-
Join 566 other subscribers
May 2024 M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SPIRITUAL MEDITATION
YOGA PRACTICE
Yoga Goddess Followers
Category Archives: Reflections
Image“To Be Able To Stay In Our Heart…Takes Openness, Expansion And Learning To Be Vulnerable”
By Jennifer Miller
To be able to stay in our heart as we navigate life is truly beautiful. It takes openness, expansion and learning to be vulnerable. My heart is like my inner guidance system, giving signals energetically. If something feels right, it sings with happiness; negative energy is sensed as well.
“When we complete the journey to our own heart, we will find ourselves in the hearts of everyone else.”
Father Thomas Keating, in Be The Change
I have realized what a gift my journey has been, with the most difficult timesĀ opening my heart even more. I now feel a connectedness, a oneness with all.
Namaste
Posted in Awareness, Feelings, Freedom, Happiness, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Mindfulness, Reflections, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Balance, Heart, Heart-Based Healing, Inner Wisdom, Jennifer Miller, Life, Wisdom
Reflections On Raising Daughters To Call On Their Own Masculine While Maintaining Their Feminine
By Jennifer Miller
Concerned they do not haveA father around.They have learned to callOn their own masculineWhile maintaining their feminine.Transforming their painInto strength.Sorrow into wisdom.Broken hearts into kindness and compassion.Their wit and humor is always present.So many gifts come out of the struggles andJourney of life when we look close enoughTo see all the beauty and blessings.
Namaste
“I Dreamed I Was A Dancer, And What Did I See?” – By Jennifer Miller
January 13, 2013 in Asanas, Dreams, Life, Photos, Reflections, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Women, Yoga
“Breathing In The New Day…Keeping The Stillness Within My Mind”
By Jennifer Miller
Breathing in the new day,
Gazing at its sunrise beauty.
Gratitude fills my soul.
Ocean is still, reminding me to
Keep the stillness within my mind.
Accepting and knowing that all is
Well and perfect as it is.
Crisp air fills my lungs while
Sounds of nature calm my senses.
Birds chirping and the pond trickles,
Joy rises in my heart.
Namaste
Posted in Asanas, Breathing, Happiness, Life, Meditation, Mind, Mindfulness, Reflections, Self, Silence, Soul, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Beauty, Breathing, Jennifer Miller, Mind, Mindfulness, Morning, Quiet, Quieting the Mind, Stillness
“The Present Moment Is Filled With Joy And Happiness…” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Posted in Asanas, Happiness, Life, Mindfulness, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Happiness, In The Moment, Jennifer Miller, Mindfulness, Present, Quotes, Thich Nhat Hanh
“Awareness Is Not The Same As Thought…More Like A Vessel Which Can Hold And Contain Our Thinking” – Jon Kabat-Zinn
” Awareness is not the same as thought. It lies beyond thinking, although it makes use of thinking, honoring its value and its power. Awareness is more like a vessel which can hold and contain our thinking, helping us to see and know our thoughts rather than getting caught up in them as reality”
From “Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life” By Jon Kabat-Zinn
Posted in Awareness, Balance, Breathing, Detachment, Knowledge, Life, Meditation, Mind, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Soul
Tagged Awareness, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Mind, Mindfulness, Quotes, Thoughts
Building A Spiritual Altar: A Great Way To Connect With Our Soul As We Begin The New Year
By Jennifer Miller
.
Building an Altar is a great way
To start the New Year.
Have fun with it!!!
Find a special place in your home.
My main altar is where I practice yoga.
There are several other small altars
Around my home that I move around
Depending on my mood and intention.
Ideas of what to place on your Altar:
Ā Deities – I have Quan Yin (Goddess of
Ā compassion), Kali and Mother Mary.
Ā Photographs of loved ones, who I am
Ā praying for.
Ā Mala Prayer Beads.
Ā Fresh Flowers – I like to place something from the earth.
Ā Incense – I imagine the smoke going into the Heavens
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā with my prayers and intentions for the day.
Ā Candles – I always light one when I am in the home.
Ā Aromatherapy – I love beautiful scent.
Ā Words of Wisdom – Beautiful thoughts as you walk by.
Ā Mirror – To remind me to go within for answers.
Ā Special treasures from travels.
.
“May we all find peace within andExtend that love to all that we encounter.”
Happy New Year to you and your loved ones.
Namaste, Jennifer
.
(Please note that Mala prayer beads, aromatherapy and candles can
Ā be purchase at the Heart Based Healing Store, with a portion going
Ā to benefit women at risk.)
Posted in Asanas, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Life, Prayers, Reflections, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Altar, Jennifer Miller, Mala Beads, Mirrors, New Year, Pictures, Prayers, Spirituality
Taking Time To See, Listen To And Respect The Homeless This Holiday Season
By Jennifer Miller
Connecting with the homeless and
Passing out gift bags.
Walking the boardwalk.
Men and women just starting to rise.
Observing, witnessing:
āThank you for taking time to talk with us.ā
āMy blood pressure just went down
While petting your dogs.ā
āDid you get the pups Christmas Bones?ā
They truly just wanted to be seen, respected, heard.
Smiles with missing teeth, yet
Gratitude filled their presence.
Walking the boardwalk in the future,
Taking time to talk to them and
Have them pet my dogs.
The biggest gift of all.
Posted in Gratitude, Hope, Life, Men, Reflections, Self, Spirituality, Women
Tagged Charity, Gratitude, Homeless, Homelessness, Men, Women
“Lighting Candles, Hanging Lights And Letting Things Be With Words By Paul Ferrini”
By Jennifer Miller
.
Morning coffee, so good.
Lighting candles and incense as
I start my morning yoga practice.
Arriving on the mat is like coming home again.
.
Beautiful morning walking the dogs, aka “the babies”.
Breathing in the coves of Laguna ahhh!!
Breakfast at the local cafe; cool people, artist types.
Walking out, a homeless woman under a blanket.
All I can see is one foot.
My heart sinks and I want to ask her what she needs?
I know she is probably an addict.
.
Back home to make homemade granola.
A yum yum Christmas tradition.
Looking through the mail and
a child support check arrives.
It’s been a while.
.
My mind goes to the last 5 years.
No father in these kid’s lives.
No anger… only hope.
Could this man possibly change?
.
I let it go to the Spirit and check my heart.
It’s in a good place.
Forgiveness is there.
.
My beloved hangs Christmas lights.
So many years without lights.
They symbolize healing for my family.
.
I look around….
No lights in the small neighborhood.
We have been judged here.
A single mom and trouble with her son.
.
Interesting.
We are the ones with lights.
.
A big lesson in my journey: do not judge by the outside.
.
Open up a new book.
A favorite thing to do.
Reading,Ā deep reflections come to me.
.
The poetic words of Paul Ferrini:
.
Life is constantly asking us to make adjustments,to give up our agenda.It is asking us to give up the conceit that we know the way things are supposed to be.Letting things be is a way of saying to God“I’m willing to dance with you.”From “Dancing With The Beloved”.
.
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Balance, Family, Forgiveness, Freedom, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Hope, Knowledge, Life, Light, Mothers, Pain, Poems, Quotes, Recovery, Reflections, Soul, Spirituality, Trust, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Candles, Dogs, Jennifer Miller, Life, Light, Lights, Paul Ferrini, Quotes, Yoga, Yoga Mat, Yoga Practice
The Importance Of Always Listening For The Inner Voice Of Guidance Within Ourselves
By Jennifer Miller
Its seems so simple to always listen to Divine Guidance. We hear it as a small whisper, and it sounds different from our normal brain chatter. But, in truth, this voice is always with us, as Caroline Myss states below:
“Do not assume that divine guidance flows only when you are in need of help. Guidance continues to flow whether or not you have problems…Whether guidance comes during times of tranquility or trauma, however, it is up to you to have the courage to acknowledge it”
It could be just a word, for example, while grocery shopping, as to what I need. I will often ignore it and when I get home, sure enough, that is something I needed. It’s happened so often that I know it’s “TRUE”.
Before getting married, there were warning signs, all of which I ignored. When we are young and innocent, we don’t listen much to anyone. I remember, as a small girl, hearing the voice that I now know as guidance. Entering the teen years, I no longer listened to its counsel. Now, as a mother and wiser woman, I not only hear, but feel this guidance with my body. When something is truly right, my body sings with joy. I breathe freely and my heart feels alive while my spirit sores.
I now listen to my heart, which is like having your best friend inside of you. It knows me like no one else, offering unconditional love while wanting the best for me and my family. As I navigate life, I am now constantly listening for that small voice within. Like a soft caress, it has a smooth and loving feeling.
A great way to complete this connection is through controlled breathing, which helps to circulate the positive benefits throughout our body. Breathing in, I feel a soothing calm that is pulled upward from my feet until it reaches my head. Tensions melt as I close my eyes. Breathing out, negative thoughts and worries are expelled, leaving a feeling of contentment that comes with releasing, letting go, and not remaining attached to things and events.
So many good things happen when we maintain a healthy mind-body-spirit connection…
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Balance, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Mothers, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Soul, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Body, Caroline Myss, Divine Guidance, Guidance, Inner Wisdom, Jennifer Miller, Mind, Quotes, Spirituality, Wisdom
“A Life Of Dharma Is Exactly Like A Great Yoga Posture…An Experience So Far Beyond Any Pleasure You’ve Ever Had…” – Stephen Cope
Dharma: Knowledge of or duty to undertake conduct set forth by the Buddha as a way to enlightenment.
“…A Life of dharma is exactly like a great yoga posture. Everything must be aligned around the spine. The dharma is a strict taskmaster. It will require you to reach — to work at your maximum potential.
In order to do this, you will have to learn to take better care of yourself. You will have to sleep and eat properly…You will probably have to create a regular schedule. And one day you’ll realize you’re in training like an Olympic athlete.Ā But not any old training– a particular kind of training, the particular kind of training that will support your dharma and no one else’s.
The dharma itself will prescribe this training, and you will know it when you stumble onto it through trial and error.Ā You’ll know it by its results, because in moments when you’re in proper training, you will feel yourself a channel…You will have stepped aside somehow (and let it come through you)…And this is an experience so far beyond any pleasure you’ve ever had that you will most definitely want more of it. And so you will henceforth be increasingly careful about your training regimen…You want to be clear…”
From: “The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling” By Stephen Cope
Posted in Asanas, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Mindfulness, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Asanas, Dharma, Jennifer Miller, Life, Stephen Cope, Training, Yoga
The Importance Of Surrounding Ourselves With Positive People As We Clean Our Spiritual House
By Jennifer Miller
My weekend morning walks with the babies (my two small dogs)Ā have been so enjoyable and nurturing for my soul and spirit. As we walked into a small cafe in downtown Laguna and stood in line to order, twoĀ women, who appeared to be in their mid-50’s, walkedĀ inĀ behind us. I could immediately sense that both of them wereĀ comfortable with who they were, and their confidence and grace added to the positive energy I usually feel when I come here.
And it gave me an opportunity to reflect on my life and the lives of so many women.Ā Middle-ageĀ is a time to examine the health of our “inner selves” and honor the journey that has brought us to this point. For many of us, the proceeding 20-25 years required us to be “GIVERS”, sacrificing for our children and husbands. As our role changes, we must seek out relationships and activities that nourish our body and soul. So it isĀ very important that our support group of family and friendsĀ beĀ sources of positive energy, and not drain us of our vitality.
Ā Who is on Team Jen? Who is there to support and root for me?
I have been cleaning my home recently in a way that is very healthy and life-enhancing. I believe this reflects my desire to “clean house” in my emotional life as well. I am present and in the moment, sorting through physical and mental “attachments”, seeing what are necessary and which should be discarded. As I sat in the crowded cafe patio, eating a wonderful breakfast, I am deeply connected with positive and calming sounds.
I hear birds chirping. Surrounded by people talking, I am one with birds chirping…and peace fills my body.
The day before while grocery shoppingĀ at “Trader Joes”, I sensed aĀ woman looking at me and my daughter. She looked to be about 70 and I smiled andĀ made room for her, thinking that she needed to get by. She came up to me and grabbed my hand and said:
“If I could come back in my next life and be you for 10 seconds I would be the happiest woman in the world.Ā You and your daughter are so beautiful.”
ThisĀ was one of kindest compliments I have ever received.Ā I told her thank you and that true beauty lies within all of us.Ā She responded by saying thatĀ she knew I would say that, and if she felt otherwise, she would never haveĀ said it.
My daughter and I smiled at each other and thought that this ladyĀ was a truly beautiful person.Ā I asked her If I could take her home with me. She represented to me the beautyĀ of aging with grace.
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Gratitude, Knowledge, Life, Love, Mindfulness, Reflections, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Aging, Beauty, Inner Beauty, Jennifer Miller, Positive, Reflections, Self-Reflection, Soul, Spirituality
“Adopt The Pace Of Nature. Her Secret Is Patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Posted in Asanas, Balance, Knowledge, Life, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Silence, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Jennifer Miller, Nature, Patience, Quotes, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Yoga
“A Morning In The Life Of A Yogini” By Jennifer Miller, Published In SunGoddessMagazine.com
Posted in Asanas, Balance, Knowledge, Life, Meditation, Mindfulness, Reflections, Self, Spirituality, SunGoddess Magazine, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Asanas, Ashtanga, Jennifer Miller, Magazines, Nutrition, Power Shakes, SunGoddess Magazine, Yoga, Yoga Practice, Yogini
Honoring Ourselves By “Seeing” That The Most Beautiful Things Must Be “Felt With The Heart”
By Jennifer MillerĀ
.
āThe most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.ā
Helen Keller (1880-1968)
.
What are theĀ best ways to honor ourselvesĀ each day?Ā I have learnedĀ to start each day by acknowledging theĀ beauty that is all around me,Ā starting with the beautyĀ that comes from within. It allows us to see who we really are.
.
I love the connection that is possible whenĀ I walk past someone andĀ afterĀ a quick look in each others eyes, there is a mutualĀ “I SEE YOU”. Ā I can see and senseĀ that person’s soul’s essence. This isĀ one of life’s most wonderful moments,Ā and confirms a sense of being alive and in the moment.
.
My own life’sĀ experiences have established a mind-body-spirit connection for which I amĀ grateful.Ā I have grown as a womanĀ through the pain and it has resulted in anĀ appreciationĀ for beauty that I experience with my heart.Ā Ā IĀ learned that the only way throughĀ very difficult periods in life is to genuinely feel it and beĀ transmuted to aĀ higher plane.
.
There is never an easy way to escape pain and trauma in life. You have toĀ feel to heal…
Thank you life for bringing me here. Ā Namaste
Posted in Balance, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Life, Mindfulness, Pain, Quotes, Reflections, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Suffering, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Beauty, Connection, Heart, Heart-Based Healing, Helen Keller, Inner Beauty, Inner Wisdom, Life, Mind, Quotes, Wisdom
Reflections On “A Course In Miracles”: Choosing to Live In A Place Of Love And Not Fear
By Jennifer Miller
Marianne Williamson’s “A Course in Miracles” teaches thatĀ most of usĀ live in a place of love or fear. We have a choice of how we want to be and act in any given situation.I have been reflecting recently that I am atĀ a point in my lifeĀ where I am aware ofĀ how am feeling and, if I am reacting to these feelings,Ā I know it. IĀ am striving to limit theseĀ “reactions”,Ā and remain in the moment, aĀ state of peaceful quietude where nothing can “rock my world”.
And I continue to make progress. There have been many situationsĀ in the past yearĀ that might haveĀ “taken me out”.Ā IĀ now strive to find that place of acceptance and often, detachment,Ā which allows me toĀ step back and say to myselfĀ “I see what is going on here…game over”.
Every one ofĀ us canĀ choseĀ toĀ live in fear or love at that very moment. I recently watched Marianne WilliamsonĀ speaking to Oprah about how our life’s blueprint isĀ designedĀ to achieve our highest purpose.
AnyoneĀ can “download”Ā their life planĀ but ifĀ it is not synchronized withĀ our emotions, weĀ have little chance ofĀ fulfillingĀ our highest purpose.
In yoga, we are trained to stay with our breath. Whatever asana or posture we are in, no matter what is going on inĀ my body, I strive to remain in aĀ quiet place of peace.Ā Our body and mind follow our breath.Ā I strive daily toĀ remain conscious ofĀ thisĀ and come back to this “place of peace”Ā whenĀ I feel rattled or off in some way.
Ahhhh… that beautiful connection to our soul is all through the discipline of BREATH…
Namaste, Jennifer Miller
Posted in Asanas, Balance, Book Reviews, Breathing, Detachment, Knowledge, Life, Love, Meditation, Mindfulness, Reflections, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga
Tagged Books, Breathing, Fear, Inner Peace, Jennifer Miller, Love, Marianne Williamson, Peace, Quiet, Reviews