How To Create a Serene Sacred Space

""Sacred Space" is a special place you can retreat to and spend time alone in quiet meditation or retrospection. Here are a few helpful ideas for creating an indoor sanctuary.

Location - Choose an area within the interior of your home for your sacred space. Use a spare bedroom, a revamped pantry area, or a tucked away corner space apart from the main traffic areas.

Sweep Clean - Clear this space of stagnant energies by performing a ritual smudging (cleanse with smoke from burning sage wand). This should also be repeated periodically after you begin using your sacred space . If needed, give the walls in your space a fresh coat of paint.

Meditate: - After your space is cleared and free of "stuff" spend some time there in solitude before you begin introducing your new furnishings. What types of things do your love? Get in touch with each of your senses in choosing the furnishings and decorative items to fill the space.

Comfortable Seating: Choose from floor cushions, a gentle swaying rocker, recliner, or a stuffed chaise to stretch out in.

Calming Sounds: Introduce some wind chimes, water fountains, CDs & player, or a hand-carved wooden flute to play.

Taste: Peppermints for mental clarity, calming herbal tea blends, cinnamon red hot candies to awaken the taste buds.

Smells: Light scented candles, burn incense, keep a supply of freshly cut sprigs of lavender.

Visual: Decorate with mirrors, posters, paintings, art sculptures, altars.

Touch: Display several objects offering a variety of textures such as crystals, feathers, sea shells, woven cloths, a huggable teddy bear, etc.

Fresh Air: Having a window opening in your sacred pace is especially welcome to allow fresh air and sunshine for healing and happiness. If there is no window available, an air purifier is fair substitute.

Tips:

Once your space is ready, honor it by making your presence there regularly.
Set boundaries by deciding who else, if anyone, is allowed in your sacred space.

Keep a supply of colored pens and notebooks if you want to maintain a journal in your sacred space."

http://healing.about.com/cs/selfactualization/ht/How_sacredspace.htm?nl=1

Mantras

"The word mantra has two components to it: Man, which is the root sound of the word mind, and tra, which is the root sound of the word instrument, So, the word mantra literally means an instrument of the mind. The ancient wisdom tradition of Vedanta examined the various sounds produced in nature, the fundamental vibrations of the world around us. According to Vedanta, these sounds are an expression of the infinite or cosmic mind, and provide the basis for every human language. ...

These sounds also contain the same vibrations that animals make. And if you listen carefully, you'll notice that these sounds are everywhere in nature. These are the sounds of the wind, of fire crackling, of thunder, of the river rushing by, of ocean waves crashing on the shore. Nature is vibration. The infinite being vibrates, and that vibration is rhythmic, musical, and primordial. Vibration is the means through which infinite potential expresses itself as the manifest universe.
...
We know that the manifest universe–which appears to be made up of solid objects–is actually made up of vibrations, with different objects vibrating at different frequencies.
...
Mantra is just a word that describes this quality of the universe. The ancient seers are said to have heard these vibrations of the universe when they were in deep meditation. We can all hear these same vibrations any time. It is very simple. If you quiet your mind and sit silently, you will hear vibrations. You can try it any time you want. Even when you cover your ears, you'll hear them. Your body is also constantly vibrating, but the sounds are so subtle that you usually don't hear them. But if you sit quietly when there is no noise around you, you'll hear a background hum in the air. And if you start paying attention to that background hum, with practice you'll actually end up hearing all the mantras that have been recorded in the Vedic literature.
...
The Vedas also maintain that if you recite a mantra out loud, its special pattern of vibrations creates its own effects, and can create events in our current physical realm. Reciting the mantra mentally creates a mental vibration, which then becomes more abstract. Ultimately it takes you into the field of pure consciousness or spirit from where the vibration arose. So a mantra is a very good way to transcend and go back to the source of thought, which is pure consciousness. This is why specific mantras are
recommended because of the specific vibrations they induce.

The mantra I use, and that I recommend for achieving synchrodestiny, is the simple mantra "so-hum." This is the mantra of the breath; if you observe your breathing you'll hear "so-hum" as air moves in and out of your lungs. As you inhale, the sound of that vibration is "so." And as you exhale the sound becomes "hum."
...
One of the techniques of meditation is, in fact, simply focusing on where your breath comes from. With your eyes closed, inhale and think the word; on the exhale, think the word "hum." Gradually both the breath and the sound will become quieter and quieter and quieter, and the breath becomes so quiet that it almost seems to stop. By quieting your breath, you quiet your mind. When you transcend, the mantra "so-hum" entirely disappears, and your breath pauses momentarily. Time itself comes to a top and you're in the field of pure consciousness, the non-local domain, spirit, the ground of being.

The mantra, then, is a way to experience non-local consciousness. Aborigines, Indians, Native Americans, and many other traditional cultures have used it for thousands of years. In every tradition mantras involve chanting to create special vibrations, sounds of the universe that create something from nothingness, that move energy from the unmanifest into the manifest.

Adapted from The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, by Deepak Chopra, Three River Press, 2003."

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/sound-expression-of-the-infinite-or-cosmic-mind.html

"Smiling Buddha" mudra

"In the yogic tradition, mudras are hand postures that direct the subtle flow of energy or prana throughout the body. Joining the hands and fingers in various configurations creates a circuit that allows energy to flow to different parts of the body and brain. Each mudra has a specific purpose, such as healing, deepening awareness, or rejuvenation.

To form Kapitthaka Mudra or "Smiling Buddha" mudra, sit comfortably in a chair or with crossed legs. Tuck your ring and pinky fingers inside your palms. Rest your thumbs over the tucked fingers. Keep the index and middle fingers next to each other and extended. Hold your elbows in toward your body, keeping about a 30 degree angle between upper arms and forearms. Breathe deeply and relax.

Kapitthaka mudra is said to open the flow of energy to the heart, release emotional toxicity, and promote emotional well-being."

http://chopra.com/namaste/freedom

National Geographic Article about Shamanism

"Fr centuries, Amazonian shamans have used ayahuasca as a window into the soul. The sacrament, they claim, can cure any illness. The author joins in this ancient ritual and finds the worlds within more terrifying—and enlightening—than ever imagined.

I will never forget what it was like. The overwhelming misery. The certainty of never-ending suffering. No one to help you, no way to escape. Everywhere I looked: darkness so thick that the idea of light seemed inconceivable.

Suddenly, I swirled down a tunnel of fire, wailing figures calling out to me in agony, begging me to save them. Others tried to terrorize me. "You will never leave here," they said. "Never. Never."
 
I found myself laughing at them. "I'm not scared of you," I said. But the darkness became even thicker; the emotional charge of suffering nearly unbearable. I felt as if I would burst from heartbreak—everywhere, I felt the agony of humankind, its tragedies, its hatreds, its sorrows. I reached the bottom of the tunnel and saw three thrones in a black chamber. Three shadowy figures sat in the chairs; in the middle was what I took to be the devil himself.

"The darkness will never end," he said. "It will never end. You can never escape this place."

"I can," I replied.

All at once, I willed myself to rise. I sailed up through the tunnel of fire, higher and higher until I broke through to a white light. All darkness immediately vanished. My body felt light, at peace. I floated among a beautiful spread of colors and patterns. Slowly my ayahuasca vision faded. I returned to my body, to where I lay in the hut, insects calling from the jungle.

"Welcome back," the shaman said.

The next morning, I discovered the impossible: The severe depression that had ruled my life since childhood had miraculously vanished. "

Much more here - including a video:  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0603/features/peru.html

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Ganesha symbolism

Wondering about the symbolism of Ganesha this morning, since all Hindu religious art is very symbolic. 

"Significance of the Ganesha Form

Ganesha's head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality. In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesha's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.

The broken tusk that Ganesha holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata. The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse."

http://hinduism.about.com/od/lordganesha/a/ganesha.htm

"The curved trunk of Ganesh represents the arousal of the powers of the kundalini . Vast ears represent the ability to listen to and comprehend all that others say. The large stomach inspires us to keep all that is within our minds under wraps until it is accomplished.

The single tusk reminds us of that time during the Mahabharata, when the great rishi Ved Vyas, found that he could not even start writing the epic. He then invoked Ganesh, who though cursed by the moon to lack lunar energy (energy for creativity and romance), heard his soulful, truthful pleas, giving him one of his tusks to be fashioned into a pen so that the task of writing the great epic, could be initiated. Hence, the irreplaceable use of Ivory in precious works of art was started.

The vehicle of Ganeshji is the mouse. The unique quality of the mouse is that, while the rest of the world sleeps with great abandon, it quietly hoards all sorts of things in its hole, to be discovered only when its young ones start playing around!

Similarly, before starting any task, it is essential to undergo the penance of collecting all related information and making necessary preparations. This wisdom fuelled by hard work is the vehicle for success, signified by the laddoos in Ganeshji’s hands! This is his true worship or stuti . A stuti is the expression of a humble desire, of working towards realising and consequently actualising these qualities.

There is yet another important social message communicated by the symbol of Ganeshji. That is, if anywhere around us, at home or outside, there is someone with an unusual physical form, we should respectfully include such a person in our celebrations, especially when we are staring something new, because wishes from the truthful heart of such an individual, assist in making the task obstacle-free and successful. "

http://spirituality.indiatimes.com/articleshow/154395.cms

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Ganesha

I picked up a Ganesha figurine at Mountain Mama's Saturday when I was there for the psychic fair (where I had a GREAT reading by Aeson!!).



Read more about Ganesha here:

http://msjamie.blogspot.com/2007/09/ganesh-chaturthi.html

The Tree of Life

I'm semi-obsessed with trees and I love the symbolism of the tree of life. I wear a pewter Celtic tree of life pendant frequently (I have it on now). I painted a tree a few weeks ago and need to do another, I want to do a tree of life tree too.

This is just an excerpt from the article linked at the end.  The actual article gives examples from various religions, which I find quite interesting.

"The Tree of Life is an important symbol in nearly every culture. With its branches reaching into the sky, and roots deep in the earth, it dwells in three worlds- a link between heaven, the earth, and the underworld, uniting above and below. It is both a feminine symbol, bearing sustenance, and a masculine, visibly phallic symbol- another union.

In Jewish and Christian mythology, a tree sits at the center of both the Heavenly and Earthly Edens. The Norse cosmic World Ash, Ygdrassil, has its roots in the underworld while its branches support the abode of the Gods. The Egyptian's Holy Sycamore stood on the threshold of life and death, connecting the worlds. To the Mayas, it is Yaxche, whose branches support the heavens.

The tree has other characteristics which lend easily to symbolism. Many trees take on the appearance of death in the winter- losing their leaves, only to sprout new growth with the return of spring. This aspect makes the tree a symbol of resurrection ... .

A tree also bears seeds or fruits, which contain the essence of the tree, and this continuous regeneration is a potent symbol of immortality. ... This aspect of the tree as a giver of gifts and spiritual wisdom is also quite common.
...
This tree and its gifts of immortality are not easy to discover. It is historically difficult to find, and almost invariably guarded.
...
The tree as the abode of the Gods is another feature common to many mythologies; in some, the tree itself is a God.
...
Another form, the inverted Tree, represents spiritual growth, as well as the human nervous system. This tree, with its roots in heaven, and its branches growing downward, is most commonly found in Kabbalistic imagery. A similar tree is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita ... ."

MORE HERE, WITH PICTURES:  http://altreligion.about.com/library/weekly/aa102902a.htm

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Dr. Oz, Brian Weiss & Past Life Regression

A detailed summary of Tuesday's Oprah show, with photos:

Does Past Life Regression Work?

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Swami Vidyadhishananda

Swami Vidyadhishananda is in the area this week.  I had the opportunity to see him last year and it was a wonderful experience.  He is speaking at larger venues this year because it was so crowded last year.  I really would like to have gone to tonight's lecture on mediation.  All the lectures are free.  If you are interested in this kind of thing, here's his schedule:

http://www.geocities.com/selfwv/08lectures.html

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Ma'heo'o Reiki

I think I am going to take a class on this

Ma'heo'o is the Cheyenne word for Great Spirit, Great One or God. Ma'heo'o Reiki was created by Sheryl Carter. A preview of her manual is on Google Books:

Ma'heo'o Reiki (A program of spiritual healing, growth & development

Ma'heo'o Reiki combines the healing energy of Reiki with the ancient wisdom of the Native American peoples. The reiki energy harmonizes with the frequency of Mother Earth.  It can be used for healing and connection with the elements. It teaches us to live in balance and harmony with everything around us and bring that energy into our auric system.

Ma'heo'o Reiki uses symbols derived from Native American Peoples and Mother Earth. There are several (5, 6 or 7?) symbols incorporated into this healing system. The first 4 represent the elements (Earth, Air, Water and Fire) and allow us to connect with and channel Mother Earth's energy. When that energy is combined with and activated by Great Spirit, it promotes great energy channeling ability, use of healing light and color, higher intellect, grounding, and promotes calming, peace and relaxation.

This system can bring you into contact with your spirit totems, give you your sacred name and balance your body with the elements.

There are 3 attunements. The first two enable a better connection and heightened sense of the elements through Mother Earth. The third is the master level which connects you with Great Spirit.

Sources/More Info:

http://www.sacredenergies.com/maheoo.html

http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/5803.htm

http://www.powerattunements.com/ma'heo'oreiki.htm

http://www.spiritsofnativelight.org/ma'heo'o_reiki.htm

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Psychic Kids

Watched last week's episode yesterday. Not bad. Not great. Reminds me a little of The Paranormal Project, which is also on A&E (maybe same producers). But interesting nonetheless. Every week I think they focus on different kids. Last week 2 of them could see spirits and 1 could see auras and had some kind of healing ability. The point of the show is to help kids and their parents understand and deal with their gifts.

http://www.aetv.com/psychic-kids/index.jsp

Wake up calls

"Many people have spoken of their illnesses as a 'wake-up call'. That means wake up and experience life--wake up and bless each morning, wake up and appreciate friends and family. I have heard people with critical illnesses say that their lives only really began when they were diagnosed. Why is that? Because whenever we are diagnosed with a critical illness, much of our superficial personal baggage is dropped in the first five minutes. Why do I act so arrogantly? Why I am pretending to be so tough? Why am I judging so many people? Why am I not appreciating all the love and beauty that surrounds me? Why am I avoiding the simplest and most important element of my being, the love in my heart?"

—Excerpted from A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

Conscious Gardening

"Co-Creating with Nature
Conscious Gardening

Gardens offer us a perfect opportunity to reconnect to our true selves and remember our place in the natural world. Rather than approach our gardens as mere investments of energy, we can look at the entire process of gardening, from planting seeds to harvesting food, as a way of deepening our conscious relationship with the creative force of the universe. If we are willing to shift our intention from dominating, or at least directing nature, to co-creating with nature instead, we may discover a deep peace and renewed sense of wonder.

To co-create we must first begin with a foundation of mutual respect. As you create your garden in partnership with nature, you can respect the earth, water, insects and animals by using organic seeds, soil and fertilizers. You can also communicate with the plants, insects and elements involved in your garden, and create a regular practice of stillness to listen for any messages they may have for you. When it comes time for harvesting fresh vegetables or picking beautiful blooms, you might even ask permission first. If you ask with an open heart, you will always receive an answer.

Imagine what it would be like to surrender certain aspects of your human world to the precision and surety of the natural environment. You might decide, for example, to forego your calendar and plant in rhythm with the cycles of the moon. Or, you might choose to ignore clock time and water your garden when the sun hits a certain position in the sky. By opening your garden experience to more of nature’s input, you can become available to witness a whole universe of miracles, while engendering a greater sense of honor between the two worlds.

When we recognize ourselves as allies, co-creators, with the earth and the natural world, our relationship to our environment begins to change. We no longer feel the need to control the circumstances around us and can relish in the perfection of all that is."

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2008/14094.html

Acceptance, Enjoyment & Enthusiasm (and a few other things)

I was listening to the last part of the New Earth webcast today and finished the book recently. The last chapter (Ch. 10) really brings everything together. Just some quick notes about it.

Awakened Doing. If you aren't in a state of acceptance, enjoyment or enthusiasm, look closely at what you are doing and you will likely find you are causing suffering for yourself and/or others.

Acceptance = accepting the present moment as it is. This is the way it is right now. Or this is something I have to do right now. I don't like it, but I'm not going to resist or fight against it. I will accept it and change
my attitude and vibration about it.

Enjoyment = bringing mindfulness and attention to what you are doing. Being present, you can allow joy to flow through you into what you do.

Enthusiasm = when you are doing something you really love to do or working toward a goal you feel passionately about, enthusiasm allows a greater force to channel into what you're doing and elevate you to an even higher level.

* * *

Not related to New Earth really, but related to being present. Consciousness, being present in the now, is so important in so many areas of our lives. We need to be conscious about all the choices we make every day. For me, one of those things is conscious eating. I am given opportunities to practice this all the time. Like the candy dish near my desk. Every time I walk by it (which I have to do to get ANYWHERE), I make a conscious choice not to eat the chocolate. If I decide to have a Hershey's kiss, then I will make a conscious choice to do so, not just grab one because it's there and gulp it down without even tasting it.

* * *

I have lost 3 pounds this week! -46. The past 3 days I've been a pound down every day. Usually when I go down a pound the next day it will go back up and a few days later will go back down and stay. So maybe tomorrow I'll be -45 again. But I've been really trying to do better this week because I have slacked recently, eating things I shouldn't.

I also started some of my new supplements this week (CoQ10 and Siberian Ginseng) - don't know if that has anything to do with it or not.

* * *

One more thing, my new motto is "Live Life Joyfully" I bought a block thing with that on it when we were on vacation and have it on my desk to remind me.

Honoring All Experiences (even the bad ones)

"May 15, 2008
When Pain Comes Our Way
Honoring All Experiences

Honoring the experiences we have in our lives is an invaluable way to communicate with life, our greatest teacher. We do this when we take time at night to say what we are thankful for about our day and also when we write in a journal. Both of these acts involve consciously acknowledging the events of our lives so that they deepen our relationship to our experiences. This is important because it brings us into closer connection with life, and with the moment. Only when we acknowledge what’s happening to us can we truly benefit from life’s teachings.

It is especially important when pain comes our way to honor the experience, because our natural tendency is to push it away and move past it as quickly as possible. We tend to want to brush it under the rug. Yet, if we don’t, it reveals itself to be a great friend and teacher. As counterintuitive as it seems, we can honor pain by thanking it and by welcoming it into the space of our lives. We all know that often the more we resist something, the longer it persists. When we honor our pain, we do just the opposite of resisting it, and as a result, we create a world in which we can own the fullness of what life has to offer.

We can honor a painful experience by marking it in some way, bringing ourselves into a more conscious relationship with it. We might mark it by creating a work of art, performing a ritual, or undertaking some other significant act. Sometimes all we need to do is light a candle in honor of what we’ve gone through and what we’ve learned. No matter how small the gesture, it will be big enough to mark the ways in which our pain has transformed us, and to remind us to recognize and value all that comes our way in this life."

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2008/13753.html

Everyday Grace

I got this in email this morning, and coincidentally my Simple Abundance thing for today was about asking for grace every morning ("enough grace for today")

"STARTING THE DAY

At the beginning of the day, the mind is most open to receive new impressions. One of the most important things we can do is to take full responsibility for the power of the morning.

If you want to have a nonmiraculous day, I suggest that newspaper and caffeine form the crux of your morning regimen. Listen to the morning news while you’re in the shower, read the headlines as you are walking out the door, make sure you’re keeping tabs on everything: the wars, the economy, the gossip, the natural disasters…But if you want the day ahead to be full of miracles, then spend some time each morning with God.

Most of us wouldn’t think of beginning our day without washing the accumulated dirt from the day before off our bodies. Yet far too often we go out into the day without similarly cleansing our minds. And our minds carry more pollution than our bodies, for they carry not only our own toxicity but that of the entire world. We carry the fear, anxiety, stress, and pain not just of our own lives, but of our families, our nation, and millions all over the planet.

Our greatest weakness is the weakness of an undisciplined mind. We need not let fear steal the morning; we can consciously choose not to allow our minds to be programmed by the worldly viewpoint that dominates the earth. We can set our day upon another course. Each of us has an inner room where we can visit to be cleansed of fear-based thoughts and feelings. This room, the holy of holies, is a sanctuary of spiritual light. The light is not a metaphor, but rather an actual energy of mystical vibration. When we begin our morning within it, the mind receives a radiance that illumines our thinking as we go through our day.

Imagine yourself sitting in a perfect, comfortable spot for meditation. It might be a chair in your bedroom or living room. It is a place of relative quiet and calm, where you go on a regular basis to find the peace that only God can give. You have come to realize that this time of rest, in its stillness and peace, is beneficent to both your mind and body. Here you come to surrender to God, using a prayer or mantra to move beyond the frantic and overwhelming thoughts that stalk us night and day. You are making your daily pilgrimage home, where your life will be renewed.

While the power of such quiet time can be profoundly healing, we often resist it fiercely. We have scores of reasons why we don’t have time to meditate: "The kids have to get off to school…I have to go to work…My partner wants to be with me…I have early appointments…," and the list goes on. Yet none of those excuses would be used to avoid taking a shower or getting dressed. It would be ludicrous to say, "I’m just too busy. I had to give up showers." And yet "busy-ness" is a common excuse for why we do not take the time, or give the time, to meet regularly with God.

...

Every morning, visualize and pray for divine right order: If you are a teacher, for instance, bear witness with your inner eye to an angel, or Jesus, or Buddha, wrapping his arms around every child in your class, then allow your mind to hold that image for five minutes or more. See God’s Light around your coworkers, your neighbors, your children, your spouse. Whatever it is you will be doing with your day – whatever your workplace or activity – consciously bless the people you’ll meet, as well as those you don’t even know. Remember to include those you don’t like as well as those you do. Allow yourself to imagine, while in a prayerful, meditative state, the life you most long to experience. Then bless that image, and surround it with light.

Now you can leave the house smiling, because you’ve placed your future in the hands of God."

LOTS more here: Everyday Grace, by Marianne Williamson

Different paths to the same destination

"All mystics speak the same language, for they come from the same country.
– Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin

What we are all looking for, even though we are searching in the most improbable places, is infinite wisdom, infinite joy, infinite love. In other words, we are trying to discover our real nature. At the very core of our being is a spark of purity, of perfection, of divinity. When we learn to identify less and less with that which is subject to change and more and more with this core of perfection, we are gradually moving closer to this supreme goal.

Though different religions call it by different names, the goal is always the same. It is nirvana to the Buddhist, moksha to the Hindu; Jesus calls it “entering the kingdom of heaven within.” To the Sufis it is union with the Beloved; to Jewish mystics it is the return to the Promised Land. No matter what they call it, all the great religions point to the same supreme goal. "

Eknath Easwaran’s Thought for the Day

Oprah and "A New Earth"

Louise Hay was on Oprah this week. She is an incredible, inspirational woman who has touched so many lives. I admire her greatly and just adore her. It was so wonderful to see her on the show. Oprah was talking about The Secret, one year later, and had Louise Hay and two other women on the show. It was an excellent show.

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200802/tows_past_20080206.jhtml?promocode=HP11

During the show, Oprah also revealed that she is having a free 10 week course related to her new book club pick, Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life Purpose. I have never heard of it. But if Oprah feels so strongly about it that she is doing this for FREE, then it's good. And I feel like it is really important.

I hope Oprah doesn't break the internet.

Anyway, here's the stuff from the website and the link:

"Are You Ready to Be Awakened?
For the first time ever, you can join Oprah and Eckhart Tolle, the best-selling author of The Power of Now, as they teach A New Earth in Oprah's worldwide classroom live Monday nights on Oprah.com.

By reserving your seat for this 10-week interactive webinar, you'll be able to:

* Watch and participate in the live classroom webcasts
* Ask Oprah and Eckhart Tolle questions before and during class
* Connect with others who are seeking to become more aware of themselves—and the world around them
* Download and save your thoughts in an exclusive workbook
* Access the classroom video archives…and more!

How to Reserve Your Seat:
You’ll need to be a member of Oprah.com and Oprah’s Book Club.

If you're not already a member of Oprah.com, you'll need to join now. During the registration process, you'll have the opportunity to become a part of Oprah's Book Club. Click on the "join oprah.com" button to get going!"

http://www.oprah.com/obc_classic/webevent_registration.jsp

About the book:

"Best-selling author and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle has been inspiring readers since his first book, The Power of Now. In A New Earth, Eckhart provides practical teachings for waking up to a new, enlightened mind-set. If you're seeking a more loving self and a more loving planet, this is the book for you. Join Oprah and Eckhart Tolle Monday nights live in Oprah's classroom! Reserve your seat today and find out how you can be part of the live webcasts."

(also from oprah.com)

"Eckhart Tolle first inspired us with the timeless and uncomplicated clarity of the ancient spiritual masters in his groundbreaking bestseller, The Power of Now. Continuing the journey to self-discovery, Tolle, a contemporary world-class teacher, offers all faiths a simple message of hope: “There is a way out of suffering and into peace.”

A New Earth looks at the fractured world around us and our need for a gentler, safer, more loving environment. With a supportive voice, Tolle explains this can be accomplished through a shift in consciousness, but we must first understand how the “egoic” mind works and then recognize the need for awakening. Using a variety of religious principles and historical examples, he asks us to consider:
• Is humanity ready for a transformation of consciousness?
• Can human beings be open to such change?
• If everything I think, say, or do leaves me feeling disconnected from other people, what kind of world do I create?

Tolle teaches us how to discover who we are by letting go of preconceived notions. “When you fully accept that you don’t know, you actually enter a state of peace and clarity.”"

from Onespirit.com

Reiki

I have been attracted to reiki but never experienced it. I was signing up for a class but had to cancel because it was just after Husband had his heart attack. I made an appointment for a treatment next month and am excited to experience it.

" Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."

A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life."

http://www.reiki.org/FAQ/WhatIsReiki.html

"Reiki practitioners channel energy in a particular pattern to heal and harmonize. Unlike other healing therapies based on the premise of a human energy field, Reiki seeks to restore order to the body whose vital energy has become unbalanced.

Reiki energy has several basic effects: it brings about deep relaxation, destroys energy blockages, detoxifies the system, provides new vitality in the form of healing universal life energy, and increases the vibrational frequency of the body.

The laying of hands is used in Reiki therapy also as in spiritual healing. There is a difference though. In spiritual healing, a person with a strong energy field places his or her hands above a particular part of the recipient's body in order to release energy into it. So, here the healer is the one who is sending out the energy. In Reiki, however, the healer places the hands above the recipient; however, it is the recipient that draws the energy as needed. Thus, in this case, the individual being healed takes an active part in the healing process as opposed to having a passive part in spiritual healing. The individual takes responsibility for his or her healing. The recipient identifies the needs and cater to them by drawing energy as needed.

Although there are a few positions in which the practitioner is in contact with the patient (such as cradling the head), most Reiki treatments do not involve actual touching. The practitioner holds his or her hands a few inches or farther away from the patient's body and manipulates the energy field from there"

http://www.holisticonline.com/Reiki/hol_reiki_what-is-reiki.htm

More:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiki

http://healing.about.com/cs/reiki/a/reikiFAQ.htm

What's draining your energy?

"Energy is equal to desire and purpose." -- Sheryl Adams

What people, events or things drain your energy? What part of you is not going with the flow? What are you resisting?

Plug your energy leaks and experience what it feels like to work on all cylinders.

For a list of energy drains and energy boosters, visit

http://www.higherawareness.com/lists/endrnrs.shtml

http://www.higherawareness.com/lists/enbldrs.shtml

"Everything you are against weakens you. Everything you are for empowers you." -- Wayne Dyer

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