Last week I had a bad cold.  It made it’s home in my sinuses and the only relief was laying down.  I drank a lot of tea and contemplated the wisdom instead of thinking about the pain and pressure in my head.  There is so much to be gained by slowing down and going within.  Which teabag saying speaks to you?

“Let Things Come to You”

“Love Your Soul”

“Our Intuition Lies in our Innocence”

“Let Your Heart Guide You”

“Practice Kindness, Mercy, & Forgiveness”

“Love Your Soul”

“Let Your Heart Speak to Other’s Hearts”

“Your Destiny is to Merge with Infinity”

“Understanding is Found through Compassion”

“Open up to Infinity and You Become Infinity”

“Meditation is the Medicine of the Mind”

“Old Age Needs Wisdom and Grace”

“Mental Happiness is Total Relaxation”

“Let Your Manners Speak for You”

“Oneness is Achieved by Recognizing Your Self”

Posted: February 5th, 2009 under meditation, present moment, yoga.
Comments: 4

I just reread a great book I’d like to share with you, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  The story is about a boy from Spain who became a Shepard in order to travel and see the world to follow the path of his Personal Legend.  As the boy travels, he meets up with a King, a fortune teller, and an alchemist, each of whom help the boy find his treasure.  The boy sells his sheep and sets out on his journey to the Pyramids in Egypt, encountering one obstacle after another.  He heeds the advise he received from a King to watch for and follow the omens that appear.  He meets up with an Alchemist who is known to change lead into gold.  The Alchemist, sees the strength of purpose in the boy and helps him reach his treasure.

I was struck by several passages that I’d like to share with you.  It reminds me of my own journey into yoga, from the first day I stepped into a yoga class, through all the yoga retreats, and teacher training.  To my upcoming trip to India and advanced training in Vedic Healing I’m scheduled to take later this year.  See if any of these passages also resonate with you.

When the boy first decided to look for his treasure, Paulo Coelho wrote:

“He still had some doubts about the decision he had made.  But he was able to understand one thing:  making a decision was only the beginning of things.  When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.”

Later, when the boy was fearful of being killed by the Arabs at war in the desert:

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself.  And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”

So when the boy forgot about his fear:

“his heart began to tell him things that came from the Soul of the World.  It said that all people who are happy have God within them. … Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him. …But, unfortunately, very few follow the path laid out for them – the path to their Personal Legends, and to happiness.  Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place.”

Then the boy thought he had learned all he needed to learn about finding his Personal Legend, but the alchemist said there was one more thing to learn:

“before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. … That’s the point at which most people give up. … Every search begins with beginner’s luck.  And every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”

 There are so many thought provoking passages in The Alchemist, but I’ll stop here.  I’m sure that most everyone has had a dream they wanted to pursue sometime in their life.  Did you go after the dream or did you convince yourself it would never work out before you even began?  Were you afraid to go in search of your dream?  Did you have beginner’s luck but give up after you encountered some adversity?  Are you truly happy with your life?  If any of these passages or questions struck a cord, I encourage you to read The Alchemist.

 A few notes about the author:  Paulo Coelho was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1947.  He was a nonconformist and sought out new things.  He followed the teachings of Carlos Castaneda.  In 1988, he wrote The Alchemist which sold only nine hundred copies and the publisher decided not to reprint.  But following his dream, he found another publisher.  The Alchemist went on to sell more copies than any other book in Brazilian literary history.

 If you want to see more book reviews, stop by Barrie Summy’s Blog and meet others in the Book Review Club.  

Posted: February 3rd, 2009 under present moment, writing, yoga.
Comments: 9

This past weekend I was reminded about the benefits of communing with nature.  I was in Muir Woods, just north of San Francisco.  It was a holiday weekend and the park was filled with other nature lovers, but as I walked along the dirt path, I feel into silence.  I looked around at the giant redwoods, a thousand or more years old.  I noticed the furry bark, the gnarled swells along the trunk, the bright green moss covering the roots of a long dead tree.  It was at that moment that I felt compelled to step closer and touch that beautiful living thing.  I stood there for about a minute, breathing slowly, imaging the cells of the tree growing beneath my fingers.  I continued along the trail, listening to the breeze rustling the leaves and the chatter of people close by.  I found myself speeding my steps, searching for the solitude and quiet.  In the silence there was such peace.

 This morning I had another opportunity to commune with nature.  I woke up to gray skies, a rare sight in sunny Southern California.  I donned my raincoat and headed out for a walk.  The skies were misting and I uncovered my head, feeling the moistness against my face, picturing my skin drinking in the rain.  I began to remember my childhood on rainy days, taking walks in the warm summer rain, getting soaked, then washing my hair in the downpour before getting ready for bed.  As I continued my walk, I became aware of the smell of eucalyptus and pine.  I saw beads of water sitting on the leaves of bird of paradise plants and imagined all the plants drinking in the precious gift of rain, just as my skin was doing.

 In this fast paced world, we are so rushed to get from point A to point B, that we don’t often notice the wonders of life.  So let this be a reminder.  There is peace in nature.  All you have to do is notice.

Posted: January 23rd, 2009 under mindfulness, present moment, yoga.
Comments: 4

I’m reading David Frawley’s book “Vedantic Meditation.”  He writes about how our lives present us with both limited and unlimited views of the world.  So this morning when I completed my morning yoga practice, I walked onto my back patio and contemplated my view.  I have an enclosed space, surrounded by other buildings.

There are a lot of things to see in my back yard: trees, shrubs, flowers, flower pots, a stream, a bridge, a sun umbrella, table and chairs, barbeque grill, surrounding condos, the sky, clouds, the sun shining on the tree tops. 

Yet, as I stop to focus on one tree, I am awed by it beauty.  I am looking at the tree from a distance of about fifty feet, my view is limited, yet there is so much to see.  The tree contains thousands of green leaves, a gray-brown bark that’s smooth in some areas and rough in other.  Each leaf has veins to receive nourishment from the earth.  There are varying hues in the leaves.  When the sun kisses a leaf, the color brightens.  I don’t know the name of the tree, it doesn’t matter.  All I know is that it stands tall, reaching into the beautiful blue sky.  I can look at this tree every day and see something new.

How many times have I passed this tree and been blind to it?  How many times have I gone through my day limiting my view of the present because I’ve been caught up in past memories or the future?  How wonderful to start the day noticing more of my life.  I can not yet see the unlimited, but I’m one step closer to seeing today.

Posted: January 5th, 2009 under present moment, yoga.
Comments: none

This equinox message is from Frank (Rico) Hayhurst here– and I thought it so right, I want to share it with you today:Celebrating Solstices and Equinoxes has become a treasured tradition -  a time when we simply stop and notice the deep beauty present at the center of life.On Monday, September 22nd, at 8:44 AM Pacific time (15:44 UT) we again have an opportunity to step out of our routines, and to enjoy a moment together in celebration.Equinoxes are a magnificent demonstration of the moment of balance, of equal day and night, light and dark. Over many years, we’ve learned that this “balance” is not a difficult and nerve wracking high wire act -  rather, it’s a deep and resonant harmony, to be enjoyed.But as beautiful as this harmony is, we can’t help but notice that summer is departing and winter is coming!  Shorter days, longer nights! And while this is true for us in the Northern hemisphere, this Equinox also marks the beginning of increasing light and longer days in the Southern hemisphere.However, my point is not that “truth is relative.”It’s time for us to step up into a new dimension of being, and to move from being “local” to becoming GLOBAL.We’re being called by our own hearts to cherish and love both the brilliant light and the nourishing dark.We are being called by the heart of Creation to care for life in its totality.Yes, we will continue to respect the cycles of life: a time of light, a time of dark - a time to plant, a time to reap, a time to be born, a time to die - but our lives no longer need to be governed by these cycles.We are being given the gift of freedom, freedom to enjoy life, and to no longer be constrained by our suffering and despair.  This is a very timely gift, considering the terrific mess our economy, ecology, and system of government is in.And, if there ever was a “Time for Peace,”  this is it!  It can only start with you, because the ultimate truth is that YOU are the gift!

Posted: September 21st, 2008 under present moment.
Comments: 2

Stop thinking and talking about it and there is nothing you will not be able to know.

I’ve been rereading Julie Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” and came across this Zen paradigm in the margins.  After reading it once, I stopped to think about what it meant.  When I see two negatives in a sentence, it always gives me pause.

Stop thinking and talking about it and there is nothing you will not be able to know.

When I encounter a statement I wish to ponder, I like to reword it, pull it apart and think about it more.

Stop thinking and talking about it.  That alone is something to ponder.  How often do we think about writing a book, getting a new job, making new friends, taking a cooking class - anything that requires action.  Yet we think about it and think about it until we decide it takes too much effort or we drop the idea and start thinking about doing something else – again, thinking but not acting on the thought.  We spend so much time in our heads and get nothing accomplished.

The same could be said about talking about something.  We talk to our friends when something is bothering us. We talk about our dreams, our worries, our desires, our complaints, but if we don’t take any action to change the situation, we are caught in an endless cycle of wishes and negative talk.

The second part of this Zen paradigm, there is nothing you will not be able to know.  Reworded, it says you will know.  Stop thinking and talking about it, and you will know.

What do we know?   We know the answers. 

The answers to what?  To whatever we are dreaming about and worrying about.

If we are in touch with who we truly are, we can bring the question or discussion to our heart.  Our heart knows the answer.  But in order to hear the answer, we must be still.  We must find a place of solitude and silence.

Try it now. Find a quiet space.  Sit comfortably on the floor or a chair. Take several deep breaths and let the air out slowly.  Become relaxed.  Pose the question to your heart .  Sit for several minutes or as long as it takes.  In the silence, an answer will come.

In the process of meditating, we become intuitive.  We know the answers to difficult questions.  Each of us has the capability to move from inaction to action by being silent.  Try it out.  You’ll be surprised at the answers you receive from your heart.

Posted: September 4th, 2008 under Stained Glass, meditation, mindfulness, present moment.
Comments: 1

I like today’s teabag wisdom.  It says so much in so few words.  What is truth anyway?  Is it the absence of lies?  Truth is certainly talked about in all religions.  I remember growing up and hearing my mother tell me to always speak the truth.  But sometimes speaking the truth can hurt someone, so then what do you do?  The wise thing might be not to say anything, yet we sometimes cover up the truth with a white lie.  We tell ourselves that that’s okay, because we aren’t hurting anyone, but are we deceiving ourselves?  Do our non-truths come back to haunt us?

I think the truth goes beyond speech.  When we deny the truth, we accumulate negativity.  One little lie turns into bigger lies.  We begin to delude ourselves.  We come to the point that we can’t tell the difference between truth and non-truth.  Negative emotions of fear and anger surface and we don’t know where they came from.

So how do we get past the lies we tell ourselves and come back to the truth?  I certainly don’t have all the answers.  But I know that when negative thoughts arise, they come from fear.  We end up playing the “what if” game with ourselves.  We conjure up the worst possible scenario and that fear stops us in our tracks. 

One thing we must constantly remind ourselves is that “what if” isn’t the truth.  The truth is not our fear of what might happen in the future.  The truth is not holding on to anger from some past hurt.  The truth is this moment.  The truth is not lying to yourself or lying to others.  The truth is peace.  And peace is everything. 

Posted: August 25th, 2008 under meditation, mindfulness, present moment.
Comments: 3

Keep Up.

Two little words with a whole lot of meaning.  You’ve heard people say them all your life.  Your parents would say “Keep up with your homework.”  Teachers would say “Keep up with the class.”  Your boss pokes his head into your cubicle and says “Keep up, we are on deadline.”

In this fast paced world, we are always trying to keep up.  We are stressed out from working sixteen hour days, driving the kids to school, cleaning the house, cooking the meals.  There never seems to be enough time to keep up.

Did you ever think that in order to keep up, you may need to slow down?  A radical concept?  Maybe.  But let’s look at the concept on a deeper level.  Instead of looking outward, let’s take a look inward.

Are we taking care of ourselves?  Are we keeping up our own health by exercising, eating healthy foods, finding quiet time (even it’s its just 10 minutes) each and every day to be alone and meditate?  Do we find the time to bring joy into our lives?  Do we connect with family and friends and go on little adventures, even if it’s simply relaxing over a cup of tea?

For many years, I used to be my own task master.  My day timer was scheduled from morning to night with tasks that I needed to do for others, neglecting the most important person – me.

Sometimes, I think God finally says enough and has to do something dramatic to wake us up.  We are put on this earth to be of service to others, but did you ever stop to think that being your true self is the key?  Each of us is unique and that uniqueness is what we bring to others.  But if we spend all our time doing things for others, neglecting ourselves, we lose sight of who we are.  Only by being quiet and taking time for ourselves and taking care of ourselves do we connect to our true nature.  By keeping up with ourselves, we can be more open to give to others in a meaningful way.

One thing I’ve come to notice is that when I take care of myself first, I find the peace and serenity to do more for others than I did in the past.  It’s a paradox, I know.  Yet it’s true.  So if you find yourself stress out, running from one event to the next, why not try keeping up with a little self-care.  You may find you’ll be happier for it.

Have a happy day

Posted: August 20th, 2008 under exercise, healthy eating, mindfulness, present moment.
Comments: 3

How many times have you heard someone say “Pay Attention”?

I can remember my teacher from first grade saying that all the time.  In school, we were asked to pay attention so that we could learn.  At home, our parents would tell us to pay attention when they were giving us instructions on cleaning the house or cooking a meal.  But I don’t remember anyone telling me to pay attention to life.

We go through each day doing things, time passes.  We eat, we talk to people, we go to work, we exercise, we play video games, we email and text message, we watch TV.  Yet I wonder as we go through our day, how much of the time are we paying attention?

What does it mean to pay attention when we eat?  How many meals do we gobble down while engaged in another activity?  Eating breakfast and watching the morning news or checking email.  Eating lunch with co-workers, catching up on what everyone is working on or talking about the drama in our lives.  No one’s ever really taught us to pay attention to our meals. 

Have you ever engaged in a Mindful Eating Meditation?  It’s fairly simply.  Take a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts.  Engage all your senses in the process.  Let’s say you have a strawberry in front of you.  Pick up the strawberry.  Feel the texture between your fingers, the softness of the leaves on top, the fuzziness of the fruit.  Rub the fruit along your lips.  Smell the strawberry.  Sense the sweetness.  Lick the strawberry to get a glimmer of taste.  Take a small bite of the fruit.  Feel the juice drip into your mouth.  Chew the piece of fruit thoroughly before taking another bite.  Listen to the sound coming from your mouth as you eat.  Maybe you release a sigh of enjoyment.  Eating one strawberry in this manner may take you several minutes, but you will discover that you’ve never eaten a more flavorful strawberry in your life.  By paying attention to your food, you enjoy it more.

The same concept hold true for everything else we do in life.  If you are talking with people, listen intently to what the other person has to say without thinking of what your response is going to be.  Don’t cut off someone in mid-sentence.  If you are working, concentrate on your work and let go of your thoughts about what happened yesterday or what you’re going to do this evening.  If you are responding to email, text messaging, watching TV or playing, no matter what you are engaged in, do with the utmost attention. 

By paying attention, we live in the present moment and enjoy our lives more fully.

So when you find your mind wandering, gently remind yourself to pay attention.  You’ll have a happier day.

Namaste´.

Posted: August 19th, 2008 under Stained Glass, meditation, mindfulness, present moment.
Comments: none

Did you ever wake up slowly from a pleasant dream, remembering all the details and wishing it would never end?  That was how I began the morning.  Parts of the dream, still vivid in my mind.  I was out in nature, a beautiful park that seemed familiar to me, but now in my waking state I can’t pinpoint the location.

The long green meadow grass sway in the mild breeze.  Wildflowers open to the early morning light.  Deep blue sky with wisps of clouds float overhead.  Gravel paths meander through the valley and along the river into a forest of oaks and pines.  It’s just past dawn.  Stillness.  Quiet.  Peaceful.

I hear the crunch of tiny pebbles beneath approaching feet.  Along the path, my yoga teachers  walk toward me. Silent. I open the door to my cabin and inhale the crisp clean air.  Donned in sandals, shorts and t-shirt, I join them on their silent journey.

I notice the reds, tans, and grays of boulders tumbled into the valley.  Their scars a reminder of the elements of nature.  I hear a distant stream, trickling over river rock.  I stoop to examine the delicate periwinkle petals of a flower tinier than the nail on my pinky finger.  The petals velvety smooth.

We stop in a clearing, sit on the ground, close our eyes and listen.  Birds sing. Leaves rustle.  Squirrels scamper.  The river flows. 

I can feel my heart beat and my life force flow freely throughout my body.  It feels so good to be alive.

My eyes open to the ceiling fan overhead, the sun streaming on my face through the bedroom window.  I smile, welcoming the new day.

Have a great day everyone.

Posted: August 14th, 2008 under meditation, mindfulness, present moment.
Comments: 2