Heart Centered- Meditation

I went to a meditation class this weekend. The focus of the class was on heart-centered meditation. The tradition of this meditation is Taoist and has been handed down for thousands of years just by word of mouth. (I hope I am not violating anything here by writing stuff about it!)Instead of focusing on the breath, the focus was on the 4th chakrah. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, apparently this form meditation gets you to a peaceful place quicker than other forms of meditation. I've practiced this type of meditation in the past at the urging of my sister, a former Naropa employee. She told me to picture two nostrils on my heart and breathe into that space. The instructor didn't phrase it like that, but the technique was basically the same; "breath into and connect to the heart" as she repeated periodically.

We meditated in 15-20 minute chunks, each time holding our hands in a slightly different position as guided by our instructor. After each mini-session we briefly discussed what came up for us. Very different from other techniques I have practiced, we were encouraged to move with the energy - whatever that meant for us. It could mean rocking, getting up and walking, even making sounds. We had a very mellow group and none of us got to that level of activity, but I did rock and sway with some of the sessions and it was nice to experience something different.

It was good to reconnect to meditating. I've been doing it for years, but sporadically. Even just doing this 10 minutes a day is great for relaxing and revitalizing. It's quicker than a nap, and beats the heck out of caffeine, candy or sugar. Plus it's free! With such an active mind, I know meditation is a great medicine for me.

Happy meditating!

The next three months of your life

I read an incredible story today in People magazine about Christa Brelsford, the 25-year-old volunteer who lost her leg in the earthquake in Haiti. In mid-January her right leg was amputated.

Since then, after several more surgeries, she has gotten engaged, started a charity organization (Christa's Angels) that has already raised $110,000 to rebuild the collapsed school in Haiti, and ice-climbed with her new prosthetic limb! Amazing. Beyond her courage and optimism--both of which are inspiring--what really gets me is that...it's only April!!!

It's a reminder to me that with focused will, vision, and courage; we all have the potential to achieve the incredible. Time, loss, and ill-health do not have to be barriers if we don't allow them to be.

Someone said to me yesterday, "Our fears are imprints from the past--they're not at all about our present or future." That really made sense to me. What fears are you holding onto that may have been passed on to you from someone else, or were born out of a situation that is no longer relevant in your life?

When you think about your fears, how do you feel? How about when you think of the dreams that excite you most? What does that vibration feel like? Maybe you get smiley, more grounded, less twitchy, maybe even glowey? Hold onto that. That's what's real.

What are you going to do with the next three months of your life?

OK Universe- I'm Ready!

Today is a special day. I am leaving a full-time job that I have been in for over 4 years and today is my last day of work. I feel grateful for the stability that job offered me, the beautiful people I met, and the money I was able to save over that time. That is all so very positive and I want to leave feeling grateful. Thank you Universe!

I am doing something very brave right now-- I am taking a jump from a secure boat into the vast ocean. I have some direction where I am going (work that I am doing with Sara, writing, etc.) some leads on some freelance and part-time work, but really, I am entering the abyss. And I need to. As much as I feel grateful for what the job provided, it was also a bit of a hardship on my spirit. I know that is not the job's fault, it's just what happens with me and jobs. I am not sure if it is my conditioning or just my nature, but it is hard for me to not take my work seriously. Too seriously.

If I move into accepting this about myself and can harness this "seriousness" into MY work- coaching, teaching, performing, writing and speaking- then maybe I can actually make a go of it all. This is my dream-- to do work that is aligned with my soul. I know it will require patience, faith and persistence.

Yes Universe, I am fully ready to grope enlightenment. I am ready to live an authentic life and I pray for your guidance and support as I move forward with meaningful work. I'll take all the help I can get. THANK YOU!!

Welcome

The great gurus of our time have touched enlightenment. We’re Pam and Sara. We have not necessarily touched enlightenment, but we’re close. Okay, most of the time we’re not that close, but on occasion; we’re in relative proximity to it. And even when we are not in relative proximity to it, we're groping it. That's right, we're not afraid to admit it. We are groping enlightenment.

Some might say we’re obsessed with self-improvement and attaining spiritual enlightenment in this lifetime, but “obsession” would not be highly evolved of us. So let’s not say that. We’ll just say “we’re on the path.” Between the two of us, we’ve tried almost every new age / alternative health option out there. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. Maintaining extensive personal libraries of books on health, self-improvement and spirituality, and reading the wisdom of gurus such as: Don Miguel Ruiz, Eckhart Tolle, Sonia Choquette, Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chödrön, Dr. Reginald Ray, Marianne Williamson, Gary Zukav, and of course, Oprah.


2. Exploring modalities for diminishing the ego: meditating, praying, journaling, writing, chanting, drum-beating, gemstone work, vinyasa yoga, hot yoga, kundalini yoga, plus all the other subgroups of yoga and now, blogging.


3. Seeking expert advice and healing: Acupuncturists, kinesiologists, nutritionists, chiropractors. Hypnotists, astrologists. Massage therapists, rebirthing breathwork therapists, regular ol’ therapists. Energy healers, chakra aligners, natal chart readers.


4. Experimenting with health and diet: vegan, raw food, vegetarian, ovopescatarian, wheatgrass shots, detoxes, colon cleanses, liver cleanses, Candida cleanses, heavy metal cleanses.

So in our own way, we are now experts: experts in trying. We’re closer than ever, but as we continue to search, grope and flail about our spiritual journey, we would like to share the humorous failings and any inspiring insights we garner along the way.