Beloved Reader!
Isn’t fall beautiful? The air is crisp and invigorating, the leaves are showing vibrant colours... transformation surrounds us.
The Season of Fall
This is a time of honouring ancestors and origins. The veils are said to be thinner now, giving extra potency to our reflections and insights.
In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), it is the season of the Metal element. It’s the perfect time to polish, hone and refine your skills. Just like taking the best care of your tools or your car!
The metal element governs our emotional realm, as well as our lungs and large intestines. These organs are all about absorption, digestion, assimilation and release. This also describes healthy movement of emotions and thoughts: we need to feel them, act appropriately on them, and let them go. Keeping them locked inside leads to psychological and physical imbalances, even serious illnesses.
How can we engage with this traditional wisdom and honour the natural cycles of the seasons? I’d like to offer one possibility that can help; it’s a favourite of mine.
The Power of Mind
It’s about working with our minds. The nice thing is that you already have all the equipment you need, and you are guaranteed to have many opportunities to practise during the course of a day!
In Yoga, this is an esteemed technique called pratipaksha bhavana, also known as the cultivation of opposites, or cognitive reframing. Let me give you an example.
Reflect on the following two concepts and feel into any responses may arise through your body, emotions or thoughts.
Original Blessing.
Original Sin.
Savour them; roll them around inside. Go back and forth.
What do you notice? Does one feel better? Does one feel familiar?
I happen to feel expansion, relief and love when I think about blessing. And I experience tightening and self-judgement when I think of sin. I've certainly spent many years being judged, and judging myself and others. When I keep faith in original blessing, I merge into a state of grace.
Each of the above states encapsulates a perspective, a world view; each colours the way we see and interpret EVERYTHING. Yes, everything. If we have a suspicious nature, we will see scoundrels everywhere. If we truly love with wide open hearts and look for the best in everyone, we will be surrounded by saints and angels. It is really quite simple: the universe is kind, and gives us countless examples that mirror our deepest beliefs.
The good news is that we can change the world by changing ourselves.
Action Steps
I invite you to try this following experiment today. Imagine that life is happening for you, rather than to you. Whatever presents itself is an opportunity for you to grow, and to love more. If you get stuck in traffic, take the time to practise relaxation and exercise your sense of humour. If you pass a beggar, stop to look in his or her eyes and initiate a meaningful conversation. If you feel stress building up around a deadline, take a few deep cleansing breaths and visualize yourself getting it done with elegance and ease. If you normally say you “hate” housework, do some with gratitude and appreciation for what you have. If you are paying a bill, send the payment with a thankful heart and a blessing. Enjoy the gifts of the present moment, instead of being held hostage by either the past or the future...
Love is the Balm
Imagine that Love runs the Universe. Imagine that this Love made you and loves you, always. You do not need to earn this love, or to earn its approval. These are the appetites of the ego, which too often defaults into operating from fear and a desire to stand out in order to be noticed. We all come from Original Blessing, we do. Breathe this in, and let anything other than this melt away with each exhalation.... And sit with this for a while before you read further; let it sink in.
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We all start from Love. Love is the source of All. As we begin to engage in the world and its compelling influences, we forget our true Nature. But somewhere inside, many of us have a vague memory that there must be more.... And we look for meaning through what our society sanctions: accumulation of possessions and titles. But something is missing...
Luckily, the Universe is kind! It offers challenges and opportunities for our soul's evolution, awakening and growth, AND offers us beautiful proven teachings to help us. It also offers us communities of like-minded seekers for mutual support. Personally, I am eternally grateful for Yoga, Qigong, Reiki and all of the teachers who have helped to guide me along the way. And now, it is my mission to share these tools, steeped in Love.
Let’s practise being Love together. Put the simple ideas in this post to use and see what happens. Please come to a class, workshop or book a treatment or reading if you feel called. Go for a walk in a park and breathe in the beauty of the trees.... As each one of us shines more brightly, all sentient beings around us will be inspired to rise up. Let's light the way, together.
You are Love, you are loved. Always.
Sending Blessings and Radiant Love to You.
May we hone and polish our skills of Love in this reflective season.
~ Karusia Nirmala
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