Friday, August 6, 2010

My intent for today is to remember to breathe as I release old habits and practice positive ones.

My inspiration came from an innocent conversation that Mikey and I had this morning about cereal.  Max and Alex can eat their cereal whether it be dry or soggy and enjoy it in any form; whereas Mikey and myself will only eat it while it is slightly moist.  Afterwards, I sat and reflected on this silly conversation which made me broaden my thoughts to the rest of my life.  What in my life do I do by habit, and how are these habits serving me?  I realized then that this was my intent for today, to change my perspective of the  soggy cereal at the bottom of the bowl.

I shared a Zen Story on Chasing My Bliss.   Would be curious to know what others understand from it.  It seems that this one has been interpreted two different ways.  I will keep my interpretation to myself so that I don't waver anyone's opinion. 

My morning yoga session was The Dancing Sun Sequence from Namaste Yoga.  This sequence combined standing poses with focus on Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II), Extended Triangle (Utthita Trikonasana), Revolved Triangle (Parivrtta Trikonasana) and Warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana I) to stimulate energy flow.

I practiced Kundalini Yoga Meditation this afternoon focusing on the Fifth Chakra (Vishuddha) which is located in the throat.  The core need of the Throat Chakra is to find your voice and speak your truth.  I thought it would benefit today's intent to locate my truth about my habits and help me find more creative ways to engage in more positive ones.

Love and Light.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

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My intent for today is to close my eyes, breathe deeply and think positive, loving thoughts.

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My inspiration came from the Four Sublime Abodes, Loving-kindness (metta), Compassion (karuna), Sympathetic Joy (mudita) and Equanimity (upekkha). These four attitudes are the ideal way of conduct towards all living beings (sattesu samma patipatti). They provide the answer to all situations arising from social contact. They are the great removers of tension, the great peace-makers in social conflict, and the great healers of wounds suffered in the struggle of existence.

I posted the Universal Love Prayer from the Metta Sutta on Chasing My Bliss in the spirit of the Four Sublime Abodes.

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My morning yoga session was from Namaste Yoga and focused on Crane Pose (Bakasana); which although challenging, happens to be one of my favorites. The sequence that was put together leading up to and out of Crane was beautiful. After I completed the session, I played it over to just watch the "dance."

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Today I meditated for 30 minutes on Loving Kindness (Metta) an unconditional, inclusive love, a love with wisdom. It has no conditions; it does not depend on whether one "deserves" it or not; it is not restricted to friends and family; it extends out to include all living being with no expectations of anything in return.

I began with loving myself (without a measure of this unconditional love and acceptance for ones self, it is difficult to extend it to others), then I included those who are special to me and finished with all living things. This meditation session has uplifted my spirits and has kept me journaling all day.

It has been a wonderful day filled with love and light. Namaste.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

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My intent for today is to honor my Nana's birthday by keeping her memories alive.

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My inspiration for today came from the memories of my Nana. My Nana was an old soul, a kindred spirit, very in tune with the earth and very wise about the world. She taught me about life by showing me how to embrace nature. Today, would have been her 93rd birthday. I shared a few stories about how I know her spirit is still with me at Chasing My Bliss. She truly was an amazing woman who inspired all that she met.

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Today to honor my Nana, I meditated for 20 minutes on Love. I started the meditation focusing on unconditional universal love, then visualized a fountain of love within my heart, pouring forth healing waters to nurture and support myself on this day of remembrance. Then I focused on self love and forgiveness of myself and others for all pains caused so I can heal. Finally I sent love to all those that I appreciate and reflected on the significance and meaning of love; in its origin, its expression, its qualities and its goal.

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Happy Birthday, Nana. I miss you with all of my being with love and light until we meet again.

Namaste.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

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My intent for today is to choose love, joy and freedom, open my heart and allow wonderful things to flow into my life.

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My inspiration came from the Divine Mother Prayer Dance. When praying to Divine Mother, this prayer dance is a powerful expression of devotion. You are using your body, mind, breath and heart; all in a harmony of celebration. Every aspect of that is a gift from Divine Mother, and when you show Her this prayer dance, She receives not only the gift of your prayer, but the understanding that you value these wonderful gifts. I posted it on Chasing My Bliss.

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My morning yoga session was from Namaste Yoga and focused on the Warrior Poses. The three warrior poses commemorate the ideal that we as practitioners are the “spiritual warrior,” who bravely battle with the universal enemy, self-ignorance (avidya), the ultimate source of all our suffering. Behind each asana is a story, the story behind warrior pose can be found here.


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My afternoon meditation was a traditional sit-down style to Delerium's Lumenis; a beautiful piece that worked perfectly to keep me focused while my children played in the other room. This song can be listened to here. Isabel Bayrakdarian has a beautiful voice that captures the moment and helps settle you into the right frame of mind.

Namaste.

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