Tag Archive for: meditation

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During these unique and challenging times, many feel that it’s selfish to be focusing on success.

But think about it for a minute. Is it really?

If you look at success as the dictionary definition — “The attainment of money, fame, material possessions, or power”– then yes, this might not be the time to just focus on those types of goals.

Debra Poneman's Yes To Success Banner

But I think you and I would agree that in today’s world, that dictionary definition of success is as outdated as the BlackBerry at the bottom of your junk drawer.

Our society has begun to redefine success and for most, it’s no longer about just money or fame or outer achievement but must include contribution and inner fulfillment.

My dear friend, Debra Poneman is an international success expert and mentor to some of the most renowned transformational teachers of our time. In her acclaimed e-book The 5 Secrets to a Life of True Success, she offers a new paradigm of success and the simple steps to live it.

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE

In her ebook Debra suggests (and research confirms) that the reason the old paradigm of success so often leads people to despair is the expectation that attaining goals will lead to fulfillment.

Although Debra is in no way averse to setting goals and making plans to achieve them, she believes that there’s an important component missing from that approach. In her ebook, she shares spiritual and energetic practices we can use to first create an unshakeable foundation on which to build our outer success. Then, whether or not we reach our goals, our self-love and inner silence never diminishes.

She also gives us tools and techniques to live our dharma as well as heart-warming, real-life stories that illustrate how engaging in sacred activism and opening to receiving love makes the manifestation of outer desires become effortless.

We particularly love the story about what the great spiritual teacher Maharishi Mahesh Yogi told Debra when she asked him why everyone else loved him more than she did.

Tens of thousands of people all over the world have used the formula Debra shares in her e-book to create lives of ultimate success.

“I’d become immune to e-books and their promises of changing my life, but I heard you on a podcast and loved what you had to say so I thought I’d just take a glance at your book. I just finished it and I am in tears. My heart has been burst wide open by the stories you share (especially the one about your son) and I am completely committed to following your steps to true and lasting success.” ~ Carolyn D., Chicago

“I read every word of your book and it was breathtaking!! Truly amazing. I’m inspired and filled with a sense of awe. It’s very clearly not just a thrown-together loss leader like so many. This is the best ebook I’ve ever read. And The New Success is definitely an idea whose time has come.” 
~ Shelly Lefkoe, Founder of the Lefkoe Institute

“Of all the teachers we have access to in our on-line world, one extraordinary woman stands out amongst the crowd. Master mentor Debra Poneman leads the way to continual inspiration. I’ve seen first-hand how the depth of her knowledge, the wealth of her wisdom, the vastness of her love, the breadth of her humor, and the contagiousness of her joy can and will inspire you to say YES to a life beyond what you can even now imagine. From the truest place in my heart, I encourage you to take advantage of anything she offers, including her profoundly life-changing ebook. Your life will never be the same.”
~ Katherine Woodward Thomas, NY Times Bestselling Author, Conscious Uncoupling and Calling in the One

“Over 30 years ago I first attended Debra’s Yes to Success seminar. I was completely blown away by her unique vision and practical tools for how every one of us can live our most cherished dreams — and by her powerful presence and radiant spirit. I ended up attending the seminar so many more times that I lost count and each time I gained new insights that impacted my life and allowed me to formulate The Passion Test. And now she’s taken the essence and put it in this e-book. What an incredible gift.”
~ Janet Attwood, Co-author NY Times Bestseller The Passion Test

The world needs you to live true success now so that you can have peace and happiness in your soul and BE the contribution you long to be. Debra’s beautiful e-book shows you how.

GET YOUR EBOOK NOW => The 5 Secrets to a Life of True Success: 

Till Next Time, I’m Sending: Love, Phire, and the Violet Flame of Peace

Jill Hughes

 

PS Don’t miss the story in Chapter 2 where Debra tells about the time she broke her foot and sprained her ankle two days before one of the most important presentations of her life and how she turned the pain into a monumental success.

PPS When you download Debra’s e-book, you’ll then be invited to attend her free live webinar, The 5 Pillars to Your Ultimate Life, as well as a 5-hour LIVE “Yes-a-Thon” titled Living a New Paradigm of Success with special guests including Marianne Williamson, Marci Shimoff, Janet Attwood, Katherine Woodward Thomas, Sonia Ricotti, John Newton and Jose Hernandez!!

DOWNLOAD YOUR EBOOK HERE:  

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Do check out our previous blogs. You can find the last four here:

Love, Phire, and the Violet Flame of Peace

Stop Ecocide Banner - Painting by Jaine Rose Abstract - Awakening Alchemy

This Blog Article is Published and Produced in Partnership with STOP ECOCIDE.

Stop Ecocide Loge - Black on Green with Inverted Peace Sign - Awakening Alchemy Ecocide is the extensive damage to, the destruction of or loss of ecosystems of a given territory, by human agency to such an extent that peaceful enjoyment by the inhabitants of that territory has been or will be severely diminished- Polly Higgins the co-founder of a group by the same name ergo, STOP ECOCIDE, was a lawyer who sought to make ECOCIDE a crime.

Stop Ecocide Founder Polly Higgins Holding a Stop Ecocide Now Logo - Awakening alchemy

Polly Higgins – Stop Ecocide Now

This blog marks a few weeks and one year since the passing of Ecocides’ co-founder, visionary and legal pioneer the late Polly Higgins (1968-2019). My dear Year of Miracles college was a close friend of Polly’s and indeed Polly left her a much treasured motorbike in her will – awesome for the FREE SPIRITED this. Plans for any kind of live event have of course had to be cancelled due to COVID-19, but her team have put together some beautiful online content to celebrate and remember her. Below are two short video pieces created specially – enjoy and feel free to share:

Go Here on YouTube to Watch Polly on the origins of STOP ECOCIDE 

Also you can watch Polly Higgins: Greatness as a Legacy:

It was, of course, also Earth Day on 22nd April 2020, 50 years on from the first Earth Day in 1970. We are delighted to be contributing to several global Earth Day events – from Green Cross Netherlands’ video for the EarthX Conference, to a slot in the LiveHOPE Telefest, to a live talk from Jojo Mehta as part of the Pachamama Alliance’s Voices for the Earth Summit.

Dare to be Great Painting by Jaine Rose

Picture by Jaine Rose, local Stroud artist and Earth Protector

Closer to home, sister charity initiative Earth Protector Communities is launching the first stages of a toolkit for individual and community resilience and regeneration, inspired by Polly Higgins’ recently republished book Dare to be Great.

Dubbed the Earth Protector Quest, you can join to see developments and lots of special Earth Week contributions HERE, including films, interviews, singing celebrations and even a “virtual pub night”! They will also be releasing content on the Earth Protectors Community FaceBook group HERE.

ATTUNING TO THE VOICE OF MOTHER EARTH

Native American at Sunset on a Horse, Hunting with Bow - Awakening Alchemy Maya Zacharow, Environmental Scientist who grew up near the Black sea, is hosting an Attuning to the Voice of Mother Earth video summit with lots of top speakers giving interviews, over the next few days – she agrees that the regulations are not sufficient, and like the indigenous cultures we need to reconnect with Earth – you can sign up to the series for FREE here

 

 

A couple of the ways to improve connection are:

1/ Food Intake and Buying Habits:

Making better choices, more locally sourced, avoid PALM OIL which is attributed to deforestation – e.g. of ancient rainforests and the demise of species such as Orangutang. Check how much forest was felled in Canada or where-ever for those Panic Loo rolls to wipe our botties and aim for recyclable or sustainably sourced versions. Plants- try growing your own:

  • My father was [an Industrial chemist so he knew what actually went into weed killers and fertilisers] – was an outstanding gardener, a prize winning dahlia grower and he only grew organic food, which my mum a bakers daughter and an excellent cook turned into delicious home-made meals.
  • Character Bio from Spirit of Prophecy, Sweetpea the Witch - Awakening Alchemy

    Sweetpea – From Spirit of Prophecy

    He had an allotment in Bingley, West Yorkshire, UK where he became friends with Sweetpea, a white witch, who ran the wrath of the all- male bastions of the Allotment Executive Committee who tried to oust her from the site – my father instigated and raised funds for her defence.

  • You can read about Sweetpea- a fictional character , of the same name here in my novel Spirit of Prophecy.
  • Sadly, my fathers gardening gene seems to have by-passed me – I tend to do the total neglect to death-by-drowning , however I am trying – and have a bit of help!! As you can see:
  • Around Plabts in the Garden - Awakening Alchemy A Blue Garden Shed - Awakening Alchemy

2/ Spend Time in Nature Connecting:

  • Take a walk, in nature, a rest [on a socially accepted bench-distance  – LOL]
  • Watch the trees, the flowers and feel gratitude for the infinite grace and certainty of the rolling seasons.
  • Take an Oracle walk – this is easy and yet SO powerful – check out how to – on my website:
  • Look into Heart Math a pioneering organisation who conduct amazing research looking at the magnetic resonance of our hearts, with highly informed results. They also arrange meditations individual ones such as THE DOVES IN FLIGHT:

HOPE: 

These are just a couple of suggestions, as we are remembering Polly and acknowledging all those who understand the importance of making ecocide a crime … as a bridge to the more beautiful world we all want to bring into being. For all of you on a spiritual path, you may believe as I do, that the Earth is Ascending from the physical 3rd Dimension through No-Time on the 4th Dimension to the 5th DIMENSION and as she attempts to throw off the considerable harm inflicted on her over the Eons, she needs our help now more than ever.

In hope and trust, Jill in conjunction with The Stop Ecocide team.

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If you enjoyed this Blog and would like to read more of my own blogs on spiritual and metaphysical issues, plus lots more besides, please share it with your friends and family, or do join our website and you’ll receive a notice whenever a new blog is posted. We will never spam you though. You can join here:

If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

Prosperity Report Cover: Chinese Hanging Lanterns: Awakening AlchemyYou may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

Maybe check out Jill Hughes: Author pages on my website: which highlight my No.1 Best-selling, Visionary Fiction, “whodunit” crime mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, and download the First Chapter for FREE.Spirit of Prophecy Cover with Readers' Favorite 5-Star Award - Awakening Alchemy

Spirit of Prophecy AudioBook Cover With Awards Displayed - Awakening AlchemyFinally, today, please do pop on over to the SHOP: where you can download the Award winning Audiobook at an amazing price. There a Soundcloud taster so you can try before you buy, and bag a big discount!

The novel incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blogs, into a fast-paced, fictional thriller with a spiritual under-current: prepare to be swept away.

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Love, Phire, and the Violet Flame of Peace

Free Tiger on a Power Animals Banner - Awakening Alchemy

Graphic Showing Twisted Universe - Awakening Alchemy As you know, this blog series is broadly titled Awakening Alchemy. It is our hope that some of the topics we cover in this blog may awaken the inherent spiritual side that resides in all of us. Our goal is to open your mind to the incredible possibilities that are happening all around us, right now, on planet Earth. The old, tired paradigms are being swept away, as science and especially quantum physics, begins to illuminate the true nature of matter, of consciousness and of spirit. Many of the old philosophies, and beliefs are again coming to the fore, as science begins to show us there is much more to this Universe than that which we can see, feel and touch. We are celestial beings that harbor greatness inside of each and every one of us. It is my dharma to spark some of that interest, excitement and questioning nature within the readers of this blog.

Today we will be exploring an old, traditional, tribal belief of Shamanic origin, known as “Power Animals”

What Are Power Animals:

Broadly speaking a power animal is a concept that has come down to us from Shamanistic teachings and worship. Shamanism is a practice that evolved in Asia, especially Mongolia and Siberia and over time spread to North and South America, as well as parts of Africa. Shamanism involves reaching an altered state of consciousness (often using natural hallucinogens, meditation, and ritual chanting) that allows the Shaman to interact with the spirit world and then channel these spirits and energies into the physical world.

Shaman Dancing Around Fire - Awakening Alchemy For most of us westerners, the idea of Shamanism is perhaps that which we have had portrayed to us on the silver screen, as the idea of “medicine men”, especially as it relates to the early Native American tribes. Essentially this is true, and shamanism is still practiced routinely, and ritually in many places, especially in the Northern Asian areas of Mongolia and Siberia.

The concept of the power animal is one that is Universal across many cultures. You can perhaps think of power animals as being spirit guides that help protect us as individuals but also our ancestral lineage and that which is still to come, as well as nations, as a whole.  

To the Shaman, everything is alive and connected to us. Everything contains a unique wisdom, power and virtue. Power Animals are said to embody our individual qualities of character, morality, and our most personal inner thoughts and being. We all have experienced the love and bonding that we can create and nurture with living animals (see last week’s blog on Animal Communication: )

What shamanism teaches us is that we can have the same deep love, bonding and respect, on a higher consciousness level, with our power animals. Shamanism contends that every person has a power animal(s) inside of them. They act as protectors to us and guard us against illness as well as imparting some of their inherent skills and wisdom to us. For example, the Hawk spirit will lend you some of the skills and wisdom of the hawk.

Different Types of Power Animals:

Frontal Picture of Owl on Branch - Awakening Alchemy There are absolutely no set rules as to what animals can be power animals. They certainly don’t have to be mammals and can just as easily be reptiles, insects, birds, or sea creatures. If it lives, then it can be a power animal. In this vein, even plants and trees can serve as spirit guides. One thing to note, however, domesticated animals are generally not considered to be power animals because they are already acting in service to mankind. What the experts say is that you should always keep an open mind when looking at power animals. Try not to associate or “lock in” certain characteristics to an animal e.g. Lion is fierce and courageous. All animals have attributes that we, as humans, may not even be aware of until we bond, communicate and share with them.

What is truly important is that we honour and value our power animals. In the Western-Judaic culture we have been taught that animals were put here for our exclusive use and that we have dominion over them. This is an attitude we must let go of. Animals are at least our equals, add greatly to our lives and the world around us, have gifts to offer us and are deserving of gratitude, love and respect. Think of it this way – your power animal is giving up his/her independence and mobility to spend its time with you. It is a selfless act and by your honouring and valuing that act, the connection you have with your power animal can only deepen and grow.

China Collectible Leopard Knick Knack - Awakening Alchemy A couple of ways of honouring your power animal are to regularly thank him/her for being there and to have objects (knick-knacks) where you can see them every day that represent your power animal. This all shows that you care and can only deepen the bond. As in shamanic practice we need to get into the habit of honouring and valuing all things in our life – they all have something to teach us and power animals, especially, have a wealth of knowledge and wisdom to impart to us.

How Do I Discover My Power Animal(s)

The most important thing to bear in mind in the process is: You don’t choose your power animal – it chooses you!

  • One way to do this is to consult a Shaman, but for the vast majority of us that would be difficult, time-consuming and possibly expensive (if you had to travel).
  • The best way to discover your power animal is to receive the information in a dream. See what happens! Go to sleep thinking about your power animals and you never know what you will dream about.
  • Woamn Meditating Outside on a Rock - Awakening Alchemy Meditate to discover what your power animal is. If you don’t practice meditation, check out my previous blog on Meditation to learn how to get started: 
  • Journey deep into the forest, the ocean, the desert, in your mind. Sit in a quiet place, breathe deeply in and out an observe the animals that come your way – one of them will almost certainly become more apparent to you than the others and will choose you.
  • Ask, out loud, for your power animal to show itself. If you suddenly begin seeing one particular animal more frequently than others that could be a sign. As an example, let’s say you are flipping through TV channels and you consistently come across documentaries on Lions; you see a sign advertising the local Lions club chapter; your friend invites you around to watch the Lion’s rugby team playing on TV. By using repetition, the power animal is drawing your attention to him/her.
  • Search the internet for surveys and quizzes that can help pinpoint your power animal. There are a host of resources available on the internet for this purpose. Just type in: “how do I discover my power animal?” and you’ll be amazed at what pops up.

 Some Common Power Animals and their Attributes:

  1. Deer: Deer are symbolic of love and harmony within oneself. They are also incredibly timid creatures and may signal the need for your protection from predators.
  2. Spider: The spider is very representative of the feminine side of us and the power of feminine energy. Their intricate webs and patience tell us how our lives are interweaved with others. Spiders are also very common power animals for creative people, as evidenced by the beauty and intricacy of their webs. They remind us that everything takes time and it is the journey that is magical, not the result.
  3. Black and White Butterfly - Awakening AlchemyButterfly: A butterfly symbolises more than any other creature the idea of profound change and transformation. As you are moving through different cycles of your life, especially “making a fresh start” the butterfly is the perfect spirit guide / power animal for you. Another intrinsic characteristic of the butterfly is its lightness and its ability to transcend the earth and the more prosaic things of life.
  4. Horse: The horse represents the driving force of life, the ability to run free, wild and untamed. In the same way, horses can be domesticated, restrained and stopped from their complete enjoyment of life – just like us.
  5. Crow: The crow is a double-edged sword, offering both positive and negative characteristics. Whilst on the one hand, it symbolizes the magic of life, intelligence and fearlessness, it can also represent a trickster, a manipulator, or those of a mischievous nature.
  6. Hawk: Hawks represent courage, truth, perspective and self-awareness. They offer the ability to see things from a higher perspective and to recognise truth. It also represents intuition and inner wisdom. Having a hawk as your power animal is an indication that it is time to re-evaluate your life, to look at the broader picture, from a higher perspective. Use the hawk’s keen vision to view your life and then its intuition and inner wisdom to guide you.
  7. Lion: The Lion is the symbol of extreme strength, self-assertiveness and power. They bring you strength, courage, authority and assertiveness, while still pointing out dangers and weak spots in your life.
  8. Closeup Photo of a Grasshopper - Awakening AlchemyGrasshopper: Grasshoppers symbolise that it is time to take a leap of faith. They are innovative and never miss an opportunity to move forward in life. They’re also considered to be good luck and a good omen. If you’re struggling with a decision that needs to be made, the grasshopper is a good animal to have by your side.  

Well, there are just a few of the possible power animals you could have in your life. Remember a couple of points. Firstly, you can have as many power animals in your life as you need, at any particular time, and secondly your power animal can change over time, as your circumstances and needs also change.

Coyote in the Snow - Awakening Alchemy I hope I’ve piqued your interest in this topic. If you have any questions at all, or you’d like recommendations on where to research further, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment here on the blog or contact me via the website. I’d love to hear from you.

We will be continuing this particular theme for the month of August, so do keep reading. If you enjoyed this Blog and would like to read more spiritual and metaphysical issues, plus lots more besides, please share it with your friends and family, or do join our website and you will receive a notice whenever a new blog is posted. We will never spam you though. You can join here:

If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

Cover For Prosperity Report: Chinese Lanterns - Awakening Alchemy You may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

 

 

Spirit of Prophecy Cover: Silver Death Mask - Awakening Alchemy Maybe check out Jill Hughes: Author pages on my website which highlight my No1 Best-selling Visionary Fiction “whodunit” crime mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, and download the First Chapter for FREE.

 

 

 

 

AudioBook Cover of Spirit of Prophecy - Awakening AlchemyFinally, today, please do pop on over to the SHOP  where you can download the Award winning Audiobook at an amazing price. There a Soundcloud taster so you can try before you buy.

The novel incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blogs, into a fast-paced, fictional thriller with a spiritual under current: prepare to be swept away.

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Love, Fire, and the Violet Flame of Peace

 

 

 

 

 

Yoga Has to Be Good For You - Awakening Alchemy

If you’ve previously read any of my articles, you’ll be well aware I am a firm believer in the “holistic” approach to health and wellbeing. There are so many ways to achieve peace and enlightenment and what I like to do is expose my readers to some of the options out there that they may not have considered previously. Yoga is something that for many seems too hard, too physical, and perhaps too time-consuming for them but, in reality, you only need do as much as you feel comfortable with.

Where Did Yoga Come From?

As with so many of the practices we have adopted in the West, yoga came out of the practices of the peoples of ancient India. There is much debate, in the academic world, about the actual origins of the practice but there is consensus that it originated in India probably around 3000BCE. Carved figures, picturing practitioners in various poses have been dated to this period. It was developed as part of the overall purpose of life – achieving enlightenment.

Yoga From History - Awakening Alchemy

The Pushupati Seal

Although most scholars are agreed that the principles of Yoga probably developed during the Vedic period of Indian history, there is some evidence that it may even be earlier. The Pashupati Seal discovered in an earlier Indus Valley civilization, excavation site, depicts a figure in a position that resembles an asana (a Hatha Yoga body posture) used in meditation. Yoga aimed to achieve harmony between the heart and the soul. Incidental to the practice of yoga came the realization that is was especially useful in controlling certain illnesses and diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and chronic pain.

Backward Stretch Yoga Pose - Awakening Alchemy It is precisely these benefits, perhaps, rather than the search for enlightenment that saw yoga begin to take off in Western civilization toward the middle of the nineteenth century. One of the results of this rise in popularity of yoga in the western world has been the many differing offshoots and schools of practice that have developed. It is important to understand there is no right or wrong way to practice yoga, just different methods and sometimes different sought outcomes from the practice.      

Why is Yoga Useful to Us? 

Yoga can be beautifully dovetailed into a regime of meditation which I believe is an essential part of wellbeing and centering ourselves. I’ve recently had an article on meditation published in the exceptionally fine, FREE Emagazine, called Mom’s Favorite Reads. You can access the magazine and my article on meditation here from SmashWords. Yoga and meditation are intrinsically linked – one complements the other perfectly. But why do yoga at all?

For most people the idea they would have of yoga is that it is (a) physical and therefore helps with your general level of fitness and (b) mental, in that it helps you relax and gain peace of mind as well as allowing you to zone out from the worries of life, at least for a short period.

Group Yoga Benefits - Awakening Alchemy The experts, however, paint a different picture of the benefits of yoga. They would argue that the aim of yoga is to actually transcend those things of the world, meaning to move your consciousness away from the day to day hassles of life and actually discover a higher, more spiritual plane of thinking. They would suggest that other forms of exercise can achieve fitness and mental wellbeing, like running, the spin-bike or lifting weights, whereas yoga is seen as food and exercise for the soul. Whatever the reason for doing Yoga there are definitely some real benefits to be had from it:

  • Increased flexibility
  • Stress relief
  • Circulation improvement
  • A general feeling of wellbeing
  • Physical fitness

Yoga is Great During Pregnancy - Awakening Alchemy Medical reviews, such as one published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology have shown that practicing yoga will reduce the risk of heart disease as much as any of the conventional forms of exercise. On average, people taking part in yoga regularly (weekly) lost five pounds, decreased their blood pressure, and lowered their LDL (Low-density Lipoprotein) Cholesterol – also known as “bad cholesterol” by 12 points. Research is now starting to show many more health benefits of practicing this ancient art, including: controlling obesity, reducing chronic pain, asthma relief, minimizing fatigue and aiding irritable bowel syndrome.

In addition to these findings, neuroscience, using MRI’s (magnetic resonance imaging) of the brain have shown yoga reduces the decline in gray matter brain volume, especially apparent in older people. Interestingly enough, most of this brain protection appears to occur in the left hemisphere, which is the side of the brain most associated with positive emotions and the rest and relaxation response. Perhaps we have finally found the true cause of “grumpy old man and grumpy old woman syndrome”?

It certainly appears there is little to no downside to practicing yoga.         

Yoga's Spiritual Experience - Awakening Alchemy One of the interesting things that Yoga instructors and most students who progress further in the practice have noticed is that their reasons for doing yoga, change over time. What started out initially as a physical activity slowly morphs into a more spiritual and mental activity – a journey of self-discovery, self-actualisation, self-fulfillment, and reflection along with a greater capacity to care for themselves and practice self-love. By reaching back to the very spiritual roots of yoga, people, it seems, actually begin to discover the true purpose for which the practice was developed.

How Do I Get Started on Yoga?

The first thing to remember is it DOES NOT MATTER what age you are or what fitness level you currently have. Clearly, if you are in a major city or town, there may well be a yoga studio available for you to consult and join. If this is not an option, or you feel uncomfortable or shy, training initially with others, you can totally start to learn on your own.

  • Wear comfortable and lose clothing (yoga pants are absolutely not a requirement)
  • Get yourself a non-slip yoga mat
  • Enter the process with an open mind and be prepared to be patient – it takes a little determination but you can do it.
  • Get yourself a quality “beginners” DVD or view a “beginner’s class” on the internet. (YouTube is great for this).  

Some Beginner’s Poses You Can Try: 

  • Yoga Stretching Down - Awakening Alchemy Initially, the key to success is breathing and determination. Don’t give up just because you can’t make the pose shown on your video instruction. Do as much of the pose as your body feels capable of and breathe, always breathe, through the nose, filling your belly and keeping your body relaxed and controlled. 
  • Sit on the floor in a relaxed, easy position with your legs crossed and your back and neck straight.
  • Concentrate on your breathing – regular, slow, peaceful breaths. 
  • Once you are relaxed, stand up straight and stretch your arms as high above your head as you feel able to comfortably – breathing evenly all the time.
  • Exhale as you reach down to the ground. (Don’t get discouraged if you can’t touch the ground initially – just go as far as you feel comfortable without straining yourself).  

Once you feel good with this, you’re ready to move onto a few beginner exercises which will be on your DVD or your YouTube Channel you are watching. 

One thing that is known to put off newcomers is when they see an expert twisted into some “pretzel-like” shape and they immediately say: “OMG! I can’t ever do anything like that – what’s the point of trying?” Like I said earlier – patience and determination and who knows what you can achieve in the future.

Finally, a couple of beginner poses for you to try that absolutely will not send you running to a chiropractor or requiring your partner to call an ambulance to take you off to the emergency room to be untangled.    

Cat-Cow:

A great pose for stretching the back and abdomen.

  • Cat-Cow On Your Knees - Awakening Alchemy Begin on your hands and knees, with your wrists directly under your shoulders and your knees in line with your hips.
  • Keep your spine flat, like a table – the neutral spine.
  • Keep your neck in line with your spine. Don’t lift it up or drop it down.
  • As you inhale, drop your belly toward the floor and look up. Curl your toes under if this helps you reach the stretch.
  • As you exhale, pull your spine toward the ceiling, rounding your back. Your head will drop down and you can focus on your navel. The tops of your feet will lay flat against the floor.
  • Repeat this action as you continue inhaling and exhaling, working on your breath.

Downward-Facing Dog:

Another really easy yoga pose, to start with.

  • Yogas's Downward Facing Dog - Awakening Alchemy Begin on your knees, as with the Cat-Cow pose, your wrists under your shoulders and your knees under your hips.
  • As you breathe in, push your hips toward the ceiling, straighten your legs and place your feet flat on the ground.
  • When your legs are straight, spread out your fingers and let your head hang down between your arms. Use your quadriceps (thigh muscles) to take the pressure off your arms.
  • Once you are in position, continue working on keeping your breathing steady and rhythmical.

 

So, there we have the basics of yoga. I hope I’ve excited you enough to give it a try. Always remember two things:

  1. Nobody (and I mean nobody) cares what you look like at the moment. It’s none of their business, anyway and they, like you, all started somewhere. Everyone will be impressed with one thing – that you are giving it a go. So, don’t be afraid to try.
  2. Like everything worth having in life, it takes time, practice, and determination to achieve the tangible results you are looking for, so don’t be discouraged. I can promise you, though, if you try yoga and apply it diligently, you will start to see the incremental benefits very quickly.

Yoga Takes You Out Of This World - Awakening Alchemy There are a ton of resources out there to help you (thank goodness for the internet!) so don’t be afraid to look and if you join a structured yoga class – don’t be afraid to ask for help. We’re all ultimately seeking the same thing.

If you are interested in all things spiritual and esoteric then please do visit my website and sign up to receive my regular blogs which cover many aspects of spirituality, alternative lifestyle, other esoteric topics and fascinating insights into the world of science and the paranormal. You can join here:

If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

You may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

Finally, today, please do pop on over to the section of my website that highlights my Visionary Fiction “whodunit” mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, which incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blog into a fast-paced, fictional, thriller. I know you’ll enjoy it. You can find that here:

Spirit of Prophecy is Magical - Awakening Alchemy

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Peace and Light

 

 

Impediments to Self-Love - Awakening Alchemy

This week I want to specifically look at some of those things that invariably get in the way of looking after ourselves and giving ourselves the love and respect we deserve as the incredible human beings we are.

The biggest impediment to self-love is YOU!

Right, that’s probably the shortest blog I’ve ever written, but seriously we really are often our own worst enemies when it comes to looking after ourselves properly. We go out of our way to sabotage ourselves and in this blog, I’ll be pointing out some of the crazy things we do and justify, to doing to ourselves, that damages our self-esteem, our confidence and our ability to be the absolute best we can be – and as I keep telling you, the absolute best you can be is incredible, breath-taking, and amazing.

Environment:

From the very first time you became aware of yourself, there has always been someone telling you what to do and how to do it – how to fit in and become a productive member of society. These instructions start with your parents, then move onto your teachers, your peers, your mentors, your colleagues, your friends, and ultimately society, in general, though the laws, rules and regulations.

What lessons do your parents drill into you from the very beginning:

  • Don’t hit
  • Learn to share
  • Give your brother/sister a hug
  • Say please and thank you
  • Respect and follow your elders etc. etc.

Time Out in the Corner Sucks - Awaiting Alchemy Now, these are all great lessons to learn but, what do they teach you about loving yourself and caring for yourself. Do they tell you to hug yourself? Do they tell you to be kind to yourself? Let’s be honest, the only time our parents allowed us to interact with ourselves was when they placed us in “time out” for being naughty and then self-love was far from our minds. Invariably we were fuming about losing, our play time and our toys, for a while which seemed like an age.

Our Head:   

Our inner voice is critical in denying us the love and respect we should be giving ourselves. Some people call it an inner voice, but I prefer the term, “ego”. [I have a section on the website, called “Inner Voice”check it out, here: – it’s full of tips on how to develop your Intuition.] The way I see the ego is this maniacal, little critter who lives inside our head. Its sole purpose in being, is to prevent us from being hurt. The easiest way to ensure that we never get hurt is to never allow us to do anything different – to never change. The Ego hates change – change is scary, dangerous and requires risk, everything the ego dislikes.

The Maniacal Creatue in our Head - Awakening Alchemy This is why, let’s say you see some new activity, sport, idea that you think would be brilliant, your ego immediately kicks into gear and reminds you just how “ordinary” you really are. The ego says things like: “sure, that looks like fun but remember the last time you tried something new… well, that was an abject failure wasn’t it?” It constantly seeks to remind us that we aren’t good enough and we genuinely think it is us that is saying it – it’s not.

 

“The ego, however, is not who you really are. The ego is your self-image, it is your social mask, it is the role you are playing. Your social mask thrives on approval. It wants control, and it is sustained by power because it lives in fear.”

Ram Dass

As if the rampant ego was not enough to cope with, we also have this lifetime (however old you might be at the time) of other people’s hurtful comments, opinions and suggestions about us that are slopping around in our gray matter reminding us that we are nothing special at all. Many of these opinions come from people we trust, people we believe in and they can easily be adopted as our own beliefs. Once they do become our own beliefs, and usually they are ones to your own detriment and unhappiness, it is incredibly easy to let them rule your decision making and never do things that are positive for your own physical and mental wellbeing.

How often have comments from others held us back from achieving the things we want to achieve? For example, when you make a decision to improve your physical health, get fitter, or diet – how often do those hurtful comments come back to haunt you? “Oh, you never manage to stick to those diets”; “The last time you bought a gym membership, how many times did you go? Twice was it?”; or the absolute classic – “Darling, I love you just the way you are, there’s no need to change for me.”

The point being, of course, that you aren’t changing anything for anyone else – you’re doing this for YOU but somehow, between your ego’s constant barrage of negative talk and everyone else’s well-meaning comments it’s very easy to accept the idea that there simply is no point in trying.

Our Motivations and Expectations:

Your Approval's Not Required - Awakening Alchemy Why is it that we are invariably our own harshest critics? We have this tendency to do things or take particular directions for all the wrong reasons; either we’re striving for something we’re not quite ready to achieve yet, or we’re seeking the approval of others. Often when we make a decision to improve our lives (self-love), we’re not motivated by what we want but rather by impressing others or from a sense of guilt (in the example of being overweight for instance). When our motivation is not driven by what we want, it is a lot easier to give up and add that to the impressive list of failures the ego will bring out to bombard you with next time you make a positive decision about yourself.

Instead of looking at guilt or others for your motivation look inward and ask yourself – “what do I really want?” Have a conversation with your “future self”. Ask him or her what it is they want and where they want to be, in one, five, ten-year’s-time. Your future self wants the best for you, and you want the best for your future self, so work it out between you. If you are striving to achieve something that YOU want, your chances of success are so much greater. Use your future self to make decisions based on love and care for you, instead of acting out of fear and guilt.

Six Simple Impediments to Self-Love:

  1. Putting other’s needs ahead of yours: Be it your boss, your partner, your children, your social network, everyone wants your time, your commitment and your emotional involvement.
  2. Letting the Negative Rule: You need to be thinking positively way more often. As soon as we allow negativity into our heads, the ego jumps with glee because it’s something he can use to sabotage your best intentions. Being grateful, as much as possible, is the best way to keep negativity at bay.
  3. Allowing fear to control you: Fear is useful, it keeps us alert and on edge, ready for anything but it is so easy to let the fear take over and destroy your hopes, dreams and desires, consigning you to the couch and to your regrets.
  4. It's A Spiritual Thing - Awakening Alchemy Not eating properly: Comfort foods are a temporary fix at best. Eating a well-balanced, healthy diet keeps you good not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well.
  5. Not making time for yourself: You have to give yourself time to relax, to heal, to simply chill out. That’s why meditation is such a cool way to go – it does that perfectly. Read my blog on meditation which was recently featured in the incredibly popular magazine, “Mom’s Favorite Reads”, here:
  6. Forgetting that “today” is not all there is: It’s really easy to get stuck in the miasma of day-to-day life and forget that tomorrow is coming – a new day full of, as yet, unrealized possibilities. One of my favorite sayings when I feel stuck, overwhelmed and unable to think beyond the current problem, is; “this too shall pass”. Trust me, it will.

Next week, I’ll go into more depth, with some practical steps on how to achieve self-love, but I hope today I’ve given you some idea of the sort of things you need to be watching out for as you continue this journey of self-discovery, self-awareness, and self-love.

I’ll finish today with a quote from one of the people whose pronouncements have always been a great motivator for me; the late, lamented, Maya Angelou:

“We have to confront ourselves.  Do we like what we see in the mirror?  And, according to our light, according to our understanding, according to our courage, we will have to say yea or nay – and rise!”

 Dr. Maya Angelou

Look at Yourself and Love Yourself - Awakening Alchemy  Next week, I’ll be looking at some practical ways to break down these barriers that keep you from self-love and as always, I’ll be reminding you to LOVE YOURSELF because you absolutely deserve it – you are a unique and beautiful human being.

If you enjoyed this Blog and would like to read more spiritual and metaphysical issues plus lots more besides, please do join our website and you will receive a notice whenever a new blog is posted, as well as special promotions and the opportunity to win prizes. We will never spam you, though. You can join here:

If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

You may also wish to avail yourself of our fantastic FREE report: 3 Proven Ways to Pull More Prosperity to You in 30 Days. You can grab your copy of this here:

Finally, today, please do pop on over to the section of my website that highlights my Visionary Fiction “whodunit” mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, which incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blog into a fast-paced, fictional, thriller. I know you’ll enjoy it. You can find that here:

Mix All the Ingredients Well - Awakening Alchemy

Till Next Time I’m Sending: Peace and Light

Roman Pillar Ruins Banner - Awakening Alchemy

Carrying on from our previous blog on the seven pillars of a purpose-driven and heartfelt life, I want to bring you the final three pillars that I sincerely hope will make as much a difference in your life, as they have in mine.


Happiness is a Choice

HAPPINESS is a choice. Many of us spend so much time feeling miserable or sorry for ourselves that we forget this simple truism that happiness really is a choice – it’s one we make every day. I hear so many people proclaiming they’ll be happy when… the mortgage is paid off, I buy that new house, the kids graduate, we retire, we travel, I get that promotion… on and on, ad infinitum. What a total waste of their time – to feel lousy, miserable, and sad, for the short time that we have on this earth. As I’ve mentioned in the past, we are spiritual beings embarking on a human journey. Surely, surely, we want that journey to be a happy and fulfilling one – I know I do.

Happy Girl Juxtaposed next to a Sad Boy - Awakening Alchemy  In my three recent blogs on happiness, I gave you some simple, yet very effective, practical steps you can take to ensure that you make that choice of happiness every single moment of your day. You can find the first of these blogs here: Be sure to check them out.

There’s a wonderful quote that sums this up and puts it very succinctly and perfectly:

“Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”                     

Ben Sweetman


Maintain an Attitude of Gratitude

Silhouette of Person on Hilltop Pleading With The Universe - Awakening Alchemy  Maintain an attitude of GRATITUDE. Most of us think we are grateful people but when we sit down and analyse it, are we really? How quick are you to blame other people when things go wrong? How often do you say, “why me, what did I do to deserve this?” or “damn, nothing good ever happens to me”.

Why is gratitude so critical?

“Gratitude is the rich soil, in which our future grows.”

Lisa Nichols

Clichéd ? Perhaps, but there is a reason why clichés become imbedded in our consciousness – at their core, there is always a kernel of truth, a veritable gem or nugget of wisdom we can hang our hats on. The way we think, speak, and act today, directly impacts on where we will be tomorrow. If living in the present is one of the keys to a successful and happy life (and it is) then gratitude is a massively important part of that process.

We live in a world of duality and in every bad situation, there is always something positive that can be taken from it. Granted, in this sometimes seemingly cruel and violent world it can be difficult to find that kernel of positivity in every bad situation or event, but it is definitely there. We owe it to ourselves and our future happiness to find it and to be grateful for it.

A Young Woman Praying in Church - Awakening Alchemy “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is, thank you, it will be enough.”

Meister Eckhart: 13th Century German theologian, philosopher and mystic.


Fear Less

Fear less! So often, in our daily lives, we rob ourselves of experiencing joy and fulfilment for one simple reason, we are afraid! We are afraid of trying something new, or afraid of being ridiculed by our friends, or simply afraid of failure. What an absolute waste!

Man Crossing a High Valley on a Tightrope - Awakening Alchemy Now, don’t get me wrong, there is fear that is good and legitimate. It is what we know as the “fight or flight” response. When we are in potentially lethal situations, we have imprinted into our DNA an automatic fear that is meant to save us from these dangers. I’m not suggesting, for a second, that we get into a cage with a tiger, or try to cross a gorge on a thin tightrope (unless that’s your thing, of course). No, what I am talking about here is psychological fear – the type of fear that stops us from achieving our true potential as human beings.

How often have you seen some new activity, sport, or recreation and immediately thought, “oooh, I’d love to give that a go,” but seconds after that thought, your mind (actually, it’s that insane little character in your head, known as your ego) begins to tell you all the reasons why you shouldn’t even consider trying something new. Your ego craves stability, hates change and more than anything else in the world just wants you to plod on through life never trying anything new or exciting.

It’s time to break out of that timid shell and embrace all the excitement and joy that surrounds you. Why shouldn’t you; try ballroom dancing, jump out of an aeroplane, play bridge, write a book, take that trip to Greece… whatever it is that takes your fancy, why shouldn’t you? Almost all the things we were worrying about happening, this time last year, never actually happened, so why did we waste so much time worrying about them? As for what other people might think about what you do – why is that so important to you? At the end of the day we can only control one thing and one thing only – ourselves.

Woman in Business Suit Jumps For Joy, Outside - Awakening Alchemy So, forget that wild little ego chatter, forget what people will say (who cares?), and forget your innate sense of failure – failure is and has always been a crucial building block in success. Very few people get it “right” first time – but here’s the rub; if you don’t participate in the race, you sure can’t win it. You want to do all these things; whatever they are. They are the things that give you passion, joy, excitement and achievement – and it is your right to do them; but if you don’t even try because you are paralyzed by memories of past failures, you have condemned yourself to nothing more than mere existing.

Black Nike Tick on White Background - Awakening Alchemy In the immortal words of Mr. Nike,

“Just Do It!”


I’d like to finish this revisiting of the pillars of life by reminding you of something incredibly important, that we are all prone to forget about in this hectic and busy world that we sometime feel like we are locked into. YOU ARE AWESOME!

Silhouette of a man walking on stars in the pattern of human DNA - Awakening Alchemy You are incredibly special – you are a unique individual who has creative talents and abilities that nobody else that has ever lived or will ever live, has. When we realize that we are limitless in our potential then we actually can change the world. If we live to our own potential and continue to grow – if we become who we really are, instead of a facade or a mask that we put on every morning, we will live a life that is infinitely happier and more joyous than we do now. Imagine the effect of that on your loved ones, your work colleagues, your friends. They will marvel at this free, happy, contented you and as in the famous line from; “When Harry Met Sally”, they also will exclaim:

“I’ll have some of what she’s having”.

Find the essential you and be an inspiration to the world!

So, there we have it, the full seven pillars of our purpose-driven and heart-led life. Remember, I have covered all these topics in many of my previous blogs, along with some simple, practical steps you can take to assist you in changing your way of living. Almost all of us want to be happy, purpose-filled and heart-led – I’ve met very few people in my time who don’t want that. By making these pillars the basis of your life, you can go a long way to achieving that goal.


If we all adopt these simple life “hacks” what an incredible difference we can make in this world – TOGETHER.


If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

Seven Pillars of a Purpose Driven and Heart-Led Life (Part 1)

Meditation – Why Do it?

Reincarnation – New Thought Movement. 

Reincarnation – Is It For Real? 

Arms and Hands of People Linked under a Blue Sky - Awakening Alchemy


You may, also, wish to consider joining our website. You will be sent a notification each time a new blog is published, plus occasionally we will send you special offers and fantastic opportunities to win. We will never spam you, though. You can join up here:


Finally, today, please do pop on over to the section of my website that highlights my Visionary Fiction “whodunit” mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, which incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blog into a fast-paced, fictional, thriller. I know you’ll enjoy it. You can find that here:

AudioBook Cover of Spirit of Prophecy - Awakening Alchemy


 


Till Next Time I’m Sending : Peace and Light

Ancient Greek Pillar Ruins Under a Blue Sky - Awakening Alchemy

Over the past couple of months I’ve outlined some of the things that make for a happy, purpose-driven, and heart-led life. These have included such topics as attitude, happiness, fear etc. I thought in today’s blog it might be a good opportunity to pull all the threads together and summarise what I believe can give each and every one of us the happiness and fulfilment we all so richly deserve. Let me preface this by saying; “this is not some fantasy that we can stretch for and never achieve. Happiness, fulfilment and love are your BIRTHRIGHT, as human beings; it is not a bonus for only the lucky few, but yours by right.” Today, I’ll cover the first four pillars and in our next blog, the final three.

So, please let me reiterate: The SEVEN pillars of a happy and purpose-filled life.

  1. Life is SUPPOSED to be wonderful
  2. Attitude is EVERYTHING
  3. LOVE is the ultimate power of the Universe
  4. Aspire to learn to live in the PRESENT
  5. Happiness is a CHOICE
  6. Maintain an attitude of GRATITUDE
  7. Fear LESS

Although I’ve covered these topics before it’s handy , in this age of endless distractions, to revisit something so important.


Life Is SUPPOSED to be Wonderful

Silhouetted Figure Jumps For Joy against a Gorgeous Sunset - Awakening Alchemy Life is SUPPOSED to be wonderful: This is absolutely true and for many, something that is equally hard to accept. Many of us were brought up in an environment where there was a scarcity of everything, where Mum and Dad (or whoever was responsible for us) worked relentlessly hard every hour in the day, 24/7, just to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. We grew up with the mind-set that life was hard, that nothing came easy, and that we would always struggle to make ends meet in this cruel, unforgiving world. The problem with that type of thinking is this: “Thoughts are things and they create the reality of the world around us “ If we believe life is hard and an eternal struggle, then that is what life will be. Let us aim to adjust our thinking, to believe in abundance and more specifically in abundance for US, personally. There’s a quote from Rhonda Byrne in her seminal work, “The Magic”, that I think describes this paradox perfectly.

“You were not born to struggle. You were not born to live a life where the moments of joy are few and far between. You were not born to toil in your work five days a week, with fleeting moments of happiness at weekends. You were not born to live with limited energy, feeling exhausted at the end of each day. You were not born to worry or be afraid. You were not born to suffer. WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT OF YOUR LIFE?”  

Rhonda Byrne

 

Attitude is EVERYTHING


Thumbs Up Among The Greenery: Scott Hamilto Quote on Disability - Awakening AlchemyAttitude is EVERYTHING: Your attitude determines what you think about, your emotional state, and your beliefs. What you think about, your beliefs, and your emotional state absolutely determines what will come into your life in the way of circumstances and people. Positive thoughts, positive emotions and positive actions will lead to an upgrade of positive outcomes. The reverse, is of course, equally true. This is an immutable law of the Universe – this is Newton’s Third Law of Thermodynamics – for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Sometimes called Karma, it’s really quite simple; what you put out there into the Universe is what you’ll get back, from the Universe. What goes around, comes around.

Maintaining a positive attitude is not as hard as it seems: Meditation, which I discussed in an earlier blog can be a great tool at maintaining a positive attitude. It is a choice! When you wake up in the morning, just say to yourself; “today, I begin my day with positivity in my heart and good thoughts in my head.” Be the person who gets up in the morning and throws open his curtains, proclaiming; “Good morning, God”. Don’t be the person who pulls those same curtains and grumbles; “Good God, it’s morning.”

LOVE is the Ultimate Power of the Universe


Animated Earth Floating Above a Human Hand - Awakening Alchemy LOVE is the ultimate power of the Universe: Almost every single leader, teacher, philosopher, and prophet, throughout history, has had the same basic message for us – LOVE one another. (The Golden Rule). There’s a reason for that – they knew the “secret”, they understood that love is the most powerful force in the Universe and that all positive things in life come from love, whilst all negative things, come from a lack of love. What an incredible shame it is, that we, humanity, have chosen to largely ignore this simple precept in favour of other dogma that suits our EGO, our plans, our ambitions, or our need for dominance over others.

It’s time to get back to basics – it’s time to remember what is important and that is love. We can display love in so many simple ways, every single day. Most importantly, though, is to constantly be thinking of love. Remember what we think about, what we feel – our emotions, create our reality. If we focus on love i.e. falling in love with life, then our life will change but more importantly the lives of those around us will change, in response to us. We have the power – it’s all inside of us, just waiting to be released. Be the one!

Aspire to Learn to Live in the PRESENT


Aspire to learn to live in the PRESENT: How much of our time in this very short human life do we spend (a) ruminating over what happened yesterday, what we should have done differently and how unfair what happened was? Many of us live in a constant yesterday, regretting and feeling sorry for ourselves and (b) stressing about and trying to figure out how to cope with what MIGHT happen tomorrow?

Person With Hands Raised at Edge of Lake Praising Nature - Awakening Alchemy The PRESENT is absolutely all that really matters to us. We cannot change what happened yesterday – yes we can apologise for our mistakes, perhaps try to atone for them but we cannot change what we did, how we reacted, or what we said. Yesterday is gone. Similarly, why waste our precious time worrying about the future, about what might happen, what potential pitfalls lie ahead? We make our own future by the way we think, act and react today! We are the masters of our own destiny, if only we realise it.

Once we stop concentrating on the past or worrying about the future, we can truly enjoy all the beauty and wonder that surrounds us. We live on a beautiful planet, surrounded by friends and loved ones and yet we so often give them scant attention. So, look up, smell the roses, kiss a loved one, greet your neighbour with a cherry “Good Morning” and revel in the sheer joy of being alive amidst such an amazing world.

There we have the first four pillars of our purpose-driven and heart-led life. Remember, I have covered all these topics in many of my previous blogs, along with simple, practical steps you can take to assist you in changing your way of living. Almost all of us want to be happy, purpose-filled and heart-led – I’ve met very few people in my time who don’t want that. By making these pillars the basis of your life, you can go a long way to achieving that goal. Do check out my previous blogs on these subjects, which you can find here: https://bit.ly/2JxICku

If we all adopt these simple life “hacks” what an incredible difference we can make in this world – TOGETHER.


If you liked what you read here, please do check out our previous blogs. The last four can be found here:

Meditation – Why Do it?

Reincarnation – New Thought Movement. 

Reincarnation – Is It For Real? 

Love is a Beautiful Song. 


You may, also, wish to consider joining our website. You will be sent a notification each time a new blog is published, plus occasionally we will send you special offers and fantastic opportunities to win. We will never spam you, though. You can join up here: 


Finally, today, please do pop on over to the section of my website that highlights my Visionary Fiction “whodunit” mystery, Spirit of Prophecy, which incorporates many of the ideas and philosophies discussed in my blog into a fast-paced, fictional, thriller. I know you’ll enjoy it. You can find that here:

 

SOP AudiBook Banenr - Awakening Alchemy


Till Next Time, I’m Sending: Peace and Light

Woman Sitting on a Beautiful Beach Meditating - Awakening Alchemy

Meditation, in its most basic form, has been around for eons. In fact, man, has always, even during his most instinctual struggle for survival, found the time to sit, to question, and to ponder on his innermost thoughts and at its core that is exactly what meditation entails – to focus inward.

Man Sits on a Rock Hiugh in the Mountains Meditating - Awakening Alchemty  Some of the earliest recorded meditation practices come from the Hindu traditions of Vedantism and date to around 1500BCE. Meditation, in all its various forms and practices has become an integral part of many philosophies, religions and ways-of-life, over the millennia. One could argue that the purpose of meditation, as defined by many of these early practitioners, is the concept of “following the path to enlightenment” and “self-realization”. This is certainly the case in the Hindu and Buddhist practices, which we have covered in earlier blogs. Even Christianity, in the Psalms, instructs us to; “be still and know that I am God.” Being still and focusing inwards is and continues to be a vital ingredient of a happy and heart-filled life.

Concentric Ripples in a Sunlit Pool - Awakening Alchemy In today’s frantic-paced world, however, meditation has been seen and used much more as a way of cutting ourselves off from the hectic daily happenings and simply allowing ourselves to find peace and contentment. Some of today’s practitioners, it seems, are more interested in meditation to help reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, whilst simultaneously boosting peace, well-being, perception, self-worth and general relaxation. Today, I want to focus particularly on meditation from the perspective of “New Thought” teaching, where it does play a vital role in establishing a degree of control over our thoughts, emotions, and ultimately, our actions.

Within the New Thought philosophy the concept of meditation is extremely important.

Five Excellent Reasons to Meditate:

  1. Meditation assists us to live in the present: Many people flitter through their days in an almost catatonic state, unaware of much that is happening around them. They miss all the amazing beauty that surrounds them as they wander along, their noses buried in their electronic devices or inside their own minds, regretting their past actions or worrying about the future circumstances. We need to be aware of what is happening around us, now, today and meditation is a wonderful key to unlock that awakening in our minds.
  2. Our minds are always working at 100 miles an hour: Our minds are like a never-ending chatterbox, filled with thoughts and mindless noise. This endless chatter ultimately brings us boredom, frustration, and dissatisfaction. Meditation allows us to take control of our minds, to focus inwardly and to experience the wonderful peace and serenity of the silence and stillness within.
  3. A Small Stone Rock Pile: Largest to Smallest - Awakening Alchemy When the mind is under control – amazing things begin to happen: If we can train our mind, through meditation, to be conscious of just one thing, for example our breathing, incredible things begin to happen – the mind becomes malleable, we begin to control our thoughts and the mindless chatter grinds to a halt- [albeit not necessarily for long periods but equally that’s fine.] A new, powerful, and mindful awareness will become part of our day-to-day activities. A peaceful mind is one of the key elements to achieving the happy and heart-felt life I spoke of earlier.
  4. When we have control of our mind, we can then control our emotions and feelings: this is an enormous benefit. Most people have no control over their emotions and feelings – they react to circumstances only. By controlling your emotions and feelings, you can CREATE your own circumstances. Remember, always, that YOU are NOT your mind and YOU are NOT your thoughts. Your mind, your thoughts, and your emotions are merely tools for you to use to create your own reality – not the other way around.
  5. Science has proven that meditation impacts our consciousness in a measurable way: Consciousness Research is still in its infancy and will doubtless provide us with illuminating discoveries in the future but already the study of theta and delta brainwaves has shown the incredible impact meditation can have on our creativity, our memory and even our dreams. The future is exciting.

How Do I Start With Meditation?

There are many misconceptions about meditation. No, you don’t need to get yourself into your yoga pants, bend yourself into the “lotus” position and chant “Ohm…Ohm…Ohm…” endlessly. Once you make the leap into meditation, I have no doubt you will want to know more and want to experience more – and that’s great, but initially you can begin to meditate incredibly simply and even within the confines of your own bed if that’s what you want. Here’s what I would suggest to get yourself started down this amazing and fulfilling road.

  1. Set your alarm clock, so that you wake up 10, 20, 30 minutes earlier than normal (the time depends on you – you will probably extend it once you start to realize the immense benefits).
  2. When you first wake up in the morning, don’t crawl groggily out of bed, check your phone and then stumble to the kitchen to prepare your first coffee of the day.
  3. Instead, sit up in bed, or find a comfortable, quiet place where you won’t be disturbed (especially if you have a partner beside you). It is important that the temperature is comfortable for you – too hot, or too cold, will potentially distract you.
  4. Neon Sign says Breathe - Awakening Alchemy There are as many meditation techniques as there are practitioners, so just do whatever feels comfortable for you. For a beginner, I’d suggest focusing on your breathing. Listen to it going in and out of your lungs, feel the oxygen, from your breath, flowing through your bloodstream, from your brain to the very tips of your toes, and then returning to be re-oxygenated, again, in your lungs. Just spend ten minutes focusing on your breathing. There are also many apps. available that can help you to meditate, or conversely you may want to try repeating a mantra. Remember, there is no right or wrong way, it is whatever works best for you, so do experiment.
  5. There’s a reason it is called “practicing” meditation. It can feel uncomfortable or difficult initially, perhaps even unsuccessful, but DON’T give up, keep trying until you find what works for you. Consistency is the key – before long, missing a meditation session will seem like your day is not right, that something is missing.

There are oodles of information on meditation on the web but if you want some good, solid, information on meditation, you can find it here on my own website, resources page: https://www.moneymagnet.global/resources/

HeartMath – A World First:

Heart Math - Awakening Alchemy

 

“Dare to connect with your heart. You will be lifting not only yourself and those you love and care about, but also the world in which you live.”

Doc Childre, HeartMath Founder

 

Before I finish today, I just want to let you know about a world-first experiment by HeartMath on raising global consciousness and peace though meditation. It is taking place on May 11th and 12th 2019.

World First! Join the experiment and create collective coherence for Peace!

The HeartMath Institute has launched a new Global Coherence app! For the first time it is possible to measure both your individual coherence and the collective coherence of a group of people practicing at the same time – either together, in the same location, or individually, anywhere in the world!

And to launch the Global Coherence app, we’re inviting you to take part in an amazing world-first experiment. We want to measure the collective coherence of hundreds, if not thousands of people across the world participating in MOMM – Moments of Mass Mindfulness.

Man sitting on pier on lake with mountains in the background: contemplating - Awakening Alchemy We’d love you to join in the meditations while using your Inner Balance with the Global Coherence app. There are two opportunities to take part:

MOMM UK: Saturday 11th May 12:00-13:00 BST (11:00-12:00 UCT)

MOMM Global: Sunday 12th May 15:00-16:00 BST (14:00-15:00 UCT)

Here’s how to take part:

  1. Download the new Global Coherence app from the Apple AppStore or Google Play.
  2. Create an account and connect your Inner Balance.Join the special MOMM group – the access code is BlueWind81
  3. At the start of the meditations on the 11th and 12th May 2019, open the app, connect to the MOMM group, turn on your Inner Balance and take part in the meditation and exciting experiment.
  4. Here’s a simple and handy “how to” video: https://www.mommworld.org/appdownload

To find out more about MOMM visit: https://www.mommworld.org

We hope you’ll join us in this unique opportunity to play an active role in raising global consciousness. And to measure our collective coherence too!

Here’s some more information about how you can get involved in MOMM:

  1. Participate individually in one or both of the UK and Global meditations from wherever you will be at the time. We want you in the masses and we want you to use your Inner Balance with the new Global Coherence app while you meditate so that you can play an active part in our world-first experiment to measure collective coherence!
  2. You could organise your own MOMM. This could be a small group of friends or family in your living room or outdoors. Please register your MOMM (even if it is a private event) here: https://www.mommworld.org/events
  3. Attend one of the many public events happening across the UK (11th May) and Globally (12th May). Check out the list of events here: https://www.mommworld.org/events

At the weekend:

Hundreds of Candles off into the distance - Awakening Alchemy As stated, there are two meditation events. The UK event is Saturday at 12pm British Summer Time. The Global event is Sunday at 3pm BST. Both last up to one hour.

We would love you to join BOTH, but if you can only join one then that’s just fine. The Global one is the most important for the experiment. And if you can’t commit to the full hour, don’t worry – any time you can commit will be wonderful.

Here’s some simple instructions:

  1. Join the meditation at the start time.
  2. Keep your phone/tablet turned on/connected to the mobile network/wi-fi but turn off your ringer and vibrate alert so that you do not get disturbed.
  3. As you join; open the GC app; turn on/connect your Inner Balance if you have one; tap on the MOMM group; join the session.
  4. Enjoy a Heart Focused meditation radiating peace, care and compassion to all peoples.
  5. Continue for up to one hour – but if you don’t have an hour to spare then whatever you can manage will have a positive impact.
  6. Don’t concern yourself if you find it a little hard to connect to the feelings. Focus on your heart/chest and keep breathing coherently (balanced, slowly, deeply but comfortably) and know that your intention towards peace, care and compassion, with or without the feeling, is important.

So, there we have it, a brief overview of meditation and its benefits. I do hope you’ll give it a try and I especially hope that you’ll check out the HeartMath experiment and let’s all make a world of difference in the furtherance of global peace – together we are powerful!

Having recently been on the Extinction Revolution protests in London with my lovely daughters – we did all make a difference – the UK government have declared that Climate Change is an Emergency and have appointed a Committee to reduce emissions to zero! Yi-Ha! Here, HeartMath are experimenting in a mass raising of global consciousness and peace through meditation – It’s Awesome! Please feel free to share it with as many people as you can.

LET’S MAKE A DIFFERENCE – TOGETHER!


If you enjoyed this Blog and would like to hear more spiritual and metaphysical issues plus lots more besides, please do join our website and you will receive a notice whenever a new blog is posted. You can join here:

If you would like to check out some of our previous blogs, please feel free. Here are the last five blogs we have published:

Reincarnation: New Thought Movement: 

Reincarnation: Is It For Real?: 

Love Is A Beautiful Song: 

Seven Concepts of Unity: 

A Philosophical Colossus – Gautama Buddha


You may also like to check out my murder/mystery, “whodunit” novel, Spirit of Prophecy, which fictionalizes many of the concepts discussed in these blogs in a thrilling tale of murder, intrigue and romance set against the backdrop of the 3-Day-Event, horse community. You can find a link to this wonderful novel, here:

Spirit of Prophecy cover with scull and dark background

Till Next Time: Peace and Light