Wednesday 21 December 2011

Solstice 2011

Tonight the old year ends and with the dawn tomorrow may we all start anew; with fresh dreams and hopes for a world filled with Peace , Love, Truth and Joy.   It all begins with each one of us and all it takes is our present moment awareness so that we act with genorousity and kindness which is our true nature.
We wish all who read this a happy night of gentle 'letting go' of all the past and an embracing of what is to come with an equally gentle acceptance.
Om shanti shanti shanti
Narayani namostute


Saturday 10 December 2011

Full Moon - Alignment of the Planets

Prepare tonight for our final meditation gathering tomorrow 11.12.11 .  Eat lightly (or fast) and drink plenty of fresh water.   Focus only on positive thoughts and the well being of all.   Feel the power of your intention to create a space of beauty and to feel that beauty in your very being.  We are one!

Saturday 12 November 2011

Autumnal Colours

Thanks to the Eleven who came with us for the 11.11.11 ceremony at 11 am in beautiful Bushy Park.
The bell rang as we began our silence to join with all those wishing for Peace.  In silence we walked to the magical water gardens where we raised the prana with yoga flows and gentle thoughts.  We shared our concerns and our joys at meeting again with like minded friends new and old .   Two hundred steps in our meditation walk under the Hornbeam Cathedral ended our silence and we enjoyed the autumnal colours near the canadian totem pole before making our way to lunch.   Yoga is One!

Here is a short extract from the latest club newsletter just sent out to members as I hope it will inspire us all to keep true to our 'Kind' self and committed to sharing whatever we have with others for the good of all.

Groovy Guru News Autumn 2011  (Extract)
This year has indeed proved challenging for our planet as predicted by the ancient seers. We have a choice as to how we continue with our lives in 2012 and any preparation we make now will help with that transition from a selfish way of being which will lead to more personal distress and destruction of our environment or to an acceptance that we are part of a whole and that means a switch from a taking to a giving mentality; from competitiveness to co-operation.. It has all been said before but this is now a time for action and not words or good intentions. It all begins with each individual as the story of the starfish illustrates:



One day a man was walking along a beach covered by dying starfish which had been washed ashore and could not get back into the ocean. What a shame he thought and kept walking. Further along the beach he met a young girl who was picking up one starfish at a time and gently placing it back in the sea. It looked a momentous, futile task and he told her she would make no real difference but she just continued anyway despite his advice to walk away and get on with her day. “Why are you wasting your time?” he asked. As she gave yet another starfish a chance to live, she said. “Well it made a difference to that one”

Remember: No act of Kindness is ever wasted.       Love and Light Sammi



Friday 11 November 2011

11.11.11. PEACE

The full moon last night lit up the darkness in the sky and for those meditating it gave a powerful influx of energy to help us all through this transition period for humanity.




We meet today in the park to breathe in the gifts of nature and further increase our prana flow on this auspicious date and time. We meet not only for ourself but to be able to become stronger in order to give to others who may be weaker than us and who need our good thoughts and Love.

At 11 am we will be in silence and hope that wherever you are you will be with us in spirit as we stay in the present moment and send out Love and Gratitude to the world and all beings.

Although this is Remembrance day for some cultures it is not the yogic philosophy to dwell on memories but rather to be fully present in the moment.

That is not to say we do not honour all deeds of courage and all sacrifices made for the good of all but rather that we send our energy out in this moment to increase goodwill and peace so that each 'memory' is one of Love and therefore creates a present and future that is Peaceful for all people without regret and hatred.

The Affirmation for the morning practise is as follows and do join us at 11 am.

I Live in freedom from inner and outer harm. I live in Joy and Acceptance of things as they are.

I live in Peace, Love and Truth. From the centre of my heart I wish this Harmony for all sentient beings.

For the good of all that is and all that can be.

Om shanti shanti shanti

sammi

Thursday 3 November 2011

Love and Gratitude

Just received a thank you from Louise and it reminded me of the wonderful ice crystals formed by the intention of Love and Gratitude in the Masaru Emoto 'Messages in Water' book.
He said that the crystal formed from the words Love and Gratitude tied around a water bottle was
 "as perfect as can be.  This indicates that Love and Gratitude are fundamental to the phenomenon of life in all of nature"

Here is the e mail from Louise and it gave me a warm glow reading it and I know that it gives the sender a feeling of joy as well.  Everything we give comes back with the law of Karma!



Monday's class has stayed with me all week; my shoulders and neck are freer as well as hips. It often strikes me, but I don't pass it on enough, how well thought out the sessions are. This is just to let you know that it is appreciated!

Love and hugs

Louise

Practise sending good thoughts to all and see how much your experience of living, even amidst difficult situations, feels better

Love and Gratitude to all beings!


Friday 21 October 2011

Diwali Festival of Light Wed 26th October

As we break next week for half term we wish everyone a happy Diwali and hope that for all the Light triumphs over any Darkness in their lives.  We are all experiencing the rapid changes of financial and health strains in this turbulent time but let us keep positive and believe that it will get better by taking action and seeking the company of good friends and family for support.

We wish you all Peace.

narayani

Wednesday 5 October 2011

Navatrai Nine days of goddess energy

Navatrai - Festival of Light over Darkness

28th Sept to 5 Oct 2011 and celebration on the tenth day 6 October!

Blessings and good luck wishes to all in this auspicious time of the year when durga/Kali destroys our negativities, Lakshmai gives us beauty and wealth and Saraswati bestows wisdom through learning and the arts.

Meditation circle this sunday from 7 to 9 pm  All welcome in person or spirit to join us in  praying for balance in ourselves and the world for the good of all.

Om shanti shanti shanti   Peace  Peace  Peace

Narayani Namostute

Friday 9 September 2011

Love's Philosophy - Percy Bysshe Shelley

The Fountains mingle with the river and the rivers with the ocean, The winds of heaven mix forever with a sweet emotion; Nothing in the world is single; all things by a love divine in one spirit meet and mingle.. Why not I with thine? See the mountains kiss high heaven and the waves clasp one another; No sister-flower would be forgiven if it disdained its brother; And the sunlight clasps the earth And the moonbeams kiss the sea; What is all this sweet work worth if thou kiss not me?

Wednesday 31 August 2011

Autumn Term Begins 11th September


Circle meditation on sunday 11th September to prepare for the autumn term and the full moon walk on the 12th September.
Monday and Wednesday evening classes start on 19th and 21st September at 7.30 pm. Tuesday 11am and Thursday 1pm day classes start on 20th and 22nd September .
Please contact me for further details and to book.

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Yoga teachings


Hi Kassandra,

Glad you liked the pictures and hope you look back at the winter solstice Blue Lunar walk to see our favourite place called Bushy Park.
You and some others have asked for more yoga teachings and firstly go to my webpage
www.yogawise.co.uk for free downloads on introduction to yoga and why I teach yoga.
If you send me your e mail I will sendyou my last yoga newsletter which has lots of yoga related stuff!

Love and Light

Sammi

Monday 27 June 2011

Spring Flower Meadow





Being asked about the beautiful flowers posted on this page and they are from the wildflower meadow in Crane Park near where I live. Please look back in the blog pages to last spring to see some from last year if you wish and here are a few more from this year.

Glstonbury Festival was powerful this year with thousands stil looking for that which they cannot find. No need to look..no need to go anywhere.....You are IT!

Love and Light

Sammi

Monday 20 June 2011

Happy Summer Solstice to All!


Tuesday 21st June 2011 Summer Solstice.
Enjoy time in nature and give some silent space to reflect on those who are doing their best to help others in these troubled times and wish them well and wish them strength. This year is making us all decide what is to be our future path and who we wish to travel with on this journey to create beauty and peace even if we are in chaos. We can be a Pool of Joy for others and in that offering we will also experience the same Joy.

Monday 30 May 2011

Beauty

Nature inspires confidence

I hope the True Self article has helped all those who read it to put into action its truths. Be present..Let go....Allow Santosha or Contentment with 'what is'

But 'How'?????? Always the need to be told how to 'do it' or excuses that it is alright for you but my situation is harder, more difficult, not right just yet to live in this way of awareness of the true self which is always peaceful.

The Bhagavad Gita advocates Action and it is indeed not enough to just read and nod our heads in agreement with these great inspiring words if we continue to live in the past or the future and continue to feel depressed, angry and fearful. These negative, mostly learned, habits will continue to sap our energy and block any new insights from helping us live more peacefully if we do not bring them into our awareness everytime they arise in the present moment. Patanjali in one sutra advises us to immediately substitute the opposite positive thought or emotion whenever a negative one arises and this is good first aid but we also have to address the root and why these negatives arise. Giving ourselves quiet time and cultivating detachment are the two major tools which have helped many in living more in the present which is all there really is if we are aware!

Iain and I have really had to practise what we preach this year as we have been inundated with family bereavements, health issues, happy life changing events too which also can cause upset to the safety of everyday routine and calm.

Krishnamurti would say that to do anything is just to create another conflict, another action based on the past which is the already known and therefore cannot help us as that which is original insight cannot come out of the known. I must admit that I do agree with Krishnamurti and it has caused me some real problems with offering teachings and even writing this blog because it does all seem so irrelevant!
However, on a human scale and from feedback it seems that the sharing of ways that help each other and the passing on of what is wisdom to us may indeed be of value to others. For this reason alone and without wishing to 'tell you what to see' I share the beauties of nature and yoga and Love.

It is not always easy in the world when we find ourselves in situations of non-communication or with people who do not speak our language; and I do not mean our native tongue here but rather our philosophical and ethical language. It is not easy, unless we are firmly committed to truth, to stand our ground amidst prejudice and bias and plain old ignorance and to remain detached and not get drawn into retaliation or negative emotions but to stay kind and compassionate.
It is a lesson of maturity to realise that some people will never awaken in this lifetime to deeper truths. We do not have to spend our precious time with them when it is not necessary but when we do have to be with them it is a chance to learn and grow and re-affirm our commitment to the true self shining through the darkness and not getting lost in it. This is not advocating a judgmental attitude towards others but rather the promotion of discernment and discrimination in the healthy, life affirming meaning of those two words.
2011 into 2012 in a great awakening opportunity for many as nature and old institutions change rapidly. Are you willing to open NOW?
Om shanti
Sammi

Sunday 13 March 2011

The True Self is always Peaceful

Please read this article by Peter Russell which I recently found on the web and which is just what I was about to cover for my yoga circle. Peter has said it all so beautifully and succintly and as all Truth is one I know he will not mind us all sharing in this timeless wisdom.

Returning to Natural Mind by Peter Russell

People are disturbed, not by things, but by the view they take of them. — Epictitus

"In the final analysis," said the Dalai Lama, "the hope of every person is simply peace of mind." As with many great truths, these words resonate with something we know deep down. Beneath all our endeavours, we all want to be at peace, to feel content, fulfilled, at ease. None of us want to be in pain or suffer unnecessarily.

We may decide to change jobs, start a new relationship or take up a new hobby because we believe we will be happier. I may choose to go hiking because I expect to get some pleasure from it, a tangible endorphin rush from the exercise, or a feeling of warmth and closeness from spending time with a friend. I may spend time writing a book, foregoing other pleasures, because I gain satisfaction from my creative expression.

The gratification that we seek may not always be immediate. Most of us do not enjoy visiting the dentist, but we go in the hope that we will suffer less later. Or we may forego some personal gain and devote our time to helping elderly relatives or others in need; yet we do so because it brings some inner fulfillment. Even the masochist, who sets out to cause himself pain, does so because he takes some comfort from it.

It is not a bottom line that can be measured in numbers, but it is nevertheless the true arbiter of all our decisions. We may think we are seeking an external goal, but we are seeking that goal in the hope that, in one way or another, we will feel better for it.

Why then do we seldom find peace of mind? After all, we are intelligent beings, we can look ahead and plan for the future. Moreover, we have many tools and technologies with which to create a better world for ourselves. One would think that we, of all creatures, would be content and at ease. Yet the very opposite seems to be the case.

As far as I can tell, a dog spends more time at ease than its owner who is busy seeking the various things he or she thinks will bring satisfaction and fulfillment. Leave a dog with nothing to do, and it will probably lie down, put its chin on the ground, and watch the world go by. Leave us human beings with nothing to do, and it is not long before we complain of being bored, get restless, and start looking for things to fill the time. We worry what we might be missing and how we might improve things, or we go check off one more thing on that never-ending "to do" list.

Samsara

Paradoxically, it is our remarkable ability to change our world that has led us into this sorry state. We have fallen into the belief that if we are not at peace, then we must do something about it. We think we need to obtain something we don't yet have, get others to respond as we would like, enjoy a new experience, or, conversely, avoid some circumstance or person that is causing us distress. We assume that, if we could just get our world to be a particular way, we will finally be happy.

From the moment we are born our culture reinforces this assumption, encouraging us to believe that outer well-being is the source of inner fulfillment. As young children we learn from the example of our elders that it is important to be in control of things, that material possessions offer security. As we grow up, much of our education focuses on knowing the ways of the world in order that we might better manage our affairs and so find greater contentment and fulfillment. As adults, the daily deluge of television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and advertisements reinforces the belief that happiness comes from what happens to us. The net result is that we become addicted to things and circumstances.

Our material acquisitiveness may not look like a drug addiction, but the underlying pattern is the same. With drugs—whether they be alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tranquilizers, cocaine or heroin—people take them for one simple reason. They want to feel better. They want to feel happy, high, relaxed, in control, less anxious, temporarily free from some suffering. In this respect drug-takers are seeking nothing different from anyone else; it is just the way in which they are doing it that most societies find unacceptable.

Similarly with our addiction to having and doing, we are seeking a better state of mind. And, in the short term, it may appear to work. But any pleasure, happiness, or satisfaction we do find is only temporary. As soon as one "high" wears off we go in search of another "fix". We become psychologically dependent on our favorite sources of pleasure —food, music, driving, debating, football, television, shopping, whatever.

When this fails to bring any lasting satisfaction we do not question whether our approach may be mistaken. Instead we try even harder to get the world to give us what we want. We buy more clothes, go to more parties, eat more food, try to make more money. Or we give up on these and try different things. We take up squash, or look for new friends. Yet true peace of mind remains as elusive as ever.

We live in what Indian philosophies call the world of samsara, meaning "to wander on". We wander on, looking for fulfillment in a world which provides but temporary respites from discontent, a momentary pleasure followed by more wandering on in search of that ever-elusive goal.


The Clinging Mind

Throughout human history, there have been those who have woken up from the dream that our state of mind depends on what we have or do. They are the rishis, roshis, mystics, saints, lamas and other "wise ones" who have seen through the illusion that, if only we could get the world to be the way want, we would finally be happy. They have each, in their own way, rediscovered the same timeless truth about human consciousness: The mind in its natural state is already at ease.

By 'natural' they do not mean the state of mind in which we spend most of our time—which clearly is not usually one of ease and contentment—they are speaking of the mind before it becomes tarnished with worry, wanting, analyzing and planning. Time and again they have reminded us that we do not need to do anything, or go anywhere to be at ease. On the contrary, all our doing, all our seeking to change things, takes us in the opposite direction. We imagine something is missing, and with this self-created sense of lack comes discontent. Feelings of discontent cloud our consciousness, overshadowing the intrinsic ease of the mind in its natural, unsullied, state.

This was one of the Buddha's key realizations. He saw that we all experience what he called dukka. The word is often translated as "suffering," leading to the common misconception that Buddha taught that life is suffering. The word dukka is actually a negation of the word sukha, which has the meaning of ease (originally, a wheel that runs smoothly). So dukka means not-at-ease, and is probably best translated as discontent or unsatisfactoriness.Suffering, as we think of it, is an extreme form of discontent. Much more common—indeed, so common that it usually passes unnoticed—is the discontent that comes from wishing that things were different, worrying about what happened earlier, or hoping for a better future. Buddha realized that the root cause of this discontent was our clinging to our ideas of how things should or should not be. As soon as clinging enters the mind, we lose the natural state of ease.

Thus, to return to a state of ease, we have only to stop creating unnecessary discontent. That means letting go of our attachments as to how things should or should not be.

Letting Go

Letting go never seems easy. This is because we treat "letting go" as another task to do. We've become so enmeshed in the habit of doing that we mistakenly approach letting go in the same way. But you can't "do" letting go—however hard you try. It is our doing that is the problem. To let go we have to cease the "doing" of holding on. Letting go is allowing the mind to relax, accepting the present moment as it is, without resistance or judgement.

This is sometimes misinterpreted as accepting the world as it is, which can lead to a Pollyanna attitude of "everything is OK"; the world is perfect as it is. But there is a subtle, and crucial, distinction between accepting our experience of a situation and accepting the situation itself. Sadly, the world around us is rife with injustice, self-centredness and unnecessary suffering. No one, I hope, is proposing the kind of acceptance that says we can simply let such ills be. Accepting our experience of the situation, on the other hand, means not resisting what we are actually perceiving and feeling in the moment. There is nothing we can do to change our present experience. Wishing it otherwise is a pointless waste of time and energy. All it does is create additional discontent.

The most commonly recommended way to become more present is to bring our attention back to our physical experience, noticing how it feels to be a living being—the feelings in our bodies, the sensations of breathing, the air against the skin, the sounds around us. Our immediate sensory experience is always in the present moment. It is when we start thinking about our experience, what it means, and where it might lead, that our attention is drawn into the past or the future—and back into the world of samsara.

The more often we can come back to the present moment, the more the mind is able to relax. When it is fully relaxed, totally at ease, we rediscover the mind in its natural, undisturbed state.

In Indian philosophy the profound and delightful ease of natural mind is called Nirvana. To many, the word conjures images of some blissed out, euphoric state of consciousness. But its original meaning is very different—and much more instructive. The word "nirvana" literally means "to blow out", as in extinguishing a flame. When we accept our experience of the moment, as it is, without lament or resistance, the flames of greed, hatred, jealousy and the many other unwelcome ramifications of our discontent die down; extinguished by a lack of fuel.

No longer blinded by self-concern, we are better able to see a situation for what it is. We are free from imagined lacks and needs and able to act in accord with what the situation requires. Whether it be helping others, righting injustices, working for some social cause, taking care of our health, raising children, whatever we choose to focus out energies upon, we can do so with greater commitment and deeper compassion.

We spend so much energy trying to find contentment in the world around us. If we spent a fraction of this energy allowing the mind to relax, letting go of some of our attachments, we would find more of the peace of mind that, in the final analysis, we all are all seeking. And the world around us would surely become a much better place.

c. Peter Russell

Monday 3 January 2011

Yogawise 2011!


Happy New Year to one and all. Come and join us in 2011. All welcome.

New term begins on Monday 24th January Beginners 7.30 pm,
Tuesday at Twickenham Library at 11 am for all levels
Wednesday 7.15 pm for Raja Yoga flow class.
All these are twelve week courses : - Finish 11,12,13th April)
E mail to book please. or leave a comment.

Devon Silent Retreat is from sunday 10th to 14th July and is followed this year by a new offering of a long weekend of yoga and walking in Beautiful Dartmoor national park.
Thursday 14th to 17th July. It is possible to come for the whole week and enjoy the silence and peace and then a social time to really connect with like minded people which will feel amazing with an open heart after the deep silence.

Here is some lovely thanks we received from Theresa after she came with us:

Thank you both for making the retreat in Devon an amazing experience for me. It was wonderful to spend time in such beautiful surroundings and to be at peace in the silence. My spiritual journey is not always easy but you are both an inspiration to me.


Well Theresa..it is not easy for any of us and that is why we meet together to share and to appreciate each other. Come again!