Today's DailyOM Offerings...
September 6, 2011
Yoga Nidra
Terry Oldfield & Soraya Saraswati
2008
Literally translating to "yogic sleep," Yoga Nidra focuses on relaxation and guided imagery to create a sense of deep rest and peace. It's a perfect path for acclaimed U.K. flautist Terry Oldfield and his wife, yoga instructor and holistic health practitioner Soraya Saraswati. The Australian-born Saraswati spent eight years in an ashram before leaving to continue to pursue spiritual health practice and instruction, eventually joining Oldfield in a merging of love, healing, and music, and their collaboration on Yoga Nidra is infused with their universal love. With Oldfield's flute providing minimal but highly effective accompaniment to Saraswati's gentle, powerful, and easy-to-follow yoga breathing and visualization instruction, it's as if they embody some astral set of parents soothing the tired, stressed world below them into a lulling afternoon trance.
Divided into three tracks of varying lengths, Saraswati knows how to not stress out her listeners with too much instruction, preferring to get us centered and then give us a series of comforting images that work like symbolic poetry to soothe the deeper regions of the soul, with Saraswati's pleasant Aussie accent and intentionally slow, drowsy pronunciation ably lulling listeners into a contented alpha-wave flow. Oldfield's flute comes in gently when Saraswati mentions, "If you are working with an affirmation, repeat it now silently three times." Even if you didn't think you were working with one, now might be a good time to bring one up. Whatever you manifest in that state is likely to occur.
In the second and third tracks Oldfield stretches out in some emotional, neo-classical directions, while Saraswati notes, "You are the witness, observing any spontaneous patterns." She gently helps us activate the screen of the mind (chidakasha) with a string of images: "Smiling Buddha...pink lotus on a still lake, temple bells ringing...burning candle...coconut palms, wind in the trees." When you follow along, this series of details accrues to create a sense of peace you can feel in your core of cores. Even if 10, 20, or 30 minutes is all you have to bring, Yoga Nidra is there for you. Like a patient set of cosmic parents, Oldfield's soothing music and Saraswati's loving guidance will make sure to get you back to your inner home and help you emerge replenished, soothed, and ready for whatever surprises life may bring.
September 6, 2011
The Value of Detachment
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You might be concerned about keeping hold of your resources today. This feeling of caution could be the result of a fear of loss, which could leave you feeling protective of what you have. Today you might keep in mind that you will face loss of some sort in life and that you can only remain constant by learning detachment. Detachment can give you the perspective to notice that the more you try to protect and hold on to what is yours, the greater your feelings of grief will be should loss occur. Perhaps you might want to reflect on the notion that nothing in life is permanent. By opening yourself up to this fact, you might realize that you already possess everything you need.
Learning to detach from our possessions allows us to assuage our feelings about the possibility of loss. When we become tightfisted about our resources we increase the amount of fear we have about facing potential scarcity. Our efforts go into holding onto something as opposed to appreciating what we have. This idea applies to everything in our lives-no matter what, changes in our situation will occur. Understanding this fact makes it easier to see that the ebb and flow of life is simply a natural process, which allows us to enjoy instead of guard the fruits of our labor. By detaching from your idea of permanence today, your concern about loss will gradually disappear and you will find a greater appreciation for all you possess in life.
September 6, 2011
Permission to Simply Be
Working through Transitions
During the pause between achievements, many people begin to question what their life is about.
The elation we feel when we have learned an important lesson, achieved a goal, or had a big breakthrough can sometimes be met with a period of downtime afterward. During this period of transition, we may feel unsure and not know where to turn next. Many people, during the pause between achievements, begin to wonder what their life is about. These feelings are common and strike everyone from time to time. Human beings are active creatures-we feel best when we are working on a project or vigorously pursuing a goal. But there is nothing inherently wrong with spending a day, a week, or even a month simply existing and not having a plan. Just be. It won’t be long before you embark upon your next voyage of growth and discovery.
The quiet lull into we which we fall between ideas, projects, and goals can make life seem empty. After accomplishing one objective, you may want to move immediately on to the next. However, when your next step is unclear, you may feel frustrated, disconnected, or even a mild depression. You may even perceive your lack of forward momentum as an indicator of imminent stagnation. To calm these distressing thoughts, try to accept that if your intent is personal growth, you will continue to grow as an individual whether striving for a specific objective or not. Spending time immersed in life’s rigors and pleasures can be a cathartic experience that gives you the time you need to think about what you have recently gone through and leisurely contemplate what you wish to do next. You may also find that in simply being and going through the motions of everyday life, you reconnect with your priorities in a very organic, unforced way.
The mindful transitional pause can take many forms. For some, it can be a period of reflection that helps them understand how their life has unfolded. For others, it can be a period of adjustment, where new values based on recent changes are integrated into daily life. Just because you’re not headed swiftly to a final destination doesn’t mean you should assume that you have lost your drive. The stage between journeys can become a wonderful period of relaxation that prepares you for the path that will soon be revealed to you.
Yoga Nidra
Terry Oldfield & Soraya Saraswati
2008
Literally translating to "yogic sleep," Yoga Nidra focuses on relaxation and guided imagery to create a sense of deep rest and peace. It's a perfect path for acclaimed U.K. flautist Terry Oldfield and his wife, yoga instructor and holistic health practitioner Soraya Saraswati. The Australian-born Saraswati spent eight years in an ashram before leaving to continue to pursue spiritual health practice and instruction, eventually joining Oldfield in a merging of love, healing, and music, and their collaboration on Yoga Nidra is infused with their universal love. With Oldfield's flute providing minimal but highly effective accompaniment to Saraswati's gentle, powerful, and easy-to-follow yoga breathing and visualization instruction, it's as if they embody some astral set of parents soothing the tired, stressed world below them into a lulling afternoon trance.
Divided into three tracks of varying lengths, Saraswati knows how to not stress out her listeners with too much instruction, preferring to get us centered and then give us a series of comforting images that work like symbolic poetry to soothe the deeper regions of the soul, with Saraswati's pleasant Aussie accent and intentionally slow, drowsy pronunciation ably lulling listeners into a contented alpha-wave flow. Oldfield's flute comes in gently when Saraswati mentions, "If you are working with an affirmation, repeat it now silently three times." Even if you didn't think you were working with one, now might be a good time to bring one up. Whatever you manifest in that state is likely to occur.
In the second and third tracks Oldfield stretches out in some emotional, neo-classical directions, while Saraswati notes, "You are the witness, observing any spontaneous patterns." She gently helps us activate the screen of the mind (chidakasha) with a string of images: "Smiling Buddha...pink lotus on a still lake, temple bells ringing...burning candle...coconut palms, wind in the trees." When you follow along, this series of details accrues to create a sense of peace you can feel in your core of cores. Even if 10, 20, or 30 minutes is all you have to bring, Yoga Nidra is there for you. Like a patient set of cosmic parents, Oldfield's soothing music and Saraswati's loving guidance will make sure to get you back to your inner home and help you emerge replenished, soothed, and ready for whatever surprises life may bring.
September 6, 2011
The Value of Detachment
Sagittarius Daily Horoscope
You might be concerned about keeping hold of your resources today. This feeling of caution could be the result of a fear of loss, which could leave you feeling protective of what you have. Today you might keep in mind that you will face loss of some sort in life and that you can only remain constant by learning detachment. Detachment can give you the perspective to notice that the more you try to protect and hold on to what is yours, the greater your feelings of grief will be should loss occur. Perhaps you might want to reflect on the notion that nothing in life is permanent. By opening yourself up to this fact, you might realize that you already possess everything you need.
Learning to detach from our possessions allows us to assuage our feelings about the possibility of loss. When we become tightfisted about our resources we increase the amount of fear we have about facing potential scarcity. Our efforts go into holding onto something as opposed to appreciating what we have. This idea applies to everything in our lives-no matter what, changes in our situation will occur. Understanding this fact makes it easier to see that the ebb and flow of life is simply a natural process, which allows us to enjoy instead of guard the fruits of our labor. By detaching from your idea of permanence today, your concern about loss will gradually disappear and you will find a greater appreciation for all you possess in life.
September 6, 2011
Permission to Simply Be
Working through Transitions
During the pause between achievements, many people begin to question what their life is about.
The elation we feel when we have learned an important lesson, achieved a goal, or had a big breakthrough can sometimes be met with a period of downtime afterward. During this period of transition, we may feel unsure and not know where to turn next. Many people, during the pause between achievements, begin to wonder what their life is about. These feelings are common and strike everyone from time to time. Human beings are active creatures-we feel best when we are working on a project or vigorously pursuing a goal. But there is nothing inherently wrong with spending a day, a week, or even a month simply existing and not having a plan. Just be. It won’t be long before you embark upon your next voyage of growth and discovery.
The quiet lull into we which we fall between ideas, projects, and goals can make life seem empty. After accomplishing one objective, you may want to move immediately on to the next. However, when your next step is unclear, you may feel frustrated, disconnected, or even a mild depression. You may even perceive your lack of forward momentum as an indicator of imminent stagnation. To calm these distressing thoughts, try to accept that if your intent is personal growth, you will continue to grow as an individual whether striving for a specific objective or not. Spending time immersed in life’s rigors and pleasures can be a cathartic experience that gives you the time you need to think about what you have recently gone through and leisurely contemplate what you wish to do next. You may also find that in simply being and going through the motions of everyday life, you reconnect with your priorities in a very organic, unforced way.
The mindful transitional pause can take many forms. For some, it can be a period of reflection that helps them understand how their life has unfolded. For others, it can be a period of adjustment, where new values based on recent changes are integrated into daily life. Just because you’re not headed swiftly to a final destination doesn’t mean you should assume that you have lost your drive. The stage between journeys can become a wonderful period of relaxation that prepares you for the path that will soon be revealed to you.