness. In nature, it takes 21 days for a caterpillar to become a butterfly, it is a significant number of transformation. Opportunities like these, the gathering of large numbers of people doing something you inspire to do, or perhaps already do, are a great way to find strength in developing the meditation muscle, or perhaps in finding strength in sustaining the meditation practice you already have.
All though I have read several of his books, I have not done any of this workshops, so I will be listening to his guidance during the 21 days along with you. I'm curious, for my meditation practice is a quiet one, bringing my awareness back to the breath, focusing on my body experience. So it will be different for me to have someone guiding the process, but I am open to it's benefits and the growth the process can bring to my and your life.
If this is something that might interest you, sign up! you might be happily surprised. We'll be doing it together!
__
"Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It is a way of entering into the quiet that is already there- buried under the 50,000 thoughts the average person thinks every day". - Deepak Chopra
Just kidding. Deepak Chopra is holding the free 21 day meditation journey, but it has nothing to do with this blog. I just like to celebrate the occasion of the 100th post with the sharing of the information about the meditation journey.
We have all heard of the wonderful effects that Meditation can have on our lives. We have all perhaps meditated for some time, only to be carried away from it by our daily lives, or perhaps we still show up day in and day out to witness our breath.
Some of the benefits of Meditation are:
"It reduces stress, it lowers blood pressure, it disciplines the mind, cultivates peace, purifies the mind, connects us at a deeper level with our intuition, it induces clarity of vision and thinking, it improves concentration and focus, it improves memory, it organizes our energy field". (Excerpt from the Conscious Living Manual by Shantree Kacera.)
So good, right? So climb aboard the journey to grounded and vibrant health, because really, we must be deeply grounded in earth to reach out for heaven.
Starting on November 5th, Deepak Chopra will be guiding a meditation journey for 21 days. It is a free event, but you must register. The three week process is guided towards a place of authentic abundance consciousness. In nature, it takes 21 days for a caterpillar to become a butterfly, it is a significant number of transformation. Opportunities like these, the gathering of large numbers of people doing something you inspire to do, or perhaps already do, are a great way to find strength in developing the meditation muscle, or perhaps in finding strength in sustaining the meditation practice you already have.
All though I have read several of his books, I have not done any of this workshops, so I will be listening to his guidance during the 21 days along with you. I'm curious, for my meditation practice is a quiet one, bringing my awareness back to the breath, focusing on my body experience. So it will be different for me to have someone guiding the process, but I am open to it's benefits and the growth the process can bring to my and your life.
If this is something that might interest you, sign up! you might be happily surprised. We'll be doing it together!
__
"Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It is a way of entering into the quiet that is already there- buried under the 50,000 thoughts the average person thinks every day". - Deepak Chopra
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Tuesday is Yoga Day at the Rawllygood...
There is just so much to say in so many directions that I am trying to set things up so I get a chance to do it all!! I know .. there will always be more that I want to do... but I think it's a good way to start.
So Tuesdays will be all things Yoga... from the breath, to poses, to books and discoveries I make as I journey deeper into this world I love.
The Importance of our practice:
We may be new Yoginis, old Yoginis, new to the whole scene altogether. Often we hear the teachers we follow talk about their practice, about how important it is to make time for your own practice. I know for a long time I heard those words and was overwhelmed by them. Not knowing exactly how to make time for myself in the midst of a busy family life. Not knowing what to do first because there is so much I want to do. But my commitment was not as deep as it is now, for any little wave of life, would send "my practice" out the window, and then the whole process would start again.
Since my 40 day juice fast and 40 day meditation practice I have continued my commitment to my practice. It is a different kind of commitment, from a deeper space within me, that makes everything else work around the practice instead of trying to squeeze the practice in at some point during the busy day. Some days, even getting up earlier than usual only allows for a short practice. But even if it is short, sitting and noticing the breath creates a space within me of gratitude, wonder, acknowledgement that all is well, that I am taking care of myself.
Long ago a yoga teacher told me if you don't take care of yourself first, you won't be able to take care of those around you in the long run. At the time I didn't understand what she meant. In my mind, I had little ones to attend and thought taking that daily time to myself was selfish. Now I understand that it is selfish but necessary, because only when your light shines to the world are you able to share it. If your inner light struggles to maintain itself constantly attending others than at some point it will burn out, and I know that one all too well. So today I see 'my practice' as a gift not only to myself but to those around me.
My gift to you comes in the words of 'simplify your practice'. Start with 5 minutes a day. Make your practice whatever you want it to today. It may change as you change. Start by sitting quietly and noticing the breath. Then see what happens. Perhaps your practice is about stretching the body doing some Yoga Asanas (poses), or dancing to the beat of the drum...
Yoga is not only about Asana, as we see it here in the West. It is about union. Union of body, mind and soul. Yoga is about connecting with our breath no matter what we are doing, about connecting with the divinity within and allowing it to shine. It is about connecting to your inner truth, about brining peace and wisdom into your life.
Om Shanti Shanti Om
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So Tuesdays will be all things Yoga... from the breath, to poses, to books and discoveries I make as I journey deeper into this world I love.
The Importance of our practice:
We may be new Yoginis, old Yoginis, new to the whole scene altogether. Often we hear the teachers we follow talk about their practice, about how important it is to make time for your own practice. I know for a long time I heard those words and was overwhelmed by them. Not knowing exactly how to make time for myself in the midst of a busy family life. Not knowing what to do first because there is so much I want to do. But my commitment was not as deep as it is now, for any little wave of life, would send "my practice" out the window, and then the whole process would start again.
Since my 40 day juice fast and 40 day meditation practice I have continued my commitment to my practice. It is a different kind of commitment, from a deeper space within me, that makes everything else work around the practice instead of trying to squeeze the practice in at some point during the busy day. Some days, even getting up earlier than usual only allows for a short practice. But even if it is short, sitting and noticing the breath creates a space within me of gratitude, wonder, acknowledgement that all is well, that I am taking care of myself.
Long ago a yoga teacher told me if you don't take care of yourself first, you won't be able to take care of those around you in the long run. At the time I didn't understand what she meant. In my mind, I had little ones to attend and thought taking that daily time to myself was selfish. Now I understand that it is selfish but necessary, because only when your light shines to the world are you able to share it. If your inner light struggles to maintain itself constantly attending others than at some point it will burn out, and I know that one all too well. So today I see 'my practice' as a gift not only to myself but to those around me.
My gift to you comes in the words of 'simplify your practice'. Start with 5 minutes a day. Make your practice whatever you want it to today. It may change as you change. Start by sitting quietly and noticing the breath. Then see what happens. Perhaps your practice is about stretching the body doing some Yoga Asanas (poses), or dancing to the beat of the drum...
Yoga is not only about Asana, as we see it here in the West. It is about union. Union of body, mind and soul. Yoga is about connecting with our breath no matter what we are doing, about connecting with the divinity within and allowing it to shine. It is about connecting to your inner truth, about brining peace and wisdom into your life.
Om Shanti Shanti Om
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In theory, practice and theory are the same. In practice they are notYogi Berra
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Day 26: meet my carnivore singing the Wheat belly song!
Meet my dear carnivore... my husband who has watched me change and grow for the past 4 years in more ways than he ever dreamed of in his wildest dreams. Now he knows he's got a special wife. But in the last 2.5 years, he's really expanded his definition of 'special'.
He has supported me all along, hesitant and suspicious of the path I have chosen... that is until a few months ago!!!
Finally, he read "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D, and I could see his head shake and his brain twist out of his head as someone else, with "scientific proof and data" told him what I had been saying for the past 4 years...
He has been inspired! and went on to read "Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health" by William Davis, MD and is now singing the "Wheat belly" song out loud and clear!. It's quite beautiful to witness his own growth and changes as his awareness on the subject expands...
Now, I am a firm non-believer in diets! But I am proof of the 'side effects' wheat has on the body and I do believe the extreme processing of it has done a lot of damage in our society. I also believe, it's time we take our health into our own hands, to find out what really works for you on your path to optimal health.
I am thankful for the changes he now seeks. He has lost weight, has a lot more stamina and energy, his skin glows and looks at least 5 years younger!
So if it's possible for my carnivore, who likes his meat rare and now rarely eats meat. It's possible. He is not vegan. But his new understanding of the effects of animal protein and wheat on the body, leads him to make different choices.
For our family and friends, it's been quite the ride to witness the carnivore and the raw vegan coexist happily under the same roof! Well, friends, family and reader out there... we are going on a ride! Where it will lead us no one knows...
I do know one thing... sometimes we change paths or in ways those around us are not ready to join in just yet. But we must trust that our changes our necessary for our own growth, even if isolating at times. We must trust that our loved ones will change at their time and that truly lasting change comes from within. Nobody can convince anyone of nothing, only you have the wisdom to know what you seek and need. We must trust that it's all good, RAWlly good!
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"All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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Morning: Cucumber, Celery , parsley, apple. 16 oz.
Soon After: 5 oz wheatgrass in 8 oz of water.
Mid morning: Cucumber, celery, kale, lime, apple, coconut water, 5 oz of wheatgrass. 40 oz.
Lunch: Carrot, orange, ginger. 40 oz.
Dinner: 2 cups of hot water with Unpasteurized Miso.
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