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WELL-BEING

jas

POSTED: Sun, 11/06/2011 - 1:17pm

How do you experience you connection to spirit?

As women often the traditional male dominate ways of connecting to the universe don't alway fit. How do you experience your connection to spirit? Your connection to the earth? Your self and your dance through life? How do you renew your self?

Celtic Owl

POSTED: Sun, 12/04/2011 - 6:22pm Grandmothers I have a different approach to spiritualy, after fisiting Findhorn community in Scotland several years ago. I have found the beauty and love in Reiki which for me feels like prayers for the body, especially. and now I have the Grandmothers, The divine feminine as introduced by Sharon McErlane. Her website is grandmothersspeak.com and I can't recommend her enough. It has helped me understand my Christianity, and my great love of Nature more than words. Please check her out...

jas	POSTED: Fri, 12/16/2011 - 11:42am Celtic Owl. Cool! Can you share more? I've read the Findhorn book twice. I also feel more and more strongly about the divine feminine all the time. I'll check out the websites you recomended.

Vintage1944

POSTED: Sun, 12/04/2011 - 6:32pm Hello Celtic Owl So pleased you have joined the discussion.And thank you fror opening up a new avenue for discussion.I will look at that website now.Take care.OXO Jean

Vintage1944

POSTED: Wed, 11/23/2011 - 12:07pm First snow fall A few centimeters have fallen.And for the first time in many,many,many a year I am delighted by it.This is something I must explore.When I learned it would snow,my spirits lifted and twice in the night I awoke to look out my window.Didn't see much as I was more than half asleep.Yet there it was when I fully awoke.Beautiful and peaceful.Jas you are a true Mentor.Your thoughts and questions are guiding me on this journey.Thank you. I have had a few insights that I am mulling over and in time will bring them to share in our Circle.One truth I'm certain of,is that I have my answers within me.My response to winter assures me of that.Now off to some cleaning our space.It and I need this kind of loving attention.Have a beautiful day ,my dears.Be true and loving to your selves.OXO

jas	POSTED: Wed, 11/23/2011 - 1:55pm Jean I am glad that my being is helpful to you. I feel deep, warm breath as I imagine you peering out the window to watch for the predicted snow. An image of your child soul comes to mind and the delight we all know in our places of simplicity and innocence.

Vintage1944

POSTED: Wed, 11/23/2011 - 3:24pm Jas You got it in one.In my mind's eye i see my child self,filled with wonder.Thank you.OXO

jas	POSTED: Fri, 11/25/2011 - 8:36am yeah! Yeah Jean, and I shall join you, my child soul is so delighted with my white artificial Christmas tree. It is magic to her. Just magic.

snorklee

POSTED: Wed, 11/30/2011 - 7:11am White trees... Hi Jas, I have a white artificial tree too. I bought it because it reminded me of my childhood. Last year I put green and blue lights on it, and felt the same as you. Magic! :)

Vintage1944

POSTED: Tue, 11/29/2011 - 11:35am Magic I agree we need magic to feed our souls.Enjoy your lovely tree.OXO

Marilyn

POSTED: Wed, 11/23/2011 - 4:31pm Wonders I think to connect with our inner beings we must rediscover the wonders of our childhood: the first snow of winter, the gentle breeze of spring, the warmth of the summer sun and the rustling leaves of autumn. We easily forget these gentle pleasures in the dash of modern life.

Vintage1944

POSTED: Thu, 11/24/2011 - 12:21pm Wonders The beauty of simplicity is essential to a life well lived.Lovely thoughts Marilyn.Thank you.OXO

jas	POSTED: Sat, 11/12/2011 - 8:21am had to write this scroll down below and read Jean's email...so so so beautiful! and horah for you.

snorklee

POSTED: Wed, 11/09/2011 - 7:39am Women's circles I found this article this morning that speaks to how women can connect with each other and with spirit. It was very interesting. http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2011/30830.html

Vintage1944

POSTED: Wed, 11/09/2011 - 5:46pm Thanks Deb That is very intriguing.It seems to me we have a circle here.oxo

snorklee

POSTED: Wed, 11/09/2011 - 9:38pm lol... I thought that too, Jean. We do have a great women's circle here. :)

Marilyn

POSTED: Tue, 11/08/2011 - 11:12am Dear Jas I am not ignoring your question just not finding an answer as yet.I renew myself in many ways: in the garden, listening to quiet music, reading that special book. Whether this connects to my spirit I do not know, I need time to think.

Vintage1944

POSTED: Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:56pm Dear Jas This is a question that requires deep thought.Deb's response I found also very thought provoking.It will be awhile before my ideas come together.Suffice to say,I tend my soul with great care.It has become a principle of mine to question how my behaviour,thoughts and feelings will affect my soul.I am my spirit,my soul,I believe.As always ,my dear,you ask such excellent questions.OXO

snorklee

POSTED: Mon, 11/07/2011 - 10:03am Hi Jas, I thought alot about this before posting. It's a very deep question. :) I'm not sure what the traditional male ways are to connect to spirit, except maybe in that meditation and yoga are very old practices, and when things are from eons past, they were male dominated practices just because everything was male dominated then. In this age, it seems that women are becoming more connected to spirit and that they are able to connect more easily then men. In my experience, there are more women than men following this path, at least in this country. When I went to the ashram last week, I meditated and did yoga every day. It was amazing, and I came away more balanced and centered than I've ever been, at a deeper level than I've ever felt. But, now that I am home, I'm aware that the peace and tranquility are gradually being replaced by the everyday. Today will be my first day back at work and I'm anticipating waving good-bye to the last shreds of tranquility before the day is over. But, while I was at the ashram, I met a man who lived there. He was in his seventies and had had a full life as a salesman and a race horse trainer, but also had practiced meditation for all those years, before he came to live at the ashram. He said at dinner one night, that he thought that meditation and yoga came more easily to women. This opened up a discussion immediately at the table between all the men and women there. Everyone agreed that women found the path to spirit more easily than men, especially yoga practice. I said that I thought that in ancient times that yoga was practiced by men more than women. The men at the table all had a collective response... "Huh. That is true." lol. It was so much fun to get the male perspective on all of this. I also spent time sitting at the feet of some very wise women who had lived at the ashram for over 40 years and listening to what they had to say about meditation and yoga. I learned that connecting to spirit can be as effortless and easy as falling off a log. We are never unconnected from spirit. It only takes practice to ground and center, and become aware of our being, and our breath, and our surroundings, which takes us out of the distractions of everyday living. Spirit is with us all the time, we just have to stop and recognize it. We are not only connected to spirit and to universal energy but also to everyone and everything in the world. Everything is connected. Now I only have to practice remembering that. :) For me, yoga also is becoming my way to recognize my connectedness to the world. It is moving zen. Thank you for bringing this topic to the forum, Jas. You are a lovely spiritual being. :)

jas

POSTED: Thu, 11/10/2011 - 8:26am thanks Deb I enjoyed reading everyone's comments. Deb, I was wondering if you made it to the ashram, so it was great reading your response. I also read the article. I too am getting a lot out of my daily yoga practice. I used to meditate for 45 min or so a day, now I've switched to yoga. The body centered practice does things for me in a way meditation never did. I'm more grounded in my body, feel more able to work with body imbalances and much more. Right now I'm around a lot of conservative Christians. I'm mostly fine with their beliefs, however what I notice is they aren't fine with my beliefs. It is hard for them to honor the mother too. To think about the natural world, God's creations and how we are responsible for taking care of our bodies and our worlds. Sometimes I feel like a downright heretic. It means a lot to me that you affirmed my spiritual perspective, and also part of me writing the question is to be able to share in a women's forum who I knew would be open and with me in many ways. So thanks everyone. jas

Vintage1944

POSTED: Thu, 11/10/2011 - 9:12am Dearest Jas For 5 + decades I have fought my body.I have not been it's friend.What you have said about movement ,Yoga,house keeping etc and becoming more conscious of how I feel say after a walk or a good tidy up,tells me this is the right route for me.Mountain Pose,is a wonderful way to become connected with spirit,body and earth.It is time I started listening to my spirit;it is telling me,begging me to care for it and my body.They are not separate.The deep truth of this brings tears to my eyes. It is a loss for those people who cannot or will not,hear what you have to say.They are missing such a beautiful opportunity to grow,to share and to add depth to their own spiritual practice.You are not a heretic. Your beliefs are open,encompassing and truly kind.Thank you.OXO

jas

POSTED: Sat, 11/12/2011 - 8:18am Wow Jean! Jean, This is such a cool/beautiful note. Thank you. But I think even more important, is your body is saying thank you and crying, and happy and loving you! I could get really philosophical, and I'll try to keep it very brief...but the whole body disconnection (for most of us) I wonder how much of it relates to traditional religion where the body is separated, considered bad...just as we abuse the earth so too we do this too our bodies...and especially women's bodies. Yeah on the learning about reconnecting and what poses work for you to love into your body.

Vintage1944

POSTED: Sat, 11/12/2011 - 6:27pm Thank so much Jas Right now I am simply being with this truth,absorbing it,making it part of my life.My level of anxiety has eased significantly.I believe you are right about traditional beliefs.Certainly as a Catholic girl,schooled by Nuns,they taught us to fear our bodies,to distrust them and deny them.I look back on some of the things they taught us as adolescents and though hilarious in retrospect,it had a very negative impact on many of us.You are absolutely right about the mind/body disconnect for me.Recently,I decided to stop reading self-help books.I have realized I know my own answer.It has always been with me.This morning I did Mountain Pose and the standing part of the Sun Salutation and added in a few extra stretches.It felt strange but good.OXO

jas

POSTED: Sun, 11/13/2011 - 8:43pm how lovely Jean I don't have a lot of words right now, I enjoyed reading your post Jean. For me, I am aware of my heart right now, in a very body centered physical way. I'm just breathing into my heart, looking into my heart, and feeling my heart. It seems so simple, but it's new and very strange to me.

Vintage1944

POSTED: Sun, 11/13/2011 - 9:25pm There are times... when words are hard to come by.I like how you are focusing your energy.I hope you will share what you learn. Today,I decided to allow myself to eat whatever I want,without criticism(internal).I will do it for one week and reevaluate.I need to do what you are doing with my stomach.It is the seat and source of much anxiety.Time to be friends.OXO

Vintage1944

POSTED: Mon, 11/21/2011 - 5:40pm A week later I have done what I said I would and it was not pleasant.Because I had trouble not critiquing myself.An interesting lesson for me.Also,it did not do my blood sugar any good and I feel bloated.Next step?Back to connecting with my spirit through movement and keeping promises to myself.The promise this week is to move a little more each day and to increase the time my inner cranky,critic is talking.OXO

Vintage1944

POSTED: Sat, 12/03/2011 - 10:30pm Update I have been doing more movement and I feel better,in many ways.Today,I walked to and from work and took stairs(bit of an ouchy there).The important thing is that my negative ,critical self took a back seat and as a result I got through a hectic work day with energy left.There is a new inner voice that says"If you choose to think like that,you will be unhappy"There is so much going on in my head and it is very exciting.So my next step is to build on this ,to get closer to my spirit.Thanks for listening.OXO

Vintage1944

POSTED: Sat, 12/03/2011 - 10:30pm Update I have been doing more movement and I feel better,in many ways.Today,I walked to and from work and took stairs(bit of an ouchy there).The important thing is that my negative ,critical self took a back seat and as a result I got through a hectic work day with energy left.There is a new inner voice that says"If you choose to think like that,you will be unhappy"There is so much going on in my head and it is very exciting.So my next step is to build on this ,to get closer to my spirit.Thanks for listening.OXO

Marilyn

POSTED: Mon, 11/21/2011 - 6:13pm Soul sister Do not be hard on yourself, your lesson will be well learnt. Be kind to yourself and connect with your inner being. Critique yourself kindly not with a hard heart. As Mireille would say 'go for the real thing in moderation'. Take care and stay strong, xxx

Vintage1944

POSTED: Mon, 11/21/2011 - 10:10pm Soul Sister many thanks.I meant to say decrease the amount if negativity.OXO

jas

POSTED: Sun, 11/06/2011 - 1:20pm was thinking/experiencing this today At my acupuncture session I happened to ask the two women treating me this question. I really liked their different answers and how I could relate but later what the answer is for me. I experience myself, God, life through movement, expecially dance but yoga is now really coming into play. I'm aware of how I need and am active in a "Body Centered" practice. I dance 4 days a week, I took a new yoga class last week--and loved it. I do yoga everyday. My job is physical (not always though) I realize how important it is to me (don't get me wrong, I rest deeply too) Yet it is through movement I most experience God and myself.

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