A Time of Connection
by Guru Rattana, Ph.D. - Issue #40, December 28, 2001
Dear Friends,
The touchstones I use for this time of year are SILENT and STILL. We know that Winter Solstice, December 21st, is the shortest day of the year (northern hemisphere). Energetically that means that this is the time of the year to be quiet, to relax and to rest. This is especially true the days before Winter Solstice and the day of Winter Solstice itself. Quiet meditation is one of the best ways to align oneself with the planetary energy shift that occurs each December 21st.
The end of the year is also a good time to reflect and evaluate the past year, and to prepare and plan for the next. I find that a sincere and detailed acknowledgement of what I have accomplished during the year, brings me a feeling of deep satisfaction and a sense of completion. I take stock, of not only my physical accomplishments, but also my emotional and spiritual accomplishments. This inventory helps me appreciate how I have grown and matured during the year.
This year I feel very satisfied with the global outreach that Gordon and I have created. I am infinitely grateful to Gordon for his daily dedication to keeping our sites and these lists functioning, and all the Internet logistics this requires. I am also grateful to everyone of you for participating in your own special ways. The more you bring light into your own lives and practice spiritual disciplines like Kundalini Yoga and meditation, the more peace we bring to the world.
I recommend silent meditation during this time of year. Any pranayama exercise will help you get into a still, silent space. Sitali Pranayam is a great exercise for the season since it strengthens the immune system and cools fevers. This is done by curling the tongue so it sticks out of the mouth. Inhale through the curled tongue, exhale through the nose. Do 5 or 11 minutes. Then sit quietly and meditate on the still, silent place within. Another breath that creates this space is Breath of Fire with the arms stretched out to the sides, palms up, arms parallel to the ground. Do breath of fire for 2-3 minutes and then again sit silently. When you lose your still place, repeat the breath or do another Kundalini Yoga exercise. The trick is to take advantage of the quiet place immediately after the exercise, meditate until you get distracted, and then do another exercise or breath to align your energy and pull yourself inward.
I wish every one of you an awesome inner divine connection for the holidays, and one that continues and expands during 2002.
Below I share a poem I wrote about this special time of year.
Many blessings and peace,
Guru Rattana
The Holidays: a Time of Transition
by Guru Rattana, Ph.D.
WINTER SOLSTICE- A TIME OF ENDINGS
of completions
to say good bye
to be at peace with what is.
A time to let go
to unwind
to resolve
to relax.
A time to clean out
to purify
to disengage
to consolidate.
A time of gratitude
to appreciate my many gifts
to be in awe of the miracle of life
to be thankful for divine good fortune.
A time to be alone
to examine my goals
to know who I am and
what I am here for.
A time to develop a relationship
with Self
with the unknown
with God.
A time to be satisfied
to acknowledge my accomplishments
to appreciate lessons learned
to solidify my foundation.
A time to go inside
to find peace and focus in my center
to prepare to move on
to get guidance from within.
NEW YEARS - A TIME OF NEW BEGINNINGS
of plans for the future
to say hello to new hearts
to be excited about what can be.
A time to open myself to new possibilities
to expand my perspective of reality
to be reborn as who I really am
to venture out of my limited mind.
A time of adventure
of new horizons
of exploration
of discovery
A time to ask for what I want
to decide to be open to receive it
to engage my actions to manifest it
to trust it will happen.
A time to grab on to my dreams
to tap and own my power to create them
to join together to support each other
to unleash new possibilities.
A time to set new goals
to conceive a new project
to solidify the design
to make my vision real.
A time to jump into a new dimension of existence
to cut through the obstacles of my belief system
to conceive a new paradigm
to build a new framework for the future
to create forms for a new physical reality.
A time of accountability
of revising my priorities of what is worthwhile
of purposefully thinking how to realign my actions
of accepting responsibility for a richer life.
A time freedom
of rejuvenation
of new freedom
of renewed joy.
CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH - A TIME OF CONNECTION TO SOURCE
to light the flame in my heart
to feel the presence of my Beloved
to know that I am not alone.
A time to fall on my knees as a child
to surrender
to higher love
to God
to Guru
to turn my life over
to a power greater than me
that resides in me
that is part of me.
A time to connect with the Divine
to renew my hope
to revitalize my faith
to rebuild my trust.
A time of spirituality
to escape the material world of things
to find refuge in world of the Spirit
to open my heart to connect with
God
Christ
Buddha.
A time to accept the guidance of all Masters of the Light
who came to show us the way
to free us from our self-inflicted bondage
to manifest heaven on Earth
to feel love in our hearts
to bring light to our minds
to illumine the path of joy
to rekindle the flame of our innocence.
A time to pray to be blessed with the grace of God.
A time put on another pair of glasses
to climb to a higher vantage point from which to view life
to tune into and live by Universal Truth
to move to the next octave of being
to be open to a more profound conscious awareness.
A time to be patient and see the perfection
to perceive the light in everyone's heart
to talk to their hearts and not to their heads
to see the hope and not the pain
to see the Soul and not the game.
THE HOLIDAYS - A TIME TO LEARN ABOUT TRANSITIONS
between the old and the new.
With care I gently place
the events
the experiences and
the memories
of last year in a neat package.
I tie it with firmly with a bow
seal it with a kiss
mark it "Lessons Learned and Gifts Received" and
place it under the green tree of life.
The generous tree of life greets me with another package
which eagerly awaits my accepting embrace.
I reach out and receive the gift
with the bright curly bow
wrapped in shiny smiling paper
marked "New Challenges and New Opportunities
for the New Year."
With gratitude I understand that when the past
is lovingly taken care
of is gracefully completed
is sincerely acknowledged
is reverently blessed
the new can be born from
a clean slate
a fresh view
a pure heart.
I embrace the innocent joy of a child.
I am ready for a new adventure
Poem 145, December 14, 1993 - Copyright by Guru Rattana, Ph.D.
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