02.11.08
Posted in Articles, Meditation, Self Help at 12:20 am by Administrator
When you drive a car, do you start the motor, put it in gear, then open the door, jump out, run around behind and push? Of course you don’t! You stay in your seat with your hands on the steering wheel and guide or steer the car to wherever you want it to go. The point here is that when you attempt to do the car’s part, you fail to do your own.
Your part in the Creative Process of Manifestation is to provide the intention, the mental pattern, for the Creative Energy that flows through your mind to do its work. You direct your intention, but then give the Creative Energy complete freedom to do its work, in its own way - which, by the way, is more than you could have ever imagined.
Everything we want to create is form. And every form, every form, has an energy pattern that makes up that form. When the energy pattern behind the form is complete, the form manifests into your physical experience. That’s the process. You can’t possibly make sure all the energy patterns that are contained within that form are in place, that’s the job of Creative Energy (God, the Universe, whatever you resonate with). Your job is to intend that the Creative Energy pull together all the necessary energy patterns that will make up that form, in its perfection.
Now I know this may seem like a lot at once and simultaneous incredibly simple, but go over and over this until you understand the principle. This is how you can fulfill your part of the Creative Process of Manifesting, which is a co-creative process for drawing what you want into your life.
Exercise: Sit quietly and undisturbed, relax yourself with your breath, and think of something you want to experience or have and make the intention that this thing (form) become part of your experience. Now, in a relaxed manner, imagine this form complete in your life. How do you feel, what do you see, how is your life more expanded now that this form is in your life? Now give it over to the Creative Energy, which is unlimited by the way, and let it do its part. Your part is done, that simple.
Should you think of this form after you’ve take the time to do this, only think in terms of experiencing it as already being in your life. Thinking of the absence of it because it hasn’t shown up yet, is like planting a seed and digging it up every few days because you don’t see the flower blooming.
By doing this exercise, you not only begin strengthening your trust level, but you release any blocks in the way so that all the behind the scenes stuff that has to happen by the Creative Energy is given its chance.
Enjoy not having to do it all!
About the Author
© Gabriele Reign is a Mentor of Alchemy and the creator of dynamics that teach step-by-step processes to guide you to live the life you’ve always imagined for yourself. If you’re interested in group or private mentoring, or to learn more about alchemy, feel free to visit: www.DynamicLifeNow.com..
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Posted in Articles, Meditation, Self Help at 12:18 am by Administrator
– By Jim Malloy
One of the biggest lessons on the spiritual journey is learning to love unconditionally. However, what is often overlooked is the importance of loving yourself along with everything else. After all, aren’t you a part of the whole of Life? There’s a wonderful Japanese poem - a haiku - which cleverly illustrates this. It goes, “My horse clip-clopping through the field. Aha! I am part of the picture!” As you grow to realize that you are an integral part of Life’s grand picture, it becomes clear that loving yourself along with everything else is part of the deal.
Some of you may feel uncomfortable with the idea of self love, because it’s often interpreted as being overly self involved. Many religions teach that total selflessness is the ideal, and that self love is the antithesis of being selfless. I’m not at all knocking selflessness, but is self love really opposed to selflessness? And is it the same as being too self involved? What actually is self love?
Self love is largely a matter of unconditional self acceptance, with a bit of appreciation and compassion for oneself thrown in. Can you accept yourself unconditionally… that is, without having to fulfill certain conditions, or live up to some particular standard? If not, what do you have to do or be, to fully accept yourself? Do you have to be successful? Do you have to look a certain way? Do you have to be giving all the time? Do you have to be constantly productive? The list of conditions we may attach to self acceptance goes on and on.
What are Your Conditions for Self Love?
If you take a deep and honest look inside yourself, you may find that your conditions for loving yourself are very similar to the (spoken or unspoken) conditions that your parents attached to their love and approval. The idea here, is not to put the blame on your parents. Like most humans, they were probably doing the best they could within their limited framework. And, believe it or not, you chose them as a necessary part of your spiritual curriculum.
However, the common tendency is to adopt these parental conditions as our own conditions for loving ourselves. As we take on these conditions, another interesting dynamic often occurs. We tend to project these conditions for being loved onto Spirit. Somewhere deep in our consciousness, the belief develops that “God will only love me if I’m _________.” (Fill in the blank with whatever conditions you discover.) Of course this belief is absolutely erroneous, because Spirit’s love is absolutely unconditional.
But in our minds - generally our subconscious minds - our parents’ conditions for loving us, Spirit’s conditions for loving us, and our own conditions for loving ourselves, all become intertwined. As a result, we may go through life constantly striving to meet these conditions, as an unconscious attempt to earn the love of Spirit, family, and self. And because the conditions are rarely attained in full, healthy self love remains elusive.
Self Love Shortage and its Effects?
What are the major effects of not loving ourselves?
1. It makes it difficult to truly love others. This is because we tend to judge them by the same conditions with which we judge ourselves.
2. It makes it difficult for us to accept love from another, because if we don’t fit our conditions for self love, we tend to feel that we are not lovable.
3. A shortage of self love also tends to pose a major obstacle to creating the life we hope for. If we believe we are not acceptable to Spirit, we naturally assume that we don’t deserve Life’s abundant gifts and the loving support of the Universe in our undertakings. This deep belief unconsciously sends a negative message to the Universe - a command to the cosmic computer - which is essentially saying, “I’m not worthy, so no matter how much I might ask, or pray, or whine, do not fulfill my hopes and dreams.” In this way, we punish ourselves by sabotaging our own efforts. Spirit never punishes us, but we can do a remarkably good job of punishing ourselves.
On the other hand, what are the positive effects of loving yourself? If you have a healthy sense of self love, you will find it much easier to love others, and much easier to accept the love of others. When you love yourself, you feel deserving of the good things in life and the powerful support of the Universe. This naturally opens the door for your hopes and dreams to be fulfilled more easily, and for your life to proceed with more green lights than red.
Cultivating Self Love
Here are some exercises you can do for developing greater self love.
1. Deepening your awareness. That means doing a bit of honest soul-searching… asking yourself, “Is there a shortage of self love in my life? And if so, why?… what are the underlying dynamics?” There are a number of ways to shine a light into the unconscious caverns of your mind… quiet reflection, talking it out with a trusted friend or therapist, or writing in a journal are all good approaches. What works best for you?
2. Convincing your conscious and subconscious mind that Spirit is unconditionally loving. A willingness to re-examine and toss out old beliefs, and to accept this new belief, is usually sufficient for your conscious mind. However, your subconscious mind - which stores information much like a computer - may need a bit of “re-programming.” The daily repetition of a positive affirmation - such as “Spirit is unconditionally loving” - is one of the most commonly used methods for this. Affirmations can be written, spoken aloud, or repeated mentally. Self hypnosis is also a widely used method for re-programming the subconscious mind.
3. Making a list of all your positive qualities. Even though you are cultivating “unconditional” self acceptance, this helps create a shift toward thinking of yourself in a more positive light.
4. Meditating on self love. Here is a simple meditation for learning to accept and appreciate yourself just as you are.
This meditation is done from the perspective of your “Spiritual Self.” Your Spiritual Self is one and the same as your innermost awareness… it is the quiet, non-judging observer within you. All the rest of you… your body, mind, emotions, personal traits, etc., we will refer to as your “personality.” Just for this exercise, think of your personality as a separate person.
* Sit comfortably and close your eyes (after you have read these instructions).
* Now begin to observe your personality… notice your thoughts, your emotions, how your body feels, etc..
* Take some time to get aquainted with your personality. Objectively think about its various characteristics.
* Next, imagine that your personality is your child, and that you are its parent.
* See this child as a perfect creation of Spirit… still growing into its highest potential, but perfect at whatever stage it’s now at.
* Accept your child as it is… accept it completely, just as it is.
* Look at your child with appreciation and compassion. Look fondly and compassionately at your child, with all of its strengths and positive traits, as well as it’s various weaknesses and follies.
* Open your heart and embrace this child with complete, unconditional love.
Practicing any or all of the above exercises will help deepen your self love. Although encountering challenges along the way is a necessary part the spiritual journey, you will find that healthy self love can be a tremendous ally in smoothing out the rough and rocky stretches of your path.
About the Author
Trained as a meditation teacher in 1973 by the International Meditation Society, Jim Malloy has 30 years of experience teaching meditation. He has taught meditation classes throughout the western and southwestern United States and in England. In 1975 he opened and directed a meditation center on the Oregon coast.
He has been practicing daily meditation for 37 years. To deepen his practice and further his teaching skills, he has studied with some of the world’s foremost experts on meditation from India, Japan, and Tibet… including Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; Swami Muktananda; Joshu Sasaki Roshi; Shunryu Suzuki Roshi; and the 16th Karmapa.
You can learn more at www.meditationcenter.com or contact Jim Malloy by email: jmalloy@meditationcenter.com.
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Posted in Articles, Inspiration, Meditation, Spiritual at 12:16 am by Administrator
– By Jim Malloy
Have there ever been times in your life when you needed some guidance?… some direction in life, or a bit of help making a major decision? Where did you turn? To a trusted friend? A family member? An astrologer or psychic? Maybe you found some helpful direction from these sources, or maybe not. Did you ever wish that there was a higher source of wisdom and guidance you could turn to? One that is free from human bias, whose wisdom is absolutely trustworthy? This higher source of guidance does, indeed exist, and is closer than you may imagine. It is always available to you.
Each of you has at least one spiritual guide that is “assigned” to you, and stays with you throughout your life to assist you as needed. (This is not the same as your guardian angel.) You also have what is called your Higher Self. Your Higher Self is that part of your consciousness that is one with Spirit, and therefore, always in touch with the Higher Cosmic Wisdom. Your spiritual guide and your Higher Self assure that there are at least two higher sources of guidance available to you.
Now even though this higher guidance is always available to you, when you begin meditating and traveling your spiritual path, an interesting shift occurs. The light of your Inner Spirit begins to shine more brightly, and this light becomes a sort of beacon, signaling those in the higher spiritual realms that your spiritual journey has truly begun. To assure that your journey goes along in harmony with the cosmic plan, you begin to attract various teachers and guides to fill special needs for your soul’s growth.
These wise and loving beings, who are present to help you travel your spiritual path, gently and quietly suggest possibilities and positive choices whenever needed. However, this must be done without interfering with your free will. This is very important, because cosmic law dictates that your freedom of choice cannot be taken away. This is especially true here on Planet Earth, where learning to make choices is an essential part of the curriculum. So your guides won’t make your decisions for you, or tell you what you “must” do. Rather, they will gently whisper suggestions, and then leave the rest up to you.
This effortless collaboration with your guides is occurring more than you may know. Much of the time when you are making life choices, you are receiving higher guidance. (I’m not referring to mundane choices, such as which kind of breakfast cereal to buy, but choices that have a reasonable impact on your life or the lives of others.) You may not be aware of it, but your guides are there, assisting you.
For example, have you ever been heading somewhere and had a sudden urge to stop at a place that wasn’t on your planned itinerary, only to run into an old friend. Perhaps this friend has some information for you - or vice versa - that turns out to be quite meaningful. Or perhaps your meeting leads to some positive new opportunity for one or both of you. These kinds of synchronicities begin to occur more frequently for those traveling their spiritual path. And what’s behind them? It’s your spiritual guides whispering gentle suggestions in your ear. This guidance process can be easy and spontaneous… part of the natural dynamic of your life.
Speedbumps on the Path
However, sometimes you may go through periods when it seems as though the choice-making process is a struggle. You may feel confused, ambivalent, or completely clueless. At these times, something is obstructing the clear flow of inner guidance, as well as the clarity of your own thinking process. What causes this? The most common cause is the constricting anxiety that comes from “over-importantizing” decisions… giving too much weight to the outcome.
What often adds to the anxiety, is the notion that there is one right choice, and we have to discover what it is. There is a tendency to feel - either consciously or unconsciously - that if we make the right choice, The Universe will smile upon us, doing everything possible to support us. Our road will be smooth and easy. Everything will work out perfectly… the right choice will lead us to nirvana.
But if we make the wrong choice… take the wrong road, we fear that we will encounter countless obstacles, and nothing will work out favorably. Although we may blame “The Universe” for making this road so hard to find, it is generally the anxiety of thinking we must find the one right way that makes it difficult.
Now, sometimes there is one choice that is more in harmony with your soul’s plan, and may well lead to greater joy than the other choices. However, when this is the case, The Universe does not obscure it just to see if you can find it. That would serve no positive purpose. On the contrary, it tends to post signs flashing “this way,” all around you, and in every corner of your psyche. And if you do happen to choose another route, The Universe does not withhold it’s unconditionally loving support because of it.
However, quite often there is not just one road that you are meant to take, but several possible roads, leading to several “possible futures” that will all bear fruit in some way. And all will have their joys as well as their challenges. From the higher cosmic perspective, your soul’s growth is the top priority, and life is set up so that even the dumbest choices will open a doorway to growth and valuable spiritual lessons.
Follow Your Bliss
If you ask for higher guidance, more often than you may imagine, your guides will encourage you to do what you love, i.e. to follow your heart’s desire… your highest ideal. Or as the great mythologist, Joseph Campbell put it, to “follow your bliss.” Of course, that excludes anything that will cause anyone any harm. Such choices may catalyze a feeling of elation or excitement within you when you think about them.
On the other hand, there may be occasions when your higher guidance will encourage you to do what’s best for all concerned, even if it does not seem so blissful. In such cases, you most likely know what to do already, but may try to ignore it, hoping your guides will get you off the hook with an easier course to take.
When you begin to understand these dynamics of choice and of working with your guides, things tend to lighten up considerably. You begin to feel free of the pressure, and are less likely to over-importantize, and agonize over decisions. Choices start to come more easily… sometimes instantly, sometimes emerging and taking shape gradually. You begin to trust more in your instincts and intuition. And when you aren’t all knotted up with anxiety, you are way more receptive to the gentle whisperings of your spiritual guides. So the whole process once again becomes a spontaneous collaboration between you and your higher guidance.
Inviting Higher Guidance
Of course, there may still be occasions when a major life choice is not perfectly clear, and you feel the need for some extra help. At these times, it’s best to turn within and ask for higher guidance. In such cases, the same principle holds true… the more you can relax and not get all knotted up with anxiety over the outcome, the easier it is to be receptive to your guides. For these occasions, here’s an easy exercise you can do to get in touch with your Higher Self when you need some guidance.
1. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Breathe easily and naturally.
2. Imagine yourself in a place where you feel completely comfortable and at peace. It may be somewhere in nature, a room where you feel very comfortable… wherever you feel most at peace.
3. Picture a being of light approaching from a distance. You can see that this being is radiating great peace, love, and wisdom.
4. As he or she reaches you, you realize that it is your Higher Self.
5. Invite your Higher Self to sit with you. Notice how you feel completely at home and at peace in it’s unconditionally loving presence.
6. Briefly explain the situation to your Higher Self, and ask for his or her guidance.
7. Then you can either sit quietly, waiting for the response… or you can carry on a dialogue with your Higher Self.
You may receive an answer immediately, or after a short time. Your Higher Self may give you an answer in the form of words, symbols, pictures, or just a deep knowing. The answer may be very specific, or it may come in the form of a higher truth, which sheds enough light on the situation to help you choose wisely. If you don’t receive an answer while you are sitting, it’s ok. You have still begun the guidance process, and that’s important. Once you have begun the process, your guidance will most likely find you at a moment when you are not trying to find it.
Guidance from your Higher Self or your spiritual guides should always be gentle, and feel kind, compassionate, and accepting. It should never be a command (except in rare, life threatening situations requiring instant action). If a guide tells you that you “must” do this or that, it is not your Higher Self or a higher spirit guide. Simply disregard the advice, and ask it to move along.
Remember, you are being gently guided and lovingly cared for at all times. The more you learn to trust this, the easier it will be for your Higher Self and spiritual guides to assist you, and the more harmonious and enjoyable your journey will be.
About the Author
Trained as a meditation teacher in 1973 by the International Meditation Society, Jim Malloy has 30 years of experience teaching meditation. He has taught meditation classes throughout the western and southwestern United States and in England. In 1975 he opened and directed a meditation center on the Oregon coast.
He has been practicing daily meditation for 37 years. To deepen his practice and further his teaching skills, he has studied with some of the world’s foremost experts on meditation from India, Japan, and Tibet… including Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; Swami Muktananda; Joshu Sasaki Roshi; Shunryu Suzuki Roshi; and the 16th Karmapa.
You can learn more at www.meditationcenter.com or contact Jim Malloy by email: jmalloy@meditationcenter.com.
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02.10.08
Posted in Articles, Meditation at 11:17 pm by Administrator
– By Jim Malloy
When you sit down to meditate, do you find yourself looking forward to an enjoyable respite of peace and relaxation? Or, do you feel that you are about to spend the next 15 minutes or so, working at a formidable task… uncertain that you can achieve a goal that’s not altogether clear? If the latter seems more applicable to you, then you may be approaching meditation with too much “will,” and not enough “grace.”
Too much will, in this case, means that you believe - and act as though - whatever happens in your meditation occurs only as a result of your own efforts… that you must make yourself relax, or quiet your mind, or eliminate your thoughts, or achieve a higher state of awareness. Yes, you may attain a bit of relaxation in this way, and perhaps even elevate your consciousness somewhat. You may even succeed in quieting your mind… for a few moments.
However, there’s an awful lot of work involved in all this. Relying solely on your will always involves a lot of effort. And the results are limited. Will, or self effort, can only take you so far in meditation. There is another way to approach meditation… a way that is not only easier and more enjoyable, but is also capable of taking you to the deepest, most satisfying states of consciousness. I’m speaking of opening to the energies of grace in your meditation.
What is grace? Grace can be defined as “a combination of cosmic energies coming together to elevate your consciousness.” However, behind these impersonal cosmic energies, you will generally find wise, loving beings directing these energies… making certain you receive just the right dosage to fill your need for spiritual growth at that time. These are what author, Gary Zukav calls your “unseen teachers.” They may be unseen, but they are always present to take advantage of any opportunity to assist you in your spiritual awakening.
Grace is not just reserved for the holy, and the concept of deserving does not really enter in. Grace is available to all, and there is an extraordinary amount of grace available to us now, during the current planetary consciousness shift… the remarkable spiritual awakening that humanity is now experiencing.
A Question of Balance
Relying on grace in meditation does not mean that you use no effort at all in meditation. Ideally, meditation is a blend of will and grace. It’s mostly a matter of finding the right balance. How is this done? Each meditation differs somewhat, but in general, it simply involves following the guidelines of a particular method with “relaxed effort”, and then allowing for whatever happens, rather than attempting to make something happen.
Not trying to make something happen includes: not attempting to quiet your mind or eliminate thoughts… not working to create an altered state of consciousness… not concentrating too rigidly… not trying to force the opening of your chakras - your spiritual energy centers. Just make a relaxed effort, and allow grace to do the rest.
How can you receive more grace?
Grace is, for the most part, a spontaneous happening. However, there are a few ways to elicit a bit more from the cosmos.
1. Asking Although you may not notice the difference every time, I’ve found that simply asking for grace at the start of each meditation is very often helpful. There’s no need to beg or grovel. Just ask whomever you naturally tend to call on for assistance… Spirit, The Universe, your unseen teachers, etc..
2. Preparation Being prepared to receive more grace basically means that your energy circuitry is strong enough and clear enough to conduct this powerful elevating energy.
Strengthening your circuitry mostly comes from normal physical activity, such as walking, running, working, etc., and from practicing spiritual exercises, such as Yoga or Tai Chi.
Clear energy circuitry is achieved through daily meditation, as well as via other healing and processing tools that are now available to us, such as certain types of massage therapy, hypnotherapy, creative visualization, Reiki, etc..
3. Being receptive If your meditation involves too much effort or control, it tends to dis-allow the spontaneous flow of grace. You can see this simple principle at work in the outer world as well. If you believe that you have to accomplish everything yourself, and never allow anyone to help, then of course, no one will. So it’s helpful to be receptive, and to approach meditation with the attitude of it being a combined venture, rather than a solo effort.
Once you become familiar with how this works, and find a comfortable balance between will and grace, meditation not only becomes easier, but also tends to become deeper and much more enjoyable.
About the Author
Trained as a meditation teacher in 1973 by the International Meditation Society, Jim Malloy has 30 years of experience teaching meditation. He has taught meditation classes throughout the western and southwestern United States and in England. In 1975 he opened and directed a meditation center on the Oregon coast.
He has been practicing daily meditation for 37 years. To deepen his practice and further his teaching skills, he has studied with some of the world’s foremost experts on meditation from India, Japan, and Tibet… including Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; Swami Muktananda; Joshu Sasaki Roshi; Shunryu Suzuki Roshi; and the 16th Karmapa.
You can learn more at www.meditationcenter.com or contact Jim Malloy by email: jmalloy@meditationcenter.com.
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Posted in Articles, Meditation at 11:11 pm by Administrator
– By Jim Malloy
Are you finding it hard to get into a daily meditation practice? Despite your good intentions, do you find you just can’t seem to find 15 minutes a day to do something that you know helps you feel better, more calm, and less stressed?
Maybe you feel that you’re just too busy. Maybe you just keep putting your meditation off until it’s bedtime, and then you’re too tired, and you say, “Well, I’ll do it tomorrow.” Or maybe things just seem to crop up when you are about to meditate… things that seem out of your control, like family emergencies, phone calls from needy friends, unexpected visitors, etc. These unexpected events may seem out of your control… but are they? Being overly busy may also seem out of your control… but is it?
There’s an underlying force at work here. Not only can this force produce endless daily tasks and logical reasons for not meditating, but it can miraculously create all sorts of unplanned events that just happen to occur at meditation time. “Well, I was about to meditate, and the phone rang, and it was my friend who needed to talk about a crisis, and by the time we finished talking, I had to take off for work and couldn’t meditate.” Sure your friend’s crisis was real, but why did the call come just when you were about to meditate?
Two Cosmic Forces
There are actually two opposing forces within you. Force one, is the “Force of Evolution.” It pulls you toward growth… toward attaining your highest possibilities… toward greater freedom, peace, joy, and love… toward the light and your true spiritual home. This cosmic force is quite likely what led you to seek out meditation in the first place… even though it may have seemed as though you were just looking for a little clarity or stress relief.
Force two is the “Force of Stagnation.” This is the force that resists growth… resists any kind of change. And because meditation catalyzes growth and positive change, it poses a real threat to the Force of Stagnation. This force works through our unconscious mind, so we are usually not aware of its covert operations.
When you start to grow and make positive changes in your life, and when you begin to evolve beyond your old limitations, the Force of Stagnation kicks in. That’s when many of these “coincidences” begin to occur. These distracting events may appear to be coincidences, but they’re not. The Force of Stagnation is very adept at creating things. That doesn’t mean that you are in any way responsible for events like a friend’s crisis. But your unconscious mind can cooperate with the time-line… for example, by forgetting to turn off the phone ringer, or finding a little task to delay your meditation for an extra ten minutes. That leaves the door open for all sorts of things to pop up and interfere with your meditation.
Devil or Angel?
Have you seen those cartoons where a person has a little angel on one shoulder telling them to do the right thing, and a little devil on the other shoulder, persuading them to do the opposite? Symbolically, that’s what’s happening here. Your Evolutionary Angel is always whispering in one ear… encouraging you to grow… to become your highest self. Meanwhile, the little Stagnation Devil whispers in the other ear, providing you with a fantastic list of ways to avoid meditating. Which one will you listen to?
Of course the purpose of knowing that there’s a force behind the problem is not to supply you with the ultimate excuse to skip meditation. The purpose of understanding the hidden workings of this force, is so you won’t be so easily controlled by it. Also, I don’t mean to convey that these forces represent good and evil. They are merely two cosmic forces… each has a necessary role to play in the big cosmic picture.
Out-Maneuvering The Force
There are practical steps you can take to out-maneuver the Force of Stagnation. The most effective one is to set aside a specific period each day for meditation… making the commitment to yourself that no matter what happens, this 15 minutes is your meditation time. Then do whatever you can to avoid distractions… remember to turn off the phone ringer, inform other household members this time is for you, put a “do not disturb” sign on the door, if necessary. I used to go out and meditate in the car (parked, of course) when it was too noisy do it at home.
After you’ve demonstrated your commitment to regular meditation for awhile, it becomes much easier… the stagnant force seems to get the message. However, keeping your commitment does require a bit of courage… the courage to leave your familiar old limitations behind, and the courage to open new doors that lead to the unknown. I can assure you that behind those mysterious doors lie great treasures, but you’ll have to discover them for yourself. If you have the courage to stay on your spiritual path, and follow your Evolutionary Angel, you will indeed find the treasure.
About the Author
Trained as a meditation teacher in 1973 by the International Meditation Society, Jim Malloy has 30 years of experience teaching meditation. He has taught meditation classes throughout the western and southwestern United States and in England. In 1975 he opened and directed a meditation center on the Oregon coast. He has been practicing daily meditation for 37 years. To deepen his practice and further his teaching skills, he has studied with some of the world’s foremost experts on meditation from India, Japan, and Tibet… including Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; Swami Muktananda; Joshu Sasaki Roshi; Shunryu Suzuki Roshi; and the 16th Karmapa.
You can learn more at www.meditationcenter.com or contact Jim Malloy by email: jmalloy@meditationcenter.com.
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Posted in Articles, Meditation at 11:10 pm by Administrator
– By Jim Malloy
At one time or another, everyone finds themselves in some rough emotional weather. Can meditation help you get through these storms, and even downgrade their future intensity? Yes, a regular meditation practice can indeed, provide you with a safe harbor from emotional storms. To understand how, let’s have a look at both the long term and short term effects of meditation on your emotions. (If you are currently weathering an emotional storm, it’s ok to skip ahead to the “short term” section.)
Long term effects of meditation on your emotions
Through continued daily (or almost daily) meditation practice, many profound inner changes occur, which will gradually bring about greater emotional equilibrium and well-being. These changes occur on several levels… spiritual, mental, physical/etheric (which includes your chakra system). Let’s take a look at how these various levels of your being are positively effected by meditation, and how that relates to greater emotional well-being.
Spiritual
Meditation connects you with your inner Spirit… the perpetually calm center within you. Your calm spiritual center may be compared to the peaceful eye at the center of a hurricane. Connecting daily with your inner Spirit helps you to remain more “centered” that calm space throughout the day, thus anchoring you from being blown about by the winds of change and adversity.
Mental
Your mind assesses and interprets each situation that occurs in your life. If it interprets a situation as stressful, i.e. threatening, aggravating, sorrowful, etc., it signals your emotional body, triggering a related emotional response… fear/anxiety, anger/impatience, sadness/depression, etc..
By clearing your mind, meditation helps you to view your circumstances more “truly”, free from the negative projections that often color ones outlook. With this greater clarity, the mind begins to interpret fewer situations as “stressful”, and so becomes less inclined to send unnecessary emotion-triggering signals to your emotional body.
Physical/Etheric - Your Glands & Chakras
From a biological point of view, emotional well-being is somewhat dependent on a healthy, well balanced endocrine system (your glands and their interaction). Several of your glands act as chemical transmitters between your mind and emotional body. These chemicals signal the emotional body to respond to a particular situation in a certain way.
For example, in a threatening situation, your mind signals your adrenal glands, which begin secreting adrenaline. The adrenaline produces a feeling of fear in your emotional body, heightening your senses and readying you to protect yourself, by either confronting the situation, or getting yourself out of there.
If your adrenal glands are functioning well, your emotional response is likely to be appropriate to the situation. But if your adrenal glands are out of whack, your emotional response is more likely to be disproportionate… too little adrenaline, producing a lethargic response… or too much adrenaline, throwing you into a state of anxiety or panic, rather than clear readiness to respond.
This is just one example of how a healthy endocrine system is vital to emotional well-being and equilibrium. How does meditation restore and maintain healthy, balanced glands? The main way it accomplishes this, is by balancing and cleansing your spiritual energy centers, also known as “chakras”.
Your chakras are vortexes through which the life force flows and is directed to where it is needed… the different areas of your body, as well as the various departments of your life. These energy centers are not physical, but are a part of what is called your etheric body. (See the chakra & energy body diagram in the FAQs Room: http://www.meditationcenter.com/info/faq.html )
Your etheric body is composed of a subtler energy than your physical body, and acts as a template… a sort of unseen framework on which your physical body is built. Therefore, each part of your physical body has an etheric counterpart. Your chakras are roughly the etheric counterpart of your glands. Thus, when your chakras are in balance, your endocrine system mirrors this balance.
Your chakras also “feed” your glands with the spiritual life force, also known as chi. When your chakras are clear and functioning well, they are able to provide your glands with the necessary nourishment. However, when your chakras are blocking the life force, the health of your endocrine system suffers, and your glands begin sending the wrong signals to your emotional body, resulting in a variety of unwelcome emotional states.
Daily meditation gradually clears your chakras of anything which may block the free flow of spiritual life force, and restores them to a state of healthy balance, so that they can better fulfill their role of nourishing your endocrine system.
Another important facet of this process is worth noting… As meditation is clearing the energy blocks from your chakras, it is also healing and dissolving away old emotional wounds. As these emotional wounds are healed, your “emotional hot buttons” become less charged and thus, not so easily triggered.
Short term effects of meditation on your emotions
Whenever you are in the throes of rough emotional weather and want to get past it, 15 minutes or so of nearly any type of meditation can be an effective remedy. However, here is a meditation specifically for calming emotional storms.
Because this meditation is for gaining relief from rough emotional weather, it would be best to not add more stress by worrying about doing it correctly. Just follow the simple steps and accept whatever happens.
* Sit comfortably with your spine reasonably straight. It’s fine to lean against something. If you are feeling too bad to sit up, lie down flat on your back. If you are in too much of a funk to do that, any position will do.
* With your eyes closed, take a few moments to pay attention to your breathing… breathe naturally, and observe your breath coming in, filling you, and going out.
* Next, try to focus your attention on the emotions you are feeling. Take some time to simply feel the emotions. Try not to analyze them, alter them, or push them away. Just feel the emotions, remaining as present as you can with them for a few minutes. (This is a powerful means of emotional healing, but if it is too painful, you can skip to the next step.)
* Next, imagine a radiant face… the face of the most loving, caring, compassionate, being you can think of. (You may see this face, or you may just sense or feel it’s presence. However you experience it is ok.) This face may or may not be familiar to you. You may think of it as a manifestation of Spirit, or as just an extremely caring and compassionate being.
* Spend a few minutes communing with this loving being. Converse with it if you like, silently or aloud… or just commune in silence.
* Then offer your negative emotions up to this loving being for healing. Just turn them over to be healed and transformed.
* When you are ready, slowly come out of your meditation.
As you continue to grow spiritually from your meditation practice, you begin to realize that you don’t have to be a victim of the ever-changing winds and waves of emotion… you become empowered and more in control of your life. That doesn’t mean that you cease to feel things. Rather, you may experience the entire spectrum of feelings, but you are no longer at the mercy of the more turbulent emotional weather as it moves through your life.
About the Author
Trained as a meditation teacher in 1973 by the International Meditation Society, Jim Malloy has 30 years of experience teaching meditation. He has taught meditation classes throughout the western and southwestern United States and in England. In 1975 he opened and directed a meditation center on the Oregon coast. He has been practicing daily meditation for 37 years. To deepen his practice and further his teaching skills, he has studied with some of the world’s foremost experts on meditation from India, Japan, and Tibet… including Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; Swami Muktananda; Joshu Sasaki Roshi; Shunryu Suzuki Roshi; and the 16th Karmapa.
You can learn more at www.meditationcenter.com or contact Jim Malloy by email: jmalloy@meditationcenter.com.
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Posted in Articles, Meditation at 11:08 pm by Administrator
– By Lynn Gregorski
I’ve been practicing meditation for over ten years. When I mention it to someone who has never tried it, usually the reaction is, “I could never sit still that long.” It seems many of my friends don’t think they can do it, but more importantly they don’t understand exactly it is. Yes, there are devout monks who can meditate for days, weeks and go without eating, but that’s not what meditation is to me. Meditation is my personal experience and observation of the process of slowing my mind and body. My meditation is observing what goes on in those moments that I try to be still. Even if my mind is wandering I consider that part of the exercise. I try to observe what my brain and mind is trying to do and work on bringing it back to the present moment and a place of stillness. Itchy legs, arms, the fidgety feeling that I sometimes struggle with, I know is only normal. After all, I’ve been going full speed all day long, so isn’t it only natural that it’s going to take a little bit of work to slow down?
Once I’m over what I call “the period of adjustment”, at the start of my meditation, I can really begin to go deep. A few things that help me relax are breathing and releasing all the muscles in my neck, shoulder and face, without slouching. Counting my breaths or simply focusing on the inhalation and exhalation of each breath is a great way to stay in the present. I use each inhalation and exhalation as an observation of the beauty of the breath. It amazes me how wonderful nice deep breaths are. They are one of the most healing and cleansing things I can do for myself. Even if my minds wanders during this type of meditation, I think of all the benefits I’m giving my body by simply letting the air fill all of my lungs and diaphragm and then completely leaving my body. Ask yourself if you could take these kinds of healing, cleansing breaths at some point in every day.
Another meditation practice I enjoy is group meditations. There are many forms of group meditation but the sessions I attend are guided by one person. During these sessions we focus on aligning our chakras and accepting light and healing. A guided meditation is a great way to focus on yourself while you benefit from the healing energy of the group. Members of my group say it’s much easier for them to listen to someone else and follow along, than to practice meditation on their own. If you don’t have a meditation group nearby, you can always pick up a guided meditation on CD.
When it comes to meditating, I believe there are no hard, fast rules. What’s really important is that you feel you are getting something out of it, even if it’s simply relaxing for a few moments or making quiet observations about yourself. Make it your own personal practice and let it develop into what works best for you.
About the Author
Lynn Gregorski has been studying yoga and meditation for over ten years. She has traveled the world on her own spiritual journey and in 2001 launched RapunzelGifts.com.
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Posted in Alternative Medicine, Articles, Meditation at 11:04 pm by Administrator
– By Conrad Askland
Meditation has been regarded for centuries as a way to get past the everyday stresses of life in order to obtain tranquility, serenity, peace and a sense of calmness. While meditation has been practiced for most of history in Eastern civilization it has only become popular in the Western world in the last few years. Since the reawakening of meditation, many healthcare professionals have discovered numerous other benefits of meditation; many of which are related to improving your health.
Meditation has actually been approved by the National Institutes of health as a relaxation method for the purpose of treating chronic pain as well as insomnia. Surveys conducted have revealed that an astounding 65% of cancer treatment centers provide meditation therapy as an option alongside traditional treatments. According to the NIH, when meditation is performed on a regular basis a patient can experience a reduction in chronic pain as well as other health problems such as cholesterol, high blood pressure, anxiety and blood cortisol levels. In addition, it has been shown to be beneficial when treating patients suffering from substance abuse as well as veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress syndrome.
While individuals new to the concept of meditation may be wary of introducing it into their health regiment, studies have shown that there are only rare complications associated with meditation. In fact, the positive health benefits of meditation are so great that many health care professionals feel they far outweigh the slight possibility of rare negative side effects. Only in rare cases have individuals practicing meditation become anxious, disoriented or experienced negative feelings.
Evidence seems to indicate that meditation is a fantastic way to reduce stress in the mind as well as on the body. This in turn allows the body to return to a healthier state, making it possible for the individual to gain a more peaceful, well-rested night’s sleep-especially for those who suffer from insomnia.
While the effects of meditation on the health of the human body are still underway, the initial results are quite encouraging. For example, studies have indicated that individuals who regularly practice meditation have a better immune response to certain diseases such as influenza. Furthermore, other studies have shown that persons who meditate on a regular basis frequently have more brain activity than those who do not.
There are a number of different ways that you can practice meditation in order to obtain the health benefits previously mentioned. Meditation can be self-directed or it can be led by a doctor or teacher. The most classic form of meditation involves sitting; however if you experience health issues that would make this uncomfortable for you there are other forms of meditation that will reduce the occurrence of cramping and numbness in your legs; common with sitting forms of meditation. The most important things to keep in mind when beginning your meditation is to choose a place that is quiet and free from distraction, but one that allows plenty of light so that you do not run the risk of falling asleep.
Health Benefits of Meditation c2005 Conrad Askland
About the Author
For more information about meditation and how to use meditation to improve your health visit www.meditationsoflife.com.
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Posted in Articles, Meditation at 11:01 pm by Administrator
– By Kevin Griffin
The Twelve Steps include the recommendation that we learn meditation—as part of Step Eleven—and for many people in recovery, this can seem like a daunting, and even irrelevant task. We give up drinking or drugs or overeating or sexual acting out—or whatever destructive habit pattern that led us to the Steps—and our life starts to straighten out. We’re told to go to meetings, which seems helpful, because we find others who share our problem and can give us support; we’re told to get a sponsor who guides us through the recovery process, passing on much of the received wisdom of the Twelve Step program. We try to gain some idea of a Higher Power so that we can let go of some of our obsessive control and self-centeredness. We do the hard work of looking at our failings in a “moral inventory” and even making amends to people we hurt with our destructive behavior. All of that makes a certain amount of sense and certainly brings some relief. But then we reach Step Eleven and we’re supposed to sit still with our eyes closed and follow our breath or repeat a mantra. What does that have to do with recovery?
Meditation has two central purposes: to help us become more relaxed, free of stress, and to help us to see our habits of mind more clearly and become less a slave to our reactivity. Sobriety is stressful—especially newfound sobriety. We’re used to numbing our feelings, and all of a sudden we’re feeling everything. Taking some time to just sit still—to stop all the frenetic activity—helps us decompress, to let go of some of the tension and anxiety that builds up during our day. It reminds us that there’s always time to breathe. Taking twenty minutes to practice meditation can shift our whole perspective on what’s important and where we want to spend our energy. The second aspect of meditation—sometimes called insight—gives us a chance to look at our thoughts. When we sit down to meditate, what often happens is that our mind starts wandering. This is quite natural. If we take a moment each time we get distracted to notice what the thoughts are saying, we can often uncover habits of thinking—self-hatred, guilt, anxiety; fantasy, desire, planning—and these repeating thoughts underlie many of our destructive behaviors as we act out our anger, craving, and confusion. As we sit in meditation, drawing on the calm that develops, we start to be able to let go of some of these thoughts and become less of a victim to their destructive impulses.
For the person in recovery, whether a “newcomer” or an “oldtimer,” meditation offers a gateway to peace and wisdom. Daily practice as well as occasional meditation retreats—a few days up to a few months—strengthens our program and helps us to be “happy, joyous, and free.”
About the Author
Kevin Griffin is the author of “One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps” (Rodale Press). He has been clean and sober since 1985 and has been practicing meditation for over 25 years.
For more information you can contact see his website at www.kevingriffin.net.
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Posted in Articles, Meditation at 10:28 pm by Administrator
My heart was pounding, and my leg muscles ached when I reached the end of the steep climb. But, the hike up that section of the Appalachian Trail was worth the effort. The 360 degree view from the summit of Bear Mountain was spectacular. The rolling hills in all directions were a multitude of bright and muted colored dotted with lush stands evergreen trees. Forests and mountain peaks in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut were visible from the mount. Relaxing, feeling close to Nature, enjoying picturesque, and tranquil scenes are a form of meditation that a naturalist like me experiences out-of-doors. Being in Nature is my meditation. Camping in deep forests or along a partially wooded shoreline has put me in tune with wood, fire, water and earth. Observing the flora and fauna that live in those placid surroundings leaves me with a feeling of calm. Eating and sleeping outdoors and sitting around a campfire under a canopy of stars helps to ‘put my senses in tune once more’.
What effect does being outside have on our body and mind? Many studies show that the primary reasons that people boat and fish are to relax outdoors, be with family and close to nature. Canoeing quiet water in tranquil settings has left me with many pleasant memories. I remember my family together in our forest green, Old Town canoe. I remember the quietness as the canoe slithered through the surface of the slow moving, meandering river. As we paddled with minimum effort, the silence of our peaceful travel was interrupted by a pair of mallards as they rose from the water. Their wings beat rapidly against warm, still morning air. I feathered my paddle at the completion of a J-stroke and watched their rapid ascent over a clump of alders. The sound of their wings dissipated.
Whether I am canoeing a picturesque wooded stream, sailing in the sweet water or climbing a lush mountain peak, it’s effortless to relax out-of-doors. At times I find myself reflecting on the week. Other times I am in the present moment, just observing. And every time, I feel reconnected to the earth, relishing my meditation in nature.
“Sit in reverie, and watch the changing of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
– Robert Gregorski, Outdoor Writer
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