DAILY July 25, 2013 Breath #400…Now that’s a marker! Are we grown more thoughtful? Wiser? Kinder? Sillier? Contemplative? Wilder? Creative? Connected? From these past years of ‘Breaths?’ Do weigh in. I should so love to hear your ‘Breath-stories.’ Thank hevvins for bad TV. I’ve turned to reading. One of the books was recommended by the author, Janet Wong. The book is, APE How to Publish a Book, by Kawasaki & Welch. It begins, “How to read this book.” First, I think ‘how stupid, then I realize, that makes me feel safe. This is a direct correlation to my daily reactions of dealing with too much technology, and not having instruction, or worse, incomprehensible instructions. Most of the time, I don’t even know the right question on what has gone amiss. Ergo, the omnipresent, quivering safety factor. Yes, even with a book. This first question is followed by a second, “Should you write a book?” Too late. I’ve written the bloody thing. I’ve bought your book instructing me on how I might deal with mine, and now you’re asking if I should have even written it ? This bombshell is immediately followed by third. “To me a book is a message from the gods to mankind; or, if not, should never be published at all.” Aleister Crowley. I know of Aleister Crowley. I’m completely cowed. Books, mine and theirs, go back on the shelf. This is like asking, “Should you take this incarnation?” Too late. No shelf-life available. I am here, I’ve become me, I’ve passed the ‘400-mark,’ and you’re still here with me. I take heart. I take the bloody books off the shelf. I begin again. Self publishing has to be just that, no? It’s a self, for better or worse, god-like or not, sharing thought-life with those who care…. Read more »
Read moreInspirations: Self Care
Walk On The Wild Side
It’s odd. As life grows ever more bumptious, and out of control, there are fewer and fewer wild places in the world. The garden is not wild, unless it is wild with weeds, and one can’t consider garden’s wild anyway. Daily life is driven, but it is not wild unless we are living in Syria, or sky diving, or listening to a doctor tell us we have a deathly disease. The last undiscovered, wild places on the planet are discovered, claimed, and filled with Big Macs, the kind we eat and the kind we work on. And despite feeling out of control, most of us are not wild. We are crazed. That is not wild. There is a growing need for us to express a capricious wild side, if only to balance the over-committed, dedicated, work-weary self. What has happened to the lion tamer in the Zebra skin, one-piece? What of the trapeze artist, in pink tights, and sequined tutu? We did once dream of being wild, and extra-ordinary? Trouble is, we feel we have enough problems and challenges without being weird and possibly asking for more. Trouble is, we have winched down and positioned ourselves for the least amount of friction. Not a bad deployment except- trouble is, no one is laughing. When was the last time you roared, wet your pants, and couldn’t catch your breath? When was the last time you kicked off your heels, ripped off your sport coat, and let ‘em have it…whatever ‘it’ is, it ain’t your norm. Our ‘norm’ is working so hard to keep us in the norm-zone that we’ve disowned parts of our whole in order to stay safe inside the norm-lines. When this happens, we erupt volcanically, or we are confronted by strangers who do, taking us down with them…. Read more »
Read moreFingering Secrets
Hands are magical instruments; multi faceted, powerful, tender, destructive. They can be gnarly, spatulate, pudgy, delicate. The fingers, as emissaries, touch the world, bringing back thousands of impressions full of information. Brains are activated and trained by working with fingertips, especially during childhood. Hands and feet possess abundant nerve supplies which light up large areas of the brain. Every finger has its own life, it’s energy of giving and receiving, its particular ability, or quality. Areas of the palm, as well as fingers, relate to planetary energies, to meridians and body parts, to chakras, to the five elements, and states of being. Acupressure and Acupuncture use points on the fingers and hand to stimulate healing through different areas of the entire body. There are also reflex zones, and marma points that are stimulated for healing. The art of palmistry is not magical, rather it is knowledge of multiple levels of energy revealed in a hand. Using fingers to form hasta/hand mudras reveals yet another layer of information. Mudras, like Bandhas, are locks, and locks conceal secrets. Each mudra intends to connect to the divine, to cosmic consciousness, which is one of the primary goals of Yoga. Through the mystery of mudra, hands reveal our longing to connect, not only by touch, but by the shape of a mudra. When practicing mudras, the brain is lit from conscious and un-conscious information housed in the fingertips. With intention and practice, mudras can change character traits, create healing, bring serenity, and offer awareness. There are 25 essential mudras, and many others that have been added along the way. You can make up one, once you know the energies in each finger. Simply by rubbing or pressing the fingers, you awaken dormant energies within. Next time you reach out and touch someone, or grab… Read more »
Read moreHonoring The Dark Gods
I remain in awe of my mind. Would that it were for its brilliance. No, I remain fascinated, because despite living in it lo these many years, it remains a mystery. I have little understanding of how it really works. What is this mind stuff? It powers the Universe. If I could consciously access the energy of my thoughts, particularly the dark ones, I might have the wattage of a power plant. The mind is a god to honor. If I paid attention, without judgment, I might bring heaven to earth, or perceive earth as heaven. If I honored the gods/goddess of the emotional mind, that engine ruling every thought, could I come to greater understanding? Does the gut rule the brain, (Huna thoughts)or is the mind in my gut? From all we are discovering, it is probably a two way street. Would I face anxious, fear-filled thoughts with greater equanimity if I moved toward, not away from? Learning to embrace and honor the alchemical substance of my Dark Gods? In doing so, accepting my true nature. When caught in webs of thought, which seem real, I miss out on their substance, their vibrant energy. This dance of energies is often submerged under a plot line, or story -board I assume to be true. Often, the worse I feel, the more I believe it to be true. Wise ones go to meditation of their own accord. Others of us are dragged by their Dark Gods, kicking and screaming. Think of the energy available if I could embrace perceived failures, stupidity, carelessness, or regret. I would magically open to the vast unknown, misunderstood Self. In this alchemical-sitting, learning to allow moods and mayhem not to rule, I’d learn of and from my dark gods. I would bow and thank them for their gifts of transformation. … Read more »
Read moreClowning Around
I recently went to hear an ex-Cirque de Soleil clown speak on failure. Odd aspects of articulating our humanness never fail to intrigue, and Colin Gee, the clown, actor, and observer of life, was no exception. He also surprised, although with a billing of ‘clown, Cirque de Soleil, and failure,’ how can you not be surprised? His personal portrait revealed the clown’s willingness to fail, in order to reveal vulnerabilities…an elixir that makes laughter grow and love bloom. Is that why clowns are loved? We admire acrobats, who never fail, but we cherish the clown, who must fail in order to win trust. Both work limits in the human condition, and the measure of success, or failure, is very high. Both reveal themselves in bright lights, either in flight with angels, or bottoming out in seas of emotional weight. Neither can pretend. Neither can be half-assed. Both must succeed in un-expected ways. Each works with well-defined constructs, dealing with a force greater than themselves, gravity—lest we forget: the primary mechanical principal of life on earth. Bringing clown-awareness into our daily lives is an important balancing tool to onslaught of push and shove to ‘excellence,’ and to our terrible fears of failure. A base condition for the clown is humiliation, a state of non-grace we moderns shun. Another base condition is listening, listening to audience response, listening to the ego’s ability to relinquish its hold, listening to the character we are inhabiting at any given moment. The ear is another tool we are in jeopardy of loosing as we shout at each other through tweets, and likes, and links. Who has time to listen when we need everyone to hear us? I, for one, am making my list of ‘Clown Rules’ –reminders for each day, before the linking, liking, and licking of… Read more »
Read moreHoliday Minefield
How much room does expectation take up? Where does it live? Who does if feed? How do we see it? When is it at its worst? And…if you did not expect ‘it,’ would there be room for more delightful things such as contentment, awareness, lack of angst, and more turkey? It’s hardest when we expect happiness, right? Happiness at the holidays? Happiness with loved ones, family, friends? Happiness is such a big shoe to fill. When we walk in those silver slippers life is slippery. How do we catch ourselves expecting? It ain’t like having a baby. It would save much heartache if we knew when we were expectant, especially as we enter the winter holidays, layered with memories, family, and old friends; invitations, and gifts. Oh yes, it’s an enormous minefield of hidden expectation. Must we become Zen, or Buddhist to not suffer at our own hand? Perhaps, starting with the suspicion that happiness is over-rated? I doubt it. If I learn to hold my hopes more lightly, and care less? If the pleasure of a stranger’s smile could replace the anxious expectation of the thoughtful gift? If only Uncle Ned won’t get drunk at the party? What if Sister Sarah’s boyfriend doesn’t give her the ring? And on it goes, that merrie-go-round of expected joy and disaster which leaves so little space for being present, for giving oneself the gift of surrender. Perhaps I shall wrap a small box, beautifully, and place it by my bed to hold all my expectations, conscious and un, to see me through the holidays. “You did invite me to your party, didn’t you?” Pose With Seasonal Energies: Asana: Goddess Pose. A great pose from which to create composure, endurance, non-expectation. Standing with legs wide, feet open out, take a breath and as… Read more »
Read moreMusical Shape Shifting- Exploration of Teaching Modalities
To be at one with Self we must have, and be at home in our own rhythmic archetype. We must be able to move with the flow inherent in our internal rhythms. Our early relationship with rhythm begins in utero where we are soothed with mother’s heartbeat, the pulse of her blood flow, even her speech and movements. Without strong early rhythmic connections, there is a later disconnect from body and mind, and therefore poor mental and or physical health. Without unconscious, subliminal, essential rhythmic connections there is inner chaos, and often pain. When we have a weak internal rhythmic archetype, we have difficulty accepting the ebb and flow of life. It’s like trying to ride out the ‘perfect storm’ on an inner tube. Anyone struggling with ongoing chaos, or physical pain will find that exploring rhythms and movement may be powerful tools to re-create balance and health. Working a Practice with greater physical repetitions, adding more chants, especially call and response, along with rhythmical Pranayama can re-wire the brain, creating calm from disconnect. Even when not in pain, these tools are healing, serving us all to take have more courage for the next step, to move beyond fear with greater belief in our abilities. Studies done in Germany with a repetitive movement called, TaKeTiNa, created by Reinhard Flatischler and his wife Cornelia, have been proven to heal pain through collective movement and sound processes. “Flatischler discovered that in those moments when the participants felt synchronized or “at one” with the rhythms, the whole group reported that their pain went away.”* Observing Sufi dervishes take a group into deep trance through collective movement and sound was the original inspiration for Flatischler’s work. Kundalini Yoga, ShaktiYogaDances, along with Folk dance, tribal dances, even Modern, and ballet, especially where repeated movement patterns,… Read more »
Read moreShape Shifting-part I
With the need for increasing mental, emotional, and physical flexibility to see us to the other side of enormous change, I shall be writing on the helpful and subversive ideas and teachings of four talented Instructors. This week Aaron Cantor, followed by Daniel Orlansky, Jen Yarrow, and Shiva Rea. Spring opens the body from winter weight. Eclipse seasons are change-funnels, sometimes like tornados, asking shifts of perspective and path…as in “The barn’s burned down, now I can see the Moon.” (Eclipses impel, or cut us off, often occurring in the unsettled seasons of spring and fall. Lucky us, we have three eclipses coming: June I, June 15, and July 1.) Massive shifts are due not only to spring, or Eclipses, but to prominent planetary energies making these fast and furious years ones of transformation. Think late 60’s. Bodies and minds are layered with pre-emptive strikes to be different, be better, or die. Relationships, particularly, require we surpass old tribal connection and expectation, especially relationships with Gaia. We are in the cauldron of learning to share heartfelt fire and recourses in profoundly meaningful ways. The question is, how do we shape-shift to meet many layered obligations AND hold on to who we are, to our core Self? Can we? Should we? As usual, I don’t know, but recently I’ve been given ideas to share, thanks to the serendipitous synchronicity of being with singular teachers. Much of their power comes from their decisions to follow their own voice, to have the courage to create a unique path, to not play it safe. It also emerges from their talent of combining areas of information and expertise, refining a vision of what works for them. Aaron Cantor began by asking, “If you had a superpower, what would it be?” He then proceeded to embody, and teach… Read more »
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