healing – violetflamepress

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Believe it or not, I have been imagining this post for a few days now, and if you’re cool you will go look up the 90’s classic – “Regulate” by Warren G ft. Nate Dogg and play it while you read this post…replacing the lyric “regulate” with the word “meditate”!

So you may have noticed that all the yogis, new-agers, holistic practitioners, and healers are out in full force on FB, IG & YouTube since this whole quarantine started. While the rest of the world seems to be in a tailspin they are holding space and coming up with ways to provide you online classes, workshops, workouts, singling bowl ceremonies, etc. all from their homes or studios. They seem to possess a sense of calm in the storm. This mastery of the self is not gifted – it is an intentional practice.

Many of these practitioners have practiced the art of non-attachment or as we call it in the yoga world – aparigraha. Want more info on aparigraha? Click here

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This is probably one of the most difficult Yamas to teach and practice. We live in a society that literally teaches us attachment to ideas, people, cultures, countries, and things as a form of creating and maintaining our identities.

How do you tell a scholar not to be attached to their books, degrees, and studies? How do you tell a creative to not be attached to his art, creations, and show exhibitions? How does one even begin to tell a lover not to be attached to her beloved because this will ultimately cause suffering? We are so attached to our “stories” that we repeat them over and over until we are caught in continuous loops of pain, fear, and/or suffering.

As you can see, it gets complicated immediately and the only answer I have for you,dear reader, is aparigraha comes with PRACTICE. So much practice.

Right now, the collective is literally being forced to face itself and shed layer after layer of what we used to be attached to. Therefore, many of us are experiencing a collective letting go and a deep surrender to the universe/creator/source – and it is not by choice!

It is scary. Many don’t have jobs or income right now and are having to rely on merely faith that somehow this will all work out. Many are ill or stranded abroad/at home away from loved ones and friends. It is our collective attachments that prolong and perpetuate our suffering.

A perfect example of this was the toilet paper hoarding that occurred a few weeks ago here in the United States. People are literally attached to the idea that somehow coveting a flimsy paper product that cleans one’s arse will make them feel safe and secure. It is all a false sense of security though. It is maya or illusion.

I keep thinking of the “what ifs” as I experience this new norm of being isolated and alone. Then I have to bring myself back and commit to the idea that the only thing I can do is focus on the present and let go of pre-existing norms or attachments I may have had before this global pandemic. There were so many aspects of my “normal life” that were not serving me well at all.

And honestly, the more I speak to family and friends, it seems like we all needed this time away from our “day-to-day” lives to figure out who we are and what the hell is happening on this planet. So many people’s lives have been plagued with struggles and suffering that seem to just compound from one year to the next – as if humanity were standing at the bottom of a mountain watching one avalanche after the other fall relentlessly upon us all.

This is where meditation and aparigraha comes in. It does not have to be complicated. You do not need anything other than a place to sit, stand, or lie down. You can use a pillow or blanket or not. The amazing thing about meditation is that you probably already do it and do not even realize it. For example – you can probably spend 5-20 minutes swiping through an app and “zoning” out or “decompressing” – correct? This is a form of meditation albeit not the healthiest form (depending on what you are taking in and putting out). Nevertheless, you are already a pro.

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What most people need is a meditation that provides breath, focus, and energy work/renewal. I begin most of my mornings with just a 5-10 minute meditation and I try NOT to look at my phone or any other electronics before doing so. And if I don’t succeed, I do not beat myself up about it. It’s a practice, so there is no use in getting attached to the outcome or goal! I also love love love guided meditations at night to help me sleep. No matter how you do it, or when you do it – the time is now. You have no business being bored right now – instead start this practice and do the work! See what you can let go of and release – use your breath. Your breath is life.

All the love and light dear one.

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Here are some of my favorite people out there bringing you meditations of all shapes and sizes:

1. If you have never meditated or are a beginner, guided meditations can be a great place to start. Try the Headspace App or Pacifica App or for a list of more click here

I have actually used the following clip with new students to get them comfortable with the idea of meditation. It’s only two minutes – YOU HAVE THE TIME! Try it with the self/family/quarantine buddies:

2. Do you need a healing soundbath? IG: @amarisland These are short and sweet on IG right now but she is getting ready to launch a platform with more healing sound meditations!

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Sound Healing

3. If you are needing just background music with pretty much any category of meditation music you can think of: Nu Meditation Music channel

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYy9EGb3fvmUSgMVfJ7KXJw

4. If you are needing esoteric/energy work/targeted practices: Steve Nobel

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9pPBB3LyiB1aTeHCabcMlw

5. If you want meditation music, mantras, and chakra alignment:

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https://www.youtube.com/user/TheMeditativeMind

6. Meditation can be a great break from homeschooling for the kiddos (and you)! Here is a great starter for kids:

7. Yes, I even make my dogs meditate. You can share this gem with any of your pets. My pups love it. Sometimes I just leave it on in the background for them while I take care of stuff, other times I’ve actually done this with them. #dogmomoftheyear

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The first day of spring came – Thursday March 19, 2020 – and it will end on Saturday, June 20, 2020 and who knows what the world will look like then.

Many of us were told to go inside and begin our quarantines. I have talked to countless friends and family who are now working from home, and others who have completely lost work. Since March 13, I have been purchasing and delivering groceries for family and friends who could not make it to the stores because of their schedules. Honestly, for the first time in my life – I was blessed to have the time and ability to do so. All of the bustling and lines were worth it to me to know that my people – my tribe would have some provisions for the quarantine because honestly – they had no idea it was coming. I was lucky enough to be tuned in and to see it starting before the madness.

And here we are…that was 13 days ago. Events I wanted to write about and inspire you to go see have since been canceled. Therefore, I knew I needed to regroup and figure out how best to be of service to my readers and contributors. Of course – I would relaunch a website right before the global pandemic! This honestly makes me laugh. The universe just does not care about our plans does it? She always seems to have one of her own.

I heard a quote last night from something I was watching that said, “You do not find your path in life, the path finds you.” And I think that is what is happening to us all right now – the entire collective is being asked to go inward. Perhaps what the whole world needs is a huge pause so that we can reset. Perhaps our paths have been trying to find us, but we were running around in circles going on with the day-to-day that we were not able to be present enough to be found. I do not say any of this to diminish the levity or complexity of this time for you and your loved ones. I know this is scary and I know the fear of uncertainty can be crippling. But I urge you to use this time to acknowledge that fear and do the thing anyway – whatever the thing is that your soul has been calling you to do – now is the time. And if you do not know what that thing is yet – that is perfectly okay. Just start simple.

Start with your breath. Breathe. Release your shoulders from your ears and roll them down the spine and just take in a deep breath. Imagine all of your tension rolling down the spine towards the floor of the space you are currently occupying and see it travel all the way to the center of the Earth. On the next inhale take a breath and imagine a light pouring down onto the crown of the skull and traveling into every single cell of your body. With each exhale release tension and tightness and send it down, with each inhale take in that light from above. Do this practice as often as you need to in order to feel grounded and in order to feel the healing energy of the universe. (I bet you forgot or did not know I am a certified Yoga teacher…hehehe!) Get ready, friends because I am working for you.

Here is what I have been doing. So much prepping – but not the crazy kind. I have prepped my patio for gardening since I know I will not be able to leave much and my dogs and I need that space to feel happy. I have brought out all the essential oils, sage bundles, palo santo, and began to dry herbs I found in my local community garden. I am meditating day and night…sometimes three times a day. My self-care routine needed a lot of work so I am making sure to get my walks in, naps, yoga, and make actual phone calls to friends or Zoom them. But wait there’s more…I am creating and setting intentions everyday, even on the days I feel scared, uncertain, and drained. I urge you to do the same.

I will begin to share articles that I think can help provide some grounding and healing during this time. Also, I will still share artists’ works and creations with you as well. Soak up as much art as you can right now. Soak up the things that make you happy. You deserve the rest. You deserve the self care. If you are struggling REACH OUT, please. This is not the end of humanity – this is the beginning of something new. We are about to find out what people are really made of, and honestly when you take away all the crap we have been “working for our whole lives” the only thing we end up with is who we are and how we treat each other. So be kind. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to your family and loved ones. Be kind to others.

We are all in this together even if we are socially distanced apart. Thank the people out there on the front lines – the grocers and cashiers with lines from open to close, the truck drivers working double shifts because one of their coworkers was getting sick and had to call out, the brave, understaffed, and tired medical professionals, those tenacious delivery drivers and post office workers dropping off your packages, the school teachers who are now returning to virtual classrooms with little to no prep, the people cooking and delivering your food from a safe distance…these folks and many more deserve our utmost gratitude.

Love and light to you all.

-A

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