Archive for ‘Daily Touchstones’

Lakshmi, Hindu goddess of wealth & prosperity

The word abundance comes from the Latin word for “overflowing” and indeed the word carries with it the energy of a boundless, rushing spring creek and the ultimate joy of a heart brimming with love and compassion. At its root the word refers to a state of prosperity in all aspects of life including our material, spiritual, and emotional situations and outlooks.

For many of us it is difficult to tap into this state of grace. Whether we are tired from working and parenting, or are in the throes of searching our souls, a state of mental, emotional and spiritual abundance soothes a worried heart and assures us that what is, is enough, and that with time, patience and intention, more of what we need and desire is surely forthcoming.

Abundance is also a powerfully magnetic state of mind that draws to us the tools, resources, opportunities and connections needed to actualize our intention. A simple and highly effective method for cultivating abundance is the use of affirmations. My favorite abundance affirmations are:

Abundance is flowing to me from expected and unexpected sources.

and

My natural state is abundance and joy.

I began using the first mantra during a particularly harrowing period of financial uncertainty. Within days I noticed a shift in how I felt. I began to expect good things to come my way. This opened the door to being able to see solutions when before there was only doubt and dead-ends. Even before more money started to come in I felt a sense of possibility and certainty that the tide had turned.

The second affirmation is chanted as a mantra and corresponds to my jade, garnet and carnelian mala.  The energy of those rich and regally hued stones align us with prosperity and success while supporting motivation to ensure we proactively seek our dreams and goals.

An affirmation or mantra soon becomes an anchor for our attention, a touchstone that we may return to as often as needed. The mantra triumphs over fearful, doubtful and ultimately destructive thoughts that keep us from experiencing abundance; and with consistent practice and intention, the seeds of a coming harvest are sown.

Being ungrounded is like trying to walk in shoes that are too big: feet sliding around trying to hold on and stay centered to keep moving. Being ungrounded feels fluttery and weak, with anxious electric sparks throughout my body. It’s the tension of held breath, willing myself to think/feel/be different. Ungrounded, I do not fully inhabit myself! And it’s very difficult to receive guidance, whether it is wisdom from within or simply being present for the spontaneous lessons the universe bestows in ordinary moments.

As someone with a persistently busy mind and a tendency toward anxiety, I have found that the practice of mantra recitation using a gemstone mala to be especially calming and rejuvenating. One of the mantras I use is I am grounded, guided, and confident. While gently rolling each bead of the mala in my fingers, I recite the mantra 108 times, or more until I feel my energy begin to center and flow a little more smoothly.

The mala I use with this particular mantra is made of Smoky Quartz and Garnet beads. The inherent properties of these two stones increase the power of my practice and I visualize the stones’ healing energy being drawn into me as I touch each bead, one by one.

Smoky Quartz is the stone for grounding and connection to the earth. Because it releases negative energies from the mind and body, more energy is available for joy as well as for endurance and creativity, especially in business and organization. As a busy entrepreneur, this quality is especially helpful to me. The grounding nature of  smoky quartz promotes presence and calmness in the moment.

Garnet is a stone of health and energy. Garnet is regarded as a stone of purity and truth and is a symbol of love and compassion. Garnet is also lucky stone for love and success and is known to increase self-esteem or alleviate depression by moving energy (chi) throughout the body and dissolving emotional blockages.

After 21 days of consistent practice I felt my feet more firmly on the ground and a steady breath easier to come by. It also seemed as if  life wasn’t quite so relentlessly on fast forward, and this allowed me to more carefully evaluate what was before me and make decisions from a grounded, guided, and confident perspective.

My commitment to living mindfully and with intention has brought about tremendous transformation including the key to relief from an overwhelming sense of being rushed. For too long I was consumed by the sickening crush of too much to do, too little time to even breathe, let alone tend to the enigmatic needs of my soul.  When I decided to leave the regular 8-5 world I sought to create a new way of relating to time in my work. I knew there was a different way to approach getting things done that would be far more efficient, not to mention enjoyable.

The single most powerful thing you can do when you are overwhelmed and consumed by the rushing vibration of our modern culture is to simply STOP. It takes practice, but now I find that in just moments of stillness and breathing I am able to peel away the layers of an overwhelming feeling, regroup, and come back to the task at hand with a fresh perspective.

When I am in a rushed state I notice how I am disembodied – not breathing, disconnected – frustrated. I feel out of control, as if my to do list were in charge of me, instead of me being in charge of what I do. Disembodied. Disconnected. Out of control. With no time to stop and attend to these feelings being rushed soon becomes being crushed.

But I have a choice – we all have a choice. Coming into the moment, being here, now, holds more power than you may realize. Through practicing my commitment to intentional living – attending to the needs of my body, my mind, and my spirit – I have managed to create more space and more presence in my life while accomplishing more personally, socially and professionally than ever before. In this space, which is often just a moment or two, I can slow myself down enough to see the choices I have. Will I proceed disconnected and frustrated, or will I embody my highest principles and approach myself and others with presence and compassion?

While the hardest thing is making that first choice to STOP in the midst of panic, stress or fear, it truly is in the moments of our lives that transformation occurs. When we are able to grasp the individual beads and move them about, thoughtful and intentional, rather than seeing only the strand – each moment stuck together in a blur, we are able to take a step in a new direction; toward peace, strength, beauty and joy. Take a moment, as often as possible to connect to that, your truest essence, and see how greatly your life can change!

This is an exciting time to be alive—because we are all pioneers on the edge of our awareness. Our potential is only limited by the constraints of our imagination. All of the world’s spiritual and wisdom traditions are now available for us to tap into. More so, the ancient knowledge is being updated, reinvented, and re-imagined to meet both our darkest human conditions and our brightest visions. Technology, science, and metaphysics have revealed and made available the truth of our interconnectivity: we are all connected; what we do matters, we belong to each other; we are all on this fragile and wondrous planet together.

Please join me in exploring some of the well known and lesser-known authors and luminaries of spiritual tools for conscious living. In this 3-part series I will introduce three books for each aspect of mind/body/spirit, and highlight the spiritual tools offered through them. As a new consciousness writer, editor, and book reviewer, I read hundreds of new consciousness books a year. Books (and film/Internet) are my primary means of keeping attuned to the movement and tempo of conscious awakening, both within myself and within the global family. Each of the books discussed have stood out for me personally, reinforcing or shaping my psycho-spiritual evolution, offering me new insights to digest or apply, and/or inspiring me toward my potential. I hope they do the same for you.

Please join me tomorrow for Body, part 1 of 3.

Cathedral Park

Exercise is my most important daily touchstone. Without moving, stretching, challenging and invigorating my physical being on a regular basis I quickly sense my spirit stagnating, negative thoughts try to invade and I am disconnected from my true essence, from the sacred. Often I like to exercise alone, as it’s my time to recharge, daydream, or let go of something troubling. When immersed in physical activity I reach a meditative zone – where everything suddenly shifts into perspective, the chatter of thoughts, worries and apprehensions fade away. More than just a “runner’s high”, I find a sense of both cosmic and earthly unity as my muscles, heart, and lungs find their rhythm.

Today was a gorgeous late autumn day and I took full advantage by biking out to Cathedral Park to see a community garden plot I may be leasing. Not knowing where exactly the garden was, I set out for an adventure along Willamette Boulevard, which winds along a great ridge on the west bank of the Willamette River. The view was glorious – evergreen blanketed hills to the west, lovely historic homes to my right, and behind me snowy Mt. Hood, resplendent without the usual cloud cover.  As I pedaled I noticed the sky, filled with sunlight filtered down to me through gauzy clouds and a lacy curtain of brilliant red and yellow leaves still clinging haphazardly to gnarled branches. I  also noticed I’d been smiling ever since my ride began.

When I arrived at the majestic St. John’s Bridge I knew I was close to my destination. The garden plot was sure to be down the steep hill leading to the water and Cathedral Park.  I rode through the park, down toward the river, still not finding the garden. I now faced a steep hill to climb. Empowered and exhilarated from the ride out here and the beauty of my surroundings, I trusted my body to get me up the hill. And not only were my muscles focused solely on climbing the hill, my mind was laser-focused as well. Lingering frustration from a phone call this morning, doubts about making it up the hill, the never-ending To-Do list evaporated, and there to my right, down a quiet street was the garden.

In my last entry, I promised I would follow with some tips for mindful eating. There are numerous techniques one can integrate into their life that support mindful eating. It is a skill that must be learned and practiced. We possess the ability to be mindful in all areas of lives. Cultivating mindfulness in eating will help us to live a mindful life. Below are some tips for mindful eating. Some of these suggestions are from the book Mindful Eating by Jan Chozen Bays. If you want more information, I highly recommend her book and CD.

Step One: Slow Down

Americans tend to gobble their food. Eating on the go is the norm now–fast food, drive through, microwaves, etc.– is common place in our society. Did you know that the average meal last about 11 minutes? Read more »

You’ve probably heard the term superfood by now. If you aren’t sure exactly what it means, a superfood is a natural food regarded as especially beneficial because of its nutrient profile or its health-protecting qualities.

One superfood that has gained a lot of attention lately is coconut. Regardless of the specific diet you may observe (omnivorous, vegan or raw), the coconut is a delicious, nutritious and some say beautifying food anyone can incorporate into their diet. Consuming enough healthy fats is essential for optimum health of all body systems including brain, skin, metabolism and hormones. Healthy fats are generally more stable – which means they do not break down and release cell damaging free radicals – at high temperatures. Coconut oil (which is semi-solid to solid below 78 degrees) is one of the best, remaining stable at up to 170 degrees fahrenheit. In addition to being a delicious tropical treat, coconut is a great source of fiber, zinc, medium-chain-fatty acids and antioxidants. Read more »

From my garden

Meditation, Eating (mindfully) and Exercise

I don’t know about you, but I live with the daily challange of doing these three things.  And what is so crazy to me is that, of course, the quality of my life in hugely enhanced when I do.  My, we are funny creatures.

Meditation

OK,  45 minutes is really spacious.  My goal is 20 mins.  Once I can just light the candle and incense at my alter, I’m good to go and oh, what peace awaits me.  Except when I get those intense spontaneous urges to get up and make a phone call that I forgot about – or some other trivial spontaneous arising of the mind.  So, I just sit and notice the urge and breathe. Ahhh. Read more »

I?ve been thinking a lot lately about my values and principles, and how consciousness of them is essential to living with intention. Several things have sparked and sustained this extended meditation and I know all originate with now being the right time for me to explore this. I?m reveling in the synchronicity of thoughts and experiences coming into my life, which give me regular opportunities to explore this theme. One sparking event was a comment from one of our blog readers. Writing about her participation in the ME2 Challenge, she says ?it is an opportunity for me to see my principles in action?. I absolutely love how she put that!

As we grow and change throughout our lifetimes, our values may shift yet our principles tend to be more fixed, as they are fundamental truths that serve as the foundation for our beliefs, behavior and chain of reasoning. You might even say they are the fundamental qualities of our true selves or manifestations of our very essence. This then brings me back to our readers? comment and the idea that our principles are a direct connection to the sacred. And this connection is the ultimate aim of the ME2 Challenge: by taking care of your body, mind and spirit, you affirm the sacredness of your being, which is the source of generosity, love and compassion. Read more »

Protecting your brain against the aging process is sensible and doable. We often laugh at our forgetfulness calling it a “senior moment” but it truly is not a laughable matter. It could be a sign that your brain is shrinking or not getting enough blood flow or maybe responding to hormonal changes. The fuzzy thinking that sometimes accompanies menopause can be managed with proper diet and supplements. Dr. Mark Hyman in his book, the Ultramind Solution, addresses the connection between inflammation and memory loss, depression and autism.

Dementia, which means deprived of mind, and Alzheimer’s Disease are the two most common memory disorders associated with the aging process. But it’s not inevitable that we will succumb to some form of severe memory loss as we get older. According to Christiane Northrup MD, an expert on menopause and aging, our interconnections between our neurons continue to grow as we age, making it easier for us to make complex associations. She states that the older we become, the more efficient and sophisticated our brains get. We don’t make more neurons, though, so it is important to take care of the ones we have. Read more »