I couldn't help leaving the movie theater last night wondering why any of us choose to live life waiting for something to happen, as opposed to living each moment to the fullest. The film was Julian Schnabel's The Diving Bell & the Butterfly, the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the high-society editor of the French Elle magazine, who suffered a stroke at age 43. He awoke from a coma with "Locked-In" syndrome, having complete mental functioning in a body paralyzed from head to … [Read more...]
Study: TM Effective in Reducing High Blood Pressure
People with high blood pressure may find relief from Transcendental Meditation, according to a definitive new analysis of 107 published studies on stress reduction programs and high blood pressure, which was published in the December issue of Current Hypertension Reports.The Transcendental Meditation technique produces a statistically significant reduction in high blood pressure that is not found with other forms of relaxation, meditation, biofeedback or stress management. The new analysis … [Read more...]
Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips & Extreme Spirituality
Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips, by Kris Carr (Skirt! Books, 2007) $17.95Wearing her cowboy boots through everyday of the scans, biopsies and batteries of test and re-tests, Kris Carr proves that she is indeed just the gal to give cancer a makeover. Part scrap book, part journal and bursting with color and energy, Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips guides you through "Cancer University" thirtysomething style. With the intimacy of a chat with your best friend and the liveliness to perk up even the most … [Read more...]
The Holy in Me honors the Holy in You
In the quiet moments of meditation we find the spacious peace of love. Guided meditation helps remove the chatter of distraction and frees the communication between spirit and mind. It has been my experience that doing meditation for people can bring a calming, healing, restful peace from many struggles. It can be used while falling asleep or to relieve an aching body. With attention to the breath we enter a more restful state of being. For those who have struggled with silent meditation, guided … [Read more...]
Why Meditate? A Former College Partier’s Perspective
Like little children peeking their eyes from behind small hands, the thoughts come up and hold my attention. That's when I realize I'm in the middle of meditation. "Why am I doing this?" I ask, and the simple answer comes just as easily as those thoughts that love to bounce inside my head. I love meditating, but I didn't always. A daydream hijacks my mind, and I remember what life was like before I started to meditate. My life was scattered, confusing and misdirected. It was a clear … [Read more...]
Awakening Part 1: An interview with Leonard Jacobson
By 1 Comment
First of a two-part series In this age of heightened security, global uncertainty and climatic change, many spiritual teachers and guides continue to lead the human race toward conscious evolution. Leonard Jacobson is one such awakened soul who urges us to temper the desire of the ego for power and control, and to "integrate awakened consciousness into everyday life, enhancing every aspect of life and relationships." Jacobson, 65, has been guiding people on the path of awakening for more … [Read more...]
The Practice of Meditation
My family loves the board game Risk. In the game, every player receives armies that are strategically placed on various countries. The goal is to take over the world. In the beginning of the game, my oldest son concentrates all his armies on three or four countries. From all appearances, he should never be a threat to anyone. The rest of the family, however, looks strong and powerful with their armies spread all over the world. But, after hours of play, my oldest son, who has marched out to … [Read more...]
Charting the Heavens in January
The Sun, traveling through Capricorn this month, emboldens us to own our personal authority and enter more fully into life with a renewed sense of purpose born of inner wisdom...until it enters Aquarius on 1/20 and we birth and nurture new visions. The new moon on 1/8 in Capricorn finds us feeling more confident to take on new responsibilities. The full moon on 1/22 in Leo brings out our childlike innocence and creativity. The beauty of higher structures is that they can support us in expressing … [Read more...]
A Paean to Love in all its Glory
Since the wild success of The Secret, dozens, if not hundreds, of filmmakers have been approaching investors and producers, claiming to have the "next" version of The Secret. At the Spiritual Cinema Circle, we have seen the filmed results of some of these attempts. Trying to imitate someone else's success, however, is where Hollywood itself has gone so awry in the last decade or so. There will be no "next" version of The Secret, any more than The Secret itself was the … [Read more...]
Meditation: My First Encounter
My first attempts at meditation took place at a 35-day spiritual retreat. I had never done anything spiritual before in my life (unless you count three years of fidgety Catholic school masses.) I was completely taken with the idea that I could control my thoughts, and thus change my reality. I cherished the idea that I could find a sense of peace and calm and self-love through meditating. My entire logical mind was completely on board.Until it actually came time to sit down and do it.The genius … [Read more...]
Iowa Holistic Expo
QUICK LINKS TO IOWA HOLISTIC EXPOONLINE TICKET CENTER FOR IOWA HOLISTIC EXPODOWNLOAD 2008 IOWA HOLISTIC EXPO: AT A GLANCE FLYER DOWNLOAD FREE WORKSHOPS AT 2008 IOWA HOLISTIC EXPO SEE LIST OF EXHIBITORS AT 2008 IOWA HOLISTIC EXPO SEE EXHIBITION BOOTHS AVAILABLE AT 2008 IOWA HOLISTIC EXPO Edge Life is excited to announce the debut of Iowa Holistic Expo on March 15-16, 2008, at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown, affording all Iowa residents the opportunity to learn more about ways to enhance their … [Read more...]
Effortless Meditation
After meditating for many years, through many forms of meditation, I prefer a most basic and simple meditation. A meditation that requires no effort. A meditation that is not a doing. It is simply sitting...aware.In its simplicity is something very powerful, because when we sit down to meditate, often we feel we should be doing something. Instead, for a period of time, we are to do nothing at all. If we find we are trying to control or manipulate our breathing, thoughts, etc., we recognize that … [Read more...]
The Intuitive Spark: Bringing Intuition Home to Your Child, Your Family, and You
The following excerpt from the book The Intuitive Spark, by Sonia Choquette. It is published by Hay House (November 2007) and available at all bookstores or online at www.hayhouse.comSo many people have the false notion that following your intuition means tuning out the real world, but nothing could be further from the truth. As strange as it may seem, in order to become aware of your sixth sense, first it's necessary to be mindful of the environment around you and fully conscious of what's here … [Read more...]
Imagination Contemplation: Daydreaming as Meditation?
I have fond memories of the hours I spent as a child partaking in the sacred art of daydreaming. There were many places where I was free to daydream, indulging stories of dragons, fairies, princes and uncharted, mysterious lands. Parochial school, I learned, was not the place. Instead, I was reprimanded for being inattentive while I spent hours gazing out the windows, searching for the next fantasy. Ironically, it was through the very institution of the Catholic Church that I was later given … [Read more...]
Spotlight on Conscious Business
The Gathering Salon & Wellness Center, 656 Selby Ave., St. Paul MN 55104, 651.222.3322, gathering@qwest.net, gatheringsalon.netOnce upon a time there was a lady named Nancy who had a vision of a place where people could gather, explore their spiritual needs and find a community where like-minded folks could gather. She also envisioned a place to practice her craft of salon services. The vision was a place of holistic wellness - a balance of mind, spirit and the body. This vision was given to … [Read more...]
Recent Comments