Entries in adversity (8)
Walking the Path
A path is made by walking it. This is about recognizing life takes on the meaning it is given. Its easy to be positive or optimistic yet being overly positive doesn't allow feeling deeply. In fact, it blocks out shadows or another side of who we are. We are often taught to rush through adversity to avoid pain. This does not allow us to get through pain or allow feelings entirely appropriate for different situations. Is it always desirable to rush turning a frown upside down?
A true Yoga perspective would say no. Each person's truth ought to be honoured. All feelings in the moment deserve love and acceptance. Healthy emotional stages allow for shock, anger, disappointment, sadness then acceptance and reorientation to a more balanced focus. Eventually, its useful to be more fully open to the unknown or new possibilities. To allow everything to flow, and seeing this is part of wholeness, this is truly walking the path. The truth is only ever felt directly.
Breathe easier through Covid-19 & beyond
Notice Covid-19 forces us to confront our deepest fears, especially the prospect of death and losing all that we hold dear. Yet, what if we choose to view the global Covid-19 situation as an opportunity to look deep within, uncover what scares us most, integrate our shadow and heal?
The first breath we take is the beginning of our human life experience. Our last breath taken before vacating the body is Divine Grace. What if we could accelerate our revlations, breathe easier through adversity and realize deeper truths while still in the body?
Inhalation, Exhalation, Transition
Every movement within Creation is a breath of three (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) referred to as the Great Cosmic Breath. There is the inhalation (a contraction), there is the exhalation (an expansion) and finally the space between the peak of inhalation/exhalation, the period of transition.
All life follows this trinity pattern of breath. Some people view this as perceptions of past, present and future.
Earth’s 24 hour day is a full cycle of breath:
- Sunset is the inhalation, the movement inwards during the dark night of restoration
- Sunrise is the exhalation, the expansion into the day and the promise of service in the world
- The transitionary periods of Earth's day are the periods of Dawn (before Sunrise) & Dusk (before Sunset)
Lunar /cycles also mirror reflect the Great Cosmic Breath:
- Waning Moon (from full moon to new moon) is the inhalation, the breath inward toward consolidation, restoration and renewal
- Waxing moon (from new moon to full moon) is the exhalation, the expansion in the world and the presence of our light mirrored in the light of the moon
- Both the New Moon & Full Moon are the peaks or transitions between the in/out breaths and represent the yin/yang polarities of the infinite all
Earth’s 365 year solar cycle – marked by the Equinoxes & Solstices – reflect a full cycle of breath:
- Autumn Equinox to the Winter Solstice is the inhalation, whereby energy is drawn inward, within us and within the Earth. Animals hibernate, seeds sleep and spirit communes with Earth’s Heart for renewal, regeneration and healing. From the Winter Solstice to the Spring Equinox, the days are getting longer yet we are still deeply held within the breath inward in preparation for our awakening and rebirth into our cycle.
- Spring Equinox until the Summer Solstice is the long exhalation, the budding, flowering and fruiting of plants, new life springs into action and a sense of joyful expression out into the world takes place. From the Summer Solstice to the Autumn Equinox the days are getting shorter, but we are still held within the exhale as we delight in the fruits of our labours and prepare for the inward time ahead.
- Both the Spring & Autumn Equinoxes are the pauses or transitions within the breath. The Equinox is where day and night are of equal length – the energies coming together as one – Heaven & Earth, Spirit & Matter, Mind & Soul.
Surrendering to The Great Cosmic Breath
What can we learn from these three aspects of Great Cosmic Breath ?
As Creation flows in the rhythm of Great Cosmic Breath, then if we too flow WITH the breath by releasing our need for control, we naturally align with creation, live in harmonic resonance with ourselves and everything.
We find peace within, harmony in our waking/sleeping cycles and we transcend struggle as we allow creation to move through us. Cosmic breath becomes our guide, and we sense it as intuition. This is the voice of the universe that awakens us to our divine potential.
From the INHALATIONS within our lives we learn the importance of rest, relaxation & regeneration that supports our growth and healing. As we reach the peak of the inhalation, the TRANSITIONARY period between the in and the out breath, this is the time of complete stillness. It is the moment of just being, it is the moment of spontaneous healing, the moment of miracles and the moment of pure bliss.
The EXHALATIONS within our lives emerge from the transition… if stillness was embraced in the transitionary moment then we embark on living the exhalation as an expression of spirit through us. We dance with life as we become the dance. Health, well-being, joy and abundance flow from a place of natural grace and ease as all of creation moves through us on the exhalation.
Spiritual ‘Cosmic’ Breathing
Breath is our teacher. When we surrender and let the breath of spirit flow through us, breath speaks to us in the language of field and in a voice that our higher-self yearns to hear.
Spiritual Breathing is the art of breathing fully. This awakens you to the Great Cosmic Breath rhythms of the moment, the day, the season and the year. Spiritual Breathing is not just a practice done in the moment of meditation, but is a mindful practice that becomes an integral part of your life and a practice that incorporates every breath from birth to death, both conscious and unconscious.
Spiritual Breathing is our natural way of breathing when we move beyond the confines of our social conditioning, belief systems and transcend the ego.
To Spiritually Breath is to breathe fully, to ‘know thyself’ and change how we see / co-create in new realities.
Inviting you to work with us through Zoom, on-line to decode your own breath, tune into the language of your own changing energies, imbalances, resolve misunderstandings and heal.
3 Tips to get through rough spots
Every human being is familliar with bumps in the road of life. These bumps take shape as mental challenges, physical adversity or emotional rollercoasters that involve anger, fear, sadness and grief, shame or intense energies with no labels. Challenges threaten any facit of your sense of identity; safety, security or stability, mourning (death) or loss of connection. When ready to step back and see with new eyes and an open heart, reflect on these 5 tips;
1. See everyone as a mirror
Everyone you encounter is inviting you to get intimate with yourself so you understand hidden emotional triggers. How you respond to people who describe their difficulties (or complain) echoes your relationship with your true self. Notice what you accept, resist or reject, what evokes self-love or self-loathing. You may hear yourself saying, "what do you mean? I simply wish to offer support or help someone I know going through a rough period in their own life. How do I best do it?" The simple answer is; stop seeing separation between you and other. That is key.
2. Get grounded
The best way to help others (and yourself) is to help them focus on their bodies and being present to this moment. This is especially useful if you get emotionally triggered by people who focus energy on what perpetuates negativity. Acknowledge discomfort is part of a process of self-acceptance. It is valuable to shift attention from memories (past) to current situation and blessings in being here. Grounding helps manage emotional pain because it highlights pain is linked to an emotional memory and has no power to hurt in this moment. Being here now is a way to reclaim inner power. Pain is physical and suffering is mental.
3. Reconnection
Deepening connection is the ultimate life purpose. You may assume facing adversity or natural disaster is required to shift priorities, view reality differently. Imagine seeing your stories for what they are, exploring and healing related trauma so it no longer controls your unconscious behaviour or projections. This invites you to find new meaning or lessons in everyone you meet and every experience you have. Notice whether you are pro-active or reactive to experience. You can reach a place where you only view problems as a figment of the imagination and watch them miraculously work themselves out. Watch what happens as you realize any grief or loss you feel is not for a perceived other but a loss of connection with your truest self. Reconnecting or deepening intimacy with others requires you first get to know yourself, your unconscious patterns and emotions on a very intimate level. Self-mastery is pure freedom.
Notice the origins of your gifts
Some people do not realize that the mind rights off key origins of their innate gifts. Perhaps you are not in the habit of reflecting on the role of ancestry, qualities you dislike in others, perceived enemies and difficult feelings in the gifts you awaken. What would you say if the purpose of choosing to create and experience adversity, to step outside comfort zones, is to draw attention to dimensions of limitless being you selectively ignore? How do you respond to sensing that where you choose to be has everything to do with your own unveiling?
In other words, transformation has many origins and yet, you decide to make feelings and motivations more conscious or not. You determine what you are ready to accept and integrate into your emerging luminescent energy field, or deny it exists. Consider fear and how you respond to repress or overcome it. Be aware of where you are standing and why, the implications of your choices.
What you leave behind or escape is just as significant as the directions in which you shift and what you consciously choose to embrace. This relates to everyone you have ever known or heard about, and energy not even discerned yet in your scope of awareness. Take a moment to ponder all the reasons you have for gratitude. This is yet again, another indication that you choose to Transform your life.