When illness arrives, you change your life. You might quit your job or prioritize family. Maybe you write a book or spend more time in nature. Perhaps you take up yoga or grow your own food. Or you go sky-diving and knock other things off the bucket list. This has been my life. Not the … Continue reading Make Medicine from Suffering
Whew! The past 6 months have been fast and furious (emphasis on furious). I haven't written. Not like my usual slice of life posts that find me on a bike ride or watching the river flow by. The last post I wrote was Magpie Wisdom. The moral of that story was "Don't pick at yourself." … Continue reading Sangha is Sacred… Even if it’s in a Zoom Room.
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.
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
Buddha became enlightened and so will I. This is the level of conviction we are instructed to practice from. This level involves more than hope. I'm reading Pema Chodron's book, When Things Fall Apart. In her book, she writes about hopelessness: that it is necessary to stop hoping and start being with whatever is. "The … Continue reading On Hope: Thursday morning musings
Third eye chakra is our centre of knowing. This is where we shine a light on what's hidden. And what's often hidden here is negativity. We have the states of a positive mind, a negative mind and a neutral mind. Staying only in the state of positive mind leads to a life of rose-coloured glasses … Continue reading Third eye chakra: to know your own mind
"Choosing to slow down and not accomplish anything is a revolution in itself."Hai An (Sister Ocean),“The Joy of Letting Go: Spring Cleaning Inside and Out” Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com I declare today Wu Wei Saturday. Do nothing and accomplish everything. I expect your best efforts, people 😉
I was late to wake this morning, so the neighbourhood was up by the time I reached my front step for meditation. I like the early mornings, not just because the mind is more amenable to practice, but because the air is so fresh, particularly now with the spring rains and the fresh green growth. … Continue reading The best place for your efforts
We sometimes use the word opposite as if it has a negative connotation. But often opposite is the medicine you need. In Ayurveda, India's 5000-year-old science of life and sister science of yoga, the 3 doshas (comprised of the 5 elements) make up each person's unique constitution: vata (air and space), pitta (fire and water), … Continue reading Buddhism & Ayurveda Agree: the answer is opposite
Stephanie Hrehirchuk - Author 