Happy Gemini Full Moon ~ The Power of the Mind and Communication!

This powerful Gemini Full Moon relates with our ability to communicate; with all our relations (family, friends, co-workers, colleagues, neighbours); with our mind, logical thought; learning and sharing knowledge.
So for me this brings a very interesting insight about the mind and communication...
The power of mind that can create anything we wish and like this can be delusional as well: the most dangerous thing to believe is what one wants to believe.

Communication, which I remember to learn in my first Public Relations class, when doing my BA (looks like another life, but was part of academic journey) that communication always involves two people, a talker and a listener, so one would listen and respond accordingly...
Very well, then through the spiritual journey in my Healing NLP course, made me realise that what people call communication most of the time is actually a monologue... have you noticed how many times people are talking to themselves or not really listening... And at that time this made me think, do I talk more or do I listen more?
Listening is such a yin, feminine quality, and takes me back to my granny saying the wise ones are the ones who listen, starting from within...

Starting with the Taoist Practice which evolved into my creation of the Jade Egg Holistic Practice, I found a very easy and natural way to work with my mind in a harmonious way.
One of the benefits you get from these practices is harmonisation of the the left and right side of the brain, so I trust intuition to be my guide, and have my logical and rational mind working in balance with the unknown and artistic other side of the mind, and vice-verse...

Regarding communication: to express our creativity (which comes from the sexual centre), to express our truth (which comes from our heart), to express our ideas (which come from our mind), are the three energy centres, or the Taoist call Tan Tiens, or organs if you want: genitals, heart and brain.
Are they all acknowledging each other, listening to each other, and agreeing with each other? Whatever is the way (voice, writing, dance, any art, anything!...) you are expressing these.

Now just stop for a moment and answer yourself:

• How can you improve your ability to communicate based on the above?

Going back to the Full Moon you can use this time of sparkle, bright, ideas, jokes, laughter and repartee to: bring light and life close to you as Yuletide approaches, make arrangements, swap ideas, improve communication, work with impartial and detached thinking, travel short-distances, heal the lung! (arms and hands too - any movement on them as Qigong, Tai Chi, Dance will do!;).

In the Taoist Calendar we are still in the season of the lungs, the Autumn, the Metal Element. 

The lungs negative emotions are sadness and grief. We can look upon them as a process of letting go... And its such perfect time of the year to do so!  Look at Nature, trees getting stripped, everything dumped in the Earth, preparing to enter the dark, the Winter, the Yin peak, time to Be!  
"The Great Void is the place where all solutions and answers live in harmony with the questions that fill our realities." Jamie Sams

To help you in your process of letting go, here is the lungs' Healing Sound: 

• Become aware of your lungs resting within your chest. Take a deep belly breath to slowly fill your lungs, breathe out SSSSSSSSS as you release sadness, grief, loneliness, depression. Allowing the sound to vibrate in your lungs, breath then in the crystalline white light of courage, self-confidence, uprightness, and self-esteem.*

*Adding the lung meridian stretch: as you breathe in, raise your arms overhead, elbows slightly bent outwards, hands palm up and extend your arms above your head. Let your eyes follow the movement.

The Jade Egg Holistic Practice is a continuous invitation to turn inward and get in touch with one's body (and organs), teaches us about the Inner Alchemy, starting with the first practice of the Inner Smile meditation.
Let the moon too inspire you to look within - the Lunar Alchemy.
Alchemy was more than attempt to turn base metal into gold, it was a spiritual quest. The alchemist's power came from the conjunction - the union of the God and the Goddess. The God was symbolised by the Sun, the Goddess the Moon. This is a reminder to look deep within ourselves, to the balance of male and female internal energies, yin and yang. By attuning ourselves with to the needs of our male and female sides, we then can work towards healing the parts of self that need assistance.
Without balance there is no place to creativity, without true awareness of ourselves there is no place for progress. By looking deeply into ourselves we grow.

As in all the Full Moons, you have the opportunity to energize yourself with the power of moon yin energy and unite with women from all over the planet, here my suggestion: let's meditate at 10pm in the moonlight; by your window (or outdoors if is not too cold where you are) or use three candles or one large silver candle as a substitute for the moonlight. (If you don't have any of these, no worries, your intention is what matters, just put your heart into it!) 

 © Anamarta

Breathing!

How is your Autumn?
We now in the middle of the season, walking lightly into the yin peak of the year, the Winter, descending into the darkness, from which new life and ideas are born!

Continuing to talk about breathing, as I began in 'Happy Autumn' post:
Do you Know?
**The size of your nostrils indicates your born ability to take in life. Which you always can change...
**The lungs are also called the master of chi and breathing: "heavenly chi" (air) is breath in, and "impure chi" breath out, to vitalize the body.

*Good affirmation for you lungs (you can create one with your own words): "I have the capacity to take in fullness of life. I live to the fullest."

To breath in is inspiration, to breath out is to expire. The Breath of 
Life/Chi/Prana, flows like a tide.

A nice way to give your lungs fresh chi and at the same time recycle their emotion is by the Healing Sound: do it with full awareness of your breath, of your lungs. The slower you do the sound and breath, the more powerful you make this practice.
*** Sit quietly, focus on the breath coming and going through your nose. After a couples of breaths connect with your lungs, breath in and out, feeling your lungs expand. Now, delve into your lungs, be aware of any feeling of sadness, grief, depression. Breathe in from your lungs and out with a SSSSSSSSSSSSS, letting all go. And then, breathe in this imaginary white silk and wrap all around your lungs, visualize your bright white, healthy lungs, filled with courage and self-confidence, for you to do whatever you have to do! And smile at your lungs! =) You can do this a couple of times, and can add the movement if you wish: as you breathe in, raising your arms overhead, elbows slightly bent outwards, hands palm up, and extend your arms above your head. Your eyes follow the movements of your hands.

The healing sound is such a nice way to practice breathing to release and relax, and if you want some energy, breathe to energise and warm up your body with 'Bellows Breathing':
***Sit in meditation, comfortable posture and lay your hands on top of each other over the navel.
Inhale and expand your lower abdomen, feeling your lungs expand. Keep your chest relaxed and focus on breathing with your belly.
Exhale with some force, pulling the navel back in toward the spine and keeping your chest relaxed. Feel your sexual organs pull up toward your navel at the same time.
The rhythm of this breathing is medium to quick, see how it feels and if it feels good, repeat a couple of times. Finalise by relaxing and feel the warm chi that you have created at your navel center.

**Sexual Practices - Focused breathing: Air=Energy, the more you can take in with least effort, the more you can put out.

We have specific breathing in the Yin Taoist practices, as the kidney breathing and ovarian breathing, so important and useful to keep these organs healthy and radiant, and to strengthen our life force, our sexual energy.
You can learn more about these in the Jade Circle Workshop and Taoist Healing Love Workshop.
For the ones in London the Jade Circle Evening is a great introduction for these. 
Here the calendar.

© Anamarta

Happy Autumn Equinox and New Moon in Libra!

I love the Equinox for what they represent: the perfect equilibrium, honors equal day and night, brings forces of dark & light into balance, the yin and the yang.

From the Autumn (Fall) Equinox, as well known as Mabon, Alban Elfed, Feast of Avalon, Cornucopia, Harvest Home - we start to prepare for the darker days of Winter ahead, the yin peak of the year, and this brings us the opportunity to let go what no longer serves us, as the leafs turn color in the trees, we turn our thoughts inward, for a time of reflection, of cultivating the ‘being’ state, slow down our pace from the busy and outgoing Summer.

Also this Autumn Equinox besides being represented by balance and mystery, is the ‘Witches Thanksgiving’, as is a second Harvest of the year, the harvest of fruits and vegetables.
(The first was the harvest of bread and grain, the “Lughnasadh “ on 1^st August).
So here's a thought for you to apply in all levels of your life:

• What are you harvesting now?

In the Taoist calendar it's a very interesting time of a gentle transition from the Earth Element link to the Harvest to the Metal link to the Autumn. The sun from the Summer blessed the Earth where Metal is born.

The Earth Element in our body is represented by the spleen, the nourishing organ and the stomach, with the important role of digestion.  The Metal Element is represented by the lungs, the important act of breathing, take all in, and then out, simply filter and retain what we need, and the large intestine, the elimination system, taking out what we don’t need and simply retain what is vital for our wellbeing.  And of course our skin is part of this elimination system which takes so much in and out, reminding us of the cycle of renewal as it's constantly dying and being born again.

So take a moment, wherever you are, in front of a computer, with your phone in your hand, whether indoors at home or work, or outdoors in the transports or the park.

• Stop for a moment, close your eyes, feel the soles of your feet, inhale deeply, filling up your lungs with chi (air) and exhale gently through your nose, your are simply slowing down. And as you do this feel the connection with Earth beneath you (and everything comes from Her, even the floor…), and smile :) opening up, generating energy and good feelings towards your amazing body, feeling the gratitude for all it does to sustain your life, smile and feel the courage and self-confidence to do and to be, (link to the Metal Element), and the serenity, openness, grounding, (link to the Earth Element), feeling centered in your power, refreshed, revitalized, in tune with life! =) 

To reinforce this energy of balance and harmony of the Equinox, tomorrow we have the New Moon in Libra, also associated with beauty, grace, creating peace, all relationships in our lives (from intimate to business), justice and diplomacy
Here's a Libra affirmation:

"I feel safe sharing my gift of love with another".

 And I ask you: do you?
 This obviously as in everything else, is a reflection of your relationship with yourself, if you are the first one receiving the love from your own self.

Here are two things to focus your positive thought, whatever you want to answer by write it down, or simply quieting you mind, to go inside and meditate on it.

• How can I embody beauty, peace and inner harmony?

Something that supports you in this to become a natural way of living, and I say natural, because it's part of the Goddess virtues, and I believe we women are the feminine archetype who represent the Goddess here in this planet, with the various practices presented in the Jade Egg Holistic Practice, from the meditations and Kuan Yin QiGong, to the Jade Egg itself, a wonderful tool, and a great anchor for this ("beauty, peace and inner harmony...").
The other thing is:

• How can I cultivate more mutual support from my personal and/or business partnerships?

  
Embrace love! Cultivate beauty! Celebrate life!

©  Anamarta

HAPPY AUTUMN!!

I hope you're enjoying the new season and taking the most it brings!
The Autumn can be challenging, this time of change, the drop of the temperature...
A few years ago I used to say "I don't like this time of the year. It's difficult for me..." Then I realized with this kind of affirmation, I was the one creating all the 'difficulty'. So I decided: let's embrace it! I started by looking around, watch the nature, and by doing this I was amazed with the beauty that surrounds us. I even remembered how I liked to walk in the dry leaves when I was a child. (And nowadays I'm enjoying it again!) I reconnected with my inner child and I started to absorb the beauty of the leaves turning their colors, green getting yellow, orange, brown, red - its magical! I'm sharing my experience and invite you to let the beauty of surroundings inspire you too and give you encouragement to embrace this season, if you didn't do it already.
The days are getting shorter, we're going into the void, turning within, and like this embracing the yin, our female energy of stillness and receptiveness.
I like the idea, as the leaves turn their colors, we turn our thoughts within... good time to go through them and you may have some realizations or find some inspiration to do something you want to do! I'm being in this stage lately. And you?

In Taoist terms, we're now in Lung season, the guardian totem is the white tiger, the sense is the smell, the element is metal, associated with the virtues of courage, uprightness, self-confidence. Quite appropriate, don't you think?
We definitely need courage for times of change, and indeed to be ourselves. We need the courage and self-confidence to do whatever we want to do.
Last year around this time I was writing about the 'Warrior Woman' and shared a meditation you can do and develop, 'to awaken the warrior within'.
 ***To give special care to your lungs this season, as you may know already, smile at them; but why not have special attention to your breath? Be aware of it!
 We all agree that to breathe is essential to keep us alive, and the interesting thing is, we all have to stop breathing in order to breathe again! Such a nice example how yin and yang flow into each other in order to exist.
Different traditions, from Taoists to Yogis, from hypnosis to massage, they all use different techniques which involves the breath to relax or to energize.
Try this:
 *~* Slow down your breathing. When slowing down, you may find yourself deepening the breath, and this may result in a deep relaxation state.
 "Many of our modern conditions are due to the stress of modern life. Stress leads to tension, tension leads to stress, but when we relax the tension goes, and often the conditions go too." (Kris Deva North)

I was in a talk by Dr. Usha and one student asked her: "I never meditate, what do I have to do for this to become part of my everyday life?" Dr. Usha answered: "Just sit quietly and start by focusing on your breath for 5 minutes. The more you get used to it, the longer you can be in this inward state."
Here we go, just focus on your breathing to connect with yourself can be a great daily practice.
To make it more profound:
 *~* Place one hand in your heart and the other hand on your womb (in your sexual centre), close your eyes and focus on the breath coming and going through your nose. Smile and feel the connection between your sexual, creative center, and your heart, love center; the connection between water and fire, earth and heaven, yin and yang. With your breath and mind's eye allow these powerful energies to blend, and feel this internal harmony spread through all your being. Take your time to open your eyes, be fully present and be aware the mundane world will be now a reflection of your internal one!
***Take in fresh air! Walk in the park, in the forest, be in nature as often as you can, (when not possible just contemplate that tree or beautiful plant on your way to work or lunch time), I know for the ones living in the city, is not always easy, but your lungs will really appreciate!

 In the post 'Enjoying the latest Harvest time!', I wrote about the crystal Tiger Eye. This month I'm writing about the Tiger Iron, this

cousin and special crystal which is a combination of iron, Tiger Eye, Red Jasper and Hematite, the result of this is a powerful vibration of each of these minerals in their own right, amplifying and blending their effects.
 It can be a great ally for this time of the year, or anytime you need it! I tell you why: Tiger Iron is a stone of strength, stamina and courage. This strength is not only physical, but it is also of an emotional level, allowing one to feel more confident and capable of creating one's reality.
Affirmation: I am strong, confident, energetic, grounded, healthy and whole.

An inspiring and practical book related to times of changes, telling uplifting stories of individuals who have learned to face adversity and overcome challenges: "Bouncing Back - Thriving in Changing Times" - my partner Kris Deva North is a featured author with Wayne Dyer, John Assaraf, Gavin Keilly, David Riklan and others.

© Anamarta

Living Fully in the Present!

Here we are in the middle of the Autumn, greeted by the dance of leaves, shorter days, and longer nights approaching.

:-) Smile to your lungs breathing in the white light of courage and self-confidence, qualities of a woman living fully in the present. The past is where it belongs, behind us; and the future is ahead, yet not in form!... We can plan, wish, dream, but we can't see for sure what's ahead, (until those who can see, know things can change...).

A little anxiety is good for us, some experts say. It gives us the edge we need to handle uncertainty. "So throw open the windows and see what flies in." Interesting things happen when you don't have an agenda. Embrace the unexpected, gather your courage, let your adventurous side call the shots.

Trusting the flow of the Universe, which provides everything we need.

**Let go what no longer serves you...

By undoing yourself from what is no longer needed the new can grow. An ancient Taoist proverb suggests that simplicity comes with seeing every day what has become dispensable. Then one can walk and move more lightly, both in mind and body. 

I had this thought a few years ago: 

The lighter you feel, the higher you fly!... 

**Practice staying in the moment...

You can visualize, imagine, your life as a red carpet unrolling in front of you. Imagine, feel, visualize that you're the star, walking it a step at a time. Stride confidently; trust that something exciting is waiting for you just around the bend.

What would you do if was the last day of your life?
Enjoy your life, yourself, and live it to the full. 

Each minute is unique because it doesn't repeat!
One of the first things I wrote, around my 12 or 13 years old, but definitely continues to be part of my philosophy:

Happiness is not to be wished, but to be taken!
Carpe Diem...

It's such bliss when one can be mindful and totally engage in whatever you are doing, whether pleasure, work, or meditation. For some, it comes naturally, for others with practice and persistence, but it's possible for everyone: to put your mind, heart, spirit, and soul in what you're doing in that present moment (not what you did or what you have to do), like this, focusing all your energy in what you really want to achieve, with your clear intention and whole self into it, great success will be the result!

 © Anamarta

WARRIOR WOMAN

Hello Warrior Woman!

Yes, we all have this warrior within ourselves, who gives us the courage and the strength to go for it no matter what, to stand up for ourselves when we need to...

" If she advances confidently in the direction of her dreams, and endeavors to live the life she has imagined, she will meet with success unexpected in common hours."

We're in the Autumn, the season of the lungs, with the virtues of courage, self-confidence and uprightness; the element is Metal, that reflects and inspires, cuts and contains!
When I think about metal I imagine a sword. The sword stands for decisive, clear thought.

To awake the warrior within:

** Sit quietly, focusing on the breath coming and going through your nose. When totally relaxed, inhale deeply... Smile at your lungs, appreciating all they do to to sustain your life...keep breathing deeply... And now imagine a white sword of light which carries all the courage and self-confidence for you to be who you are, to be yourself; the courage for you to do all you need to do!...

Support from the mineral kingdom, "the stone people":

** Aquamarine the stone of courage and feminine empowerment. It helps one realize that not all power comes from force- there is also tremendous power in aligning oneself with the yielding, resilient vitality of life. It is a doorway to connect with the Goddess, both within the self and in Her outer manifestations.

Our history and mythology has been marked with Warrior-Women and Goddesses who showed their courage and uprightness. They have been admired and worshipped for centuries:

Boudicca The Celtic Warrior Queen, who shook the Roman Empire. Wife of a king, mother of two daughters, the Queen of the Iceni, led an uprising against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire. She has since remained an important cultural symbol in the United Kingdom.

Joan of Arc is a national heroine of France and a Catholic saint, who led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, claiming divine guidance. She was captured by the Burgundians, sold to the English, tried by an ecclesiastical court, and burned at the stake when she was nineteen years old.

Pocahontas a native Indian from America, daughter of a chief of the Powhatan, saved the colonist John Smith's life when he was captured by the Indians. He was about to be executed but Pocahontas placing her head close to his saved him. They then got married and he brought her to England where she impressed everyone one with her gentleness and kindness, making the English change their opinion about the 'indian savages'.

Durga The Hindu Goddess, "The Invincible" ; "One who can redeem in situations of utmost distress"- is a form of Shakti (the Divine feminine force), her warrior aspect.
Anamarta at Sri Durgiana, The Silver Temple, Amristar



Athena Greek Goddess of Wisdom, as Goddess of war, was a superb warrior; her presence on your side assured a win. (The goddess Minerva was her counterpart in Roman mythology.)

Neith was the predynastic Goddess of war and weaving, the Goddess of the Red Crown of Lower Egypt and patron Goddess of Zau in the Delta. The Egyptians believed her to be an ancient and wise Goddess, to whom the other Gods came if they could not resolve their own disputes.

© Anamarta

AUTUMN MAGIC!!

Sweet Hello in this time of Sweetness! 
The Autumn/Fall Equinox arrived this week, bringing the harvest home festival, the gathering time, when we prepare for the cold and shorter days... Now day and night are equal, and we turn our thoughts again to balance.
I'm writing and looking at this tree outside my window, sunbeams lighting up her first yellow and red leaves on one side, while the other still shows green ...
... Autumn magic! The transition of seasons, the changing of colours, from Earth to Sky, the start of a new cycle; a new cycle in Nature, a new cycle for ourselves; time of changes and evaluations. Did we plant enough of the right things? Have we nurtured what will truly feed us?
Above all, this is a time to give thanks, to offer gratitude for what we have, and to remember the balance of all elements that sustain our lives. Gratitude to Mother Earth, the living soil that grows food, to the air we breath, to the sun's warm rays, to the life-giving rain and the flowing, cleansing waters. Gratitude toward our community, to our family and loved ones, and to all families and beings that are linked in the web of life.
Gratitude is the counter to greed. If we neglect to say thanks for what we have, we feel eternally dissatisfied, and need more and more. When we are thankful for all we have been given, then we need very little in order to feel surrounded by abundance.

Harvest time is the Spleen season as I shared in the post below (Harvest Moon). Spleen direction is the center, our lower abdomen is named as our hara, in Taoist terms as your "lower tan tien." The spleen is related with two meridians, the spleen itself and the stomach, and have you heard: "you have your brain in your stomach?" Just think about the times you feel nervous, happy, anxious, "butterflies in the belly"- everything that happens to us resonates in our center! Keep it strong, thus your mind will be calm and your body will move with ease and power:
 ***Place your hands on your centre, sit up straight and inhale deeply; hold the breath for a moment, focusing on your centre; exhale slowly, and imagine any tension leaving your body.
 **For a more powerful practice do the spleen/stomach healing sound:
Breathe out HOOOOOOOO (like a guttural sound) as you release worry, anxiety, stress, guilt and pity back to the Earth. Then breath in the golden light of serenity, centering, openness, fairness and grounding. If you want to add the movement, press the fingers into your left abdomen/ribcage and lean slightly forward.

This time of harvest and beginning of Autumn is the best for you to eat the rich natural sweets of the season like the pumpkin, squash, corn, oranges...
And do you know!...Oranges attract prosperity and luck; and you know already that its good for vitamin C reinforcement to prepare us for the cold! And Corn grants protection and attracts luck as well!

Now with the Autumn, we come into in the season of the lungs, the metal element of mystery, of swords and shields, coins, boxes and silver-backed mirrors. Ancient Alchemist sought to transform metal into gold, a metaphor for transmutation of lust to love. 
***Be aware of your lungs, smile at them, breathing in the crystalline white light of courage.
We need courage for times of change...

Like the fruits of the vine, our lives too can change and ferment. Celebrate the ever changing nature of life, dreams, and goals as you toast the sacred ingredients- friends, family, and familiars- the loving relationships that mellow and ferment you.

We had a radiant Summer full of successful workshops, where i had the opportunity to meet beautiful women who I hope to continue to see in this new season. And let me share the changes in the Universal Healing Tao Centre UK:

• We had a great Tai Chi Camp with a Yin predominance for the first time! Watch (with sound!) the fantastic Video
• Congratulations to new Taoist Trainers, after their completion of Step 8 Tao of High Degree Retreat at Monchique in Algarve, Portugal. The first ones who completed so far: Matt Lewis, Tanya McCormack, Annie Hooley and myself!
• The NEW Jade Circle Level 2 - All women who have already come to a Jade Circle before and heard the Jade Egg explanation are welcome! After a few requests, I decided to start this level 2 with the aim to give more practical time, skipping the explanation part of the Jade Egg.

Join me on Wednesday 30h September - Jade Circle Level 2
We're going to focus on the Jade Egg secrets and practice the powerful Jade Egg exercises! Such a great start for this new circle of the new season!
No Need to Book! just come on by, from 6.30 to about 8.30pm @ The Universal Healing Tao Centre, 68 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3JT

Next Jade Circle Level 1 Join me on Friday 9th October
No Need to Book! Just come on by, from 6.30 to about 8.30pm @ The Universal Healing Tao Centre, 68 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3JT

© Anamarta