 |
 |
 |
 |
|
June 22, 2007 | Summer Solstice 2007
Basking in the Sun After the catharsis of Spring, it is wonderful to be in a place where I know I have manifested what I need to have just now, and I am allowed to sit back and enjoy it. Yes, there will be more work to do, there will be difficult issues that will need to be dealt with, there will be hiccups... But for now, I will sit on the porch in the sun, watching the swallows catch flies over the lake; I will listen to the eagles calling their fledged young; I will count deer on my way home from town; I will spend as much time as possible doing wonderful things with friends and family; I will have a balance of summer holiday and work that I love doing. Yesterday, for Summer Solstice, my choir went down to the South End of the island and sang for 2 hours - in the sun, in the rain and to the seals swimming by. It was delightful and really emphasised the truly important things in life. So I ask you, as you are reading this, to cut through the illusions that you surround yourself with, be authentic to yourself, and sit back and enjoy the Now, without hanging on to the past, or worrying about the future. The Now is where can enjoy the pleasant memories of the past, as well as setting future goals, allowing them to unfold in all the Nows that will be happening. I wish you the blessings of the sun, the harvest from your gardens and riotous colours of summer flowers. love and light, Rasma Dates Please email me or ring (250) 537-4728 to book. Salt Spring Island, BC You can visit me at the Arbutus Therapy Centre (above Apple Photo in Ganges) on Tuesdays. Victoria I come over to Victoria quite regularly, so please email me or call 537- 5401 to see what works for both of us. UK All sessions now available by subspace. Other Events I am now accepting registrations for Sekhem Level I training courses. I will be setting these up for the Fall (probably late September or October) and would like to run one on Salt Spring; one in Victoria. Minimum of 4 participants required for each course. So please let me know if you are interested. I anticipate running the courses over a Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. SALT SPRING OPEN HOUSE Not sure what either of my therapies do? Or if you will like them? Why not try one or both as a 30 minute taster. Dates @ Arbutus Centre: dates to be confirmed for the autumn - summer dates have been cancelled due to rehearsals and performances of the Tempest. Choices: Sekhem, Mini Health Review, Fountain of Youth QB Suggested minimum donation $10 Why not get a group together for a pampering party at your home? My Qualifications
Phone: (250) 537-4728 or 537- 5401 I check messages regularly
This is a little parable called Milarepa and the False Teacher. It is reported about one great mystic, Milarepa: when he went to his master in Tibet he was so humble, so pure, so authentic, that other disciples became jealous of him. It was certain that he would be the master's successor. And, of course, there was politics, so they decided to kill him. One day they said to him, "If you really believe in the master, you can jump from the cliff. If you really believe, if the trust is there, then nothing, no harm is going to happen." And Milarepa jumped without even hesitating for a single moment. The other disciples rushed down to the bottom of the 3000foot cliff, expecting to find scattered bones, but he was sitting there in lotus position, tremedously happy. He opened his eyes and said, "You are right, trust protects." They thought it must be some coincidence, so when a house was on fire on day, they told him. "If you love your master and you trust, you can go in." He rushed in to save a woman and her child who were left inside. The fire was so great that the other disciples were hoping he would die - but when he came back out with the woman and the child, he was not burned at all. And he became more and more radiant, because of his trust. One day the disciples had to cross a river, and they told Milarepa, "You need not go in the boat. You have such great trust, you can walk on the river." And he walked. This was the first instance that Milarepa's master witnessed these events. He was not aware that Milarepa had been told to jump off a cliff or go into a burning house. But on this occasion, he was there and saw Milarepa walking on water. "What are you doing? It is impossible!" And Milarepa said, "Not impossible at all! I am doing it by your power, sir." Now the master thought: "If my name and my power can do this to this ignorant, stupid man...I have never tried it myself." So he tried. He drowned because he was not authentic. Obviously, I am not suggesting that you should jump off cliffs, go into burning houses or walk on water. The moral of this story highlights that your path, or journey is not the 'real' focus. The real thing is the authenticity of the seeker. You can choose any path in your life. If you are sincere and authentic, you will reach your goal, whatever that may be. Some paths may be difficult, some may be easier, some may have hedges on both sides, other may seem arid and dry. Some paths may have beautiful scenery and others may seem drab - this is your choice of how to choose your path. BUT, if you are honest, sincere,authentic and true, then any of these paths that you have chosen will lead to your goal. Authentic Self by Andrew Cohen Fourteen billion years ago, something came from nothing. The energy and intelligence that initiated that explosion is the same energy that is driving this whole process right now. It is what I call the evolutionary impulse or co-creative principle. And at the leading edge of development, that same evolutionary impulse emerges in human awareness as the spiritual impulse, the urge to become more conscious. It is experienced as the mysterious longing to develop spiritually, the ecstatic compulsion to become more awake and more aware. That impulse is what I call the authentic self. And anybody who experiences this authentic self will realize, upon reflection, that it is a completely different part of the self than the ego. The ego and the authentic self are parallel lines that never meet. The ego is full of unresolved issues and unfulfilled desires, deeply fearful and ambivalent about the very fact of being alive. But the authentic self is only interested in creating the future. And that part of your self and that part of my self is not self-conscious and is not afraid of life. In the authentic self, there's not a trace of ambivalence. There's no hesitation. There's no doubt. There's no existential confusion. And it's not a choice that needs to be made. The authentic self, in you and in me, once we awaken to it, is already completely committed. Absolute conviction is inherent in the nature of the authentic self, and that is why when any one of us awakens to that self, we experience an intoxicating joy and confidence, a fearless passion and pure doubtless conviction about being here and doing things right in order to create a better future. Why? Because we recognize that that is the very reason we are here. Celebrate the Season of Summer - the Festival of Attainment and Empowerment: Summer Solstice is held at the summer quarter point. It is the longest day and the shortest night. This year, I am celebrating my first summer solstice away from Scotland, and I have really noticed how much earlier it gets at night, in spite of being the longest day. In Aberdeen, full dark would fall around 3am on a clear night, and dawn would occur only 45 minutes later. So, last night, on Midsummer's Eve, I found myself happy to go to bed at 10pm, when dusk was nearly done. Summer Solstice is also a celebration of the return of the dark, and this year, I really understand that because of my latitude. The underlying energy of Summer is total manifestation. The rampant growth period that started in Spring is at its peak. It is the start of the abundance of strawberries, vegetables; fruits and grains ripening. There is a sense of completeness and abundance. Summer Solstice is the peak of our expressive and expansive selves. Celebrate what you have achieved this past year, the positives you have manifested. Celebrate the fulfilment of you as an individual. Enjoy what you have, and what and who you are. Use this time to focus and charge, with positive intent, all that you wish to be. Add the strength of the Sun to enhance and activate your intentions. Abandon yourself to expressing your uniqueness through dance, song and joy. Know that a transformation is taking place. Your achievements will begin to ripen on the inner levels. They will continue to grow within, bringing strength and awareness to all we have manifested. The transformation brings spiritual rebirth and completion to our whole selves. Celebrate the death and rebirth of the complete cycle. (Taken from Sacred Celebrations - A Sourcebook by Glennie Kindred)
I decided to take a different approach this season to writing my newsletter. Many of you know that I collect divinatory cards of different sorts. Because of skills that I was given the opportunity to enhance on my recent intensive Sekhem teacher training week, I thought it would be fun to do a reading for the newsletter. I think you will agree that the reading imparts an important and timely message. For those who are interested, I used the Celtic Divination Deck. Take with you the courage to be strong and powerful in your life. Use you own energies with positive intention and challenge what is commonly accepted within your life and circle. Encourage an appetite for living life to the fullest. Draw on your deepest resources to make this happen. Consider re-examining your lifestyle. Are your material desires necessary? Are they satisfied? Is it now time to turn within to see what else needs accomplishing? Look for the opportunities that are unappreciated. What illusions, lies or burdens are weighing you down? Let them go in order to find fresh appetite for life. Be watchful for fear (not as a tool meant to protect, but ego disguised), bondage, obsession, resentment, self sabotage, dependence and manipulation. Look at each of these words objectively - what do they mean? What do they mean for you? How do they apply to your life? Aim for these words - understanding, release, recognition of true self, empowerment. Know that challenges are opportunities for growth. The Challenger of Will makes the Soul question what is accepted, and then uses this to find true release from fear. Those who hear only what they want to hear, and demand to be heard only petrify their living stream of authenticity. How are you limiting yourself? And from the Summer Solstice Planetary Healing Protocol, put together by Quantum Biofeedback Master, Dave Cowan: "To free the world from every kind of pain is but to change your mind about yourself. There is no world apart from your ideas because ideas leave not their source, and you maintain the world within your mind in thought." (A Course in Miracles) PROTECTION We need to protect ourselves daily, and the best of doing this is through developing daily spiritual habits, through ritual, meditation, visualisation, through constantly working on loving ourselves, strengthening our self esteem, believing in our own self worth. This is perhaps your greatest protection - if you feel strong about yourself, the image you portray will be strong. Our energies are constantly overlapping and intermingling with other peoples', and we need to strengthen our aura against any unwanted intrusion or energy leakage. We need to be aware that some of the things we do allow holes to develop in our energy fields - these include: drug and alcohol use, certain medications, personalities that we allow to drain us, self-destructive behaviours and other addiction patterns. As more and more people are becoming more conscious of themselves, the need to for everyone to develop protection habits increases. This is especially true for all people who work in healing or medical environments, anyone working as a counsellor or in a psychiatric field, and people who have very low energy due to stress or illness. All 'healers' MUST be working in sacred and protected space, so that they do not absorb the energies of their clients, but I really believe that everyone should get into the habit of protection. The best way of doing this is through intention. Hold the intention that your space is clear and protected, and that no inappropriate or negative energies can pass into the space. Only positive thought forms and actions that are 100% for Light can exist in the space. This should be done daily, and re-done if you have had a 'heavy' client. Even if you don't work in the health field, you may find this useful for your home or office. We all know when we have met someone who has drained us - some of these people are our best friends, going through crisis. This simple intention will help strengthen you, and will make you more effective in dealing with any situations. Other techniques, include imbuing a favourite item of clothing or jewellery with protective qualities. Wear them when you feel vulnerable, tired or need that extra strength. You can visualise yourself in a golden bubble, or a space suit (this works particularly well for people with allergies who have to be environments that are potentially triggering), or a suit of armour. Whatever works for you - be creative and have fun, knowing that you are doing something pro-active for yourself. The following is similar to a technique found in Judy Hall's book 'The Art of Psychic Protection'; it is both simple and effective. 1. Settle yourself down in your protected sacred space. Close your eyes, relax, breath out any tension and breathe in peace, relaxation and Unconditional Love. 2. Visualise yourself in a place where you feel safe, happy, protected. It may be a beautiful garden, a forest glade, or a sacred site. Really feel it with all your senses. Take time to enjoy being there and experience its energy. 3. Become aware of a column of bright light shining down and touching the ground in front of you. It pulsates with energy and sparkles with colour. 4. Move into the light and feel yourself becoming totally absorbed by it. Breathe in the light. Feel it moving into every organ in your body, into the bones, the muscles, the tissues; see it being carried around your blood stream, penetrating every cell and your DNA. 5. Then, as the Light fills your aura, sense it becoming more vibrant with Light and colour. Hold the intention that you will receive just the right amount that you need at this time. Feel safe in the knowledge that it will find its appropriate level. 6. Become even more aware of your aura - how it extends around you, above you, below you. Notice its boundaries and if you want extra protection, imagine this outer boundary 'crystallising' and encasing you in an oval full of Light. 7. When you are ready, bring your awareness back. Slowly become more aware of the noises in the room, your own breathing and your body weight returning. Become more conscious of your feet and send a golden cord or chain deep into the core of Mother Earth and anchor it there to ground yourself. Wiggle your toes and fingers, and when you are ready, open your eyes and return into the time and space of the room.
Kaia Mitchell - Upala Ayurvedics Kaia was the first person I met on Salt Spring, almost a year before Ari and I moved here. She manages a local gift store called Windflower Moon - Gifts for the Spirit, but is also an alchemist, artist, dancer and Yoga Nidra instructor with a special affinity for cats and hummingbirds. Other talents in her toolkit, include hair styling and makeup for fashion shows and special events. And I am sure that I will be finding out even more amazing things that she does, and enjoying practicing with her while she learns to teach Kundalini Dance. If you go into Windflower Moon, you will see a lovely range of massage oils, perfumes, body scrubs and yoga mat sprays under the range name of Upala. Each of these has been created and hand blended by Kaia with unique properties following the Ayurvedic tradition. My personal favourites are the Pitta Body Scrub, which is delightful when soaking in the hot-tub, and the Solar Plexus Oil for empowerment. For those of you who are not familiar with Yoga Nidra, it is a guided conscious meditation using a combination of body awareness commands and visualisation techniques. Kaia and I do this regularly on a one-to-one basis, although it is possible to do it as part of a larger group. Kaia's guidance is beautiful, using scripts that she has written herself, as well as others collected from her studies. It would be great to see a weekly class set up on the island. For more information, visit Windflower Moon (Wednesdays to Saturday) or phone Kaia on 538-1889
Calabrese Salad This is my favourite summer salad and is incredibly simple to make. Try to get your mozzarella in a tub, so it is moist and saves well. 4 organic beefsteak or large tomatoes Wash and slice the tomatoes. Spread on a large plate in one layer (set aside extra for next layer). Lightly chop or tear basil leaves and sprinkle over tomatoes along with salt/pepper. Place slices of mozza on top of tomatoes and then continue to make layers with rest of basil, mozza and tomatoes. Drizzle lightly with oil, and chill until ready to eat. POEM Nocturne - lyrics to a song by Kate Bush Sweet Dreams... On this Midsummer Night We stand in the Atlantic We tire of the city Could be in a dream... The stars are caught in our hair We dive down... A diamond night, a diamond sea We dive deeper and deeper Look at the light: all the time it's a changing
1. Please feel free to pass this on to people you think may be interested or would benefit from a therapy session. 2. If you do not want to receive this regular mailing, please unsubscribe by following the clear link. 3. Likewise, if you have received this via someone else, and would like to be added to the group, please join the mailing list or send me your email address. 4. If you work for a company, where staff might benefit from stress reduction sessions, please pass this on to your HR manager.
|
|
|
 |
|