“AFFIRMATION MONDAY” Reminder and 1st Chakra Activation:
Today is the day to focus on the process of affirmation so that it becomes more automatic every day. An affirmation is not some made up thing, rather it is an acknowledgment of the genuine good that exists in and around you. You do not have to pretend to find something positive to affirm, your just have to see it…. And it is always there! Then, once you become comfortable hearing the voice of affirmation regarding your own gifts, talents, sensibilities, etc., it is time to share your affirmation skills with others. This may feel awkward at first, so you can say something like, “I’m participating in an online experiment, and I am supposed to offer affirmations to other people today…. Is it okay if I tell you some of the positive things I notice about you?” It’s hard to imagine that someone would say no, isn’t it? At this point, breathe into the energy of the moment: If it’s light and breezy, keep it that way and say something like, “I just want to tell you that you are….” If the conversation is already running at a deeper level, you can easily go there as well by looking directly into the eyes of the person you’re talking to and say, “You are such…..” And then just let your heart speak from there. If you get into the habit of noticing and affirming the good around you, your life will keep expanding in the direction of goodness.
Today’s breathwork/energy/meditation suggestion: Take a few minutes right now to center and calm yourself. Breathe deeply and slowly, imagining that you can direct the energy of each breath into the 1st chakra/energy center located at the base of your spine. It may help to visualize a color, so visualize a warm red flowing into your body and settling around your tailbone. As you do this, affirm to yourself that you are one of the tribe: You belong here. Feel your connection to the Earth and nature, to the animals and air, the planets and stars. Ground yourself in your truth and higher awareness. Take pleasure in the fact that your true survival needs are few. Be grateful for your physical form and remind yourself to take care of it… it’s the only one you’ll have this time around!
“GIFT EXCHANGE TUESDAY” Reminder and 2nd Chakra Activation:
Today is a great day to focus on the art of giving and receiving gifts, kind deeds, words of encouragement and all other forms of positive exchange. First, notice the natural opportunity to commit a random act of kindness. You will not have to search hard for it, you just need to shift your perception to recognize the moments when such an act would be completely appropriate. A few examples would be: holding a door open, allowing someone to take a parking space or to go ahead of you in a line, purchasing coffee for the person behind you, offering your seat on the subway, helping load groceries, giving a compliment, etc. etc.. Obviously none of these things are monumental, but can you imagine living in a world where everyone was in this frame of mind? That WOULD be profound! Now, while we’re on the subject of gifting, we must also talk about the act of receiving. You might think that you are being polite to decline a kind gesture, but this is not the case. Gifting feels good, so why would you deny someone that good feeling? The way we receive says a lot about us: The more we love ourselves, the more we are able to both give AND receive with grace. Make a pact with yourself right now: If someone reaches out to you with an act of kindness, ACCEPT IT with genuine gratitude!
Today’s breathwork/meditation suggestion: Take a few minutes right now to center and calm yourself. Breathe deeply and slowly, imagining that you can direct the energy of each breath into the 2nd chakra/energy center found in your lower abdomen. It may help to visualize a color, so visualize an invigorating orange flowing into your body and settling in just behind your navel. As you do this, affirm to yourself that you are here to love intimately, knowing that intimacy is what drives your creativity. The most obvious manifestation of this is when intimacy literally leads to the creation a new human being, but your passion is also what “gives birth” to everything else in your life: a great relationship, a dream job , artistic expression, etc. . When you honor your lust for life, life will answer back by presenting to you more of the things you love. Humans are passionate, intimate creatures, so celebrate this dimension of yourself by exploring your desire for intimacy and inspiration
“WALK THE TALK WEDNESDAY” Reminder and 3rd Chakra Activation:
Many people talk a great story of how enlightened they are, how patient they are, how forgiving they are. Why not just let your actions speak for you? The truth is this: Conduct reveals character. You can say anything you want about yourself, but what matters most is what you DO. Acting in accordance with our higher awareness is a lot more challenging than it may seem, and most of us give ourselves a free pass by saying something like, “I’m usually a very forgiving/patient/loving person, but what you just did….” And then we rattle off all the reasons why we are justified for not being that person right now. You have been accumulating a wealth of spiritual wisdom for a reason… to USE it when it matters! There are many religious teachings from all over the world concerning this, but Jesus explains this concept so clearly when he said, (to the effect) “What good are you if you are only happy and kind when things are going well…. Anybody can do that!” Now is a great time to unravel yourself from your complex excuses and get on with being the awesome person you so want to be. Become less focused on declaring what you are to others, allow your willpower to flow in concert with your idealism, and watch what happens when the genuinely become that person!
Today’s breathwork/meditation suggestion: Take a few minutes right now to center and calm yourself. Breathe deeply and slowly, imagining that you can direct the energy of each breath into the 3rd chakra/energy center located directly below your ribcage. It may help to imagine a color, so visualize a bright yellow flowing into your body and settling around your solar plexus. As you do this, celebrate you individuality! There never has been and will never be another person like you on this planet. Your combination of gifts, talents, ideas, opinions, etc. are yours and yours alone. People might tell you that this chakra is where your ego lives, but know this: Self love must happen before you can love anyone else, and self awareness is what you will need to master before you start making opinions about others. And remember - self-love does not mean self-ish, so do not hold back. Take a couple of minutes right now to state some true and positive things about yourself. You might be surprised to hear these truths spoken out loud, but soon they will simply flow with little or no ego attachment. For instance, if you are a person that is generous and kind, say it, believe it, then live it!
“THANKFUL THURSDAY” Reminder and 4th Chakra Activation:
We’ve all heard how important it is to maintain an “attitude of gratitude,” but this is not as easy as one might think – It takes practice! So with that in mind, start small… be grateful that you’re still breathing. Expanding your attention outwards, be aware of your existence in the grand scheme of life here on Earth and what an honor and privilege it is to participate in the unfolding story of us. Be grateful for your senses, your gifts and your talents. Moving outward, be grateful for the people in your life and the lessons you have learned from them, even if the only lesson was defining what type of person you don’t want to be! Expanding ever outward, be grateful for the fact that this planet is filled with far more goodness and light than evil and darkness. For every murder there are millions of acts of kindness. For every plane crash hundreds of thousands of planes fly safely. For every angry person you meet there is an uncountable army of people doing their best to live in joy and compassion. Now, once you’re in the habit of being thankful for all that is good, the real challenge begins. For like unconditional love, there is also a state of unconditional gratitude, a state of mind and spirit where you are grateful not just for all the wonderful things in life, but for EVERY thing in life: The illness, the uncertainty, the loss… all of these can serve to raise your awareness and vibration, and so are also things that we can be grateful for.
Today’s breathwork/meditation suggestion: Take a few minutes right now to center and calm yourself. Breathe deeply and slowly, imagining that you can direct the energy of that breath into the 4th chakra/energy center located directly behind your ribcage. It may help to visualize a color, so visualize a soothing green flowing into your body and settling around your heart. As you do this, affirm to yourself that above all else, you are here to love. You literally exist to love and be loved. Take pleasure in knowing that when all else fails, you can access a part of you that does one thing and one thing only: love. Realize that any judgment, resentment, anger or need for justice comes from other areas of your consciousness, but right now your attention is focused on the fountain of love that is always pumping steadily inside of you. Be in awe of its capability! Mean people? Loves them. Rough situations? Loves them. In this moment, allow yourself to truly feel and hear the loving voice of God/Source/Love residing within you. Let every cell in your body know that it is being energized by love. Finally, release this love out into the world… let it be the first thing that people feel about you. They will, and that’s when miracles happen.
“FORGIVENESS FRIDAY” Reminder and 5th Chakra Activation:
As we’ve all heard, forgiveness is ultimately the gift you give yourself, for if you are holding onto feelings of judgment, revenge, persecution or anger, you are functioning at the lowest vibration possible - a level that will not let you ascend to a place of inner peace, love and gratitude - and who wants to live there? And while you might already be aware that forgiveness is one of the most wonderful things you can experience, it is not easy. To grow your forgiveness muscles, we suggest that you start small. Acknowledge that, in many instances, what you need to forgive in another person is simply the fact that they did not think, say or do the same as you would have in any given situation. You can forgive someone for not having the same color of hair as you, right? So use that same logic when dealing with personalities. You can also try to imagine the pain or suffering that motivated someone to act the way they did – this will make it easier to forgive them. Finally, make a lifestyle choice to not take things so personally: If you do this, you will find that many offensive words and deeds will flow THROUGH you without sticking TO you. Now, one suggestion is to RARELY say the words, “I forgive you,” as this is very likely to sound sanctimonious and just escalate whatever tension there was between you and the offender. Instead, try using words like, “I want to move past this, how do you see us doing that?” or “I know it was not your intention to hurt me, but…” or “When you do things like this, it makes me feel….” Of course there are times when a person really might intend to hurt you, either physically or emotionally, and you will need to address these on a case-by-case basis. If this person has no desire to change their injurious ways, then this is the time to say, “I forgive you for the pain you’ve caused me, but I will no longer tolerate it. I love myself too much, and I will not keep exposing myself to the suffering you inflict.” At that point you leave with no ill wishes for that person and move on with your life. And as uncertain as that life may be, at least you will know that it won’t include any more pain and drama inflicted by the person you lovingly released.
Today’s breathwork/meditation suggestion: Take a few minutes right now to center and calm yourself. Breathe deeply and slowly, imagining that you can direct the energy of each breath into the 5th chakra/energy center located in your neck. It may help to visualize a color, so imagine a calming blue light flowing into your body and settling around your throat. As you do this, consider two of your most incredible powers: your right to choose and your right to act on the choices you make. While focusing your attention on your throat, remember that no one has power over you except yourself. Then, with a clear heart and mind, consider the person that is you. Are you acting in accordance with what you know to be good and true, or are you choosing to act in direct denial of your awareness? Your willpower and resolve are waiting for you to take a stand and live by what serves your highest good. If you have determined that some particular thing, person or habit is not healthy for you, you owe it to yourself to let go! Conversely, when you know what IS good for you, DO THAT GOOD THING! This is not brain surgery. This is simply you acting more frequently in accordance with your awareness, and the time to do this is right now. The throat energy center is the bridge between your mind and heart… keep it open!
“SELF-RESTORATION SATURDAY” Reminder and 6th Chakra Activation:
First and foremost, BREATHE! Humans are automatic breathers, and each of these automatic breaths are usually shallow and highly inefficient. On average, we exchange only 20% of the oxygen in our lungs with each breath, and we all know that, other than water and nutrients, we run on oxygen. So make a point to breathe deeply, slowly and consciously today, and soon it will become a habit in your everyday life. Here are some suggestions on how to do this:
Sit up straight.
Imagine that there is a deflated balloon right behind your belly button.
Breathe in slowly through your nose to inflate this balloon. Everything except your expanding belly should be still. If your shoulders are rising up to your ears, you are only filling the top half of your lungs.
Let your stomach expand out as far as it can go, and then keep breathing in. Now is the time to fill up the upper half of your lungs - AFTER the lower half!
Hold this deep, cleansing breath for a couple of seconds, then release it with a happy, whispery sigh, or ahhhhhhhhhhh.........
Do this a few times every day. Eventually, you will start to breath like this automatically (watch your stomach to know) and you will be operating at a much more efficient level every minute of your life. Your mind, body and spirit will thank you!
Of course there are many, many other things that you can do for the purpose of self-restoration: Schedule some quiet time for yourself, read, meditate, take a walk, visit with supportive friends, cook and eat great food, and always acknowledge the INTENTION of why you are doing these things. Remind yourself frequently that all healing begins within and then radiates outward, and that if you are not in a healthy place, you will not be much good to others. Self-care is not self-ish, it is essential to your overall well being and to your relationships!
Bonus breathwork/meditation suggestion: Take a few minutes right now to center and calm yourself. Breathe deeply and slowly, imagining that you can direct the energy of each breath into the 6th chakra/energy center located directly in the middle of your forehead. It may help to visualize a color, so imagine a soothing purple light flowing into your body and settling into your head. As you do this, acknowledge that your brain is an amazing super computer capable of handling millions upon millions of impulses, thoughts, reactions and memories. But one thing your brain is not is the voice of your soul… it is the processing machine that listens to this voice and then provides useful information of how to live your most fulfilling, joyful, healthy and loving life. But consider this: what kind of data are you providing your mind to process? Are you letting the news fill you up with thoughts of fear? Are you letting ads convince you that you are not as beautiful/wealthy/popular as you should be? Are you letting other peoples’ opinions of you shape your perception of yourself? If so, it’s time to refer to the old adage, “Junk in-Junk out,” meaning that if you are filling your mind with negative information, how can it possibly turn that information into positive thought and action? From this day forward, choose that which serves you and decline - with love - that which does not.
“SACRED SUNDAY” Reminder and 7th Chakra Activation:
Sunday is the perfect day to intentionally ponder your spirituality, your connection to God/Source/Energy, and what this connection means to you personally. And while it is great to go to church, commune with like-minded people or attend seminars to help you along on your spiritual journey, know that most of the answers you seek are already within you. You know the thoughts, words and actions that would be considered godlike or holy. By the same token, on some level you know what diminishes you. The goal is to put more action behind the things you know to be good, and spend less time pursuing that which is not productive. The Universe does not care either way and makes no such distinction between good and evil, but there can be no doubt that there are certain habits that will promote peace, health, love and joy, and then there are habits that can perpetuate unrest, disease, fear and sadness. The choice is up to you, and you are completely capable of determining what you should be pursuing in your life for it to be a more fulfilling and joyful experience first for yourself, then your friends and family, and finally the world at large. When you make the conscious choice to act in accordance with your spiritual awareness, every day is a sacred day!
Breathwork/meditation suggestion: Take a few minutes right now to center and calm yourself. Breathe deeply and slowly, imagining that you can direct the energy of each breath into the 7th chakra/energy center located directly at the top of your head. It may help to visualize a color, so imagine a luminescent violet light hovering directly above you. As you do this, realize that, as an energy being, you need to allow this energy to move in the same way that it moves through a battery or a magnet. It needs to cycle, which means you must knowingly and lovingly release it so that it may return and keep cycling through you. This release is not always easy, as it is an act of letting go and surrendering control, but this is exactly as it should be. We need to know that we can let go of the things that do not serve us: the negative emotions, the desire for a specific outcome, the worry. The bonus is that when these things are let go – unlike our pure energy – they do not have to return. We have released them back to the universe and the realm of infinite possibility. Suddenly we feel much lighter and more open, cleansed and ready to fill ourselves up with what we know serves us: love, gratitude, joy and peace. Blessings to you on this Sacred Sunday!
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