Meditation group

Thank you poem

A beautiful poem Aimee wrote to say thank you for helping her with her site.

Mangrove Mountain for new year

Highlights

• Swims in the river till discovering the chance of bull-sharks
• Coffee smuggled in by Sharon
• Dancing
• Khirtan

Monks of Angkor Wat

In one of the inner chambers of Angkor Wat, some monks are available to give their blessings for a small donation.  They chant some words and sprinkle you with water, and then tie some orange thread around your hand.  

I loved the orange  of the monk's garments against the stark temple walls, so very photogenic.

Kevin James chanting evening

Drum Circle

Graeme

Wow, such a wonderful evening last night.  The most mindful swim of my life earlier in the evening with the play of light on the water.  Soulful drumming and joyful dancing. Such beautiful people.  Thank you dear Sharon!

Sharon

Oh, wasn't it all so glorious! I loved it all so much, and I so loved you two darling beings being with me there! xx

Aimee

I had such a lovely magical evening....! I woke up as fresh and light as ever.  Thank you dear Sharon for sharing this event. What a beautiful night I look forward to the next one xxx

The flowering Buddha plant

How exquisite is this.  A beautiful plant on my balcony flowering right at the Buddha statue's third eye.  I love it!

Kirtan

A beautiful evening of body nourishing food (vegetarian pizza) and soul nourishing Kirtan.

Thank you, dear friends, for sharing a beautiful evening of of body nourishing food and soul nourishing Kirtan.

Thank you, dear Sharon, for organising it.

Thank you dear Pru for the lift home.

Thank you dear Life for All of it.

With love,

G

Meditation at Nic's

New Year at Satyananda Mangrove Mountain Ashram

Highlights

• The beautiful setting in an natural amphitheatre full of Blue Gums
• The extremely chilled vibe
• Camping on the large lawn
• Swimming in the long creek
• Delicious vegetarian food
• Beautiful Kirtan music
• Making yogic resolve of New Year's resolutions through a fire ceremony on the cusp of New Year
• Fun tribal yoga on the lawn on New Year's day
• Lovely, spiritual people

All in all, an amazing way to spend New Year. I'll be back. The Ashram does retreats throughout the year.

Eckhart at Chris

A beautiful video

This short video moved me so much.  It sums up so beautifully what much I've discovered on my spiritual journey over the past two years. .

My favourite song this year by far

Absolutely sublime.  It makes me feel that underneath it all, all is well with the world...

   

Louise Kramer

Sessions with Louise

• I heard about Louise through Nerium through Louise's relayed wisdom: "You do the best you can with where you're at." The best you can at the level of consciousness you're at.
• Introduced me to Don Miguel Ruiz. Don't take things personally. A person perceives you through their story.  Don Miguel happened to be doing a presentation in Sydney which I went to.
• Introduced me to Byron Katie and The Work.  Inspired my "enquiry" and "assurance."  Helped me get over Dani and hellish thoughts. Also transcend judgements of others.
• First person I spoke to about Wisdom Trove. Gave her access. She gave me a lot of encouragement, especially about approval seeking.

Approval seeking (something I wrote, inspired by our sessions)


My need to be approved by others is my own need to be approved by myself. To seek approval is to assume I'm not whole.

In seeking approval, I pay a heavy price ...

• I waste energy and time, the precious stuff that life is made of.
• I'm driven to try to manipulate you and your mind.
• I stop sharing all of myself.
• I sacrifice my uniqueness in an attempt to fit in.
• I pretend to be who I am not. Then when you say "I love you," I can't believe it, because I know you're loving someone that doesn't exist.
• I put my happiness in another's keeping, making myself their hostage, and I become easy to own, control and manipulate.
• I make everyone my judge, opening up the fear of rejection.

Approval seeking is bound to lead to failure and pain ...

• It's impossible to control what others think.
• It's impossible to please everyone. In fact trying to do so is the surest way to fail.
• Even the warmest and most sincere approval can be taken away at any time for any reason.

External approval is actually worth very little ...

• When someone says they approve of me, I can never know for sure if it's sincere or even true.
• The approval of another is just their projection; part of their story. When someone approves of me, they're approving of their story of me; not me myself.
• Approval can be taken away at the snap of a finger.

Letting go of the need for approval brings wonderful rewards ...

• I am able to be me. That's true freedom.
• My eyes are opened to my natural wealth and I start gaining my own approval and respect.
• I become a student. I'm totally open.
• I become tranquil and peaceful.
• Paradoxically, the less I care about seeking approval, the more I tend to get.

I free myself of the need to seek approval from others ...

• Life is too short to waste time waiting for other people to approve of me and how I live my life.
• I do not exist to impress the world. I exist to live my life in a way that will make me happy.  And to be a loving space for consciousness to flow through me.  If others approve of me, that's wonderful. And if they don't approve of me, that's good too. It doesn't effect my life or happiness.
• The only person I want approval from is me. Instead of seeking love and acceptance from others, I work on loving and accepting myself.
• I don't want people's approval. I want people to  think the way they think. That's love. I focus far more on recognising the treasure in others than on trying to get them to recognise the merits in me.
• I realise deeply that the source of what I seek externally is in me already. I am perfect and complete with everything I need right here, right now to be happy. My happiness depends on nothing external, including the approval of others.

Thank you's to Nic

23 Oct 13

Hi Nic

I've been reflecting a lot on points that came up last night and the more I do, the more I realise I'll never think of approval or rejection in the same way again.  It's just the breakthrough I needed in an area I've struggled with as long as I can remember. Thanks for making yourself available in the way you do for wisdom to reveal itself at just the right time.  I'm deeply grateful.

Cheers,
G


4 Sep 13

Hi Nic

Thanks for last night.  There were lots of insights that resonated deeply and I've been trying that meditation technique some more and it's really, really great.

Cheers,
G


11 Sep 13

Hi Nic

Thanks for the wonderful introduction to reincarnation and karma last night. Thanks for all the wisdom and insight that flows through you.  It's a great blessing.


4 Jul 15

Hi Nic

I've been thinking of you guys a lot and hoping you're well.  I'm sure little G is growing so fast!  And is adorable as ever.  I hope your work away went / is going ok.

Life on my side is good. I was in South Africa for 10 weeks and got back a month ago, settling back into Sydney life.   So many of the things I learned from our sessions together are now becoming so part of life that I just can't comprehend being without it.  I feel very, very blessed.

If you are back, it would be wonderful to catch up sometime. No pressure to start the group up again if family commitments are strong as I'm sure they are, but if you feel called to do it again, on a weekly or monthly or quarterly or ad hoc basis, wild horses won't keep me away.

Give my love to Allesandra

Cheers,
G

My Spiritual Compass

I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within.  Lillian Smith

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I believe...

• in a benevolent universe that loves me completely
• We are sacred spirits on a sacred journey and love is what we are
• I am the sacred witness within and love, joy and peace are at my core
• This moment is perfect 
• I am enough as I am
• There is more than enough
• Simple and focused is beautiful
• Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage
• Stillness is my path to peace

.
Living in the moment

• I let go to you, Great Mystery, and open out to your  wonder, wisdom, stillness, beauty and love
• Thank you, Great Mystery, for this golden moment of Now  
• Free in this moment to let it out, let it be, let it go, let it flow
• Free in this moment to be inmost calm and still
• Free in this moment to be fully present

Centred in you, Great Mystery,

• I come home to myself and to life
• I cherish the sacred spirit in each person I meet
• I do what I love to do, creating with love and passion
• I create powerful intentions, beliefs and habits
• I explore with fascination
• I'm thankful for all that is good in my life
• I celebrate wonder and stillness
• I share fun and laughter
• I rededicate myself again and again

My Values

• calmness, gratitude, stillness, passion, love and affirmation, adventure, courage, fun, simplicity, balance

Some Favourite Authors

• John Kehoe
• Deepak Chopra
• N.D. Walsch
• Eckhart Tolle

Practicing the Alexander Technique

Background

I was motivated to practice the Alexander Technique due to pain in my back and neck, caused by poor posture and bodily tension.

The Alexander Technique involves being peripherally aware in the midst of every movement of the body to minimise effort and tensing of the body.  It had a profound and lasting effect on me.  

My teacher was a beautiful, calm woman who embodied what she taught.  We practiced at her house in Newlands and often used her lovely garden.  I have vivid memories of performing various actions (walking, sitting, lying, opening a door) and she would instruct in a gentle hands on way.

How The Alexander Technique inspired and influenced me 

• The Alexander Technique directly influenced my "calmness mantra" which become something I repeated countless times until it osmosed into my being. I still use this mantra on a regular basis. You can read the mantra below.
• The Alexander Technique inspired my increasing interest in spirituality and meditation - inspiring me to do a TM meditation course and read spiritual books. It also inspired my later interest in Tai Chi.
• During my Old Mutual years, I practiced a form of self developed meditative motion inspired by The Alexander Technique. It involved a series of effortless movements done in a state of deep awareness, often to music.
• The Alexander Technique inspired the principle of "spaciousness" that formally emerged around 2013 and is now one of the three cornerstones of my spiritual journey (Presence, Surrender, Spaciousness). Spaciousness is all about remaining open and relaxed in the midst of all experience, including uncomfortable sensations and emotion in the body.
• The Alexander Technique was my informal introduction to Presence (being in a state of awareness in the midst of activity).

Insights gained by learning and practising The Alexander Technique

• Where we instinctively tense up, we can learn to let go and loosen.
• End-goaling and striving is counter-productive. When we relax into our natural state, we become far more effective and happy.
• If you want to see perfect posture, watch a very young child.
• The head and neck should be relaxed. Imagine a string with a helium balloon hitched to the back of your head, pulling your head and posture very gently up.
• The traditional shoulders back, chest out, back straight instruction for posture is counter-productive. The shoulders should be relaxed and the back should be allowed to rest in it's natural curve. 
• Rush not. Take your time.
• The power of doing everything in a state of open awareness.

My Calmness Mantra (inspired by The Alexander Technique)

• Effortless in mind and body, I nurture and inmost calm in all I do.
• I flow with the journey, letting it unfold with time.
• I act where I can, then allow all to flow.
• I am relaxed and centred, letting nothing phase me.
• Rush not, I take my time. Strive not, I let it happen. Grasp not, I let go. 
• I live a relaxed stroll, letting nothing phase.
• Supported below, each movement is a change to release.