Mantras are a repetitive word, phrase, or sound with vibrational qualities and inherent meanings. Mantras are believed to have spiritual, transformative, and religious power. The use of mantras is at least 3500 years old and appears to originate from India, with records in Vedic Sanskrit of mantras still in use today. Mantras have many uses in our modern lives. They serve to quite the mind for meditation, offer the power to bring focus to your mind, and bring a sense of happiness by countering negative thinking. Mantras are mind tools meant to bring you into a higher state of being, a higher vibration.

The word mantra is believed to originate from the Sanskrit words manas= mind + tra= tool, thereby meaning a “tool for the mind”. Science is beginning to grasp an understanding as to exactly why this ancient technique actually is a mind tool. As humans we have what is known as a “Default Mode Network” or DMN. This DMN is a network of regions within the brain that are active and interacting with one another when a person is not focused on the world outside of himself or herself. Essentially, anytime we are not engaged in a cognitive task or external stimulus our brains are operating in DMN. To an extent this is totally normal, however, there is a correlation between an overactive DMN (someone always in their own heads) and negative thinking. One of the wonderful effects of using the repetition of mantra is by engaging a person in the cognitive task of repeating the mantra, the DMN is deactivated. For ailments such as depression, turning off the negative inner critic or negative ruminating can be the difference between recovery or continued illness.

Mantras are more then just a sound or a word, they are also a vibration. Vibration is the language of energy, and the vibrations of some mantras have the ability to shift our internal energy, which in turn shifts our external energy for the better. When we consciously raise our personal vibrations we experience more synchronicities and positive experiences in our lives. When we keep our energy and vibration high, we attract more of the same into our lives leading to an overall more positive life experience. By raising our vibrations through beneficial mantra we are bringing ourselves into tune with the vibration of love and abundance in the universe.

Mantras have meaning. Because of these meanings, mantras have the ability to strengthen our divine connection, increase our focus, and deepen our self-worth and self-love. Through repetition we increase our connection to the meanings within the mantras allowing the truth of those meanings to burn like a flame as truths in us. When mantra is used to elevate your beliefs of love, truth, and connectedness over time it simply becomes who you are and not just what you believe in.

There are several ways you can begin to incorporate mantra into your life:

• If you have been looking to start a meditation practice the use of mantra is a wonderful tool to help focus the mind from random or not-so random thoughts such as your grocery or to-do list. You can use the mantra in rhythm with your breath or you can just use the mantra when you become aware that your mind has started to wonder. If you are just getting started you can read more about meditation here: https://flowingriverretreat.com/meditation-101/

• Sometimes in life we can find ourselves sort of stuck on a negative past occurrence, an event, interaction, or something observed that has hooked our attention. It’s something our coworker said that rubs us the wrong way, the person who cut us off in traffic, or we wish we would have responded differently in a situation and we replay this over and over in our minds. Anytime you catch yourself in a negative thought loop, using mantra is an excellent way to break the pattern and shift your thinking. Begin by taking a big inhale and an even bigger exhale and then begin your mantra at the pace and length that suits you. You don’t need to repeat the mantra for a long period to get its benefits when using it for this purpose; it really takes less then a minute to shift your mindset.

• A traditional way to use mantra is the practice of  Japa, which translates into “muttering, whispering”.  Sanskrit mantra is used by speaking the mantra out loud, whispering the mantra, or speaking it silently to oneself. Malas or rosaries made of various natural manmade beads are employed in this mantra practice to keep count of the number of times the mantra is recited thus becoming a sacred spiritual tool. Malas and rosaries traditionally have 108 beads but can sometimes be half (54) or a quarter (27) of the 108 beads. 108 is thought to be a significant number in yogic philosophy relating to the planets, therefore it is believed that by repeating a mantra 108 times it helps to bring one into harmony with the universe.

If you’re wondering how to find a mantra, here are a few of my favorites:

• So Hum is a simple mantra that translates literally to So = “That”, Hum = “I”. It’s meaning is “I Am That” or “I Am”. The energy of this mantra is of oneness or becoming one with all and the universe. So Hum is fairly easy to remember as well as pronounce making it a wonderful mantra to start with. When using this mantra try to incorporate your breath with the mantra, such as using “So” on your inhale and “Hum” on your exhale.

• Sat Nam is another simple mantra which translates to Sat = “Truth”, Nam = “Identity”. It’s meaning is “Truth is my Identity”. The energy of this mantra is about identifying with the truth of your own divinity and as a being of this divinity your true nature is love. Sat Nam is another easy to pronounce and remember mantra, making it a handy tool to keep in your toolbox of wellness. Like So Hum, you can use your breath to deepen your mantra practice by using “Sat” on an inhale and “Nam” on an exhale.

• Om/Ohm is a common but powerful mantra. Om/Ohm is a sound/vibration and therefore does not have a literal translation. Om/Ohm is said to be the first and most prevalent sound vibration in the universe. It is the vibration that underlies all other vibrations. The energy of this mantra is of connectedness or oneness with all, as well as bringing oneself into the harmony of the universe. This mantra is uttered exclusively on the exhale, and its use serves to extend the exhale creating more calm in the body and mind.

• Aham Prema is less common but one of my go-to mantras which translates to Aham = “I”, Prema = “Love” or “Affection”. It’s meaning is “I Am Divine Love”. The energy of this mantra is of connecting to the divine love that is our core essence. This mantra is a more energizing mantra and is very easy to sing making it a great mantra to use while being active.

In this modern word we have access to so many amazing tools to increase our life satisfaction and day-to-day experiences, mantra is without a doubt one of those tools with the added benefit of being very easy to incorporate into daily life. If it feels like too much to take on another wellness practice, try to add mantra into your daily life with activities you are already doing, (especially if your body is busy but your mind is free). If you want to try mantra give it a go in meditation, on your commute to work (be sure to use an energizing mantra if you’re driving), walking your dog, while your doing the dishes, folding laundry or any other housework. One of the beautiful things about mantra is that you do not have to say them out loud to get benefits, which means you can use them just about anywhere and anytime.

Wish you more ups then downs in this journey of life. Leave a question or comment if you feel called to do so. Namaste.

Fasting is an ancient practice that is still useful in modern times to clean the body and mind, helping us to live in our healthiest expression. Fasting has gained popularity in the last several years as a health trend for many ailments, including weight loss. Fasting, however has been practiced intentionally and unintentionally for the entire duration of the human species. The human body when free of diseases is well adapted to fast. Throughout our existence, until very recently in the human history there has almost always been food scarcity. Our ancestors hunted and foraged food for their families and tribes. If no animal was killed or plant found then of course that meant no meal was going to be had. Our biology is wired to gain weight rather than lose it, which has served us in the past to help us persist during times of no food. But, in modern times there is an over-abundance of food on a scale we have never known as a species and as a result many people eat out of habit and availability more than hunger.

There are several religions that observe fasting as a part of their practice and observation. Religious fasting is done with the purpose of cleaning the body, being humbled to understand and relate to people around the world who do not have food, breaking the grip of habit by exercising control over the physical body, and to deepen their connection to their higher power by refocusing their spiritually. Lent, Ramadan, and Yom Kipper are several examples of religious based fasting. Each religion has its own perimeters around fasting and when this fasting is done mindfully it has the power to bring many health benefits with it to the faster.

Fasting is an ancient habit that modern science has come to back up. One of the main reasons fasting is so beneficial is due to the autophagy process that is activated by fasting. If you have never heard the term, autophagy translates to “self eat”. Autophagy is a self-healing, self-preserving process in the body. When autophagy is activated the body is cleaning house and getting rid of any compromised or dysfunctional cells throughout the body. The digestive process itself takes up about fifty percent of a person’s energy, possibly even more if that person is eating foods which are disagreeable to their individual body or heavily processed foods. During a fast the energy usually directed to digestion is redirected to cleaning and repairing the body. Because the digestive energy is freed many people who fast regularly report feeling more energized during their fasting state. These processes aid the body in optimal functioning. Additionally, it’s worth noting that longevity science has shown that calorie restriction is the most effective method for anti-aging.

Lastly, before diving into the different types of food fasting, know that fasting is not always limited to food intake. While the overall benefits are different you can make a fast for just about anything that you feel called to take a break from. For example, a fast from TV or electronics can be done, with the possible benefit of having more presence in your daily life or deeper conversations with family/friends. Fasting can be used as a tool to break old habits and rewire new ones. Now, back to dietary fasting, the following are the most popular types of fasting. Not every type of fasting works for every type of body/person and you may have to experiment with the different types to find the one that is sustainable for you since ultimately what is sustainable is what you will practice and therefore get the most benefit from. Furthermore, timing can play a big role in successfully doing a fast, women in particular may find that fasting during menstruation is particularly difficult but work and family stress or lack of proper sleep also tend to have an impact on appetite and will power. Lastly, fasting while a wonderful tool, is not for everyone, individuals who take certain medicines requiring consistent food intake, having metabolic diseases like diabetes, and individuals prone to eating disorders are advised to avoid dietary fasting and would benefit more from non-dietary fasting. Even for the healthy individual its advised to speak to your doctor first and take baby steps rather then jump into a big fast without preparation, a plan, and working up to longer periods.

Water Fasting: is consuming only water for 24hrs or longer as this is the time it takes to activate the autophagy process to rid the body of dysfunctional or damaged cells. The water consumption makes the fast a littler easier as well as hydrating the body and flushing metabolic waste or toxins.

Dry Fasting: is fasting from all foods and liquids for 24hrs or longer as this is the time it takes to activate the autophagy process. Since there are no liquids in this fast it is advised to practice first with the water fast and if possible to practice this fast during cooler weather. Additionally, it is very important to actively deeply hydrate yourself prior to fasting as well as after fasting to flush any metabolic waste. For Muslims, dry fasting is the type of fasting performed during Ramadan from sunrise to sunset based on the prayer calls.

Intermittent Fasting: is typically reducing the time window of eating without reducing the amount of food/calories. There are many ways to do this type of fasting. There is the 16/8 fasting, where a person eats for 8 hours out of the day and refrains from eating the other 16 hrs. Some of this fasting time includes sleep so this fast can be as easy as skipping breakfast or dinner. For people up for a bigger challenge there is also 18/6 fasting. This is reducing the eating window to 6 hrs. a day while abstaining from food for 18hrs a day. Fasting intermittently this way will not activate the autophagy process, however fasting 12 to 18 hrs. will move your body into a fat burning state which can be useful for individuals trying to get more lean. Typically intermittent fasting is done 5-7 days a week and tends to become a lifestyle.

Juice/Soup Fasting: is limiting all intake to very easy to digest juices and soups. Anytime the fiber is reduced, most especially with juicing it is important to be mindful of the sugar content. Juice and soup fasting can be a wonderful way to break an extended water or dry fast.

Whichever fasting you decide to give a try, planning will be your strongest way of ensuring success. Choosing a time where you have freedom and flexibility in your day will ensure that hunger related feelings can be dealt with by taking a nap or going for a walk or any other activity to distract yourself. Taking shorter fasts and working up to a longer fast will help you to be accustomed to navigating how you feel and what you need to do for yourself. Once you get to a place of longer fasting, consuming softer easier to digest foods such as fruit, smoothies, salads, and soups before and after your fast will help your body transition more smoothly into and out of the fasting state. Take your time to discover what works best for you and be gentle with yourself when first beginning to practice fasting.

Wishing you more ups then downs in this journey of life. Feel free to leave us a comment or question. Namaste

Auras are an interesting topic that more people need to know more about. Maybe you’ve heard the word in a new age bookshop or seen an image of a person with layers of colors outlining their body. The Oxford dictionary defines “Aura” as: 1.The distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place. 2. (in spiritualism and some forms of alternative medicine) a supposed emanation surrounding the body of a living creature regarded as an essential part of the individual. (There is also a medical definition of the term aura but that is not what we are talking about here.) Science recognizes a biofield or electromagnetic field that surrounds each of us thought to be generated by the electromagnetic activities of our body. This field is unique to each one of us like an energetic fingerprint but also follows typical patterns within each species, such as hands having an expected shape and function that signifies their normalcy and health.

The human aura is said to have seven layers. Each layer has its own function and an associated color. Most people do have their own predominate color and some people believe that groups of the same dominate color come to earth at the same time, kind of like generations and based on what the collective needs to be balanced. However, it is important to note that the colors of your auric field can change based on your current thoughts and emotions as well as over time from on-going thoughts, experiences, trauma, good/bad health, addiction, and so on. The size of the auric field is also changeable depending on your state of mind, emotions, and overall wellbeing. When a person feels scared they unknowingly draw their aura close to them, when a person is feeling happy, in love, and confident their aura is naturally bigger (and because of that big aura they tend to attract a lot of people). Starting from closest to the body and moving away from the body there is:

The Etheric Layer: it is the most easily seen by people who can see auras. It is connected to the Root Chakra and reaches 2-4 inches out from the body. Its color is said to be a grayish violet but it is often shown as red in photos due to its relation to the Root Chakra however a bright white or yellow is the color I’ve personally seen. This layer is the closest to the physical body energetically and is a lower aspect, meaning it’s more rooted in our physicality.

The Emotional Layer: as you might guess, holds our emotions and feelings. It extends about 1-3 inches from the Etheric layer and is connected to the Sacral Chakra, so you will often see this layer as orange in depictions but the actual color will depend on your emotions, both predominate and in the moment. This layer is also rooted in our physical-ness.

The Mental Layer: contains our thoughts and thought processes such as judgment and “rules”. This layer extends 3-8 inches from the Emotional layer. It is attached to the Solar Plexus and is represented as yellow, but just like the Emotional layer our thoughts have the ability to change and shift the color of this layer. Similar to the chakra system this, third layer is the last layer that is rooted in our physical selves.

The Astral Layer: like the Heart Chakra is the bridge between our physical and spiritual selves. Connected to the Heart Chakra, this layer is depicted as green. The actual color of this layer will depend on the persons relationship with love both romantic and self love or lack of love. It extends about a foot from the Mental layer and holds a higher vibration then the previous 3 layers.

The Etheric Template: is as its name suggests, like a template or blueprint of the etheric body. Extending about two feet from the Astral layer this layer is connected to the Throat Chakra and is represented as light blue. This layers actual color will be influenced by how an individual speaks his or her truth. This layer is the spiritual aspect of our physicality and holds yet an even higher vibration then the previous layer.

The Celestial Body: is connected to the 3^rdEye Chakra and it is the layer, due to its high vibration, where our energy begins to make a spiritual connection. This layer extends out from the Etheric Template about 2.5 feet and is depicted as a dark blue or indigo but, in reality the color will depend on the strength of connection to personal intuition.

Ketheric Layer: is the last and furthest layer from our physical bodies. Connected to the Crown Chakra this layer can extend out 3-5 feet from the Celestial Body and is represented as purple. The individual color of this layer will vary by the depth of spiritual connection. This layer is the highest vibration of all the layers, holds your soul information and blueprint, and it is the most protective of all the other layers. This layer is considered our link the divine and contributes to our feelings of oneness.

You have already experienced the aura of another person but maybe you have not realized you were picking up on that energy. Meeting a person for the first time that you just like, that you have a strong unexplainable desire to have a friendship with before you really know anything about them is a good indication you are feeling their aura, and your aura finds compatibility with their aura. The opposite scenario is that you meet a person and automatically dislike them, this is a sign that your auras do not have compatible energy. Our Auras, believe it or not, actually play a big role in the types of people we seek and bring into our lives. The aura also acts as a protective energetic barrier to our physical bodies. If our aura is strong and healthy, we are strong and healthy. If our aura is weak and damaged, we are on our way to weak and dis-eased, if not already there. This is because we experience everything on an energetic level before we have the physical experience. And, often we have the energetic experience many, many times before we ever see the results physically. A great example of this is our thoughts, which create feelings and emotions. Those feelings and emotions in turn either support positive or negative energy in our auras and bodies. Take a person who is generally happy and positive, if that person catches a cold they are likely to recover quickly with a minor inconvenience in their lives. If another person who is typically moody, negative, and easily stressed were to catch that same cold they can easily take twice as long or longer to get better. While there are many factors involved in illness on an individual level it has been shown that people who think positively recover faster with less complications then people who think negatively. Our thoughts have a big impact on our aura, either acting as an ally and strengthening our auric field or to our detriment by weakening our aura.

The company we keep also has a big impact on the health of our aura. If you have ever noticed feeling tired or depleted after interacting with a specific person, chances are high that they are an energy vampire. I am not going to go deep on this subject here but the simplified version is that throughout your life you will come across people who are literally feeding off of your energy. Some know they are doing it and even do it intentionally, others are completely unaware, but in short when the two of you spend time together they are energized while you are depleted. The best thing to do in this case is to spend as little time as possible with that person.

Another thing worth mentioning is how detrimental addiction is to the auric field. There are many addictions in this world, to many to cover here, but all of them deplete the auric field and energetic protection. The worse the addiction, and the more affected the person is by it, for example a drug addict who commits crimes to get the fix, the more damaged the aura is and the less protection it provides meaning that the person is more prone to being affected by outside negative energies. If recovery does occur that person will have to do a lot of healing to repair their auric field.

Thankfully we do have some power to help the energy of our aura and we are not simply bystanders who just get what we get. By actively shifting your thinking to realistically positive thoughts you help your aura to expand and brighten. Love is the biggest boon to our auric field creating a bubble of beautiful energy all around. Romantic love is the best example of this but the heightened feelings typically diminish, therefore self-love and/or doing an activity that you love is actually the love that will get you the most benefits in having a strong, vibrant aura. Mantras and chanting are wonderful tools to raise your energy and in turn expand your auric field. There are many to choose from so just choosing one that makes you feel good when you use it is key. Eating fresh vibrant foods is another way to strengthen your aura since these foods have more energy then process and precooked foods. Wearing or working with crystals can also help to balance, strengthen, and expand your aura, once again allow your intuition to direct what you most need by choosing a stone you are attracted to. Lastly, meditation can be a good way to keep your aura healthy, by bringing more peace and balance into your emotions and thought processes. Explore any method you feel called to and see if you begin to notice a difference in your overall energy or how people interact with you, you might be surprised.

Wishing you more ups than downs in this journey of life. Feel free to leave a comment or question. Namaste.

Colors hold an inherent vibration making them powerful tools for therapy. Color has the ability to affect our moods, energy levels, health, ability to concentrate, and even plays a role in how our physical body functions such as blood pressure and appetite. Color therapy is known as Chromotherapy and is typically used in conjunction with light therapy known as Phototherapy. These alternative healing modalities go as far back as ancient Egypt. Color is a form of energy expressed by light waves. Each color has is own unique wavelength and corresponding energetic pattern. These waves and patterns have a healing effect on the human body by helping to re-pattern energetic disturbances, which eventually can become dis-ease.

The seven main chakras of the body each have an associated color that vibrates the frequency of that chakra, helping to bring balance, health, and vitality to that energy center. Briefly, the colors of the chakras beginning from the bottom or 1^st to the top or 7^th are: red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, indigo, and violet or white (which is comprised of all colors). If you’re interested in exploring more about chakras we have articles on the blog covering each one.

So let’s dive into the energy of the major colors of the light spectrum. By knowing the different energies you can have a better understanding of how to use color to optimize your life. The following color meanings are for bright, crisp colors; colors in the same family that are dull, subdued, or murky will have a different energy that reflects its lack of vibrancy.

Primary Colors:

• Red Energy Is: Warm, Mind Stimulating, Fostering Courage & Power, Promoting Taking Action, Energizing, Increasing Circulation, Gives Full Body Healing. (Red can be over-stimulating for sensitive individuals)

• Yellow Energy Is: Warm, Bright, Stimulating, Energizing, Appetite Increasing, Mood Enhancing, Promoting Mental Clarity, Cleansing/Purifying, Positive & Optimistic. (Yellow can be over-stimulating for sensitive individuals)

• Blue Energy Is: Cool, Relaxing, Calming, Communication Enhancing, Sleep Promoting, Encouraging Truthful Expression & Loyalty, Invoking Confidence, Appetite Suppressing, Physically Cooling.

Secondary Colors:

• Green Energy Is: Cool, Balancing, Healing, Encouraging Self-Love, Harmony Promoting, Blood Pressure Balancing, Giving Headache Relief.

• Purple Energy Is: Encouraging Self-Awareness, Promoting Meditation, Fostering Insights & Epiphanies, Emotionally Soothing, Imagination Strengthening, Balancing for Mental Imbalances.

• Orange Energy Is: Warm, Stimulating, Increasing Mental Energy & Appitite, Positive, Fostering Courage & Creativity, Promoting Sexuality. (Orange can be over-stimulating for sensitive individuals)

Neutrals:

• Black Energy Is: Seductive, Protective, Promoting Stillness & Mysteriousness, Powerful. (Black can lead to depression, isolation, and loneliness for prone individuals)

• Gray Energy Is: Stabilizing, Relaxing, Emotionally Detached, Reserved, Still & Serious. (Dark Grays can lead to depression, isolation, and loneliness for prone individuals)

• White Energy Is: Refreshing, Purifying, Balancing, Invoking Energetic Lightness, Bringing Mental Clarity, Positive & Optimistic, Encouraging New Beginnings, Promoting Open-Mindedness, Healing & Protective, Hopeful, Joyful.

• Brown Energy Is: Grounding, Stabilizing, Promoting Presence & Security, Encouraging Productivity & Order

• Gold Energy Is: Warm, Inspiring, Uplifting, Promoting Optimism & Confidence, Generosity Boosting.

• Silver Energy Is: Cool, Calming, Restorative, Healing, Conflict Resolving, Promoting Peace of Mind, Reducing Physical & Emotional Pain, Cleansing.

Tertiary Colors:

Are a primary or secondary color that have a heavier influence of one of the colors used to create it. They are: Blue Red/Orange Red, Blue Green/ Yellow Green, Blue Purple/Red Purple. Each of these colors has the combined energy of each individual color.

Color therapy is easy to integrate into your life. A really simple way to use color is to wear colored clothing. If you want a big dose of color you can wear a single color outfit. Colored lights are another way to bring more color into your life and are readily available online. Using color on your walls either with paint or monochromatic tapestries can be used to create environments to increase moods and balance your personal energies. Floors are a perfect canvas to easily incorporate color with rugs/carpets that are not permanent and can be changed to suit your needs. Trust that when you are drawn to specific colors, even just in your clothing choices, that it is because that color is beneficial for you. I implore you to experiment with color and see how it works for you.

Wishing you more ups then downs in this journey of life. Leave a question or comment if you feel called to do so. Namaste

Let’s talk about the practice of gratitude. While it is entirely possible and even probable to experience spontaneous gratitude or gratefulness, what I am diving into here is the practice of gratitude. In other words, the cultivation, effort, and consistency of recognizing things in ones life to be grateful for, both big and small.

A gratitude practice is incredibly beneficial for a multitude of reasons. However, as any practice goes, without consistent effort it is difficult to reap the full rewards. So, why should you care? Well, science shows us that folks who have a gratitude practice report higher levels of happiness and satisfaction in their lives. Part of this is due to the notion that when your mind is in a state of gratefulness it is not possible to simultaneously experience negative thoughts and emotions. Therefore, by making a gratitude practice you are literally making more space for positive energy and less space for negative energy in your life.

To be honest creating a life with less negativity alone makes gratitude a tool worth using. But like a piñata first cracked, gratitude has more goodies for us. Practicing gratitude makes us more present in our lives and less likely to take the world around us for granted. This is because in reality some of us have very similar day to day activities with the same people, which means that practicing gratitude may be more about recognizing the small things in our lives like coffee, sunshine, the pop of color on a flower that just bloomed and how it made you feel, the dance of a tree leaf in the wind, or a kind word. There is really nothing too small to be grateful for, and when you begin to look around in your life, chances are no matter how much you feel stuck or are running low on hope there is something you can be grateful for. Which leads me to my next point on gratitude.

A gratitude practice can help you shift your energy when you’re feeling low, down, unhappy, and hopeless. The truth is that there are many things we consider a right and take for granted in our daily lives. A prime example of this is clean drinking water. Water is a necessity for life. Water hydrates and cleanses our bodies; we cannot survive without water. Yet, according to the CDC there is an estimated 780 million people without access to improved water sources (improved means protected). When you start to look, chances are there is something to be grateful for. And, once you see one or two things in your life you will begin to see more and more to be grateful for, which in turn will begin to shift you into a more positive state of being. When you feel positive and happy you draw more positive, happy experiences into your life, creating a positive feedback loop.

Another benefit of a gratitude practice is its ability to help us see the positive in otherwise “negative” situations. In reality, the majority of our experiences are neutral, but we view them through the lens and emotions of our past and we assign it a label of good or bad. With the habit of expressing gratitude on a regular bases, the silver lining in events and situations becomes more visible. This effect is for two reasons, one is that you are actively looking for good things in your life and the second is because practicing gratitude gives you an overall more positive outlook on life. Recognizing the possibility of good in adversity is sort of a super power because when you can frame experiences positively or get some positivity out of them, it opens you up to see how perspective plays such a big role in how we receive, respond, and react to information. And, when we can shift our perspective then we have the power to shift our entire experience, allowing life to happen for us, instead of to us.

So how can you begin to integrate a gratitude practice into your life? There are many ways to easily incorporate this practice. A gratitude journal either a bought journal that is expressly meant for gratitude or a simple blank notebook can be used. Not everyone is the same so play with finding a consistency that works best for you. For some people that might be every day but for others once a week is the perfect prescription. Be sure to be real with yourself when using a journal, its ok to skip a day or more if you’re just not feeling it, you’re human and sometimes its hard in life to see or feel the positive, but do try to pick up your practice again as soon as possible, when you can. Another way to bring gratitude into your life is to include it during your meditation time if you have a meditation practice. You can spend a few moments feeling gratitude right before or after your practice, and even during your practice if that works best for you. You might even find that practicing gratitude with your meditation makes your meditation more impactful since it can help you break out of any negative thinking and shift your energy into positivity. A third idea is to begin a gratitude ritual that includes your friends or families by physically gathering on a regular day of the week or month and sharing what you’re grateful for. The same can be done via Zoom or Skype if you’re separated, which many of us are at this time. Lastly, if social media is your thing you can do a weekly shout out for either people or things in your life that you’re thankful for. Your imagination is really the only limit when incorporating a gratitude practice into your life.

Wishing you more ups then downs in this journey of life. Leave us a comment or question if you feel called to do so. Namaste.

Using sound is an effective tool to heal and balance the body. The following videos focus on each chakra using Tibetan singing bowls tuned for the specific notes each chakra resonates with. So, find a comfortable place and let the sounds work their magic.

1st/Root Chakra Tibetan Singing Bowl Meditation

2nd/Sacral Chakra Tibetan Singing Bowl Meditation

3rd/Solar Plexus Tibetan Singing Bowl Meditation

4th/Heart Chakra Tibetan Singing Bowl Meditation

5th/Throat Chakra Tibetan Singing Bowl Meditation

6th/Third Eye Chakra Tibetan Singing Bowl Meditation

7th/Crown Chakra Tibetan Singing Bowl Meditation

Full body 7 Chakra Tibetan Singing Bowl Sound Healing

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.”  -Mark Twain

Forgiveness is a wonderful tool to gain self-empowerment and control in our lives. Forgiveness gives emotional and mental freedom. Forgiveness heals. Forgiveness lightens our hearts and brings us humility. Forgiveness is the ultimate gift, a gift that continues to give us more and more with its loving embrace the longer we allow ourselves to be held.

Forgiveness is power, the power of freedom from the emotional pain inflicted by another person, situation, event, or even from ourselves. Forgiveness does not undo the actions but it does free the person giving the forgiveness from the toxic nature of holding ill or negative feelings about a person, situation, conversation, thought, or action. When we genuinely forgive or even genuinely want to forgive we allow those toxic emotions associated to be released. Trapped toxic emotions over time will erode health and wellbeing and can lead to issues in many areas of daily life.

“Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different, it’s accepting the past for what it was, and using this moment and this time to help yourself move forward”  -Oprah Winfrey

Forgiveness does not require you to forget the offense. Forgiveness does not mean you have to continue to have contact or an ongoing relationship with the person or persons who hurt you. Forgiveness does not mean you have to tell the person, situation, or event that you forgave it. The act of forgiving is for you.

Self-forgiveness is the practice of being gentle with your Self for your own mistakes and missteps. Self-forgiveness is forgiving yourself for what you could have said or done differently. This does not mean that you cannot use your mistakes to work towards doing or speaking differently or better in the future. However, forgiving your Self allows you to release harmful self-talk and emotions that are otherwise trapped in your being.

Sometimes, it can take a really long time to finally come to a place within your Self where forgiveness can be given. And, sometimes we can be faced with needing to forgive something or someone that was never apologized for, and never will be. However, forgiveness is for you, and no one else, so you can heal and move forward in your life.

“Forgiveness is the power that breaks the chains of bitterness and anger. And set you free from the shackles of your own prison.” -Roots and Wings Ministries

Forgiveness is a practice, which means the more you do it, the more easily it will come to you when you need to use it as a self-love, self-healing tool in your life. Forgiveness may look a little different for each person but has several common elements:

• Forgiveness is a choice. As such, it is a tool to heal and does not require that we no longer have hurt feelings to make this choice.
• Forgiveness takes time. It is perfectly human to feel all the feels from a situation or person who has hurt you. Your feelings are meant to guide you and it is not wrong to allow your Self to feel what has come up and to process what you feel, why you feel it, and what that means to you. Having emotions is natural, holding onto those negative feelings is where the danger lies and why eventually making your way to forgiveness is a way to let go, to release those emotions. With practice getting to a place of granting forgiveness comes easier.
• Forgiveness is not making what was done ok or right. Forgiving is a tool to end your mental and emotional suffering and never means you have to agree with the action, words, behavior, or that there should not be accountability for what happened.

As hard as it may be to let go of the anger, resentment, and hurt, when you gift forgiveness to the person, situation, or your Self the peace gained is equal or greater than the pain being held onto.

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you”  -Lewis B. Smedes

Wishing you more ups then downs in this journey of life. Leave a question or comment, if you feel called to do so. Namaste.

The Gift of Time

A few years ago I knew a man who said he always liked to give himself the “gift of time” when he was in a conversation or personal interaction, and especially if that conversation had a passionate or disagreeing nature. This is a phrase that has stuck with me because it empowers us to show up more clearly in our conversations and interactions.

If you are wondering exactly what this “gift of time” is, it is that moment of pausing or taking a step back (literally or figuratively) before reacting. It is the stopping of automaticity and the engaging of intention in our communication. This gift is the difference between reacting and responding. It is the contrast of being in the driver’s seat or just going along for the ride.

When we gift ourselves with this time to be aware of our thoughts and actions we are able to take more charge over how we engage in our own lives. We are acting from a place of logic and conscience. We can see the bigger picture of how our words and actions have an impact not only on the other people involved, but also on what we actually want to achieve through our communications and interactions. Often, in hindsight, with a little introspection it is easy to see how the way we showed up through our tone, choice of words, volume, and even body language had an impact on the desired outcome of our conversation. It is truly powerful to be able to express thoughts, ideas, and concerns with clarity and intention. To say what you mean and mean what you say. Taking that moment to pause and gather your thoughts can be the difference between a positive outcome and a negative outcome, the latter requiring much more energy to shift back into harmony. When we give ourselves the gift of time we are responding to the person, people, and situations in our lives allowing us to be proactive in our expressions and giving us the power to direct our communications towards better outcomes. In an experiment by a well-known relationship expert, couples were observed together during interactions of stressful topics. During the experiment once the conversation became heated and heart rates were 100+ beats per minute the couples were told there was some technical issues and they we asked to wait separately while the equipment was fixed, once the couples were brought back together they had a much more calm and logical approach to the topic. The couples did not know that the actual experiment was in separating them to observe if the time apart would have an impact on their reactiveness, and indeed it did.

Science has demonstrated that it takes 1.5 minutes for an emotion to arise and then dissipate, unless it is fed into by our thoughts and actions. What this means is that taking a brief break from our conversation or interaction just may prevent an unjustified emotional outburst. Think back to the last time you hit send on a text message or let a word or two slip, that you wanted to take back because you did not “really” mean to say “that” or to be hurtful and to speak in a way that did not honor yourself as a being of love. And, lets face it, sometimes the person who is on the receiving end of our emotions may not even be the source of those feelings to begin with, so taking a step back can help us realize this. When we do and say things we do not mean because we do not stop to think about the bigger picture; why we have the feelings we have, and what the outcome will be, and if it’s the outcome we want, then we then end up having to do damage control afterwards in hopes of repairing our mistake.

The “gift of time” is the art of responding. It may take some practice and it requires cultivating self-awareness of your emotions but your efforts will be rewarded with communication that is outcome focused and with less time spent trying to undo any resulting harm from saying or doing things unintentionally.

A proven way to take a step back if you are getting upset in a conversation or interaction is to do 4X4 breathing. Simply inhale for 4 counts and exhale for 4 counts, continuing this breath for 60 seconds or longer. If it feels better you can increase to 5X5 or even 6X6. When you redirect your attention from your thoughts and feelings to your breath it allows your body to reset and allows you to approach your conversation or interaction from a calm and logical place.

Wishing you more ups then downs in this journey of life. If you feel called to do so leave us a comment or question. Namaste.

What types of feelings come up for you when you think about the topic of money? Does it make you feel good, bad or even taboo? What about when you think about your money? What feelings arise? Are they feelings of happiness? Of panic? Of ___________ (fill in the blank)? The way we feel about money tells a lot about our relationship with money, which has many of the emotions we identify with in our actual relationships such as love, hate, disgust, happiness, sadness, and the list can go on and on in both directions. Our family, our religion, our culture, as well as our own personal experiences influence the way we feel about money. When we see money for what it truly is, a form of energy we can take a step back from our emotional attachments around money and begin to reframe our feelings about it.

Everything is energy. You are an energetic being with electrical signals making your heart beat and sending messages through your brain. You are surrounded by an electromagnetic energy field known as an aura which has a big impact on your health, the types of people and situations you call into your life and it affects your energy levels, mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. The aura is its own topic that can generate a lot of discussion, I implore you to do some research on this topic if it interests you. Back to our topic. You are energy. Everything around you is energy. So, it makes sense that money too, is energy.

Money is energy because it represents a value of exchange. That value exchange is based on energy and not what we typically think of in terms of “value” because value itself is flexible and can change as our individual and societal needs change. Can you recall something you used to value as important that one day was just no longer a big deal? And indeed money itself has a changing value as the stock market, exchange rates, and economy shifts. We as a part of our society are who determine what the value of something is. People gave value to gold and silver the same way we assign value to money as a society but in truth when it was first discovered it was just a pretty metal that was only worth a lot of “oohs” and “ahhhs”, someone said “this is important” and someone else agreed and so the idea of gold and silver being precious and valuable began. What you hold in your hand today is either a piece of paper, some metal, or plastic, none of which have the inherent value they represent. Think about it, “money” is made up, the value assigned to it is made up. So what money really represents is energy. It is the standardized exchange of energy! As a society we used to barter to get the things we needed and wanted, but the time and effort to make a pair of shoes is not the same as milking a cow, therefore a system was put into place so that people could get the things they needed from each other in a way that represented an equal exchange of energy. This way the shoe maker could get milk for less than a pair of shoes, and rightfully so.

Hopefully you catch my drift on this idea, because now the really important part comes into to play. Since money is energy that means you have more control over your relationship with it and how it shows up in your life. Because money is energy and you are energy the two of you are made for each other, like attracts like! But, the question is: what is your energy doing to support this naturally beneficial relationship? Ask your Self, are you attracting money, repelling money, or the money comes but never stays? If your attracting money, well done, you can stop reading, sort of shocked you stayed this long… but, if your not attracting money there is good news, you can do something about it. And no, I don’t mean another job, unless your current job underpays you because you undervalue yourself. Which is my next point on this money energy thing, and where you can make a change, and that is simply this: You will never receive your value if you don’t value your Self. It’s really that black and white. Making money can involve working hard and putting in lots of hours but valuing your Self to be worth making (and keeping) the money is actually a much bigger piece. Recognizing your own value is a catalyst to investing in your Self, which in turn, gives you more skills and more marketable value as well as empowering you to request compensation in alignment with the value you are providing.

So far I hope you’ve gained some insight. There is still one more piece to this money is energy puzzle which is equally as important as embodying your Self worth. How you feel about money, the feelings on the surface as well as the ones deep down inside you that you don’t always acknowledge or even know exist, play a big role in how you interact with money. If you received conscious and unconscious messages that made money out to be the villain when you were a child or even in the womb, then chances are you made an unconscious agreement to have this same belief, after all we are an accumulation of our experiences and some of those are being impressionable babies and children. Getting to the core of your emotions and feelings of money takes a lot of work and can even be a bit icky, but the pay-off is incredible. If you are able to uncover those feelings especially the negative ones then you are able to examine and reframe those feelings and emotions into a healthier pattern, which is productive to attracting the money you desire into your life.

For some of you it may take some deep work to discover your thoughts and beliefs about money. Equally, it is no small task to uncover your true beliefs and build up your Self worth if it is less then ideal. But the truth is that even if it takes 1 yr. or 5 yrs. or even 10 yrs. to do this work, that time is going to pass by regardless of what you do with it. The only difference is what you have to show for it on the other side. I can promise that if you start this journey depending on where you are at it may be a slow payoff, but it will payoff.

Something you can do starting right now to shift your money energy is to find a mantra that is positive and feels good to say. Here are a few I enjoy using:

“The Universe supports me and abundance flows to me”

“I am always taken care of in all things and in all ways”

“Money flows to me with ease”

Wishing you more ups then downs in this journey of life. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! Namaste.

Sahasrara, Crown Chakra

The Crown Chakra is the 7^th chakra of the seven major chakras. Sahasrara is the Sanskrit name for this chakra meaning “Thousand (Spoked or Petalled (Lotus))” because this chakra radiates like the rays of the sun, extending our soul up into the cosmos and connecting us with our Divine Source when it is healthy, balanced and open. The main function of this chakra is “To Know” as it is our connection to Spirit and to our innate wisdom. The Crown Chakra is known as the seat of liberation allowing us to dissolve our attachment to ego resulting in the union of our truest and highest selves. The lower six chakras are a journey through the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of being, coming together and building up to the shifts needed to allow our Crown Chakra to fully open. When our Crown Chakra is healthy and balanced we experience feelings of unity, wisdom, bliss, understanding, and an awareness of our own divinity. When this chakra is blocked or out of balance we may be spacy, suffer from mental illness, have depression, learning disabilities, or apathy, as well as feeling as though we are alone and separate.

Along with opening, strengthening, and balancing the other six chakras here are ways to work with the Crown Chakra:

• Violet & White are the colors most associated with this chakra. Color can be utilized by wearing violet or white clothing, visualizing one of the colors as a radiant ball above your head where the crown chakra is located, or eating violet/purple colored foods such as purple kale, mulberries, grapes, and any other naturally colored purple food.

• OM/AUM is the seed sound of the Crown Chakra. Om can be chanted to strengthen and balance the connection to all. Additionally, because the Om seed sound also has a symbol, quieting the mind while gazing at the symbol is of benefit.

• Crystals are wonderful tools to work with the chakras. They can be worn, used in meditation, placed around your home in areas where you relax and also placed under your pillow while you sleep. The following crystals are beneficial for the crown chakra: diamond or Herkimer diamond, amethyst, clear quartz or any other purple, white or clear gemstone you feel called to work with.

• Essential oils that support this chakra are frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood. These oils can be diffused in your home or car, or can be worn diluted.

• Affirmations are a powerful tool to shift your thoughts to bring in healthy balanced qualities you wish to nurture. The following affirmations help focus good energy to the crown chakra:

“I am one with ALL”

“I am wise and share my wisdom”

“Bliss is my true nature”

• Yoga is a way to bring balance into our entire being. The following yoga asanas or postures can be practiced to bring vitality to the Crown Chakra:

Headstand

Rabbit Pose

Corpse Pose

I invite you to explore any or all of these tips to work with your Crown Chakra. Each of these suggestions is powerful tool when used with intention to help you create the life and experience you desire. Trust that what you are drawn to is because it will have benefit for you.