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Wednesday 30 November 2011

The Love Movement.

When you seek love with all your heart, you shall find it's echoes across the universe. - Rumi

Today someone brought this video to my attention. At first I wanted to stop watching it. I wanted to look away. But understanding what is going on in the world awakens us to the growing responsibility we all have to help humanity lift itself above the violence, the hatred, the outrage. Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we direct our energy, our focus and our intent toward peace. The more we focus on war, violence, or being "anti" oppression - the more we feed those very things. Be pro-love, pro-respect, pro-peace. For those of us who are not on the 'front lines', who are sitting pretty in our comfortable homes, watching our big screen tv's, enjoying the many comforts of living in a civilized, quiet neighborhood - we can do more than we realize to assist in the healing of the world. You are that powerful. Every time you choose love over hate, forgiveness over revenge, and do what you can each day to be a steward of peace - you send out waves of that higher vibration. That higher vibration is what the world needs right now. We, as a global human culture, are in a period of transformation. The old paradigms do not work any longer. As we shift, globally, please, please do your part locally to be part of the change for the better.

Om Namah Shivayah

Monday 28 November 2011

Pre Holiday Musings

It`s already almost the end of November! Unbelievable that in just a month this crazy 2011 journey will be OVER. There was a point where I wondered whether this year would ever end. There were points when I haven`t been able to believe the undeniable gratitude I have felt for the amazingness of support, abundance and friendship I`ve experienced this year. To say that it's been a bit of a roller coaster would be an understatement.

As the holiday season begins to sparkle and shine all around me I find myself, for the first time in years, actually feeling a bit of the Christmas Spirit. I haven't felt that in several years. In fact, the last time I remember truly feeling that warm fuzzy holiday feeling was probably the winter of 2008. And, unfortunately, it didn't last long as that winter was not an excellent one.

I ventured into a few stores this past week searching for something special for the annual 'Girlz Christmas Party' that a dozen or so of my friends host every year. It's early enough in the season that the stores were still pretty mellow and there wasn't really an abundance of crowds. But as I meandered up and down the endless isles of SO MUCH STUFF I started to question whether more stuff really makes a good gift? Most of us have more than we could ever need. It's not more stuff that's going to fill us with the love and connection that we all crave. Or that delicious feeling of togetherness when we're around people we really enjoy.




This year I am so inspired by friendship. I have so much heart-swelling appreciation for the little things in my life that make me smile and for my incredible circle of family and support. If there was a way I could package and wrap my appreciation, or that warm buzz in my chest when I think of time spent with good friends this year, believe me I would. That's the stuff that's priceless; the stuff that true happiness, and true "holiday spirit" is made of.

So as the holiday hoop-lah unfolds around me I'm laying low this year. Please don't be surprised if I show up on your doorstep with a bottle of wine or a box of tea and a big bear hug. Because this year, that's what the holidays mean for me - togetherness, moments of comfort with good friends and a sharing of our journeys as we all flounder through this crazy life together.

If you're feeling the same sorta way this year - here's a few ideas to help you think outside the box, and outside the malls. Some feel good gift ideas for yourself or those you love:

-Biss Holiday Special - One hour private yoga session or stress relieving hypnotherapy session plus a 45 min spa treatment of your choice (hot stone massage, aromatherapy massage, reflexology) ~ $99

-Yoga Classes! or Private Yoga Sessions (honestly - the gifts that keep on giving, on so many life transforming levels....)

-Plants and lovely living green things.

-Feng Shui consultation The gift of organization, and activating parts of your life that need a lift. Awesome.

-Trips and Travel. There's nothing like some time away. Need a travel buddy? You know I'm always happy to oblige. ;)

Monday 14 November 2011

Impermanence


Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

I recently spent some time with my beautiful niece, Nika. Her and I are still getting to know each other. She`s 11 months old. I don`t get to spend much time with her. But she brings a smile to my face whenever I do. Children have a natural radiance about them that reminds me of how impermanent things are. Children have not yet learned how to hold grudges or how to harden their hearts. They cry when they are sad or hurt or frightened... and then they get over it. And, within moments, they`re laughing and smiling again, without even a second thought about what had upset them to begin with. They learn the habits of suffering and resentment from us - the adults that are supposed to be so `wise`. Like little sponges, they model their world after what they see us do and say.

Watching my little niece grow so quickly reminds me of how rapidly, and naturally, things change. Constantly. One moment she`s a tiny peanut that fit perfectly into the palm of my hands. The next minute - she`s saying words and mimicking and learning so much from everything she sees and hears. Children are a symbol for me of the Yoga and Buddhist practice of `Beginners Mind`. Every moment is new, everything is mesmerizing. Even when you present them with the same silly face or the same ridiculous game - every time, no matter how many times they`ve repeated or experienced it, they laugh and celebrate as if it was the first time! I remember recently spending nearly half an hour doing handstands while a friend`s 2 yr old son tossed things at me; both of us laughing hysterically the whole time. And when I got tired, or the moment passed, we simply moved on to the next adventure. Easy. Simple.

You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back. ~William D. Tammeus

This fact of Impermanence, when fully understood, really frees us to be completely present in each and every moment. Fully alive in today, this moment, right now. Knowing that, before we even realize it, it`s already changing. Because it`s all fluid and changing. So, holding on too tightly to anything just doesn`t make sense. When we get still enough, and brave enough, to really look honestly at ourselves and really listen to the stories we tell ourselves (and others); many of them are either centered around the past, or what may or may not happen in the future, or what we`ve convinced ourselves about other people`s thoughts/motives - none of which we can truly know for sure. Ultimately very few things that people do that cause us hurt or suffering is ever really personal. It is the manifestation of what they are carrying around within them. The essence of mastering Beginner`s Mind is embracing Impermanence. Letting every day be new, fresh, clear. So when we wake up and take that first step into our day, or unroll our yoga mat for yet another practice session, we meet ourselves, and the day, courageously - exactly as it is. With the innocence and inner radiance of a child, untainted by grudges, resentment or bitterness.

Try this. When you look at people whom you perceived as wrong-ing you, or when you find yourself in a rut - think `Beginner`s Mind`. Be fully present. Feel your feet on the earth. Inhabit your body fully. Breathe. Listen. Feel. Let yourself be renewed by whatever this day brings. Watch and make an effort to observe from a centered place; calmly detached from all your stories and expectations. Life, from what I can tell, is meant to be fluid. Embrace that fluidity. Be like water.