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Greetings!
Happy Holidays to you!
The spiritual law of giving and receiving is prevalent
during this busy holiday season. Eating and drinking
and being merry is too! There couldn't be a more
perfect time to practice meditation and reduce the
stress that can accumulate through over scheduling
and overdoing it.
My wish for you is that you fully enjoy every moment
this season, and find the balance that is always
available to you!
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DeStressing the Holidays
How to be merry and bright!
The holidays are here... it is truly a time when we can
experience gratitude and peace, yet it is also a time
when we can feel overwhelmed and out of time. It is a
time that stress can accumulate. In an effort to pull off
a perfect Hallmark holiday, we make many demands
on ourselves and others. It can also be a tough time
on our bodies, relationships and finances. Bad habits
can kick in: over scheduling, over eating, and drinking
a little too much eggnog.
If you minimize the stress that often can accompany
the holidays, you may even end up enjoying the
season more than you thought you would. Here are a
few ideas:
Schedule time for you. Don't abandon your
healthy habits. Listen to yourself, and say no to events
that seem like they could be stressful. Instead, find
ways to take care of yourself. Spend some time
meditating, watching an uplifting movie, taking a hike,
journaling, attending a yoga class, listening to music,
getting a massage, hanging out with good friends,
being in silence, spending time in nature, taking a
bath, reading, etc. Just because it is a holiday
season, don't forget yourself.
Accentuate the Positive. Focus on what you do
like about the holidays: seeing the twinkling lights,
seeing new and old friends, listening to holiday
music, traveling or staying in town, enjoying your time
off, seeing your family, and receiving greeting cards,
etc.. And, in general instead of focusing your attention
on what isn't working in your life, focus on what is
working and what you like about your life. Remember,
what you put your attention on, grows.
Don't worry. It doesn't really matter if you
found the perfect gift or you got any or all of your cards
out on time. Gifts come in a variety of forms: a smile,
doing an errand for someone who needs the help,
making a meal for someone living alone, or donating
to your favorite cause in someone else's name. And, if
you do shop for gifts, be conscious how you spend
and purchase gifts that are in alignment with your
values.
Enjoy the moment. Make a plan to visit, shop,
attend parties, and take care of yourself. Then, you can
enjoy every moment as it unfolds, knowing you have a
great plan for success. Relinquish expectations of the
holiday, yourself, and others. Remain flexible, and
don't worry if everything goes according to the plan.
Accept each moment, every gift, and each friend and
family member as they are.
Accept change. As families grow and change
structure, traditions change too. Maybe a new tradition
will be born. If nothing else, this season is a time to
experience joy, peace, fulfillment, hope, and
merriment. When you read each greeting card really
read the words to remind yourself to truly have
wonderful holiday season filled with peace and
possibility.
Notice the Beauty It is everywhere. Just look!
Interconnection captured in beautiful photos
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Candle Concentration
The yogic art of gazing
Trataka - also called Yogic gazing - is an ancient
technique using the sense of sight - both internally
and externally. The gaze is fixed on an object like a
candle flame for some time and then that object is
visualized clearly with your eyes closed, as an inner
image at the eyebrow center. It is very relaxing and is
classified as a cleansing practice in yoga. It is the
perfect way to de-stress over the holiday season, and
there are always opportunities to stare at candle
flames this time of year!
This powerful practice especially relevant in today's
stressful times to increase focus and attention, and to
create a sense of deep silence and rest. It is also said
to also develop the "third" eye - the seat of intuition or
that associated with "psychic" powers.
How it is done?
Trataka can be practiced on several objects, but the
most popular and effective gazing at flame. This is
because a flame (such as a candle flame) produces
the best after-image that helps in easier visualization
of the flame even when eyes are closed. This is the
desired effect of Trataka -visualizing and
concentrating on the image even when the eyes are
closed.
You can do this practice before or
after or separately from your regular meditation
practice.
Soon you will be able to hold the image of the flame
steady with your eyes closed. There is a great
restfulness that results from candle concentration.
- Turn off your phones, television, radio and
computer. This is a silent meditation.
- Safely place a lighted candle 3 - 5 feet in front of
you at eye level.
- Sit in a comfortable crossed legged position or in
a chair, feet on the floor.
- Take off your eyeglasses or contact lenses, and
adjust the distance between the candle and yourself
so that you can observe a relatively clear image of the
candle wick without blur.
- Gaze directly into the flame of the candle for
approximately two minutes. Keep your eyes relaxed
while fixing the gaze on the wick. Try not to blink.
- Then close your eyes and lightly press the palms
of your hands against your eyes.
- You should retain the image of the flame at the eye
brow center. If you don't see it, don't be disappointed -
you will start seeing it with practice.
- Bring your focus to that image. If the image
wanders or disappears, bring it back by simply
looking for it with your inner vision (with your eyes
closed).
- Keep the palms lightly pressed against the closed
eyes for an additional two minutes, four minutes in
all.
- Open your eyes slowly and re-start the meditation.
Do it as often as you like for a total of 20 minutes.
At the end of your meditation, slowly open your eyes.
Do not get up right away. Slowly move into activity.
Find out the other benefits of meditation here:
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Wishing you the peace and joy of the holiday season!
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