Hawaiian Healing from within

Ho’oponopono originates from Hawaii. It was traditionally done as a group healing but was modified and taught as an individual practice by Morrnah Nalamaku Simeona. Morrnah was a healer and in 1983 she received a great honor by being designated as a living treasure of Hawaii. She died in 1992.

The foundational elements of the practice of Self Identity through Ho'oponopono are the four phrases:

• I love You
• I'm Sorry
• Please Forgive Me
• Thank You

The practice is ongoing, in the beginning you might only remember to do it a few minutes out of every day. Later, and as you see your outside world changing - if you recognize the connection - your practice increases. The most powerful phrases here are: “I Love You” and “Thank You”. The powers of Love and Gratitude are known in every self-empowerment teaching, school or religion.

Repeat these phrases just like a mantra and the healing process happens. You may cleanse life situations, places and relationships. When something comes to your awareness – you accept 100% responsibility for that and repeat the cleaning process. No guilt trips. No intellectualizing. No judgements. You clean. Divinity does the rest. Ho’oponopono cleaning is "letting go and letting God".

Morrnah's Prayer

Spirit, Superconscious, please locate the origin of my suffering.

Take each and every level, layer, area and aspect of my being to this origin.

Analyze it and resolve it perfectly with God's truth.

Come through all generations of time and eternity.

Healing every incident and its appendages based on the origin.

Please do it according to God's will until I am in the present,

Filled with light and truth.

God's peace and love, forgive me for my incorrect perceptions.

Forgive every person, place, circumstances and event that contributed to my suffering.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­___________________________________

Ideas for a Full Moon Meditation practice

“So Ham” makes the sound of the breath, the sound of nature, plus the sound of the serpent (nag), which represents the movement of energy through the body’s energy channels (nadi) – Sushumna + ida + pingala nadi = the caduceus

OM Hrim Hamsa Soham Swaha!

Mantra of higher life force (prana) and centering in the heart. 

OM - unmanifest prana, the primordial sound

HRIM - Primal sound of female energy (shakti)  

[HA = prana, RA = light, II = shakti force, M = sound of dissolution (anuswara)] 

Also a mantra of the sun and several Hindu goddesses, both purifying and rejuvenating.

HAM SA – increases solar prana – pingala – illuminating, stimulating 

SO HAM – increases lunar prana – ida – receptive, calming

SWAHA – mantra of offering, energizing, stimulating, increases fire (agni) 

                 [Swaha is the wife of Agni, God of fire]

Breathing exercise – alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodana pranayama)

                  Inhale left –                mentally chant OM

                  Exhale right –             HRIM

                  Inhale right –              HAM

                  Exhale left –               SA

                  Inhale left –                SO

                  Exhale right –             HAM

                  Inhale right –              SWA

                  Exhale left -                HA

**************

GAYATRI MANTRA
An auspicious mantra for all purposes

Om bhur bhuvah swaha

Tat savitur vare-niyam

Bhargo devasya dhimahi

Dhiyo yona prachodaya-at

OM- Parabrahma, BHUR- of Bhurloka (physical plane), BHUVAH- of Antariksha-loka (astral plane), SWAHA- of Swarga Loka (celestial plane)

TAT- who transcedents paratman, SAVITURA- who is a creator, VARENIYAM- I worship you

BHARGO- remover of sins, ignorance DEVASYA- giver of glory, DHI MAHI- we meditate,

DHIYO- with our Bhuddhis, intellect, understandings, YO-which NAH- is/us PRACHODAYAT- Enlightened in us through your guidance

Moon mantras for peace of mind

Om cham chandraya namaha – Mantra for the moon as a planet

Om som somaya namaha – Mantra to receive the essential lunar energy (soma)

Ganesh Chaturthi - An auspicious day for new beginnings!

Today we celebrate the birthday of Ganesha (“Ganesh Chaturthi”), the Lord of New Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles - the perfect time to begin anew and set your agendas for the months ahead!  

Ganesha is the universal master of ceremonies. He is the first to be invited whenever a puja (ceremony of worship) is performed, because he is believed to bring prosperity and initiate new beginnings. So Ganesha mantras are chanted at the beginning of auspicious and spiritual events.

In India, this day is celebrated by Hindus and Muslims alike, as the message of Ganesha is universal and not religious in nature. Also known as Ganapati, he is worshipped all around Asia, and is loved and revered by Tibetans, Chinese, Thais and Japanese. Fear of the unknown is the most basic of human emotions that affect all of us, regardless of country or religion. Ganapati helps us cope with fear and anxiety, guiding us through ambivalence, bringing clarity and a fresh perspective. Ganesha resides in the first chakra, muladhara, the foundation upon which everything rests. Seated in the base of the spine, he holds, supports and guides all other chakras, thereby governing the forces that turn the wheel of life.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar beautifully explains the legend of how Ganesha became the elephant-headed God:

“Shiva and Parvati had been celebrating and Parvati became dirty. When she realizes this, she removes the dirt from her body, creates a little boy out of it and asks him to keep guard while she bathes. When Shiva returned, the boy couldn’t recognize him and obstructed his passage to protect his “mother”, Parvati. So Shiva chopped off the boy’s head and entered. Parvati was shocked. She explained that the boy was their son and pleaded with Shiva to save him at all costs. Shiva then instructed his helpers to go and get the head of someone who was sleeping with the head pointing northwards. The helpers brought the head of an elephant, which Shiva affixed to the boy’s torso and Ganesha was brought to life!

Does this story sound strange? Why should Parvati have dirt on her body? Didn’t the all-knowing Shiva recognise His own son? Was Shiva, the epitome of peace, so short-tempered that he cut off the head of his own son? And why an elephant head on Ganesha? There is a deeper meaning to all these.

Parvati is symbolic of festive energy. Her becoming dirty signifies that celebration can easily become Rajasik or feverish and can take you away from your center. Dirt is symbolic of ignorance and Shiva is symbolic of the Supreme Innocence, Peace and Knowledge. So when Ganesha obstructs the path of Shiva, this means that ignorance, which is an attribute of the head, does not recognize knowledge. Then knowledge has to overcome ignorance. This is the symbolism behind Shiva chopping off the boy’s head.

And why an elephant’s head? The elephant represents the qualities of gyan shakti and karma shakti: wisdom and effortlessness. The enormous head of the elephant signifies wisdom and knowledge. Elephants don't walk around obstacles, neither do they stop at them. They just remove them and keep walking straight on, signifying strength and determination.” So Ganesha represents human intelligence allied with the strength of an elephant.

In his book “Tantra Unveiled”, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait writes extensively on Ganesha’s significance. The word Ganesha comes from the Sanskrit words gana and isha. Gana means “individual beings, discrete bodies of Divinity, unique forces, emanations of Divine Light, attendants of the main deity”. Isha means “one who is capable of doing what he wishes, capable of refraining from what he does not wish to do, and capable of undoing what has already been done.” In other words, the Almighty Lord.

Ganesha is the locus for all that exists, and he establishes law and brings order out of chaos, causing the universal forces to function coherently.  As the centre of gravitational energy, he supervises all activities, from the microcosmic to the macrocosmic. 

The forces of creation, maintenance and destruction are held in harmonious balance by his will, which is why the firstborn child of the Divine Mother (symbolized by Parvati) is called “Ganesha”, the lord of all entities and functioning forces of the universe.

In both Vedic and Tantric scriptures, he is called Brahmanaspati: “all-pervasive lord of knowledge and intelligence”. Because he also sets the wheels of karma in motion, he is also referred to as Karma Adhyaksha, “the one who presides over karmic law”.  As the remover of obstacles, he is known as Vighnesha. 

Like fire, Ganesha (Vighnesha) consumes anything in his path with an enormous appetite. He gladly accepts any offerings we lovingly make to him – our problems and concerns are swallowed up, granting us freedom from fear and worry. Only Ganesha is capable of consuming our ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and fear of death.

Ancient texts relate Ganesha with the sacred sound Om, and the curved shape of his trunk and head resembles Om as it is written in Sanskrit.  Because Om is the source of all mantras, repeating any mantra is like meditating on Ganesha. All sounds, words and mantras in their unmanifested form rest in muladhara chakra, where Ganesh resides.

So if you want to tap into the energy of Ganesha, here are some mantras you can chant aloud, or - even more powerfully - silently while meditating or as you go about your day.

Om Gum Ganapataye Namaha – Salutations to the Remover of Obstacles

Om Sri Ganeshaya Namaha - For auspicious and generous initiating energy

For more serious adepts, try 3 - 108 repetitions of the Maha (great) Ganapati Mantra daily:

Om Shrim Hrim Klim Glaum Gum Ganapataye

Vara Varada Sarva Janam Me

Vasha-manaya Swaha

 - "May the abundance-producing Great Remover of Obstacles that transcends this apparent reality bring all things that concern me under my control."

I wish you many blessings and the strength and forbearance of Ganesha in the months ahead!

Jai Ganesh!

Further reading about the Chakras

Look at my downloads page to find recordings of previous chakra workshops!

Below is a list of books and audio that I can recommend for learning more about the vast subject of the chakras. There are so many books on the subject now that it boggles the mind, but much of what is out there is shallow and following a commercial trend, so I have limited this list strictly to the books I think are most practical. I have given them a five-star rating according to my personal appreciation of them, based on their level of practical application and, of course, quality of information.  Click on the title for a direct link to Amazon.com

 The Chakra Bible: The Definitive Guide to Chakra Energy - by Patricia Mercier  - **** This is an excellent book to start with, as it gives an overview of nearly all aspects of the Chakras. Not much depth, but useful for quick reference, and take the word "definitive guide" with a grain of salt...

Energy Anatomy - by Caroline Myss - ***** Recorded workshops - A really useful look at how to understand the chakras and apply that to your life - very practical as a guide for personal transformation - tough love!
  
Advanced Energy Anatomy - by Caroline Myss - ***** Another great series of talks, this time adding a lot of information about Archetypes into the mix.

The Subtle Body, by Cyndi Dale - **** This book gives a great overview of all the major energy systems and traditions, with a section on the chakras.

The Book of Chakras: Discover the Hidden Forces Within You - by Ambika Wauters - **** A really good look at the symbolism and meaning of the chakras on many levels, making it a good basic reference guide.

Chakras and Their Archetypes: Uniting Energy Awareness and Spiritual Growth  - by Ambika Wauters - *** A useful in-depth look at how the different archetypal energies are reflected in the chakras.

Chakra Balancing- by Anodea Judith - **** Workbook and CD are provided in this practical kit for working with issues in your own life through the chakras.

The Chakra System - by Anodea Judith - ***1/2  An audiobook read by the author explaining her understanding of the chakras through 30 years of working with them.

Wheels of Life: A User's Guide to the Chakra System (Llewellyn's New Age Series) - by Anodea Judith - *** Somewhat more esoteric that the rest, but worthwhile.

Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self - by Anodea Judith - *** Interesting look at the psychology behind the chakras.

The Sevenfold Journey: Reclaiming Mind, Body and Spirit Through the Chakras - by Anodea Judith and Selene Vega - *** Theory and practical exercises for personal transformation.

Chakras: Energy Centers of Transformation - by Harish Johari - **** Provides the traditional Hindu understanding of the chakras, somewhat esoteric - not for casual interest!

Chakra Yoga: Balancing Energy for Physical, Spiritual, and Mental Well-being - by Alan Finger -**** A good way to integrate the concept of the chakras into a hatha yoga practice, by a lovely teacher.

Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth: Book 2 - by Peter Kelder - **** I recommend book two as it covers the same basic info about the Five Tibetan Rites as book one, plus it has good advice on breathing and health issues.

The Five Tibetans: Five Dynamic Exercises for Health, Energy, and Personal Power - by Christopher Kilham - **** A good guide to the Five Tibetan Rites with an explanation of the chakras and how they are affected by the sequence.

Om Namo Shivaya!

A balanced view of the current debate on who "owns" yoga

Yoga, as it is practiced now, is a mix of several techniques, including some Western ones, a historian has said.

Meera Nanda, visiting professor of history of science at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali, says for most Indians, yoga is a living symbol of their way of life, like apple pie is to Americans. But, she adds, they are unaware that the yoga of today can't claim Vedic antiquity.

In an article in Open magazine, she writes: "Lately, Hindus in America have started flying the saffron flag over American-style yoga, which consists largely of yogic asanas and stretches. The leading Indo-American lobby, Hindu American Foundation (HAF), has recently started a vocal campaign to remind Americans that yoga was made in India by Hindus… The purist Hindu position, articulated by the HAF, is that all yoga, including its physical or hatha yoga component, is rooted in the Hindu religion/way of life that goes all the way back to the Vedic sages and yogis."

In Nanda's words: "There is only one problem with this purist history of yoga: it is false. Yogic asanas were never ‘Vedic’ to begin with. Far from being considered the crown jewel of Hinduism, yogic asanas were in fact looked down upon by Hindu intellectuals and reformers—including the great Swami Vivekananda—as fit only for sorcerers, fakirs and jogis."

She says Western gymnastics and body-building techniques show up in the world-renowned Iyengar and Ashtanga Vinyasa schools of yoga.

"Far from honestly acknowledging the Western contributions to modern yoga, we Indians simply brand all yoga as ‘Vedic,’ a smug claim that has no intellectual integrity," she writes.      

She disputes the 'Take Back Yoga' movement, and says "Yoga is to North America what McDonald’s is to India: both are foreign implants gone native."

Nanda says, "By and large, the US yoga industry does not hide the origins of what it teaches. On the contrary, in a country that is so young and so constantly in flux, yoga’s presumed antiquity (‘the 5,000-year-old exercise system’, etcetera.) and its connections with Eastern spirituality have become part of the sales pitch."

Following articles and blog posts appearing in The New York Times and The Washington Post, HAF’s Shukla and New Age guru Deepak Chopra got into a spat. Shukla complained the yoga industry wasn't giving credit to Hinduism, and called Chopra a "philosophical profiteer", while Chopra argued that yoga existed in "consciousness and consciousness alone" much before Hinduism.

Nanda describes both views as "equally fundamentalist". She explains: "The reality is that postural yoga, as we know it in the 21st century, is neither eternal nor synonymous with the Vedas or Yoga Sutras. On the contrary, modern yoga was born in the late 19th/early 20th centuries. It is a child of the Hindu Renaissance and Indian nationalism, in which Western ideas about science, evolution eugenics, health and physical fitness played as crucial a role as the ‘mother tradition’."

By her reckoning, "the physical aspects of yoga were hybridised with drills, gymnastics and body-building techniques borrowed from Sweden, Denmark, England, the United States and other Western countries."

Nanda writes: "Contrary to the widespread impression, the vast majority of asanas taught by modern yoga gurus are not described anywhere in ancient sacred Hindu texts. Anyone who goes looking for references to popular yoga techniques like pranayam, neti, kapalbhati or suryanamaskar in classical Vedic literature will be sorely disappointed…. The four Vedas have no mention of yoga….The Upanishads and The Bhagvad Gita do, but primarily as a spiritual technique to purify the atman."
Nanda says BKS Iyengar’s Light on Yoga alone teaches 200 asanas, while the 14th century Hatha Yoga Pradipika lists only 15 asanas, as do the 17th century Gheranda Samhita and Shiva Samhita.

She also credits the Mysore palace under Krishnaraja Wodiyar IV (1884-1940) for the popular revival of yoga in India. She recalls: "The Maharaja, who ruled the state and the city of Mysore from 1902 till his death, was well known as a great promoter of Indian culture and religion. But he was also a great cultural innovator, who welcomed positive innovations from the West, incorporating them into his social programmes. Promoting physical education was one of his passions, and under his reign, Mysore became the hub of a physical culture revival in the country."

She concludes: "The HAF’s shrill claims about Westerners stealing yoga completely gloss over the tremendous amount of cross-breeding and hybridisation that has given birth to yoga as we know it. Indeed, contemporary yoga is a unique example of a truly global innovation, in which Eastern and Western practices merged to produce something that is valued and cherished around the world… Hinduism, whether ancient, medieval or modern, has no special claims on 21st century postural yoga. To assert otherwise is churlish and simply untrue."

From Yahoo! India News

Shanti Mantra - the Vedic Peace Chants

Shanti Mantras

Translation by Sri Swami Shivananda
The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh

Om sarveshaam swastir bhavatu
Sarveshaam shantir bhavatu

Sarveshaam poornam bhavatu
Sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu

Sarve bhavantu sukhinah
Sarve santu niraamayaah

Sarve bhadraani pashyantu
Maakaschit duhkha bhaag bhavet

Meaning:

Auspiciousness (swasti) be unto all; peace (shanti) be unto all;
fullness (poornam) be unto all; prosperity (mangalam) be unto all.

May all be happy! (sukhinah)
May all be free from disabilities! (niraamayaah)

May all look (pashyantu)to the good of others!
May none suffer from sorrow! (duhkha)

Om asato maa satgamaya
Tamaso maa jyotir gamaya
Mrityor maa amritam gamaya

Meaning:

Lead us from the unreal to the Real
From darkness to Light
From death to Immortality

Om poornamadah poornamidam
Poornaat poornamudachyate

Poornasya poornamaadaya
Poornamevaavashishyate

Meaning:

That (pure consciousness) is full (perfect); this (the manifest universe of matter; of names and forms being maya) is full. This fullness has been projected from that fullness. When this fullness merges in that fullness, all that remains is fullness.

- Peace invocation -Isa Upanishad

Om sham no mitrah sham varunah sham no bhavatvaryamaa
Sham na indro brihaspatih sham no vishnururukramah

Namo brahmane namaste vaayo twameva pratyaksham
Brahmaasi twaameva pratyaksham brahma vadishyaami

Tanmaamavatu tadvaktaaramavatu
Avatu maam avatu vaktaaram.Om shantih shantih shantih!

Meaning:

May Mitra, Varuna and Aryama be good to us! May Indra and Brihaspati and Vishnu of great strides be good to us! Prostrations unto Brahman! (Supreme Reality). Prostrations to Thee, O Vayu! Thou art the visible Brahman. I shall proclaim Thee as the visible Brahman. I shall call Thee the just and the True. May He protect the teacher and me! May he protect the teacher! Om peace, peace, peace!

Om saha naavavatu sahanau bhunaktu
Saha veeryam karavaavahai

Tejasvi naavadheetamastu maa vidvishaavahai
Om shantih shantih shantih

Meaning:

May He protect us both (teacher and the taught)! May He cause us both to enjoy the bliss of Mukti (liberation)! May we both exert to discover the true meaning of the sacred scriptures! May our studies be fruitful! May we never quarrel with each other! Let there be threefold peace.

Namaste sate te jagat kaaranaaya
Namaste chite sarva lokaashrayaaya

Namo dvaita tattwaaya mukti pradaaya
Namo brahmane vyaapine shaashvataaya

Meaning:

Salutations to that Being, the cause of the universe! Salutations to that Consciousness, the support of all the worlds! Salutations to that One Truth without a second, which gives liberation! Salutations to that pure, eternal Brahman who pervades all regions!

Om yaschandasaamrishabho vishwaroopah
Chhandobhyo dhyamritaat sambabhoova

Sa mendro medhayaa sprinotu
Amritasya devadhaarano bhooyaasam

Shareeram me vicharshanam
Jihwaa me madhumattamaa

Karnaabhyaam bhoori vishruvam
Brahmanah Koshoasi medhayaapihitah

Shrutam me gopaaya
Om shantih shantih shantih!

Meaning:

May He, the Lord of all, pre-eminent among the Vedas and superior to the nectar contained in them, bless me with wisdom! May I be adorned with the knowledge of Brahman that leads to immortality! May my body become strong and vigorous (to practise meditation)! May my tongue always utter delightful words! May I hear much with my ears! Thou art the scabbard of Brahman hidden by worldly taints (not revealed by impure, puny intellects). May I never forget all that I have learnt! Om peace, peace, peace!

Om aham vrikshasya rerivaa
Keertih prishtham gireriva

Urdhwapavitro vaajineeva swamritamasmi
Dravinam savarchasam

Sumedhaa amritokshitah
Iti trishankor vedaanu vachanam
Om shantih, shantih, shantih!

Meaning:

I am the destroyer of the tree (of samsar; worldly life). My reputation is as high as the top of the hill. I am in essence as pure as the sun. I am the highest treasure. I am all-wise, immortal and indestructible. This is Trishanku’s realisation. Om peace, peace, peace!

Om aapyaayantu mamaangaani vaak
Praanashchakshuh shrotramatho

Balamindriyaani cha sarvaani sarvam brahmopanishadam
Maaham brahma niraakuryaam maa maa brahma niraakarod

Niraakaranamastva niraakaranam me astu
Tadaatmani nirate ya upanishatsu dharmaaste

Mayi santu te mayi santu.
Om shantih, shantih, shantih!

Meaning:

May my limbs, speech, Prana, eye, ear and power of all my senses grow vigorous! All is the pure Brahman of the Upanishads. May I never deny that Brahman! May that Brahman never desert me! Let that relationship endure. Let the virtues recited in the Upanishads be rooted in me. May they repose in me! Om peace. peace. peace!

Om vaang me manasi pratishthitaa
Mano me vaachi pratishthitam

Aaveeraaveerma edhi vedasya ma aanisthah
Shrutam me maa prahaaseer anenaadheetena

Ahoraatraan samdadhaami ritam vadishyaami
Satyam vadishyaami tanmaamavatu tadvaktaaramavatu
Avatu maam avatu vaktaaram avatu vaktaaram
Om shantih, shantih, shantih!

Meaning:

Let my speech be rooted in my mind. Let my mind be rooted in my speech. Let Brahman (Supreme Reality) reveal Himself to me. Let my mind and speech enable me to grasp the truths of the Vedas. Let not what I have heard forsake me. Let me spend both day and night continuously in study. I think truth, I speak the truth. May that Truth protect me! May that Truth protect the teacher! Let peace prevail against heavenly, worldly and demoniacal troubles. Om peace, peace, peace!

Om bhadram no apivaataya manah.
Om shantih, shantih, shantih!

Meaning:

Salutations! May my mind and all these (the body, senses,
breath etc.) be good and well! Om peace, peace. peace!

Om bhadram karnebhih shrunuyaama devaah
Bhadram pashyemaakshabhiryajatraah

Sthirairangaistushtuvaamsastanoobhih
Vyashema devahitam yadaayuh

Swasti na indro vridhashravaah
Swasti nah pooshaa vishwavedaah

Swasti nastaarkshyo arishtanemih
Swasti no brihaspatir dadhaatu.

Om shantih, shantih, shantih!

Meaning:

Om, O worshipful ones, may our ears hear what is good and auspicious! May we see what is auspicious! May we sing your praise, live our allotted span of life in perfect health and strength! May Indra (who is) extolled in the scriptures, Pushan, the all-knowing Trakshya, who saves from all harm, and Brihaspati who protects our spiritual lustre, vouchsafe prosperity in our study of the scriptures and the practice of the truths contained therein! Om peace, peace, peace!

Om yo brahmaanam vidadhaati poorvam
Yo vai vedaanshcha prahinoti tasmai

Tam ha devmaatma buddhi prakaasham
Mumukshurvai sharanamaham prapadye<

Om shantih, shantih, shantih!

Meaning:

He who creates this entire universe in the beginning, and He about whom the Vedas gloriously praise and sing, in Him I take refuge with the firm faith and belief that my intellect may shine with Self-knowledge. Om peace, peace, peace!

Om vishwaani deva savitar duritaani paraasuva
Yad bhadram tanma aasuva

Meaning:

O all pervading, Supreme Lord, the effulgent Creator, we place our faith and trust entirely in Thee. Keep away from us all that is evil and bestow upon us all that is good.

Om agne naya supathaa raaye asmaan
Vishwaani deva vayunaani vidvaan;

Yuyodhyas majjuhu raanmeno
Bhooyishthaam te nama-uktim vidhema.

Meaning:

O Supreme Lord, who art light and wisdom, Thou knowest all our thoughts and deeds. Lead us by the right path to the fulfilment of life, and keep us away from all sin and evil. We offer unto Thee, O Lord, our praise and salutation.

Tvamekam sharanyam tvamekam varenyam
Tvamekam jagatpaalakam svaprakaasham;

Tvamekam jagatkartu paatruprahartru
Tvamekam param nishchalam nirvikalpam.

Meaning:

O Thou my only refuge, O Thou my one desire, O Thou the one protector of the world, the radiant One. O Thou the creator, sustainer and dissolver of the whole world, O Thou the one great motionless Being, free from change and modification.

Vayam tvaam smaraamo vayam tvaam bhajaamo
Vayam tvaam jagat saakshiroopam namaamah;

Sadekam nidhaanam niraalambameesham
Bhavaambhodhi potam sharanyam vrajaamah.

Meaning:

O Thou eternal all-pervading witness of the whole universe, we meditate on the one Truth. We silently adore Thee and offer Thee our salutation. We take complete refuge in that one Almighty Being, the basis of everything, self-supporting and supreme, a vessel in the stormy sea of life

Om dyauh shaantih Antariksham shaantih
Prithivee shaantih Aapah shaantih

Oshadhayah shaantih Vanaspatayah shaantih
Vishvedevaah shaantih Brahma shaantih

Sarvam shaantih Shaantireva shaantih
Saamaa shaantiredhih Om shaantih, shaantih, shaantih!

Meaning: (two interpretations)

By Swami Shivananda, Rishikesh

O Supreme Lord, Thy celestial regions are full of peace and harmony; peace reigns on Thy earth and Thy waters. Thy herbs and trees are full of peace. All Thy forces of nature are full of peace and harmony. There is peace and perfection in Thy eternal knowledge; everything in the universe is peaceful, and peace pervades everywhere. O Lord, may that peace come to me!

Meaning By Swami Abhedananda, Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, India

May peace radiate there in the whole sky as well as in the vast ethereal space everywhere. May peace reign all over this earth, in water and in all herbs, trees and creepers. May peace flow over the whole universe. May peace be in the Supreme Being Brahman. And may there always exist in all peace and peace alone.

Om peace, peace and peace to us and all beings!

2011 - The year of your transformation!

We are entering an exciting new year with the beneficial and expansive energy of a solar eclipse at the new moon on Tuesday (January 4th), bringing into your life new ideas, people and opportunities that can lead you to a greater expression of your true self and purpose. Make the most of this energy for transformation in this New Year, and have the courage to make the changes you are being called to make!

Choose to see any dissatisfaction with your life and world around you as a catalyst for change, rather than something to be feared or complained about.  Transformation can only happen when we are uncomfortable with life as we know it - be creative, stretch yourself, and know it will all be fine. Love is the answer to each and every situation the universe pushes you into.

We all have the potential to awaken spiritually, and the energy of transformation is speeding up this year and next - so use it! Your worth is not measured by your CV, your salary or your house. Find your worth in how you contribute to the people and world around you, through a true expression of your self. You will be richly rewarded for a life lived in the service of others. Breathe and expand into the infinite possibilities that you are here to represent in this life. 

Join me in India from 18-28 March for a deeper immersion into this transformative work, as well as spectacular Himalayan scenery, tigers, elephants and daily yoga practice in fresh mountain air. We will also spend several days in Rishikesh with Surinder Singh, a wonderful yoga teacher who will touch your heart. The itinerary will be available this week.

May this new year bring you and your loved ones good health, much love and many blessings.

Love and light,
Susan