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The Loves of Our Lives

2/6/2025

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Animals are a window to your soul and a doorway to your spiritual destiny. If you let them into your life and allow them to teach you, you will be better for it.”
~Kim Shotola
     
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​      When I wrote about my little special needs guru, Bear, it was in memoriam with great sadness. When he left, I took solace in my two remaining companions. As I sit and write this, my little girl Boo has decided her work is done. It feels unbearably painful to say “good-bye” but the inevitable has filled my mind with the “how’s” and “why’s” of it all, in order to bring perspective to my watery state.
      I believe it happens by the grace of God that the loves of our lives show up in our world. They arrive with a soul purpose that our own souls don’t often understand until the days come when they leave us behind. My loves have mostly had four legs and a tail, though a few had two legs and wings. Each one brought me an understanding of my deficits with zero judgment but also introduced me to my ability to grow into my capacity to love with no conditions. Looking at Boo, in her frail, failing body at age eighteen, the memories flood my mind. They bring happiness and a deep sense of gratitude as my understanding of her soul’s purpose becomes very clear.
      Her joyful presence was always undeniable. She rang a bell to go outside. She chased her tail with fun-loving abandon and often tossed kibble, then fetched it to entertain herself. Sometimes, she would ring the bell and when I got up to let her go outside, she would run to the table and keenly stare until I realized she was training me to give her something she really wanted on that table. Usually, it was watermelon, arugula, or pizza crust which was a rare treat. She also had a passion for blueberries that was unmatched. She loved being on my massage table for energy work, rounding her back slightly to show me she wanted to be picked up and treated. She walked at my heels in her pretty, light pink, flowery fleecy and was my little ten-pound side-kick through life’s travails. She attended my remote teaching classes. She sat and meditated with me. She monitored the younger pup’s behavior, often looking at me with older wisdom as she watched their mischievous antics. She listened and made eye contact as if part human, her energy always steady with a joy that never dimmed.
      Over her lifetime, a lumpectomy, two mastectomies, and a fourth cancer scare resulting in another surgery did not dim her light. At age fifteen, a bleeding tumor on her spleen resulting in an emergency splenectomy with a likely hemangiosarcoma cancer diagnosis, did not flatten her spirit. The vet’s office staff called her the “miracle dog” when her biopsies came back benign this time around. Through it all, she bounced back and never missed a chance to live and love brightly. Of course, I was a crying mess as I vigilantly waited for outcomes and administered her care.
      But over time, her spirit changed me. I felt myself recover faster from my anxious preoccupations, becoming brave and tapping into my healing abilities. I channeled my energy better, whispering her joyful life story to her during her recoveries, and prayerfully laying hands on her as she healed back to normal. Her soul’s purpose was to bring me to a sense of my own self-efficacy as I traveled her journey of suffering, while showing no apparent permanent scars to her spirit.
      I marvel at the grace and beauty of this tiny creature’s ability to carry such a huge soul purpose! In contrast, I, as a human, was often emotionally hijacked by fear, grief, and worry, barely rising to my own potential until her gentle guidance would consistently nudge my soul. It seems the animals that cross our paths are spiritual teachers in disguise. They carry a soul wisdom that is meant to love, comfort, and make space for us to grow into our own soul’s wisdom.
      So, here we are. This love of my life in end stage kidney disease has completed her mission. She came in knowing I needed her more than she needed me and she’s confident now that I’m ready and the lessons have been internalized. I wish you all your own Boo that comes into your life to nudge your soul in the most unexpected ways with grace and a joyous spirit no matter what. Thank you, Boo Boo. Until we see you again, Bella and I will carry on but miss you immeasurably.

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Healing and Our Companion Animals

10/15/2024

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“When we share our lives with animals, our spiritual paths intertwine.”
​                                                                                                          ~ Kathleen Prasad



       
Ayurveda and Chinese medicine are among many teachings that describe the subtle energy body system that overlies and interconnects with the physical body. In Ayurveda and yoga, this is called the prana body, prana being the life force energy equivalent to chi/qi (Chinese) and ki (Japanese). People are familiar with this concept as it applies to humans but don’t realize it applies to animals as well. We go for acupuncture, massage, reiki, and use aromatherapy for our own healing but often don’t realize these modalities are effective with animals too. All animals have energy systems, to include the chakras, that respond well to energy work. Disruption in the energy body is where most dis-ease originates. Just like humans, when their energy body is out of  balance, our animal friends feel unwell which manifests physically, emotionally, and behaviorally. Balancing their energy system results in a state of vitality and wellness.
      Hands-on healing and aromatherapy for pets complement each other nicely. Using hydrosols* has a healing effect on our animal companions. Hydrosols, the water that remains after the distillation of essential oils (EO’s), have only a minute amount of EO, making them very safe. They’re even gentle enough to use with cats who can’t metabolize most EO’s. EO’s can be useful with animals too but have many more contraindications to consider. Hydrosols are very gentle, yet balance physical and emotional issues.     
    To get acquainted with “energy”, rub your hands together for a few seconds, palms facing. Draw hands apart slightly and feel the energy. We are all capable of working with energy.
Try my basic protocol for working with energy healing:
      In a healing session with animals, start by asking the pet (usually telepathically) for permission to work with them; sense the response. Have the pet smell different hydrosols sprayed on tissues. Let them intuit what they need. Limit the group of scents they can choose.
For example, offer-
1) lavender, roman chamomile, rose-geranium to calm                 
    stress/anxiety

2) lavender, german chamomile and calendula for skin issues
3) orange, lime, or ginger for energizing
      Center (take a breath) and set an intention for the work (ex. to heal anxiety, uplift energy etc). Move hands slightly above and over their body to assess the energy field. Notice the sensations and impressions you receive. Impressions can be a sense of unease, visualized colors/shadows, tingling, heavy sensations or word-images. Apply the hydrosol to your hands and place them a few inches above their body in areas in need of healing. Allow the energy to move, mentally setting the intention for balance. Reassess the energy field to be sure the energy has adequately settled; if not, repeat hands over again, then reassess again. Close the session by gently sweeping the energy downward toward the floor. If your pet allows it, place your hands on their body/paws for a minute to ground or sit silently for a minute while mentally sending grounding energy. As you progress, symbols, prayers and other techniques can be added. Follow-up by applying hydrosol to a scent strip of cloth and placing it in their sleep area later. In summary, healing sessions are PC (permission/center) with Intention, and have an Assess Impressions ARC (apply, reassess, close).
      While working with pets, be mindful of the breath during healing sessions. The breath is intimately connected to the body’s energy field, affecting the heart rate/nervous system. This is evident in times of stress when the breath becomes shallow/faster or in times of calm when it becomes lengthened/deeper. Manipulating the breath affects the body and thereby the healing session. According to studies done by Heartmath Institute, human companions calmly sent love to their pet (dog; horses) from another room/area while they were hooked up to halter monitors that measured their heart-rate. Their heart-rates synchronized with each other! Sitting calmly slows the breath, focusing energy, just as slowing the breath calms the body. There is a therapeutic benefit to breath awareness while doing healing work that synchronizes heart-coherence and breath. Human companions benefit like their pets with decreased stress, lowered blood pressure, and oxytocin release.
      So, our energy system and those of our pets integrate with the physical body and affect each other. When imbalanced, well-being suffers and can become the root cause of stress and dis-ease. Understanding how energetic imbalances can manifest emotionally, physically, and behaviorally allows companion humans to support their animal’s health and wellness by using energy work and aromatherapy to hinder the disease process. Hydrosols and energy-field hands-on contact contribute to the overall health of body/mind/spirit and intensify the bond with our companion animals. But, don’t take my word for it. Give it a try! You may be surprised! 
*Refrigerate hydrosols

Published in Creations Magazine Fall 2024

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Our Actions Need Purpose And Meaning

6/17/2024

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“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home." ~Matsuo Basho
  

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What is life but an unfamiliar journey. We wander about until at some point we question life’s purpose. The questions raise themselves from some undiscovered space, as the mystery of it all intensifies. What is my purpose? Why am I unsatisfied at work, home, and with friends? Why do I feel stuck? This pondering can become down-right terrifying as the weeks turn into months and the months into years. Wide-eyed wonder may turn into existential angst in the flip of an hourglass. Besides the inevitable death and taxes, what is there?
      Let’s explore this in current event terms. The Gallup report State of the Global Workplace: 2022 states that workers are generally dissatisfied, feeling both disengagement and unhappiness. Only 33% of workers reported feeling engaged at work. In the US, 50% of workers reported feeling stressed, 41% worried, 22% sad, and 18% angry. Interestingly, even when work-life balance is improved, these feelings persist!
      So, why would happiness and satisfaction not substantially increase when work-life balance is improved? One reason may have to do with dharma. Yes, dharma. It rhymes with karma. While karma is the sum of the effects of one’s actions, dharma gives one’s life meaning. Whereas karma is “actions” or “deeds” which play into the entire cycle of cause and effect, dharma is essentially that which raises each of us to our highest purpose. Our actions  need to have purpose and meaning in order to be sustainable. They must align with our individual dharma.
      Dharma and karma work together, reinforcing each other, but are different. The word "dharma" is a Vedic concept that comes from the Sanskrit root dhri, meaning to "uphold" or to "sustain." What one does in their lifetime to serve themselves and others in the best possible way is their dharma. It upholds and sustains right action which creates karma. Self-realization is the highest dharma. In 21st century terms, dharma is manifesting your higher purpose every day by acting in alignment with your values and strengths in service of self and others. In the words of Sahara Rose, “Living your dharma…means honoring your sacred doing.”
      Imagine that each step to discovering dharma is a piece of an enormous puzzle. Every choice is an opportunity to align with your potential in this puzzle. The puzzle may require some imagination, patience, and perseverance to put together, but it is worth the work. Exploring your strengths and values assists this process. Every step keeps inter-connecting and evolving outward as part of a bigger collective picture. What starts out as a myopic view, broadens into a panoramic tapestry without edges as you grow into your higher purpose, challenging you to take leaps of faith to experience your dharma as part of a bigger whole.
      The quest to align with your dharma can be explored working with a Soul/Life coach to discover your values and strengths or can start by journaling the answers to the following questions without over-thinking.
Follow your gut and answer:
 1) What are my natural talents and abilities?
 2)  What activities bring me into a state of “flow”, where I lose a sense of time?
 3)  How do I bring comfort and healing to others? (ie. good listener, acts of kindness,
       compassionate nature, patient, etc.)
 4) What qualities have co-workers, friends and family noticed about me that they appreciate?
 5) If I had unlimited resources/time and no financial worries, what talents and abilities would
     I use to enrich myself and serve others?
6) How do I want to show up in the world?
7) How will I have left the world a better place? What is my imprint? What do I want my legacy
      to be?
Sit with the answers. Re-visit them at a later date. Check-in and see if the answers still fit. Explore the what, how, and why of what you do or want to do.
    Remember, it’s not about finding your one thing that you do. It is the how and why of what you do in the world that makes it “sacred doing”. And, it can show up in different ways. For example, if your dharma is to have a healing presence it may come through deep listening, compassionate actions, and kind words in your chosen work whether it’s the front desk receptionist, kindergarten teacher, orthopedic surgeon, or coffee barista. Tweak what you wrote over time with that understanding. If you feel stuck, dig deeper. Feeling stuck is often a symptom of not being aligned with your dharma as you navigate life. Take your time. Self-discovery is a process. Each step will bring clarity and focused alignment as you ease into your dharma!
 Published in Creations Magazine June/July 2024​

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Life Is Short - Embrace Your Tribe!

11/4/2023

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Go to the community and the locations that have set a sparkle in your psyche. That's how you find your Tribe” ― Karl Wiggins
 

       People say life is short. Time flies from the moment we’re born to the moment we arrive at our final destination. We begin a journey into the unknown with the illusion of knowing. There doesn’t seem to be an expiration date to the every-dayness of being. Daily happenings are filled with endless all-important routines and expectations. Then, one day, we look up. We wonder,  ponder and realize this all ends. Some of us get it sooner and others later but that day does come. When it does, it opens our eyes. For some it crushes hope and for others it offers grace. But the prayer is that it elevates our soul to a collective understanding that the end is a transition to another dimension of undifferentiated being. Dust to dust releases our higher selves to a timeless place where we all meet again and again, to continue our evolution toward our mutual essence of love. So, how do we get to that understanding that we are all in this together?
      To start, it helps to be part of a Tribe. Not a small “t” tribe, but a big “T” tribe. Members of a Tribe move in the direction of a bigger purpose. They may look and act in different ways but they are on a path of heart-centered service that supports soul growth. They are a source of loving understanding that carries the high standards that let us rise to the top of our potential. Our Tribe is a place that doesn’t demand obedience or conformity but rather creativity and interdependence. I am because of who we all are is the mantra of the Tribe, embodied by the African concept of Ubuntu. It understands inter-being as the path to humanity’s survival. When we live in spaces that demand blind allegiance, ignorance, and exclusion, we live small. What masquerades as a tribe is a not a Tribe at all!
      Tribes are inviting, inclusive, compassionate, and reciprocal. They’re all life-affirming. They understand unity; we are one energy. And, the understanding that there is no separation relieves dis-ease because the roots of dis-ease are found in the misconception that we are disconnected beings standing alone in the world. Religion, nationality, and culture are the vehicles for our humanity to show up and share the unity consciousness which informs our Tribe; not as all-knowing singular entities but as diverse paths to a common destination. When we falter, our Tribe embraces mistakes as lessons and lessons as steps on the path of transformation. The cults and dogmatic clubs we see around us offer the illusion of unity. We need to see them for what they are and step into the light to participate in the true spirit of Tribal unity. Tribes grow our soul.
      Women, in particular, often find their Vibe Tribe, a special Tribe with the unique potential to nurture and heal. It’s a sisterhood that holds space. A sisterhood of joy that holds them when they fall and lifts them up to see the light of tomorrow. It is the softness that embraces them upon landing through every trial and tribulation. It sticks their pieces back together when no matter how hard they try, the pieces just won’t stay put, then fuses them together with sweat, tears, star-lit lacquer and gold dust. It sees them as perfect past the stained glass and fun house mirrors of their own distortions. It sees them when they don’t see themselves and reflects back the beauty of their wholeness in the spirit of Kintsugi, despite the messy, unkept moments through which they meander.
     The Vibe Tribe nourishes them. It offers abundant portions of love, compassion, truth and honesty with sides of chocolate, buttery croissants, pasta and wine of all colors! It walks them through the darkness, opens the shades and dances with them in the light. It is a necessary part of their being, pushing them forward while grounding them in the present. And, once whole and tended, they can extend that energy to all their relationships in the broader Tribe. The rest of the Tribe benefits from the love and healing that emanates from the Vibe Tribe. It becomes a beacon of guiding light that encourages all souls to recognize each other again and again.
      So, look out for your Tribe. They come in all variations but have a common core. And, especially look out for the Vibe Tribes. They show up in the least expected places. Identify their light and fiery glow; they’re barely contained in mere mortal being. Invite them in. You won’t be disappointed!

Published in Creations Magazine April/May 2024
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The Third Act

10/25/2023

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Y
ou may be in your third act, but you can still be vital and sexual and funny. Life isn't over.” ~Jane Fonda







       Why is the third act so often diminished, even unrecognized? The first act is busy, filled with growth and new beginnings. Like spring, it arrives, sparkling with dew and sunlight. The potential is boundless, youthful and moves you forward to explore and grow. It’s a time for new opportunities and experiences. Everything is fresh and you’re excited about what’s to come. It’s a time of action and the lessons of love. Like spring, the lightness of being permeates the air!
   The second act arrives like summer, lush and full. Days brim with ideas, activities and promise. Fiery passions fuel life’s high energy. Your roles are many and you stand in your space. Pulled in varied directions, you take it all on. Like the long days of summer, you are radiant and engaged as you build and establish who you are in the world. It’s a magical time touched by a sense of immortality.
   But the third act? It comes on the heels of endings and change, as everything slows. Like autumn, it shifts your being. The sign on the shop door says “closed” and the sign posts point to the sunset on the horizon. It may give you pause as you ask yourself “what’s next?”. Its arrival is somewhat unexpected in its lack of thunder and anticipated meaning.
   The first two acts naturally happen as an established part of the plan. You knew what was expected and time felt fluid. The sunset was far enough away on the horizon for it to seem unreal or at very least undefined. Doing and planning were your reality. The comfort of that reality was feeling at home in a life that doesn’t actually end.
   But most don’t think about the third act until it’s upon them. When it arrives, some go willingly into the next chapter while others try to delay it. Either way, it shows up and can feel daunting. The reality of life accompanies it, psychic pain and all. The horizon doesn’t look that far off anymore. The questions arise from that nagging space of mortality- What does this next phase hold for me? Is time running out to do everything I’d hoped to do?  The bucket list is challenging you. The stress of it all overwhelms the moment.
   Upon a second look, the third act is most full of potential. It drops away the expectations and responsibilities of time gone by and invites you to create and serve with the tools already honed and crafted. What a sweet challenge! An invitation is extended, encouraging your soul to step out front and center, stripped of pretense, anxiety or “to do” lists. It’s a time to enjoy the freedom that comes with unstructured time and untethered desire. The world is now a place of wise exploration not duty. Behind the fear of the unknown and the terror of a terminal sunset is a beginning. Not the fiery, novel beginning of the first and second act, but a mature, grounded beginning without expectation. By reframing the view, the “closed” sign on the shop door becomes a message of freedom, not ending. Wisdom’s ride into a glorious series of sunrises and sunsets has arrived with a greater purpose. A purpose that leads by example and inspires with limitless potential for every soul, not just your own.
   So, let the third act begin! Nurture your relationship with yourself. Suspend fear when it arises by taking a deep breath, or five, and slowly exhaling the negativity. Know the fear is signaling a new era. Sit with it and explore the moment. Write down what comes up. Ask yourself, “What do I want?” without expectation. Release attachment to the outcome each time you sit and ask. The answers will come.
   In the meantime, tap into your talents, hobbies, and passions. Bring joy into your day by just being. The doing will come. Let the third act carry the sparkling dew of the first and the glowing sun of the second, now alchemized by the gentle calm of the third. Do the things your heart desires. Take walks, garden, play with child-like abandon, sit on the beach in spring and wade in the water in summer. Cry, smile, laugh, write, meditate and wonder. Practice kindness. Listen. Self-reflect. Channel the energy of integrity and be mindful. The alchemy of wisdom will integrate and create a powerful force that will complete you before winter’s rest. Be an example to those that struggle. Show them how to live without fear so when they get there, they will.

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(Published in Creations Magazine Fall 2023)

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My Dog….My Guru?

9/13/2023

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PictureBear 7/17/2009-2/5/2023

 
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened”. ~Anatole France
  

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​A little white dog ran into a stall so fast he climbed onto my lap, reaching up to cover my face with kisses. He had a funny run like an animated reindeer in the 1960’s Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. His tongue hung out of the side of his mouth looking silly and sweet. His black nose and big black eyes dotted his little face, completing his unique vibe. He came home with us that day along with his side-kick, a black and white little girl. We named him Bear. I had three dogs. Now, I have two. They’ve all taught me many things but this is about Bear.
      Why write about critters that keep us company for the short span of their gloriously loving lives? In this case, because of the brilliance of a masterful teacher disguised as a little dog. My little guru ran, played and smiled. In fact, his little face and eyes smiled all day long and it was infectious. Watching him run with his stiff little legs, floppy tongue, and smiling eyes had no limits. His joyful prance and light-hearted antics brought a constant lightness of being, filling the room with a most welcome contagion of mindful bliss. In those moments, time stood still and nothing intruded. When he started having tremors, he stayed present, bringing my care into his space. He drew love to him like a moth to light. His side-kick groomed and snuggled him daily. I placed my hands on him to move his energy when he began having trouble walking. He walked again but never regained his ability to do stairs. In true guru-style, he made sure I slowed my pace and began paying better attention. I carried him up and down stairs outside to his dog pen. Then, I sat on the stairs waiting for him. I took in the sun, the cold, the rain, the snow. I meditated in the fresh air. I watched mindfully as he sniffed the dandelions and licked the big oak tree. As the seasons changed, I watched him walk in his own special way on the pebbly ground. He crunched through leaves, trudged through snow, dodged rain, and warmed in the sun. Every moment felt like a delicious pause of reality, permission to just be with no anticipation or remorse. How can a little, silly, furry boy have such power to stop time and bestow joy?
      In his last years, he wore diapers, needed special food, and couldn’t jump up onto his favorite spots where he would sit and stare at me. But that didn’t stop him. Wherever he was, I could feel his gentle gaze, his love palpable by his mere presence. It was impossible not to feel loved and present in his gaze. His little size didn’t limit his powers and neither did his disabilities. Through diaper changes, preparing special food, eventually feeding him by hand, carrying him in and out and up and down stairs, I became more and more present, grounded, and peaceful. What a surprise that a silly, joyful little critter could bestow the gift of mindfulness and grounded being to a grown adult woman who didn’t always practice what she preached! The doing became being. The being became more and more accessible.
      His time was too short. My simple human heart couldn’t bare the strain of leaving the present to anticipate the worst. So again, his precious little face with the smiling eyes, brought me back to him again and again. We sat every night together and had our time. I cradled him like a baby and sang songs to him. I looked into his big black eyes and told him the story of his life, how we met and how it was love at first sight. I felt his skinny little body in his blue fleecey relax against my body. We were together, present in the moment as we sat and I regaled him with tales of love, joy and happiness. I needed him to know the absolute treasure he was for the 13 1/2 years we shared.
      That’s the story of my furry little disabled guru that taught me how to slow down in the most real way, without theories, teachings, or best laid plans. So, the lessons come when least expected, beyond seeking, outside of books and organized practices. They come when we take our yoga off the mat. “Stop and smell the roses”, “Don’t sweat the small stuff”, “Savor the good”, “Find the beauty in the world” took on whole new meanings in the context of loving a small, silly, smiling-eyed white dog named Bear. He has forever changed me in the best possible way and for that I am immensely grateful.
 

Milissa Castanza Seymour M.S. is an InnerSoul Coach, professional Numerologist, and Transformational coach specializing in Stress Management and helping clients find life purpose. Her professional certifications include: Prana Yoga/IntegrativeYogaTherapy Holistic Health Educator, Applied Positive Psychology LifeCoach, Aromatherapist, Chopra Ayurvedic Health Practitioner/Primordial Sound Meditation Teacher/Well-being Coach. www.innersoulcoaching.com 
 
(Published in Creations Magazine Summer 2023)

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Rebirth Into Well-Being

2/17/2023

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"The longest journey of any person is the journey inward."                                                         
      ~Dag Hammarskjold

 

Let’s start with a quick meditation (5-10 minutes). Sit comfortably in a quiet place. Read through each step, then close your eyes and do the practice:
1) Bring your attention to your body. Where is it in space? Notice the points of contact to the chair, the floor. Notice any tension as you travel through your body from feet to head in your mind’s eye. Release tension with each exhalation, making space for calm.
2) Bring your attention to your breath. Follow it into your body, noticing how it moves and flows.
3) Notice your thoughts and feelings. Watch them come and go.
4) Notice the space between your thoughts. Feel the empty space that is full of silence and pregnant with possibility.
5) Bring your attention past the boundary of your being in this space. Imagine your connection to the energy around you, to everything and everyone. Sit with that knowing.
 Bring your attention back to the room, your body, and this moment. Open your eyes.
 
You just traveled through your bodies in that brief meditation. Yes, I said “bodies”. In yoga philosophy, we are described as multi-dimensional beings, made up of three bodies containing
5 koshas or sheaths: 
 
THE THREE BODIES
PHYSICAL BODY
Our physical body is made up of a combination of five elements- earth, water, fire, air and space. Our habits balance or disrupt the five elements. Practicing yoga postures decreases, increases, and/or balances these elements. Breathing practices and what we eat affects this body. 
ASTRAL BODY
Our astral body contains the intellect, mind, subconscious, ego and higher intellect, allowing us to navigate the world through our thoughts and feelings.
CAUSAL BODY 
The causal body contains our past life experiences, habits, and memories. The astral and the causal bodies are often partly to fully out of our awareness and don't become present until we begin a meditation practice. It is the place from which karma originates. Both the astral and causal bodies are linked and leave the body upon death.
 
THE FIVE KOSHAS OR SHEATHS
The three bodies contain five koshas or sheaths-
The PHYSICAL BODY contains-
1) Annamayakosha - the food sheath
    Also called "the food body", it is made up of all the elements. What we eat creates this body.
The ASTRAL BODY contains-
2) Pranamayakosha - the energy sheath
     It contains 5 pranic energies that flow throughout the physical body, nadis and chakras. It energizes and is the organizing field that holds the physical body together, governing breathing, digestion, blood circulation and all biological processes. Without prana, life ceases.
3) Manomayakosha - the psycho-emotional sheath
    We experience thoughts and feelings through this sheath to include the subconscious and ego. Thoughts and emotions are energy and move prana. Practices that allow us to clear energy in order to healthily process information include sense withdrawal, restorative yoga and yoga nidra. These reduce reactivity/limited awareness and make space for direction from the fourth kosha or vijnanamayakosha wisdom to come through.
4) Vijnanamayakosha - the wisdom sheath
     Wisdom and the powers of discernment (higher intellect) are contained here. It consists of the intellect which analyses the information we receive and controls the ego. Decisions and
 judgments that support well-being come through this sheath. Signs that this kosha is developing include making proactive choices from a strong sense of right/wrong and a felt sense of compassion. The Yamas and Niyamas in yoga teachings are the foundational practices for developing the vijnanamayakosha. Meditation, Jnana yoga, witness consciousness, and self-inquiry also open us to our higher inner guidance in connection to this kosha.
The CAUSAL BODY solely contains-
5) Anandamayakosha - the bliss sheath
      It is the part that knows the oneness of everything, generally out of our awareness. Through the space between our thoughts in the silence of meditation, sacred chants, mudras, and affirmations, we begin to access this part of ourselves bringing joy, equanimity, and peace, allowing a sense of the unity of all consciousness and divine being to come through. As limiting beliefs and unhealthy habits are released through the four koshas, the bliss sheath is revealed.
      Knowing our potential opens us to a rebirth. We are born unconscious to who we really are and with the practices mentioned above, transformational coaching, meditation and self-inquiry, we can begin to see ourselves from a three body/five sheath perspective, opening us to our true nature. Once in that space, we start to make choices that enhance physical/mental health and dismantle the stories that inform reactive thought processes so we can choose proactive thoughts/actions. We reconnect to our higher powers of discernment, going from perceived unilateral physical beings to knowing ourselves as multi-dimensional spiritual beings, and that makes all the difference to our well-being!
 

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“Who Am I?”:                                       Accessing Unity Consciousness

12/3/2022

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He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened. 
                        ~Lao Tzu

​


      Here’s a brief Chopra meditation: Sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath. Ask yourself, “Who am I?”  State the question a few times, then let it go. The answer will eventually come in your practice, without thought. Sit in silence before opening your eyes.
      That basic question seems to connect to what truly matters as the mind wants to answer- “I am a daughter. I am a parent. I am a life coach.” These “insert label here” identities are the mind’s go-to sentence completions. They sound important but in the grand scheme of being, are they? Can the mind be relied on to accurately identify us? Do the mind’s puzzle-piece labels create a picture of the authentic self?
      To answer that question, ask “Who is observing the questioner asking the question?”  Who is the witness to the mind’s antics? The mind is filled with feelings, thoughts, memories, desires, repulsions, and fears. The mind changes often. It is a reactive GPS transmitting from satellites in an individual’s worldview orbit, developed and operated by their history and experiences. It reflects a personal map of sorts. It directs daily functioning, often on automatic pilot. Taking a step back to witness the mind in action though, it becomes clear that there is something more.
      What is beyond the mind? What is that constant invisible force that silently informs our well-being? It’s consciousness. Call it pure awareness or unity consciousness, it exists beyond the mind. It is a space where all beings connect outside the limiting worldview of each individual mind, where wellness lives, accessible at any time to promote personal well-being. Unity consciousness is accessed in the space between thoughts during meditation. This space is part of each person’s pure potential, the antidote to disconnection and dis-ease. Once realized, it allows alignment with the truth that lives in that space. We become more compassionate, creative, peaceful, honest, and loving. As these truths seep into daily living, the connection opens. A fluid relationship develops where these values naturally influence
daily life over time, in turn deepening the connection to pure awareness. This evolution elevates daily living to a consciously informed experience. Spiritual beings having a human experience becomes the norm versus the automatic pilot mind-driven life, devoid of witness consciousness. Once we step back and witness our thoughts as they come and go, it’s hard to go back to unconscious living.
      So, is it possible to know when we are out of alignment, not allowing pure awareness to enter daily life? Yes, it is observable. Notice beliefs, inner critical dialogue/conflicted emotions, addictions, and stressed-out moments that are energy drainers. That begins the shift. Small “a” awareness is developed when the drains to well-being are noticed. These mini breaks are necessary to bridge and integrate conscious awareness into daily living. It’s what I call a “Bits and Bites” approach to well-being. Sitting once or twice a day to meditate is wonderful and necessary to begin to reprogram the nervous system and allow the body-mind to recalibrate to calm, even lengthening longevity. That’s the “Bite” part where a block of time is dedicated to meditate, accessing the space between thoughts by stopping, breathing, and tapping into big “A” awareness/pure consciousness. The
“Bits” part is stopping throughout the day for a few minutes to observe in real time what is happening inside, stopping the drain by witnessing it and reconnecting to higher awareness. This can be practiced as often as needed throughout the day as a reminder that pure consciousness is our true nature and the automatic pilot of the mind is draining well-being in that moment. It allows a shift out of a reactive stress response into a clearer space to process what is going on in order to make proactive choices.
     Here are two “Bits” that can create the shift:
1) In a moment of stressed-out reactivity, focus the mind on taking a few breaths. Those few breaths shift the nervous system into parasympathetic engagement, calming the system and allowing for proactive choices.
2) Going deeper, PAUSE:
Pause- take a break for a few minutes and breathe
Ask yourself, “What am I feeling?
Uncover the thought/belief connected to or just prior to the
                          feeling
Sit with it. Breathe, then ask, “Is it true? What’s the evidence?”
Explore the story you’re telling yourself and reframe it by asking
                       “What is another way to see this?”
      Witness consciousness is developing awareness that we are more than the mind. “Bits” of awareness are as important as “Bites” of scheduled meditation because it allows us to find our center in the middle of real-life moments where triggers become portals to who we really are - part of the unified field of pure consciousness!
(Published in Creations Magazine Feb-Mar 2023 Issue)
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Peace Be With You… And Everyone Else!

10/17/2022

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​“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” 
          ~
Siddhārtha Gautama

     




​​Peace begins with you. It’s an internal state that is energetically contagious. Where does this internal state of peace come from? One idea is it comes from the heart.
      The heart has been thought to have a steady beat like a metronome. It is now known that a healthy heart actually beats in an irregular pattern. The measure of time between consecutive heartbeats varies and is called heart rate variability (HRV). The variable state of beats is due to the interaction between the two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). These two parts are the sympathetic, which makes heart rate faster, and the parasympathetic, which slows the heart rate and calms the system. Both act in concert calming and speeding up the body systems and heart rate. HeartMath Institute has done research showing that feelings/emotions have a very powerful influence on HRV. Stressful emotions like anger and anxiety create erratic, rhythmic, “incoherent” heart patterns, indicating that the two branches of the ANS are out of synch with each other. Being in a constant “incoherent” state stresses the body. Contrarily, positive emotions like love/gratitude/happiness create more orderly “coherent” heart patterns, indicating the ANS branches are operating together efficiently. Positive emotions create heart rate coherence/ANS synchronization, which leans into parasympathetic dominance causing 1) the heart and brain waves to be more synchronized, 2) body systems overall to synchronize with the heart’s rhythm (entrainment), and 3) breathing to automatically synchronize with the heart, supporting system-wide coherence and well-being.
      The heart is also the most powerful source of electromagnetic energy in the human body, The heart generates an electrical field 100 times stronger than the brain’s electromagnetic field and can be detected up to 3 feet away from the body as measured by SQUID based magnetometers. Research done at the University of Arizona has confirmed findings that when using heart-focused attention on positive emotion there is an association with increased heart-brain synchrony. This improves cognitive performance and effects energetic communication between individuals, producing emotional and physiological coherence. According to the research, when individuals are in a coherent state, they are more sensitive to receiving information contained in the magnetic fields generated by others. Research indicates that heart-rhythm synchronization can occur in interactions between people and their pets as well. So, based on preliminary research, a bio-electromagnetic field radiated by the human heart and brain of one person can affect other people and even the global information field of the environment, suggesting that an energetic field is formed among individuals in groups (a “group field”) that connects those individuals and transmits information.
      What does this have to do with peace? We have all entered a room and “sensed” the vibes around us.  Research shows there is something reliable about this experience. When using certain skills and techniques, it is conceivable that we can generate peace internally through heartrate coherence and then radiate it into our environment and out into the world.
Here are two techniques to do this:
1)     Loving Kindness/Metta Meditation: (10-15 min)
Sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath, releasing tension throughout the body. Visualize yourself in your mind’s eye.
Tell yourself:
May I be happy.        May I be safe.       May I be healthy.      May I be peaceful.
Allow yourself to float away. Picture someone you love.
Tell them:
May you be happy.   May you be safe    May you be healthy   May you be peaceful
Allow them to float away. Picture someone you feel neutral about or don’t know well.
Tell them:
May you be happy.   May you be safe    May you be healthy   May you be peaceful
Allow them to float away. Picture someone you don’t like.
Tell them:
May you be happy.   May you be safe    May you be healthy   May you be peaceful
Allow them to float away. Picture the world coming into view. See the planet, focusing on nature, animals, people, countries…
Say::
May there be joy.  
May there be safety and protection 
May well-being prevail 
May there be peace
Allow the planet to float away. End the meditation seeing yourself again and repeating:
May I be happy.     May I be safe.       May I be healthy.       May I be peaceful.
Sit with those feelings in silence. When ready, open your eyes.
2) Heart Meditation: (5 min)
Close your eyes. Focus on breathing into the heart chakra. Imagine a time you felt a positive emotion like love or gratitude. Sit with the feeling as you remember. Breathe into your heart.
Release the feeling. Open your eyes.
 
Take these skills into the holidays and beyond. Be an instrument of peace. It’s contagious! 
​

Published in Creations Magazine Dec-Jan 2023 issue

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Masculine + Feminine =                                       Balanced Transformative Energy!

4/30/2022

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The union of the feminine and masculine energies within the individual is the basis of creation.    
~Shakti Gawain
                                                                                   
   


      Too often in society, gender is confused with and narrowly defined by masculine or feminine energies. This narrow definition is limiting and creates stagnation. Humans contain both energies, regardless of sex and gender roles. A healthy balance of masculine and feminine energies makes for more fully functioning, healthy human beings. When energetically in harmony, people are more likely to experience well-being, contributing to their relationships and all aspects of their life in a deeper, transformative way.
      Masculine energy is often perceived as strong, assertive, powerful, and leadership-oriented. On the contrary, feminine energy is perceived as soft, nurturing, empathic, and “following”. One without the other, though, creates imbalance. A person exhibiting leadership and aggressive negotiating skills without receptive listening skills and empathy, presents as a harsh leader. A person exhibiting a soft, nurturing nature with lots of empathy but without the strength to communicate their needs and set clear boundaries is similarly imbalanced, presenting as a doormat.
      Unfortunately, society teaches lessons that create toxic energy states. Children from a young age learn lessons that stereotype masculine/feminine energy like “Girls are helpful and nice” and “Boys don’t cry”. This encourages each sex to take on imbalanced gender-role thinking and behavior to their detriment. It shows each energy as separate versus equal in value and balancing to each other. Resistance comes up around the assumption that feminine energy is being pushed on men or that women are being pushed to be more masculine in pursuing goals instead of more “traditional” roles. The reality is that both sexes are inhabited by both energies with the goal of balance, not substitution or takeover. An aggressive leader that exhibits empathy or a nurturer that sets strong boundaries are healthy and balanced, not more female or male. Understanding this is transformative!
      When viewing masculine/feminine energy from a yogic/Ayurvedic (shiva/shakti) and Chinese medicine (yin/yang) viewpoint, they’re seen as complementary energies that need each other to coexist. Opposites are appreciated in balanced relationship to each other - light/dark, hot/cold, aggressive/receptive, giving/receiving. And, so it goes with masculine/feminine energies. One without the other is at best imbalanced, at worst, toxic.
      Balancing masculine and feminine energy can be complicated due to societal conditioning but we can initiate change by transitioning to an energetic perspective and working with the breath to balance the body-mind. Nadi Shodana, or Alternate Nostril Breathing, is a yogic breathing practice, or pranayama, used to help balance the Ida and Pingala nadis (meridians) that run along the spine. The Ida nadi represents feminine energy and the Pingala nadi represents masculine energy. They represent the duality of existence. Pingala is associated with the right nostril and the left hemisphere of the brain. Ida is associated with the left nostril and the right hemisphere of the brain. Each of these nadis start at the base of the spine and crisscross the chakras as they travel up the spine to the third eye, ending at the right and left nostrils. This is the perfect practice for balancing our energy when we are frazzled with too much masculine energy or stagnant because of too much feminine energy. This practice 1) restores balance between the right/left hemispheres of the brain, 2) rejuvenates the nervous system, 3) manages stress responses, 4) clears the energy channels in the body-mind, and 5) promotes a feeling of well-being, clearing/focusing the mind/emotions.
Here are instructions for Nadi Shodana practice:
1.Sit comfortably, feet flat on the floor.
2.Imagine a thread pulling you upward from the top of your head, lengthening the spine. Let the shoulders drop downward, releasing tension. Close your eyes and draw your attention inward.
3.Place your left hand on your thigh, palm facing upward.
4.Place your right hand in front of your face palm inward, index and middle finger extended, resting on your forehead.
5.Close your right nostril pressing in and upward with the thumb of the right hand. Breathe in through the left nostril.
6.Release the right nostril, closing the left nostril with the ring and pinky fingers the same way. Exhale through the right nostril.
7.Inhale through the right nostril.
8.Close the right nostril with the thumb again. Release the left nostril and exhale.
9.This completes one cycle. Repeat this cycle five or six times.
 
      Nadi Shodana is an excellent practice that is only contraindicated if you have a cold affecting breathing. In that case, you could psychically do the practice, visualizing the process of breathing through each nostril. It takes a little imagination but is a useful alternative. With practice over time, your calm/focus baseline will transform as your feminine/masculine energies shift and balance!
Published Creations Magazine Oct/Nov 2022


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