Are You Living Your Best Self?

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark;

the real tragedy of life is when men (and women)

are afraid of the light." Plato

Life is always about choice and the outcome of choosing to live a particular way. The consequence of not living a life following your inner guidelines can lead to a life filled with anguish and unhappiness.

We know we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves, we know we should feel compassion for all living things, and we know we should respect the challenges that we face without judgment, knowing that we are all at different stages on the journey of life and are each of us doing the best that we choose to do. Living a life free from negative thoughts and behavior promotes love, thoughtfulness, and kindness for all things. Living in the light is possible for all.

Common Desires
Deep down, we all share the same common desires to have adequate shelter, food, and freedom from harm. This truth affirms our need to share in our commonality as fellow human beings and thereby work together to create a better society that brings about the internal and external peace that we seek.

Project What You Really Want
Meditation brings your complete attention to the present, to what is happening at this very moment, and helps you choose to behave in the appropriate way that puts into practice all your acquired knowledge.

This stills the soul, the mind, and the body enabling you to be a positive light in our own life and those you come in contact with. Because you are living in the present, you are always aware of the way people behave and of your responses toward them. You learn with intention to monitor your reactions and to project thoughts free from judgment, criticism, and hostility.

When you recognize who are are, and show it, you are on your way to living your best self.

The Choice Is Yours
Developing awareness in all situations, including your own feelings and reactions, enables you to take control of what you think and therefore do. It’s up to you to determine what kind of reaction, and ultimately reality, you're going to create.

Affirmations
You have the wonderful ability to think positively. It is a conscious choice to ensure that your thoughts and subsequent action are doing their best for you and for others. Whether you call it positive thinking or an affirmation, as long as you believe that it is working then it will have the power to make a difference.
Use whichever words best meet your own needs and purpose each day.

Here are a few to begin with:

I choose to be kind

I choose to give love

I choose to be happy

I am surrounded with loving, caring people in my life.

I am loving and accepting of others and this creates lasting relationships for me.

I trust my inner thoughts to lead me in the right path.

Guided Meditation: Inner Light

Today's Guided Meditation is focusing on the light within.

There is a mini-meditation video to watch (2 minutes long) where I will guide you through the steps of your visualization.

With the "busyness" of modern life, meditation will help you with relaxation and inner happiness. A simple ten to twenty minute meditation session will greatly ease stress, while providing you with the ability to remain calm and think clearly.

In addition it will help to promote positive feelings and a positive train of thought.
Overcoming a negative mindset allows you to reach for your potential and transform yourself from the inside out. You learn how to effectively switch yourself off from worrying about the past or future events, and form clear calm decisions.
Experienced meditators have found that with a regular meditation practice they can in fact stop the thought process and focus on the space within the thoughts where bliss resides.  Then, following their meditation session they are able to think rationally, with insight, and are not affected or troubled by trivial, critical, or pessimistic thoughts.

Joy and bliss are yours to have. Enjoy this simple meditation and let it lead you to a place of Peace.



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Peace, Light, Love

  A dragon holding a golden key.  What will it unlock?

Many thanks to Flo for sharing the dragon with us. I've photographed it on my yoga mat in my yoga studio.  Note the dragon's breath as it protects the key.

Last week I posted an article about dragons and while they don’t exist except in our imaginations, there are real things that can create fear and anxiety in each of our lives, if we allow them to.  Inner Happiness

These fears prevent many of us from exploring and seeing the potential that lies before us every day. If our imagination can project fear, then it can also project happiness.

Instead of allowing the fears to burn away your hopes, desires, and potential, meditation and affirmations help you to take control of your thoughts and actions and overcome any internal and external obstacles.

Unlike stories where a knight will arrive and slay a dragon, the only person who can eliminate the dragon breathing down your neck with it's fiery breath is YOU.

Meditation and assertive affirmations remove all feelings of helplessness and of being lost.

The inner light of meditation connects you to the Universal Source that infuses you with peace and love.
When you are connected to the source of Love, there is NO PLACE for fear to reside.

Period.

It's that simple.

When you are learning to meditate there will be times when you feel positive, only to have doubts later on.  Love is stronger and each time that you meditate you will REINFORCE your strength and the power of Love.
This power exists within you and you can tap into it every time that you meditate and bring it into all your activities.

Assertive affirmations are a great way to keep you focused on the wonderful individual that you are.  They act like a shield to block unwanted thoughts that will harm you if permitted to continue.

Holding a positive image in your mind during your meditation practice helps you to stay focused.  Following your meditation, you can concentrate on this image whenever you experience the mind wandering from a peaceful state.

One image that I like to focus on is the face of a person that I love.  I invite this person into my heart and see their divine qualities.  Slowly, I fill my mind and body with love until it is overflowing.

During my waking moments, I can re-experience this loving feeling whenever I draw this person into my mind's awareness.  It's a simple yet effective method of developing concentration and awareness of Love.

Use the strength and power of your meditation practice to chase away any dragons and seize the golden key that will unlock the door to health and success in all that you do.

Peace, Light, Love

Meditation and Light

Life has ebbs and flows and can change direction when you least expect it.

Change continues to be a theme for today as so many people that I have been meeting at the moment are finding that aspects of their lives have ended and new opportunities are beginning. Quite what the future holds is uncertain, but the ability to embrace change while remaining accepting and calm with the transformation that is now occurring.

Last week, one friend so eloquently said the following words:

“change is a part of the flow~ change is always life~ change is moving the life”

While plans and strategies are useful to help us to focus and aim for goals, the curve balls that sometimes head our way mean that we do have to move out of the way and head in a different direction. This does not mean that the path you have been following is wrong; rather it may simply mean that it has run its comfortable familiar course and now it’s time for new growth, challenges, and opportunities.

It can be hard to know why a situation has occurred, but meditation helps you to recognize what needs to change and what needs to stay. This change may have happened suddenly, but for many people it is a gradual and slow development.

Before you enter your meditation session, invite the spirit of truth to enter your awareness. This spirit will lead you to the light and guide you on your next path of this journey.
Maintain focus on the light within and trust that what is revealed during your meditation will continue to direct you during your everyday life.

Following your meditation practice, it’s always helpful to remember that change will happen regardless of our desire to maintain the status quo.

Every moment becomes a meditation moment as you continue to walk in and follow the light.

MEDITATION: PRESENCE AND AWARENESS

Animals live fully in the present

Meditation: Presence

Who is the most important person in the world?
It’s not a trick question and this individual is someone that you actually know.
The most important person in the world is the person you are with at any given moment in time. All too often we fail to notice this individual or give them our complete attention because other distractions get in our way.

Nothing on Earth is permanent and we never can tell if we will be the last person this individual will see, or conversely the person we are with will be our last.
Awareness and presence develops through meditation. Being mindfully present in all your interactions, means that you have an opportunity to treat others differently from this point on.

Presence is both an awareness of your own existence and what you are witnessing at this very moment in time. It releases you from expectations about what you think might happen or from speculating about why things are unfolding a certain way. Speculation is different from intuition and I’ll talk more about intuition in a later posting.
Take your time with this meditation. Allow at least 15 minutes and practice regularly until you notice that your ability to remain present in every situation is occurring with ease.

Meditation
In a seated position with the spine straight and the flesh of the body relaxed, bring your awareness to the breath.
The eyes can be open or closed, but the gaze should be soft with the eyes still and attention focused directly in front of you.
The shoulders are relaxed, the hands resting on the thighs with the palms facing up in Om mudra. (Tip of thumbs and first fingers lightly touching. Also known as Inner Om Mudra.)
Observe the breath from the tip of the nose into the base of the lungs.
Feel the belly gently rise and fall with each inhale and exhale.
Keep the breath slow, smooth, and steady.
Don’t rush or force the breath.
Continue to watch the breath as it flows effortlessly from the tip of the nose to the belly.
Feel the belly gently rise and fall.
Draw awareness fully to the breath.
Experience the sensation of the lungs expanding and contracting, the air entering and leaving the body.
If the mind wanders (which it often does when you start to learn to meditate), simply draw the awareness back to the breath.
Do not judge or think that you have failed or cannot learn to meditate.
You are retraining the mind and new habits can take up to four weeks to become part of your regular routine.
Continue to watch the breath and direct it from the nose to the base of the lungs.
Feel the breath flowing in the present moment.
When you feel ready, in your own time, shift your attention from the breath to the present moment
Continue to focus on the present moment and dissolve into meditation.
Go deeper and deeper into the awareness.

After Your Meditation
You will strengthen you ability to be present in all that you think and do.
Your relationships will improve.
You remain open to experiences and lowly eliminate obstacles that block energy.
Your heart center opens as you give your full attention to the person that you are with.
You strengthen your ability to remain in the present moment and to be present with everyone that you meet.
You cease to be lonely as you experience contentment with your Self and connection to the source of all Love and Light

OPEN HEART MEDITATION

The energy of the heart is represented by the color green because Creation which is all around us in grass, trees, and plants, stems from Love.

Open Heart Meditation
Songs and poems from cultures throughout the world describe the peace and happiness that stems from the source of love. While there are different energy centers within the body, the heart is the energy center of Love.

There are many heart opening techniques and meditations that can be used. The following meditation is a wonderful technique that can be done by beginners and experienced practitioners alike.

The important thing to remember is to see meditation as a part of your whole life, not a separate entity that works on its own.
The efforts that you expend to open your heart do not begin and end with meditation.
You need to embrace it as a way of life.
This meditation will help you to prepare the way for loving energy to flow effortlessly through you by removing any obstacles that are within you, and yet you are not aware that they are there.

Once the obstacles (they vary from person to person) are gone, you will experience wonderful joy. Along the way, sometimes shaking or trembling or tears arise. It’s important to know that this is normal and not be afraid should it occur. Simply let it flow through you and breathe it away and continue focusing either on the light or the peaceful loving feeling within you.

Restoring Balance to the Heart
Method
Sitting in a comfortable position with the eyes gently closed and the spine erect.
Draw the attention inwards to the breath.
Keep the eyes still in this inner eye gaze.
Follow the breath from the tip of the nose into the base of the lungs
Follow the breath all the way out in a steady stream
Keep the lips closed and the facial muscles relaxed
Allow the breath to flow effortlessly into and out of the body without your input or control
When you feel the mind and body relaxed, concentrate on seeing a light at the base of the spine within your mind’s eye
Hear the sound of Om resonating deep within you
Feel light flow through the body from the base of the spine to the crown of the head
Concentrate on the sensation of the energy
Concentrate on Om and try to feel its vibration and meaning
As you reach the top of your inhalation, see the light pour from the crown of your head to surround you
Feel Om change to the sound of bliss which is Ahhh
Release anything that arises
Know that you are safe in your meditation
Feel the cleansing energy of the light flow through every cell of your mind and body
Dissolve into meditation
Continue with your meditation until you feel complete

After Your Meditation

• Continue to maintain a connection to the heart center and keep the loving energy flowing through you.
• Nurture love by replacing any negative thoughts with ones of kindness and love.
• Bringing your awareness to the heart will change your perspective on life and positively impact the people around you.
• Remaining in the present draws awareness to maintaining an open heart and permitting the flow of love.
• Try to choose peaceful situation e.g. avoid watching violent movies
• Practice kindness rather than reverting to previous negative thought patterns
• Promote happiness by being a beacon of light and love to everyone you meet.

MIDSUMMER MEDITATION

The Midsummer Sunrise

Midsummer Meditation
Across the northern hemisphere, Midsummer is celebrated in the period between June 21st and June 25th. In the southern hemisphere, the summer solstice is celebrated in December.
For thousands of years, and in many cultures throughout the world, midsummer has been observed through spiritual and religious celebrations during this specific time period in June.

First Day of Summer
On June 21st, the sunrise is given special honor with many cultures gathering with music, song, and spiritual traditions to recognize the longest daylight hours, the high noon, and the halfway point of the year hence the name Equinox is sometimes used to describe this midpoint. In Europe, it is also referred to as Midsummer because it is roughly the middle of the growing season.
While the true summer equinox varies from year to year on the astronomical calendar by a few hours, it is recognized officially as the first day of summer on June 21st. During the summer solstice the sun sits highest in the sky. This is the longest day of the year and the beginning of the summer season.

Standing Still
As the summer solstice approaches, the noonday sun rises higher and higher in the sky each day. On the actual day of the solstice, it barely rises at all compared to the previous day, creating the impression that the sun has stood still. This lasts for about three days before the sun appears to move from its point in the sky.
The word Solstice is derived from two Latin words: sol meaning sun, and sistere to cause to stand still. Life is always about balance and many traditions that we still have today harken back to the time when as a society it was important to follow the growing cycle of sowing, planting, and harvesting.

Why Is It Necessary To Acknowledge A Summer Solstice?
The Earth is constantly in motion yet for a brief moment, the sun is seen from our perspective as though it is standing still at its highest and brightest point.
With the sun at its highest point in the sky you can use it as an analogy to let your own light shine at its utmost highest and greatest.
It is a time of year of prosperity, hope, and relationships as well as an opportunity to recognize your connection and responsibility to nature and creation.

Let Your Own Light Shine

Let Your Light Shine
Light a candle to symbolize the enduring light that is within each of us and to recognize the sacred source from which we receive our light.
During your meditation practice, you can focus on the light within you and both fill your body and surround yourself with this light.

Guided Meditation
Close your eyes, and use the power of the breath to relax the body and mind
Follow the breath from the tip of the nose to the base of the lung
Follow the breath all the way out again.
Don’t rush this process
Continue following the breath until you feel completely relaxed

Maintain a steady and even breath and focus on the light within you
With each breath, become aware of brilliant white light at the base of your spine
This light is your spiritual energy

With the breath gentle and flowing, see the white light and draw it from the base of your spine in a steady column to the crown of your head

With each steady exhale, fill your body and surround yourself with your light

Continue about three to five rounds until you are completely filled and surrounded by the light
Sense the unity between yourself and the source of the light
Feel the oneness

Bathe yourself in its brilliance and loving energy
Feel the expansive abundance of the light

Dissolve into the light

After Your Meditation
You are from the source of the light and know that you can return to it at any time by entering into meditation
Carry the light with you and share its loving energy with other.
Be a shining light to everyone you meet
During times of stress, let your light shine to dispel the darkness
In this way you will be a beacon of light to those who are struggling.

Give thanks for the light and pause to reflect, just as the sun at this time of year appears to pause and reflect.

GUIDED MEDITATION: HEALING

Guided Meditation: Healing

The unique Life Force that exists within you flows effortlessly when all obstacles have been removed. This force is often “seen” within your mind’s eye as an internal light that promotes well-being. It is the energy that is contained within the healing process and your light can be directed to a specific area or drawn through the body as a means of maintaining and optimizing health and vitality.

This light brings an awareness of happiness and contentment that permeates all aspects of your life, including your thoughts and your actions.
If you have any illness, see a qualified medical practitioner as this is not a substitute for medical care.

Method

• Sit in your chosen seated position for meditation
• Draw awareness to the breath until the breath is slow steady and rhythmical
• Focus on seeing your healing light at the base of your spine
• Don’t strain to see the light. Simply focus on the base of the spine with a steady breath until the light appears.
• Keep your body and inner focus relaxed
• With each inhalation draw the light through the body to the crown of the head and on the exhale, see the light flowing from the crown of your head to surround you like a protective aura.
• If the mind wanders, do not judge yourself. Accept that this may happen in the beginning when you are first practicing this method. Simply draw your awareness back to the rhythmic flow of the breath and “see” your light flow from the base of the spine to the crown of the head.
• Let the flow of light continue until you feel that your body is filled and surrounded by the healing light, about three to five breaths.
• Enter into your meditation feeling the light surrounding you, concentrating on the steady flow of the breath

Benefits

There are many benefits of this guided light meditation. They include:

• Stress-reduction
• Awareness of your inner Self where calmness resides
• Ability to relax
• Increased peace
• Calmness during all situations including challenging ones
• Increased flow of energy through the body
• Clarity and balance of body and mind

This inner light meditation is powerful at blocking negative thoughts and emotions and helping you cope with daily life. When the mind is happy and content your energy flows effortlessly and your inner light shines brighter, not only within yourself, but outwardly onto other people as well.

Peace and well-being are closer than you think by feeling your light within you and surrounding you.

Meditation: Peaceful Life

Paying attention to the needs of your body means that you have to ask yourself several key questions on a regular basis: are you getting enough rest, appropriate nutrition, adequate exercise?
Listening to your physical and emotional needs disciplines you to live in tune with your inner rhythm. The body’s requirements differ from day to day just as the natural rhythms of the body rise and fall from morning through the night.

Is your body getting adequate nutrition?

Monitor Your Thoughts
Meditation helps you to protect and nurture your body and learn to face and cope with daily challenges. This is an ongoing process as you discover your strengths and skills and use them to help yourself and others. You learn to monitor your thoughts and see the intention behind the thoughts, resulting in actions that are kinder and more productive.

Creating Change
The inability to initiate changes is not always because of a lack of will power.
Apprehension of what will replace your current behavior, fear of the unknown, and uneasiness of having an empty space in your life are all reasons why it can be difficult to alter your current mind-set.
Even fear of success brings its own trepidation with concerns about how other people will view you, what they will think of you, what they will say about you.

Altering any aspect of your life is initially fraught with potential discomfort as you begin to realize that some friends may not welcome the changes that you are making and will not support you or walk with you on your path. As you become more confident and see the positive effects of one small change in your life, it becomes easier to keep transitioning until you are comfortable with who you are.

Hesitation in making a smooth transition from your current way of thinking to achieving your hopes and dreams is normal. You clear away tension and stored up anxieties only to come across an obstacle that grinds you to a halt. Every journey has its delays and detours.

Meditation helps you to stay true to your destination.

Personal questions to consider:
• What makes you react to situations and other people the way that you do?
• What feelings do you hide within you?
• What makes you feel afraid?

Don’t judge yourself.
Judgment is in itself a negative thought and therefore not conducive to helping you move to a life of peace and harmony, whether it is other people or yourself that you are judging. You are striving, one step at a time, to consciously monitor your thoughts and alter your behavior.
This is a learning process and you are focusing first on the areas where you want to make a change and then gradually discovering ways to remove unnecessary habits and replacing them with actions that are more productive.
Work consistently through your early successes and accept that there will be some aspects that are more challenging.
Remain steadfast in your conscious desire to change.

Meditation helps you create and maintain lasting inner peace

Meditation is a Healer
Meditation restores balance and controls negative emotions. Prayer, meditation, and your inner voice (intuition) all serve as a means to guide you in a particular direction.
As you become aware of areas that create difficulties, work with intention to open your heart and mind to learn and eventually to heal.
Meditation helps you create the space within to allow intuition to flow and enable your choices in life to be the ones you really want.

Meditation for Peace
During your meditation practice, slow the breath down until it is smooth and steady.
Feel space within you as you breathe away negative thoughts.
With each inhalation, draw in positive happy feelings.
As you exhale, release all tension and discomfort.
Continue with this breathing technique until you feel peaceful.
Hear the sound of Om resonating deep within you.
See light at the base of your spine and draw it in a column to the crown of your head.
Om changes to the sound of bliss, which is the sound Ah.
As you exhale, see the light pouring from the crown of your head to surround you.
Repeat the sound and light visualization for 3 to 5 rounds
Feel yourself dissolve into meditation

Retain the peaceful feeling inside you wherever you go, returning to it through the calm and peaceful breath and the ongoing healing of your meditation practice.