We think our demons have a hold of us. But what if we are holding onto them? What if we're comfortable in our pain or the stories we keep telling, grasping them tightly, even unaware we may be doing so? While practicing Qigong earlier this year with Grandmaster Mantak Chia, I was fascinated by something … Continue reading Free Your Demons, They Have Better Places to Be
I'm well into writing my next book. This one is about the energy of money. I had the great fortune of interviewing Ken Honda (international best-selling author and "happy money" mentor) years ago during one of my online courses in sacral chakra and abundance. I recently heard Ken tell a story about generosity and happy … Continue reading Money Monday: The Seat of Happiness
There was a time when I enjoyed, craved even, elaborate visualizations and meditations. It felt rich and enlivening to envision colourful imagery and story dancing across my mind and focused into healing parts of my body or psyche! However, these past few years, whenever I find myself in guided meditation, tension arises. My mind and … Continue reading More Space, Please.
Decades ago, when I first trained as a Personal Trainer, weight loss and strength training were the main gaols of many. We were taught that to achieve these goals was a simple matter of math. Weight loss = use more calories than you eat. Muscle gain = lift weights and consume more protein and calories. … Continue reading Health is a Matter of Math
There is a practice in Buddhism called raising Bodhicitta. It may involve a particular mudra or hand posture. It may be done sitting or standing. Eyes open or closed. Raising Bodhicitta involves cultivating compassion and a desire to benefit all beings. It's a heart-felt intention often made at the beginning of meditation practice. The key … Continue reading Raising Bodhicitta
Last year, I was fortunate to learn the practice of Tibetan Sound Healing for Women from my Qigong teacher, Daisy Lee. She learned it many years ago from one of her teachers. Tibetan Sound Healing is a series of 6 sounds chanted one at a time, plus one 'silent sound'. Gentle movements accompany each sound. … Continue reading What Perfect Health Sounds Like
This morning, I received the Daily Dharma from The Tricycle Community in my inbox. It read: Some people have the idea that practicing Zen or any religion is becoming God or Buddha, or even “becoming a good person.” But if you are grasping to become “enlightened,” it’s like putting icing over a mold of cow … Continue reading Waiting it out
I used to be afraid of spiders. And then I heard how many First Nations communities view spider through the folklore of Grandmother Spider: the master weaver, connector of living things and bringer of light. Photo by Phil Kallahar on Pexels.com We recently moved to a new home. Standing in front of the house as … Continue reading Grandmother Spider
The day of the solar eclipse, I had an inspired idea. "I should go to barre class!" My initial plan for that day was outdoor meditation, perhaps accompanied by mantra. I weighed the two options. "Let's be bold. Let's do barre class." A tiny inner voice reminded me of the old wisdom of not practicing … Continue reading Knowing When to Lower the Barre
I remember sitting in the waiting room of the small clinic that provided biofeedback and psychology services for those with traumatic brain injury. They'd worked with Olympic athletes. I plucked one of the many pamphlets from the small table next to my chair. It read: "After brain injury, 90% of marriages end in divorce." Well, … Continue reading How TBIs affect your life is TBD