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Ahhhh-choo!!
GRRRRR…
Owwww….
These are a few of the sounds you may be making as we move into Spring. In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) this is the season of the Liver. If you are experiencing any of the issues below, though they can occur at any time of year, they may be more pronounced as we move into this time frame.
Headaches/ body aches and pains: In TCM language, we would call this STAGNATION SYMPTOMS – pain that feels like pressure, tightness or restriction.
Muscle Stiffness: The Liver and its associated system, the Gallbladder (the Yin and the Yang) bring nourishment to the body’s connective tissue including tendons, muscles and ligaments. If you are feeling more tension and tightness this is often believed to be arthritic symtoms when it could well be a sign of Liver imbalance. These feelings may feel exaggerated as we move into spring.
Feelings of anger: This is the emotion associated with the Liver – and while occasional bouts of anger are to be expected – kind of like a release valve- more frequent outbursts can suggest that the Liver is overtaxed.
Irritation/Frustration: These two emotions are associated Gallbladder imbalances and go hand-in-hand with the physical stagnation that can take place causing a feeling of ‘stuck-ness.’ You may feel yourself clenching your jaws more than normal, stiffness in the shoulder muscles, etc.
Feelings of anger: This is the emotion associated with the Liver – and while occasional bouts of anger are to be expected – kind of like a release valve- more frequent outbursts can suggest that the Liver is overtaxed. The Gallbladder kicks in with the feelings of frustration.
Digestive upsets: For our digestive system to run smoothly, the Liver needs to maintain a balanced flow and consistent movement throughout the body. Add to this the brain-gut connection and if you are more more stressed out than usual, the digestive function takes a hit as well. KEY HERE: Don’t eat when you are angry or upset – turn OFF the TV (especially if you are watching the news).
Vision/Eye imbalances: The sense organ relating to the Liver is the eyes. Any issue here is typically attributed at least in part to a Liver imbalance. This includes poor vision as well as eye pain and fatigue and dry eyes.
Acupressure can come to the rescue in many of these imbalances. There are two key points that can be used to address many of the issues listed above. They are LV (Liver) 3 and LI (Large Intestine) 4 and are referred to as the ‘Four Gates’.
LV (LIVER) 3: located on foot between first and second toes in front of bone convergence. This is the source point of the Liver meridian – like a ‘hub’ – where primordial qi (source of life) from particular organs gathers to be distributed throughout the rest of the body. This is a ‘go-to’ point any time of year to release stagnation throughout the body and because of it’s connection with spring, even more so now. Press often and firmly.:)
LI (LARGE INTESTINE ) 4: located in the webbing between the thumb and index finger, with pressure slightly up underneath bone of index finger. (Do not use when pregnant – can induce labor.)This point is helpful for allergies, headaches, hay fever, and general pain in upper body.
Some other tips for a healthy Liver:
* Consider a cleanse (check with your doctor) or at least add sipping lemon water to your schedule every morning and even throughout the day. Lemon helps to not only cleanse our system and remove toxins, it also alkalizes the body, a key component of good health.
* Limit intake of unhealthy fats as this puts a lot of stress on both the liver and the gallbladder.
* Increase consumption of fresh leafy greens, fruits and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage) – and organic whenever possible. Also fruits that are high in fiber such as apples and pears.
* Dandelion tea would also be a nice addition as it helps to detox the body and promote bile production.
* STRETCH & BREATHE!! Consider practicing yoga & meditation to release pent up anger and frustration. (Click here for class schedule or to learn more about sage butterfly yoga.) Also, get out in the fresh air and nature daily even for a few minutes to ground and refresh your spirit.
* Do your best to not SIT too much. This not only affects our digestive system, but also our lymph system. If you are in a desk job and/or have a long commute or many hours in your car, schedule some time every hour to stand up and move around. This is absolutely essential for the health of our whole being – not just the liver.
**** And lastly, and perhaps most importantly (in any season), stop long enough several times a day to notice the miracles within and around you – everything from the blossoming of the trees (and your ability to see them), to the sound of the birds singing (and your ability to hear them) and your heart beating and connecting you to this amazing gift of Life. Now. And now. And now…
Chakra Balancing Meditation to Release Feelings of Anger
We can hold anger in any of our energy fields for various reasons, for instance, in our throat chakra if we feel unheard or stuck as far as self-expression. Or in our heart chakra if we are having a difficult time either giving or receiving love. Each of the fields can become blocked due to these emotional states. This meditation will help to alleviate the stagnation and invite in a free flow of energy from root to crown.
Chakra Balancing to Release Anger
Recently in yoga we were focusing on ‘Ajna’ – the third eye chakra, our seat of perception and command located back behind our physical eyes.
When there is a disconnect between our heart and our third eye, it is like driving around with a broken GPS. You may be moving, but without direction. As we celebrate the day/month that has come to represent love, my wish for you is radiant communion between your heart and your inner ‘GPS.’
And for those times that you feel you are floating around in a void or fog of confusion, here is a poem that may jumpstart the focus of the journey.
Spirit,
Take me beyond – wildly beyond –
my out-dated, antiquated patterns
of thinking and being…
even beyond concepts genuinely believed
to be original and expansive.
Take me to new, untrodden paths
and ways of envisioning.
Allow my journey
to be one of moment by moment
serendipitous unfoldings,
eloquently propelling me out
of my comfort zone
and hamster-wheel paradigm
Into the unexplored.
– Maureen
The Magic Carpet Ride Home
My dear Pim (Simba) went home today.(Oct.31st, 2015)
My dear Pim
She was 20+ years old (around 100 in human years) and up until very recently was pretty much in tip-top shape. Folks marveled at her condition and with good reason. She was an amazing kitty (and still is.) Letting go of her cuts like a knife and I must shift my awareness into what it is that I teach: We are all One. We are pure Love and Energy. We are always connected through time and space. And it helps somewhat, but the ‘human’ part of me wants to run through the streets screaming “NO!” It was too soon. It’s always too soon…
And so as balm to my aching heart, I choose now to share a little bit of Pim’s story with you.
She came to live with me when she was 8 years old, an exoticallly beautiful silver- striped tabby. She entered a household that was already sanctuary to three other kitties and two doggies and yet made the transition to being ‘home’ in no time at all.
One of her very favorite pastimes right from the start was to join me in yoga and I truly mean JOIN. No matter the pose, she was right there with me, including downward dog where I would warn her that there was a possibility of being catapulted across the room when I stood up. No matter. When we entered Savasana (relaxation pose), she would be sprawled out, fully relaxed and ready to let the energy settle wherever it needed to go. This inspired one of my favorite nicknames for her: My Yogini Warrior Princess. So fitting. One morning after we had completed our practice, I went to roll up my mat but couldn’t because she was still in Savasana. When I asked her to shift over, this met with the following response (I kid you not): “You’re putting the magic carpet away?” And me… “HMMM??? Magic Carpet??” I had never referred to my mat in that manner and was quite impressed. Yes, it is that indeed. And from that point on, when we did yoga together, it was on the magic carpet.
Another of her other favorite pastimes was getting an acupressure and tuning fork treatment. There she would sit on the end of the massage table in my treatment room and literally scream for me to ‘get my butt in there’ and give her a session. (Click here to see a tuning fork therapy session that took place just a few weeks ago.) I’m convinced these treatments were very instrumental in her longevity.
Something else that might have kept her young (though I’m not sure she would agree with me) was her annoying younger brother, Bianco Nove, chasing her through the house and basically harassing her whenever possible. It kept the adrenals active anyway.
Then there were the sunny days spent in her kitty yard, soaking up the light and snoozing under our beautiful maple, Kokepelli Dancing. And too many other memories to mention here…
And so. Here I sit. Looking for her to share the last part of my smoothie (which she did almost every day.) But she is not here. Her Spirit is definitely here. And with that in mind, this is my prayer for my dearest Pim, Yogini Warrior Princess:
Divine Mother/Father God, angels, guides… Please accompany my dear Pimmy as she takes her magic carpet ride back home, allow her to arrive pain-free and joyful to a beautiful fanfare of loved ones. I love her forever.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
Until we meet again…
3 a.m. … I’m awakened by my dear 20 year old kitty, Simba, who has chosen to ‘serenade’ me with her middle-of-the night feline opera.
When silence is restored, I remain sleepless, various thoughts entering and leaving the landscape of my mind. Then, unbidden, I find myself pondering the essence of the words ‘I love you.’ I consciously drop from my head to my heart into a state of ‘Being-ness’ as I contemplate these words. What do I really mean when I tell someone “I love you?” Am I sharing this from a fully cognizant state? Or perhaps sometimes from a place of neediness? From an expectation of the same feeling in return? What does it REALLY mean?
What I realized is that when we truly come from a pure heart as we share these precious words, we are wishing that Being freedom… Loving is neither ‘clingy nor presumptuous. Connection without attachment. It allows and encourages TOTAL FREEDOM to be who they are.
When we love someone from that place we are offering them the gift of peace. In Sanskrit there is a wonderful mantra that I share in my yoga classes: “Moksha”. This equates to a sense of emotional freedom, unencumbered by fear, by anger, by worry, by any feelings that fail to honor joy, openness and adventure on this earthly journey.
That is love. So now whenever I say the words, ‘I love you’ – which I say often – they will be coming from an intention of ‘May you be free… May YOU be free…”
So my friends reading this, I love you. I wish you peace. I wish you the ULTIMATE in life, which is Freedom on every level.
Namasté.
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. – Jimi Hendrix
This is a quote that I am sharing in my yoga classes as we enter the realm of Manipura, the Solar Plexus Chakra. This energy field represents and manifests courage, confidence and inner power.
Though to fully experience a sense of power, it must be understood that TRUE power comes from a place of inner peace, NOT force. It comes from an understanding that each of us shoulders a burden that might not be readily apparent to the physical eye and therefore encourages patience and a sense of equanimity. It comes from a deep spirit of compassion and realization of our Oneness with ALL Beings.
It’s no coincidence that this article is being written as many the world over mourn the death of Cecil, the beloved lion who made his home in a national park in Zimbabwe. Cecil brutally lost his life to be mantled on a trophy hunter’s wall. The tears that come when I even ponder this cruelty must now be transmuted into knowing that Cecil gave his life to raise the consciousness of our world.
The number of posts around the globe, the millions who are not only saddened but horrified at this action reveals to me that the hearts of the majority of us sharing this beautiful planet are in alignment. BUT we must now come together and allow the energy to exponentially bring peace to a planet that is experiencing violence and despair at levels perhaps greater than ever before.
So what can we do? We can come into our own peaceful inner power. We can stand up for what is right. We can honor our brothers and sisters on the path – of EVERY species. Not through force, but through example.
The energy in our hearts is strong enough to move mountains. Believe in this. Believe in the quote that Jimi Hendrix shared so many years ago.
Here also is a mantra that says it all:
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
Translated: May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all. (jivamuktiyoga.com)
Below you can listen to the fabulous Deva Premal & Miten share this beautiful mantra.
Namasté.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/usJl7oiZPnc” target=”_blank”>Deva & Miten
Compassion
Pivotal Moments
Has anything ever happened along your life path where you can look back and recognize that a single event, conversation or random choice completely changed the course?
One such occurrence stands out for me really strongly. I was visiting Taos, New Mexico with my ex-husband. (Well, he was still my husband at that point haha. THAT’S a whole ‘nother blog.);) Anyway, we had been living in Nashville, Tennessee and while we both liked it there, we knew it was time for a change and Taos was one of the options we had in mind. When we arrived there, as beautiful as it was, we both knew inside that this was not the place we were to relocate.
The other option that we were considering was Port Townsend, Washington. So, sitting in a café in a courtyard in the middle of the village in Taos, we both agreed – that was indeed the place for us. Just then the waitress arrived with our beverages and as she placed them in front of us, she smiled and asked where we were visiting from. We looked at one another and told her, “Well, currently we live in Nashville, but we are moving to Port Townsend, Washington. SHE says, “OH! I love Port Townsend!” We looked at each other again, thinking, “Wow, what are the odds? Here we are in Taos and she is familiar with this small town in Washington?” Then she adds, “But have you also considered Bellingham?” At that point neither of us were familiar with Bellingham but the thought was implanted and we both agreed, perhaps before making a final decision we should check it out as well. And so we did. As well as Birch Bay. AND that is where we ended up relocating.
SO. If that particular waitress had not been working that day OR we had not stopped for a drink, our entire future could have been quite different. Not to mention life stories of everyone we have met and therefore influenced in some manner along the way.
Those kind of things just blow me away. The reason I am sharing this is because we are on Third Eye chakra this week in yoga class – our seat of perception and inner guidance. Often along this path of life it may feel that certain goals and aspirations are not panning out. But if we can remain open to the ‘Inner Guidance” that can come in many forms, (like a waitress in a café in Taos), we will know that we are exactly where we are meant to be every step of the way. Even if it appears foggy and ill-defined or we have what may feel like too many options from which to choose, when we drop down into our heart and KNOW that it’s all perfect, the stepping stones will indeed appear. Messages from God and the angels can manifest in many different forms so being open to the unexpected is a very good idea. And one day you will look back and think, ” Ahhh. Now I get it.”
Coming into this ‘state of mind and heart’ is not always easy so I want to share with you a little prayer/meditation both audio and written form called, “What If…”
Click here for audio meditation.
–
What if just for today
… you released worry.
… you lived your life moment by moment.
… you allowed yourself to see things through the eyes of a child.
… you knew that all is indeed well.
… you let the miracle of your breath carry you gently forward.
… you trusted that angels are surrounding you with love and guidance.
… you opened to the magic that happens when you live from your heart.
… you believed that you are a blessed child of God, more loved than you could ever imagine.
What if… you repeated these statements EVERY day.
Namasté.
She decided to free herself, dance into the wind, create a new language. And birds fluttered around her, writing ‘yes’ into the sky.”
– Monique Duval
I just discovered this wonderful quote and love it – this sense of freedom that resides WITHIN us always. Not when we finally have ‘enough’ money, not when the perfect mate appears in our lives, not when we are 100% pain free… Now.
What a magical time we find ourselves in… Solstice, Christmas and dawning not only of a new year, but a new era.
Can you feel it? While on some levels it appears that chaos has taken over as we see everything from tumultuous weather patterns to eruptions of violence and greed, there is also an underlying grace that is emerging. In my heart of hearts I feel it: a recognition of unity that will (and is) melting the facade of lack and separation.
Like a candle in a dark night, may we share our radiance – and the glow we create will light up the world. We will know and experience the truth: Only Love is real. Now THAT is freedom.
Affirmation: Divinely supported, I embrace the challenge, the excitement and the wonder of the flight.
Dog Walk Talk Blog 