July 3, 2010
An Independent Mind
My granddaughter Molly is 13. She loves to read and loves history. She brought me two books that she adamantly encouraged me to read ~ Fever 1793 and Chains both by Laurie Halse Anderson. They are historical novels written for young adults. I love an easy read. Some of my favorite books have been written for teens. During my recent two-week break from teaching I found time to read both of these very good books.
Fever 1793 tells of a teen aged girl's experiences during an epidemic of yellow fever that occurred in Philadelphia that year. Unlike Molly I never was a big history fan, especially as a child. So until a couple of weeks ago I had no knowledge that there ever was such an epidemic.
Chains takes place in New York City in 1776 and is told by a slave girl. Ignorant of all but the most basic facts of the Revolutionary War, I had never thought about how this war affected the slaves or what life was like 234 years ago in New York City, a city I knew well as a teenager.
These books are still lingering in my mind as we approach the July 4th holiday this year. And today, as I sat on my couch folding laundry and trying to crochet socks, I had the TV turned on to the History Channel which ran a series on the Revolutionary War. Normally I would have surfed right over this show, but this afternoon I was curious to learn more about the American Revolution.
I did learn more. I learned a lot of facts about the war, the generals, the soldiers, the battles, the congress, the economy, the European involvement and how it all dragged on for 13 years. All the patterns seemed unfortunately familiar and current.
As a schoolgirl I didn't think the murder that takes place in warfare was justifiable. That was one of the reasons I disliked studying history. As an adult I'm still holding firm to that position. I don't buy the argument that war is a valid way to make change. I don't agree that when we perceive an enemy, whether it be another human, a plant, an animal, a virus, or a belief, that the way to protect ourselves is to defeat the other through destruction.
Listening to this TV show, it bothered me to hear how some historians justified the tragic losses and suffering of the Revolution, claiming the result of those atrocities is supposedly the freedom we have today. Of course they were airing the show for the Fourth of July weekend and it was designed to entertain, educate and instill patriotism. What's more satisfying than to be on the winning side, to feel pride and superiority? Right? No, no, no, I say.
We are taught, conditioned and programmed to believe that our value is dependent on achievement and success to attain a superiority over others. This leads to the question, "Am I good enough?" If you have ever asked yourself this question, (I wonder who hasn't), then you are suffering from a belief in inequality.
Equality is one of the founding principles of our country. But the early American founders knew that they were failing to achieve this. They ignored the issue of slavery in the Constitution because they feared that to do so would result in economic collapse.
After over two centuries of American history which includes many continuing battles over civil rights, equality is still our unfinished business. It is our unrealized freedom that we fear to give ourselves because when we do, we have to give it to everyone else as well.
I ask the yogi in you to catch yourself asking that question, "Am I good enough?" Instead, recognize yourself as neither better than, nor less than anyone else. Always do your best and cherish your uniqueness. This is the making of an independent mind and an internal revolution.
May 4, 2010
It's all Yoga
One weekend in April I went to Seattle for a workshop in QiGong. The only reason I signed up for these classes was the encouragement of my Feng Shui teacher, who sponsored Master Li Jun Feng's Seattle engagement. I felt sort of obligated to go.
I had no idea what it would be like ~ it was fantastic! I was so surprised to fall in love with something new. There were two full days of learning body movements designed to move Qi (Chi, Prana, Vital Energy) in a way that awakens the heart to experience everything with love and joy, and also to benefit physical health.
Master Li teaches many forms of QiGong, but the two forms he taught at the workshop I attended are both simple enough that one can teach them to others without needing any special teacher training. I can't wait to gain enough proficiency myself so that I can teach them to you in some of my yoga classes.
Yoga and QiGong are body arts with the same intention, just from different cultures. I think you'll like them, but you'll just have to let me know. It will probably be at least another month before I feel comfortable enough to begin introducing some of the movements. One of the forms only takes about 8 minutes to do, so it's a very convenient practice to learn. I've been doing it every day. It really helps to work out the early morning stiffness!
If you read my last entry below, "student seeking guinea pig", I'm still in need of a client for my final feng shui project. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Thanks. (Found someone for my project. 6/2/10)
April 20, 2010
Student seeking Guinea Pig
I've been assigned my final project toward my Feng Shui Certification and I'm looking for someone to practice on again. This time it must be an office space or small business of someone I don't already know.
If you're reading this I probably already know you, but maybe you know someone who would be feng shui friendly, who would allow me to probe a little into their life and work space. There is no charge, but it works best if someone is willing to try implementing some changes, which might incur some costs, then writing a feedback letter a couple of weeks later to report on any effects. If you have any suggestions please email me. Thanks!
March 27, 2010
A Timeless Oracle
I practice Yoga for body, mind and spirit. Hatha yoga promotes the welfare of my body. Hatha Yoga has led me to Kriya Yoga Meditation, which I practice for the welfare of my mind and spirit. Also for the welfare of my mind and spirit I seek counsel from the I Ching. However I Ching came to me long before yoga and meditation.
I was first introduced to I Ching (pronounced eee ching) by someone I didn't even know, a friend of a friend whose house I visited once for about half an hour, almost 40 years ago. He suggested I ask the I Ching if the baby I was carrying was going to be a boy or a girl. This was long before ultrasounds were commonplace. It was a frivolous use of the oracle, but I had no idea what it was all about, so agreed to give it a try.
I was instructed to throw 3 pennies, six times. Then I was told which hexagram I had received, handed a book and told to read the corresponding text. I was blown away. I saw nothing about the gender of a baby. Instead I saw my deepest, heartfelt problems being described in a nutshell! How did it know? Shortly afterward I went to Powell's Books and purchased my first copy of the Wilhelm/Baynes translation of I Ching.
The I Ching is an ancient text from China. It is an oracle. I've also heard it called a "fractal time map," though I'm not certain what that means. However, I think the I Ching is more than I can imagine. Its basis is a series of eight trigrams, patterns formed by creating various combinations of solid lines and broken lines in stacks of three. These trigrams surrounding the circular Yin/Yang symbol create a form called the BaGua, meaning eight houses. Each trigram has a meaning and can be combined with another trigram to form a hexagram. There are 64 combinations, each with a new meaning. Each of the 6 lines within a hexagram can be further interpreted.
The I Ching has never failed to show me the truth. When I am unable to see clearly into a situation, the I Ching lays it out on the page for me. There have been times when it has prevented me from acting impulsively, and times when it has given me the courage to do something I've been afraid to do.
About twenty years ago I discovered some books written by Carol Anthony on interpreting I Ching, I Ching philosophy, and I Ching meditations. These books amazed me. Carol Anthony clearly was devoting intense study into the oracle and had come up with an understanding and interpretation of the hexagrams far more relevant than the older translations provided. Later she teamed up with Hanna Moog, and together they wrote I Ching, Oracle of the Cosmic Way. This is a breakthrough edition of I Ching. It outlines processes by which we can begin to deprogram the mind of mistaken beliefs (ego) that taint our perception. These methods are healing meditations.
I would like to plan an I Ching workshop with the main objective being to assist others in correctly forming a hexagram, using their method called "rtcm" for understanding its meaning, and going through any deprogramming process that may be indicated. I'll have a sign-up sheet at The Yoga Loft when I return for Spring Session. You could also email me, if you're interested in attending. When I see how much interest there is, we can plan a date.
No previous experience is necessary, but I suggest you purchase your own copy of the Anthony/Moog I Ching and read the introduction. It's usually available at New Renaissance Bookstore, also through Amazon, or the Web site linked above. Soft cover is $29.99.
February 28, 2010
Food for Thought
"Joy doesn't exist in the world, it exists in us." ~ Benjamin Franklin
February 14, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day
January 18, 2010
Muddling through Marriage
I've got another book to recommend. It's Committed, by Elizabeth Gilbert, the continuation of her story that began in Eat, Pray, Love.
Even if I were not particularly interested in the topic of this book ~marriage~ I think I would still be entranced by Gilbert's captivating style of writing and her willingness to bare her inner feelings, while telling an interesting personal story. But I am interested in the topic of marriage, having enjoyed and endured one for over 42 years, and having observed the unions of close family members come and go, some with great heartache and trauma involved.
Though not a sociologist, psychologist, or even a qualified expert on marriage, Gilbert has explored the subject thoroughly enough to settle her own issues with it. I found much enlightening information on the history of the marriage institution that challenged my beliefs and made me think about where they came from. I found insights into my own relationship and those I have been privy to.
I appreciate anything that challenges me to look at my assumptions and beliefs so that I may discard those that are based on fallacy. This book sheds a light on that. It will be added to the library at the Yoga Loft.
January 10, 2010
A Fascinating Journey
I've just finished reading Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea. I couldn't put this book down. Greg Mortenson's journey in life has taken him to Pakistan and Afghanistan to help the most remote, impoverished communities to build schools for their daughters. The book was just released December 1, 2009 and it tells of events as recent as October 2009.
I found this true-life story compelling. I avoid listening to reports of events in this war-torn part of the world on the nightly news because of the emphasis on the political and military approach to problems there. For me, reading both of these books has been a way to learn about life in central Asia from a simply human view point. So much more can be accomplished when we learn the customs of other cultures and treat each other with respect.
The book has been added to the Yoga Loft library and is available to be borrowed. I highly recommend it and am curious to hear others' thoughts about it.
December 16, 2009
A message about perception:
Happy Holidays!
November 15, 2009
Chinese-German-Mexican-American Yoga
For me, the best texts I've found on Yoga are not the traditional ones, such as The Vedas, The Upanishads, The Bhagavad Gita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, The Yoga Sutra, etc. I had trouble with the foreign names and cultural basis of these texts.
About the same time that I decided to become a Yoga teacher Caroline Myss wrote Anatomy of the Spirit, a brilliant book that included information about the seven major chakras, written in a language and context that I could easily understand.
I mentioned several months ago a favorite of mine, The Four Agreements, in my writings below. It is the wisdom of the Toltecs, translated into plain English, adapted for current application, and a good example of yogic teachings.
Last weekend I drove to Seattle to spend three days with Carol Anthony and Hanna Moog, authors of I Ching, Oracle of the Cosmic Way.
I Ching is an ancient text from China which forms the basis of all Chinese wisdom, the Martial Arts and Feng Shui included. I was introduced to this book in 1970 and toyed with it for years. Then Carol Anthony and Hanna Moog came along and exposed the truths of I Ching like no one before them had done. Their explanation of the Cosmic Way is harmonious with anything I've read in the Vedas, The Upanishads, and the Yoga Sutra, yet much clearer.
What Carol and Hanna have brought forth for us is a way to de-program our minds from the illusions and misconceptions that create "the collective ego." The methods they teach are meditation in action.
For more information, here is their Web site: ichingbooks.com.
November 3, 2009
Always something new
After a three day weekend of TriYoga classes with Kali Ray I have renewed enthusiasm for the TriYoga system. Although I refer to the style of Yoga that I teach as "eclectic", it is at least 80% TriYoga sequences. Kali Ray is a unique, American master of Yoga Asana, having experienced Kriyavati almost 30 years ago. Kriyavati is a spontaneous awakening of Kundalini energy. To read Kaliji's own words about her experience of Kriyavati click here.
Every time I study with her there are refinements to the practice, minor changes in the way she flows seamlessly from one posture to the next. I always learn something new. Sometimes it is something that's been presented many times before, but finally it clicks and it's finally mine to share with you. So there will be some small changes that you might notice in our practice.
Not All Bad
One of the first awakenings I had about nutrition many decades ago, was that there was a huge amount of refined sugar found in foods that I ate without questioning their value. That was long before the required labeling system we have today which lists how many grams of sugar are found in the packaged foods we buy. Since then I have done my best to avoid foods with added, refined sugars.
Recently I have learned about some very beneficial natural sugars that are helpful in preventing and treating bacterial infections. Yes that's right. I was so surprised. Xylitol, a natural sugar from birch trees, can be used to treat sinus problems. Another sugar call d-mannose is helpful in treating urinary tract infections. If you'd like more information, do what I did ~ Google.
October 15, 2009
Volunteers Found
I've found my subjects for the Feng Shui assignment. Several people have mentioned an interest in being evaluated, but for my assignment I am not allowed to use friends as clients. But I still could use the practice with friends, just for fun. So please do let me know if you want to be part of my learning process.
Save Money on Food and Prevent Cancer
Hyla is setting up a wholesale account with Bob's Red Mill. The minimum order for wholesale is 500 lbs. Bob's Red Mill sells a wide variety of whole grains, whole grain flours, legumes and baking mixes, some organic, some conventional. If you read The China Study, mentioned below, you would probably want to replace a good portion of the high protein animal foods in your diet with lower protein plant foods.
October 4, 2009
Good Science
I'm reading a startling book that's been out for a few years called The China Study, written by T. Colin Campbell, PhD. and Thomas M. Campbell II. It's called the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted. It shatters many misconceptions we have about diet, disease and nutrition. I would consider it a must-read for anyone with cancer.
September 29, 2009
Volunteers Wanted
I've been studying Feng Shui for a year now. I'm working on the practicum part of my training to become a consultant and am looking for volunteers to be my next guinea pigs.
My latest assignment is to evaluate the home and lives of a couple, both of whom are willing to be interviewed about their personal lives and to be present during the consultation. This consultation will include the use of crystals to improve the flow of energy in the home. This is free of charge. All I need in return is a willingness to implement at least some of the suggestions I make to see if any effect is noticed, and to write a feedback letter a few weeks after the consultation that will be sent to my teacher.
If you or anyone you know is interested in participating with me in this exercise, please email me.
June 10, 2009
Simple Truths
Just in case you've never read The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, I'd like to mention this book. It's a small book, easy to read and understand, and its teachings are important tools for living an enlightened life. Here is a link to a summary of the four agreements.
May 17, 2009
