Khalsa Men's Camp

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam,

Occasionally men, we do ourselves, our lives, our partners a huge

favor by taking a complete break. Coupled with this being a Water Year*,

and Water being the ruling element of the second chakra, I can't think

of a better year to pull ourselves from the blessed company of women,

for better or for worse, and see what that will produce for us, (its

just a few days).This will be my third year and each time I come home

feeling much more of my strength and a huge clarity. Water, Maya or

illusion can be huge trouble. Yogiji had much to say on this and how

when we as men get our sensitivities tied with our ego, it's a losing

situation.

Both times I've been there we've done ass-kicking yoga (the Evergreen

Set), martial arts type workouts, Gatka, video lectures, great classes

lead by Guru Singh, Hari Dass Singh, etc. Sadhana and Gurdwara, camp

fires and yeah, and lots of great food. Maybe even too much.

 

I'll be carpooling from Portland, OR and we might just have room for

another guy. Details about camp are at

http://khalsamen.com/

 

Blessings all around,

Dharam

www.gongsongs.com

 

 

 

http://www.3ho.org/events/yoga-retreat2.html

2009 Solstice Theme: The Water Tattva *

Passions of the Soul--Opening Your Creative Essence*

/By Gurucharan Singh/

 

We are filled with passions that come like waves through our body and

mind. Some waves are gentle reminders, some forceful imperatives and

others overwhelming demands. They are essential to living well and

living fully. We are meant to enjoy them but not become entangled in and

reactive to them.

 

The t/attva/, or element, of Water is malleable and can flow into any

earthen form. Just as water is essential to life and to our body--which

is 60% water--it is also essential to our mind. The energy of 2009 is to

master the Self by using and directing the Negative Mind. That part of

our greater mind protects us and secures a path forward. We reorganized

our Earth element in 2008. In 2009, we fill ourselves with the power of

higher emotions. We accept the intuitive, protective sensations of our

Negative Mind and calm its over-reactions.

 

The 2009 Solstices are a chance to clear subconscious emotions and come

into a positive relationship to our most powerful emotions.

 

*The Element of Water and the Second Chakra*

Water rules our second chakra, the seat of creativity, cultivating and

celebrating the senses and our ability to actually be real and intimate

with another and our own soul.

 

*Narayan: Lord of Water*

The kriya for 2009 is the Narayan Kriya which moves the passions and

opens the heart. It takes away wounds and fills us with passionate

compassion to heal and bless our relationships:

 

/ Sat Narayan

Hari Narayan

Hari Narayan

Hari Hari/

 

During 2009, the focus on Water runs throughout the programming from a

group meditation with our karma yoga groups to a variety of classes,

offering opportunities to explore and balance the Water /tattva/ within

body, mind and spirit.

 

 

The 2008--2012 Theme Arc: " Carrying Us into the Aquarian Age "

 

*A Dawn of a New Age*

Yogi Bhajan was a visionary who guided us on a path of discipline and

consciousness and pointed us toward the horizon of the Aquarian Age.

Beyond that horizon is a new sun. It is the dawn of an Age in which we

can and must reach our maturity as human beings. A time when sacredness

is shown through compassion, courage is demonstrated by our character

and prosperity flows from our originality and intuition.

 

According to Yogi Bhajan's vision, this change is gradual, radical,

profound and lasting. Unlike many other changes we as humanity have gone

through, this change is like the shift from adolescence to adulthood. It

brings all of our capacities to fruition and gives us a chance to create

a future of peace and live in creative prosperity as a united humanity.

In this coming Age, we are called to embrace change -- both personal and

global. When we bring our Self fully present and embrace change, it

becomes evolution and elevation.

 

The Piscean--to--Aquarian transition from 1991 to 2012 brings us fully

under the pressure of change. It is a pressure on each person, each

nation and each belief system. We must find our personal reality and use

both our intuition and our spirit to thrive under the pressure and

challenge of the times.

 

>From 2012 to 2038 we will be sorting out a new way of living together;

a new approach to sustaining our environments; a new reach into micro--

and macro--worlds of technology; and a new sensitivity to knowing each

other -- in our depth and shallowness -- in the blink of an eye.

 

*The Five /Tattvas/*

The five years between 2008 and 2012 is our chance to energize, elevate

and develop the best qualities of our body, mind and spirit and to enjoy

one another as we serve this time of awakening. Each solstice will work

on one of the elements (/tattvas/) and the associated qualities within

us. Each solstice combines the individual work with the creation of a

powerful group psyche that can project our prayer and intention globally.

 

Traditionally, the five elements correspond to the first five chakras

and are described by the qualities of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether.

By the time we complete the 2012 solstice, we will have energetically

reached the sixth chakra and be ready to rely on a new level of subtlety

and self--discipline.

 

Both our Winter and Summer Solstice Sadhana Celebrations for 2008

through 2012 will incorporate each year's /tattva/. Individually and

collectively, the tattvas will support us in working together for unity

while expressing our uniqueness as we prepare to embrace the Aquarian

Age. Through the elements we will be uplifted and enlivened to serve,

heal and lead in this new Age.

 

*2008: Earth*

/New Beginnings -- Dropping the Past and Living the Present

Setting the Foundations for the Future/

First chakra: stability and security

Celebrated by the Isht Sodhana Mantra:

/ Dhartee Hai,

Akasha Hai,

Guru Ram Das Hai/

 

*2009: Water*

/Passions of the Soul -- Opening Your Creative Essence/

Second chakra: creativity

Celebrated by the Narayan Kriya

/ Sat Narayan

Hari Narayan

Hari Narayan

Hari Hari/

 

*2010: Fire *

/Spiritual Warrior -- Strength, Balance, and Peace in a Changing World/

Third chakra: power, energy, well-being

 

*2011: Air*

/Healing One, Healing All -- The Age of Guru Ram Das/

Fourth chakra: compassion, love, free will, wish-fulfillment

 

*2012: Ether *

/Sat Nam -- Speak and Be the Living Truth/

Fifth chakra: power of projection and penetration