Benefits of connecting with Nature

Notice getting back to Nature is about connecting with true self. Its about finding ways to 'hang-in-there' feeling ungrounded, and reaching for what brings balance. It dawns that to explore new ventures or activities, even mind-wandering, helps strengthen our ability to clarify what matters now. We each weave a mosaic of our lives. Mindful moments are created wherever we are, come what may. Being ourselves is about living in the present, showing our true colours, nurturing curiosity, living spontaneously, letting go of what we outgrow or what outgrows us, moving on from projects at will, knowing that embracing change is part of acceptance and deepening awareness. Connecting with what is heartfelt is about showing kindness and compassion, knowing that encouraging others is encouraging ourselves. This trains us to grow adept at navigating our thoughts and perceptions. When self-directed, we nourish what resonates, thrive at our pace.

Moving Forward

Every moment, the choice exists as to how we perceive the energy within and around ourselves.  We do not perceive the world as it is, rather we perceive the external based on the state of our internal environment. As consciousness expands, we receive, decode, transmit energy differently.

Moving forward, each of us decides consciously or unconsciously how to function.  We decide whether to allow our perception of the external world to shape how we feel and function or, recognize that how we breathe, feel and vibrate shapes our sense and experience of everything.

Come what may, change is always within reach.  One area of life is interconnecetd to all others. Being present is about living with more clarity, confidence and harnessing unseen power.  Whatever prevents living more fully can be identified and transformed through conscious recognition. Everything can be related to the rhythm of the breath.  Attentive listening is key. 

Listen closer & feel

When ready, it comes to our attention that we express emotions on the surface which are hiding what is really going on inside.  This is a kind of unconscious split that prevents us from living in our integrity, blocks clarity, and postpones life choices that enable us to feel harmony. Various breathing practices can be used to help us get to the bottom of what is really going on. What if its possible to tune in, raise awareness, and truly listen to the signs and signals of the body in a whole new way? What if we could shift from thinking about what happening to allowing all emotions to flow? Breathwork is one tool that allows us to get in touch with our true selves.

We are each responsible for our happiness.  We create it, manifest it or stand in our own way for reasons only we can uncover at our own pace. We are each the architect of our reality.  We choose our thoughts, our preceptions, our responses or emotional reactions to external forces.  All-the-while, we each possess all tools required to our expand consciousness, see each event  from a different point of view and transform our lives. We can shift from living unconsciously in fear to living consciously by vibrating love. At any moment, we have the power to listen closer, change how we think and feel. Reminding ourselves to follow intution can help us reframe life and death.

Moving beyond addiction

The subject of addiction is a popular topic for mediation. Ponder the the following:

"You look very insecure, sitting up there in your tree", said one highly-ranked Chinese official to a Ch'an master who enjoyed his life perched in the treetops. "Oh ho, good sir, YOU look very insecure to ME, down there on the ground!" replied the delighted master.

This often referenced Chan story contains a message which, we are told, the official was wise enough to understand. It was the official, whose life and fortune depended upon external favour and considerations, who was insecure. These were his unconscious addictions, the foundation upon which his life was built, on "shifting sands". It was his attachment to these external conditions that created his insecurity, his instability and restlessness.

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One day, the Buddha and his monks were walking down a road and were confronted by a frantic and miserable farmer racing down the road. He stopped them, saying "Good monks, I have lost my oxen, they were travelling this way. Did you see them?" The Buddha sadly replied, "No, we have not seen them. Perhaps they took the fork in the road back there." At this, the farmer wailed and continued his complaint. "Only this summer, locusts ate all my crops? What will I do?" and he ran crying down the road. The Buddha watched him go, and turned to his friends, saying "Dear monks, do you know how lucky you are? You never have to worry about your oxen or crops."

Thought and memory are the same. Until we know the difference between thought and awareness, no clarity arises. We are taught to take for granted our memories constitute who we are. Yet, 'who I am' in this moment, is not a thought. It is unrelated to what we think we have ot not. Rather, it is felt. As we are fully present, all that exists is awareness. Who is being aware? The monks know Being and no-One are the same, that is, everything. No-One is everybody. We cannot allow awareness to arise if we keep reverting to memory. The moment we feel a lack within, we feel separate, incomplete, like something is wrong or missing. This leads to addiction, the perceived need to fill a void. We do everything in our power to fill it, talk about it, do something to enable us to feel good about ourselves.

Alcoholism or other addictions allow people to experience what it is to feel uninhibited freedom. Becoming addicted to dark thoughts keeps one focused on and perpetuating the focus on the pain body. Until we realize the very nature of being is infinite. It cannot be destroyed. We forget we are whole, awareness. This starts the sense of lack, which brings separation, and the need to fill a voice from which emerges addiction and fear.  We are not afraid of something. We are simply fear. This fear exists because we are convinced something is lacking. We have lost trust not only in others but also ourselves.  The thought arises how could I be free of addiction? There is the amnesia of what is universal. You cannot prove it, you can only live it.

Similarly, when a person wants to know about love, he may read books, watch movies and hear about other people's experiences Yet, One does not know what love is until one begins to feel love, feel the love inside the self. Until he tastes love, feels it inside himself, he cannot know it.  Truth is not something we can prove. It is self-evident. We exist. When we wish to prove, we revert to memory and get lost in the quagmire.  As long as we live grounded in memory, we will fear death, old age, sickness , of so many things, everything.

The awakened sages call a person wise when all his undertakings are free from anxiety about results", says Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. Jesus too said that the Kingdom of Heaven is ever-present. Of course, the problem is, everyone is not always fully present. We are in the future, we are in the past, we are in our memories, we are in our anxieties, we are in our fantasies! Why? Because we are attached to our story; our personal narrative. We play it inside our head constantly. As we cook, we daydream. As we drive, we fantasize. As we work, we consider what better job there is for us out there. And as we love, we all too often do the same thing. So rarely are we simply aware of what we do, simply mindful.

Getting here

The moment is here. We feel like everything is coming together, except, a few loose ends are lingering. We sometimes come to feel disconnected from our holistic self by not having an awareness of our soul's purpose.  We can lose a sense of purpose and regain or sharpen clarity.

If we feel off track, life seems to send us problems or issues to resolve  Each one is meant to teach us something, or open us up to seeing ourselves and the world differently. Take in a new workshop or activity this month that invites seeing from a whole new vantage point. We offer cathartic Breathwork events, conscious choices D.I.Y. workshops and Lucy Libido oils events to spark curiousity and stimulate imagination. Challenge or stretch yourself to lighten-up, have fun and be spontaneous more often. Go with intuition. It is reliable.