Methods of Mindfulness

All of the practices studied in our course were most helpful each in its own way.
The "Crime of the Century" guided meditation was my favorite.  I loved the visualization techniques starting with the first  or root chakra connecting me to the earth picturing the red connection.  The second chakra orange opening to my relationships and affection.  Yellow for my solar plexus where power and balance reside.The love giving aspect of this yellow left a pretty big impression on me.  Moving into my heart (fourth) chakra filled me with a loving green.  My throat chakra and the healing color of aqua allowing me to realize that I have nothing left unsaid.  Then focusing on the sixth chakra, my third eye a beautiful indigo helping me to remember that perspective is my choice.  Ending with the crown chakra being violet a very regal color filling me honor.  This meditation being my favorite, I have practiced it many times and will continue to use it twice a week or more often if necessary.  I feel balanced and healthy, open-minded and relaxed every time I practice this technique.

The other meditation I use the most is the Loving Kindness it helps you understand all you need is love and the "Beatles"haha, This meditation reminded me that I only have two choices in all of life, I can choose love or I can choose fear.  All of my choices ultimately come  down to which is more loving and which is more fearful.  When I practice this meditation, I do seem to be more aware of the loving and the kindness I choose to express.  It makes me feel more mindful and present because of its simplicity and helpfulness.  I notice that when I practice this that love is on my mind and I come from there.

"One Cannot lead Another Where One Has Not Gone"

This is a contradicting saying in my eyes, on one hand I understand that if a person is not for say at the same place in there life, it may really hard to help guide them to see what you see in life! That is where you can then share your experiences and vice verse and through communication and understanding you may be able to lead another and even change your life and there life at the same time! I carry practices through out my day by really trusting my mentors and with deep empathy listen to others especially my daughter you can see the world at a whole different in a five years old mind... Thank you for letting me share Jewel.

Meeting Aesclepius!

In our studies meeting Aesclepius represents us meeting our own individual healer! Through my practice this week I was overwhelmed with great joy and a feeling that was as if I wasn't even in my body anymore and I was led to a different world to meet my grandfather through his journey in his after life. After moments I realized I was touching my body but there was no actually feeling of my own body and I was happy just floating along like old times when i was a little girl waiting to see what funny thing my grandfather was going to do next, just to bring me back to that innocent little girl I once was. After I came too it made me have a sense of how this week in life felt unstable and that my baby girl was so innocent and as a mother I need to take that step back and be present with her even when I am not at my best. and know that my best will change from time to time but she deserves nothing but my nest at all times. Thank you for letting me share I hope everyone had a great experience through this practice. Jewel

Universal Love

This weeks practices were so dead on with incidents in my life, it is really amusing to me some how they just seem to work tiny miracles by understanding and believing in the circumstances that occur in your life were meant to happen just as they did. Let me explain recently I have developed my relationships with complete loving kindness for myself and others. I some how figured out to take the love I found for myself and share it with others by serving them, but the best thing is I continue to serve my self as well and the love has been flourishing everywhere. This is the first time in my life I felt selfless and not selfish. It isn't easy at all and I feel like I am tested everyday. I recently went on a snow board trip with a man I adore and have love for, but his daughter and all her friends were on this trip as well. It was new years eve and I wanted to have a romantic evening just like any other women would want too. That was not going to happen because the trip was dedicated to the kids and I had to except that, I felt a little disappointment I even cried for a bit in the shower. To then be able to talk to myself and come to the understanding that there was no expectation and that my time will come when it is suppose to and that I have to put others before me at all times to be able learn and grow as person and truly understand patience, kindness, love, and acceptance without having a terrible reaction of being rejected. Thank you for letting me share. Jewel

Connection's Between Spiritual, Physical, and Mental Wellness

I am certain that in the growing process through life to fully evolve each area must be touched and truly understood. The only explanation through my thought process is you have to start somewhere and if is the mental wellness you seek first then shortly after you will seek physical wellness and after achieving theses steps in your life there will be an open path to your own spiritual well-being. Thank you for letting me share Jewel 

Subtle Mind

The subtle mind practice was very challenging. My thoughts were clear and I felt a sense of relief from the outer world but I realized I wasn't as peaceful as I though I was because the minute the speaker started talking again, it startled me and I jumped for a second. At that point the thoughts started racing but they were very peaceful happy thoughts. From following directions I knew I had tell myself to stop thinking and that is what I did, the thoughts were gone and I was right back into a open state of mind. Both exercises are meant to have two different outcomes and loving-kindness has a guiding sense of comfort throughout the exercise which helps you have more of an understanding. I will take the advice of the scholars and the doctors who have studied the effects of the contemplative practices and schedule in my daily life each exercise to further my mental and spiritual well-being.   Thank you and happy practicing Jewel