Taking Meditation to the Next Level

Source: http://soundofheart.org/galacticfreepress 

The West has seen a recent surge of interest in meditation, and it's a wonderful tool for finding a little peace and calm in an otherwise hectic world. You can sit quietly somewhere, let go of all your worldly concerns, and just relax. This is something almost everyone could use more of, but it's also just the very beginning of real transformation. 

It's easy to find peace in a peaceful environment, anybody can do that. This is why spiritual retreats are so popular, you get a nice peaceful environment to do your spiritual work in. However, the "normal" human world is usually everything but a peaceful environment. It's chaotic, full of emotions and distractions. It's very challenging to stay balanced in that sort of environment, though balanced people are what the human world needs the most. 

Many people who consider themselves spiritual have a fake sort of peace. Their peace is dependent upon the external environment. It's not real Peace, just an imitation. This is why the monks flee to the mountain tops, why so many spiritual people attempt to disconnect from society as much as possible. They don't want their mind's illusion of peace disturbed. Dogs barking, children yelling, cars honking, all of these must be eliminated to create the illusion of internal peace. The world gets renounced and ignored, like it's the cause of their problems and not their own mind. 

Real Peace isn't dependent upon the external world, though I will say true Peace also erases all separation between the internal and external. A truly balanced being is not so easily disturbed, and meditation becomes all-inclusive instead of focusing upon avoiding that which disturbs the mind. This is why people need to meditate sitting in a comfortable position, eyes closed, in a quiet space. Just about anything can disturb their false sense of "peace". 

Now, there's nothing wrong with doing that kind of meditation. I'm not against it, but I am aware of its limitations. I feel that sort of meditation is just the tip of the iceberg, it's for people to begin to get in touch with themselves again, but it's incomplete. You're probably not able to spend your whole life in sitting meditation, so the key is to integrate the peaceful states of being you discover during meditation into every aspect of your life. So long as you just use meditation to relieve stress, and then go right back to the patterns that create the stress, you're spinning in circles. Progress comes very slowly, though you probably feel a lot better than you did before beginning meditation. 

The states you discover during meditation can be brought into every aspect of your life. If you're really quieting your mind, there's an intense awareness in every moment. Living from this place isn't just useful in some vague spiritual sense, but from a purely practical and even a material sense as well. Instead of being caught up in your own mind's little world all the time, you can really be aware of what's occurring around and within you. An overworked mind has difficulty solving problems, it's exhausted, whereas a peaceful being can often solve problems before they even become problems. 

I recommend expanding your meditative practices to the point that I wouldn't even call it practicing anymore. Instead of searching for balance when it's convenient, make Balance your whole way of life. Being able to relax and disconnect from your emotions is nice when you're sitting down comfortably, but what about when you need it the most? It's possible to enter those meditative states even while you're talking to someone, while you're walking around, while you're on the computer. Why limit yourself? I used to do meditation while working a mindless corporate job, and I got paid while doing self-improvement, imagine that! It didn't negatively effect my work at all, as some might believe, in fact I was even promoted to manager. 

Meditation is not really learning to quiet the mind, that's only the first step. One learns to quiet the mind until one can begin to see what's beyond the mind. One stops associating with all their thoughts, and just observes them. Meditation is about going beyond the illusion of mind altogether, and simply witnessing thoughts without getting attached to them. This kind of meditation is not a means to an end, it's really the very beginning of your life.

Elongating breath

Source: http://swamij.com/breath.htm#retention

In basic breathing, one eliminates the pause between the breaths. For one doing retention practices, which are different practices, a pause is intentionally created so as to arouse energy. 

Eliminate the pause completely: However, there is another way to deal with the pause and retention. That is, eliminate the pause completely, and then gently, over time allow the breath to elongate. Reflect on this for a moment, and you will come to see that elongating the breath gradually leads to a virtual retention of breath, though without actively restraining it. When the breath naturally becomes very slow, it is as if, it is not moving at all. 

Allowing breath to slow: Lie on your back in the corpse posture, and put your attention on the navel center, or going up and down the spine. You can gradually allow the speed of breath to slow, though still having no pause. 

• 10 second breath: When you notice it naturally slow to about a 10-second breath (exhalation and inhalation), there will be relaxation. 
• 15-20 second breath: When it slows naturally to about 15-20 seconds (3-4 breaths per minute) you will be quite relaxed (presuming it feels natural, not forced). 
• 30-60 second breath: When it naturally slows to about 30-60 seconds for one breath (1-2 breaths per minute), you will be at the doorway of deep meditation, provided you are not straining, and do not sleep. 
• 90 second breath: A rate of 90 seconds for one breath can be used as a target to aim for, allowing six months or more to reach this level. To do this naturally, without straining will probably require having a well balanced life, regular physical exercise, a healthy diet, and regular sleep. 
• Towards Samadhi: These slower breathing rates gradually move one towards deep meditation and Samadhi. 
• The masters: A Yoga master might have only one breath in 10 minutes (though we need not pursue this, or feel that this is necessary to have deep meditation or Samadhi; actually it comes as a result of Samadhi) 

The practice of eliminating the pause and elongating the breath
is a most direct route,
or short cut. 

A short cut: This process of Elongating the breath is thus a short-cut (direct route) for most people. It is very gentle, and very loving to your body, nervous system and your mind. It allows you to progress at your own, natural rate. 

The simple is advanced: Oddly, this practice seems too simple, too basic, but this simple practice is profound and is quite advanced. This is one of the reasons that people are usually told to not meditate lying down. Usually you will go to sleep. For meditation, the corpse posture is an advanced practice. However, if you can lie down in the corpse posture, and yet remain wide awake while the breath slows, it will take you very deep. The key is to be gentle, patient, and to stay awake. Remember that it is best to have a healthy lifestyle, good food, exercise, and regular sleep.

Genetic Evidence of Yoga’s Impact on the Immune System

by Tom Jacobs

Norwegian researchers find a strong and immediate genetic response to yoga practice. 

Newly published research from Norway suggests that a comprehensive yoga program rapidly produces internal changes on a genetic level. The results help explain the well-documented health benefits of this ancient practice. 

“These data suggest that previously reported (therapeutic) effects of yoga practices have an integral physiological component at the molecular level, which is initiated immediately during practice,” writes a research team led by Fahri Saatcioglu of the University of Oslo. The team’s study is published in the online journal PLOS ONE. 

Researchers first reported five years ago that practices such as yoga, which elicit the “relaxation response” may have a long-term effect on gene expression. That’s the scientific term for whether a specific gene is “turned on,” meaning its protein or RNA product is being made. This latest study confirms those findings, links them to the body’s immune system, and suggests this effect may be instantaneous. 

The University of Oslo experiment featured 10 participants who attended a week-long yoga retreat in Germany. For the first two days, participants spent two hours practicing a comprehensive yoga program including yogic postures (Asanas), yogic breathing exercises (Pranayama), and meditation. For the next two days, they spent that same time period going on an hour-long nature walk and then listening to either jazz or classical music. 

Immediately before and after each of the four sessions, the researchers drew blood from each participant. They then isolated and analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which play a key role in the body’s immune system. The researchers found that the nature walk and music-driven relaxation changed the expression of 38 genes in these circulating immune cells. In comparison, the yoga produced changes in 111 genes. 

Fourteen genes were affected by both exercises, which suggests “the two regimens, to some degree, affect similar biological processes,” the researchers write. That said, they note that yoga’s impact was far more widespread, which indicates the practice “may have additional effects over exercise plus simple relaxation in inducing health benefits through differential changes at the molecular level.” 

So, if your yoga mat has been gathering dust, this research provides an incentive to take it out of the closet. It suggests that, as far as the immune system is concerned, walking in nature is good—but yoga might be substantially better.

Source: http://www.psmag.com/health/genetic-evidence-of-yogas-impact-on-immune-system-55994/

Love yourselves as we love you

Message from Archangel Michael channeled by Ron Head for 13 March 2013

Meditation will be our topic this morning. Our purpose will be to show you that you can do this as well as anyone else can. 

Simplify, please, your perceptions of what meditation is. You have read and heard descriptions of meditational experiences told by others. They tell of things which amaze you, and because none of these things seem to happen to you when you close your eyes, you believe that you cannot meditate and you cease trying in disappointment. 

Dear ones, you have lives to live. People, your children and spouses, depend upon you. You have not spent a lifetime in developing this skill, and do not have the time to do so. That is alright. It is understood. If this does not fit, and you are an accomplished meditator, we applaud you. But the overwhelming majority of you will not be cave dwelling hermits nor lifelong meditators. So, let us dispel your misgivings and give you a chance to use this magnificent tool to move yourselves forward from wherever you are. 

And that phrase is key, my friends, wherever you are. It is impossible to begin a journey from anywhere else than wherever you are. So, here is a new goal we propose you adopt. “I will meditate each day.” It is very simple. It is where to start. 

You will learn more, just as you have in every other area of your life. You may indeed find yourself at some time having those marvelous visions and experiences. That this may happen is not important. What is important is for you to find, in your hearts, peace and freedom to know yourselves for who you truly are. And of those two things, we emphasize peace. It is very hard to achieve that in your world. And when you are able to feel that, you do, in fact, share it with all others, whether you know it or whether you do not. 

Now, since you are reading or listening to this message on an electronic device of some sort, we tell you that it is perfectly fine for you to use the thousands and thousands of meditational sound tracks and videos to guide and help you in this process. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to spend time each day with you and only you. We add a little humor to lighten this up. It should be light. We are offering you a release and a relief, not a new chore. You should feel, “Ah, now I can meditate for a bit.” not “Now I have to meditate.” 

Peace and self-discovery. Make those the only considerations and you will have done wonders for yourselves. Make this first step and we promise you that in very short order you will miss it on the days when you need to skip it. And, by the way, do not beat yourselves up over that either. 

Love yourselves as we love you and we will speak again soon. Good day. 

Copyright © Ronald Head. All Rights Reserved. You may copy and redistribute this material so long as you do not alter it in any way, the content remains complete, and you include this copyright notice link: http://oraclesandhealers.wordpress.com/

Meditation for Freedom from Financial and Spiritual Slavery

By anonymous on 25 January 2013

Instructions: 

1. Relax your mind and body by watching your breath for a few minutes. 

2. Visualize a pillar of electric blue Light emanating from the Galactic Central Sun, going through your body to the center of the Earth. Keep this pillar of Light active for a few minutes. 

3. Then visualize all negative entities around the Earth being removed from etheric and astral planes along with all their negative spiritual technologies and magical tools and all those entities being escorted into the Light by the non-physical freedom fighters of the Light. Visualize this process taking place worldwide peacefully and smoothly. Visualize the world finally being free from spiritual slavery, free from all evil Archons, Reptilians, demons, elementals and other negative non-physical beings. Visualize the vibration of the etheric and astral planes getting lighter and brighter, until all dark beings are gone and only Light remains. 

4. Visualize members of the physical dark Cabal, such as central banking criminals Rothschilds and Rockefellers, and other members of this Cabal such as Henry Kissinger, George Bush, the Jesuits etc. peacefully surrendering and stepping down from their positions of power, releasing control over the financial system and the mass media. Visualize civil authority arresting those members of the Cabal that do not wish to surrender. Visualize this process taking place worldwide peacefully and smoothly. Visualize the world finally being free from financial slavery, free from all evil dictators and corrupt politicians. 

5. Visualize bright new future for humanity, with new and fair financial system put into place, with all debts canceled, prosperity funds for humanitarian projects released, advanced technologies introduced, ecosystem healed and human beings finally being free from all oppression. 

6. Visualize bright spiritual Golden Age with angels, fairies, dolphins, unicorns, spiritual guides and other beings of Light inhabiting etheric and astral planes. Visualize all wounds of humanity being healed, all humanity being inspired and guided with everybody having their own connection with their own Soul and the Source.

The monkey mind

by Mike Hughes 

Beginning meditators often experience something, which has been called the monkey mind. The monkey mind is a term that describes how your mind jumps from thought to thought like a monkey jumping from branch to branch. 

For example, a thought will pop into your head, which will trigger another thought, then another and another. And on and on it goes until you think that your mind has become uncontrollable and that you'll have to stop meditating. 

But your mind has always been that way. It's only now that you're discovering it. Meditation raises your consciousness to a point where you can see the confusion that we all have. This is the first stage of meditation and, thankfully, it's a temporary one. 

But it's important not to suppress these thoughts when they pop up - just watch them as if from a distance. As you continue with the meditation your mind will become more and more still, although thoughts will still pop up from time to time. 

These may be unresolved events from your past and you'll discover how to deal with these too. 

All the best


Mike Hughes

10 Steps to Contact Your Inner Being

Each of us is connected with the Divine. The Higher Self within us far transcends the understanding of our conscious minds. This is the power that all the great geniuses and teachers have ascended to. Also, it is the place of magic and miracles in our lives. Here are the steps to get it back:

1. The first step is to Believe that you have a Higher Being who communicates! Then expect that this communication will improve each day, as you focus diligently on inner growth. Without these two essential prerequisites, it is difficult to achieve anything in life, even at the physical level. These two qualities are essential to domestic growth. So set a Goal to achieve contact with the Higher Self, review that goal every day and keep your purpose with determination until success is yours.
2. Transform Your Worldview. We are primarily educated in a materialistic world view that denies the role of the Spirit. To establish a close contact with spiritual realms, we need our entire being - conscious and subconscious - congruent with our goal. In any activity or game, you have to set the rules and how you play. Contact with your Higher Self is the same. Therefore, written or teachers looking to expand your understanding of the universe, primarily as a realm of Consciousness and Mind.
3. Aloneness. Find time for yourself regularly, which can be totally alone. It is preferable to a quiet place. Just sit quietly with no expectations. Do nothing. This may seem awkward and strange at first. Persist. You are giving time and space to the inner voice for listening. It will either happen during that quiet time, or during the day's events. A synchronistic event might occur, someone telling you exactly what you need to hear, or you'll get a flash of intuition. All the great geniuses of history have been having a regular time of silence and solitude for themselves. You should too.
4. Meditation. In meditation, you work to discipline your mind and silence the internal chatter that always fills it. You create a pure vessel to receive the Higher Self. Following your breath is an excellent meditation discipline, as is gazing steadily in a flame (Tratak). Or visualize a golden ball of light in your Solar Plexus that fills your whole body with energy and healing. There are many practices that you can study and use.
5. Journal. Record your feelings, emotions, dreams and insights every day in a journal. This will help you get into closer contact with your deep intuition. You can ask questions to your Higher Self here, and then record any answers or insight you receive. If you do this regularly with belief and expectation, you will get the answers you need.
6. Internal Dialogue. Drive a regular inner dialogue with your Higher Self. Over the next 40 days, decide to stay in touch throughout the day. Tell your Higher Self "I know you're there and want to meet and get attention. Please guide my life." Do not worry if this dialogue is entirely one way at first. Remember that you've been out of contact for decades. It takes time to clear the cobwebs! Persist with this inner dialogue as if talking to a friend, talking, asking questions, sharing your hopes and begin to hear the answers.
7. Life Lessons. See life as a Mystery School. All your life events, situations and people, have been structured precisely in order to teach you exactly what you need to know now. Take life as if all creation were conspiring to your benefit! When something happens in your life, for better or worse, ask yourself what is the lesson for you. Even unpleasant people or situations have been deliberately placed there as a challenge to help you grow. When you start seeing your life as a work in which you're playing the lead role, the Higher Self will become increasingly evident in your life. Record your findings in your journal. 
8. Dreams. Expect your Higher Self to speak to you in dreams. Before bed have some stretch and relax your body completely. Ask your Higher Self something and wait for the answer. When you wake up, remember what you can from your dreams and write in your journal. If you're not used to remember your dreams, this will take time and persistence. However, with patience, you will begin to remember your dreams AND receive answers from your Higher Self. 
9. Consciousness. Focus on living more and more in the present, in the NOW. When you're eating, be aware you're eating. When you walk, know that you are walking. The only real moment is Now. The past is gone forever and the future has not yet arrived. Therefore, work on clearing your mind of concerns, illusions and extrapolations. Limit the chatter of the mind and create a space for the Higher Self.
10. Patience! Remember, you have spent your entire life without contact with the Source. Therefore, it takes time to learn how to re-establish contact. Everything worthwhile takes time and practice. Be vigilant and practice these steps every day, and you'll get the answers you need. Remember: The Higher Self wants to be in contact. In fact, just talking to him as someone separate from you is contradictory. The Higher Self is you! Your True Self. So get in touch with you!

Posted by brigid rose on August 30, 2011

Swami Sevaratna

Yogaspirit, Λαοδίκης 34, Γλυφάδα, Τηλ: 210 - 96 81 793
* If you live in Athens, I will be very glad to have you in one of my classes of Real Yoga

Acclipthys: The Ascended City in the Sky

 http://aquariuschannelings.wordpress.com/

Whenever I go deep into meditation lately, I have been connecting with many ascended beings whom have been showing me their ascended cities in the sky. They have taken me to be a part of their many Love giving rituals. These rituals are so beautiful and harmonious that earthly words are quite scarce to describe the experience. In one of these rituals, we were in a stone-marble ‘hall’, I guess you could call it, and they had me stand in the center of a big group of them as they chanted. It was a Love-giving ceremony, and I was in the center of it. 

They were all lit up with a Divine golden glow as they began expressing their higher dimensional Love and sending it to the core of our dear host Gaia. This Love infused itself and merged with my soul, and I found that I was also giving this Love. Collectively we all began to hover upwards with the Love we were giving, and at this point we were all glowing with the golden aura of Harmony and Joy as we gave this Love. The next part of the process is one that is quite hard to describe, but in a nutshell we all became this Love we were giving, and as this Divine Love we traveled to the core of Gaia where we were then transported to many areas of the world, where this Love that we were incarnate as began cleansing many areas and souls. We performed miracles as this Love and we literally changed people’s lives. it was certainly a ceremony I’ll never forget. 


There had been literally millions of advanced souls performing these rituals and inhabiting these ascended cloud cities, but there were a few that were in a group whom I am closest with as they are my guides. These souls are Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Hatonn, and if my memory is correct I also believe my guide Solara was there. I’m sure there were more of my guides with us, but my earthly memory can’t remember every detail, though I dearly wish I could! 


I have received many insights pertaining to these ascended cloud cities.  One of the most notable for me was that these cities are what those who ‘wrote’ the Bible based their idea of heaven on. You’ve heard of the Bible’s version of heaven; a beautiful city in the sky, streets lined with gold, pearly gates etc. I have been told by my guides that the original ‘documents’ that later became the Bible told much about these heavenly ascended cities in great detail, but like many other things in the Bible those teachings were distorted, so the souls that were writing the Bible could maintain control over the people. One thing the Bible never says is that we ALL have access to these cities at all times, whether we are incarnate on Earth or not. 


As of right now, I have only traveled to one of these ascended cities in the sky that sit upon the clouds, and this ascended city has much to do with Earth, which is why is sits on Earth’s clouds. This ascended city is called Acclipthys (uh-clip-tis). I have been told by Archangel Michael that this ascended city and the residents upon it move quite often. They can ‘move’ their city to different worlds if they wish, anytime they wish, through the thought power of consciousness. However, most of the time this city and its residents are sitting upon Earth’s clouds, and though we can’t see the golden glowing buildings sitting atop our clouds, they are absolutely there and very soon we will in fact be perceiving them. 


I know I have been calling Acclipthys a city, but when I think about it, it is really more of a kingdom. However, labels don’t matter as much but perhaps if Acclipthys is perceived as a kingdom it would help you all better understand what this wonderful place looks like. With my guides, I have walked the ‘streets’ of this wonderful place and I have been inside many of its breathtaking buildings. Mind you, this was when I was very deep in meditation. 


While ‘strolling’ the city I asked my guides what they do for sustenance, what do they eat and drink. I was taken inside a building with many souls in it, and they were partaking of a golden liquid substance that had an auric glow of pure Love upon it. I looked and noticed a sort of stream, built into the building but extending out away from it, and the stream had this liquid flowing through it. I was given a marble/crystal ‘bowl’ to dip in the stream and contain some of this amazing looking liquid. I dipped the marble bowl into the stream and partook of the delicious liquid. Friends, I cannot even describe the way this liquid tasted. It was the greatest thing I have ever tasted and felt in my life and due to the fact that I was in astral travel, not out of body, I was still slightly attached to my earthly body and therefore could not fully taste this substance on a physical level. On the astral levels and beyond however, I was in blissful harmony. The closest thing my earthly perception could relate the taste of this liquid to, is the candy known as skittles. Friends, it was so wonderful. 


I asked if they ate at all, and I was given this glowing spinning ‘sphere’ of pure Divine energy. I was told that this energy contained every higher ‘taste’ to be found, and that both this sphere and the golden liquid I partook of supercharge one’s cells and fill their entire spirit complex with pure Loving energy. 


So, that was my experience in the ascended cloud city of Acclipthys, or at least what my earthly self can remember of it. I strongly encourage all to go deep into meditation and ask your guides to be shown these cities, as Acclipthys is only one of an infinite number of ascended cities. This was quite an experience, and one I try to have every day now, or at least every time I am in meditation.

Much Love, Wes Annac

Σουάμι Σεβαράτνα
Yogaspirit, Λαοδίκης 34, Γλυφάδα, Τηλ.: 210 - 96 81 793

There are no limits

by Ben Arion

You make the limits for what you want to be and what is possible. When you dream you create another reality. You are very creative when you sleep. You can fly and be in worlds you’ve never known about before. Have you ever caught yourself dreaming? Then you can reform with ease your environment, only by thinking of it to change. That´s true in our physical world too. But it takes longer. In a dream it happens directly. Become a conscious dreamer. Everything that exists in our physical manifestation is light in a special frequency that we can change. 

What are dimensions? They are higher frequencies of light, which we can’t see with our eyes, because we can only see a certain level of vibration per second. If something moves faster than light it becomes invisible. Everything that exists is therefore light and vibrations. Every object has its special vibration, everything you say and think are also vibrations. 


When we die our soul leaves our physical body and transcends into a higher dimension, which we do not see. You can record sound to a CD with assistance of laser light, to a regular cassette tape with help by magnets. Magnetics is known. Our physical bodies, all physical objects, have an aura around them. These gather around the body to keep the form that the energy builds. That field is called an aura – magnetics attaches energy and that is why we can sometimes collect negative energy. We shine what we think and feel. In your thoughts you can create and change what you want, that´s how it is in life and after death too. You can shape your dream and go on and do what you feel, that is your highest self. We do not go to a “heaven” as it is said, when we die. We go to another reality, neither up or down, it simply is – everywhere – and eternal. What do you want to do when you die, if you die? You can actually choose. 


You are not controlled, but most souls want to go up to higher frequencies, to experience more of who they are and where they feel resonance. That we die is just something we think we have to do. It has become a pattern. Like much else. Sound, light and colours are the same thing and it is documented. Everything you think about changes senses with aid from the brain. The brain is actually only a tool, a computer for the soul, senses and our body. It makes transformation of all this light of physical frequencies to pictures possible.  The light goes in through our eyes and makes it possible that we see a 3D world. The light goes so fast that before you realize it you see it in the present. So there is no future. You create now! You will soon wake up and be conscious that you create with your thoughts. When you realize that, you will wake up from your hibernation and shape your dream in the reality. What we concentrate upon grows. 


Fantasy does not only exist for the sake of existing, it is our power of creation and belongs to our true self. That is why people often dream about what they want to do, but feel themselves limited. Deep inside they feel that they have the possibility to shape their dreams, but can´t quite remember how. Highering vibrations are being done by focusing on what makes you happy. Positive thoughts, freedom, joy and love creates higher vibrations. Lower vibrations are being created by fear, hate, domination etc. 


It´s hard to say “Now I will be happy all the time”, because it´s about cleansing and meeting all sides of yourself and others. It´s about loving ourselves as it becomes a gift to give and spread the love to one´s surroundings. We will simply have to start by “choosing” joy, love and freedom in everything that we do. Step by step we can change our thoughts. We have actually been programmed to almost always concentrate upon something negative. Like “I will not pass this exam”, when instead we can think “I will do my best and aim at the highest degree”. 


Meditation is something that is good to do daily, approximately for 15 minutes. This is for one to learn to be quiet in the mind and to learn to be an observer of the situation. A time will come when the vibrations here on earth will be very high, more love and more joy will be felt in body and soul, maybe as an inconvenience first, if we are not used to this. 


Some have actually forgotten about how it is to be happy. Not all people on this planet will be able to do this highering of frequency. They are not mature and will instead choose to “leave” their bodies and live further in a lower frequency. A body and a soul that is in a considerable unbalance may feel that the vibrations in a rise of frequency become too strong. We humans attract to ourselves equal vibrations. That is why thought and feelings are an important part. Self-knowledge is important. That is the key to become a master in love.


SPREAD YOUR LIGHT AND BE NOT AFRAID OF BEING YOURSELF!!  

Connecting with your Higher Self

Source: http://www.shining-bright.co.uk

Developing ourselves spiritually can seem like a confusing and complex journey. It can be simplified by understanding that nothing in our lives is meaningless and that nothing in our lives is random. Connecting to the ‘Inner’ Self is about listening to our inner voice or ‘Higher’ Self. This can be seen as the voice of absolute truth, one that is balanced, centered and connected. Connecting with the Higher Self provides us with truth, direction, strength, courage, balance and wholeness. When this connection is achieved, we are able to feel complete and whole – and this gives us feelings of empowerment.

The Higher Self communicates through both the inner and the outer worlds. In the outer world, this involves looking at the people around us, what they may be mirroring back to us. What theme are we seeing and what does it mean? In the inner world, we are aware of thoughts, feelings, visions and generally have a sense of ‘something’. To understand what these mean, we need to examine the repeated feelings, the messages and patterns that we have, and see what they are trying to tell us.

Throughout our lives, we are given various different messages or signposts, but we either choose to ignore them or cannot understand what they mean. Learning how to read these signs is part of our personal growth and spiritual development. This is where our connection to our Higher Self is key. This connection gives us the tools to interpret our everyday messages and not to dismiss them as mere coincidences.

Dreams for example can provide us with powerful messages, even if they appear to be disconnected to real issues. For example, dreaming of a blocked drain may not relate to an actual blocked drain in reality, but may indicated the need to discuss an issue which is being suppressed for example – a blocked emotion perhaps or the need to let go or something that is no longer serving any purpose in your life. You may receive repetitive messages over a short period of time, which can feel tiresome and as if there is one problem after another. This may however be the Higher Self sending us additional messages, turning up the volume if you like to ensure that the message is received and understood.

Ignoring these messages could potentially lead to destructive behaviour or problems later in life. An example would be that we are sometimes aware that we need to lose weight or perhaps develop a healthier lifestyle – however, we often ignore these messages and signs – sometimes for years before we decide to make changes. The Higher Self will be finding some way of communicating with us and once it has, it will have the tendency to bombard us with messages and use this particular form of communication over and over again. Life events offer us guidance and an opportunity for us to develop personal skills and qualities. However, one important point to remember is not to see every single thing as a personal message meant just for you. Guidance with keeping a balanced approach to this aspect should ensure that you only need to interpret the relevant messages and signs.

Messages can often offer us practical guidance on different aspects of our lives such as career and relationships. As an example, our physical body can often mirror the state of our minds and emotions. Illnesses can give us emotional messages and even headaches and mild aches can be significant. A sore throat could indicate some sort of blocked or suppressed communication for example. Negative beliefs, suppressed anger, resentment or love can manifest themselves as aches and pains and even into more serious conditions.

As an exercise, think about a physical symptom that you have experienced recently or a situation that you have found yourself in. Ignoring the detail, try to look for the central theme and ask yourself why you had this experience or what it may mean. Does this mirror your life in any way – your thoughts, emotions or fears? Was your Higher Self guiding you towards understanding something or asking you to develop a different quality such as forgiveness of yourself or someone else - or honesty perhaps?

In order to change our lives, we need to review and change our thought patterns and become more consciously aware of the reality that we would like to live in. This helps us to make decisions, make life choices and make them with the certainty that what we are doing is right. If you have two options to choose between, view each one objectively, ‘holding’ each one in your mind, understanding and interpreting how each one feels. Which one excites and energizes you and which one makes you feel flat? Maybe the emotions will be more subtle than this, but there will be some indication as to which one feels like the right choice.

By making this connection with our Higher Selves, we are more likely to act upon impulses which might come to us instead of ignoring them. The Higher Self is constantly guiding us towards a happier, easier and more fulfilled life. The Higher Self is able to see the ‘bigger picture’ – which is often clouded for us by insecurities or other issues. Connecting to the Higher Self and also Self Development and Self Awareness combined enable us to use our Higher Self knowledge on a daily basis and feel more balanced and centered. This enables us to make choices and allows us to see intuition as guidance towards our ‘best’ path.

Connecting to our beliefs and changing life style behaviors and patterns impacts our overall happiness and well-being. Meditation can also assist with this via relaxation, breathing, walking in woods or whatever you prefer. However we achieve this, delving beneath the layers of activity and chatter can make us more receptive to the messages from our Higher Selves and as such to greater self development. Shining Bright offers practical assistance with this path of self development and life change, giving us the opportunity for a more fulfilled life, based on truth and choice.

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Yantra and Meditation

Source: www.crystallotus.com

The YANTRA provides a focal point for looking inward into the absolute. When the mind is concentrated on a single, simple object, in this case a Yantra, the mental chatter ceases. Eventually, the object is dropped when the mind can remain empty and silent without help. In the most advanced phases, it is possible to attain union with God by the geometric visualization of a Yantra.

The Yantra is like a micro-cosmic picture of the Whole Universe. The Yantras are often focused on a specific deity. By tuning into the different Yantras you can tap into certain deities or creative energy centers in the Universe.

When one focuses on a Yantra, his mind is automatically "tuned in" by Resonance into the specific energy form of that Yantra. The process of Resonance is then maintained and amplified. The Yantra acts only as a "tune in" a doorway to the Sublime. The subtle energy does not come from the Yantra itself, but from the Universe.

Yantra meditation

Hang the Yantra on a wall facing North or East, placing the center of the Yantra at the level of your eyes.

Adopt your normal posture or, if you want, sit on a chair maintaining your spine straight. Βreath in and out through the nose (not the mouth), with no force at all, just let the breath flow normally.

Look into the center of the Yantra. Don't look at the particular details, just keep your sight right in the center and observe the whole Yantra at once.

This should last for at least 15-30 minutes every day; the experience will be indescribable.

In time, after at least seven days of Yantra meditation, you will be able to tap into the same yantric energy even without a Yantra.

Yantras and their use
The secret key to using Yantras in meditation is Resonance. The process of Resonance is established by mental focus on the image of the Yantra. As long as the mind is tuned into the specific mood associated to that Yantra, the energy flows, but when the Resonance is stopped, the energy disappears.

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Meditation: Feel the Oneness

http://www.channeling-spirit-guides.com

Feel the oneness

Find a comfortable position either lying or sitting.

First let your body relax. Imagine that your toes are relaxing. Then move up to your calves and along to your stomach, then your chest. Finally feel your arms let go, releasing their hold all of your burdens.

Now we want you to let go completely as if you were a balloon rising. As it rises the balloon continues its rise into clouds and then beyond into the clear air.

When the balloon rises above the air it releases the air within in order to propel it into the universe.

When you have risen beyond the earth then you begin to sense that there is something which resides in space. It is as if it were everywhere at once. Now, without the distortion of living on earth, you feel with your mind that consciousness is everywhere. You know that you are one with this consciousness, that you have always been one with this consciousness. You know that the One is the master of space and that all that dwells within it are a part of it.

For the planets and the stars are within space, yet space does not demand that they be separated from it. The stars and the planets are concentrations of consciousness, so beings who dwell on planets and suns are aware of themselves and their surroundings. (page one)

Space itself has no self awareness as much as can be achieved in concentration.

You are One throughout the universe. This means that you are One with all planets and all beings. When you feel love it is felt in all places. Then realize that your feelings are important. Therefore you learn to choose how you will feel, as this affects the all.

Then how you feel is felt by all the universe as One.

A lesson can be learned from this. By learning to send your love outward you are creating more love in all beings.
Then try to spend time sending love out from yourself. The reward is that you will in turn receive the love that you have created.

When you create anger or fear then your reward is to experience these feelings again later on.

As a part of the One you see that creation happens through individuals who choose to create.

So go down to the earth as one who knows these truths. Bring love into the world by choosing to forgive, or by choosing to be kind, or by choosing to let go of anger.

Choose well as what you do creates. Choose well as oneness is in concentration in the earth itself and therefore has more power.

Now we go with one last word and that is that you will remember at least once a day to experience a deep sense of unending, unlimited love for the complete Oneness that is the all-that-is. When you do this your life will be enriched on all levels. For even the physical body comes out of the One consciousness. Its needs, desires, wants and even how it chooses its path of living, are a part of this oneness, this love, these choices.

Affirmations

• I am not separate from All That Is
• I am responsible for my life and for others
• I remember my oneness to all
• I am sensing love around me even now
• I send the love by wishing it to flow outward from me
• I resume my day with a sense of achievement
• I reclaim love lost through my anger or resentment
• Then peace is my reward and so is accomplishment for now I am One and my oneness serves me as it does the whole universe and all beings within it

Increasing in Him,

Medreth




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