drop your anchors

New Year Dreams or Screams?

I glance across the Facebook newsfeed and see such a range of experience. Some feeling upbeat and raring to go, others in a state of overwhelm and paralysis, people demonstrating huge and arguably appropriate concern over the out of control fires in Australia, the pending crisis with Iran and America, our own messy political infrastructure here in the UK, whilst others still appear blissfully unaware and delighted to share their joyful moments recently spent with family and friends.  I guess it is a widespread view of the whole of life and therefore can be expected to be somewhat scattered.

I say I “glance” at FB and this is the truth of it - my own current levels of sensitivity and strong feelings mean that any longer a look than a glance and I would definitely feel pulled off centre. I’m also aware that at this time of year especially, i.e. the Gregorian New Year, I feel completely out of sync with the energy of it all. Many of my dearest friends and wonderful comrades in the world of healing, health, transformation and coaching etc launch some great initiatives on the 1st of January, whereas I look on with hibernation eyes and draw myself further under winter’s duvet. Once upon a time I would have severely berated myself for this and attempted to force myself into action. Now-a-days I do still get a few niggles of discomfort but I also trust the felt-senses of the seasons and know that if I honour the natural flow, resting as much as possible now, that Spring and Summer will bring the light and vitality that is perfect for positive action.

So how to be with this incongruence and conflict?

being with what is ~ healthfully 

I don't believe it serves us well, either personally nor at a more universal level, to simply pretend the struggles of life don't exist. Closing our eyes and ears and "transcending by avoiding" simply buries any difficult emotions and thoughts for a more powerful eruption later and can lead one into an ungrounded and dysfunctional state. Yet if we focus ONLY on struggles then we become swamped in a never-ending self-defeating spiral of negative thoughts feeding negative emotions feeding a negative approach to life which creates more negative thoughts and more negative feelings and on and on. 

​It seems to me that there are at least four stages (or four friendly anchors) that enable us to be with what is, and move in helpful directions, all the while creating, becoming and being the light for ourselves and for others who may be stuck in the cycle of negativity.

Four friendly anchors

The Four Friendly Anchors as I'm light-heartedly choosing to call them are really and simply our innate psycho-emotional-maintenance system that we all of us move through one way or another - either skilfully or messily. Yet sometimes it helps to lay these processes out in a clear form, that way we can remember and choose with intention to step into the process each time we feel pulled off centre or find ourselves in a stress-response to life. Please note, this isn't a linear process, 1 to 2 to 3 to 4; but something far more fluid, intuitive and organic, so while I lay it out in stages for ease of writing, let your experience be something far more flowing than this.

Acknowledge
In order to keep it real we need to take a look at what is going on; in the world, in our lives, in our own body-mind and feelings. Of course, with major global events brought to us through the media, we are never going to know what is being represented accurately and what is misinformation or manipulation, so as we acknowledge all that we are seeing, we need to recognise that some of it may not be "real". And yet our inner responses to anything we see are very real for us and these inner responses are what need to be acknowledged. So take a moment to turn those seeing eyes inwards, quietly sit and draw your attention within. Acknowledge the quality and content of your thoughts; how your physical body feels, where are you tight, where are you experiencing pain or discomfort; what emotions are with you; can your feel any eros flowing, any tingles of energy? Are there tears, growls, yells wanting to be sounded?

Express
We need to give ourselves permission to express our thoughts and feelings, in the expression lies the power to release and transform. So take a moment now to sense what your preferred forms of expression are. Do you like to talk it out with friends or a therapist/coach? Do you prefer writing and what style - creative, poetry or journaling? Do you sculpt, paint, dance, drum, sing?




Release
Release may happen before, during or after Expression, so feel into what is true for you. For me there are two parts to release, or perhaps two flavours. One is cathartic release, the emptying out of pent up emotion which once released leaves me feeling so much lighter, relaxed and liberated. It is important to have your inner observer or inner parent with you if you enter catharsis on your own, a part of you that can call time and gently hold you and draw you up for air. It also supports you in ensuring that you don't cause yourself, your environment or anyone else any harm as you tantrum yourself to freedom. I find drumming and/or breathwork greatly supports me in entering this kind of release - what works for you?

The second flavour of release is the simple, gentle yet complete decision to let go. To smile at all you have acknowledged and expressed and choose to soften, unclench the metaphoric (or actual) fists and drop all that is not serving you. Easy for some, and easier for all of us after adequate time spent acknowledging and expressing.






​Elevate 
Finally as you move through the other three of the four friendly anchors (of sanity!) you will feel the organic happening of elevation. We can create a false elevation by bypassing the other three phases and using positive thinking or blatant, stubborn action to disregard our feelings and force ourselves into a lower-level happier state. This might be known to you as "pull yourself together and get on with it" - it works for short to mid-term, but often keeps one trapped in an energy that is more aligned with resignation than with the bliss of true elevation. At best this approach will help one to survive life in a numbed out kind of way; at worst it could lead into emotional, mental or physical illness/breakdown.

When we move into elevation as a natural effect of taking care of ourselves by moving through the stages of acknowledging, expressing and releasing; we engage a delightful sense of buoyancy as we tend to whatever else we need to tend to in life. This form of elevation is what enables us to "be the light", we are centred in Self and radiate calm clarity as a gift for all.




​Rinse & Repeat
A final note that this is not a one-time event. Life spans out across the years, there is change and challenge every step of the way, marvellous and terrible opportunities for growth and richness at every turn. So it serves us very well to enter this process on a regular basis. To begin with we may find ourselves clearing years of baggage, touching on the yet to be met woundings of the past; in time we catch up with ourselves and can keep ourselves clear by doing some version of the above frequently if not daily (or moment by moment). The struggles and challenges of life will forever be part of the earthly human experience (well, until they are not!), yet we don't have to suffer them. Taking things seriously whilst holding all lightly, we can be with the challenges, grow through them, evolve, and as we disentangle ourselves from our own suffering, we can play a vital part in easing the suffering of others too. Sat Nam.

the Magic mantra 

I’m currently keeping myself sane by using a beautiful mantra and meditation practice which I have been experimenting with. By weaving the Four Friendly Anchors into this practice I'm experiencing a new way of riding the waves and invite you to do the same if the negativity and struggles of life are weighing heavily. 

​The mantra is "Ek Ong Kar Sat Gur Prasad Sat Gur Prasad Ek Ong Kar" and is known as the "Magic Mantra" because it's effects are felt immediately and have the power to completely reverse negativity. Now there are ways to practice this with so much power that it comes with a warning (one such way being the Gutka Kriya). We are cautioned to be sure to be feeling reverent as we enter this meditation, (i.e. prepare a sacred space and be humble before Source/God); and also know that the vibrations continue to magnify your mental state after the practice so you will need to keep your mind focused on how you desire life to be, as opposed to focusing all that is wrong in the world.  There is a warning offered by Yogi Bhajan that the Magic Mantra can backfire and cause harm IF it isn't approached with great respect.

And while I would always encourage one to create a sacred space and be respectful when utilising ANY ancient practice; my experience so far in using this mantra in the way described below is that it has only produced wonderful relief from heaviness, and the movement into a positive and optimistic state of mind & being. It IS good practice though, following any meditation, and maybe especially after one such as this, to spend the next few minutes at least reflecting on and projecting forward only high, happy and positive thoughts.

It is also VITAL practice when engaging with anything to be your own guide, recognising your own power and sovereignty to take good care of you throughout. If you choose to experiment with the meditation below, please step out of it and stop should you notice any ill effect. Feel most welcome to contact me should you need to talk about what you have experienced.

Enjoy exploring and let me know how you get on by leaving a comment! 

Reverse Negativity & Dream in The New World

Prepare and Tune In
Set the scene by lighting a candle and making yourself comfortable either crossed legged on a cushion on the floor; or sitting in a chair with both feet on the floor. Either way feel your weight balanced equally on the sit bones, and invite there to be length both in the front line of the body, and in the length of the spine. Head resting at the top of the spine in a very light lock (collar bone reaching upwards, chin slightly dropped to lengthen the neck).

Take your hands into prayer position, resting the base of the thumbs against the chest at the level of the heart. Enjoy two or three long full breaths to fully land in the body and in the moment. Sing/sound the mantra "Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo" three times over to align with your inner teacher and the lineage of teachers who have kept this wisdom alive through the ages. (Video to the right will support you if you have never done this before)







​The Practice
Arms are relaxed down yet elbows straight, and the back of each wrist is resting on each knee. If sitting in a chair allow the thighs to be comfortably wide so that the arms and therefore chest are open.

Hands are in Gyan Mudra (tips of thumb and first finger touching - see image in right column)
Your eyes are looking down at the tip of the nose and are one tenth open.

Listen to Satkirin Kaur Khalsa's recording of the mantra and sing along. In this version there is a break in the mantra and a bridge about 5 minutes in, we will use that as a turning point.

For the first half of the recording sing along with the mantra while you allow yourself to be with all that worries you and challenges you. Personal and global events and situations, all you perceive as being wrong and a source of suffering. Acknowledge what is happening for you and be open to receive any insights as to how you might later like to express yourself. Releasing is likely to happen at this stage also, especially if you have been holding onto emotions, so give yourself permission for any tears to fall and any other emotions to make themselves known.

Invite that the musical bridge serves as a turning point and as the second half of the mantra begins, sing along, this time using your imagination and heartfelt emotion to dream into view a more perfected world and life.

Your eyes are now closed yet turned upwards looking towards the third eye area of the forehead. 

Allow the mantra to support you in the gentle simple 'flavour' of release and let it all go. Be open to beginning to feel yourself being elevated into positivity. 

There is another musical bridge at 10mins which we can use to support the intention towards elevation. SMILE!

In the final 30 seconds or so of the mantra be purely focused on love, compassion, forgiveness and a vision of a world in which we all belong and all thrive (ALL including all our relations - plant, rock, animal, soil, water)




Tune Out
Complete the practice by taking the hands once more into prayer at the chest and singing/sounding the mantra "SAT NAM"
3 three times - a long Saaaaaaat, and short Nam. 

If you would like a fuller completion the video to the right will guide you to close with "The Long Time Sun" blessing.



Express
Recall those insights around expression and should it still feel relevant, take up a pen, a paint brush, a recording device or whatever your preferred form is and bless yourself and the world by expressing your truth. Sat Nam. 

NB An alternative to experiment with:
​If you can share this practice with another, it is supremely powerful and heart-opening to sit opposite one another and eye-gaze throughout the whole of it. To share your vulnerability as emotions move through you and witness one another without judgement as you move from your small and personal self towards your elevated Self - Wow! Nothing quite like it.

If you are practicing solo you can eye-gaze with yourself using a mirror; or using an image of a teacher/guru/ascended master/archetype that you feel drawn to.