Resonating Serenity: The Art of Gong Healing Meditation
Come experience a Gong Healing Meditation through the lens of my experience.
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Meditation
Quieting the mind allows for you Soul to shine through. Untold experiences await seekers willing to truly look within. A myriad of health benefits naturally come with this connection.
Harmony Within: A Guide to Energy Cleansing in Your Body
Introduction: Welcome to a journey of self-discovery and inner balance. In this blog, we delve into the concept of energy cleansing, exploring how it can bring harmony to your mind, body, and soul. Section 1: Understanding Energy Cleansing Embark on the path of understanding energy cleansing. Learn about the subtle energies that flow through your body and their impact on your overall well-being. Have you ever been in a place and all of a sudden you feel something odd or heavy? You look at the entrance and sure enough, someone just walked in clearly upset or angry. Their energy can be sensed and it’s even palpable. Feeling the energies around us is a natural skill we are all born with, like the sense of taste or smell, only it needs to be developed to experience intentionally. Our physical bodies are manifestations of the energy blueprints that surround each of us. It’s referred to as your aura and it consists or is built from your experiences and emotions. When you drop a glass, your initial reaction is a gasp or holding your breath. The spontaneous feeling of distress, fear, worry, and/or anxiety you experience becomes embedded in this energetic blueprint. While this is a small and seemingly irrelevant example, other more consequential examples might be physical or psychological traumas we have experienced, going all the way back to a potentially traumatic birth. From a dropped glass to a life-saving cessarian section and everything in between, our energetic blueprints are comprised of all our experiences, including our joyous and celebratory times. Only as we all know, sometimes the “bad” outweigh the “good” ones. Or potentially, one really traumatic experience could irrevocably alter our everyday experiences. It may have been so disastrous that your mind might have even blocked out having it so you don’t have to recall such trauma. These energies become blockages and keep us trapped in recurring behaviors and thought patterns. Do you know anyone who keeps dating the same kind of person even though it always leads to disaster? Another friend might keep making the same mistakes over and over, even though they know that route leads to pain. These are energy blockages which can be removed or healed. Section 2: Signs of Blocked Energy Discover the signals your body gives when energy is stagnant or blocked. Recognizing these signs is the first step towards rejuvenation. Some signs of energy blockages: Chronic Fatigue: Feeling persistently tired or lacking energy despite adequate rest. Emotional Imbalances: Sudden mood swings, heightened emotional sensitivity, or unexplained emotional distress. Insomnia or Sleep Issues: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restful sleep. Relationship Strain: Difficulty forming or maintaining healthy relationships, frequent conflicts, or feelings of isolation. Repetitive Patterns: Encountering recurrent negative patterns or obstacles in various aspects of life. While this list not comprehensive, it’s by no means understated that with the way we are living, it doesn’t take a medical degree to know that something is unbalanced in our lives. Energy cleansing deals directly with stuck or stagnant energies to transform how we are living, day-to-day and moment by moment. Section 3: Techniques for Energy Cleansing Explore various techniques to cleanse and balance your energy. From meditation to crystal healing, find a practice that resonates with you. There are many practices one can do on their own to begin the process of energy cleansing. Practices like yoga, meditation, and even simply talking about what’s bothering you can bring growth and inner peace. We also need to recognize when we need help. The pharmaceutical companies would love to offer you a slew of drug remedies with long lists of side effects (and even more drugs to counteract those side effects.) While certainly taking prescriptions has its place for getting the help we need, for many cases the help we need can come from more holistic approaches. Sound Healing utilizes vibrational resonance to bring the physical body and energies into alignment, from the micro (quantum, atomic & cellular levels) to the macro (organs, glands, bodily fluids. Learn more about Sound Healing, how it works and the modalities I use, check out my blog section here and also my page here. Reiki and Pranic Healing work directly with the energies of the universe to call in healing, cleansing and alignment. Head on over to my Energy Healing page to learn more about these modalities. Crystals carry unique vibrations whose geometric patterns hold the ability to realign ourselves through intention. Herbs also work in the same way to clear negative energies and many cultures around the world utilize them for various purposes and effects. Section 4: Meditation for Energy Cleansing Immerse yourself in a guided meditation session designed to cleanse and align your energy centers. Relax, breathe, and let go of any tension. One of the most profound ways we can heal ourselves is by quieting the mind so we can tune into higher frequencies and receive guidance from the Universe. This is the power of meditation. Learn more about meditation, how it works, & how to do it yourself in my meditation blogs. Section 5: Yoga for Energy Flow Incorporate yoga into your routine to enhance the flow of energy in your body. Follow along with expert-guided poses tailored for energy balance. Learn more about Chakra Yoga in this blog. Section 7: Daily Practices for Maintenance Integrate simple daily practices into your life to maintain a harmonious energy balance. Small, consistent efforts can lead to profound changes. Conclusion: Embracing Harmony As you embark on this journey of energy cleansing, remember that it’s a continual process. Embrace the harmony within and allow it to radiate in all aspects of your life. Join the Community Connect with like-minded individuals on our community forum. Share your experiences, ask questions, and support each other on your energy cleansing journey. Mighty Community Page: https://souls-united.mn.co/share/zxeXE34mhThIRZuS?utm_source=manual
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Chakras, Unlocking YOUR Energy Within
Embark on a journey of self-discovery as we explore the intricate energy centers known as chakras. Rooted in ancient wisdom and spiritual traditions, these seven main chakras govern various aspects of our physical, emotional, energetic and spiritual well-being. This knowledge has largely been guarded in the past but is now readily available here for the evolution of our species. Knowledge of the chakras is a VAST topic. This introduction is just that, the basics of the “flavors” of each energy center. I spent 2 months in an immersive Master Program to begin to comprehend each energy center and how they comprise all of reality as we know it. Hopefully this guide will serve to help you embark (or deepen) your inner journey. My knowledge of each chakra comes from Master Yogi David Goulet at Pyramid Yoga Center in Thailand. To experience this same 500 hour Master Program for yourself, check out: https://pyramidyoga.com/master-yogi-program/ Each chakra painting here is about 2 foot by 2 foot (in blacklight) painted by David Goulet. Each one took him 1 month to complete by going on an inner journey to FEEL each chakra energetically and thereby see the energetic reality of each one. Keep in mind, these are 2D representations of a 3D reality. Spend time gazing at each one without expectation to begin to experience them for yourself. 1. Root Chakra (Muladhara): The Foundation of Stability Situated at the base of the spine, the Root Chakra serves as the foundation for our energy system. Represented by the color red, it is associated with feelings of grounding, survival instincts, and a sense of stability. When balanced, the Root Chakra provides a solid base, fostering a feeling of security and connection to the earth. In fact, the element associated with Muladhara is the Earth itself and the force of gravity. Muladhara energy holds together all of reality. The associated yoga is Hatha Yoga and this is what we in the West think of when we refer to “Yoga.” Hatha yoga or body movement is only one ninth of the overall picture of the yogic system. Hatha Yoga never was a fitness system as we think of it now, yet fitness is by-product of mindful movement and breathing practices. When doing “yoga” we connect our breath with our movements, connecting our consciousness with the consciousness of the universe. We are creating an experience physically and I invite you to explore that experience moment by moment through bodily sensations. Find your resistance points in the body through movements (asanas) and then breathe into them fully and deeply. Breathe in light and love and every exhalation is an invitation to relax. Balancing Tips: Painted by myself, these shapes are known as “Sacred Geometry.” 2. Sacral Chakra (Swadhisthana): Igniting Creativity and Passion Located in the lower abdomen, the Sacral Chakra is linked to emotions, creativity, and sexuality. Its orange glow signifies a harmonious flow of energy. When balanced, this chakra enhances emotional intelligence, creativity, and a healthy expression of sensuality. The element associated with Swadhistana is water and physically we are 70% to 80% water. To connect to your fluid nature is to connect with Swadhistana. The energy here is covalence, the force that binds atoms together. The associated yoga is Jnana Yoga. Jnana Yoga has to do with achieving wisdom through the path of contemplation, thought and wisdom. It leads to understanding the emotional aspect of our being and its ruling effect on the mind. As a practice, it is an application of many different relaxation techniques, along with introspective methods for studying the emotional motives for our actions and reactions in the social world. Balancing Tips: 3. Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura): Unleashing Personal Power Situated in the upper abdomen, the Solar Plexus Chakra radiates a yellow energy associated with personal power and confidence. A balanced Solar Plexus Chakra empowers you to assert yourself positively, fostering a strong sense of self. The element is fire itself as we have an energetic sun within each of us. Manipura energy is combustion which transforms matter from one form to another. In the body this is the process of digestion. The associated yoga is Pranayama Yoga or breathwork. Fire needs oxygen for fuel and we have the ability to turbo charge ourselves physically and energetically through conscious use of the breath. To experience this yourself or to learn more, check out my blog post about Pranayama. Balancing Tips: 4. Heart Chakra (Anahata): Embracing Love and Compassion Found at the center of the chest, the Heart Chakra is associated with love, compassion, and connection. Represented by the color green, a balanced Heart Chakra enables you to give and receive love openly, fostering harmonious relationships. The element here is air and the energy is an expansive one for growth. The opposite of Muladhara (gravity), Anahata is a force of expansion or repulsion as two magnets of the same polarity push each other away. This is also the energy center where our FEELING is located. Learning to live from the heart-space instead of all the thinky spaces leads to profound growth. The associated yoga is Karma Yoga or doing anything for the sake of giving to the greater good without expecting anything in return. Give from the heart space and you will receive more than you can imagine. Balancing Tips: 5. Throat Chakra (Vishuddha): Expressing Authenticity Situated at the throat, the Throat Chakra is associated with communication and self-expression. Its blue energy encourages truthful and authentic communication. A balanced Throat Chakra empowers you to express yourself clearly and confidently. The force here is vibration itself. The element of Vishuddha is ether but can also be equated to the electromagnetic ocean we live in. Just as fish cannot perceive the water they swim in, we too are swimming in an electromagnetic ocean of energy waves and particles. How do you think WiFi works? The yoga associated with Vishuddha is Raja Yoga or more commonly known as yoga of the mind. Try creative visualization to manifest anything
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Experiencing the Power of Meditation for Life Transformation
Introduction: In the fast-paced and ever-evolving world we live in, finding moments of peace and tranquility can be a challenge. This is where the power of meditation comes into play. Meditation, often associated with ancient Eastern traditions, has gained immense popularity in recent years as a powerful tool for finding inner calm and achieving mental clarity. The benefits of meditation are vast and well-documented. It has been proven to reduce stress, improve focus and concentration, enhance emotional well-being, and promote overall physical health. By incorporating various techniques such as mindfulness practice, breathing exercises, and guided visualization, individuals can embark on a transformative journey toward self-discovery and personal growth. For beginners who may be new to the concept of meditation, it is essential to have a comprehensive guide that provides step-by-step instructions on how to begin this practice. From finding a quiet space to learning different meditation techniques, this guide will serve as a valuable resource for those seeking to embark on their meditation journey. In this section, we will delve deeper into the essence of meditation by exploring its benefits in more detail, discussing different techniques that can be employed during practice sessions, and providing practical tips for beginners on how to establish a consistent meditation routine. Here’s a very practical guide for beginning meditators to build a daily practice. Whether you are looking to reduce stress levels or simply cultivate inner peace amidst the chaos of daily life, understanding the power of meditation is crucial. So let us dive into this transformative practice together and unlock its incredible potential for personal well-being. The Science Behind The Power of Meditation: Exploring the Physical and Mental Benefits Meditation has long been recognized as a powerful tool for stress reduction and promoting mental well-being. But what exactly happens in our bodies and minds when we meditate? In this section, we will delve into the science behind meditation, exploring its physical and mental benefits. One of the most well-known benefits of meditation is its ability to reduce stress. Research has shown that regular meditation practice can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This leads to a greater sense of calm and relaxation. By quieting the mind and focusing on the present moment, meditation allows us to detach from stressful thoughts and worries. This quite naturally promotes a state of inner peace. The benefits of meditation extend far beyond just stress reduction. Studies have also found that meditation can have a positive impact on mental health. It has been shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve mood, and enhance overall emotional well-being. By cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness through meditation, individuals are better equipped to manage their emotions. This helps to navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience. Furthermore, research suggests that meditation can have profound effects on brain health. MRI studies have revealed that regular meditation practice can lead to structural changes in the brain, including increased gray matter density in areas associated with attention, memory, compassion, and empathy. These findings suggest that by engaging in regular meditation practice, we can actually reshape our brains for greater cognitive functioning and emotional intelligence. In the end, understanding the science behind meditation helps us appreciate its significant impact on both our physical and mental well-being. From reducing stress levels to improving brain health and emotional resilience, incorporating regular meditation into our lives holds immense potential for personal growth and holistic wellness. Spiritual Growth and Connection: Exploring the Transcendent Benefits of Meditation In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals are seeking ways to find inner peace and spiritual growth. Meditation not only helps in calming the mind but also serves as a powerful tool. Spiritual growth and connecting with higher consciousness are natural byproducts of mindfulness. Through regular meditation practice, individuals can experience a deep sense of inner peace and tranquility. It allows them to detach from the chaos of daily life and connect with their true selves on a profound level. This connection with the self opens doors to exploring the transcendent benefits of meditation. Meditation acts as a gateway to spiritual growth by providing a space for self-reflection and introspection. In this state of stillness, individuals can gain insights into their thoughts, emotions, and patterns of behavior. It allows them to identify areas for personal development and make positive changes in their lives. Moreover, the power of meditation offers a pathway to connect with higher consciousness or the Divine. By quieting the mind and focusing inward, individuals can tap into a universal energy that transcends ordinary human experiences. This connection brings about a sense of unity, love, and interconnectedness with all beings. Meditation can also benefit spiritual growth regardless of any specific religious or philosophical belief system. People from all walks of life can embrace meditation as a practice to achieve deeper meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. Finally, meditation serves as an invaluable tool for those on the journey of spiritual growth. Through its practice, individuals can find solace in inner peace while connecting with higher consciousness on an extraordinary level. Whether you are new to meditation or have been practicing for years, exploring its transcendent benefits will undoubtedly enrich your life in profound ways. For more entries about the topic of meditation, check out the meditation category here. Bibliography / Sources
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Meditation: Activate & Empower Your 3rd Eye Chakra in 10 Minutes
Guruji has been teaching me a series of exercises which stimulate each individual chakra. Today focusing on the 6th chakra, Ajna and the visualizations which go with 3rd eye chakra. Ajna chakra is located at the center of your forehead. By empowering our 3rd eye, you will be able to “see” more, not only on the inside but also energetically. This is a 3rd eye meditation for visualization empowerment. When practiced diligently can lead to tremendous growth! How to Begin: Begin as we do with all meditations by sitting in a comfortable position. Try to lean forward a little bit to move the meat from your sit bones. Sit with your spine straight and tall as if there’s a string pulling the top of your head up. Take a few deep breaths and welcome yourself to this space. Feel yourself breathing and notice any sensations that arise. This is mindfulness in practice. Give yourself permission to be fully present with the experience. You made it here after all so you might as well explore what happens. Try to avoid telling yourself stories which aren’t relevant to the moment. Notice when your mind is just chatting with you & stealing your concentration. Where your mind goes, your energy flows. Bring In Your Focus: Now, the premise is quite simple; visualize a bright white light beaming down from the universe into the top of your head and down your spinal energy column (this is called Shushumna.) This isn’t just white light, but a combination of all the colors which blend together to make white. It’s kind of like a diamond white light with the hues of all the colors imbedded in it. You can see this when you look closely at a diamond or a prism when sun shines through it. Imagination is key for stimulating the 3rd eye chakra. Next imagine and connect with this bright white light, see it and feel it beaming into you through the top of your head. The practice is to then work through each chakra, imagining the supplementary color extracting according to each chakra. For example, we begin at the root chakra aka Muladhara, the deep red color of the Earth element. Once you tune into the red color coming from the beam of white light, focus your vision on a plain white mandala (print one off in advance or find one online) and imagine/fill all the white spaces with the red color you envisioned. Do this exercise for the remaining colors in this sequence: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, & Violet. Tips for Success: Simply allow the color process to unfold. If it’s difficult, don’t be hard on yourself but do keep trying. As a helpful tool, keep the colors of the chakras close by as a reference to focus on before doing the white light meditation for visualization. When you feel like you’ve finished each chakra and the color visualization, return to the beam of diamond white light. Imagine it beaming into the crown of your head and connect to this meditation for visualization. Don’t rush the experience, but surrender to it. Remember, don’t TRY to do this exercise, just set your intention and allow it to unfold by staying present. Feel free to leave a comment below on your experiences! If you found this experience difficult to tune in to, try doing some deep breathing exercises first. You can check out my 20 minute intro to breathing video below: . My Experience: Focusing on this intense bright white beaming down into me is actually quite easy as I’ve seen this naturally in various meditations I’ve done in the past. Thankfully I already have the felt sense of this experience which makes it easy to draw on anytime. Initially I had a hard time seeing any colors on the white mandala but just relaxing and trying again is the key. At the start all I saw was white and it was tricky to sense the red filling in the white spaces. Intuitively, I imagined a way to help this 3rd eye chakra Meditation along. As I was looking and relaxing into the process, I imagined sending this mandala to my laptop. Then I imagined opening “Paint” and using the fill tool to fill the spaces so I could see the finished product. Then quite naturally I could “see” the fill tool and I “clicked” on each space in my mind’s eye. After “clicking” red into 4 or 5 spaces, the rest of the white spaces naturally filled themselves in and I was imagining the white mandala as red. Excellent, now refocus on the white beam coming in by relaxing and surrendering into the white bright energy. There’s actually a lot of sensation that comes with this visualization by itself. There’s a “pulling up” feeling as I’m filled with white rainbow light coming in. Naturally I’m being pulled up from my tailbone which is planted firmly in the Earth. Next I imagined the orange color extracted from the white beam. Once again, “clicking” into each white space with my mind’s eye. Almost naturally, the whole image colors itself. If you have enjoyed this experience, check out some other meditations here. Feel free to share your experience below!
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“Staying Present”: What does this powerful phrase even mean?
We’ve all heard this saying before about being present. You’re here reading this now, so is that what presence refers to? It depends on your mind state actually. Our minds are very good at multi-tasking and doing some things on autopilot. The question is more as to whether or not your complete attention is on your current experience. Let’s dive more into what I’m referring to. Let’s Take a Closer Look So, how’s it going so far? As of writing this I’ve been in India for 2.5 weeks so far. Every day I’m cultivating a deep sense of presence and connection in the morning asana practice & prayers. The rest of the day I’m exploring that sense of presence & connection continuously. This can also be referred to as mindfulness. Honestly, some days are easier than others to stay present. What does that even mean though, “staying present”? For me it’s about the breath. By keeping our awareness on the breath and how it truly feels moment to moment, you cultivate presence. Truly FEEL each sensation as the belly fills with air and empties. It’s a practice just like doing yoga, learning to drive a car, or learning any new skill. The more we learn to cultivate being here, right now, the easier it gets. One clue about not being present is noticing when you have thoughts about the future or the past. If you’re curious to learn more about full & conscious breathing, check out my video here. Sending Your Energy Away We are naturally inundated with thoughts, virtually all of the time we are awake. Thoughts are about the past or future, judgments of ourselves or others, thoughts of worry or fear. The practice is to notice the nature of your thoughts. Realize most of them are taking us out of the present moment and sending our energies elsewhere. In Qi Gong the saying goes: “Where your mind goes, your chi flows.” If you’re making plans or thinking about what someone said because it affected you, then you’re sending your energy away. If you notice you’re having these thoughts, (like I said, it’s virtually all the time) then simply return to the feeling of your breath. Notice what’s actually happening around you, birds, or wind, construction, cars, talking people, everything. By noticing the present moment, you begin to FEEL your heart beating. Eventually you skillfully notice emotions as they arise without attachment to them. Perhaps you’ll begin to sense energies around you and within you. You may even experience that all of these sensations come with the feeling of joy & gratitude for simply being aware. This is also our natural state of being, of being tuned in to ourselves. These days this seems so obvious now that I’ve been exploring the cultivation of presence. Merge with the energies all around you, for they are always there and waiting for you to come home to your heart. ~Atmaram Don’t Stop Thinking Though… Of course there are plenty of times where thinking is useful and necessary. Noticing a car coming and deciding whether to step to the left or the right is a simple example. But you’ve noticed the car in a present state and you go back to this presence once the “job“ of thinking is finished, back to the breath and how it feels. This is not an easy practice. We’ve been entertained by our minds for our whole lives and we thereby allow the mind to be driver of our experiences. The mind can talk us into and out of so many crazy things in the name of “if this thing outside of me would change in this way, then I’d be alright.” Michael Singer does an amazing job of explaining this pattern of how the mind works very well in his series “Living From a Place of Surrender.” Check out a short video of Michael explaining this here. I’ve been exploring the way of living where consciousness is the driver, instead of the mind. The observer as some call it, notices how reality actually “is” and not how my mind tells me it is. This is the practice. Overall I’d say I’m doing very well with the practice. In fact I’m very proud of myself for how far I’ve come! The effects are most noticeable while I’m chanting mantras as each one has a unique effect (which also changes every day depending on my energies.) More on mantra chanting in future posts! My Experiences With Mindfulness A common sensation is a feeling from the center back of my head, like a rope is attaches at my tailbone and “something” pulls me up from my head. There’s other feelings too like calmness, peace, strength, lightness, seeing light, tingling, heat, feeling the connection from my heart to my hands, enthusiasm, happiness, centeredness, grounding, and certainly a few more too. Today the experience was a bit different than it has been so far. Today the feeling of pulling was very light and soft. Applying the practice of feeling the breath in and out and observing this sensation in my head came more easily today. Many thoughts came as they always do, but it was easier to notice that I was thinking and to just let go of each thought. Some thoughts clung on for longer than others as my mind indulged itself in following the string that unravels a sweater. No worries though, I just noticed simply that I wasn’t present and adeptly came back to the breathing and the feeling in my head. This feeling stopped being a pulling up sensation and it turned into a fuzzy-warm light that was just “there”, no pulling up, just “there” (kind of hard to describe.) My body was breathing itself, my eyes relaxed and calm as if I could almost see through my closed eyelids. I would guess that I was seated within the root of consciousness itself. It seems I’ve found some kind of deeper experience. It’s important
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