My two favorite exercises this term were the Journey On exercise and the Meeting Asclepius exercise. The Journey On exercise provided me with the opportunity to view a situation that had stayed with me for many years from a different perspective. I believe I can use this exercise into the future as a tool to leaving the past in the past. The Meeting Asclepius exercise was very beneficial for many reasons. First it gave me the opportunity to experience the inner peace I know resides within my mentor. Secondly and probably most important, it allowed me the opportunity to see and recognize what I had been hiding behind for years and why. It has given me the strength to step out from behind my personal suit of armor. I no longer need it. I no longer need to read every new "guru" who says they have the answer. I now know that the answers have been inside me all along and I can trust my intuition to always lead me down the perfect path. The past was then - this is now and I rejoice in NOW!
I believe that this experience will provide me with the opportunity to relate to family, friends and my clients from a more balanced perspective. I am very grateful for this class.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Week 7 - Aesclepian Healing
This morning, while everyone else was still in bed, I listened to Track #4 - Aesclepian Healing. The person I chose to experience this energy exchange with was one of my former instructors, Ms. KC Miller, founder of the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. KC is the one person I know that emulates the loving-kindness I aspire to achieve. It was a very interesting experience. As a student, we had participated in several classes where visualization was involved, including one where we allowed our subconscious to step out of our body and into the body of a person we had unfinished business with. The object was to experience the situation from the other person's point of view. So visualizing KC in the same room came easily. I was able to visualize the white light emanating from her crown chakra and connecting with my crown chakra. I could feel the peaceful loving energy filling my body. While connecting our heart chakras, I felt the warmth spreading from my center throughout my body. The throat chakra was the challenge. Though I could visualize the healing energy emanating from KC's throat and traveling to mine, the initial response was a stuffiness in my throat. I began coughing, trying to clear that blockage. I felt like it was time to release whatever had been blocking my ability to speak my truth. I asked KC to help me by sending healing energy to remove the block. I'm not sure when this blockage originated but if I am to continue my path of helping others find their truth, I need to find out what's holding me back. I intend to continue this practice on a regular basis to discover the origin of and then release this blockage.
The saying, "One cannot lead another to where one has not gone himself" applies to the health and wellness professional in respect that it's very difficult to connect with where your clients are coming from if you have never been there yourself. There was a question posted that asked if a practitioner had an obligation to their clients to develop their health physically, psychologically and spiritually. I believe a practitioner is responsible for developing their health with respect to their own path. I believe that spirit brings to us those that need what we have to offer and as no one person is perfect in all aspects, those who can relate to the passion we, as practitioners, share with our clients will be drawn to us. Spiritual and psychological growth is not something that you demonstrate when you are with a client, it is something that you live in your life each and every day. Up and down, forward and back, inside and outside - above all, we are human beings - not human doings - so don't just do it - BE IT.
Mary
The saying, "One cannot lead another to where one has not gone himself" applies to the health and wellness professional in respect that it's very difficult to connect with where your clients are coming from if you have never been there yourself. There was a question posted that asked if a practitioner had an obligation to their clients to develop their health physically, psychologically and spiritually. I believe a practitioner is responsible for developing their health with respect to their own path. I believe that spirit brings to us those that need what we have to offer and as no one person is perfect in all aspects, those who can relate to the passion we, as practitioners, share with our clients will be drawn to us. Spiritual and psychological growth is not something that you demonstrate when you are with a client, it is something that you live in your life each and every day. Up and down, forward and back, inside and outside - above all, we are human beings - not human doings - so don't just do it - BE IT.
Mary
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Unit 6 - Meditation & Assessment
This week I decided to try something different when listening to the Loving-Kindness Meditation. I began by doing the deep breathing only this time I repeated the words "no judgment" over and over in my mind. I was aware that this particular exercise did not come easily to me and I wanted to go into it with a positive attitude. The first time though, I found myself reaching a level of relaxation I hadn't found before but I still wasn't able to reach that "warm" feeling. I listened to the mediation two more times and though I didn't get to where I wanted to me, I have hope that with practice, it will happen.
The Integral Assessment was much easier. It is very similar to a tool that is used in my Life Coaching practice. The Wheel of Life is divided into eight parts and each "slice" is labeled with a part of the individuals life that is of importance to them. The individual is then asked to rate, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most desirable level, where they felt they were in honoring their potential for each area. I haven't done this assessment in a long time and was actually pleasantly surprised that I was closer to reaching my potential in several areas. The area(s) I've chosen to focus on is Social Activism and Work or the Worldly area of the assessment.
I chose this area because I am coordinating an effort to create a Food Cooperative here in Anchorage. Those of us that live in Alaska find ourselves in a unique situation when it comes to food availability. If there was to be some type of natural disaster or the oil fields would suddenly run dry, the ability to feed the people that live in this state would come to a screeching halt. We have a number of family farms in the Matanuska Valley, which is about 40 miles north of Anchorage. These farmer's come to Anchorage during the summer and participate in several Farmer's Markets but when winter hits, there are very few opportunities to eat local (300 mile radius). We are very fortunate that the climate in Alaska favors the plants and the number of pests are very limited. Therefore, the use of pesticides is almost non-existent. There also seems to be an aversion to the use of antibiotics in the meats and minimal pasteurization in our milks. I feel very strongly about our efforts and will have to make sure I don't ignore my personal needs while my focus is elsewhere.
I feel I can maintain a balance between my interpersonal needs and my worldly desires by continuing a meditative practice. I enjoy listening to relaxing music and find I am able to "center" myself and take an objective view of what's happening in my life during my listening time.
Anyone out there ever worked for a food market or cooperative? I would love to talk to you and "pick your brain."
Mary
The Integral Assessment was much easier. It is very similar to a tool that is used in my Life Coaching practice. The Wheel of Life is divided into eight parts and each "slice" is labeled with a part of the individuals life that is of importance to them. The individual is then asked to rate, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most desirable level, where they felt they were in honoring their potential for each area. I haven't done this assessment in a long time and was actually pleasantly surprised that I was closer to reaching my potential in several areas. The area(s) I've chosen to focus on is Social Activism and Work or the Worldly area of the assessment.
I chose this area because I am coordinating an effort to create a Food Cooperative here in Anchorage. Those of us that live in Alaska find ourselves in a unique situation when it comes to food availability. If there was to be some type of natural disaster or the oil fields would suddenly run dry, the ability to feed the people that live in this state would come to a screeching halt. We have a number of family farms in the Matanuska Valley, which is about 40 miles north of Anchorage. These farmer's come to Anchorage during the summer and participate in several Farmer's Markets but when winter hits, there are very few opportunities to eat local (300 mile radius). We are very fortunate that the climate in Alaska favors the plants and the number of pests are very limited. Therefore, the use of pesticides is almost non-existent. There also seems to be an aversion to the use of antibiotics in the meats and minimal pasteurization in our milks. I feel very strongly about our efforts and will have to make sure I don't ignore my personal needs while my focus is elsewhere.
I feel I can maintain a balance between my interpersonal needs and my worldly desires by continuing a meditative practice. I enjoy listening to relaxing music and find I am able to "center" myself and take an objective view of what's happening in my life during my listening time.
Anyone out there ever worked for a food market or cooperative? I would love to talk to you and "pick your brain."
Mary
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Unit 5 - Loving-Kindness vs Subtle Mind
This week's exercise was all about contrasting the Loving-Kindness meditation and the Subtle Mind meditation. I listened to both recordings in succession and then with time separating the two recordings to see if there was a difference in the overall effect.
The Loving-Kindness meditation was still uncomfortable for me to listen to. There was some internal resistance to being told how to feel. I am able to open myself to forgiveness but since I don't hold grudges I wasn't able to feel a person to focus on.
The Subtle Mind was much easier to follow and relax into. The Subtle Mind actually reminded me of the different meditations we used when I was taking my hypnotherapy classes. The ability to focus on the breath is very important both as a practitioner and as someone wanting to make changes in their life. I start sessions with my clients by asking them to take a few deep breaths and allow their body to relax into the chair they are sitting in. Then I make the suggestion that the only thing they hear is the background music and my voice. I tell them that any other background noises or other sounds only serve to relax them deeper.
Reaching down, deep down into the subconscious mind is where life changes take place. This is where the connection between the body, mind and spirit takes place. The practice of conscious thought has been part of my life for several years now. I have learned first hand how a person's thoughts, feelings and spiritual beliefs can affect their life for both the positive and the negative and I believe whole-heartedly in these studies. The more people who can share this information the sooner we can affect a vibrational change here on Earth.
The Loving-Kindness meditation was still uncomfortable for me to listen to. There was some internal resistance to being told how to feel. I am able to open myself to forgiveness but since I don't hold grudges I wasn't able to feel a person to focus on.
The Subtle Mind was much easier to follow and relax into. The Subtle Mind actually reminded me of the different meditations we used when I was taking my hypnotherapy classes. The ability to focus on the breath is very important both as a practitioner and as someone wanting to make changes in their life. I start sessions with my clients by asking them to take a few deep breaths and allow their body to relax into the chair they are sitting in. Then I make the suggestion that the only thing they hear is the background music and my voice. I tell them that any other background noises or other sounds only serve to relax them deeper.
Reaching down, deep down into the subconscious mind is where life changes take place. This is where the connection between the body, mind and spirit takes place. The practice of conscious thought has been part of my life for several years now. I have learned first hand how a person's thoughts, feelings and spiritual beliefs can affect their life for both the positive and the negative and I believe whole-heartedly in these studies. The more people who can share this information the sooner we can affect a vibrational change here on Earth.
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