Thoughtful Thursdays

May Focus on Clutter Clearing

This week, let's start with more journal reflection.  

Get out your journal (don't have one?  We carry some here at our Park Street Paso Robles shop). 

Following Eleanor Brown's definition above, list a physical item, an old idea, a relationship, and habit you are willing to "de-clutter" from your life.  

Next to each item on your list, jot down one small action step can you take to de-clutter each of them.  Your action doesn't need to be dramatic; it can be as simple as making a decision, deleting a phone number, writing yourself a post-it note, looking into support groups, therapies, or books on the matter.  

Take a moment to thank each list item for what it brought to your life, and say "good-bye" while following through with your small action step.

Notice how empowering it feels to come up with some ideas and follow through with a small action!  Close your eyes and allow yourself a moment to really notice the sensation of spaciousness as you just made more room in your life for your own expansion.

Already, transformation has occurred!

Thoughtful Thursdays

May Focus on Clutter Clearing

Could it be as simple as that?  What if by eliminating clutter, you find clarity?  

Last week we initiated Clutter Clearing focus and effort in our lives.
But what if you can transform your surroundings, and therefore your own approach to life.
We combine this effort towards an objective of re-tooling ourselves, like a "modern-day alchemy".

We think it's worth the experiment.

Let's explore how you have been approaching an obstacle and, after this week of de-cluttering,
then how you can approach that previous sense of a barrier (obstacle) as flowing progress.

Set down the phone or mouse and begin to journal for 10-15 minutes on how you have initiated this process of de-cluttering. Remember this is your journal; it's not necessary to share.

1. Did you find a goal or task for the de-cluttering initiative?
2. How did you made the conscious or unconscious choice to pick that task?
3. Has there been a positive change in your space since initiating the project?
4. Do you need to make modifications to your plan?

Returning to the blog, let's try a small energy exercise to open the the door wide.
Close your eyes and allow 10 deep breaths. During this breathing time, visualize removing physical barriers (trash, baskets, boxes or clothing) through an open door.

After the breathing exercise, return to see and feel the space more open. Create a positive image of that clear space.

Inspirational art @EarthTones - crystal infused Affirmations by Andee Allen

Now consider how to celebrate that space. Visit us at our Conscious Living Store and select one inspirational item to celebrate the progress you've made. Pick an item that is affirmative of your goals whether it is a candle, chime, incense or printed inspirational message.

We will check-in next week for more elements of the clutter clearing focus.

Guidance For New Thinking: Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, fin...

Guidance For New Thinking: Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, fin...: Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. —Albert Einstein Our Guidance...

Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.
—Albert Einstein

Our Guidance for New Thinking emphasizes Thoughtful Thursday advice to re-pattern and re-energize your life using clutter clearing principles.

Most of us don't realize how it may be affecting our daily lives.

We long for clarity, mental tranquility, and deeper connections.  Habitual clutter can become a mental distraction that surround us and steals our energy to progress those qualities we are trying to harness.  

According to the Einstein quote above, (who wouldn't trust Einstein's wisdom?!) "in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."  In the middle of our chaos, lies the opportunity, the possibly, for clarity, tranquility, deeper connections, harmony and simplicity.  Doesn't that sound like a relief..
But where to start?

Being the Alchemist of our own life.

Denise Linn, whose work we carry in the shop here at EarthTones Gifts, Gallery, and Healing, says that clutter clearing is "modern-day alchemy."   Alchemy is in part defined as the "supposed transformation of matter." Perhaps clutter clearing could be the tool you use in your life to transform chaotic elements into harmonious ones.  Not just with the objects themselves but all the feelings you carry becoming more harmonious. And notice the changes as your own internal response mirrors the newly tranquil environment.

During the next month dedicate time, focus and steady action to declutter one or more area of your life.

1. Set aside an afternoon or evening with specific task(s) to accomplish. Set boundaries towards the task ahead. Keep the time dedicated by setting an alarm. If distractions arise, bless them and use the awareness as a stimulus for action.
2. To be focused is to return to the steps necessary for the project. Keep your expectations balanced. If focus is overwhelming, try a breathing exercise. For two minutes breath in calm and center the nervous system and breath out a sense of acceptance of the project at its current status. Afterwards, reflect without judgement what lies ahead.
3. Remain in steady motion. If you stall or upon beginning the next phase of your task be willing to tweak the process, consolidate the piles or modify your time commitment. If the results are not favorable or action isn't working shift your strategy and hopefully the flow will continue.

As the task nearly finishes you will have time to add some joyful maintenance including meditation, guided visualization or inspirational movement.

Keep in touch this month as you progress. We will bring new strategies forward next week.

A Twelve Day Practice - Light Up Your Spirit

Light up your Spirit

New Years' Considerations, Gentle Poses for Renewal and Hopeful Guidance

Welcome New Year - Light Your Way into the New Year. "We have prepared 12 Days of joyful poses, simple meditations and community notices to bring about a healthy and heart-centered beginning for your New Year."

Day 1

'Breathe in (2 minutes), sit in Sukhasana and use this time for yourself to unite your body and mind.'
'Breathing out, open your body (1 minute) in Matsyasana and feel the vibrant floating feeling in your spine to feel refreshed.'
For local enjoyment of floating this holiday join in the Cayucos Polar Bear Dip at 12 noon. It is a large social interaction (some 2500 people) and truly cleanse yourself in the ocean. — with Nicøle Nøel inCayucos, California.

Day 2

Celebrate Day 2 of the #NewYear and we can commit to being great this year let’s also be grateful. Any shift in our lives will take focus and time. Good thing we have Wednesday (hump day) poses to keep us centered during the week. At our MELT Method Yoga practice today we created that warm-up of the body and with gentle rocking we moved with control to reconnect to our center. Allow today’s poses to connect with your core and use the momentum of to re-center ourselves. Not only will we be able to keep the course for the remaining of the week but through the winter months ahead. Speaking of winter months, visit the Elephant Seal habitat in No. SLO and Monterey Counties Hwy 1. There are new miles of trails to safely allow peaceful observation.

Here's Mary doing a standing twist to engage the center. Use your hands and feet to feel even weight and pressure this allows us to stay centered. Thank you for following and for practicing with us. ❤️

Day 3

"Determined to obtain the greatest possible benefit for all beings...I shall hold them dear at all times." H.H. Dalai Lama
There are many roads to take through our beautiful backcountry. Count on your wildlife friends to welcome you for a visit.

Day 4

Practicing living with harmony to light up your spirit brings an opportunity to refocusing on ourselves with new intention. Use YOUR yoga practice to take care of yourself so that we can be in harmony with others and the world around you. 

Get rest in your evening and celebrate the upcoming weekend filled with some fun, lively gatherings.

These poses are modified to connect your 2nd Chakra. Practice using props, chairs, bench or balance ball. You can do 10 breaths or allow "breath of fire".

Meditation: May I be peaceful, happy, and light in body and spirit. May I be safe and free from injury. May I be free from anger, afflictions, fear and anxiety.

Day 5

Light Up  Your Spirit through Change

The sensation of stillness in Corpse Pose allows you to stay aware so that you are conscious of the deeper state of oneness. In this way change is not so worrisome and you can become perfectly comfortable.

If feel this is the ultimate pose as it does bring an awareness of the path of letting go fully. A long-term illness ended with one of my students in this pose. Literally, she was able to achieve the state for her final moments. Her body and heart allowed love to change into a new form. New years is mixed with loss, change and hope. Let this pose help you through all your changes.

Day 6

Yoga brings an internal motion that is not always evident on the outside. The nature of movement is known to regenerate cells, decompress joints and improve cleansing throughout the day. As a rainy day continues, find some way to move.

Today we visited the Labyrinth at Allegretto Resort Hotel in Paso Robles and enjoyed the contemplation in the rain. Achieving the quieting of the mind while in movement brought us to a natural state of our surroundings - the peace, beauty and light rain.

Day 7

Observation is a life of practice moment to moment. Look for time in your practice to practice your Dharma and observe your spiritual discipline. In these poses we can feel components of authentic balance, enjoyment of the fruits of our efforts and liberation from Self. These are Four Aim in Life proposed by Yoga Philosophy.

Take pleasure in your local hikes or join us as we explore "Open Spaces, Open Minds" mindful path walks at local city parks.

Day 8

Tuesday afternoons are abundant in practice here at EarthTones. Mary teaches a restorative class at 4pm, and another wonderful class at 5:15pm. Please join! Nicole's 7pm Hatha class this evening is canceled, but her classes start back up next week!

Day 9

Freshen up your practice! These rainy days are a great time to refresh. Add some flowers, incense or a candle to your practice space. Clean your mat. Drinks lots of water (freshen it up with some lemon!). A great cleansing and refreshing pose is revolved triangle. We prefer to do it after stabilizing in a regular triangle pose. Make sure to rotate from the torso, thinking about your chest facing the wall behind you. Add an arm toward the sky after you've got the twist down (or place that top arm on the lower back as May is demonstrating in this picture). Exhale completely! When you inhale think of bringing in all new FRESH energy with the breath. Come in to EarthTones and ask Mary or Nicole for more information if you have any questions : )

Day 10

Yoga can be a meditative practice during asana (postures /poses). It can also prepare us to sit in mediation, and then relieve our body after sitting for long periods of time (in meditation or otherwise). Do you allow asana to prepare, relieve, or guide your meditation practice? Day 10 of our yoga exploration invites us to examine the relationship between yoga practice and meditation practice. If you'd like some meditation inspiration, be sure to visit with the Tibetan monks while they are constructing a Peace Mandala Central Coast Center for Spiritual LivingFebruary 7th-9, 2019. Their full schedule is Drepung Gomang Tour of Central Coast

Day 11

Transformation

The beginning of the year we sense the need for transformation. Anytime we choose to transform energy take a time of possible to reflect on what works and what has not worked. If there are un-serving mindsets or paths you can make a decision to commit unconditionally to your new practice. Some helpful keys are keeping transformation joyful. Laugh, release and delve into the humor of life. Also, taking risks of being with new people can bring the world together and make align you with others who care to make that commitment. 

Look over our Schedule and Description of Classes at Whole Balance @EarthTones. They include skilled and trained instruction and small groups for Yoga, Pilates and THE MELT METHOD. Everything has its time. Call us if you're ready to launch into a new practice. 

Day 12

New Year "Lighten Up Your Life" with Yoga. Our final post (thank you for following us). Today we close with the value of Generosity. Practicing a sense of purpose in our charity and acts of generosity enhanced by the awareness, focus and personal clarity we achieve in all our yoga practices.

Select your plan for giving, exchange or charity with openness to your own path of self understanding.

Local Charities will love your fresh approach. And to mention a few: Paso Cares, Hospice of SLO, RISE, The Lighthouse and Paws Cause.





*********************************************************************************

EarthTones Gifts, Gallery & Center for Healing

1319 Park Street

Paso Robles, CA 93446

805-238-4413

www.earthtonesgifts.com

@earthtonesgifts

Pass on the Pain

Rewiring The Brain

During the first week we looked into release from emotional patterns and allowed understanding of those emotions. With the Reiki treatments we added the purification to both cleanse and bring about more mental freedom. Let's keep that light switch on and move into the physical realm of the emotions.


Consider how breath by breath we can unwind injury and pain as well as the projection of that pain from self to the outer world. Keep your grounded-ness so that we can release from the body the thought patterns to help bring about total healing. That is 'emptiness from self'. With attention to the physical patterns we hope to reduce our reaction to past/present/future stressors.

Exercise: Process one of the common emotions you observed last week, or one of your common emotional triggers. Inhale, concentrate a moment on that sense and with eyes open turn your head gently to the left. Exhale, release any sense of struggle and with eyes open turn your head gently to the right. Continue until you are aware that the trigger has reduced or dissolved.

To finish, complete a steady and centered breath cycle for 2-5 minutes. Allow the awareness of Reiki to light up your body during this time. Imagine the mind of each cell filled with a renewed life force.

Just for today, I will not worry. Just for today, I will not be angry. Just for today, I will be grateful. Just for today, I will do my work honestly. Just for today, I will be kind to every living thing.

Put Yourself First

Honor Your Emotional Balance

Being Centered

Yes. It is in giving that we receive. And, with awareness of the tendency to over commit, honor how you can do that while continuing to nurture your inner energy field. Open to the love light of source and you will achieve a capacity to both give and receive beyond measure.

During this week of the Reiki Purification Retreat, we are healing energy within our emotional structure. Be calm today, and let the meditation-channeling time help you to build a sense of Whole Balance. 

My friends, our lives are long, mixed up, challenging and exciting. We have struggles with memories and desire. This is generally part of the human condition and it can be overwhelming. So continue in peace.

Just for Today love and respect all living things:

Be grateful.

Do not worry.

Do not anger.

Do your work honestly.

Honor  your parents, teachers and guides.