Join me as I share my perception of the teachings of Yoga and how they can be adapted to life as we know it today. I riff a lot and it's always from the heart!
The Ajna Chakra, located between the brows, is the "sight" for intuition and wisdom.
The 5th Chakra is the Vishuddha which translates as Purification. The area is the throat and the color is blue. Join me as we journey to the upper realms, beginning with Vishuddha
In this episode I share an overview of the Anahata Chakra, the bridge between the upper and lower energy bodies.
Next up, the Manipura Chakra located in the solar plexus region of the body
Moving on up! We are exploring the Svadhisthana Chakra located just below the navel
Join me as we journey through the subtle body and the 7 major chakras. This episode is an introduction
Lovingkindness meditation is a series of phrases that serve us by being a vehicle for the heart's energy. Enjoy this guided meditation session.
Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Phd is a wonderful book that discusses our true wild nature. In this episode I share an excerpt where she explains the relationship between our ego & our Soul
Baby steps, that's what is need when we are exploring a life of conscious awareness. Also, listen to your elders, they are the doorway to Spirit.
What is my purpose? Why am I here? The answers are within.
Discovering inner spaciousness allows us to be fully present with what is, accept what is happening in the now and find the stillness within.
In chapter 7 of A New Earth we discuss how to discover who we truly are, what is our essence, what is our purpose
In chapter 6 of A New Earth we are exploring how to break free from the pain body and it's addiction to unhappiness and suffering
Hobbes helps me explain the pain body. In Chapter 5 of A New Earth we learn what the pain body is and how we can realize that the past has now power in the present.
In chapter 4 of A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle he discusses the egos habit of creating roles for us that we can become attached to if we are not in present.
Chapter 3 of A New Earth dives deeper into the ego. Complaining & worrying are not constructive, rather they create a narrative that causes separation and stress.
In this episode we talk about our thoughts, me & my story, and how we create our identity around them. Join me as we discuss chapter two from A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
It has been 25 years since the publication of this book by Eckhart Tolle & 25 years since I first read it. It called to me around the recent holiday as something I might like to explore again. Join me as I dive back into this wonderful teaching. My hope is that perhaps it inspires you to read or reread it yourself.
Happy New Year! Enjoy some poetry reading to begin the new year. Mary Oliver, Hafiz, Lalla and more share their wisdom with us in this episode. I also share some insight into the Year of the Wood Snake.
Find a cozy spot, make a cup of mulled cider and enjoy a guided Winter Solstice meditation that is a traditional part of the annual Om Tara Yoga Candlelighting ceremony.
We continue our conversation with Reiki Master, Lisa Mayer. In this episode we reminisce about the healing circles we held together at Om Tara Yoga Studio
Ok so that was my first reaction to Reiki. In this episode I share with you one of my favorite people, Lisa Mayer. Lisa taught me the truth of Reiki and she has been a guide on the path for me ever since. We are Soul Sisters and so much more. Enjoy!
The 8th of the 8 Fold Path as taught by the Buddha. Being able to withdraw the senses and witness intrusive thoughts. Oh and so much more!
"Be here now"; "The point of power is in the present moment"; "The power of now". .. so many teachings have been trying to show us the way to embodiment and to have agency over intrusive thoughts. In this episode we will discuss the 7th teaching of the 8 Fold Path as taught by Buddha
The effort that is meant here, is the effort to know the mind. A discipline of meditation and cultivating a continued sense of awareness is key to the 8 Fold Path.
This teaching from the 8 Fold Path as taught by the Buddha, speaks directly to how we make a living. It's about recognizing what impact our vocation has on the world at large. It's very nuanced, not at all black & white as we will see when I share an excerpt from The Art of Living by Thich Nhat Hanh.
The fourth "fold" in the 8 Fold Path of Buddhism is all about action, conduct. It is about our choices and behaviours, very similar to the Yamas of Patanjali. Are your actions contributing to the ease and well being of all concerned or are they disrupting the peace?
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? In this episode we discuss the Buddhist teaching on Realistic Speech and look at how are perception of things along with our choice of words can hurt others.
The second teaching on the 8 Fold Path of the Buddha is Realistic Intention. In this episode we discuss motivation and Resistance.
Realistic Worldview is the first of the 8 Fold Path as taught by Buddha. Having a realistic understanding of how things work, being able to apply intellect, science, wisdom to the reality of causation aides us in being liberated from suffering.
The 4th Noble Truth is the offering of the 8 Fold Path. First we are given the diagnosis and then we are offered the prescription!
The Buddha taught that there can be complete cessation of suffering. In this episode we will unpack that Noble Truth or friendly fun fact as Bob Thurman calls them!
The 2nd Noble Truth, as taught by the Buddha, is all about the causes of suffering. Hint, it has to do with separation of Self & Other.
Surprise! Life is Suffering. In this episode we unpack that friendly fact (so named by Professor Thurman) and see what we find.
Let's embark on a journey together! I'd like to share the teachings of the Buddha, most notably, the 4 Noble Truths & the 8 Fold Path. Here we go!
I met Green Tara on September 25th, 2006. In this episode, I share my journey into Buddhism and my "accidental" kundalini awakening. I'm happy I didn't choose to go Fall boot shopping that day!
In this episode I share the introduction from Mirabai Starr's translation of the Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avila
I love the story of Buddha inviting Mara, the Demon God, to tea. Mara represents lust, greed, anger, doubt, etc. When Mara would visit the Buddha to tempt him the Buddha would pour two cups of tea and sit with him and say "I see you Mara".
Forgiveness, resentment, bitterness go together. If we hold on to the pain in a way that makes us unable to forgive, we shackle our own hearts. Bitterness blocks us from the awe and wonder of our own lives. What if we were to Let It Be? Not let it go, but release the pain through forgiveness and see what the event is there to teach us.
Looking at sutra 1.33 (again) we see the four keys and locks. Patanjali shows us that there are four kinds of people, happy, unhappy, virtuous and wicked. How we engage with these people determines our own inner happiness.
Dreams leave a residue on us and in us whether we recall them or not. We know that we are discharging our conscious experiences (known or unknown) when we practice Yoga asana but what about our unconscious or subconscious experiences? We look at sutras 1.33 and 1.38 from Patanjali to see why it's important to discharge all the residue and begin again.
I have a favorite Upanishad that tells the story of two birds, two sweet friends, who dwell in the same self tree. This teachings reminds us that we are both, the one that is busy partaking in all the fruits of life (bitter and sweet) and the witness to all that is actually our higher Self.
In part two of my conversation with Maria, we talk a little more about EMDR and how necessary it is to have a safe place and supportive people to assist us on our journey of healing. Please be advised that the topics of mental health and suicide are discussed in this episode
I am very excited to share with you my conversation with Maria Cassano, author and Yogini. Maria and I discuss therapy, her recent memoir and her very real experience with EMDR. Please be advised that this episode contains topics of mental health, trauma and suicide.
In this final episode on The Four Agreements, written by Don Miguel Ruiz, we discuss the 4th agreement Always Do Your Best!
You know how the rest of that saying goes, right? In this episode we unpack Agreement Number 3 from the book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz "don't make assumptions".
The Second Agreement according to Don Miguel Ruiz is Don't Take Anything Personally.
In this episode I begin to share some excerpts from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. We will begin with the first, be impeccable with your word.
In this episode I share an excerpt from Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
When I heard the line "bitterness is amplified self-pity" it stopped me in my tracks. Listen in as I riff on this idea and share the antidote to self-pity.