Kundalini Yoga - 9

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OUR INNER JOURNEY - TUNING IN

 

THE ELEMENTS AND ENERGY

 

One of the goals of yoga is to balance the five tattvas. The tattvas

are the elements that make up our human existence and indeed all

life - AIR, WATER, FIRE, EARTH AND ETHER.

 

The elements are related to the chakras. Each chakra embodies the

energy of one or more elements.

 

The astrological signs each embody the energy of one of the

elements. When we work with the energies that are available at any

specific time, it is easier to tune into, align with and tap the

energy of that element.

 

CULTIVATING CONSCIOUSNESS

 

The practice of Kundalini yoga will automatically facilitate our

alignment. However, the actual performance of the exercises or

asanas is only half of our practice. The other half is the

development of our awareness. We must practice focusing our mind on

what we are feeling, thinking and experiencing in order to cultivate

a deeper experience of reality and ourselves. It is through our

mental focus that we develop our sensitivities to energies. It is

through our attention that are able to participate in the process of

our own alignment, healing and relaxation. It is by listening that

we hear the voice of our soul, our intuition and receive the answers

to our prayers.

 

I practiced Hatha and then Kundalini yoga for many years before I

realized that I must sit still and be with what was going on with my

thoughts, body, and emotions in order to make conscious shifts

especially in my mental and emotional states. The Buddhists call

this attention mindfulness. The experience of being with our fears

and resistance in our bodies is not comfortable. We have trained

ourselves to avoid feeling uncomfortable at all costs. Unfortunately

the price we pay is very high. We lose our power to what remains

unconscious.

 

We often think that we just have to do more yoga or more chanting and

all our disfunctions will all go away. Our issues do not simply all

disappear. Some do. And that is wonderful. But many require our

conscious awareness, and choice, in order to be changed and

transmuted. Kundalini yoga and meditation bring our issues into the

light so we can choose to release them and move on.

 

Beyond releasing negative patterns, resistances and thoughts, there

are infinite possibilities of consciousness. The more we cultivate

our awareness, the more we experience and the richer our lives

become.

 

THE INNER JOURNEY

 

I am integrating the knowledge of astrology with the Kundalini Yoga

Training because it gives us guidelines on how to focus our awareness

and expand our consciousness.

 

For those of you who do not have teachers and classes in your area,

the guidelines on how to tune into energies will be especially

valuable. Remember many yogis in the past went to a teacher to

receive one meditation and then went away by themselves for up to 12

years to practice and perfect it before returning to the teacher.

The spiritual journey is an inner journey. All the techniques are to

coax us to go within and find the universe within ourselves.

 

In the last two New Millennium Being Newsletters, I have set out

guidelines for tuning into Taurus and Earth energy. I have also

given a meditation by Yogi Bhajan to practice during this time. The

Har Har Gobinde meditation is actually a warrior meditation that was

used to prepare soldiers for battle. Below I am including the Tune

in to Taurus and the Meditation again. After practicing it for 11

minutes, simply sit or lie quietly and tune into and feel the energy

as it pulses through your body. Listen within. And enjoy the

moment.

 

Life is rich, elegant and beautiful. May you be blessed to enjoy

every moment of it.

 

TUNING INTO TAURUS

 

The energy of each sign lives within each of us and awaits (or

demands) activation and alignment. During the month of May, when the

frequency of Taurus is so abundantly available, we are both obliged

to learn Taurus lessons and blessed to receive her gifts. Tuning into

the energy of the Taurus is the best way to take full advantage of

the opportunities available at this time.

 

How do we tune into Taurus energy? It is going to be hard not to

this year. It is so all-pervasive. Taurus makes us slow down.

Stopping is a great start! Taurus energy also grounds us and helps

us be very present in our bodies and aware of the sensations in our

bodies. Slowing down, being present and feeling the sensations in

our bodies will help us further refine our sensitivities to Taurus

energy. By anchoring our awareness in the strong, steady and

sensuous Taurus energy, we synergize with it. The more we can make

this a meditation and a non-verbal experience, the more we will get

to know Taurus within ourselves.

 

To help tune into Taurus energy we simply be present to the effects

of gravity on our body. We can also recall some of the main

attributes of the Bull, which include stable, loyal, patient,

sensual, indulgent, stubborn, resistant, immovable, lazy, slow and

attuned to the natural world. Our goal is to allow ourselves to

experience these energies and then to work with them and allow them

to nurture, sustain and teach us. The above attributes are all

expressions of the same primal Earth and desire energies that bring

substance to our existence.

 

EARTH ENERGY Taurus is the Earth element, so during your meditation

be sure to bring your attention to your root chakra. You may even

feel the energetic roots from your first chakra connecting to the

Earth. We want to establish an experience of rootedness and a secure

foundation in our body. This is accomplished by simply being present

TO the sensations in our body.

 

The use of symbols can be useful--like relating to yourself as a tree

or rock-- stable, solid, immovable. I like meditating with a heart-

shaped rock I found on the beach near my feet. If these props

actually facilitate tuning into the solid, peaceful, totally

accepting nature of the Earth energy, they can be very useful.

Visualizations that keep our attention in the mind and out of our

bodies are distractions. Of course, meditating or walking in nature

is the best.

 

DESIRE ENERGY Taurus is also desire energy. To tap it and make the

best use of it, we have to experience it in its most primal form

before it becomes an emotion or a commotional story. Meditating on

yourself as a flower can help stimulate a feeling of self-love.

Taurus teaches us that one of the highest forms of healing is

available through self-love.

 

In its purest form, desire energy translates into charisma and

magnetism. To cultivate desire energy we again have to focus on the

sensations in our bodies and practice loving what we are feeling.

This helps us contain our energy, which makes us a magnet. Being

present to the peaceful Earth energy and indulging in how wonderful

it feels to be at peace in our bodies is a great way to cultivate

presence and power.

 

TUNING IN Uranus and Aquarius specialize in surprises and

serendipity. Although fortuitous events may appear as good luck and

misfortunes may seem like bad luck, there are no simple coincidences

in the universe. Every event, every person and every breath are

connected in the cosmic web. The connections are usually invisible

to our untrained eye and escape our attention because we live behind

the cosmic veil and are unconscious of how the universe works and

even how we ourselves impact everything with our actions and

thoughts. Earthy Taurus energy gives a chance to slow down and be

silent so we can intuitively tune into the intricate and awesome

interconnections that link us with universal energies.

 

When we slow down, we can get in touch with our true values and what

we really want. Like the Bull, we can chew and digest life. And

then we can simply be present and enjoy it.

 

MEDITATION FOR PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS

 

The New Moon always begins a new annual cycle in one of the twelve

signs. Joined by the Sun and this year Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter

and Saturn, we definitely have a chance to initiate a new cycle in

relationship to Taurus energy, issues and opportunities. The New

Moon is the best time to start a project or spiritual practice.

Yogi Bhajan has given the following meditation to do during this

period of time-while the Planets are in Taurus, to be able to deal

with the intensity of the energy and the challenges during the shift

to the New Millennium and the Aquarian Age, and to be successful.

 

This meditation has 40 sounds. It effects the 5 tattvas (air, water,

fire, earth, and ether), the 7 chakras and the arch line. This

mantra can penetrate into anything and help avoid misfortune. It has

the power to break through any resistance or obstacles. It is sacred

but it is not secret.

 

HAR, HAR, HAR, HAR-repeat before each of the following mantras Pump

the navel center (below the navel) with each Har. Use the tip of the

tongue. Chant in a monotone, enunciating clearly each syllable or

chant to a cd. GOBINDE-Go bin day--Sustainer

 

MUKUNDE-Mu kun day--Liberator

 

UDARE-Oo dar ay--Enlightener

 

APARE-A par ay--Infinite

 

HARING-Har e ung--Destroyer

 

KARING-Kar e ung--Creator

 

NIRNAME-Nir na may--Nameless

 

AKAME-A ka may--Desireless

 

Choose one of the following mudras (hand positions) and do for 40 or

90 days for 11 minutes.

 

Thumb touching Jupiter finger( index)- to remove all obstacles

 

Thumb touching Saturn finger (middle)- for inner purity

 

Thumb touching Sun finger (ring)-for health, prosperity and

friendship All the resources that you need will come to you.

 

Thumb touching Mercury finger (little)- for clear communication

 

(See Mudras - kundalini yogamudras.html)

 

(by Gururattan Kaur Khalsa)