Technology is often seen as the answer to reduce fear amongst the populace, to provide them with the security that is one of their basic needs. Sometimes that technology can end up being the source of even greater fear and anger, as we witness police forces enacting extreme measures for what they say is the benefit of the people. 

Currently the police forces, as a collective, promise us security with their tanks and weapons, but recent news reports demonstrate quite clearly that people do not feel secure. We have seen too often how police forces have been used against the people. We do need to speak up and make a stand, but it does not mean we have to attack the police themselves. Many are in fear themselves, which is why they seek to control that fear through the use of technological advances. 

Could it be that there are alternatives to technology that science has demonstrated but is still not widely accepted by the mainstream?

Something tells me that when the mainstream ignores progressive science with potentially world changing information, that we could be headed for disaster. There are things that we as individuals can do to affect the crime rate on the planet, though it does not need to be accepted by everyone in order for it to work. Check out the following scientific studies and resources. 

- over the summer months of 1993 violent crime in Washington DC was decreased by 23.6 percent as 4000 people participated in a meditation study. Before they began the studies violence had been on the rise. When the group stopped meeting and meditating the violence increased once more. All other possible factors, such as anticrime activities, were ruled out and the chance variation in crime levels was less than 2 parts per billion, giving the researchers great confidence in the fact that it was due to a meditation effect.

- the institute of HeartMath has researched coherence a great deal. When the electromagnetic rhythms of the heart are stable, this is known as coherence. Their research has shown that those people with the greatest coherence within themselves affect the brainwave patterns of those around them. Imagine how officers practising coherence might interact differently with potential trouble makers. 

- a study published in the Journal of Offender Rehabilitation showed that 7000 people gathering to meditate, at three different times, were able to reduce acts of terrorism worldwide by 72 %. They ruled out anything else that might have affected the outcome, even weather, before drawing this controversial conclusion.  

These studies do not suggest that we do away with the police force, but they do suggest that we all have the ability to affect crime rates and violence in our towns, countries and world. This is not a naive suggestion but something that is backed up by science. In our world of diversity this will not be the only approach, we will need to make use of other approaches, but force does not have to be the first. 

How do you think these facts could help society? What action does it inspire you to take within your own life?

Is it perhaps a calling to each of us to find our security within, because nothing outside seems to provide the lasting security that we need? 



References:


1) Social Indicators Research 47: 153 - 201, 1999. 

2) http://www.heartmath.org/templates/ihm/e-newsletter/publication/2011/spring/heartmath-definition.php

3) Journal of Offender Rehabilitation 36, 2003, 1/2/3/4, pages 282-302 



LIVE ON VANCOUVER ISLAND OR NEAR BY? Be sure to check out the Sacred Technology event to be hosted in Victoria, BC on October 29th. We are all included in the evolution of technology on our planet whether we know it or not. 


                                   CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER

I studied Aerospace Engineering because I was always passionate about flight and the freedom that I expected would come with it. After leaving my engineering degree behind me I lost that passion, something was missing for me. Over the years I have been pulled towards study of sacred geometry and so was inspired when I saw this video of a helicopter design that incorporated one of the fundamental structures within that discipline, the vesica pisces. 
 

I believe that technologies like this, made for people by the people, can offer our future something to feel good about. As we evolve spiritually I believe that many more of us will master experiences such as astral projection, which may one day make these kinds of craft void, but until then there is something exciting about this. It is up to us collectively to ensure that such technologies are used for the highest good. 

As you can see from there kickstarter campaign, these guys are being supported by folks out there which is step towards ensuring that they do not have to rely on money from centralised sources. 

SACRED TECHNOLOGY EVENT

Matthew Ashdown, MEng(Aero), Life Coach, will be facilitating this experiential and interactive session, a spiritual adventure that will ripple out into your daily life. It will highlight the role of consciousness in the process of evolving technologies and your own personal spiritual technology, their role in our communities and what we need in order to create ones that serve us and the planet. 

You will experience:  click here for more information

Some of our science greats throughout the last hundred years have been influenced by vedic scriptures from the East. These texts, which date back over 5000 years, contain writings on matter, antimatter and atomic structure as well as the hymns, prayers and myths they are better known for. Some even speak of ancient machines that used to fly through the sky and perform what seem like incredible feats. Though the blur between myth and fact remains a subject of much debate, some of the twentieth centuries most influential thinkers have obviously dabbled in the principles that are espoused by these ancient texts. 

Two of the pioneers of quantum theory, Erwin Schrodinger and Niels Bohr, were known to have studied vedic principles. They also hung out with some of the leading philosopher's of eastern wisdom. Werner Heisenberg, who has the famous uncertainty principle named after him, spent time with the Rabindranath Tagore. This meeting of the minds helped him to confidently pursue his ideas about quantum mechanics, realising that they were not so crazy after all.

“The unity and continuity of Vedanta are reflected in the unity and continuity of wave mechanics.  This is entirely consistent with the Vedanta concept of All in One.” - Schrodinger

Albert Einstein was a scientist who believed in the power of science and found no contradictions when reading what seem like stories of mysticism and magic in books such as the Bagavad-Gita. He had a deep relationship with what he called God, and relied on these ancient scriptures for much insight.

“When I read the Bhagavad-gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous.” 

- Albert Einstein


Nikola Tesla spent time with Hindu swami Vivekenanda and was aware of the wisdom contained within vedic literature. Even modern day scientists, such as Fred Alan Wolfe and Rupert Shedlrake, have been influenced by this ancient wisdom as they attempt to bridge material and spiritual realms. Sheldrake not only read vedic works, but also Buddhism and sufi mysticism. His theories, which are being widely accepted by many, run counter to the path that many biologists continue to defend.

"My ideas find readier acceptance in the Buddhist and Hindu traditions of the East than in Western culture." 

- Rupert Sheldrake

This is not to claim that they are perfect in any way, and their conclusions are subject to scrutiny today, as will be the scientists of today in the future. Take for instance Robert Oppenheimer, the man in the charge of the group that produced the first atomic bombs. Whereas many scientists read translations of the texts, Oppenheimer had the ability to read ancient sanskrit and studied them throughout his years. At the time of the first atomic weapons test he famously quoted from the Bagavad Gita. "I have become death, destroyer of worlds."

Of course he was not in charge of how these weapons would be used, that came down to the decisions made by the military industrial complex, which still makes decisions with many of the technologies being used today. He was, however, aware of just how much damage they could cause in the wrong hands.

When used in service to the highest good these technologies may be viewed by many as the holy grail, gifts given from on high to those most worthy of the knowledge and wisdom. If they were alive today many of these scientists would likely find it far easier to credit their discoveries to the influence of eastern spirituality, though even now it is opposed, sometimes violently, by materialists. What is clear is that these men sought self-knowledge first, and through it found a way to contribute to progress for the human race. 

Scientists and inventors are wizards who embody light and dark elements of the magician archetype. Their ingredients are numbers and their spells are often long, complicated and uncomprehensible mathematical equations. Though many of us do not understand how they came to the conclusions they did, or even what the conclusions really mean, we worship them as geniuses. 

The scientists who have left a lasting impression on our minds, who have affected the course of history in many ways, were not simply intellectuals. Their greatness came from hard work and left brain analysis, but they also relied on other spiritual gifts to withdraw the solutions to some of our worlds greatest conundrums. Right brain creativity and intuition were an indispensable part of the formula. 

No doubt the first scientist that pops into western minds is good old messy haired Albert Einstein, someone often quote (and misquoted) on facebook. There is no doubt that this man was an analytical thinker, but he was one who freely admitted that there was much more to the intuitive mind than what western science has so far given credit. 

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”

― Albert Einstein

He risked everything to follow the nudges of his intuitive mind, and so does every great mind who breaks down the barriers of traditional thinking to take us forward in leaps and bounds. If they relied only upon their intellectual mind, they would rely on the conclusions of those who came before them. Listening to the intuitive mind often leads them on paths that seem scary, crazy, and even heretical in some science circles. It takes courage for these men and women to persist in the face of dogma and criticism from others. 

Nikola Tesla was another great scientist of the 20 th century, though he went largely unnoticed in his time. This was largely due to the fact that the world was just not ready for his way of thinking and too many men would have had to change the whole infrastructure of their livelihood to accommodate him. Now he is beginning to be recognised as the genius that he was. 

He was not a conventional scientist by any stretch of the imagination. He was known to see images of his inventions clearly in his mind, something that in his younger years had scared him. In later years he realised it was a gift. He was raised in a religious family but was open to other spiritual paths throughout his life. That openness, with an equal amount of discernment, was surely what allowed him to create unique and world transforming concepts. The father of the AC current studied vedic principles and came to understand prana and the akash in terms of energy and mass.

"The gift of the mental power comes from God, Divine Being, and if we concentrate our minds on that truth, we become in tune with his great power."

- Nikola Tesla

These are just two of the world's great scientists, it would require much writing to speak of the many influences of other greats throughout the centuries who credited a higher power with having guided their earthly endeavours. 

What matters is that these men were whole brain thinkers who had a deep spiritual awareness that guided them and illuminated their paths. They paid attention to that inner guidance, even when they knew it would bring them nothing but ridicule. I believe it is this same courage that will make this kind of approach in science the norm rather than the exception. It does not require a belief in God, but it does require an openness and trust in your innate intuitive abilities.

It is the year of the horse, I was born in the year of the horse, and for many of us it is galloping forward at full speed. I have been amazed at how synchronistically horses have been showing up in my life in the last few months in different ways. Through good friends I have been introduced to Tina Barnes and Michelle Atterby, two horse lovers I have come to admire greatly.  

This last week I had the opportunity to meet one of Michelle's horses, Hero, for an equine therapy session. How funny, that while on my own personal Heroes Journey one of my mentors would be named Hero. I never realised how deep and profound a healing I would experience in the presence of this towering equine healer.

The morning of the healing I had some conversations with my girlfriend about what might happen that day, but we both agreed that we had to let go of any expectation. I secretly hoped for a great breakthrough, but I knew that whatever spirit had in store would be the greatest gift.

When it was my time to go in to the ring with the horse I was not prepared for this. Relax though, I did not get into the ring while he was in this state, as you will read after the video. 

Prior to entering the ring with him, Hero had seen another horse escape from a paddock and out into the farm. The reason this upset him, according to Michelle, was that as the leader of the herd he assumed a great deal of responsibility for the others. This alarmed him, and as you can see from the video, it was very unsettling. Straight away it was apparent that he had something to show me. 

Michelle and I sat facing one another and centred in to our bodies, outside the ring. I could feel my body holding on to something in the abdomen, a tightness close to the incision point of a scar from an operation that happened long ago. I have done much energy healing and bodywork around this scar but there are many layers to it and it always astounds me when I learn what the next one is. Michelle asked me to look in to Hero's eyes, and as soon I did, tears began to well up in mine. 

I was not even in the ring and I was sobbing, for reasons unknown to me. When Hero calmed down and Michelle had given the green light, we stepped into the ring. 

Soon Michelle revealed to me what I was releasing and why I had been holding on to it. At the time of my accident I had been unconscious and my parents had both been in my presence and crying, unsure of what lay in store for me. Though I was unconscious my energetic body absorbed it all. At that time in my life I had been quite the emotional caretaker and it seems as though I had wanted to tell my parents that everything would be OK, but in that state I could not. The words and the sadness absorbed had been trapped in my body for a good 20 years now. Perhaps a soul contract, karma, who knows. Mine is not to question why this happened, but simply to acknowledge it and move on. 

As the grief poured from me, my body trembled. Michelle had her hand placed upon my back. I thought she was shaking it uncontrollably, turns out that was me. It was a truly cathartic experience and I could feel my body becoming lighter with each sob. In brief moments I would catch myself judging myself; "You should be over this by now." That is part of the problem that keeps people continuing to suffer. When we peel back the layers we find a greater depth of healing takes place. 

At no point during this exercise did I feel threatened by the horse, Michelle creates a truly safe space for her clients and if things had got hairy, she would have stepped in. She helped me to interpret what the horses gestures meant and more specifically what they were saying about me. Apparently the horse and I were going through a mutual healing and he yawned quite strongly a few times, intermittently nibbling at my abdomen in places that corresponded with the chakras I was balancing. 

Like me, once the healing was done Hero wanted to play. Under Michelle's supervision I was able to direct him to trot around the pen and then, being mindful of my body gestures, back to a slow walk. What I love about Michelle's interaction with the horses is that she is building a cooperative relationship, there is no need to dominate, they join in willingly once they know who you are. Michelle has a deep understanding of the horses and I highly recommend her to anyone who is seeking to experience equine assisted therapy. She offers workshops on leadership and I am confident that you would enjoy seeing the effect it has on any team you are involved with. 

Be sure to check out Michelle's information at Spirit Gate Farm. 

This is a seven part series that will take you on a journey to explore your chakras. You will learn of their position within the body and the various symptoms in your life that indicate what is happening within them. You will receive tips on how to address the aspects of life that are out of balance and you will learn simple meditations upon each of the chakras to help restore balance. 










THE SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA


As you might expect, this chakra lies within the region of our solar plexus and navel area. 
This chakra is related to our self-esteem, warrior energy and our ability to set and maintain boundaries in our life. It also ties in to the power of transformation. 


AFFIRMATIONS FOR THIS CHAKRA


"I am responsible for who I am and I who I choose to become."
"I love and approve of myself."


1) How much do you love yourself? We are not talking about a conceited self-love here, we are talking about healthy self-love such that you allow only the healthiest relationships in to your life. We only allow people to treat us slightly less worse than we treat ourselves. What are others reflecting back to you? What parts of yourself are calling for greater self-love and self-acceptance? Give yourself that love and you will be amazed what you reflect from the world around you. 

2) Are you unconsciously seeking approval from others? You may think/feel that you are beyond the need for approval, but many people discover differently as they walk life's path, discovering it is a subconscious weed that needs to be pulled. It is not what you want to believe about yourself, but what you truly believe about yourself that determines how you face the world. Give yourself the approval with the choices you make. Listen to the guidance of your intuition as to what the next step is. Be aware of when you are waiting for someone else to give you the green light, for truly you are giving your power away to them. You may find that you make mistakes, but that is part of the joy of life!

3) Are you willing to take responsibility for what you face in your life? This means that you do not blame others for what has happened to you. At the same time you do not blame yourself. It means that you are willing to face the hurtful feelings, the circumstances you find yourself in and admit when you have done something wrong to another. When someone has done you harm you create healthy boundaries and walk away if you need to. You no longer rely on others to take responsibility for what has happened to you, or to come and save you, you choose to be a warrior of your own light. 

4) Are you judgmental and critical of others? We are not in our power when we are judgmental and critical of others, focusing on the injustice done to us or others. We are in our power when we carry the light of justice within ourselves. We don't avoid our power out of being afraid of being judgmental. When we hold the light of justice we stand confidently in truth, speaking up for those who are unable to, even if it is our own inner child. Discernment is key to our meetings with everyone, but judgment and criticism do not bring us any closer to our power. If there is something in our world you find yourself criticising, do your utmost to be the opposite of that in all you do! If you see selfishness, you can waste energy in judging that in the other, or you can weed out your own selfish behaviours and choose to act in some selfless manner. 

5) Do you live a life of integrity and honesty? We are in integrity when our thoughts, feelings and actions are in alignment. Many people have claimed to be of integrity, but when push came to shove have acted out of integrity. Have you done that in your life? I know that I valued integrity so much that when I caught myself acting out of integrity I was harsh on myself. Your stand for integrity is an ideal to hold yourself up to, so that when you are acting of of integrity your inner compass or a supportive friend, will let you know. Integrity ultimately comes when you are truly being you, walking, talking and being you in everything you do. 



A MEDITATION UPON THE SACRAL CHAKRA

1) When you are in meditation, focus your attention at the solar plexus and picture a yellow circle sitting there. 

2) Begin to tone a deep "Om" sound whilst maintaining attention and focus on this chakra. Repeat this process 7 times on that same spot and be aware of any messages from your body. 

3) Be aware of the releasing of energy over the next few days. You may notice emotional issues coming to the surface related to some of the above issues. Don't judge them, simply allow yourself to feel them and allow them to move through you. Love yourself! If you need a helping hand reach out to someone who can offer support. In those times you find it challenging to be compassionate towards yourself, the compassion of another can moved mountains. 



Meditation is a great process for any of us so that we can begin to restore balance to our lives. In this FREE guide I offer my top tips for you as you begin to set up a practice in your life. I address many of the concerns people have about meditation, how to breathe properly, different types of practice and much more. Click on the link below to download it and read it on your phone, tablet or computer. As I add more content to the guide you will receive updates and benefit from the feedback of others. 

                CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE GUIDE

This is a seven part series that will take you on a journey to explore your chakras. You will learn of their position within the body and the various symptoms in your life that indicate what is happening within them. You will receive tips on how to address the aspects of life that are out of balance and you will learn simple meditations upon each of the chakras to help restore balance. 




The Sacral Chakra


This chakra lies in the hip area of our body. In sanskrit it is known as the Svadisthana and the colour associated with it is orange. 

This chakra is associated with our emotions, sensuality, being open to receiving pleasure and our ability to go with the flow. In terms of physical symptoms this chakra relates to our sexual organs, our low back area, immune system, feet and legs.  


AFFIRMATION FOR THIS CHAKRA


"I allow myself to receive the pleasures of life."
"I allow myself to feel and experience all my emotions."



ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING ISSUES TO IMPROVE THE BALANCE



1) What goals have you felt passionate about pursuing in life but have not? If we judge our goals or passions, or fear what will happen when we decide to follow up on them, we find ourselves stalling and not taking action. This can cause blocks within the sacral chakra. Procrastination is not laziness though. It is an indication that within us lies a fear that is preventing us taking action. Identify the fear, put in the effort to transmute it and you will find the energy to move forward. What is your greatest fear with regards to your goal?

2) Do you consider yourself to be a controlling person? Are there relationships that you are controlling so that you don't lose something? We control when we fear losing something - love, money, support, connection. When we are aware of what we are afraid of losing we can begin to let go of the need to control. As long as we deny we need it, our subconscious will attempt to control the source of it in our lives. People pleasing, trying to change people, insincere compliments, using your temper to get what you want, refusing to accept a "no" when you hear it, refusing to take responsibility for your wounds and hurts - these are some examples of controlling behaviours.  

3) How do you feel about your sexuality? Many of us have been taught to see our sexuality as bad, as something to be suppressed. This is especially true for those whose sexual choices are not supported by elements within society. Allowing ourselves to experience conscious relations with others is anything but bad, it is a way to know another and ourselves more intimately. Sure, there are times when self-control will be beneficial, but this is not achieved by guilting, blaming or shaming parts of ourselves. Another indication of imbalance would be taking it to the opposite extreme and struggling with sexual addictions. 

4) How do you express your creativity? Creativity lies within each and every one of us awaiting expression. We may not necessarily have received support for it unless we were of Da Vinci's standard from the outset. Creative expression is a source of great joy for us when we detach from the outcome or the need to please others. Are there creative outlets that you have considered but not followed up on? It will be worth giving it a go! Even if it is something you write for yourself alone to bring a little more joy in to your life. You do not have to write the next bestseller. In fact that kind of expectation only gets in the way of the flow, I know from experience!

5) Are you able to master your fears related to survival and not having enough? The fear of not enough is one of the greatest fears plaguing our world at this time. Turning inwards to reflect on what you do have and appreciating all that you are, can have a profound impact on this worry. Instead of always giving attention to what is missing, we allow ourselves to focus on the beauty of life and those around us. Breathing through your anxiety and worry can help to alleviate some of the tension they cause.  From that space we are much more likely to create what we do need to produce in our life.  



A MEDITATION UPON THE SACRAL CHAKRA

1) When you are in meditation, focus your attention below the navel and picture an orange circle. 

2) Begin to tone a deep "Om" sound whilst maintaining attention and focus on this chakra. Repeat this process 7 times on that same spot and be aware of any messages from your body. 

3) Be aware of the releasing of energy over the next few days. You may notice emotional issues coming to the surface related to some of the above issues. Don't judge them, simply allow yourself to feel them and allow them to move through you. Love yourself! If you need a helping hand reach out to someone who can offer support. In those times you find it challenging to be compassionate towards yourself, the compassion of another can moved mountains. 



Meditation is a great process for any of us so that we can begin to restore balance to our lives. In this FREE guide I offer my top tips for you as you begin to set up a practice in your life. I address many of the concerns people have about meditation, how to breathe properly, different types of practice and much more. Click on the link below to download it and read it on your phone, tablet or computer. As I add more content to the guide you will receive updates and benefit from the feedback of others. 

                                        CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE GUIDE

This is a seven part series that will take you on a journey to explore your chakras. You will learn of their position within the body and the various symptoms in your life that indicate what is happening within them. You will receive tips on how to address the aspects of life that are out of balance and you will learn simple meditations upon each of the chakras to help restore balance. 


We start at the base of the spine and work our way upwards. 


The Root Chakra


The root chakra is located at the very base of our spine. In Sanskrit this is known at the Muladhara chakra and its colour is red. 

If we feel that we belong within a community we will have a strong sense of connection and our chakra is nice and balanced.  We will feel safe and most likely have a strong connection with others in our family or local community. 

AFFIRMATION FOR THIS CHAKRA:

"I am connected to all of life." 
"I choose to see how I am connected with all of life."

ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING ISSUES TO IMPROVE THE BALANCE


If you are experiencing issues of survival in your life, then at some level you are dealing with issues related to this chakra. Here are some areas you may want to address in your life, with some tips on how to begin that process. 

1. You may experience lots of worry or anxiety about problems. Are they problems you have a solution for? If so, take some action. Are they problems there is no way out of? What is being called for in this situation is a process of acceptance. 
   
2. Your safety may feel threatened in some way shape or form. Where do you feel unsafe? What are you worried about losing? Can you let go of that fear? What would it take to feel safe once more? What is the next step you can take?
   
3. Abandonment fears may cause blockages in this chakra. This may require some deep healing and forgiveness work. It may be helpful to find some guidance from a counsellor or someone else you trust. 
4. Any issues with your family of origin or the religious environment you grew up in can be reflected in this chakra. Address the issues head on with compassion and love and you can balance the chakra once more. It may mean cutting out toxic relationships or asking others for forgiveness. 
5. Do you stand up for yourself? Or do you let people walk all over you? As you stand up for yourself, the energy flows. 

A MEDITATION UPON THE ROOT CHAKRA

1) When you are in meditation, focus your attention on the base of your spine and picture a red circle. 

2) Begin to tone a deep "Om" sound whilst maintaining attention and focus on this chakra. Repeat this process 7 times on that same spot and be aware of any messages from your body. 

3) Be aware of the releasing of energy over the next few days. You may notice emotional issues coming to the surface. Don't judge them, simply allow yourself to feel them and allow them to move through you. Love yourself!!


Next time, we learn about the sacral chakra, central to the manifestation of your hearts desires upon your earthly quest!



This quick test below can give you an indication of the status of your root chakra, as well as the other chakras of your body. It is well worth taking 3 minutes to assess this for yourself!

You may have just started meditating. You may be meditating regularly. You may not notice anything changing in your outer world. How do you know it is working for?

I have been meditating for years now and sit for 90 minutes at a time. That is not expected of any beginner, or even advanced meditator. It is my choice. The reason I mention it is because there is a reason I continue to make the choice to do this every day and it wasn't because it was putting more money in the bank. The benefits are often a lot more subtle! 

Here are some simple questions you could ask yourself after about 4 weeks of practicing meditation. Then, you could ask them every few weeks to continue to track your progress.

Are other people commenting on changes in your behaviour? Ask around. You are in your head all day, others will notice changes in you that you yourself may not have.

Are you better at concentration than you used to be? With a regular meditation practice you should find that throughout your days you are better able to concentrate on daily tasks. 

Are you noticing any changes in your posture? Muscle tension is a cause of poor posture and the pains associated with it. Regular meditation can relax the muscles and help restore posture.

Are you more aware of your actions towards others? You may not always be able to control your temper and that is ok, you are a work in progress. But hopefully you will at least be more aware of those times when you do.

What behaviors have you become aware of that you want to change about yourself? As we meditate we become more aware of the behaviors that can hold us back in certain areas of life.

Do your meditations seem to go by quicker, even when they are longer? When we truly enjoy something, time can fly by in a moment. This is the reason that the most seasoned of meditators are able to sit for hours in meditation.

Are you noticing more of the beauty in the world? You may find that you have become much more aware of the small things in life and find yourself appreciating them more. This is definitely a side effect of meditation.

And finally, are you attracting more hippies in to your life? Hippies can smell meditators, they notice the glow in your eyes and they want to know you. So if there are more of them around you, your meditation is working!


Review these questions every so often and you will be able to see that the meditation is indeed having a positive effect on your well being. 


This is an excerpt from "How To Meditate: A Beginner's Guide". It is $2 and you can download it to your iphone, tablet or computer and tap in to your meditation practice more regularly. Included are a number of meditation examples. What is cool about this is that as I add new meditations you will be able to access them, at no extra cost! :) Click on the picture below and begin your journey today....

"If it wasn't for my mind, my meditation would be excellent."

                         - Pema Chodron


"How hard could it be to meditate?" This is a question asked by many who have yet to sit for the first time. You may think that during your day you sit and do nothing, but if you truly tune out all the background noise you will probably find that you are actually chattering constantly away in the back of your mind. And it will soon become obvious as to how many petty thoughts you think in one day and how much resistance those thoughts bring to the simple act of sitting in silence.

Our little mind resists meditation and will throw out a whole bunch of reasons as to why you cannot take the time to meditate. It is worth being aware of some of the common forms of resistance so that you can move beyond them. 

1) "There are too many responsibilities to attend to in life." The funny thing is we can ignore these responsibilities throughout the rest of our day, but we have to sit and meditate and suddenly now we have thoughts that tell us we should be doing this or that. You are only dedicating a few minutes to meditation to start with, those responsibilities will get met later on in the day. Make a promise to your chatty mind that you will address it later. Meditation is your responsibility to yourself. 

2) Nasty negative emotions and thoughts seem to arise a whole lot more. When we meditate we oftentimes surface the various parts of ourselves that need our healing attention. Anything that is in the way of feeling calm and peaceful is going to surface for you to release. This can be a reason that many people want to avoid meditation, to avoid those raw feelings. Sometimes they release during the meditation, sometimes they do not. If you are finding that some strongly negative feelings are emerging, be sure to speak with a counsellor or therapist who can help you. These feelings do not indicate that your meditation is not working. On the contrary they are telling you that it is working very well.

3) Our chatty little mind would have us believe that sitting and meditating is not going to benefit us. The days when we least want to meditate, the days when that voice is the loudest, are the days when you will probably experience the most profound breakthroughs in your meditation. You will have those days, we all do.  Even those of us who have been at it for years. On those days insist that you do it, breathe through the resistance and the turbulent thoughts. This is like the mental and emotional resistance to a tough workout, you will be grateful afterwards.

4) "Nothing has changed in my life, it cannot be working." Meditating will not suddenly make you richer, more successful or better looking. Sure, some of these things may occur over time as a result of the awareness that comes with meditation. But the true value of meditation is who we become in the process. It is easy to measure tangible changes in our outer world, not so easy to measure the changes that happen within us. Instead of looking and expecting your outer world to change, be aware of some of the subtle changes within yourself that others may be mentioning. Are you kinder? More gentle? More calm? Less anxious? These are all very positive experiences that come with long-term practice. 

5) Our ego resists the joy it does not understand. Joy and happiness come through a choice to allow them in. Our resistance to meditation could be our resistance to allowing those states of being in our life. Maybe you had religious conditioning that said you did not deserve it, or societal beliefs that it is not possible, or fears you yourself generated through life experience. To your ego mind, life as it knows it is comfortable. Life as it does not know it is uncomfortable. So not only is your mind resisting the negative thoughts and emotions, it is resisting the positive feelings of joy and happiness. "It is our light not our darkness, that scares us." Famous words from Marianne Williamson. Remember that your thoughts of fear are not always fearing the bad, but sometimes fearing the good that is unknown to the ego. 

Resistance is bound to come up, but it is only the part of you that resists the change that is speaking up. Beyond that resistance lies the very experience you are seeking for in meditation. I have been meditating for years, and now I sit for 90 minutes at a time. Sometimes I experience total peace, other times my little mind wants to yap away out of discontent.