A simple touch, a gentle kiss, a warm embrace, sitting silently while holding someone’s hand or a loving smile from across the room can all bring peace and calm to a troubled stranger or friend. Just think of when you were a child and how magical it felt to have someone kiss away your “boo-boos” after you had fallen and hurt yourself.  Anyone who has had pets can relate to their instinct in knowing when to come and curl up on your lap or lay beside your bed when you are not feeling well.  Love, whether it comes from another person or animal can bring balance and healing into our lives faster than any medicine or ritual. Oh, but let’s not forget the love sent to us through nature! Can anything be more calming than an orange and purple sunset as it casts its reflection upon a glass-topped lake? Or sitting under countless stars on a full moon lit night?

It is all too easy to by pass the simple things in our lives and brush off the necessity for the feeling of connection with one another, the universe, nature and the Divine.  Isn’t it easier just to make the excuse that you don’t have the time, energy or money to reach out and touch someone, take a walk or to pray? After all, wouldn’t it be safer not to love in order not to feel rejection or hurt feeling? But in reality, what are you really saving?  In fact, you are depriving yourself of the very thing you came to this earth to experience – the joy of life itself!

Take a moment and look around you.  Really look at the people you meet, the buildings you pass on your way to work, the colours of the leaves of the trees or hear the laughter of the children playing in the yards.  When was the last time you read the name tag the check out girl in the grocery store was wearing and then took the time to call her by name? How many times have you passed an elderly person who was sitting alone on a bench, not even taking the time to send a smile their way? Those people you pass and choose to ignore may be going through something upsetting in their lives and your kind word could make all the difference in their day or even their life.

Random acts of kindness are not things you should have to think about and plan but rather come naturally to you throughout the day.  So I challenge you during the course of the next month, make it a point to do give something to everyone you meet, give something back to the earth and make a point to put aside time for your connection with Spirit. No money needs to be spent and very little time will be taken from your day.  Passing along a smile, encouraging words, or even silently sending another love and positive energy can all be done so easily.  Thinking about the products you purchase and their effect upon our earth, going for a walk, breathing in the fresh air and feeling the warmth of the sun upon your skin are simple ways to give thanks to this planet and the universe.  Above all, allow yourself a few minutes each day for solitude and meditation because it is during these moments of silence that you find your inner peace and connection to Spirit.  Here in this time where you “just be” you will experience the oneness with everything and find yourself being rejuvenated and your love replenished a hundredfold.

What are you waiting for? Close your eyes, breath deeply, exhale slowly and allow the love of the world around you and the unconditional love sent from Spirit to completely envelope you. Now imagine sending that love to all the people you have crossed paths with today…. whether you know them or not, like them or not and regardless of what they did or did not do towards you today.  Send this same feeling of love to all of nature and the universe as it too must heal and grow through our positive thoughts and actions.  Now, wasn’t that easy?  You have just taken the first step to truly becoming love and opening yourself up to receive the many blessings you too deserve.

Janice Chrysler: Through Hypnosis, Reiki and Spiritual Coaching Janice assists others in awakening their inner strengths and connection of Mind-Body-Spirit. Once this spark is ignited they are able to make changes necessary for their personal growth. Practicing from her Marmora office, Janice provides private and group sessions and workshops along with weekly meditation classes. She is also a wedding officiant providing unique ceremonies for weddings, namings and funerals. In all areas of life, her goal is to bring individuals closer to Spirit. “Life is a learning field for all of us and we are all on a journey. Throughout the trip we cross each other’s path for a reason. I am grateful for all my life’s experiences as I feel it has taught me to become who I am today and I know, the trip is far from over! Who knows when and where we will meet. Namaste, Janice” www.mindfuljourney.ca

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Are you Spiritually Stuck?

As you know, each one of us has psychic and healing abilities.  Like all other endeavors in our lives, if we choose not to use them we will forget how to use them.  Perhaps there has been a time in your life when you were very intuitive but it frightened you and you wanted to shut it off.  You would still receive messages, have a feeling but now instead of paying attention to it you likely brushed it aside, allowing your ego to convince you it was all your imagination.  You may have wanted to open up more,…
What is Love? by Panache Desai

If you’ve found your way here for advice on love, then I can only assume that you are still searching for this elusive experience. And you’re not alone. Globally, more than 225 million searches are conducted each month on the Internet for advice on what is love? For those who have been less than lucky in love and are trying to do it better, healthier, or wiser this time, you have my love and support,…

Technorati Tags: gentle, inner peace, inspiration, Janice Chrysler, kiss, love, nature, Relationships, Spirituality, touch, vivid life

It is already week two in the new year. I have had a busy week, with little time for myself. That is what sometimes what happens in a family. But this week it was not a matter of choice nor of control. It was all completely out of my say and it meant that we all just had to deal with the situation we were in. Stuck together. Funny enough we all did. Sometimes you can surprise yourself, but to be surprise by others at the same time is a good feeling. It got me thinking on the thinks I had planned to do, when the holiday season was over. The goals I had set out and the activities that I want to do. We all start of a new period with a lot of energy and many things on our to do list.

Because we were all completely thrown out by this week and not able to do what we had set out to do, it is very easy to slip back into bad habits. Looking at that I wondered what wasn’t working for me last year. It is moments like these, being challenged, that there is a choice. What do we choose right now and what did we choose last year! It made me really quite and I reflected back. Because it is important to let by gone’s be by gone’s. There are many stories and even songs written about this. Last year I wrote about leaving luggage behind. So not to be able to start with what I had planned could be considered to be a set back. It didn’t feel like that at all. It sure gave me an opportunity to think about what could I leave in 2011.

To be honest the most important one for me is, don’t over think every thing. Any one recognizing this? It probably is the number one thing that takes away a lot of my time and energy. It is a silly thing to do. We all know that, but it is so easy to get yourself into. It comes from a point of really caring for every one around you and even a way for looking to get approvement from others in the circle we life in. Is it? “Was I kind to this person today” or “Completely forgot that she has a special diet” or “I should have helped my colleague to finish her presentation this afternoon?”. These are often the starting points and then the over thinking is creating a complete life of their own. Things from last week, last year, yesterday and what will happen tomorrow will start popping into our heads. But none of all of this will help us, it will only take away attention from other events going on around us at that moment.  So it will be a lot better to stop this all together.  Of course that is easier said than done.  A good start is to take a deep breath when you notice this is going on.  Don’t judge yourself, just notice.  After this to just say stop.  After taking time to breath and really notice that you’re breathing is becoming calmer and more from the belly.  Then you can start to replace your thoughts with events that were nice that day.  There are always so many nice encounter with friends and colleague’s.  This is where we start a different look at what has happened today.  The great lady at the shop that really liked you hair or you when you stepped in for a colleague.  It all starts to change with that first step you take to pay attention to events differently.

What will be your thing to leave behind in 2011?

My name is Renée Vos de Wael. I am a coach, educator, group facilitator, walker, traveler, wife, mother and student. Being a globetrotter for over 10 years brought me an open minded, flexible attitude towards life. I love the idea that we can reinvent ourselves whenever we need or want to. Working with and for people has been my passion and is rewarding in many ways. The different cultures where I live in teach me to view life from a different angle and give a change to enroll into a life filled with challenges and opportunities. Life is beautiful, there are so many opportunities to grow and learn. Let me be your opportunity for finding your true self and your talents! http://reneevosdewael.com/

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Moving past fear…….
Fear what does that mean to you?  This is a word that is used very often and sometimes I wonder if it is really a bad thing.  Fear is an emotion that comes naturally as a situation is dangerous or when we were taught that a situation is dangerous. Especially as parents we spend a lot of time explaining to our kids when they should be alert and pay attention.  As they do look at situations from a completely differently point of view.  It also depends on,…

What is Love? by Panache Desai

If you’ve found your way here for advice on love, then I can only assume that you are still searching for this elusive experience. And you’re not alone. Globally, more than 225 million searches are conducted each month on the Internet for advice on what is love? For those who have been less than lucky in love and are trying to do it better, healthier, or wiser this time, you have my love and support.

Technorati Tags: healing, inspiration, Life with Direction, personal development, Personal Growth, self help, self-discovery

One of the most powerful phrases in human language is “I am here.” It is powerful because it is utterly simple and profoundly true. Anything that is said or thought afterward is just an addition to this basic, unfaltering truth. In fact I and am and here are all pointing to the same essential truth, pointing to that which needs no foundation for its support, because it is the foundational truth.

Even “I am not here,” comes from the truth of being here. Denial of presence can only be stated here, where you are. The power to deny yourself comes from the truth of yourself.

In recognizing that basic truth, I am here, you have the opportunity to be welcomed here, to welcome yourself here, and to welcome what else has appeared here, in whatever state you find present in yourself.

I am inviting you to tell the truth, as completely as possible, about what is here. You probably have particular feelings that are here. Can you welcome them? When feelings change, you are still here. Feelings will change, which may be a good thing or a bad thing, but you remain. Here remains. Here doesn’t change. Things that appear here change.

Tomorrow comes here, yesterday was here. The sun comes here, clouds come here. Limitless beingness, here, discovers itself as I. The ground of the ground, the beingness of your being.

In this very moment you can tell this basic truth, I am here, and meet whatever is evoked by that truth telling. You can rest your mind in this truth. Your thinking mind can be embraced by this truth.

As an investigation, just in this moment, can you find a beginning or an end to here?

Has here ever been absent from your life?

Can you find a time in your life when you ever were not?

You can also turn your attention to the pronoun that everyone uses, I. If you do not limit I to a particular story about I, or a particular definition, or a particular gender, or a particular body, can you recognize it here as consciousness? Deeper and closer than any thought, and yet informing every thought.

In recognizing the particular thoughts that attempt to define I, and attempt to define being, and attempt to define here, in any moment we can simply return to the fundamental truth that needs no definition for its truthfulness.

I am here.

Then we can ask ourselves, “Is it enough?” If full attention is turned to I am here, is anything lacking?

There is no correct answer. It is a discovery.

This blog is adapted from a talk given by Gangaji at Hollyhock, Cortes Island, BC in September 2011. Gangaji’s new book Hidden Treasure: Uncovering the Truth in Your Life Story, was published in September by Tacher/Penguin. In this life-changing book, Gangaji uses the telling of her own life story to help readers uncover the truth in their own. Publisher’s Weekly said, “This gently flowing but often disarming volume invites readers to examine the narratives that shape them, and is a call to pass beyond personal stories to find a deeper, more universal self.” Visit www.gangaji.org for more information about Gangaji and her upcoming events, including the monthly Webcast / Conference Series, With Gangaji, which is currently undergoing an in-depth study of Hidden Treasure.

Gangaji shares a simple message – “This is an invitation to shift your allegiance from the activities of your mind to the eternal presence of your being.” Born in Texas in 1942, Gangaji grew up in Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1964, she married and had a daughter. In 1972, she moved to San Francisco where she began exploring deeper levels of her being. She took Bodhisattva vows, practiced Zen and Vipassana meditation, helped run a Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Center, and had a career as an acupuncturist in the San Francisco Bay area. Despite her successes, Gangaji continued to experience a deep and persistent longing for fulfillment. She pursued many paths to change her life including relationship, motherhood, political activism, career, and spiritual practice, but even the greatest of her successes ultimately came up short. In the wake of her disillusionment, she made a final prayer for true help. In 1990, the answer to her prayer came unexpectedly, taking her to India and to the meeting that would change everything. There on the banks of the river Ganga, she met Sri H.W.L. Poonja, also known as Papaji, who opened the floodgates of self-recognition. In this meeting, Gangaji’s personal story of suffering ended and the promise of a true life began to flower and unfold. Today, Gangaji travels the world speaking to seekers from all walks of life. A teacher and author, she shares her direct experience of the essential message she received from Papaji and offers it to all who want to discover a true and lasting fulfillment. Through her life and words, she powerfully articulates how it is really possible to discover the truth of who you are and to be true to that discovery. Gangaji’s website www.gangaji.org

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What is Your Story? by Gangaji
All creatures are born inescapably defined by their stories, yet if we remain limited by those definitions we live a life of inner bondage. When we recognize the stories that generate our definitions of ourselves, we are closer to the discovery of what is indefinable within us. That discovery reveals inner freedom and lasting fulfillment. Each life form has a beginning, an arc of a life story, and then an ending. Most of our internal and external attention and communication circle around the particulars of how we define ourselves as,…

 
Permission To Love by Susan Asunmaa
Do we need permission to love?  Ask the heart and the answer will be a definite NO, ask the mind and the answer may not be so clear. I believe at the core of our being we love from only one place, our heart.  If you’ve been fortunate enough to experience a loving relationship as child to parent or parent to child then I need not say more, you understand unconditional love.  A love, that exists within our heart deep within our soul, with no terms and conditions to be played out by the mind. We expect nothing yet offer everything,…

Technorati Tags: authenticity, beingness, denial, Happiness, inspiration, language, presence, self-discovery, Spirituality, stories, thoughts, Truth

You want a romantic evening but you don’t want to deal with reservations. You want to knock your socks off of your valentine with your mad, slick kitchen skills. Well this menu will be your chance to shine and get your romance on. Check out past menus in case you want to mix and match (click here for last year’s). Have fun, pick out your awesome playlist, light the candles and enjoy!

Pretty in Pink 

• Ice
• 1/2-ounce orange liqueur
• 1/2-ounce creme de cassis or grenadine
• Squeeze lemon juice
• 1-ounce organic vodka
• Organic club soda
• Lemon slice, for garnish

In a highball glass filled with ice, pour the orange liqueur, creme de cassis, lemon juice, and vodka. Top with club soda and stir. Garnish with a lemon slice and serve.

Stuck On You Caramelized Walnut Salad

• 1 bulb fennel, halved and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
• 1/2 cup caramelized walnuts (recipe below)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 5 ounces (about 6 to 7 cups) mixed salad greens
• Red Wine Vinaigrette, recipe below

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, toss together fennel, garlic, brown sugar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the ingredients on the baking sheet in a single layer. Cook until the fennel is caramelized, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, place the salad greens, walnuts and caramelized fennel. Toss the salad with the Red Wine Vinaigrette and serve immediately.

Caramelized walnuts

• 1/2-cup walnut halves
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Pinch cayenne
• 1-teaspoon walnut oil

Red Wine Vinaigrette:

• 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon agave
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Tipsy Vodka Cream Sauce Pasta

• Kosher salt
• 12 ounces penne pasta
• 1 28-ounce can whole plum tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon vegan butter
• 2 shallots, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup vodka
• 2/3 cupvegan heavy cream (1 block of silken tofu (12-ounces) and 1/2 cup of plain soy milk. Blend in blender until thick and creamy and there are no more lumps)
• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast or grated pumpkin seeds, plus more for topping
• Handful of fresh basil leaves, torn, plus more for topping

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add thepenne and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta. Empty the tomatoes into a bowl and crush with your hands.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic andred pepper flakes and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and stir in the vodka, tomatoes and salt to taste. Return the skillet to medium heat and simmer, stirring often, until the alcohol cooks off, about 7 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Stir in the parmesan and basil.

Add the pasta to the sauce and toss to combine, adding some of the reserved cooking water to loosen, if needed. Season with salt. Serve topped with more parmesan and basil.

Spice Up Your Night Chocolate Strawberries

• 6 ounces vegan chocolate, chopped
• 3 tablespoons vegan heavy cream (1 block of silken tofu (12-ounces) and 1/2 cup of plain soy milk. Blend in blender until thick and creamy and there are no more lumps)
• 1 tablespoon vegan butter
• 1/8 teaspoon ground pure chili powder, such as ancho
• 10 large strawberries with long stems

In a heat-proof mixing bowl, add the chocolate, cream, and butter. Place over a smaller pot of simmering water. Be sure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl. Stir until chocolate is melted. Stir in the chili powder and mix until fully incorporated.

Hold each strawberry by the long stem and dip into the chocolate allowing the excess to drizzle back into the pan. Place chocolate covered strawberries on a parchment or waxed paper lined sheet tray. Once chocolate is cool, chill until fully set, about 30 minutes.

Technorati Tags: appetizers, chocolate, cooking, desserts, dining, dinner, drinks, entree, fondue, gluten free, healthy, love, meal, Recipes, romantic, salad, special diet, Valentine's Day, vegan, Vegetarian

OPENING MEDITATION: Sit on a folded blanket or meditation cushion. Root through your pelvis and lengthen your spine, drawing your shoulders down and back. Bring one hand to your heart and the other to your baby. Start to breathe in and out through your nose (if nasal passages are not clear you can breathe through your mouth). Draw the breath in and down to where baby is feeling your belly expand three dimentionally. Imagine you could deliver oxygen and prana (vitality, the life force) right to your baby with your breath. Continue this for up to five minutes and then sit quietly for a moment.

COW/CAT & PELVIC ROCKING: Make your way onto all fours in table top position. Place a blanket under the knees if they are sensitive (you can also come to fists is wrists are sore). As you inhale, gently lower your belly towards the floor (spinal extension) tilting your pelvis so your tailbone lifts up as you gaze forward. Be mindful not to over arch the low back especially as baby grows. As you exhale press into your hands, tuck your tailbone under and round out through your spine (spinal flexion). Repeat for 10 breaths. This pelvic rocking action increases mobility in the low back and pelvis and can help releive low back pain during pregnancy. Always move mindfully and gently in a range of motion that feels good for you and your stage of pregnancy!

TAIL WAG: Return to the table top position. Imagine you have a long lizard tail and start to wag it from side to side. As you wag it to the left, press into your right palm and gaze over your left shoulder to look at your imaginary tail. Feel a light stretch in the right side body. As you wag your tail to the right, press into your left palm and gaze over your right shoulder to look at your imaginary tail. Feel a light stretch in the left side body. Continue to sway the hips side to side 10 – 20 times. This action creates space between the pelvis and ribs for baby and increases pelvic and low back mobility. It is great for releiving low back pain even during labour!

SUPPORTED SQUATTING POSE: Step the feet a bit wider than shoulder width apart and squat down with the support of a bolster, blankets or cushions under the pelvis. Make sure you have enough support that the knees, hips, ankles and belly are comfortable. You will feel a stretch in the hips, inner thighs and groins. Opening the muscles that surround the hip joint is an excellent preparation for labour! Bring hands to prayer and let elbows gently apply pressure to help open inner thighs a bit more. Hold for 5 – 10 breaths. The squat can be used with breathing exericses to bring awareness to the pelvic floor and birthing muscles. This pose is also a natural birthing position! (If you have symphysis pubis pain or hemorrhoids you might want more support for your squat ie. more bolsters, blankets, cushions and do not squat down as low!)

HIP OPENER WITH A TWIST: Bend your left knee out to the side and place your left foot flat on the mat. Stretch your right leg out and energize it by dorsi flexing the ankle (draw toes toward the shin) and engaging your quadricep (right knee cap lifts). Make a stop sign with your left hand and gently press the left elbow against the left inner knee to open the left hip and inner thigh. Place your right hand behind your back on the mat. Inhale to a long spine and then exhale to gently gently rotate the heart to the right and gaze over the right shoulder. As baby grows, be mindful to twist from the heart and not the low or mid belly. This pose continues to open the hips and gently rotates the spine in a healthy range of motion. Keep the spine long and root the pelvis as you inhale, gently rotate from the heart on the exhale. Hold for 5 – 10 breaths and repeat on the other side.

Krista Bromfield is a senior teacher at Balanced Life Yoga, a RYT, Can-Fit-Pro PRO Trainer, Mom and Auntie. She has an Honors Degree in Kinesiology and Education, and is the lead Anatomy Instructor for the Balanced Life Yoga Teacher Training Programs. Krista teaches a variety of classes including Power Yoga, Partner Yoga, Kids Yoga, Yog-ahhh, Prenatal Yoga, Stroller Fitness and Mom and Baby Yoga Bootcamp. She also leads Prenatal Yoga and 2UNITE Partner Yoga Teacher Training Certifications. http://www.balancedlifeyoga.ca/

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Heart Space Yoga ~ Living Your Yoga by Krista Bromfield
There is a lot of talk this time of year about New Year’s Resolutions and making changes in our lives – maybe you are working with a Sankalpa (a Sanskrit word meaning ‘determination’ or ‘will’) which is a ‘yogic intention’ of sorts. This year I have decided to put my heart into ‘Living My Yoga’. Early on my yoga path I learned that if I fight with my husband, swear at ten people from my car while driving and rush in frustration on my way to yoga class that the positive effects of my post savasana bliss are pretty much,…

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Although it has its roots in Hinduism, yoga transcends the limitations of religion; it stands alone. Yoga means union; it is waking up to the beauty both within ourselves and realizing the sacredness of all life. And it is the expression of love: loving yourself and others, which frees us from a chaotic mind, negativity and neurosis…

Technorati Tags: 2UNITE Yoga, connecting with baby, conscious creation, conscious parenting, heart space yoga, prenatal meditation, prenatal yoga, yoga 2nd trimester

If you’ve found your way here for advice on love, then I can only assume that you are still searching for this elusive experience. And you’re not alone. Globally, more than 225 million searches are conducted each month on the Internet for advice on what is love? For those who have been less than lucky in love and are trying to do it better, healthier, or wiser this time, you have my love and support.

Over the last decade, no two people that I’ve counseled have shared the same definition for love. For some it comes packaged as a tall, beautiful companion with the perfect smile, the perfect pedigree, and the perfect earning capacity. For others it shows up as an intelligent, quirky, best friend who makes you laugh until you pee yourself. I’ve heard grandparents extoll the virtue of perfect love the first time they hold a grandchild. I have seen little boys melt into the pure experience of love as they navigate their world with a new puppy by their side, while little girls hold out for the fairytale promise of prince charming and a happily ever after.

Such diverse examples perfectly illustrate a singular point; love is a completely subjective experience that makes it one of the most challenging to seek out and sustain. What are you really looking for? And most importantly where are you hoping to find it?

The Foundation for Lasting Love Love is an internal experience, emotion, or feeling that arises within your being when you are in harmony with yourself, your life, or another. It evokes a profound sense of completeness, harmony, peace and joy. To find lasting love is considered one of the greatest blessings in life. But to have it, you must first source and then ground love within you.

A Road Map for Love. There is a harsh truth about love. If you are searching far and wide for that perfect partner to kindle the exquisite experience of lasting love without first resolving all of the emotional and psychological blocks that keep you from unconditionally loving yourself, you are looking for love in all the wrong places. The path you are traversing is a slippery one that can only end in heartache.

Your roadmap for finding love begins and ends with you. Love cannot be nurtured or sustained while you are unresolved in your relationship with yourself. In all relationships, once the hormonal rush abates, or the newness of the experience begins to tarnish, you will find yourself tangled in an emotional jungle of judgment and blame of your love interest. It’s a naturally occurring default position that you go to in order to protect yourself… when things go wrong it’s always the other person’s fault.

The truth is that until you truly love all aspects of yourself – the good, the bad and the ugly – you cannot BE FULLY PRESENT to love another nor will you ever be able fully receive their love in return.

The Gift of Acceptance Are you shocked yet?  Loving the good in yourself is easy, but the bad, and the ugly? Right now you have the capacity to begin this process of self-love. Acceptance is the magic bullet. With the consistent practice of acceptance, regardless of how you are showing up, you can begin to introduce spaciousness into your daily experience and lay a strong foundation for love.

It looks like this: I accept myself when I’m being short-tempered and unreasonable. I accept myself even though I’ve gained 20 pounds. I accept my shortcomings when I fight with my partner and won’t give in to his wishes. Acceptance opens up an inner doorway that leads into internal harmony. When you are in the acceptance of yourself, just the way you are, love of self spontaneously begins to arise from within.

Vibrational Change and Shattering Emotional  Content

We are vibrational beings and hold onto unresolved emotional and psychological traumas within our bodies that I have come to call vibrational density. Vibrational Transformation shatters the emotional content that keeps self-acceptance distanced from you and blocks your ability to fully experience self-love.

Vibrational change, which in reality is vibrational increase, begins to break-up the vibrational density that is lodged within your body clearing the way for the deepest experience of self-acceptance.

We are living in accelerating times. You are being vibrationally supported to experience the deepest levels of love possible. These states are your birthright.

You are empowered to choose the path you traverse as you search for the greatest experience we can have in life – true love.

Panache Desai is an inspirational visionary and contemporary spiritual master whose gift of vibrational transformation has inspired and shifted the lives of tens of thousands. He shares eternal truths, inspirational insights, and vibrational tools to create the life of your dreams. Panache is a modern-day avatar who acts as a direct link to Divine consciousness empowering people of all ages, economic and educational backgrounds to transform their lives by connecting them with their limitless Divine nature. Young, hip and funny, Panache brings his global community together weekly via LIVE webcasting.  http://www.panachedesai.com/

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There is a common fallacy that is undermining your journey into wholeness and authenticity. I’m a bit of a gunslinger in this territory, but it is important that you are empowered in this fundamental truth; when you are finally able to grab that brass ring of spiritual accomplishment, you are still going to experience sadness, depression, fear and anger,…
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The story goes that, at the time of the Buddha, a group of monks wanted to do a quiet retreat away from the crowds of followers, so the Buddha sent them to a glade in the forest where he said they would be undisturbed. The monks found their way there and settled down to meditate. But what they didn’t know was that this particular glade was inhabited by a gang of tree spirits who were really upset that the monks had come. And when tree spirits get upset they can be extremely scary, ugly, very smelly and unbelievably noisy,…

Technorati Tags: advice on love, panache desai, Panache Desai blog, perfect love, self love, self-acceptance, the foundation of love, vibrational change, vibrational density, vibrational transformation, what is love

The story goes that, at the time of the Buddha, a group of monks wanted to do a quiet retreat away from the crowds of followers, so the Buddha sent them to a glade in the forest where he said they would be undisturbed.

The monks found their way there and settled down to meditate. But what they didn’t know was that this particular glade was inhabited by a gang of tree spirits who were really upset that the monks had come. And when tree spirits get upset they can be extremely scary, ugly, very smelly and unbelievably noisy, ferociously shrieking all over the place. They did everything they could to spook the hermits and make them leave. And it worked. The monks decided they couldn’t possibly meditate with so many disturbances, so they went back to the Buddha and begged him to let them go somewhere else.

But no. Instead, the Buddha taught them a meditation practice of loving kindness, or metta in Sanskrit, which develops loving kindness towards everyone, including yourself and your enemies. And then he sent the monks back to the forest. His famous words were: This is the only protection you will need.

Thinking the Buddha must be mad the monks reluctantly went back to the glade, sat down and began practicing metta. And the tree spirits, who at first were not at all pleased to see them returning, no longer had any affect on them. For all their antics, the monks just kept sitting there, beaming out kindness. Eventually the spirits were won over by the waves of love and compassion emanating from these robed ones and, far from than chasing them away, the same nasty’s that had been so ferocious now became disciples.

The question is, who are the tree spirits? Realistically, they are everything that goes on in our own minds—all the doubts, fears, anger, insecurities, and negative thoughts—that constantly undermine our basic goodness, which is innate in all of us. And the point the Buddha was making is that loving kindness—metta–has the capacity to overcome all manner of inner monsters and ghouls and lead us to a true heart opening. Metta is the act of extending our love, kindness and friendship equally towards all beings, proving that love is more powerful than any negative force. Rather than trying to deal with negativity, we cultivate the opposite; seeing and knowing pain, we bring caring and kindness.

We know this sounds so easy: just be kind and loving, how great, what a cool idea. But in practice it’s not always so simple, such as when someone says or does something that is personally critical, derogatory or hurtful. Can metta still flow when the ego-mind is upset? By focusing on loving kindness as a way of living, it shows us all those places that are bound in ego and selfishness; it brings us up against our limitations and boundaries. Where do we meet our edge? Where is our capacity to step over the edge into greater kindness? How genuine is our ability to be altruistic in a difficult situation?

We remember talking with our friend Ram Dass at the time of the Clinton/Dole election. He told us how he had a picture of Bob Dole on his meditation altar as: “Dole needs the most love and compassion as he is the one being so vilified.”

In that act, Ram Dass was practicing true metta. It was an important reminder not to cast anyone out of our hearts, for in the process we are casting out ourselves. If we feel affected by someone being dismissive, critical or hurtful, it is invariably because there is a hook in us for that negativity to grab hold of, a place where it can land and trigger all our hidden feelings of unworthiness, insecurity, and self-doubt.

However, when we extend metta toward someone we are having a hard time with, an extraordinary thing happens: the landing place, or the hook within, begins to dissolve. Then the negativity has no place to go. Metta asks that we stay caring, that we keep our heart open to the situation we are struggling with and all the accompanying annoyance and anger, and hold ourselves with gentle tenderness. Then amazing change is possible.

5 minute Loving Kindness Meditation

Begin by breathing into you’re the area of your heart, softening and relaxing with the in-breath, letting go of tension on the out-breath. Hold your name or an image of yourself in your heart and silently repeat: May I be well, may I be happy, may I be filled with loving kindness.

Next, wish all beings be well, wish all beings be happy. If at work you can spend a few moments repeating the names of people you work with and wishing them happiness and joy. On your way home from work reflect on your day and generate loving thoughts to those you meet. At night, think of your family and friends and wish them wellness and happiness: May they be well, may they be happy, may they be filled with loving kindness.

Finish by taking a few deep breaths and slowly opening your eyes, nad have a smile on your face!

****

See our award-winning book: BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You and the World, forewords by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman, with contributors Jack Kornfield, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Byrone Katie, Jane Fonda, Marianne Williamson, and many others.

If there is one book you read about meditation Be The Change should be the one. Hear about some of the cool people who are doing it and why you should do it too. – Sharon Gannon, founder Jivamukti Yoga.

Our 3 meditation CD’s: Metta—Loving kindness and Forgiveness; Samadhi–Breath Awareness and Insight; and Yoga Nidra–Inner Conscious Relaxation, are available at: www.EdandDebShapiro.com

Ed and Deb Shapiro are the authors of BE THE CHANGE, How Meditation Can Transform You And The World, with forewords by the Dalai Lama and Robert Thurman and Winner of the 2010 Nautilus Gold Book Award. Deb is the author of the bestselling book, YOUR BODY SPEAKS YOUR MIND, winner of the 2007 Visionary Book Award. They are featured bloggers on Oprah.com/spirit, HuffingtonPost.com/Living, and Care2.com. They have 3 meditation CD’s: Metta — Loving Kindness and Forgiveness; Samadhi – Breath Awareness and Insight; and Yoga Nidra – Inner Conscious Relaxation. See: www.EdandDebShapiro.com

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Does Your Relationship Ever Get You Down? by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Shortly after we were married we went to India and spent our honeymoon in monasteries and ashrams. We also had a private meeting with the Dalai Lama at his residence in McLeod Ganj, in the foothills of the Himalayas. As Ed recalls: After some thirty minutes of talking with him I was feeling so moved by this gentle and loving man that I didn’t want to leave! I was completely in love with this delightful being. He was so ordinary, sitting between us and holding our hands. Finally, I said to him,…

Technorati Tags: appreciation, gratitude, Happiness, inspiration, love, Meditation, personal development, Personal Growth, self-discovery, Spirituality

“The secret of life is in art.” – Oscar Wilde

There was a time in my life when I had not considered myself an artist. Sure, I played with paints and crayons, etch-a-sketch and playdoh in childhood and the sight of an oversized t-shirt splashed with color brings me right back to kindergarten when we wore them as smocks to cover our clothes. As I grew up, I became more self conscious, hesitant to color outside the lines literarally, if not always symbolically. I admired people who could take the images in their heads and put them on paper or cavas, sculpt them into clay or some other material, bend them into metal, weave them into fabric. Like my dancing, my forays into the world of art, has been improv at best.

Being a lover of art in all forms, I delight in surrounding myself with friends who are artistically talented.  Among them are painters, sculptors, clothing designers, metal workers, printmakers, weavers, mosaic tile designers, greeting card designer, musicians and photographers.  That way I can vicariously feel like an artist myself, imagining myself doing what they do so magnificently. Then it occurred to me that art is far more than what we do with a paint brush, camera,instrument needle or blow torch. In its truest form, whatever the medium, it comes from the heart.  As a writer, I have been told by readers that I ‘paint word pictures’. I like the idea of  taking images that dance around in my mind and share them on paper, so that folks can come along on the ride with me. And join me they do, which is alot of fun for me, since often we creative types feel like we work in a vacuum.

Offering these gifts to the world is a work of he(art), coming from the deepest places within us, where we are inextricably connected to our Source. Seems to me that we are all unique creations of the Divine Artist who conceived us in Its Mind, so what better way to celebrate that than immerse in creativity soup?

Even if you have never considered yourself artistically skilled, how can you be a true he(art)ist?  Could you do sidewalk chalk art or dance barefoot to your favorite music on your living room floor or in a just after it has rained puddle, looking for the rainbow?  Perhaps you could gather twigs and stones (asking them first if they want to be part of the project) and sculpting a unique design. How about opening a fresh page in your journal and letting the words pour forth without editing or censoring as you engage in automatic writing? You could join friends in raising the roof in a group sing along or drumming circle or serenade the soap and shampoo in the shower.

The ways with which you engage with the world is an he(art)istic endeavor. They might take the form of cooking a favorite meal that is flavored with love, creating order out of chaos by cleaning a room, growing a garden of outrageously wild flowers, dressing yourself in fabrics and colors that have you smiling with delight, making yourself the canvas.

I invite you to….

Color With Your Creative Juices

When you were born, you were given an entire box of brand new crayons and an unlimited imagination with which to paint a rainbow design on the landscape of your future. Remember to color outside the lines.

Some of my favorite he(art)ists whose work serves to make the world a more beautiful place:

Deb Chamberlin www.debchamberlin.com

Creative Communication Builders www.creativecommunicationbuilders.com

Kathy Davis www.kathydavis.com

Jim Donovan www.jimdonovan.com

Lew Doty www.lewdoty.com

Karen Drucker www.karendrucker.com

Enchanted Makeovers www.enchantedmakeovers.com

Jody Kessler www.jodykessler.com

Barry Goldstein www.barrygoldsteinmusic.com

Cynthia Greb www.cynthiagreb.com

Peter Moses www.petermoses.com

Moving Creations www.movingcreationsinc.org

Music In The Moment www.musicinthemoment.com

Deva Premal, Miten and Manose www.devapremal.com

SARK www.planetsark.com

Denise Shardlow www.shardlowdesigns.com

Elaine Silver www.elainesilver.com

The Moment Photography www.themomentphoto.com

Transformational Resources www.transformationalresources.com

Deva Troy www.devatroy.com

David Wilcox www.davidwilcox.com

Annabella Wood www.annabellawood.com

Phyllis Wright www.phylliswrightart.com

David Young www.davidyoungmusic.com

Amy Zerner www.amyzerner.com

Rev. Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW is a Renaissance Woman and Bliss Mistress who delights in inviting people to live rich, full, juicy lives. Edie is an internationally recognized, sought after, colorfully creative journalist, interviewer and author, a dynamic and inspiring speaker, licensed social worker, interfaith minister, offering uniquely designed spiritual rituals. In addition, she is a PR Goddess, promoting events and transformational teachers, healers, writers and artists. She speaks on the subjects of wellness, spirituality, sexuality, creativity, time management, recovery, body image, mindfulness, self esteem, stress management, re-creating yourself, caring for the caregiver, loss and grief. She is a frequent guest on radio and TV. Edie is currently writing her first best selling book entitled The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming the Ordinary Into The Extraordinary and is offering a workshop for women who want to re-create their lives, based on those concepts. A 20 year old journalistic vision came to pass in July of 2008 when she interviewed His Holiness The Dalai Lama. It was a potent reminder to never, ever, ever give up on our dreams. Over the years, Edie has written for mainstream and transformational publications. She has interviewed hundred of notables in the transformational fields, including Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Debbie Ford, Leonard Peltier, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Beckwith, Jonathan Goldman, Gregg Braden, Neale Donald Walsch, Mary Manin Morrissey, Dan Millman, Alan Cohen, Ram Dass, Jack Canfield, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Patch Adams, Ben and Jerry, Donna DeLory, James Twyman, Elizabeth Lesser, Michael Franti and Jean Houston. Her website is http://www.liveinjoy.org

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Naked to Yourself by Gangaji

In our long human history of storytelling, there have been great beings with awe-inspiring stories that reveal the victory of self-discovery. What inspires us about these great ones is that somehow their lives turned toward and then reflected the sublime discovery of everlasting truth. In Hidden Treasure: Uncovering the Truth in Your Life Story (Tarcher Penguin, 2011)  I invite you to let your story be a contribution to the universal revelation of self-discovery, expressed uniquely as you.

How Your Thoughts and Emotions Can Affect Your Body by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Ed remembers having an upset stomach when he was a child and his grandmother asking him if he was having a problem at school. What she knew instinctively we are at last beginning to prove scientifically: that there is an intimate and dynamic relationship between what is going on with our feelings and thoughts, and what happens in the body. A Time Magazine special showed that happiness, hopefulness, optimism and contentment, “Appear to reduce the risk or limit the severity of cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension, colds and upper-respiratory infections;…

Technorati Tags: Amy Zerner, Annabella Wood, art, Barry Goldstein, Creative Communication Builders, creativity, Cynthia Greb, Dancing, David Wilcox, David Young, Deb Chamberlin, Denise Shardlow, Deva Premal, Deva Troy, drumming, Elaine Silver, Enchanted Makeovers, Etch-a-sketch, Jim Donovan, Jody Kessler, Karen Drucker, Kathy Davis, Kindergarten, Lew Doty, Miten and Manose, Moving Creations, Music, Music In The Moment, Oscar Wilde, Peter Moses, Phyllis Wright, Playdoh, SARK, The Moment Photography, Transformaitonal Resources

Do we need permission to love?  Ask the heart and the answer will be a definite NO, ask the mind and the answer may not be so clear.

I believe at the core of our being we love from only one place, our heart.  If you’ve been fortunate enough to experience a loving relationship as child to parent or parent to child then I need not say more, you understand unconditional love.  A love, that exists within our heart deep within our soul, with no terms and conditions to be played out by the mind. We expect nothing yet offer everything.

So why is it then when it comes to romantic love or the possibility of romantic love that this is so hard to apply?  Why do we allow the mind to become so involved when we should just let the heart lead? If we allow the heart to lead then we come from our feeling place of existence, our soul.  The heart feels what it feels, it doesn’t set conditions for how it feels, it doesn’t ask for anything to be reciprocated and with that is willing to risk being denied.

It’s when we lead with our mind that we can find ourselves in trouble.  Confused, surprised and even embarrassed when we find out the other person has feelings of love towards us when our mind is thinking I didn’t give this person any reason or better still permission to feel love towards me.  It seems to me that when we proceed with our mind we create the how, when, why and where of our feelings about love.  We set conditions, define the rules and in this same vane decide outcomes our heart would never agree to.  We decide that love is a choice.  Perhaps to somehow protect us in the event that love breaks our heart but here again I believe if we listened deep within, the heart would tells us that love will change us but it need not destroy us.

Not every love will or is meant to develop into a long lasting relationship.  Romantic relationships of love at best can be complicated but to whatever degree we create our relationships of love, be it short term, a lifetime or a mere deep friendship I believe that we should be open to letting our heart dominate and letting our over thinking mind take a backseat.  Allowing feelings of love to exist, as they should.  If we stop and simply let ourselves enjoy being in the moment we’d find ourselves in a place of expansion and understanding of the capacity the heart holds for love.  If we are willing to open ourselves up, shine our heart in truth, kindness and empathy to another then at minimum the only possible expression back would and should be love.  We need not be so cautious.

However large our love grows into is the beauty of the journey of our many or few romantic adventures we’ll experience in this lifetime.  At the core of who we are I believe that love is not a choice but a gift given to the soul to treasure.  In loving someone there is goodness and in goodness we find our most powerful magic.  And a soul filled with magic will sing forever.  Love is simply creation’s greatest gift not meant to be taken out on special occasions but to be experienced as often as the day is long from the moment we wake till we close our eyes and begin again.  If we are to live this life to our fullest expression shouldn’t we desire to experience love from the core of its existence, our heart.  From my heart to yours, I love you always, no permission required.

Susan is the Founder of “Concepts for Inspired Living” by Saass. Saass was created with the desire to provide an environment for healthy living in our body, mind and spirit. We are committed to being experts in the newest trends on nutrition, health, personal and interior style to ensure we continuously provide value to our Clients. We are a source of motivation and support for health and wellness. We lead, support and educate on how to have a positive holistic approach to lifestyle. To be healthier in our body, mind and spirit and how to feel good about ourselves inside and out and how to express our personal and interior style as the unique individuals we are. www.saass.ca 416-923-9840 sasunmaa@saass.ca

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As we think so we become by Ed and Deb Shapiro

Most of us tend to think of our bodies and minds as separate entities and treat them as such: we feed and water our body, take it for walks and give it exercise; we feed our mind with ideas and amuse ourselves with various kinds of entertainment. If anything goes wrong we go to someone to sort it out, such as a doctor to fix our body or a therapist to treat our mind, Read On…

LOVING A WABI SABI SLOPPY JOE by Arielle Ford

Technorati Tags: insight, inspiration, love, Permission to Love, Relationships, Susan Asunmaa, vivid life

There I was, minding my business, trying to secure some discount laundry detergent when I was spotted, found out and approached by three sisters who recognized me in spite of my disguise. They were happy to see me. They were grateful for my work. They had a question they had been dying to ask me; “Why are there so many single women?”

They were all single. Most of their friends were single. It was really becoming a major concern for the divorced sister who was 37. The “always have been single and learning to live with it” 34 year-old sister had accepted it as her fate. The 29 year-old there-just-aren’t-any-more-good-men sister was going to adopt children when she was ready, whether she found a man or not.

Neither of them was ready for my response. In fact, two of them concluded that is seems like the woman always gets blamed. Rather than try to convince them one way or the other, I gave them an assignment, for the next 7 days, they were to smile at and greet every man they saw. They were not to take him home or to lunch. They were not to give him their telephone number or engage in any conversation beyond a greeting. Their only task was to smile and say hello, to every man they encountered; regardless of his age, race, appearance or the environment in which they encountered him. I did, however, warn them to exclude men who were in the presence of or, accompanied by another woman. It was not my intention to create street brawls. I left the sisters doubled over in laughter as I escaped.

The mind has a habit of forming and holding thought forms in response to how it perceives the world. Once the mind has formed a thought or a particular train of thoughts, it becomes resistant to accepting any other way of processing information. In other words, once you think a thing, it will be challenging at best, painful in most instances, to change the way you think about a person, a thing or an experience. What I offered to the sisters, that they received as an indictment against them is that they are alone because they think they should be alone. They are alone because they have entertained, nurtured and focused on the thought that they will be alone. They are alone because they are afraid to be alone and, at the same time, afraid not to be alone. They are alone because somewhere in the recesses of their minds, there is a community of thoughts breeding the experience of “alone-ness” in their lives.

The good news is that this same principle applies to everyone and every experience. The not so good news is the same. The only problem any person encounters when it comes to having the experience they desire is what they think and how they think. Unfortunately, because most of what we think is unconscious, it is hard to accept that your problem mind is your mind.

I could go on and on about the power of thought, however, you have probably heard or read most of what I could offer you. Rather than dragging us both down that path and confronting resistance and disagreement, I will offer you another possibility. If there is something you really desire in your life, no matter what it is, learn how to be okay without it. When I say okay I mean learn how to have joy, experience peace and live with total contentment knowing that you will never have the thing you desire. Learn how to release the anger, sadness, fear, bitterness, resentment and anything else that you might experience knowing you will never have it. The ultimate test is when you can feel happy for and bless anyone else who has what you want. The moment you can do that, the object of your desire will probably show up. Why? Because you will have so much peace and joy within you, that the thing you desire will show up to bring you more of what you are and what you have. Sounds crazy, right?

The mind is the only problem we have in every situation and circumstance. What you focus on grows even when you are not aware of your focus. You cannot fool the mind into believing what you don’t believe or creating what you fear. Why are so many women alone? For the same reason so many men are alone. My sense and experience is that we fear the very thing we desire – - closeness, intimacy and having exactly what we desire. We fear being vulnerable. We fear being hurt – - again. We fear making the same mistakes we made before. We fear being disappointed and being taken advantage of. We fear being left, not being good enough and, we fear not being enough. For many of the same reasons many people experience lack and failure. We fear being a demonstration of personal power. More often than not we fear responsibility, accountability, being seen, heard or proven wrong. The thing we fail to realize is that the only place fear exists is in the mind. If you were to die today and the coroner were to perform an autopsy, there would be no indication of fear anywhere in your body. Fear exists only in the mind and that, my Beloveds, is the problem.

This Week’s Reading:

The Golden Key Prayer
Available at InnerVisionsWorldwide.com

This week’s Meditation:

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About Iyanla Vanzant:

Iyanla Vanzant is the best-selling author of five books on self-empowerment, personal growth and spiritual healing. As the founder and executive director of the Inner Visions Spiritual Life Maintenance Network, she conducts workshops, seminars and lectures nationally. Drawing from her own experiences of family dysfunction, abuse, and poverty, Iyanla encourages us all to look at ourselves, laugh at ourselves and then take the necessary steps to heal ourselves. Her practical message is based on the principles of universal law, self-determination and the power of Spirit. You can learn more about her work at www.innervisionsworldwide.com.

Iyanla has recently appeared several times during Oprah’s Lifeclass webcast segments. You can view the classes here: http://www.oprah.com/oprahs-lifeclass/oprahs-lifeclass.html

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