Can You Slow Down?

Okay, confession time.

I've been into books about mystics lately.

Maybe it's where my mind is, maybe it's the time we're in... but the other day, I read a passage from The Cloud of Unknowing, where the author was distinguishing between living a life of activity and a life of contemplation.

Those lines struck me.

I know we're trying to get beyond Covid, the economy has re-opened, yet in many ways, we are still being asked to be patient.

One of the invitations of waiting is to be more contemplative.

But what does that even mean?

And how does that look in your life?

On a basic level, contemplation is to think about things, ponder, allow yourself to steep in a sensation, idea or state of awareness. For some this is easier than for others.

I can often get restless and feel squirmy in my body or in my mind. It's uncomfortable and my first desire is to flee.

I know for others, it can be the loneliness, the fear of change or the vulnerability of feeling exposed.

What if you took a moment right now to check in with yourself? What are you feeling?

Underneath, we are all being asked to go deeper.

Is there an idea, an activity, creative project or relationship that is calling to you? Can you step towards it? Is there something that you've been avoiding but simply can't anymore?

Whatever it is, the encouragement is to be gentle with yourself.

Contemplation isn't a race.

It isn't a fast activity.

It's a slow opening and a way of receiving insight rather than pushing for a result.

Why not give it a try and see what comes out of it?

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photo by Free-Photos, Pixabay

5 Ideas for Earth Day 2021

We are just about to celebrate Earth Day. What will you do to celebrate this magnificent home​ of ours?

Every spring, I commit to ONE eco-activity to help me be a greener person.

How about you?

Here are a few easy ideas:

1. TURN OFF THE FAUCET

I just read that 8 gallons of water are wasted if we keep the water running when we brush our teeth! We can turn the tap off even when we wash our hands. I know it's only 20 seconds but that's still fresh water!

2. STOP USING THE HEAT DRY

On your dishwasher, there may be a button for Heat Dry. Not using it will save 15% of the energy your dishwasher uses! If there isn't an air dry option, you can always crack open the dishwasher once the cycle is completed.

3. REDUCE PLASTIC USE

Pick ONE way to use less plastic. Maybe it's bringing your own bags to the store. Another is to have your own water bottle, or stop using plastic straws. 

4. GET A BIDET

My daughter has one that she LOVES. It was inexpensive and went right onto her regular toilet in her apartment! In the US alone, we use an insane amount of toilet paper, more than 36 billion rolls/year! That's 15 million trees, ouch! Here's a link to the one she has: Tushy

5. 10-DAY ECO-ANXIETY CHALLENGE

Insight Timer is hosting this, starting tomorrow. It's a combination of practical advice, meditation and climate action to tackle eco-anxiety​ AND they've partnered with a non-profit which will plant a tree when you reach Day 3, Day 6 and Day 10! JOIN HERE

We only have one earth, let’s all commit to caring for it a little more. 

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How to Solve Your Problems

I admit it. We think the idea of life is to NOT have any problems. 

But seriously, when has that ever been true for you?

There's always something, right?

So what do we do about this?

First (of course) we have to get past the feelings of “ugh, I don’t want this problem! I’ll just pretend I don’t have it, ignore it, push it away…

Then we have to acknowledge that the problem is lingering at the edges of our awareness, pressing in on us.

And finally make the decision to deal with it.

That’s when the fun really starts!

I say fun because that’s where the opportunity for growth and learning lie, yay!

Let’s say your problem seems small, even petty. You’re bickering with a colleague. Your neighbor’s lawn is always full of litter and totally bugs you. You can’t seem to resolve a minor conflict with a family member. In the scheme of problems, yours is trite. It isn’t about Covid, or world peace, or a life threatening illness.

And because it’s small, it’s easy to judge it and yourself. Why aren’t I over this little issue yet?

Sound familiar?

Here’s an example.

The other day a woman shared about her anxiety having to go to the store to buy a new smartphone. Immediately I wanted to judge her. Who on earth has anxiety about buying a new phone? I kept listening though as she went on to explain how she allowed herself to experience her anxiety and then remember that she was always supported by God/universe to make perfect decisions.

It wasn’t until later that it hit me.

Whether you’re buying a phone, irritated with your co-worker or bugged by a neighbor, it’s the SAME as wanting to heal the world from Covid, or desiring world peace.

Here’s what I mean.

We judge something as being big or small, worthy of our attention or not. But what if we didn’t?

In A Course in Miracles, the first principle we learn about miracles is that, “There is no order of difficulty in miracles. One is not "harder" or "bigger" than another. They are all the same. All expressions of love are maximal.”

When we think about these “problems” or “challenges” we’re experiencing, the same is true! Every learning opportunity is maximal.

Because EVERY TIME we choose to view the situation differently, we are healed.

Big or small, trite or enormous, every time we ask, “please let me see this person differently.” “Please let me experience this situation differently,” we open the door to love, to expansiveness, to love.

All the rest is simply our judgement and a way of blocking our own learning and opening.

So what do you say? Willing to try?

I am so excited about this – I’m going to use it every time I feel myself get upset!

How about you?

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Radical 40-Day Challenge

Giving up something for Lent?

The other day I heard someone tell me they were giving up judgment for Lent and I thought, now that is a great idea!

If you think about it, we can reframe Lent, and it really is like a 40-day challenge.

Right?

Let’s use this time, in between winter and the beginning of spring, as a way to shed something old, something that no longer works for us.

As we do, we make room for the new seedlings of what we really do want.

 Here’s your question:

What are you ready to give up that will significantly improve your life?

 I’m not talking about chocolate.

I’m talking about things like:

• Unworthiness

• Lack

• Pessimism

• Obligation

• Perfectionism

• Deceit

• Avoidance

Or any other aspect of yourself that is holding you back, including judgment!

What do you say?

I’m starting today- because today is the first day of Lent!

I’m giving up self-judgment.

No more “Well, Shakti, you should have…” or “You could have done that better…” And when I hear that critique, I will gently thank it, and move on.

How about you? What will you give up today? 

I’d love to know.

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Feeling Frustrated? Try This

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you work at something, you simply aren’t moving the needle?

Nodding your head?

Maybe you're wanting a breakthrough at work or want to push through to the next level with your writing or workouts.

Maybe it's a block that simply feels insurmountable.

We have all been there. You are definitely not alone.

But, the question is, what will help you finally have a breakthrough?

On a call recently, Robert Holden spoke about this.

He noted how so often it appears that the part of our life we are working on the hardest seems to be the area we are experiencing the least success!

And then he offered that perhaps this is because we are substituting our hard work for grace.

In other words, we are thinking we alone, have to solve and figure out this (insert problem here).

But what if, instead, we asked for help?

Invited love in? Or asked Infinite Intelligence to lend a hand?

I've been pondering this idea for the last couple of weeks, and what I've realized is that the more I obsess over something and sorta get neurotic about it, the worse it seems to get.

Yes?

But, when I can let it go  - which is not the same as doing nothing - things naturally shift.

So what do you say? Would you be willing to give it a try?

Seriously, what have you got to lose?

Whatever your issue is - a health challenge, love interest, work challenge - can you ask for help from the Universe/God/Source?

Can you ask Love to guide you and show you another way?

What are the words for you?

Sometimes it helps to start by acknowledging where you are right now.

Something like: "I'm really struggling with ________ and it makes me angry and confused. And I also know that there is another way to see this and experience it. (Love/Source/God...), can you please help me see/experience this differently?

Give it a try and see how life shifts.

I'm excited to hear your results!

The more we can let life love us, the more love we have in our lives.

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A New Way to Vision 2021

If you’re like me and want to start 2021 off right, here’s one of my favorite tools for launching the year with intention, guidance and inquiry - vision boards.

But this year I have a twist-

I created a new thing- a Soul Vision Board!!!!!

Did you download the free vision board pdf? If not, you can right here. Or watch this quick video of me explaining a vision board on TV a few years ago!

Making vision boards is one of my family’s New Year’s Eve traditions. The fireplace is roaring, the Christmas lights (and music) are blasting, and I’m typically on the rug, ripping, cutting and gluing, making a giant mess!

Normally I’m extremely intentional about this project.

I think about the different areas of my life and how/what I want to experience in each. I’ll have imagery for my spiritual development – maybe a picture of a book, goddess or teacher. I’ll have a picture of a place I want to visit (typically someplace where I can ski), for years I had African animals – elephants, giraffes… I’ll find images of things I’d like to accomplish – pictures of jewelry, words that are inspiring…

But something happened last year that made me alter how I make my vision board. I learned a new collage technique from a friend. It’s called SoulCollage®.

SoulCollage® is an intuitive, contemplative way to collage using only imagery (no words). With their technique, you make a set of cards and then read them- eliciting meaning from the images you’ve assembled.

So I decided to adopt this idea, of allowing the journey to take me, rather than control it (by looking for very specific images and words).

Instead, I chose pictures that caught my eye. I didn’t worry about finding the “right” word or picture but relaxed into the process, trusting that the ones I found were the right ones.

Here’s the important thing- I didn’t entirely do the SoulCollage® technique. I simply tweaked how I used to do vision boards.

Here’s My Board for 2021!

Before I began, I took a moment to think about the year ahead and then I added this new dimension making it more emotive, metaphoric, allowing it to arise from the unconscious, rather than being so concrete.

I did add words that appealed to me, and do have a little corner of the board that depicts things I still really want (like a ski trip.)

Once you’ve assembled all the imagery and words together, step back and really take a look at the whole board.

What is it telling you about how you want to live your year?

Perhaps what you’ll hear isn’t so much about what you will accomplish, instead it’ll be more about how you will experience your everyday life.

How does that sound?

I’m excited to see how this new technique influences 2021.

From all of my years of doing vision boards, I know they work.

At the end of each calendar year, I look back on the photos and words I put together the previous January and can see all the things that came to pass.

So be intentional, and allow your soul to sing to you about what it wants for you this year.

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photo by Gerd Altmann

Cultivate Curiosity in 4 Simple Steps

Curiosity sometimes gets a bad wrap. You know that adage about it killing the cat.

It turns out, however, that curiosity boosts survival, happiness, learning, empathy, and more. It’s also considered a vital 21st century skill. Recent neuroscience studies have also shown that curiosity acts as both a primer to learning as well as making the learning more satisfying.

And let’s face it, a key way we’re going to get through this pandemic is, to quote Steve Jobs, “think different.” And that requires curiosity.

 So if you’re ready to up-level your curiosity quotient, here are 4 Steps to Follow:

 1. Be okay not knowing

If you think you know the answers, then you aren’t looking, right?

Perhaps you’ve been taught or conditioned that you need to know everything or at least appear like you know everything. But what if instead, you were willing to acknowledge that you don’t? What would happen then? Where might life take you?

2. Give yourself time to inquire

In our hectic, busy lives, we never have enough time to get all of our work and TO-Do lists completed, let alone have time to spare for WONDER.

A positive of the pandemic is that many of us have more time than ever. How are you using that time? Can you build in contemplation, dreaming and wonder into your schedule?

3. Ask & Listen

What is it that you really want to know? I have a friend who at 60, decided she wanted to learn the ukulele. Another is taking Spanish lessons. What about you? What are you curious to know? What is your inner voice asking of you?

 4. Seek knowledge

Once you fixate on something that has piqued your curiosity, explore, research, discover what’s out there. One of the coolest parts of this step, is not only do you get your curiosity satisfied, but you invariably discover and learn other cool things, too!

As Albert Einstein reminds us, "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."

So be curious, allow yourself to cultivate this and see where it takes you.

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3 Ways to Make the Most of Social Distancing

With global numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases on the rise, it’s time for us to learn how to live with this situation rather than keep hoping it’s leaving soon.

 After doing an inventory of people who are really thriving during this unusual time, here are 3 suggestions of ways you can be too.

1. Exercise

Whether you’ve always worked out or never have, now is a great time to incorporate exercise into your schedule.

Many of us have reduced or no commute times (as well as limited social calendars) and that means even more YOU time.

Why not try something you’ve always been interested in? Zoom makes it so easy. For me, it was mat Pilates. For my daughter, it’s been dance. A close friend of mine does Chi Gong.

What about you? Interested in learning salsa? Tai Chi? Fencing?

2. Create

The most satisfying and fun parts of my day are when I’m creating.

Making something out of nothing with your thoughts and hands – be it gardening, needlework, baking, drawing or weaving, can be incredibly energizing.

It feeds the right side of our brains, which, for those of us who do analytic thinking a lot, is a wonderful break and can actually feel regenerative!

What have you been hankering to do? One of my friends loves to color in mandalas, another is a potter, a painter, a writer, a multi-media artist.

What medium is calling to you?

3. Go Within

This global time is a massive undoing. Evidence of that is all around us – systems collapsing, industries drying up- and it’s also happening on a personal level.

We are ALL being asked to go within and release habits, beliefs and ways of being that no longer work, that hold us back, or are destructive.

How can you support yourself through this time? Would it be helpful to speak to a therapist or coach?

Do you have a spiritual practice? If so, how can you deepen into it?

What are you being asked to do for yourself right now? Maybe it’s to join an online group, maybe it’s to have meaningful conversation with a loved one.

The future is uncertain.

But at the same time, we can prepare as best we can by really supporting ourselves right now to the best of our ability.

Be kind to you. Nourish you. Support yourself and your loved ones.

And try any or all of these ideas to step more into feeling supported and held at this time.

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4 Ways to Counter Compassion Fatigue

I know you are a kind, compassionate person. You care about others and want only good for them. But these are hard times. And it can be easy to feel overwhelmed.

So what do we do when we fall into sacrifice or feel compassion fatigue?

Here’s 4 ways to return to love.

1.  Check the Facts

Humans are actually hardwired to be compassionate. Neuroscience is proving it!

The anterior cingulate region of our frontal cortex lights up when we experience pain and it’s also activated when we see someone else experience pain!

Our amygdala, the part of the brain that warns us of potential threat is alerted when someone else is hurt. Makes sense, right?

Additionally, an older part of our nervous system called the periaqueductal gray. An area associated with caregiving, gets activated when we see someone in pain. What this indicates is that not only are we perceiving and feeling another’s pain, but want to biologically respond to it.

There’s even more – about the vagus nerve and oxytocin but I think you’re getting the idea.

 2. Personal Benefits to Helping Others 

When we take care of others, it directly effects us biologically but also emotionally. We think we’ll feel drained but instead, more often we feel elevated, joyful and more connected.

We also know from behavioral research that actions can be contagious. For example, if someone in your building or neighborhood starts visiting a trendy new place, then everyone starts going there! But here’s the wild thing:

Acts of kindness are the MOST contagious.

They spread the fasted and have personal benefit too. When we spread kindness, the science tells us we feel better, are happier and experience more connection.

3. Remembering Role Models

When I fall into fear or the pain and suffering around me seems like too much, it’s easy to get overwhelmed or feel helpless.

When I’m in those spaces, I look for support – from people who have walked the earth, or from images of gods and goddesses that embody that deep love and compassion.

Who embodies compassion to you?

His holiness the Dalai Lama? Nelson Mandela? Mother Teresa? Pope Francis? Pema Chodron?

Maybe someone in your family? A pet? 

What about the image of the Christ or Mother Mary? The goddess Tara or the Buddha? Maybe it’s Hanuman, the Hindu God who is part monkey, part human, who embodies service. He is often depicted showing us his huge heart in which reside the image of his God- Rama and wife Sita- whom he serves.

I love Hanuman. The image of him exposing his heart always reminds me to live open heartedly, caring for others while remembering it’s all about love/God.

 4. Compassion for You

Never forget that the person who most needs to be taken care of is YOU. So what can you do for yourself right now that is loving? What do you need most in this moment?

A hug? A moment of silence? A big breath of fresh air? A day off?

It’s easy to get focused on others. But if it is true that we are all one, what I do for myself, I do for you. So be gentle and loving to yourself today. Show yourself so much compassion. You deserve it.

All we really have to do is allow love to love through us. And then it is all effortless. When we can get out of our own way, that is exactly what happens. Let love love you, and show you how to be the most loving person you can be. The world desperately needs it.

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Ready to Manifest All you Desire?

I know you use affirmations - because as my friend Wioletta is always reminding me- we are powerful manifestors!

And the best, easiest, most focused way to do that is with affirmation, right!?!

Right!

A few years ago, I stumbled on this incredible format for writing affirmations in an Ernest Holmes book called The Art of Life. If you’re not familiar with him, he is a new thought leader and the founder of religious science, also known as science of mind.

In the book he tells a story about working with a parishioner who was trying to manifest more students as she was a piano teacher. In order to do that, she'd created an affirmation, only it wasn't working so well. When she shared what she was saying with Ernest Holmes, he quickly realized it wasn't specific enough. So he helped her out, honing the language to her particular situation and - a very important part- using present tense verbs.

Of course it worked! And soon she had more students than she knew what to do with!

Whenever I have used this affirmation - tweaking it for my specific situations - it has been incredible!

Here's the one from the book:

My advice - modify it so it works for whatever it is you want to manifest.

AND THEN SAY IT OUT LOUD EVERY DAY!

You will be amazed.

Try this affirmation and let me know how it goes!

AND if you’re hankering for your dream apartment, check out this blog! It offers SO many manifesting tips!

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Feeling Anxious? Try This

I hope your seatbelt is buckled tightly, because this wild ride doesn't seem anywhere near finished yet!

Which is why we need all the support we can get right now, yes?

Here's another tool for you - a breath to help release anxiety.

The breath is SUCH a powerful tool to bring us back to the moment, ground us in our bodies, and quiet the mind.

If we can remember, we can use the breath anytime, anywhere.

It is always available to you!

I encourage you to take a moment right now. Look at the image above and follow it.

Inhale Peace - nice big breath.

YES!

Exhale tension. Feel it all melt away...

Inhale stillness into your body, into your mind.

Exhale thoughts as you quiet the mind.

Inhale safety - feel it all around you.

Exhale fear.

Now repeat the series a few more times.

Feel better?

Isn't that incredible what a moment of mindful breathing can do?

Don't forget!

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Discover the 4 Stages of Spiritual Development

Wondering where you might be on your spiritual journey?

This might help.

It's a cool tool I recently stumbled on - The 4 Stages of Spiritual Development- outlined by Michael Bernard Beckwith, the founder of the Agape Ministry in Los Angeles. He is also a prolific writer, speaker and profound spiritual thinker.

Here are his 4 stages:

Stage 1- Victim Consciousness

In stage 1, life happens to you, where you have no control or agency. It is common at this stage to feel like bad things happen to you, you are being punished, or suffer.

You also experience God as being outside of you.

In order to evolve from victim consciousness, the invitation is to release blame, shame and guilt. When you do, you are able to move to:

Stage 2- Manifestor Consciousness

As you release beliefs of blame, shame and guilt, you open yourself to experience God as within you.

At this stage, you use your will, and harness your thoughts to create your life. As you begin to access universal laws, you feel increasingly powerful and in charge. You are able to create what you want and affect change.

You might use tools such as visualization techniques and affirmations as you imagine and speak your world into existence. Here you manifest what you wish for, yippee!

In stage 2, life happens by you. 

God is your guide.

If you want to continue to evolve, the invitation is to relinquish control. When you are willing, you move to:

Stage 3- Instrument Consciousness

Once you arrive at this stage, you've already experienced much success in creating and living a life you want. You are a powerful manifestor!

But now you are being asked to let go and let God. In other words, to relinquish control, recognizing that there is even more to life. 

Life happens through you.​ And God acts through you.

Here, the invitation is to relax into receiving and allow Spirit to move through you.

As stated in the Prayer of St. Francis, “Lord make me an instrument of your peace.”

If you feel ready to keep going, level four is achieved when you let go of the idea of separation and recognize that you are God.

Stage 4- One Consciousness

At this phase, you relinquish any concepts of being a separate self and allow yourself to wholly merge with God.

You acknowledge that you are ONE.

Life happens as you.​

You embody the truth, not just perceive it.

Now, you are united with the God-self and able to experience non-duality!

If all of this feels like TOO much, here’s the reminder:

You are always moving back and forth among these stages.

So don’t judge.

Instead, use this tool to see what stage you are in, and where you would like to be.

Think of the spiritual journey as a spiral. We are always dancing along that continuum, coming to new spaces, new opportunities for growth and healing. So be honest with yourself, and see how you can use this tool to help you evolve and grow.

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How to Make the Unconscious Conscious

Between the Covid-19 crisis and the Black Lives Matter protests, we are being called to recognize the pain and suffering people have been experiencing. And we are being asked do something about it, individually and collectively.

One way is by making the unconscious conscious and the unseen seen.

This can be done for our own selves as well as for the larger society - as we acknowledge institutionalized racism and bigotry.

 On a personal level, how do we make the unconscious conscious?

 As Carl Jung said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

The unconscious is a collection of memories, thoughts, feelings, motives and reactions that unknowingly dictate our thoughts and decisions (in other words, our lives.)

If we decide that we don’t want to constantly react from this conditioning, but instead want more awareness, we need courage.

Courage to try a different way.

We also need willingness to want to change.

This is true for us as individuals as well as for the collective.

Because collectives are made up of individuals. If we all do this work and choose to show up with love as opposed to our unconscious conditioning, we can indeed create a new way of being with one another.

If you’re ready to make the unconscious conscious, here are some suggestions.

1. Probe

I recently chatted with a few people who are truly benefitting from talk therapy. Each shared how they are seeing patterns of automatic responses rooted in childhood trauma. Recognizing these, has offered massive growth, more happiness, as well as increased agency.

Is there someone you can you talk to that can help you see what may be holding you back?

Even self inquiry into beliefs can yield powerful results.

2. Awareness

How much of your day are you actually participating in and how much of it are you on some kind of auto-pilot?

How can you be more present?

Being present is THE way to bring the unconscious into the conscious.

Being present allows you to experience the moment rather than react from past conditioning.

And the best way to cultivate presence is with a spiritual practice.

Choose what you like - from chanting, prayer, singing, meditation, breath work, or surrendering to a higher power. Any and all of these can support you to feel more grounded, connected and awake in your life.

As we become more present in each moment, we open to being in the heart space. When we do that, we show up with kindness, with love, with support, with empathy. With all the attributes our world needs to heal.

As I heard Reverend Raphael Warnock say recently, “justice is what love looks like in public.”

How can our society be more just and equitable?

As you look within and become aware of old patterns, we can also turn that inquiring light onto our larger society and identify ways we have, and continue to, oppress and hurt people, especially of black and brown communities. Please take community action.

Here’s another great resource of ways to help.

https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co

Struggling with Grief? This might help

Finding yourself struggling with grief?

We all are. It’s collective, from this corona virus.

We're mourning the way we once lived – attending events, visiting friends, traveling, going into the office...

And we know that whatever happens next, WILL be different.

In addition to the weight of collective grief, many of us have had personal tragedies too. Loss of a loved one, a job, financial security…

So how do we manage this pain?

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ stages of grief can help. They are:

• Denial

• Anger

• Depression

• Bargaining

• Acceptance

Where are you?

Denial

Denial is common and widespread. Just listen to a few global leaders!

We do it personally, too, whenever we're in a pattern of avoidance.

Denial is familiar to me, especially now. If I don’t leave my house for days, I can pretend things aren’t so bad, even if I follow the news! Without physically seeing closed shopping malls, offices and homeless encampments, I can easily intellectualize the suffering, rather than feel that tremendous loss.

Know what I mean?

Anger

What about anger? Have you felt that?

There are tons of valid reasons to be angry. Maybe it’s at what we’ve lost: peoples’ lives, economic output, celebration, connection, leadership... Maybe it’s anger at feeling helpless or hopeless, or both.

Depression

Some of us are experiencing depression. And as isolation from social distancing continues, more and more people seem to be experiencing depression. Things feel bleak and eternal, hopeless. People feel lonely, disconnected.

Bargaining

Have you tried bargaining? You know this phase.

“Please, if I agree to never eat chocolate again, ______.” Or “I’ll pray every day, if only you will ____.”

Bargaining can make us feel like we’re doing something productive, but it’s always from a place of SACRIFICE.

Acceptance

Hopefully we can all, personally and collectively, get to acceptance. Although arriving at acceptance can sometimes feel like a struggle.

Acceptance is being okay, or at peace, with whatever is occurring right now, and with whatever you are feeling right now. Even when you don’t like it.

Some say acceptance takes time.

But it also takes willingness.

A willingness to let go of what we wanted.

A willingness to be okay with what is.

A willingness to trust that whatever unfolds is alright, too. Even if it is completely different.

Acceptance is a form of surrender. As if we are being asked to release what we wanted to the larger picture of God’s plan.

Acceptance doesn’t mean quitting. But it does mean no longer fighting against change.

The invitation is for us to open to possibility of what COULD be.

Hopefulness is the antidote to despair and longing.

Allow yourself time and space to experience ALL the emotions grief brings to you. Hopefully Kubler-Ross’ steps will help you arrive safely at acceptance, hopefulness and new beginnings.

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Ready for More Peace? Try This

Lately in my meditations, this prayer had been on my lips: 

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

Perhaps you’ve heard it recited in a yoga class?

Essentially, when we utter these words, it means:

• May all beings be happy.

• May all beings know peace.

• May all beings be free from suffering.

• And that includes us.

For we cannot wish something for another without receiving it for ourselves as well.

So why do we say this prayer in Sanskrit rather than in English, or in another language?

Firstly, you don’t have to.

Words in every language have power. All that really matters is your intention.

If you are focused and truly believe what you are saying, and you want it for all of humanity, that is what matters.

However, Sanskrit is a holy language that has been around for thousands of years.

It is said that the Rishi, the keeper of all knowledge, the ancient sages, could hear the vibrations of everything in nature. They made these sounds into phrases, which we refer to as prayers or mantra. These Sanskrit phrases birth creation into existence.

This is why the sounds are all so potent. They are power sounds because we are literally transforming energy into form. 

Therein lies the power of using Sanskrit.

In every moment of every day, we create our existence. We usually forget this, but we really do have this power because we are part of God.

Invoking Sanskrit mantra is a way to harness that power, and create a world we want to envision.

We are the light workers, the holders of love. And our prayers are needed more right now than ever.

So join me. Let our voices radiate our prayers of love, of healing, of peace out into the world.

Let us invoke these prayers for ourselves as well as for all sentient beings anywhere and everywhere.

Take your power and stand for love.

If you want to hear this prayer spoken – here's a great clip of Deva Premal on YouTube.

If (like me) you’re fascinated with the meaning of the separate Sanskrit phrases, I found this breakdown on jivamukti.com.

lokah: location, realm, all universes existing now
samastah: all beings sharing that same location
sukhino: centered in happiness and joy, free from suffering
bhav: the divine mood or state of unified existence
antu: may it be so, it must be so (antu used as an ending here transforms this mantra into a powerful pledge)

AND if you want to connect more, join me on Tuesdays 6pm PST / 9pm EST for LOVE’S REFUGE.

We meditate together then talk about how we are sharing that love in the world. All are welcome. It’s FREE. Here’s the link.