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Category Archives: Self
Image Image“A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Begins With A Single Step” — The Way Of Lao-Tzu
February 11, 2013 in Balance, Knowledge, Life, Photos, Quotes, Self, Spirituality, Wisdom
Tagged Inner Wisdom, Jennifer Miller, Journeys, Lao Tzu, Life, Pictures, Quotes, 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
“When You Are Steadfast In Your Abstention Of Thoughts Of Harm…” – Patanjali
“When you are steadfast in your abstention of thoughts of harm directed toward yourself and others, all living creatures will cease to feel fear in your presence.”
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Posted in Awareness, Freedom, Knowledge, Life, Meditation, Mind, Mindfulness, Quotes, Self, Wisdom
Tagged Abstention, Fear, Harm, Patanjali, Quotes, Yoga Sutras
“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
“In An Asana, The Mind Has To Reach Inside The Body To Find A Quiet Space…” – Geeta Iyengar
“In an asana, the mind has to reach inside the body to find a quiet space until a point comes where perfect balance is felt. If the mind is wandering while practicing, then one is not fully present, and there can be no union. Involvement, interpenetration and insight are the required qualities for the practitioner.”
Geeta Iyengar, Eldest Daughter of B.K.S. Iyengar
“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
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:
“Thank you for taking time to talk with us.”
“My blood pressure just went down
While petting your dogs.”
“Did you get the pups Christmas Bones?”
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
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. 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. 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) 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, two women, who appeared to be in their mid-50’s, walked in behind us. I could immediately sense that both of them were 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. Middle-age 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 is very important that our support group of family and friends be sources of positive energy, and not drain us of our vitality.
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 shopping at “Trader Joes”, I sensed a woman looking at me and my daughter. She looked to be about 70 and I smiled and 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. You and your daughter are so beautiful.”
This was one of kindest compliments I have ever received. I told her thank you and that true beauty lies within all of us. She responded by saying that she knew I would say that, and if she felt otherwise, she would never have said it.
My daughter and I smiled at each other and thought that this lady was a truly beautiful person. I asked her If I could take her home with me. She represented to me the beauty 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
“Love, Without Desire To Possess…This Is The Highest Love.” – Love Or Loving-Kindness (Metta), One Of The Four Basic Sublime States In Buddhism
October 8, 2012 in Balance, Gratitude, Heart-Based Healing, Knowledge, Life, Love, Quotes, Self, Soul, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women
Tagged Buddha, Buddhism, Jennifer Miller, Love, Pictures, Wisdom
“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