Now that Winter is upon us, I wanted to share two of my photographs that show the stunning beauty that Winter can offer.
Photos by Franny Alexander
A Solstice Meditation
I follow many other yoga practitioners, and wanted to share this lovely meditation that I received from Heart Space Yoga:
Good morning. As I write this, the sky is a light pinkish purple with the sun rise. This soft hue is reflected on a blanket of crystal white sparkles. A beautiful start to this day.
What do you think? In all the busy-ness, hustle and holiday preparations, can you take time today (even just a short while) just for you, to sit, reflect, release, and open?
Today is the sacred Winter Solstice -and the sky just keeps growing more beautiful by the way! Today marks the deep pause at the end of the Earth’s exhale. Winter Solstice is an opening or portal into deep space. It is timeless, motionless, limitless, Stillness. A space that contains all possibilities.
You are that space of infinite awareness. Take some time today to embrace the emptiness. Find yourself a warm quiet space, sit comfortably, and press PAUSE.
SOLSTICE MEDITATION
- Sit tall in your spine, close your eyes, and relax.
- Turn to your breath.
- Watch and feel the movement of the breath within your body with no effort or judgement.
- Understand that YOU are the one watching your breath.
- YOU are the SPACE that contains the breath and all movement of Shakti
- YOU are the SPACE that HOLDS all movement of your mind.
- Watch the moving, turning, thoughts as you continue to know and remember you are the Space, and the one who is watching.
- Allow yourself to melt into that openness, release form. In a way, we allow for death, to pass through us. Recognize this release as a natural part of the infinite cycle.
In meditation, we merge with Pure Awareness. We practice letting go of the personal grip, the struggle of personal identity. As humans with minds, we naturally become attached to the movement of life, and individual waves of expression. This is what we call the “ego” aspect of who we are. Not to be seen as a problem, but there is so much MORE.
In order to grow and expand the beauty of our lives, it is necessary to LET GO.
Release allows for rebirth.
Exhale serves the inhale.
Death serves Life.
Winter Solstice is a perfect time to let it dissolve.
After your meditation, take a few moments to reflect in this drawing end of another decade. Look back, 10 years ago:
What was your biggest challenge back then?
How did you feel about who you were?
What has come, and what has passed?
What have you learned? What do you know now?
For example, there were times in these past 10 years I lost confidence in who I am and what I offer. The deeper I doubted, the more miserable I felt. I finally recognized this pattern of Self Sabotage. After some journaling and close inspection (Self study “Svadyaya”), I realized what I was doing, and how I was feeling was NOT the highest TRUTH of who I am.
As soon as I really felt this, and decided to shift my thinking, EVERYTHING turned around. I LEARNED that lesson!
Does this mean I won’t ever doubt or lose belief in who I am? I wish! These patterns are usually very deeply ingrained in our emotional landscape. Which means they usually re-surface.
BUT, I know I have “seen”, and learned the lesson behind this one. So, I now can recognize it when it comes up, and do my best to NOT INDULGE MYSELF in this pattern again. There is no need. It’s cycle has come into fullness, now I can “opt out”, and LET IT GO.
This is where prayer, and Mantra become so helpful. As we redirect our minds to the infinite, the attachment to the wounds and scars of past begin to release. We can effectively “untie the knots” that block the flow of Love and greater possibility.
Today we honor the letting go. When we empty out, we effectively make way and create the space for the next building cycle.
The silence and darkness, allow us to see the source and spark of our innermost light. Feel it’s warm glow illuminate you. As you bask in that light, allow your deeper hearts desire to emerge. This is the longest night of the year. In this darkness, there is nourishment.
Here, in this fertile dream space, plant the seeds of your True intention.
Dare to ask yourself, how you want to feel and who you want to be in this new year.
We are continuously evolving as individuals and as a species. Even in our set backs, we cannot help but evolve. One step at a time, with clear intention we make change. Set your aim high in your true worthiness. Work for the benefit of ALL. Receive the gift of your own Divine creativity and take joy in your creations!
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi
PEACE….PEACE….PEACE
The Dogs of Mevagissey, Cornwall
Please enjoy the charm of the many dogs that I encountered in a recent trip to Mevagissey (Cornwall, UK).
All images copyright Franny Alexander
“What does it mean to be human in an age of intelligent machines?”
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our
power to choose the response. In our response lies our growth and
freedom” ~ Victor E. Frankl
“The most important thing is to remember the most important thing.” ~ Zen saying
Talk by Rev. Grace Song at the Won Dharma
Center (July 28, 2019)
Rev. Grace Song began her talk by asking, “What does it mean to be human in an age of intelligent machines and how can we avoid being dominated by these machines?”. Won Buddhism can suggest the answers.
The practice serves as a guide so that we can live our lives to the fullest in a changing environment. Machines do not have a mind. Machines cannot show compassion. They cannot love.
Won Buddhism teaches us how to use our minds well in our changing times. We learn that our practice is not separated from daily life and daily life is not separate from our practice. With mind training we learn how to make choices with sound thought. We reflect inward with our thoughts initially. Then, sound thoughts can manifest in our actions to help others. Continue reading ““What does it mean to be human in an age of intelligent machines?””
Summer, in pictures
Enjoy some of my photos that reflect Summer in the region:
Yoga for Summer
Summer is a time of light and warmth. Cultivate opposite environment on inside of the body – cool and calm.
Pitta is the dosha of summer – driven by solar force (high energy, heat) so we can balance pitta energy – create lunar current within the body – by choosing foods and activities that are cooling.
Cooling yoga poses
- Moon salutation
- Bridge with a yoga block
- Legs up the wall
- Supported shoulder stand
- Forward folds-seating-wide leg
- Floor twists
Yoga for Low Back Pain
Bare Facts:
80 % of adults have experienced low back pain. It is the most common cause of job disability. Back pain that lasts more than 3 months is Chronic Back Pain.
Twenty percent of the Chronic Pain Group will have pain that can persist for more than one year.
Back pain is not a diagnosis. It is a symptom of various conditions. Symptoms may feel the same but they can be caused by different underlying conditions. For example a herniated disc and spinal stenosis can have the same symptoms such as tingling and pain going down the leg but the treatments are totally different. Herniated disc is best treated by extension with poses such as bridge pose or camel. Spinal stenosis should be treated with flexion such as forward bends as in Child’s Pose. A person with glaucoma or retinal detachment must not do forward bending poses. People with osteoporosis should avoid complete forward bends. Continue reading “Yoga for Low Back Pain”
Calming the Winds of Vata
Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. It was developed more than 3000 years ago in India and is the sister science of Yoga. It is a system that aims to create equilibrium in the body by balancing our three body types, qualities or doshas.
The doshas are derived from the five elements and are in combination as follows:
Vata- Ether (Space) and Air
Pitta- Fire and Water
Kapha- Earth and Water. Continue reading “Calming the Winds of Vata”
Yoga for Winter
Winter is a time when energy of the Earth is drawn inward. Animals hibernate. We, too, can use this time for introspection and restoration as our energy is drawn inward as well.
Ayurvedic medicine tells us that winter provokes kappa and vata doshas. With decreased digestive fire we are more prone to colds, poor circulation, joint pain and even negative emotions. Yoga can help. We choose poses to balance the doshas creating our own inner fire, increase energy levels and promote wellness.
A few suggestions are listed below:
- Poses to open the chest-sinus-relieves congestion, create warmth, improve circulation, warm the kidneys and build heat in the body
- Sun salutation-builds heat
- Fish pose-opens the chest
- Bow pose-opens chest
- Shoulder stand-move lymph (can do legs on the block or wall)
- locust pose
- Goddess, Child’s pose, other restorative poses.
- kapalabhati breathing-breath of fire –rapid short exhales-passive inhales-“snapping” of lower abdomen
- Lion’s breath
- Last but never least a warm and cozy long savasana.
Dietary Suggestions:
- Warm foods-soups, stews, oatmeal, barley, quinoa, healthy oils, root vegetables, warm liquids, glass of lemon water and some people say-a glass of wine cannot hurt-improves circulation.
- Warming spices-cinnamon cloves, cardamom, black pepper, coriander, nutmeg, fennel etc.
- Go to bed earlier.
- Invigorating exercise in morning to gets lymph draining and, peaceful and calming activities at night-try to get sun every day or use light therapy
- Netty pot
- Take your vitamin D
Happy Holidays
