today started off kinda rocky. but has smoothed out to a lovely afternoon of collecting wood out the back of lost dog as a family. its one of our favourite things to do together. not sure why. its hard work. but the fresh air, and sense of adventure looking for the perfect tree is always exciting.
its crisp here today. fall is upon us. i pray that it lingers and winter does not rush in for it is my favourite time of year. thanksgiving, autumn colours. crisp air but nothing yet frozen.
something interesting happened today. i was contacted today by a swami, a poorna sannyasin, who was actually the first to meet narayan when he was just 3 days old. he has suggested that he comes to spend 5 days at niwas and celebrate the anniversaray of sri swamiji's maha samadhi with us, and the 1st year anniversary of niwas being open as a yoga centre.
i take this as a blessing from sri swamiji to have someone come here that was personally with him for 12 years. to come and hold space with us as we transition over this milestone. its bought me joy today and something to look forward to for when we come home from india ourselves.
as i walked the labyrinth today i kept imagining doing a walking video of tomorrows walk. so that you can come and walk it with me... would you like that? would you watch it? it might be meditative, it might be like watching paint dry. im not sure... but let me know what you think and if you would like it ill do it tomorrow.
tomorrow is also the last kimberley market for the season. such blessings have been bestowed on us with the communities enthusiasm for niwas' bread. im sad to see the market come to an end. but im thrilled it was so successful as a project that it will be on again next year.
so in the contentment of this afternoon its time to go and make bread. lots of yummy bread... for tomorrow will be here very soon.
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Wednesday, 10 September 2014
Monday, 24 March 2014
Life Through A Yogic Lens #2 - The F Word.
Question: The further I go on my spiritual path the deeper I feel love, joy etc. however the more sensitive I feel to things I once felt removed from, ie the pain in this world, with that has come a great level of fear as well. I know love is said to cast out fear but I find the more I love the more highlighted the fear. What tools do you suggest implementing to step out of this fear?
Offering: Ah.... The F word. As we step into Navaratri (the 9 nights of Durga) on monday the 31st March, its a great time to contemplate our relationship with the Divine Mother as Durga, especially though our relationship to the experience of fear.
Many people think that fear is to be avoided. Its not. Its a very human, very real, very necessary experience to help us navigate this experience of life. It is a gift from Ma Durga to be able to experience the root of life, which is Mooladhara Chakra. And we must root to rise. The energy through this chakra on the emotional level can be experienced as fear, known as anxiety, which moves up the body and stimulates the sympathetic nervous system or fight or flight, or faith/trust which moves down the body, is rooted in trusting the Divine for the perfection of this moment, this reality but not identified with it.
You see, Fear, symbolized by the lion, (sometimes tiger) that Durga is seen riding, is not riding her. She is riding it. It is present in her world, but it does not dominate her, she is using this fear to transport her into action, to right action. To slay the demons of ignorance and illusion. Fear to Durga is not something that is to be avoided, cowered, or discarded. It is a sacred energy that must be harnessed. In the face of fear, often we seek distraction, suppression, or avoidance when what is actually being asked of us is to actively seek to end the suffering of illusion and ignorance, bringing us into truth, into Faith. Trusting that we are all held by the Divine mother in this leela (play) of the souls evolution though the human experience. That all we experience, no matter how painful, (actual pain, not the fear of pain perceived or projected) is for our ultimate healing, to spur us forward into the experience of the One. Atma. Consciousness.
Fear, is rooted into the identification of the souls human experience having a beginning and an end. To not be in control of when/how we die. Who we leave behind. As a mother, this is something I am very intimate with. To fear death is to finally find the joy in living, now we must find the joy in living the unknown, even death.
When we experience fear the first thing to do is shift our awareness into trust. Then from this trust, shift it into action. There must be action for there to be the full cycle of transmutation. Remembering that sometimes right action is to do nothing. Action from fear creates chaos, confusion. Action from trust creates inner calm, contentment, clarity.
Mooladhara (trust/fear) is the foundation of our 3rd Dimensional experience, and Manipura is the peak of our 3rd dimensional experience. To get from one to the other we must move through the emotional waters of Swadhisthana chakra. The purification of the waters, through bringing forth our unconscious samskaras (memories), that seem so real but are really just an illusion, into a witnessing, a discernment to what is illusion and what is real.
Then we open ourselves to the next step, this is where the opening to Love comes in.
Just as to praise the dead is to truly grieve, and the grieve the living is to truly praise. This is the human expression of Love. Which, the same frequency as fear/faith but mirrored in the higher chakra of Anahata (the heart) just like ice and water are the same make up but different expressions. Mooladhara the root, and Anahata the heart, are the foundations of two different realities. 3D and 5D
So when you want to love more, work on your faith. When you want to transmute fear, root into the the unconditional love and protection of the Divine mother.
Though awareness of our actions, our sadhana (practice) to Durga in this auspicious time of Navaratri, we have a real opportunity to consciously step from the foundational 4 of Fear, to the liberated 5 of Faith.
Om Dum Durgayai Namaha!
Offering: Ah.... The F word. As we step into Navaratri (the 9 nights of Durga) on monday the 31st March, its a great time to contemplate our relationship with the Divine Mother as Durga, especially though our relationship to the experience of fear.
Many people think that fear is to be avoided. Its not. Its a very human, very real, very necessary experience to help us navigate this experience of life. It is a gift from Ma Durga to be able to experience the root of life, which is Mooladhara Chakra. And we must root to rise. The energy through this chakra on the emotional level can be experienced as fear, known as anxiety, which moves up the body and stimulates the sympathetic nervous system or fight or flight, or faith/trust which moves down the body, is rooted in trusting the Divine for the perfection of this moment, this reality but not identified with it.
You see, Fear, symbolized by the lion, (sometimes tiger) that Durga is seen riding, is not riding her. She is riding it. It is present in her world, but it does not dominate her, she is using this fear to transport her into action, to right action. To slay the demons of ignorance and illusion. Fear to Durga is not something that is to be avoided, cowered, or discarded. It is a sacred energy that must be harnessed. In the face of fear, often we seek distraction, suppression, or avoidance when what is actually being asked of us is to actively seek to end the suffering of illusion and ignorance, bringing us into truth, into Faith. Trusting that we are all held by the Divine mother in this leela (play) of the souls evolution though the human experience. That all we experience, no matter how painful, (actual pain, not the fear of pain perceived or projected) is for our ultimate healing, to spur us forward into the experience of the One. Atma. Consciousness.
Fear, is rooted into the identification of the souls human experience having a beginning and an end. To not be in control of when/how we die. Who we leave behind. As a mother, this is something I am very intimate with. To fear death is to finally find the joy in living, now we must find the joy in living the unknown, even death.
When we experience fear the first thing to do is shift our awareness into trust. Then from this trust, shift it into action. There must be action for there to be the full cycle of transmutation. Remembering that sometimes right action is to do nothing. Action from fear creates chaos, confusion. Action from trust creates inner calm, contentment, clarity.
Mooladhara (trust/fear) is the foundation of our 3rd Dimensional experience, and Manipura is the peak of our 3rd dimensional experience. To get from one to the other we must move through the emotional waters of Swadhisthana chakra. The purification of the waters, through bringing forth our unconscious samskaras (memories), that seem so real but are really just an illusion, into a witnessing, a discernment to what is illusion and what is real.
Then we open ourselves to the next step, this is where the opening to Love comes in.
Just as to praise the dead is to truly grieve, and the grieve the living is to truly praise. This is the human expression of Love. Which, the same frequency as fear/faith but mirrored in the higher chakra of Anahata (the heart) just like ice and water are the same make up but different expressions. Mooladhara the root, and Anahata the heart, are the foundations of two different realities. 3D and 5D
So when you want to love more, work on your faith. When you want to transmute fear, root into the the unconditional love and protection of the Divine mother.
Though awareness of our actions, our sadhana (practice) to Durga in this auspicious time of Navaratri, we have a real opportunity to consciously step from the foundational 4 of Fear, to the liberated 5 of Faith.
Om Dum Durgayai Namaha!
Thursday, 26 December 2013
Post Christmas Glow...
Firstly, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. That there an abundance of food, but not too much, drink flowing, but not over flowing and family celebrating as only families know how.
Our christmas was an intimate one. Just the 3 of us, at Niwas. We played, we cooked, we talked! It was just such a wonderful day. Much needed, and forever cherished.
The animals seem to be all in good spirits as well. All chickens are healthy and running around. Even little firebird who had frost bite on her feet is doing well. One of her feet fell off... and now she has a stump. but it dosnt seem to be slowing her down and there is no pain or infection. The other foot, is probably not far behind but im sure she will be fine.
Honey duck (our male muskovie), having just lost his mate last week seems to be doing well hanging out with the 3 other boys. He has no idea what luck he is in, just a few more days and he will have 3 new girls to look after!
The goats are doing well, Poppy is getting bigger, but seeing as this is our first time with a (hopefully) pregnant goat, im not sure how big she is supposed to be... but she's due first week of feb so only time will tell. As soon as she gives birth we will be watching for Cedar to go into heat and have her mated... then she will be due July.
Simon, the lovely Alpaca, is just doing his thing... he hates to be touched... and im trying not to ignore the fact that in the next few months im going to have to deworm him (as a precaution, not because he has worms)... and i need to figure out how to get him to hold still.
The kittens are big bellied and joyful little critters. Its a joy to watch them interact with their mama. Running to the solar shed when they think i'm coming to give them a little food...
It is a blessed life to live amongst animals. I always had a dogs as a kid and they were wonderful. But to watch, interact and be a guardian to multiple different animals is quiet something else...
Im day dreaming about having eggs for sale, 6 different colors. Rainbow dozens. and now have to decide to invest in an incubator or not... much cheaper to buy fertilized eggs and incubate them yourself. But the incubators start at $350ish (new) so might have to buy day old chicks, (which is considerably more expensive) Im looking to the universe for signals, so will just sit and watch that one for a few weeks to see what presents itself. (maybe a borrowed incubator, or a 2nd hand one...)
But on this boxing day (why is it called boxing day?) we are cleaning up, and doing farm chores. Sitting in the glow of family and gratitude...
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Harvesting Holiday Cheer from the Inside-Out. - My challenge to all of us.
Well, tis the season. Where we get bombarded with everything we THINK we need and allot we don't think we need but... maybe... i do? And the energy of "not enough" becomes rampant, needing to show others love, needing others to show us they love us, through, stuff.
But in closing our eyes to the outside consumerism I think there is a little truth where we are all craving for that genuine holiday cheer, and for many, feeling like we HAVE to be happy at this time of year is well... depressing.
So how can we cultivate holiday cheer, from the inside-out, so that as we step into the collective consciousness of the holiday season we can genuinely share our light with others?
This year iv'e sat myself down and asked myself, what DO I need/want this holiday season? Putting aside any frivolous "things" that I think would make my life easier. (another LED light bulb for Niwas, a mug to replace the 6 I have broken in as many months) My first, and surprising, answer to bubble up with emotion is not available, so I dug deeper and asked, what would THAT fulfill? the answer? Connection. Family (not necessarily biological), memories, acceptance, a feeling that I/we are worth the effort, I am seen, I am appreciated. NONE of which are about anything material.
So I turn to one of my favorite teachings of Paramahansiji Satyananda which is to realize that true happiness is in the giving. So if what I want to receive this year is that "feeling", then I need to direct my actions to giving of MYSELF and these feelings, to OTHERS.
This has been happening spontaneously over the last few weeks, but really, it works... first it was the personal commitment to say YES to anyone/anything I saw in need. Regardless of what i "thought" about it... or how my brain screamed "you can afford that!" but to really embrace the teaching, its not for you to judge the circumstances, its for you to help relieve the suffering of others. And doing so, the Divine supports you.
CHANGING THE PATTERNS OF MATERIAL GIVING.
THINGS THAT TAKE NO MONEY...
* Get a shovel and go to a random street, a random house, of someone without a snow blower, and start shoveling. No names, no thank you's... just do it. (yes, you can do your neighbor, but they know you, they often see you, while its lovely, its nice to give where there is no expectation of anything in return. )
* Saying yes to your friend to look after her sick child so she can go to an important meeting, canceling your plans in the process.
* Cook dinner for someone you know who is having a down day and just leave it on their doorstep with heating instructions.
* Choose someone in your community to is a perpetual "giver". Always helping others... and help them. Make them dinner, bake them a cake, offer to take their dog for a walk when you see them getting home late.
- the possibilities are endless, get creative, SEE the needs, thats the gold in this... for you to SEE others and then act.
THINGS THAT TAKE A LITTLE MONEY... $5 or under.
* Have a little change in your pockets at all times, specifically to offer the homeless hot tea, coffee, food... or just for what they need at that time.
* Pay a little extra on your parking spot for the next person (tape a loonie to the box if you can)
* Pay for the next persons tea in the morning at your favorite coffee shop.
* Buy a gift card to a LOCAL business - the local part is important cause it is giving twice for the price of one. And then give them out, or ask the business owner to randomly give them to people who they think really need a pick-me-up that day... LOCAL people know their regulars.
- again the possibilities are endless, make up your own...
THE TRADITIONAL GIFT GIVING 2.0
1) say you have $20 bucks to spend on someone for xmas, maybe you spend $5 on that person (their favorite chocolate, or a new pair of socks cause you saw theirs had holes.) the $5 doesn't say "here, i spent $5 on you", it says, I SEE YOU, I SEE YOUR NEEDS, what brings you joy, - you might have to ASK them what is their favorite chocolate, their favorite brand of socks. You taking the time to ASK is the real gift, the chocolate/socks is just the confirmation that you heard, and acted on that information.
Then with the other $15 you donate it to someone or an organization who is barely coping with the basics of life (FOOD, SHELTER, HEALTH) on behalf of the person your $5 went to - not from you.
LOCALLY - examples - food bank, a bunch of flowers for a random person in the hospital/hospice, youth centre, or maybe giving a gift card to the single mother down the road anonymously to your local coffee shop.
GLOBALLY - Red Cross, a Kids Foundation, sevaunite.org or my favorite the Prishan Foundation. Make an effort to research exactly where it is going and how that money will actually make it to the people you are trying to help. There are many people out there doing great things to help others... and sometimes the smaller organizations are more effective in getting your money to where it actually needs to go.
I am a firm believer that every action, whether perceived good or bad, at its root is seeking LOVE. Non of us are exempt. To see this possibility in everyone, helps us to stay connected through compassion. And to love the other, to GIVE to the "other", is to truly give to ourselves.
A little to allot of people, will have a bigger impact than allot to few people.
There are many people in our communities who would benefit from being seen, from having just a little unconditional effort extended to them and in doing this, I guarantee, YOUR holiday cheer will shift, from the Inside-Out.
THE CHALLENGE:
Write a list of 7 things you think you can do for someone else - anonymously if you can.
Set yourself a time limit (say, by the 24th DEC).
Carry your 7 things out. Make notes. How did you feel? What was your experience?
Then comment below this blog. So we can inspire each other to truly make this a Happy Holiday Season for all.
But in closing our eyes to the outside consumerism I think there is a little truth where we are all craving for that genuine holiday cheer, and for many, feeling like we HAVE to be happy at this time of year is well... depressing.
So how can we cultivate holiday cheer, from the inside-out, so that as we step into the collective consciousness of the holiday season we can genuinely share our light with others?
This year iv'e sat myself down and asked myself, what DO I need/want this holiday season? Putting aside any frivolous "things" that I think would make my life easier. (another LED light bulb for Niwas, a mug to replace the 6 I have broken in as many months) My first, and surprising, answer to bubble up with emotion is not available, so I dug deeper and asked, what would THAT fulfill? the answer? Connection. Family (not necessarily biological), memories, acceptance, a feeling that I/we are worth the effort, I am seen, I am appreciated. NONE of which are about anything material.
So I turn to one of my favorite teachings of Paramahansiji Satyananda which is to realize that true happiness is in the giving. So if what I want to receive this year is that "feeling", then I need to direct my actions to giving of MYSELF and these feelings, to OTHERS.
This has been happening spontaneously over the last few weeks, but really, it works... first it was the personal commitment to say YES to anyone/anything I saw in need. Regardless of what i "thought" about it... or how my brain screamed "you can afford that!" but to really embrace the teaching, its not for you to judge the circumstances, its for you to help relieve the suffering of others. And doing so, the Divine supports you.
CHANGING THE PATTERNS OF MATERIAL GIVING.
THINGS THAT TAKE NO MONEY...
* Get a shovel and go to a random street, a random house, of someone without a snow blower, and start shoveling. No names, no thank you's... just do it. (yes, you can do your neighbor, but they know you, they often see you, while its lovely, its nice to give where there is no expectation of anything in return. )
* Saying yes to your friend to look after her sick child so she can go to an important meeting, canceling your plans in the process.
* Cook dinner for someone you know who is having a down day and just leave it on their doorstep with heating instructions.
* Choose someone in your community to is a perpetual "giver". Always helping others... and help them. Make them dinner, bake them a cake, offer to take their dog for a walk when you see them getting home late.
- the possibilities are endless, get creative, SEE the needs, thats the gold in this... for you to SEE others and then act.
THINGS THAT TAKE A LITTLE MONEY... $5 or under.
* Have a little change in your pockets at all times, specifically to offer the homeless hot tea, coffee, food... or just for what they need at that time.
* Pay a little extra on your parking spot for the next person (tape a loonie to the box if you can)
* Pay for the next persons tea in the morning at your favorite coffee shop.
* Buy a gift card to a LOCAL business - the local part is important cause it is giving twice for the price of one. And then give them out, or ask the business owner to randomly give them to people who they think really need a pick-me-up that day... LOCAL people know their regulars.
- again the possibilities are endless, make up your own...
THE TRADITIONAL GIFT GIVING 2.0
1) say you have $20 bucks to spend on someone for xmas, maybe you spend $5 on that person (their favorite chocolate, or a new pair of socks cause you saw theirs had holes.) the $5 doesn't say "here, i spent $5 on you", it says, I SEE YOU, I SEE YOUR NEEDS, what brings you joy, - you might have to ASK them what is their favorite chocolate, their favorite brand of socks. You taking the time to ASK is the real gift, the chocolate/socks is just the confirmation that you heard, and acted on that information.
Then with the other $15 you donate it to someone or an organization who is barely coping with the basics of life (FOOD, SHELTER, HEALTH) on behalf of the person your $5 went to - not from you.
LOCALLY - examples - food bank, a bunch of flowers for a random person in the hospital/hospice, youth centre, or maybe giving a gift card to the single mother down the road anonymously to your local coffee shop.
GLOBALLY - Red Cross, a Kids Foundation, sevaunite.org or my favorite the Prishan Foundation. Make an effort to research exactly where it is going and how that money will actually make it to the people you are trying to help. There are many people out there doing great things to help others... and sometimes the smaller organizations are more effective in getting your money to where it actually needs to go.
I am a firm believer that every action, whether perceived good or bad, at its root is seeking LOVE. Non of us are exempt. To see this possibility in everyone, helps us to stay connected through compassion. And to love the other, to GIVE to the "other", is to truly give to ourselves.
A little to allot of people, will have a bigger impact than allot to few people.
There are many people in our communities who would benefit from being seen, from having just a little unconditional effort extended to them and in doing this, I guarantee, YOUR holiday cheer will shift, from the Inside-Out.
THE CHALLENGE:
Write a list of 7 things you think you can do for someone else - anonymously if you can.
Set yourself a time limit (say, by the 24th DEC).
Carry your 7 things out. Make notes. How did you feel? What was your experience?
Then comment below this blog. So we can inspire each other to truly make this a Happy Holiday Season for all.
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