Manifest Using Meditation & Japa

The United States announced more than 48,000 new coronavirus infections yesterday, another daily record and an increase of 80 percent in the past two weeks. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, warned the Senate that the number could soon reach 100,000 a day if the country does not act quickly.~  New York Times

    I don’t normally read the newspapers and I don’t watch the news, but for some reason yesterday morning I clicked on the New York Times link and read their update (see above) and current statistics of our world in regards to Covid 19. 

The current state of the world is heartbreaking, and if we dwell too much on the negative doom and gloom that the media tends to perpetuate, we could find ourselves emotionally and physically depleted. So many people I have spoken with feel like they are stuck in somewhat of a dark foggy time warp! 

  During these uncertain and unsettling times, it’s even more important to cling to the practices and the people in life who uplift, inspire, and keep us focused on what we want to manifest in our lives. 

   I am all for businesses opening back up, getting back to life and boosting our economy, BUT I teach a “breathing” practice that is for the sole purpose of reaching optimum health, joy and consciousness. I can not in good conscious put myself, family and the students at risk for the sake of sharing yoga. 

   Therefore, I will continue to lead daily classes, privates, workshops and trainings via Zoom. I am dedicated to navigating these changes in my art form with fervor, excitement to learn and grow, a sense of humble gratitude for the technology and laughter (mostly at myself)

   It is my intention over the following weeks or months to share tools, practices, books, stories, music, YOGA etc… that we can all use to help us through this together. 

   I have found that my daily morning meditation practice has been extremely helpful in keeping me grounded and a powerful tool for staying focused on what I want to manifest. Don’t think you have time? As my mama used to say, “A little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing!” If all you have is 5 minutes, you still sit.   I start by setting my Sankalpa (heart based intention), followed by pranayama (breathing exercises), Japa (mantra repetition), and then a brief silent meditation (with awareness at third eye or heart center) 

    It all begins with our intention or Sankalpa: 

 Sankalpa (Sanskrit:  संकl) means an intention formed by the heart and mind — a solemn vow,  determination, or will.  

    Setting an intention, or Sankalpa is one of the strongest ways to empower our actions, and dial into the pull of our heart’s desires.

What is the difference between the minds desire and the hearts desire? Well, the mind desires things it thinks it wants, whereas heart’s desires are fueled with purpose and meaning and are always, by nature, aligned with the higher good. This Saturday’s full moon lunar eclipse is an especially auspicious time to enhance your Sankalpa and put it into motion. 

(The eclipse will begin Saturday at 11:07 p.m. EST and last until 1:52 a.m. EST on July 5. The best time to look will be about

 12:30 a.m. EST during the middle of the event.) 

Exercise:

   Your Sankalpa is a conscious articulation and desire with the focused intention of bringing something important into your life,  either your outer or inner  life.   

1. Think about a short term or long term sankalpa —write a list of at least 3 that you would like to bring into being:   

2. Now select one of these sankalpas and write down the steps you need to take for it to happen:   

How to Use a Mala for Japa Meditation1. Choose a quiet spot and sit comfortably with your spine straight and your eyes closed. Take a few deep breaths to center and align yourself with your intention.2. If you have one, use a mantra for this practice, chanting aloud or silently. Mantra can be in Sanskrit or your native language. Use whatever language and sound vibration resonates best.3. The mala is generally knotted between each bead, and is held in the left hand (you may also hear to use the right hand as well) during meditation. One bead is counted for each mantra, starting with the first bead next to the larger (aka guru) bead. The guru bead is usually a more decorative or larger stone. The first bead is held between the middle finger and thumb, and with each mantra the thumb pulls another bead in place of the middle finger. You should always pull the beads towards you to bring in positive energy. Keep your index finger pointing away from you during the mediation and don’t let it touch the beads. The index finger symbolizes ego and therefore pointing it away from yourself helps the ego stay out of the practice. Recite one mantra and then move the thumb and middle finger along to the next bead and repeat.4. If you want to continue the meditation, instead of passing over the guru bead, simply reverse direction and begin again.

Cleansing the MalaThe thought is that everything absorbs and emits vibrational frequencies, and therefore the beads pick up the energy you carry, and the energy of their environment. Cleansing the malas will restore the balance of energies.You can cleanse them by:• Placing the beads in a mala bag with carnelian crystal.• Placing the mala on top of a quartz cluster overnight. • *Smudging the mala with sage.
*Smudging/Cleaning : “Medicinal smoke reduces airborne bacteria” smudging is said to have life saving implications by purifying air of harmful bacteria. Smudging consists of cleansing something with the smoke from sacred, medicinal herbs. Traditionally, this practice is said to rid a space or aura of negative energy. When burned, sage releases negative ions, which scientific research links to a more positive mood.

Programming Mala BeadsJust like in the yoga practice, it’s important to set an intention for the mala. Be as specific as you can when setting your intention – does your intention lie within your yoga prac- tice? Relationship? Job?Hold the mala in your hands, close your eyes and silently say your intention.

Charging the MalaKeeping in mind that malas absorb and give off energy, it’s important to let them recharge from time to time. Place them in the sunlight for a few hours – just be careful not to leave them out for too long because depending on the material, the sun could cause fading. You can also charge the mala by placing it in the light of a full moon. Practicing Japa Mantra also charges the mala, and is like putting “karma coins” in the bank for later.in gratitude and love, Tymi

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