Recovering a Sense of Power

“A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind.” ~ Albert Szent-Gyorgyi


ANGER
"Anger is meant to be listened to. Anger is a voice, a shout, a plea, a demand. Anger is meant to be respected. Why? Because anger is a map. Anger shows us what our boundaries are. Anger shows us where we want to go. It lets us see where we've been and lets us know when we haven't liked it.  Anger points the way, not just the finger.  In the recovery of a blocked artist, anger is a sign of health." (pg. 61)


SYNCHRONICITY
"Answered prayers are scary. They imply responsibility.  You asked for it. Now that you've got it, what are you going to do?" (pg. 62)

“It’s my experience that we’re much more afraid that there might be a God than we are that there might not be.” (pg. 63)

“C.G. Jung dubbed synchronicity, loosely defined as fortuitous intermeshing of events.  Back in the sixties we called it serendipity.” (pg. 64)

"I have learned, as a rule of thumb, never to ask whether you can do something.  Say, instead, that you are doing it." (pg. 65)

SHAME
"Those of us who get bogged down by fear before action are usually being sabotaged by an older enemy, shame. Shame is a controlling device.  Shaming someone is an attempt to prevent the person from behaving in a way that embarrasses us." (pg. 67)

"For the artist who endured childhood shaming - over any form of neediness, any type of exploration, any expectation - shame may kick in even without the aid of a shame-provoking review.  If a child has ever been made to feel foolish for believing himself or herself talented, the act of actually finishing a piece of art will be fraught with internal shaming." (pg. 68)

"....the antidote for shame is self-love and self-praise..." (pg. 71)

DEALING WITH CRITICISM
"It is important to be able to sort useful criticism from the other kind.  Often we need to do the sorting out for ourselves, without the benefit of a public vindication...Pointed criticism, if accurate, often gives the artist an inner sense of relief...useful criticism ultimately leaves us with one more puzzle piece for our work." (pg. 72)

GROWTH
"Growth occurs in spurts.  You will lie dormant sometimes. Do not be discouraged.  Think of it as resting." (pg. 74)

"Practice being kind to yourself in small concrete ways." (pg. 75)

"Be open to receiving gifts from odd channels...try to acquire the habit of checking in with yourself....ask yourself how YOU are feeling.  Listen to your answer.  Respond kindly..." (pg. 75)
 

Read More on Synchronicity @Carrie's Blog
Recovering a Sense of Integrity
"The process of identifying a self inevitably involves loss as well as gain. We discover our boundaries, and those boundaries by definition separate us from our fellows.  As we clarify our perceptions, we lose our misconceptions. As we eliminate ambiguity, we lose illusion as well. We arrive at clarity, and clarity creates change." pg. 81
 

Contemplating integrity led me to this article about cultivating equanimity.
Click on the button below to read on. 

A Perfect Balance

KIRTAN KRIYA DIRECTIONS 

Mantra & Mudra: Chant Saa, Taa, Naa, Maa. With each sound, alternate through four mudras:

  • On Saa, touch the first (Jupiter) finger; Gyan Mudra (knowledge)
  • On Taa, touch the second (Saturn) finger; Shuni Mudra (wisdom, intelligence, patience)
  • On Naa, touch the third (Sun) finger; Surya Mudra (vitality, energy of life)
  • On Maa, touch the fourth (Mercury) finger; Buddhi Mudra (ability to communicate)

Each repetition of the mantra takes 3 to 4 seconds.

Kirtan kriya is practiced in a cycle, in which the mantra is first chanted aloud, then whispered, and finally repeated silently, before the whole sequence is reversed. 

To practice for 12 minutes, begin by chanting aloud for 2 minutes. Then chant in a strong whisper for 2 minutes. Then, continuing to cycle through the mudras, mentally vibrate the mantra for 4 minutes. Then whisper the mantra for 2 minutes, and finally chant aloud for 2 minutes. 

The time can be extended up to 30 minutes, keeping the proportional sequence of loud, whisper, silent, silent, whisper, loud. To practice for 30 minutes, each part will be 5 minutes in length (with 10 total minutes of silence in the middle). 

Eyes: Meditate at the brow point.
Julia talks about Kriyas on page 82. 

Source: https://www.3ho.org/meditation/kirtan-kriya/

HOMEWORK FOR WEEK 2:

1. READ Recovering A Sense of Identity, Power & Integrity.
2. Come with Task #1 from Week 4 (Integrity) called "Environment" completed and ready to share on Jan. 26th. Take photos on your phone or come with a description, a collage, or a drawing. 
3. On Jan 26th, come with Task #8 from Week 4 completed. Bring the item to share or tell what you gave away. 
4. In class we will do the following tasks together:
  • Task #3 Week 2, List 20 things you enjoy doing
  • Task #2 Week 3, Describe 5 traits you like in yourself as a child
5. CONTINUE TO DO MORNING PAGES EVERY DAY
6. Make your Artist's Date happen this week. Schedule it NOW!
MANDHAVANI KRIYA DIRECTIONS

“When your work doesn’t proceed, you get blocked, if you chant this mantra, then not only it will start, it will start like Infinity.” 

-Yogi Bhajan 4/11/77

The practice of this meditation, even briefly, locates you in your heart, opens your perception, and lets you immediately recognize the way forward. Mandhavani means being in the presence of intelligence, beauty, and profound caring. It is a state of joy. It’s when you’re so happy that you feel the hand and grace of God accompany each breath and effort. In that state all victory is yours and there is no victory to win but to conquer your own heart.

Posture: Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position with a straight spine.

Mudra: Bring the hands in front of the throat, forearms paraIlel to the ground. The left hand is palm down; the palm is flat and the fingers point to the right. Extend the left thumb toward the throat. Bring the right thumb between the left thumb and index finger, placing it in the center of

the left palm and allow the fingers of the right hand to rest on the back of the left hand. Lock the right thumb in place and apply firm pressure on the left palm. Hold the position at the level of the throat about six inches in front of the body.

Eyes: Closed

Mantra: Aad Sach, Jugaad Sach, Hai Bhay Sach, Naanak Hosee Bhay Sach

Breath: Inhale deeply and completely exhale as the mantra is chanted in a monotone.  Inhale and continue.

Source: https://www.3ho.org/meditation-2nd-sutra-mandhavani-kriya

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Kriya helps to channel our life energy more efficiently, back into the energy channels of the body and to be used for increasing awareness, expansion, and self-realization. 

MANDHAVANI KRIYA: MANTRA TO CLEAR BLOCKS
Follow Carrie Your Yogi

Lastly, Reading Deprivation...

In Recovering a Sense of Integrity, Julia challenges us to do other things besides read! "For most blocked creatives, reading is an addiction. We gobble up words of others rather than digest our own thoughts and feelings, rather than cook up something of our own." 

She continues..."Don't READ.  If you can't figure out anything else to do, cha-cha!"

See if you can read less this week and see what transpires. See what creative activity you are drawn to.
GOOD LUCK!