Tag Archives: Meditation

Shaman Mikki on Forgiveness

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Forgiveness and Cutting Cords

On July 28th Shaman Mikki will present on forgiveness and cutting cords to raise funds for one of her favorite charities: Incayuda

July’s Healing Saturday: Forgiveness and Cutting Cords

Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. ~ Mark Twain

Join us for July’s Healing Saturday:

Forgiveness and Cutting Cords

Forgiveness is a decision that enhances both our well-being and our capacity for compassion for others.  In this two-hour workshop, we’ll explore shamanic ideas about forgiveness and letting go, enter a guided meditation for insight and perspective, and learn a simple but profound cord-cutting ceremony to set ourselves free of heavy energies and move forward with greater grace.

Enter a guided meditation (a shamanic journey) for insight and perspective on difficult situations

  • Learn a simple but profound cord-cutting ceremony to set yourself free of heavy energies
  • Discuss the nature of resentment, and use a journaling exercise to transform it
  • Shift from victimhood to self-empowerment

With time for questions and integration, you will return home with a new story and a lighter heart.

  • Event Date:  7/28/2012
  • Time:  11am – 1pm
  • Suggested donation:  $25.00
  • Proceeds go to:    Incayuda
  • Instructors:  Mikki Baloy Davis
  • Location:  Madison MFT, 271 Madison Avenue, Suite 1400

This month’s charity will be  Incayuda.  Incayuda provides a hand-up by teaching people to help themselves, and supporting grassroots organizing and improvement efforts by using available local, regional, and international resources. Incayuda’s first project started in the Carabayllo district of Peru (outside the capital city of Lima). A community assessment indicated the needs were great. Despite challenging circumstances, a group of local mothers had taken it upon themselves to manage a supplemental milk program for their youngsters. Incayuda built on this self-directed effort by empowering the neighborhood to make improvements to the building housing the “Glass of Milk” program (see our 2011 video). This was a “bricks and mortar” project, however, making physical improvements to the walls opened minds to the benefits of self-reliance and self-sufficiency.

We ask each individual to bring a donation of $25.00 for this charity.
Please RSVP due to Limited Space
What:  Healing Saturdays – a monthly charitable event at Madison MFT
Explore:  Forgiveness
Helping:  Incayuda
When:  July 28th, 11am – 1pm
Fee:  Suggested donation of $25.00, all proceeds go to charity
RSVP:  info@madisonmft.com or 917.488.6364

Sharon Salzberg’s 28-Day Meditation Challenge

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Day 1 – I totally forgot it was February 1 and the beginning of Sharon Salzberg’s Meditation Challenge.  Once I was reminded Day 1 was filled with happy memories and experiences of how hard it is to begin our Meditation Practice.  Although I knew very well the the opportunities for meditation and mindfulness were endless, I had trouble staying focused.  And isn’t that the real work anyway.  I tried staying focused on the subway, while I was knitting, reading, talking, sitting, cleaning, etc… And I received jitters, fidgets, a flood of uncontrollable thoughts.  And then the thought that stuck in my mind was this, “Has it been so long since I had a dedicated practice?”  Yup, it has been.  My mind and body had adjusted to the fast pace, multitasking lifestyle of NYC.

Day 1 was filled with challenging expectations, assumptions and unachievable goals.  What I really needed to give myself some freedom to edit what I believed meditation was.  Yes, mindfulness and all the awesomeness that is meditation.  I had become fixated on “the right way,” and was forcing myself to do what it was begging me not to.  Of all the right ways to meditate, forcing oneself is not included.

I had decided I needed to relax, which for the life of me could not manage to do.  So then I had to remind myself how to relax.  If I was able to sit on the subway and not feel myself reaching for my something to occupy my already occupied journey or be at home and not have the urge to have extra background noise, then I would have accomplished my first task.

In conclusion, wonderful Day 1, I am grateful for your lessons.  I was reminded that when we start or restart meditation, we may need to begin with teaching ourselves how to relax.

Here is an exercise that can guide your relaxation process:

What are the various things you do to occupy your spare space? ie: tv, stereo, shopping, partying, various social media sites, G-chat, BBMs, texting, unhealthy eating habits, etc…

Write down the activities you are aware you need to limit, that cause you stress or do not help you unwind.  ie: tv, stereo, shopping, partying, various social media sites, G-chat, BBMs, texting, unhealthy eating habits, etc…

Write down self healing activities you enjoy(ed) or want to start.  ie: gazing at beautiful architecture, the sky, walking in the park, yoga, couples massage, reading, etc…

If you want to learn more about Sharon Salzberg and her 28-Day Meditation Challenge please explore the following links:

 

 

 

Mini Meditations: Getting to that Good Life in Just a Minute

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In life we find ourselves frequently talking about the things we want to do, but never get around to. For example that year old gym membership that is sucking life out of your bank account or the yoga studio you joined but never attend. We are going to start jogging. We are going to start painting, creating, lifting weights, meditating, eating healthy, volunteering, etc… But we just don’t. The things that feed our souls, are the very things we are best at neglecting. We are looking for the good life and we want it, like everything else, fast.

We may permit ourselves the occasional meditation or yoga retreat, but when we return home we have trouble integrating this new lifestyle. We say we don’t have time. We manage to find all these tasks that “need” to be completed and stop us from what we need to be doing. Immersions, retreats, vacations are wonderful things, but are not a lifestyle. Our lives are filled with minutes to spare. But if you have a minute, you have a minute to nourish yourself.

Immersions and retreats often add consistency to our healing routines. Without them we may feel confused on how to integrate the practice into our daily lives. And consistency is the very thing needed to make these self nourishing practices stick. Consistency is also considered one of the most important elements to self nourishment. Buddhist teachers tell us it’s okay to practice mindfulness for a short period of time every day. They also remind us that meditation is not just for those who can sit down for an hour a day, it’s for lying down, walking, knitting, hugging, kissing, loving, eating…I think you get the idea.

So here we go, let’s practice. For a minute a day just focus. Focus on your breath like your life depended on it. Just breath in and out. Notice everything about it. If you feel yourself betraying your breath, that’s okay, just bring yourself back. All is well you are still breathing.

If you are not the meditating type, that’s okay. Just remember to stop and smell that rose. Practice your favorite yoga asana for 10 minutes a day. If you are a foodie keep savoring your meals, but next time explore your meal without talking for the first half hour. You can lift weights for 10 minutes a day. Go for a nice walk and experience your steps.

Life is filled with moments to savour, we just don’t. Your good life is waiting for you, just give yourself that minute.

Enjoy your good life.

Melissa