Sitting in the power

I don't know if I have told you guys this, but I have been taking mediumship classes.  It started as more or less of a lark (yeah, me talk to the dead), but it quickly became a calling.  Speaking with those on the other side is easy.  First, you need a willingness to do the work.  Second you have to put your thinking mind to rest in order to allow the feeling mind, the emotions to come through.  Third, you have to allow the true message to come through, untainted by your own prejudices. 

In a way, it's a lot like birthing a character in a story.  There's a reason a character leaps into your mind or into your story.  Like the spirit of a departed loved one, they invariably have an agenda, something to say or do in your story that you might miss if you try to direct them to much with thought as opposed to emotion.  You have to let your characters be who they are meant to be.

Although this is true, characterization is not the reason I started writing this bit, but I decided to let my writer's emotions take me where they wanted to go.  What I really wanted to talk to you about was meditation, a practice that can benefit anyone, but writers in particular.  The act of meditation, whether it is in silence or to music, whether you chant or allow yourself to be guided by another, is the act of quieting the mind of mundane thoughts and training the mind to focus on whatever you want it to. 

In reiki we have a form of meditation called gassho, which is folding one's hands, as if in prayer, pointing the thumbs toward the heart chakra (the center of the chest) and focusing on the point where the two middle fingers meet at the fingertip.  This is just as difficult as it sounds.  Quieting the mind is no mean undertaking, but the reward is worth it. 

There are times when you find yourself sitting in that quiet place, the place of power where you can feel the energy in you and around you shift to a different vibration.  It is what my mediumship teacher calls sitting in the power, in the presence of spirit. 

There is an axiom that says prayer is you communicating with the divine; meditation is the divine communicating with you.  For us writers, that communication often comes in the form of inspiration, clarity of thought and renewed vision.  Besides, the ability to let go of all cares and get to that still place where writing really flows is benefit enough.

Getting to that place is easy with a little practice.  Find a quiet space.  If you like, light a candle and burn some incense or essential oil in a diffuser.  Sit comfortably with your back straight (so that your chakras are in physical alignment).  If you are sitting in a chair, put your feet flat on the floor.  Begin to breath deeply, inhaling for a slow count of three and exhaling for a slow count of three.  Clear your mind, concentrating on nothing but the in and out of your breath.  As you inhale, imagine yourself breathing in pure cleansing light.  As you exhale, visualize your breath filling  a cocoon of light around you, getting larger and more dense with each breath.  If any thoughts come to you, brush them aside and focus on your breathing. 

As you fill the space around you with more light, feel your self expanding, growing, lifting.  Silently ask for any spiritual guides, departed loved ones, your higher self, (or often for writers) your inner child, the divine (however you imagine it) for their love, their guidance, their protection and their wisdom with your writing or any other aspect of your life.  Often you will feel a difference in energy here.  The room will become cool when it was warm or the room will feel warm when it was cool.  You may find your mind drifting or filling with images.  Like the subconscious, spirit likes to speak in symbols.  So you may need to decode what you see later.  You may see nothing, but feel a sense of contentment come over you.  Whatever happens, try to stay in this space for ten or fifteen minutes, enjoying whatever comes.  Then slowly bring yourself back and when you are ready open your eyes. 

If you keep a journal, now is a good time to write down your thoughts or what you experienced.

Your Inspiration for the Week . . .

Reiki class reminder

Just a reminder to let you know that we will be having a reiki I and II class this weekend. There is still room, so please give Dee a call at 646-355-7934 if you are interested. Or you can sign up at our website. We'd love to see you in class.

Sharing is Caring, but only in New York

As half of the sister team at Healing Hands of Reiki, I invite anyone in the NYC area to join us for Reikishare in the new year. HHOR Reikishares meet once a month on the second Monday. Our dates for the beginning of 2010 are February 8, March 8 and April 5. We gather at 7 pm.

Each Reikishare consists of a meet and greet, meditation, sharing (everyone gets a turn on the reiki table receiving reiki and helping to give reiki to others).

Space is limited to ten participants, so please call (646-355-7934) early to reserve your place. Light refreshments are served. The cost is $20.

Hope to see you there!

Energize me

It seems to me that one of the main reasons that many writers don't complete their projects or take forever to do them is that they lack the energy for sustained sessions at the keyboard.  Most writers work at something other than their novel and real life can be exhausting.  Still there are ways to boost your energy level that have nothing to do with Red Bull or other over the counter pick-me-ups.

First, learn to feel the energy field that flows around you.  Yes, we're talking about the aura.  Sit up straight in a firm chair with your feet firmly on the floor.  Rub your hands together vigorously for a couple or three minutes.   Your palms should be warm and possibly tingly.  Spread them apart slowly, keeping them parallel to one another until there is about six inches between them.  Then slowly (again) move your hands together.  At some point you should feel resistance to bringing your hands together, like two opposite poles of a magnet repelling.  This is a very subtle energy, so don't expect to get knocked over the head with this sensation.  When you can feel it slightly, cup your hands a little like you a holding a ball.  How big a ball do you have?  Try to expand it by pulling your hands apart like you are pulling taffy, then try to make a bigger ball.  With practice this should be easy to recognize and to do.

Now to build energy for stamina.  Sit comfortably with your back straight and your feet on the floor.  Inhale and imagine your body drawing in white light instead of oxygen.  Breathe deeply, pulling air into tanden rather than the lungs.  The tanden is the gravitational center of the body believed to be the true energy source inside the body.  As you exhale, imagine this white light spreading out through your aura invigorating your whole body.  Make sure your breathing is deliberate--in through the nose and out through the mouth.   While you're at it, you can repeat an affirmation of your choosing about your skill, prowess and creativity as a writer, but that's up to you.     
   
I've talked before about kundalini energy and its ability to rise through the chakras.  You can help it flow by activating each chakra by chanting its sound in order.  The AM sound should be like ohm as in bomb (not am as in lamb).  The sounds are:

root--lam

sacral--vam

solar plexus--ram

heart--yam

throat--ham

brow--om

crown--silent aum

Chant each sound seven times, visualizing the energy from that chakra increasing with each repetition, before moving on to the next.  When you get to the crown chakra it's more of an internal vibration than an actual sound.  Let me know how this works for you.

Heading in the right direction

The crown chakra is the last of the major seven and is seated predictably at the crown of the head.  It is the portal of spirituality, divine guidance and psychic ability.  Body parts associated with this chakra are the pituitary, pineal/cerebral cortex and the skin.  The colors of the crown chakra are violet and white.  Crystals that work well with this chakra are clear quartz, amethyst and diamonds.  Scents are rosewood and frankincense.  Someone with a balanced crown chakra has greater spiritual potential, is able to find and follow bliss.  Someone with an unbalanced crown chakra can suffer from depression, obsessional thinking and confusion.

 To stimulate the crown chakra, try prayer. visualization or meditation.  One of my favorite meditations for chakra balancing comes from Laurelle Shanti Gaia.  Try Infinite Spectrum every day for a week and see if you notice a change.

The eyes have it

We are now at the penultimate chakra, the brow or third eye chakra, that, not surprisingly, can be found between the physical eyes on the brow bone.  This chakra is indigo in color and governs issues of intuition, imagination, dreaming and wisdom. Opening and expanding the third eye is a pursuit that leads to greater psychic abilities and a deeper connection with the divine.  Crystals that aid with brow chakra work are lapis lazuli, azurite and especially amethyst.  Hyacinth and violet are two scents associated with this chakra.  The brow chakra's element is that of light energy.   


A person with a balanced third eye chakra has a healthy sense of ego, presience, ability to learn and think creatively. Someone with an unbalanced third eye chakra can be short-sighted and prone to nightmares and learning difficulties.