Thursday, October 18, 2012

Come out and Chant with Us

Two upcoming kirtans.  If you haven't yet experienced this, now is the time.  And, if you have, you know how uplifting it is to be with others and raise our vibration into our oneness.
 
 
 
 Kirtan
Oct 27 8pm  with Sheryl, Penni, and Daniel
SHIFT HAPPENS
at
 logo
 Naturally Yoga | 175 Rock Road | Glen Rock | NJ | 07452
 
 
 
 
David Newman AKA Durga Das w/ Mira
 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The Eighth Limb: Samadhi




Thandie Newton, actress known for her role on ER, gave this wonderful talk on Oneness which is fitting for our focus on Samadhi this month.  It is about fourteen minutes long.  Try to find the time to sit and listen.  You don't need to watch, you can if you want.  You could try centering yourself on your breath in a comfortable seat and then enjoy a gentle ujaayi breath while you allow the talk to rain down on you and soak in.  Give yourself some time in silence after the talk, perhaps a period of meditation.  Then you might like to journal / write stream of consciousness to see what insights arise for you, to see how you initially integrate the talk and then over time see how the dharma continues to feed you.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Copy of Daily OM referenced in today's class





September 20, 2012
An Exercise in Self
Seeking Advice from Yourself by Madisyn Taylor


A helpful exercise is to set up an advisory panel of your past, present, and future selves.


Since we probably know ourselves better than anyone else does, then we may very well be the best person to ask for advice when we are in a quandary. One interesting exercise is to try asking for advice from your past and future selves. There is the younger self that you used to be and the older, more mature self that you will become. You can gain a different perspective when you view present situations through your younger self’s eyes or your mature self’s more experienced point of view. Perhaps, your younger self would view a current dilemma in a more innocent, less cynical way. Likewise, your older, hopefully wiser, self may offer advice from a more compassionate, experienced perspective.

Think back to how you viewed the world when you were younger. What were your thoughts on happiness, love, and injustice? Think about how you would have reacted to a dilemma you are currently facing. The perspective may shed a different light on relationships, money matters, or life decisions. Likewise, think about the person you will become. A more mature version of you might mull a problem or conflict over carefully before taking action right away… or perhaps not. Maybe your older self would be more willing to take risks, care less about what other people think, and want to enjoy life more.

You can even set up an advisory panel of your past, present, and future selves. You might even want to try to have a written dialogue with your selves to record the thoughts, feelings, and advice that your younger and older selves might have for your present self regarding a current situation. Your different selves can give you some invaluable answers. After all, no one can know you better than your selves. You are your wisest guide.

Kirtan this Sunday in Glen Rock


We are planning to attend this event.  See you there?
 
kirtanSunday 4pm Kirtan with Rasa Lila at Naturally Yoga
175 Rock Road, Glen Rock NJ  201-612-7330

 suggested donation $15


Come join us for an afternoon of chant and great music.
 

In the offering of Yoga, the path of beauty and joy revolve around the graceful gift of Rasa. Rasa is our emotions that we lay at the foot of the Divine. We may call out in longing to unite with the source of all delight or we may lay our head at the feet of the Divine in exhaustion. Whatever the emotion, we allow our mind's wall to crumble and stand naked before the beloved whose sweetness (madhurya) knows no end. Lila is the play with the Divine. Come chant with Rasa Lila and dive head first into your sweetness.



Thursday, August 23, 2012

Dharana (Concentation)

This month we have been contemplating Dharana (Concentration), the sixth of the eight limbs of yoga from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.  We have been chanting the seed sounds of the seven chakras with awareness on those energy centers in the body as our concentration practice.  This has prepared us beautifully for seated meditation and for our asana practice.  

Having cultivated a deep awareness of the subtle body, we are prepared to proceed into asana with grace and awareness to further deepen our focus and the benefits of our practice.  When we go so deep inside, we find a space within to take refuge.  We feel our pulsation that creates a buffer or boundary and at the same time an extension of our energy and compassion to all.  With that pulsation, we can remain at peace when a challenge comes our way and choose to act skillfully rather than react from our primitive brain.  With the pulsation as a boundary, since we are so attuned to our wisdom and the universal truths, we are able to choose not to engage with people or situations that would not serve us well.

May we continue to cultivate this awareness for the benefit of ourselves and all beings.

Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
May all beings be filled with peace and joy, love and light.



The following image is from this website.





 The following information is taken from The Daily OM - Bija Mantras.
www.dailyom.com/articles/2005/411.html

In traditional Hatha Yoga, the seven cleansing bija mantras associated with the chakras are:

LAM for the earth chakra (1)   Root
VAM for the water chakra (2)   Sacrum
RAM for the fire chakra (3)      Solar Plexus
YAM for the heart chakra (4)
HAM for the throat chakra (5)
AUM for the third eye (6)
AH for the crown chakra (7)

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Om Namah Shivaya by Krishna Das


Our chant this month to support our practice of Pratyahara is Om Namah Shivaya.  We chant it in this melody as supplied by Krishna Das.  This recording can be found on his CD Pilgrim Heart which is an awesome CD.



Below definition found from this website:   
http://www.meditationiseasy.com/mCorner/techniques/Om_namah_shivaya.htm
 
"It means  "I bow to Shiva." Shiva is the supreme reality, the inner Self. It  is the name given to consciousness that dwells in all. Shiva is the name of your true identity- your self. 
According to Hindu mythology there are three Gods who run this creation. The Brahma - who creates the universe, the Vishnu - who preserves the Universe and the Shiva- who in the end destroys the universe. Among the three deities, Shiva, though considered as destroyer, also symbolize the  - the inner self which remains intact even after everything ends. "
Come to Starseed Yoga in Verona at their new location for an awesome evening of kirtan. Daniel McBride, Sheryl Edsall, and Penni Feiner will be there performing. Three of my favorite and most inspiring yogis. Makes me wanna travel all the way down there to see them. See you there?
 
 
Special Starseed Summer Concert Event!
13 Hands & Friends: World Music/Chant & 
Community Concert
 
Thursday, July 26th 
Doors open at 7:30PM/Event at 8:00PM 
Pre-Reg Rate: $20
Evening of the concert: $25
Family Rate: $40

A 13 HANDS concert /Kirtan experience is blend of contemporary, 
Bhakti, spiritual, meditative and world chant music.    
With a whole array of instruments from Native Flutes to Hang Drum 
and other world percussion and guitars, he shares an uplifting, 
mesmerizing and healing community experience that is family friendly 
and allows your heart and voice to shine and illuminate!  
Come prepared to sing, celebrate and be part of the STARSEED 
Tribe and community.....
cause we've got some wonderful special guests this amazing night!!!! 
BRING A DRUM!


BEAUTIFUL KIRTAN & SHAMANIC CAMEOS BY

SHERYL EDSALL & PENNI FEINER - 
OF RASA LILA, AND JUST TWO BEAUTIFULLY HEARTED YOGINIS AND 
TEACHERS WHO'LL MAKE YOUR HEART SMILE WITH LOVE!      

ABOUT 13 HANDS, aka DALIEN, is a two-time Grammy nominee and yogi who has been immersed in various styles of contemporary/ world music/devotional chant for over 20 years, sharing his gifts at numerous conferences, festivals, events and retreat centers like Kripalu, Omega, Yoga @ the Great Lawn event in Central Park and Wanderlust.   He's had the honor to teach, chant, speak and/or perform alongside other world-renowned artists, teachers, spiritual leaders, bhakti yogis & authors like The Dali Lama, Dr. Masaru Emoto, Seane Corn, Dharma Mitra, Elena Brower, RUN DMC, Ani DiFranco, Ours, Paula Cole, Laurie Anderson, the late Pheobe Snow, Krishna Das, WAH!, Shyamdas, Dave Stringer, John D Kadt 
and Gaura Vani.    

 
13 HANDS concert events are pure love, fun, devotional interaction, 
drumming, chanting and communal jam-fests that leave you feeling bright, integrated, happy and peaceful!