The Heart Chakra

"To love is the great amulet

that maks the world a garden."

Robert Louis Stevenson

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Chakra Four: Air, Social identity, oriented to self-acceptance

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This chakra is called the heart chakra and is the middle chakra in a system of seven. It is related to love and is the integrator of opposites in the psyche: mind and body, male and female, persona and shadow, ego and unity. A healthy fourth chakra allows us to love deeply, feel compassion, have a deep sense of peace and centeredness.

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Now that we have awakened the firest of our will, we are ready to enter the sacred and tenderrealm of the heart. Here lies the very centre of the chakra system as well as the heart of our being, the chamber from which we give and receive love.

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As we move onto the fourth chakra in Anodea Judith's Chakra Balancing Workbook, we must ask ourselves these questions:

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How do we open our hearts to love? What is this mysterious essence that has such power to rule our lives? What is its purpose in our journey through the chakras and how can we align ourselves with this purpose?

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These are the essential questions we ask of the heart, the organ whose beating defines life itself. But when we speak of the heart, we are speaking not of a physical organ out of a realm of connection, where we are beckoned to expand beyond ourselves and find union with another.

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Love is the essence of life. It is the ultimate healer, the most potent teacher, the inspiration for great works. For the child love provides the assurance of survival. For the adult, it brings the intimacy that allows acceptance and invites expansiveness. And while the desire to receive love is a basic need of all human beings, this alone will not open the heart.
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The Sanskrit name for this chakra is Anahata, meaninging unstuck or unhurt. To open the heart is to treat others (as well as things) with honour and respect and refrain from causing unneccessary harm. This occurs naturally when we discover the divine nature of the self within and realise that a similar nature resides within others and indeed all of life.

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An open heart feels compassion and empathy for both self and others. It understands the tender nature of spirit, the delightful joy of connection, and the deep peace of body, self and other, light and shadow, masculine and feminine, inner and outer realms. The result of this balance is peace.

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Chakra Attributes

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Color: Green

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Function: Love

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Healing Essence of the Chakra: Located in the region of the heart and between the shoulder blades, it is the area of the body where love resides, in the cave of the heart. The ecstasy of love teaches us to let go and trust in the world, ultimately transcending the flames of sexual passion and emptying our life, giving spirit and spirituality into the world.

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Keywords: Love, Unconditional Love, Surrender, Compassion, Forgiveness, Grace,

Peace

Affirmations:

• I am unconditionally loving of myself and others.
• There is an infinite supply of love in the world.
• I am love.

Interpreting excess or deficiency in the fourth chakra

Excessive characteristics:

• Codependency (focussing too much on others)
• Poor boundaries
• Jealousy
• Being a martyre
• Being a pleaser

Deficient characteristics:

• Antisocial, withdrawn
• Critical, intolerant
• Lonely, isolated
• Lack of empathy
• Fear of intimacy

Balanced characteristics:

• Caring
• Compassionate
• Empathetic
• Accepting
• Self-loving
• Peaceful
• Centered
• Content

The Fourth Chakra Self Evaluation

1. Are you able to love yourself as you are or do you put up certain conditions?
2. How often do you show your appreciation to those around you including strangers?
3. Are you holding onto any feelings of grief?
4. Do you have any feelings of hatred or resentment towards someone in your life? If so, what can you do to forgive this person and free yourself from these old wounds?
5. What parts of yourself do you deny? What can you do to reclaim aspects of yourself that you may have sacrificed to be accepted?

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See participants' responses:

1. Aurora
2. Mich
3. Hélène Deroubaix
4. Creative Spirit Faery

i Goddess meditation

by Anita Ryal Revel

I'm back

So sorry that I've been away for the past month - travel commitments for work became very overwhelming and made it impossible for me to post.

When I returned, I came down with a bad case of tonsillitis, which seemed to suck the very life out of me.

I'm now on the mend and will start posting again next Monday.

I hope you've all had a magical Christmas.


mich
x.

The Solar Plexus Chakra

“There is a force within that gives you life—Seek that.
In your body there lies a priceless jewel—Seek that.
Oh, Wandering Sufi, if you are in search of the greatest treasure, don’t look outside.
Look within, and Seek That”.

Rumi

Chakra Three: Fire, Ego identity, oriented to self-definition

This chakra is known as the power chakra, located in the solar plexus.

It rules our personal power, will, and autonomy, as well as our metabolism. When healthy, this chakra brings us energy, effectiveness, spontaneity, and non-dominating power.

Chakra Attributes:

• Color: Yellow


• Function: Will, Power, Laughter, Anger, Joy

Healing Essence of the Chakra:

Located above the navel, it corresponds to the solar plexus in the physical body.

This chakra opens the channels of power and acts like a radiant sun, storing power and energy for future use.

By directing the full force of our intention toward our dreams and goals and moving creatively through life, we leave the limiting aspects of our childhood behind.

We are transformed into sacred and peaceful warriors.

Keywords: Leadership, Power, Authority, Integrity, Consciousness, Courage, Action

Affirmations:

• I honor myself.


• I offer my light and service to the world.

Interpreting excess or deficiency in the third chakra:

Excessive Characteristics

• Dominating
• Controlling
• Competitive
• Arrogant
• Ambitious
• Hyperactive
• Stubborn
• Driven (compulsively focussed toward goals)
• Atracted to sedatives

Deficient Characteristics

• Passivity
• Lack of energy
• Poor digestion
• Tendency to be cold
• Tendency toward submission
• Blaming
• Low self-esteem, lack of confidence
• Weak will, poor self-discipline
• Use of stimulants

Balanced characteristics

• Responsible, reliable
• Good self-discipline
• Positive sense of self
• Confident
• Warm
• Energetic
• Spontaneous, playful, humorous
• Able to take risks

Answer the following questions:

1. How do you rate your energy levels?
   
2. Do you take appropriate action when your energy feels diminished?


3. Do you feel the need to conform?


4. Do you seek approval from other people?


5. Do you take responsibility for your own actions, or do you let other people control you?


6. Does shame influence your behaviour?


7. Do you assert yourself without dominating others?


8. Can you stay focussed on activities and see them through to completion?


9. Do you take risks in your life?

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Participant's responses:

1. Hélène Deroubaix
2. Mich

The Sacral Chakra

"Beneath heaven nothing is more soft and yielding than water.

Yet for attaching the solid and strong,

Nothing can take its place.

Therefore the soft can overcome the hard,

The weak can overcome the strong,

Under heaven everyone knows this,

Yet no one puts it into practice."

TAO TE CHING

Now we move up to the second chakra, the element of water and our feminine energy.

The second chakra, located in the abdomen, lower back, and sexual organs, is related to the element water, and to emotions and sexuality. It connects us to others through feeling, desire, sensation, and movement. Ideally this chakra brings us fluidity and grace, depth of feeling, sexual fulfillment, and the ability to accept change.

Where the earth is solid and fixed, water is fluid and formless. Where earth is solid and fixed, water is fluied and formless. Water follows the path of least resistance and flows downward, following the shape of earth or being absorbed into it. Where earth provides consistency, water induces changes. And Through change our consciousness begins to expand. Without water, growth is impossible. Water makes life juicy.

Our bodies -- made mostly of water -- are shaped by the structure of bones and muscles, but within these bodlies flow our emotions and desires, our wants and needs, our feelings and sensations.

The Sanskrit name for this chakra is Svadhisthana, which translates as "one's on place". This refers to the personal nature of the second chakra aspects of our emotions and sexuality. It is important that we stand in "our own place" within this chakra and define our sexual and emotional issues in a way that is suitable to our individual characters. If our roots are deep and well-watered, then our fruit will be sweet -- the Sanskrit verb svadha means "to sweeten". From the centre of one's own place, we sweeten life by opening to pleasure.

Pleasure is the motivating principle of the second chakra. Pleasure promotes well-being and is a natural healin force. It teaches us how to open up, how to move, how the reach beyond ourselves. Pleasure comes to us through any of our senses: seeing a sunset, tasting a meal, listening to music, savouring a lover's touch.

The senses are the first gatewa between the outer and inner world. To open our senses is to become sensible instead of senseless. Through the senses we first get "in touch". to be in touch is to know what we feel, to be awake and aware. To be in touch is to be connected.

The pull of the erotic in this chakra represents the universal urge to connect with others. through desire, emotion, pleasure, and sensation, we enter the complex realm of sexuality -- a place where we dissolve our boundaries and enter into intimacy with another. Dissolving is the beginning of our upward journey, whose ultimate goal is to enter mystic union with divine conciousness. While some traditions teach that pleasure is a dangerous distraction on the road to enlightenment, healthy pleasures -- such as touch, play, laughter, sexuality, and experiencing beauty - lead to contentment and peace, rather than an insatiable desire for more. In fact, it is often the denial of these simple, biological pleasures that leads to overindulgence and addiction.

Emtions are a composite of feeling and sensation. They give us a powerful source of information about our well-being. But we must understand the complext nature in order to stay afloat in the watery aspect of the second chakra.

Chakra Attributes

1. Sanskrit Name: Svadhisthana, which translates as "one's on place"
2. Color: Orange
3. Element: Water
4. Function: Desire, Pleasure, Sexuality, Procreation

Interpreting excess or deficiency in the sacral chakra

Excessive characteristics:

• Sexual addictions
• Obsessive attachments
• Addiction to stimulation
• Excessive mood swings
• Excessively sensitive
• Poor boundaries, invasion of others
• Emotional dependency
• Instability

Deficient characteristics:

• Rigidity in your body, beliefs or behaviour
• Emotional numbness or insensitivity
• Fear of change
• Lack of desire, passion, or excitement
• Avoidance of pleasure, fear of sexuality
• Poor social skills
• Excessive boundaries
• Boredom

Balanced characteristics:

• Graceful movements
• Ability to embrace change
• Emtional intelligence
• Nuturance of self and others
• Healthy boundaries
• Ability to enjoy pleasure
• Sexual satisfaction
• Passion

Healing essence of the sacral chakra

Located in our lower belly, it is where we relate to our bodies through the procreative centers. Through a healthy second chakra one can heal relationship problems, transform deep and hurtful emotions, and balance life.

Keywords: Life Energy, Creative, Procreative, Giving, Receiving, Inner Truth

Affirmations to practice this week:

• I make my decisions from a place of hope and faith.
• My creative drive is strong and exciting.
• My sexuality is fulfilling and meaningful.
• I am life.

Those of you who have bought Anodea Judith's Chakra Balancing Kit can move on to their workbooks, and if you like, blog your responses and link back to this post.

For those of you who don't have the book but would like to know a bit more about the first chakra, visit Anodea Judith's site and answer the questions below:

1. Do you express your emotions clearly and honestly?
2. Are you in touch with what you truly feel?
3. Do you set appropriate boundaries for yourself and in relation to others?
4. What pleasurable activites do you bring into your life?
5. Do you move towards change and new experiences, or are you resistant?
6. What are your passions?
7. Do you value your own feelings and respond to them?

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See participants responses to this post:

1. Mich

The root chakra

"Put seeds and cover them.

Blades will sprout

you do your work."

Rumi

As I'm sure you'd all agree, every journey begins with a single step.

In Chakra Balancing Anodea Judith suggests we take this step by making solid contact with earth, the element of the first chakra. So it if fitting that we begin our journey upward through the chakras by initially going down.

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Located at the base of the spine, this chakra forms our foundation. It represents the element earth, and is therefore related to our survival instincts, and to our sense of grounding and connection to our bodies and the physical plane.

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Ideally this chakra brings us health, prosperity, security, and dynamic presence.

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The root chakra represents how we interface with the physical ealm: our body, home, finances, work, and environment. It represents our physical identity -- the ability to identiy with our body and its needs.

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Increasing your contact with the natural world is an essential part of first chakra development. To treat the physical world as sacred is to honor what you do with your body and environment, the food you eat, the things you buy, and your means of livelihood.

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On a psychological level, the root chakra is associated with the survival instinct and the will to live, hence your basic health and vitality. As te final chakra in the descending current, it is here that you bring things into manifestation or completion. In order to fully manifest, you must be able to ground your energy into the earth.

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Chakra Attributes

1. Sanskrit name: Muladhara, meaning root support
2. Color: Red
3. Element: Earth
4. Function: Survival, grounding

Excessive characteristics:

• heaviness, sluggishness, slow movements
• resistance to change
• overeating, obesity,
• hoarding
• material fixation, greediness
• workaholism
• excessive spending

Deficient characteristics:

• fear, anxiety
• resistance to strucutre
• anorexia, underweight
• spaciness, flightiness, vagueness
• disconnection from your body
• restlessness, inability to sit still
• difficulty manifesting

Balanced characteristics: The following characteristics indicated a balanced first chakra. They are also the rewards that come from first chakra work.

• Groundedness
• Physical health
• Being comfortable in your body
• A sense of safety and security
• Stability and solidity
• Right livelihood
• Prosperity
• Ability to be still
• Presence in the here and now

Healing Essence of the Chakra

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Located at the base of the spine, it governs all aspects of grounding, inner security, sexuality, and safety issues brought from childhood or past lives. Becoming conscious of the first chakra allows one to tap into a life affirming power that is deep and profound.

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Keywords: Grounding, Sexuality, Life Affirming, Primal, Foundation

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Those of you who have bought Anodea Judith's Chakra Balancing Kit can move on to their workbooks, and if you like, blog your responses and link back to this post.

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For those of you who don't have the book but would like to know a bit more about the first chakra, visit Anodea Judith's site.

Affirmations to practice this week:

• I enjoy being in my body and I nourish it each day.
• I am connected to the earth and the safe foundation it provides for my future growth.
• I believe in my abundance.

You might want to answer these questions:

1. What is your relationship to your body, diet and exercise?
2. Do you suffer from any physical ailments?
3. Is your home environment nurturing & clean?
4. Are you on top of your finances?
5. Are you satisfied in your work?
6. How regularly do you spend time in nature?
7. Does fear hold you back in your life?
8. Can you take care of details and stay centred?

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See participant's responses:

1. Mich
2. Angela Eclectic Recovery (see response in comments section)
3. Hélène Deroubaix
4. Anna

Chakras

The word ‘chakra’ is Sanskrit for wheel or disk and signifies one of seven basic energy centers in the body. Each of these centers correlates to major nerve ganglia branching forth from the spinal column. In addition the chakras also correlate to levels of consciousness, archetypal elements, developmental stages of life, colors, sounds, body functions, and much, much more.

I believe Chakradance™ explains it best:

“A chakra is a spinning vortex of energy. A human being’s energy field is complex and multi-layered, and includes subtle energies which western science has only recently begun to detect. Chakras are the energetic gateways through which our various subtle energies interflow. Like electricity, chakras are invisible to the naked eye.

Every human being has 7 major chakras and many hundreds of minor ones. Together, they are the network through which mind, body and spirit interact as one holistic system.

Each chakra represents an aspect of consciousness vital to our lives (safety, sexuality, power, love, communication, intuition and self realisation). Physiologically, each chakra is connected to physical organs and endocrine glands, the health functions of which are directly affected by the state of the corresponding chakra.

We can think of the chakras as energetic floppy disks, each containing vital programmes influencing the various aspects of our lives. Some of our programming may be positive, affecting our health, emotions, thoughts and behaviour in a positive manner; others may be negative, having the reverse effect.”

The ideal state is where the chakras are balanced. To find out what the state of your chakras is, do the chakra test.

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See participant's results here:

1. Mich
2. Hélène Deroubaix

Welcome to the journey!

"It is the tremendous experience

of becoming conscious,

which nature has laid upon mankind,

which unites the most diverse

cultures in a common task."

Carl G Jung

Welcome to the start of our journey, as we work our way through Anodea Judith's Chakra Balancing kit.

In the Chakra Balancing Workbook, Judith says the Chakra System is a map for the journey through life. Its seven rainbow colours represent the full spectrum of human possibility that stretches from the ordinary to the extraordinary, from Earth to Heaven, forming a bridge and describing the steps between them.

This map is an archetypal formula for wholeness that addresses the full spectrum of human possibility.

To navigate its territory is to take an exciting journey of awakening -- in body, mind, and spirit.

THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE SOUL

"There is a bridge between time and eternity; this bridge is the individual soul, the Jiva."

Chandogya Upanishad

There are many challenges on this journey.

Try something new, and you might feel buterflies in your stomach. Try to speak up, and you might get a lump in your throat. Fall in love and you might feel your heart leap with joy and fear. These are all common activities that happen through your chakras. They occur for most people quite by accident. Sometimes the experiences are better than others.

Learning about the chakras gives you access to your programmed responses so you can minimise their negative effects and maximise their positive ones. But furst you need to understand just what the chakras are and how they work in your energy body.

The word chakra is Sanskrit for wheel or disk and signifies one of seven basic energy centers in the body. Each of these centres correlates to major nerve ganglia branching forth from the spinal column. In addition the chakras also correlate to levels of consciousness, archetypal elements, developmental stages of life, colors, sounds, body functions, and much, much more.

You can read more about Anodea Judith and the chakras here and and you'll also find some articles.

Those of you who have the kit, begin with CD one. Part One takes you on a journey through the general territory of the chakras. Its purpose is to make initial contact with your own energy centres and their and their contents.

Next week we'll explore how to deepen your connection to your first chakra.

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Read participant's responses:

1. Mich

Update

Just a quick note to let you know I've had a family emergency to deal with.

I'll make the first post on the Chakra Balancing series when I get up in the morning.

Thanks for you patience,
Michelle

Make a wish

Next week we'll be starting our journey through the chakras, but today we're still working with Isha Lerner's Inner Child Cards.

A well, vessel, or cauldron can hold sacred waters for rituals, blessings, purifications, and healings.

Water is the essence of all life.

The answer to the question of whether the cup is half full or half empty depends on how life is being viewed at a given moment.

This question is being asked of you now.

Along with this question, you may be granted a wish.

In the traditional tarot, the Nine of Hearts is often considered the wish card.

Your wish should reflect what you feel you deserve in life, where your heart is, and how much you love yourself.

Wishing is a way to observe how well you are seeking your individual fulfillment.

Can you accept a happy life?

This is not an easy question to answer, and much care should go into this inquiry. Sometimes wounds of the past must be healed before you can grow into your wish.

Forgiveness of self and others is one step toward greater fulfillment.

The mermaid in this card is holding her vessel toward the waterfall to be filled. She has reached a point of acceptance in her life and is ready to have her cup run over.

Hold your own cup high toward the waters of life and dare to fill it completely.

Imagine the possibility of unlimited love, joy, and wisdom pouring into your heart.

This may be it time for spiritual initiation or purification in your life.

Believe in miracles, and follow your dreams.

You may also want to visit Jamie's Wish Casting blog.

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Participants responses to this post:

1. Infinite Bliss
2. Spring Dawn
3. Yoga Gal (see response in comments section)
4. Aurora
5. iGoddess

The colourful & fragrant gardens of our minds

We'll be starting work on the Chakras on the fist Sunday in November, however until then we will continue with our journey into our selves with Isha Lerner's Inner Child Cards.

There are times in life when we are shown the gateway to new awareness that is beyond our current boundaries or resistance.

This new awareness offers another view of the world that can recapture, or open us to, the magical garden wisdom that lives within us.

It is there that we may learn to master our abilities and gifts.

When the fairy on this card is ready to open the garden gate, she will discover a world of herbs, flowers, and trees that await her arrival.

They will revitalize and heal her. There is an abundance of energy available to her.

The butterflies on the gatepost are the aspects of her soul that are ready for metamorphosis.

She hears the garden calling, and so she peeks.

This is a wondrous time in your life when you may be exploring the secret passages of your spirit or completing an important evolutionary cycle.

There is a rich and flowering place within you.

You must journey there.

Close your eyes and envision yourself entering

the colorful and fragrant gardens of your mind and heart.
What do you see?

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Participants who have responded to this post:

1. Hélène Deroubaix
2. Yoga Gal (see response in comments section)
3. Blessed Be (see response in comments section)
4. Infinite Bliss
5. iGoddess
6. Journey Through Life

Chakra Balancing

I wanted to get a feel from you all this week to see if you're interested in healing and awakening your energy body.

A couple of months ago I bought Anodea Judith's Chakra Balancing Kit. It includes a work book, two audio CDs and Chakra Cards.

We could spend 7 weeks travelling through the Chakras together and journal our experience in our blogs.

You can check it out at Amazon they have new and used copies available. I bought mine from the local new-agey book store.

Anodea Judith has such a wealth of knowledge to share about the chakras - you can even buy the kit directly from her if you wish.

Please let me know in the comments section if you'd like to do this - if so, we can start on Sunday 3 November 2007.

Namaste.

mich

The Butterfly of Transformation

This week we're working with Isha Lerner's Inner Child Cards.

Once upon a time,

I dreamt I was a butterfly...

Suddenly I awoke...

Now, I do not know whether I was then

a man dreaming I was a butterfly,

or whether I am now a butterfly

dreaming that I am a man.

Chuang Tzu (c.360 BC - c. 275 BC)

In this card, a magnificent soul potential in the form of a butterfly is being unveiled by two fairies.

In Welsh mythology, fairies were known as the mothers or the helpers.

These fairies are liberating the spiritual quality of humanity.

There is a connection between the soul and the butterfly in Greek mythology. This stems from the belief that the human soul becomes a butterfly while searching for a new incarnation.

The process of transformation is extremely powerful in our lives as we search for a broad understanding of the future and a gentle surrender to the past.

As we emerge from old wounds, we take on new colors and wear new wings of hope -- much like the butterfly miraculously, unspiraling from the dark cocoon.

This butterfly is released into the light and is offered new conscious awareness. This may very well be happening in your life right now.

The butterfly is an essential emblem of love, suggesting, in China, a wedding of souls.

This winged gift is a reminder today that love, soul unity, and art are fluttering into your life. An inspired rebirth is taking place. It is time to reveal your true colors. The flight has begun.

As you emerge from your cocoon of transformation

note your true colours. What is happening in your life right now?

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Read participant's responses to this post:

1. SpringDawn
2. Infinite Bliss
3. Scarlet (see response in comments)
4. Angela ~ BlessedBe (see response in comments)
5. Creative Faery
6. Turtle Heart
7. Hélène Deroubaix

Open Heart

This is love:

to fly toward a secret sky,

to cause a hundred veils

to fall each moment.

First, to let go of life.

Finally, to take a step

without feet.

Rumi

Fill my heart with Love,

that my every teardrop

may become a star.

Hazrat Inayat Khan

This week we draw wisdom from Isha Lerner's Triple Goddess Tarot.

This stage of initiation entails dedication and commitment, for the tasks involved are some of the most difficult to comprehend for the human soul.

The individual must seek to embrace the essence of love within and avoid the temptation to seek it elsewhere.

The beloved with whom we choose to share our intimate life is but a reflection of our own loving nature.

To the extent we seek love outside ourselves, we meet with disillusionment and disappointment.

Imagine for a moment that love has two dimensions: the horizontal, confined and enclosed by time and space; and the vertical, representing the infinite, eternal link with spirit.

Human love often gets caught up in the horizontal zone, fostering the desire to own, possess, and control one’s “love object.” Such strategies, motivated by fear, are doomed to fail.

Aphrodite offers love to humanity from the vertical plane; her touch encasing us in an orb of shimmering joy.

Find more time to care for your body, your hair, your attire and your environment.

It is a very good practice to stand up with arms reaching toward the heavens in the shape of a chalice.

Imagine you are being filled with the elixir of divine love.

Let the radiant light of Aphrodite pour into your heart.

You will find that people cannot resist you, for the joy that emanates from your loving demeanor is both healing and contagious.

Light a candle in your home symbolising the purity of love you wish to share with the world.

How do you dare to be the rapturous beauty

that lives within your heart?

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Participants who have responded to this post:

1. The Witch & The Princess (see response in comments section)
2. Electric Recovery (see response in comments section)
3. Infinite Bliss
4. Spring Dawn
5. Creative Faery
6. Hélène Deroubaix
7. The Modern Goddess

Womb of Potential

How shall I begin my song

in the blue night that is setting?

In the great night

my heart will go out;

toward me the darkness comes, rattling;

in the great night my heart will go out.

Papago Medicine Woman Chant

This week we draw wisdom from Isha Lerner's Triple Goddess Tarot.

In her explanation of this card, Isha says:

The wheel of life moves me toward expanded horizons. The sky appears wider, the mountains stand taller, and the space around me is vibrant with possibility. In the midst of life’s wild and quickly flowering currents, I remain centered, allowing the rainbow bridge of opportunity to connect me with my destiny.

At this stage of initiation, the spiritual seeker confronts more and more subtle growth opportunities and challengers, in order that a more permeable and transparent ego identity can be forged beyond the confines of attachment and fear. This stage of life heralds a deep and abiding inner freedom.

The Rainbow Goddess carries the potential to manifest in all spheres and in all circumstances. You are invited into the Womb of Potential where, like the Rainbow Goddess, you gestate your dreams. Hidden treasures within you are waiting to blossom.

You are asked to open your heart and soul to the many opportunities that surround you each day. The wheel of fate is shifting and new values, concepts, and ideas are forming within. You may wish to take a class, rearrange your daily schedule, or branch out and do things you have been thinking about but have not taken the time for. It is not to your advantage to remain stuck in the same routines, fearing the significant changes looming on your horizon. Meet this wonderful opportunity with an open mind.

How are you stepping out of the norm and opening yourself to new opportunities?

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Participants who have responded to this post:

1. Infinite Bliss
2. Beverley Keaton Smith (see comments on this post)
3. Electric Recovery (see comments on this post)
4. Jessica (see comments on this post)
5. iGoddess
6. HopeSprings/SpringDawn
7. TurtleHeart
8. Hélène Deroubaix
9. The Modern Goddess

Awakened Aphrodite

Sorry I didn't post last week - I've had some technical issues which took some time to resolve.

This week we're working with Isha Lerner's Triple Goddess Tarot once more.

We are the mirror, as well as the face in it.

We are tasting the taste of eternity this minute.

We are pain and what cures pain.

We are the sweet cold water and the jar that pours. Soul of the world, no life, nor world remain,

no beautiful women and men longing.

Only this ancient love circling the holy black stone of nothing.

Where the lover is the loved, the horizon and everything within it.

Rumi

At this stage, the adept knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that the schooling of life is found within, and that each of us has the freedom to become fully awake through our own efforts and will.

New levels of spiritual insight and contentment flood in on a regular basis and are readily assimilated.

Wells of creativity and vitality are unearthed. Your power to serve the world with great compassion and skill comes to the fore. You are no longer hiding your light under a bushel, for there is nowhere left to hide.

The path into Awakened Aphrodite’s embrace entails constant discernment, for She embodies the truth of real love.

No longer does She confuse mere seduction, which is fear-based, with love, which knows no fear.

Loving and kind to all women and men, She refuses to perpetuate the competitive and jealous ways of others.

She is at home in Her physical body and grateful for the gift of life. She shares this joy with all around Her. She attracts many things to herself, yet knows the path of discrimination.

Take time for yourself. Sleep when you need to, vacation and play when it is appropriate. Do not overwork or bury yourself in competitive work habits.

Awakened Aphrodite accepts life.

Live life fully. Above all else, do not be afraid to love completely and honestly. Honour thyself and love will return one thousand times over.

How are you honouring yourself?

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Participantes who have responded to this post:

1. Cherry Girl (see her response in the comments section)
2. Bohemian Mom
3. Infinite Bliss
4. HopeSprings/SpringDawn
5. Hélène Deroubaix
6. The Modern Goddess

Who are you?

Praise and blame,

gain and loss,

pleasure and sorrow,

come and go like the wind.

To be happy,

rest like a giant tree

in the midst of them all.

~ Buddha

This weeks soul-searching exercise is from Isha Lerner's Triple Goddess Tarot.

We all need to establish the principle of universal harmony and balance firmly within ourselves in order to rest assured that behind all appearances, no matter how seemingly cruel or random, resides a greater truth, one that expresses the higher laws of spiritual governance.

At this stage of initiation, the spiritual aspirant pauses to reflect upon the origins of life and to seek a greater understanding of his or her karmic circumstances and conditions.

One of the many wisdom Goddesses, Athene applied her considerable wisdom to commerce, farming, and many other mundane arenas of life.

You are invited into the temple of Athene, where balance and discrimination are elevated to the level of skillful means. Careful consideration and observation give you the chance to set your karmic records straight.

We must strive to live according to higher principles and truths, walking a grace-centered path with awareness of spiritual laws and justice.

Cultivate discernment in your life, but learn to let go of the burden of judgment, condemnation, and criticism.

Embrace the notion that your judgments are always fundamentally about you and not about the other person.

We’re constantly creating circumstances and conditions in our lives that will help us see ourselves more clearly.

Reflect on your life objectively,

review it as if you are looking into someone else's world.

See yourself clearly .... who are you?

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Participants who have responded to this post:

1. The Modern Goddess
2. Infinite Bliss
3. Aurora
4. Hélène Deroubaix
5. Spring Dawn
6. Lilithmother ~ see comments for her response

Our Inner Muse

This week's exercise is once again inspired by Isha Lerner's Inner Child Cards.

The three fairies in this card celebrate the muse of the Triple Goddess.

The first goddess was said to be Mnemosyne, or memory, which is the sacred gift in us that offers the ability to recite prose, song, rhyme, and riddle.

The three muses provide clairvoyant insight and intuitive skills. From these divine creators come the words music and amusement.

The fairies pictured in this card play delicate violins. Such beautiful stringed instruments were said to have been made to echo the ecstasy of creation.

The fairies play their instruments with magic wands that have been transformed into bows, accentuating the divinity of their play.

They are among peach tree branches, from which magic wands were made in ancient China. The peach tree is associated with the planet Venus and represents art, music, and love.

The precious gift to you today is the memory of the muse in your heart. Open to the joy of artistic expression. The music of the universe is constant and flowing. The keynote here is the potential of joy -- your joy and the joy of life.

How do you satisfy the muse in your heart?

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Participants who have responded to this post:

1. Journey Through Life
2. The Modern Goddess
3. Aurora
4. Bohemian Mom
5. Hélène Deroubaix
6. i-Goddess
7. Infinite Bliss
8. MidWest Musings
   
   

Blossoming spirit

"Earth, ourselves, Breathe and awaken, leaves are stirring, all things moving, new day coming, life renewing."

Pawnee Prayer

This week we continue to work with Isha Lerner's Triple Goddess Tarot. The card is Blossoming Spirit and the goddess archeytype is the Virgin of Light.

Called the “visible face of God,” this “robe of light” comes to those who have become so familiar with the infinite power of love and wisdom in the universe that it has now merged with their inner being.

Blossoming Spirit (The Hierophant) comes to heal any rigid beliefs or misuses of power exhibited by the Emporer, reminding humanity of the never ceasing need for unity of body, mind, and spirit.

The power of the heart, the fourth chakra, has been activated, aligned, and utilised as the primary source of inspiration for the journey ahead.

At this stage of initiation, the essence of the divine spark becomes available to all living beings, sparking the potential for bliss within the heart of humanity.

The luminous core of all mani-festations is feminine in nature. Ultimately, the unseen face of the Goddess—sometimes detected in the imagery of sunlight filtered through the natural landscapes of the earth—is offered as “the Light of the world.”

The light of creation is born out of the spark of love embodied within the human being. Its source is the Great Mother Goddess.

Each day there is a seed of inspiration seeking fertile ground to gestate and grow. These various inspirations and ideas are ready to be fulfilled within your life.

What is ready to be fulfilled within your life?

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Participants who have responded to this post:

1. Creative Faery
2. Hélène Deroubaix
3. Aurora
4. Blessed Be
5. The Modern Goddess
6. Infinite Bliss

Opportunity knocks

I'm travelling again this week, so its unlikely I'll be able to get to a computer for the next couple of days, so I'm posting early.

This week we're staying with Isha Lerner's Triple Goddess Tarot.

A Pirali Bengali Brahmin from Calcutta, Tagore once wrote:

"The same stream of life that runs through the world runs through my veins night and day in rhythmic measure. It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth into numberless waves of flowers."

In The Spirit of Findhorn, Eileen Caddy wrote:

"The key to your happiness and contentment lies within you, within your own heart and mind.

The way you start each day is very important; you can start off on the right foot or on the wrong one.

You can wake up with a song of joy and gratitude in your heart for the new day, for being alive, for the very wonder of living, and for being in tune and harmony with the rhythm of all life. You can expect the very best from the coming day and therefore draw it to you.

Or you can start the day with a chip on your shoulder, disgruntled and out of rhythm.

You are responsible for what today will bring, and knowing it gives you an even greater responsibility than those souls who are not aware of it and therefore know no better. You cannot blame your state of mind on anyone else. It all rests with you."

At this stage of initiation, the soul moves beyond judgment, error, and limitation, for the lightning bolt has struck a responsive cord within. The aspirant is shown the power of his or her motral and spiritual choices.

At this level of awareness, the opportunity for self-transcendence is made known.

One is shocked into stillness and surrender. Defensive strategies and systems of denial fall away and all that remains is the wisdom of one’s true nature.

Through Her ability to swiftly change and alter realities, Oya (Goddess of Winds, Tornadoes, and Lightning) ignites the spark of transcendence within your soul.

She aids you as you burn through the veil of attachment that has hindered your ability to fully embrace your destiny. Her bolt of lightning, along with Her fierce winds and storm, electrifies your inner life.

Powerful, unexpected events may surface at this time, asking you to look deeply into the interior of your present life circumstances.

Have faith in yourself and the changes you are invited to make at this time. Move with this energy by speaking your truth and making the necessary changes to set yourself free from the confines of the past.

What growth opportunities knock
at the door of your heart?

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Participants responses to this post:

1. Hélène Deroubaix
2. Midwest Musings
3. Infinite Bliss
4. Blessed Be
5. The Modern Goddess

Back to the basics

This week, we're working again with Isha Lerner's Triple Goddess Tarot.

Rumi said:

"A new moon teaches gradualness and deliberation and how one gives birth to oneself slowly. Patience with small details makes perfect a large work, like the universe."

I know we're not entering into a new moon, but as we move into the full moon, we become aware that we are the moist and vast ocean of the heavenly Womb.

The tides and waters of the earth respond to our changing reflection.

Allow the magical light of your Moon glow to illumine your path inward to the place where your soul’s thirst is quenched.

Feel, dream, imagine, and open to the spirit of the feminine orb of light that embraces you soul in the luminous sweetness of the night.

At this level of initiation, the committed seeker lifts the veil of the Goddess one more time. Here we engage with feelings and concepts not yet fully formed in the light of day. At this stage, profound wisdom engages both the imagination of the psyche and the genius of the soul.

Moon Goddesses are always protector deities who lovingly watch over all living beings on Earth. They teach us, by example, to extend ourselves well beyond the boundaries of the individual self into the realm of service to the world. The path of the Moon allows each of us to explore the vast region of the collective unconscious and to solve the deep mystery of the soul.

The Moon card invokes the mother archetype in each human being, so tonight I ask these questions:

1. Are you safe?
2. Do you help to create a safe environment in which others may thrive?
3. Are you comfortable in the darkness of your own soul?
4. Are you protective of those who are especially vulnerable among us?
5. Do you take good care of yourself?
   

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Participants who have responded to this post:

1. Kim - MidWest Musings (posted in comments section)
2. Infinite Bliss
3. Creative Faery
4. Hélène Deroubaix
5. iGoddess
6. Aurora
7. Journey Through Life
8. Blessed_Be
9. The Modern Goddess
10. Bohemian Mom

Fullness of life

I hope you did something special last week to connect with the Fire Grid, and had fun creating your future, the week before.

Whether you created a MindMovie, a Dream Board, Treasure Map or a list, you didn't just take a step in the direction of achieving your dreams, you took a gigantic leap!

So congratulations to all of you who have made the commitment to YOU!

This week we're staying with the theme of abundance and working with the Triple Goddess Tarot.

The Western world is in radical need of balance and harmony, and we must learn to embrace the natural rhythms of perpetual change, birth, death, and rebirth.
Love is the principal ruler of the Fullness of Life Goddess; although She births and manifests through Her womb, She also manifests divine love through Her heart.

At this stage of initiation, life begins to mirror back to us our deepest held beliefs and patterns of relating to the world. The power of the earth and the resource of your own worth are evident as this archetype awakens within your daily life.

The Earth Mother embodies all stages of life as the Triple Goddess: Wise Crone, Bountiful Mother, and Maiden. Known by many names in many cultures, She is Gaia, the feminine earth steward who watches over agriculture and the ecosystem. Your body is Her temple.

Experience Her sensual temple by walking with your bare feet on the earth, smelling the scent of nature’s perfume as you walk amid the flowers, or touching Her skin as you climb a mountain.

Fullness of Life offers an opportunity to ground and centre your attention on the physical realm.

Become ready to receive life’s riches on a daily basis. Re-invite the Fullness of Life into your daily routine by immersing yourself in nature, bathing in fragrant bubbles or under the stars in a clear stream. Remember, the natural world is a mirror of your own divine potential.

What does abundance mean to you?

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Participants who have responded to this post:

1. Gratitude Practices
2. Hélène Deroubaix
3. Infinite Bliss
4. Sacred Suzie
5. MindMists
6. Creative Faery
7. Bohemian Mom
8. iGoddess
9. Journey through Life
10. The Modern Goddess

Healing the earth - July 17, 2007

When I logged on today I had two emails sitting in my in-box demanding my attention.

The first was from our very own Creative Faery, Marie, and the second was from my bother-in-law Yen.

The thing that really drew my attention was, that both emails -- although from completely unrelated sources -- were about the same thing.

When I pulled a card from Isha Lerner's Inner Child Deck, I pulled the Earth Child, so I know we're supposed to do this. I mean, how many times can the Universe boink me over the head in one day?

Here is a summary of the website (taken from a letter to Oprah Winfrey), and this week's task for us to follow:

We are the Light of the Light and we bring you a message of Love and Joy from the Universe, a method to achieve the highest frequency of human vibration. A message so powerful it has the potential to change the world as we know it. We know your heart, dear one, and we offer your guidance and direction a chance to manifest the power of intention on a global scale. This is a distinct opportunity to apply the principals of "The Secret", not for one's own personal desires, but for all of humanity, to create a wondrous world which is your destiny.

You are presently in a position to assist your planet during this time of change and transformation. We bring to your attention a worldwide project that will facilitate the lifting of your personal vibrational field all while lifting the earth's own energy field; catapulting you collectively into a state of healing. Take care of the "I" and the "We" which you seek for these earth changes will follow. When you maintain a pure, joyful expression of gratitude, you allow the Divine Love of the universe to radiate out to all.

You are a carrier of this Divine Love energy, as are all humans. The key is to remember your true creative potential while living in this physical body, then maintain an open heart for this Love to flow through. This powerful thruth will assist you in bringing a wonderful metamophosis to your world; providing peace, prosperity and unlimited future potential for all human beings.

On July 17, 2007 at 11:11 GMT, there will be a cosmic opening which will rain down incredible creative energy upon the earth. We wish to share this event with you and humbly request your assistance in sharing our message with the world. This will take but one hour of your time but will affect the rest of your life. It is easy to participate. Simply discover that which brings you your greatest joy then meditate, pray, sing, love or dance with appreciation and a grateful heart. Embrace the moment and be truely thankful for that experience. This event will act as a catalyst to begin a worldwide healing and then together we will create a global movement toward change.

One hour of your time can heal the earth. Learn how at the website below. Thank you for considering our truth and sharing it with others.

http://firethegrid.com/eng/home-fr-eng.htm

There is a world-clock on this site, so you can check the correct time in your city to meditate.

Tell me ...

Hey goddesses,

Just touching base with those of you who are doing Gayla's e-COREse. Tell me ... how are you going?

I know it can be overwhelming, but I just want to congratulate each and everyone of you for making the commitment to yourself.

Rainbows & stardust,

mich

x.

Creating your future

I'm posting tonight, instead of tomorrow, because I have it on good authority, that I have family descending upon my door-step tomorrow night!

My step-brother Garry and his partner Yen are coming to stay for a couple of days, so undoubtedly the red wine will be flowing and there will be chatting and laughing well into the wee hours ...

This week's journey inward is from the Inner Child deck.

In the Five of Swords, the river raft of the Four of Swords finds a place to dock, and the fishing rod or sword is secured in the sand.

The boy leaves the raft behind and begins to explore a variety of uncovered truths that are awaiting him. He gazes at a starfish, which reveals the potential of his creative mind.

In numerology, the number 5 is connected with freedom, adventure, and unexpected changes on the path of life.

The seals on the shore symbolise the emergence of unseen life forces coming to the boy. His awareness is fresh as he discovers new ideas. Most exciting is the realisation that clarity is brilliantly emerging like the bright sun in the sky behind him.

As you venture from your raft of the past, be aware of the truth and freedom that await you.

Freedom misused can be confusing and chaotic.

Be thoughtful and discriminating as you gather resources and information. Know your boundaries-the lessons of the raft.

Clarify your goals.

The boy is on a slippery rock, and he must move carefully to stay surefooted.

Anticipate illuminating insights from places deep within you. This is a creative and purposeful time. Most importantly, focus your attention and thoughts.

Reflect on your goals and write them down ... to help bring them to reality publish them on your blog, or create a dream-board or mind movie. Remember to stay positive - for example don't say "I will become more positive", put it in the future tense and say "I am a positive person with a great future!".

To help you get started, think about the key areas of your life:

Where you live

Lifestyle

Work

Money/financial

Love

Family & friends

Health

Spirituality

Gratitude

Here are some links to give you some ideas:

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Dream-Board

http://www.mindmovies.com/

Here's what Nicole (The Modern Goddess) did for one of her other posts click here.

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PARTICIPANT'S RESPONSE TO THIS POST:

1. Bohemian Mom
2. Infinite Bliss
3. Journey through Life
4. Sacred Suzie
5. Hélène Deroubaix
6. Mind Mists
7. TurtleHeart

e-COREse 21 day challenge

Hey goddesses! A group of us have already signed up for Gayla's e-COREse and we're underway, its not to late too join up.

If you're a little curious, we're in week one. Exercises and affirmations in the first week are focused around getting more aligned with your centre of wisdom. The part of yourself that knows exactly what you want, how to get it and what motivates you above all else. In this core of all wisdom that resides within, you are absolutely sure about your true purpose for living. It just takes some time playing around in there to unleash it!

Oh by the way, just between you, me and Gayla ... life WAS meant to be easy! Gayla is convinced the old saying 'life wasn't meant to be easy" was based on a limited belief that we have to get sucked into every chaotic piece of information coming our way. We don't. We have the power to choose what gets deleted and what gets right of passage in our mental computers. We just need to know a few tools as to how to do that.

The exercises are meant to be built upon. Each day you will add what you've learned the previous day to the exercise you're practicing today.

So let's begin! What do you have to loose? Find out how to enrol in this free course here.

© Gayla Maxwell 2007

Angelic Wisdom

This week Isha Lerner's Triple Goddess Tarot demanded our attention ...

The Temperance angel stands before us with quiet focus and grace. She reveals the awakened heart of humanity, for at this stage of consciousness we have pierced through yet another veil of illusion.

At this stage of initiation the seeker is beginning to understand the power of fate and purpose, at last able to be fully of the earth while infused with spirit.

Your angels and guardians surround you with loving guidance and protection. Their elixirs of healing energy embrace you and you are at peace knowing how very loved and adored you are by the precious helpers from above and beyond.

Ground the cosmic beauty of angelic wisdom into the roots of your earthly life.

You are invited to explore the essence of life within the realm of birth and death and beyond, for the soul does not confine its adventures to the spiritual plane alone, but involves itself in the great laboratory of experience here on planet Earth. Our task here on Earth is to fully interweave the spiritual dimension with the material; to mix the gold of spirit with the silver of embodied existence.

When the soul is thirsty, it becomes a vessel, ready to be filled and then poured out into new life circumstances.

What do you fill your cup with each day?

Now is the time to explore this esoteric question. Seal the cracks in your own cosmic vessel so that you may soothe your soul and revitalise your life force.

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Participants who have responded to this post:

1. Infinite Bliss
2. iGoddess
3. Creative Faery
4. Hélène Deroubaix
5. Journey Through Life
6. Sacred Suzie
7. Turtleheart
8. Mind Mists
9. Cherry Girl
10. Strawberries & Champagne
11. Gratitude Practices