Monday Mantra

I talk a lot about meditation practices here on this blog because meditation is an integral part of my life. I find that it helps me set the tone for my day and keeps my heart, mind, and spirit centered. For the month of September, I hosted a Peace/Joy Meditation Cyber party where I invited anyone who was interested to practice the mantra lokah samastha sukhino bhavantu. (For more info on that click here.) It was so nice to be able to share my meditation practice with others that I decided to start a new feature here on this blog: Monday Mantra.

Every Monday I'll feature a mantra that I intend to use for the week. This is an invitation to anyone who is interested to try mantra meditation using the Monday mantra.Traditionally a mantra is recited 108 times from a comfortable seat with the eyes closed. For more information on mantra meditation, check out this article. You can also check out my blog post on my experience with meditation here to get a little more insight.

Since this Monday marks the end of September and the beginning of a new month, I thought it would be great to invoke a mantra that would help remove any obstacles that might be in the way as we move into October. The Hindu god Ganesha is known as the remover of obstacles. He is also one of my favorite deities. So with that in mind, I present to you the Monday Mantra for the week of September 30:

Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha (oh-m gah-m gah-nah pah-tah-yei nah-mah-ha)

A loose translation of this mantra is: I offer my love and devotion to Ganesha; please grant me success in my noble endeavor.

Here's a little breakdown on why Ganesha is so cool.

Source

And here is a recording of Deva Premal, one of my favorite artists, reciting this meditation 108 times. If you feel that reciting this chant out loud may be difficult, feel free to sit in noble silence and absorb the energy of Deva's chanting.

I hope that this chant makes your entrance into October a little smoother. Please feel free to share your experiences with  this chant or chanting in general in the comment section below. 

Cheers!

By the sea, by the sea, by the bea-ooo-tiful sea!

I have spent the month of September practicing meditation everyday. Usually I do my practice at home by my altar, but today I decided to head to the beach. It was glorious out this morning as I left my apartment to walk to one of the neighborhood beaches here on Isla Mujeres.

Beautiful Limestone Cliffs

Pelican Party

 This beach is not frequented by tourists at all. You won't find any drink sellers, music, or pretty baubles. What you will find here is nature at it's best ~ ocean, sand, sky, and rock.

Perfect Perch

 I could hardly hear myself saying the words of my mantra over the sound of the ocean. It was like I was being absorbed. It was great to experience the force of the water, not just on my toes, but in my ears, my breath.

I live in a beautiful place. So often I take it for granted.

We live in a beautiful world. So often we take it for granted.

How to Stay Encouraged

Almost a month ago, I made the decision to work solely on my art (click here to read more about that.) The first week was magical. Everything seemed to be falling into place. I was writing, painting, and making jewelry. The ideas were flowing. Inspiration was alive and well. Now as I approach the end of the month, those old demons of "you need to get a job" and "this will never work" are coming back to hang out on my shoulders. My yoga practice has suffered, my meditation practice is burdened, and my art just makes me shake my head. I know that every life has it's highs and lows. So I've tried to distract myself by going to the beach, helping out with a local library project, and catching up with my favorite bloggers. This morning as I made the rounds, I found this inspiring video of actress Jenifer Lewis speaking at a conference (warning: she uses a few strong words).



Two of the gems in this video for me were:

"The elevator to success is broken, take the stairs."
What a visual. We all know that good things take time and work, but this image just hit home for me. I know a lot of people who are living their dream write now, and it's easy to get down in the dumps on myself because I'm not where they are. They didn't get there overnight, though. They fought their own battles to get to where they are. Sometimes this staircase seems endless, and the stairs almost to tall to step up on, but I have to keep pushing. This is the journey, it's the only one I get, and I want to be present for it.

"Do your work."
I have always felt that if I did my work, the work of my passion, then everything else would fall into place. I got a little lost these past few days trying to wrap myself in other people's success, instead of doing my own work. I know some days I will have to fake it 'til I make it, but I know if I just do my work then the rest will come. I have to believe that.

So, I'm feeling a little more encouraged today to push through the dark cloud that has been hanging over me. I know that this is all a process and that I have to yield to it.

Something that Broke my Heart a Little

Happy Saturday, everyone. Today's post is a bit of a serious one, but I feel like I have to put my hat in the ring here. A lot of conversation is happening around the new Miss America. That conversation is leading us back to one of the biggest challenges America faces these days, racism. No one wants to talk about racism anymore, because somehow we've decided that it doesn't exist anymore. Maybe because we have a black President. The fact is that it does exist, and we do need to talk about it, because that is the only way we will be able to improve the situation. I could go on, but I think this video by Chescaleigh does a good job of highlighting why racism is still a problem and still something that needs to be discussed. And that is exactly what I am hoping this post will do, start conversation.
Cheers.

Taking Time to Notice

Yellow Hibiscus

When I was living in the Marshall Islands, occasionally I would walk or bike home with a certain friend who lived in my neighborhood. Without fail, whether walking or biking, that friend would always stop at one of the neighbor's homes to smell the roses. This wasn't an exaggerated showy thing or a preachy "smell the roses" thing, but my friend genuinely appreciated the beauty and scent of the flowers. She would take her time smelling one or two and admiring the deep magenta color, then she would continue on her way home. When you live in a place and look at the same things everyday, it is easy to forget how beautiful your surroundings may be. I have lived on islands for six years now, and very seldom take the time to indulge in the majesty of the plants or the ocean. It's pretty shameful, I admit. So today, walking downtown to meet a friend for breakfast, I took a moment and "smelled the roses". Granted these aren't roses, but they are stunning yellow hibiscus flowers. I've seen my share of hibiscus flowers, but don't recall ever seeing yellow ones. It was lovely to take the time to breathe and see something beautiful.

What beautiful things live in your neighborhood?

One More Day until the Meditation Party

I've been practicing the loka samastha sukhino bhavantu chant all week, and can't wait to share the energy with all of you tomorrow! If you're not sure what "tomorrow" is, click here for info.

Japa Meditation and Chanting

The first memory I have I seeing someone doing meditation and chanting is from the movie What’s Love Got to Do with It. 

This was a pivotal moment for a number of reasons:

1)      While I had heard of meditation before, this scene was the first time I had ever seen anyone who looked like me doing it. It made me feel like maybe meditation and chanting were something I could do, too. It took something that was previously a very “woo woo” thing and made it accessible for me.

2)      You could see that each time she picked up the beads and did her chant, she was planting her feet more firmly on solid ground. Having that strong, immediate visual of the effects of meditation was very motivating for me. I could literally see what the transformation of this practice looked like.

3)      There was a visible change in her facial expressions, her tone of voice, and even how she stood. This shift was more than strength, it was an inner calm. Again, the ability to see that change on the screen was very impressionable.

Since that fateful day I have been a student of Buddhism, yoga, and meditation. By far my favorite aspect of all of these practices is meditation. And my favorite part of meditation is chanting. There is a Sanskrit saying, Nada Brahma, which can be translated as “The universe is vibration/sound.” While I appreciate the stillness of seated meditation, for me to get to the higher vibration that makes the sitting work, I need to chant.

When I first started my meditation journey, I simply chanted om as many times as I needed to to feel some kind of vibration. Since then, I’ve learned about the significance of 108 repetitions and acquired several japa mala beads to practice with. There was even a point when I made japa malas as a kind of meditative practice.

Earth Mala for Root Chakra Meditation

I’ve also acquired quite a few chants that I love to use when meditating. Some of my favorites are:

Om Mani Padme Hum

There are many translations for this chant, but most commonly it is said to mean through the practice of a path that is a union of love and compassion with wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure exalted body, speech and mind of a Buddha. 

Om Namah Shivaya

Most often translated as meaning, “I bow to Shiva”, where Shiva represents supreme reality and the inner/true self.

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

A wonderful chant for happiness and freedom for all beings, and also the chant for my upcoming meditation party. For more info click here.

Chants are great for meditation, but it is the intention behind the words that truly holds the power. Saying the name of someone you love, or saying peace or love or joy 108 times will also yield powerful results. One of my all-time favorite chants is simply “Thank you”.

If you’re looking for a way to distress, to find calm, or to tap into something bigger than yourself, japa is a wonderful way in. Here are some instructions:

Find a comfortable seat. This can be in a chair or cross-legged or kneeling on the floor.

If you have mala beads, hold them in your right hand between your thumb and index finger. Place your thumb on the first bead after the guru bead (the big bead connected to the tassel). If you don’t have mala beads, simply place your hands in your lap.

Close your eyes or bring a soft gaze to the floor. Bring your attention to your breathing, noticing the rise and fall of breath entering the body. Call up a word or phrase that resonates with your heart in that moment. Say it out loud or to yourself.

If you are using mala beads, continue saying that word or phrase, each time moving to the next bead until you return to the guru bead. If you are not using mala beads, simply continue to repeat the word until you feel a stillness in the mind.

After chanting, take a moment to sit in the energy you created. Bring your attention back to your breath.

Slowly open or lift your eyes, and gently bring yourself back to your surroundings.

Joy/Peace Meditation Party

It has occurred to me that when people gather together with a goal in mind, there is power in the energy that is created. With all that is happening in the world right now, I thought it might be nice to send some positive love/light energy up in a big way. I would like to invite anyone who reads this blog or even stumbles upon in by accident to join me on Friday, September 13th in doing a round of japa (108 repititions) of the Sankrit chant Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu. One translation of this chant is:

“May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.” (www.jivamuktiyoga.com)

 Japa usually takes about 20 minutes to complete. Feel free to choose anytime on Friday that you will have space to do the chant. If 108 repetitions is a bit much, do what you can with as much intention as possible. If this is your first time chanting, here's a wonderful recording of this chant by Miten & Deva Premal.




 If chanting is not your thing, then maybe just take a moment on Friday to say the English words aloud, sending up this prayer for freedom and happiness for all. 

So often we focus our energy on what we don't want, but there is so much more power in uplifting what we do want. I hope you will join me on Friday to uplift happiness and freedom for all beings, which most of us would probably say we want in the world.

Overcoming Obstacles and Living Dreams

Overcoming Obstacles and Living Dreams

This past three months has been a whirlwind for me. I've managed to leave the place I called home for five years, quitting my job in the process. I also visited Frida Kahlo’s house and achieved my Kripalu Yoga Teacher 200 hour certification. Which brings me to the present moment, sitting in an apartment in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, looking out at paints, beads, canvases, fabrics, oil pastels, Sharpies, drawing pencils, and lots of silk thread.  How did I get here?

New Creative Space

Well, like most people traveling long distances, I arrived on a plane. This particular plane trip, however, brought some insight that I had not previously had the presence or quietness of mind to receive. The insight came when I opened my backpack to dig out my “plane read” for the trip. I've been reading a book by Bill Bryson called Mother Tongue, and was really looking forward to finishing it. I was sure that was the book I had put in my bag. The book that was waiting for me, however, was The Alchemist. I have read this book more times than I can remember, and I always have a copy with me. In fact, I read it at the beginning of June after leaving behind my life in the Marshall Islands. At many points in my life I have taken in the ups and downs of Santiago’s (the main character), journey as a gentle reminder that the treasure I seek is always within reach. So, when I saw that it was the book I had for this trip, my initial reaction was, this again? But I jumped in, since it was what I had, starting with Coehlo’s Ten Years On introduction, which I usually skip. Imagine my surprise to find that, despite having written the introduction in 2002, Coehlo was speaking directly to me. That’s right, he must have had a premonition that in 2013, at a pivotal moment, I would need to read just the words he was writing, detailing the four obstacles to achieving a dream.

The first obstacle Coehlo points out is that we begin to bury our dreams as children. Eventually our dreams become so deeply buried that we have trouble hearing them call us at all. I have spent the better part of 10 years working and only giving attention to my dreams of being an artist/yoga teacher/world traveler in my “free time”. I prided myself on being an artist with a job; I could pay my bills. Art happened in spurts, yoga teaching happened after l finished work, and traveling happened during breaks. When work wore me out, these things didn't happen. In this way, I managed to live what I felt like was a pretty full life, but there was something missing.

This brings me to Coehlo’s second obstacle, love. He says, “We know what we want to do, but are afraid of hurting those around us by abandoning everything in order to pursue our dream.” I have loved the arts since I was a child, but I didn't know how to be an artist and make money. All I knew about artists was that they struggled. I didn't want to struggle, and I knew I needed money to survive. But when you love something it is a part of you, and the impulse to be with that something is always knocking, pushing, screaming, and saying come back come back come back. When I said goodbye to my parents this last time, I felt my heart tear, but I knew I had to go to be with the thing I love. I need time and space that being with my parents couldn't afford me. I felt the same way when I left behind the people I love in the Marshall Islands, but I had to go for the same reasons. The thing I love was calling me back.

Love, mixed media on muslin

Now running into the arms of the thing I love, I know that Coehlo’s third obstacle is waiting in the wings. That obstacle is fear of the defeats on the path. In my world, I am a jet-setting artist yogini healer Amazon ready to fully express every aspect of my being. In the real world, I am an unemployed 30-something black woman with a lot of debt tipping the scales in my favor by running to Mexico to optimize what little savings I have. I am already a failure. Add to that the fact that I don’t know if the world even wants my art or how I will get to the world, the defeat just keeps piling up. And I am terrified. Terrified that I've made a mistake. Terrified that I won’t be able to provide for my needs. And terrified that I will just end up being another disappointment to the people who care about me. But, as Coehlo says, “The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.” Anything worth having is worth fighting for. I would add that the old adage, Believe in yourself, is another secret to life. I believe that I am a jet-setting artist yogini healer Amazon. And furthermore, I know that the people I love believe it, too. I can’t thank those people enough for being my angels. I have carried them around in my heart as my sword and shield in this time of change, and will continue to do so with every step. How could I not overcome obstacles with the strength of my angels radiating from my heart?

esperanza en el corazon, acrylic on canvas

Coehlo’s fourth obstacle is by far the hardest one to face. It is the fear of realizing the dream.

What happens if I win?

Coehlo quotes Oscar Wilde saying, “Each man kills the thing he loves.” I know that I have been guilty of this over and over again. I have asked for, prayed for, shook my fists at the sky for, and the moment it arrived I have hid and pushed it away because it was easier/more familiar to stay where I was. I am an expert at building walls while craving light and love. It is not easy to embrace our truth because it means we have to embrace the divine light that wants to radiate from us. I rarely have a problem seeing this light in others, but shining my own is frightening. Will people resent me? Will I be too exposed? But here I am, sitting in this apartment in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, looking out at paints, beads, canvases, fabrics, oil pastels, Sharpies, drawing pencils, and lots of silk thread. I am here because I can no longer ignore myself. I can no longer push down the me that wants to rise up.

Pieces of Angels

I often contemplate the question, “What would I do if money was not an issue?” My answer has always been in the ballpark of make art, do yoga, and travel. The fine folks at immigration here in Mexico have granted me up to 180 days to do just that. I have enough money to pay my rent for that time and keep food on the table. I have no idea what is waiting for me on the other side of this journey, but I am heartened by Coehlo’s closing words, “…if you believe yourself worthy of the thing you fought so hard to get, then you become an instrument of God, you help the Soul of the World, and you understand why you are here.”

I’m ready.

Change

Life gave me a whirlwind

I decided to make waves

To ride the crests back to shore

Take in the sun

Then ride them back out

And out some more

To explore