Category: <span>Miscellaneous</span>

How we perceive the passage of time depends on how define the word time. Consider this. Scientists define time as something that is mathematical and linear, at least before quantum physics began to shake up that definition. When someone asked A. Einstein what is time, he replied, “what a clock reads.” Philosophers and spiritual seekers believe that time is subjective depending on the nature of our experience. Ram Dass writes, “time is the relationship between moments of consciousness”.

Biologists see time passing as a link between the rhythm of internal processes to the regular rhythms of the outside world such as mating seasons, and the cycle of growth/death of most vegetation. Corporate Executives and politicians see time as something to control as Golda Meir exclaimed, “I must govern the clock, not be governed by it. Everyone has their own way to relate to time.

Astrology views time as a cyclical experience rather than the linear view most others have.

The effects of time on the body has been well documented. Aging is easy to see. When we look closely, minute daily changes steadily progress to  larger, physical changes. Small lines become deep wrinkles. Slight aches become crippling joints. Body postures once limber and upright, become hunched, rounded, and appear to carry tremendous weight on the back. All of this becomes visible over the course of time.

Although things like poor diet, lack of exercise, substance abuse, and ignorance can contribute to this apparent deterioration, time also plays a part. Our awareness of time passing becomes translated into the body. If we believe that we are supposed to age , deteriorate, and get sick as we get older, then that is exactly what will happen. In Japan, many insurance companies are paying out large sums of money to the widows of overworked business men. They call it hurry sickness or kashori and it shows up as sudden death in the workplace. Our perception of not enough time certainly adds to this modern day illness. And that’s exactly the point. It’s our perception of time that holds the key to releasing the stress we feel. Sometimes time goes very slowly, as if one minute or even a few seconds feels like years. Have you ever had a car accident? Perhaps spun out on the road in bad weather? The consciousness slows down and you can sometimes witness the loss of control of the car as if it were happening in slow motion. Other times, time passes very quickly. Vacations, weddings, happy occasions tend to ‘speed’ up time so that 1 week can fly by as if it were one hour.

The key to time management is to learn to recognize cycles, phases, and patterns rather than months, days and hours. To develop the ability to flow with the passing time rather than to fight the clock. There is a certain rhythm in the world that supercedes any manmade time telling device and this rhythm remains constant, stable, and secure and is not subject to the whims of man who we know makes mistakes.

Astrology consciousness Miscellaneous Planets and their Cycles Time Management Yoga Yoga Therapy

I’m not sure what to say about this medium of communication, this year.  It’s been quite a process to engage in for this rapidly aging boomer.  I thought I was ahead of the curve by blogging, and now there’s the whole Twitter & et.al. to understand.  I moved up to a new computer along with Windows 7  3 months ago and I am still aghast at how behind I was in my old Gateway with XP.  Yipes.

I began this blog around the time of the Chinese New Year, and this year we have a Tiger that leads us.  We, of the Ox generation, will have to wait another 12 years before our turn comes around again. It certainly was a year unlike any other for me, 2009.   I don’t know much about the specifics  of Chinese astrology but I do understand astrological cycles and how to measure and manage time without a clock or a calendar.  Surprises and unexpected events continue as always (Uranus is always showing us something new), however everything does seem to be cycling faster.  Yes?

Back to my Blogging Report.

I don’t know how to judge the statistics that I have available to me for this site.  Blogging has never been about money or fame or the number of hits I receive on any given day.  Instead, my activity regarding this site has remained true to my original statement of intention found here.    Much has changed in my personal and professional life since I began this experiment and I’m not sure what comes next since my own natal chart is reeling with hard aspects hitting my sun/moon/ascendant all at the same time.  However, I’ve had a lot of fun with this new-paradigm media and I hope that I can stay connected.

Here’re some stats.

Total views  63, 851

Closer inspection reveals that there were more visits in 2008 than 2009, relatively no growth at all.  It’s interesting because that’s how last year kind of was for me…..a no-visible-measurable-growth anywhere in my life.  However, as for just looking at Jan and Feb, 2010 looks promising, assuming that blog-growth mirrors life-growth.  It’s not necessarily a metaphor that I’m actively buying into, but interesting to look at nonetheless.  Yes?

The stat’s page shows that I average about 66-77 views per day, whatever that means.  My yoga practice has taught me to be aware of measuring myself, or comparing myself to others.  That sort of mental/physical activity can lead to an agitated mind and lot’s of self-judgment.  I am happy that there are those of you that stop by at all.  You’re the witnesses to my process.  Thanks!

Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 was the busiest day I’ve had thus far with 183 visitors.  On that day I posted this entry but I don’t think that had anything at all to do with all the visits.  It’s a mystery to me, still, how all this works out here in cyberspace.

As for posts:  I’ve made 215 posts since I began and the top posts haven’t changed much for a long time.  This post has literally taken on a life of it’s own and I don’t know if any of the people that routinely check in here are interested in anything else I’m blogging about.  It’s curious to watch it unfold.  If you are reading this, there’s certainly a part 2 unfolding these days with Calleman’s new book, The Purposeful Universe.  In November of last year I was able to spend a couple days with Barbara Hand Clow at Kripalu Center in MA, and I’m still very keen to understand and know more about the changes in our cosmic and galactic neighborhood(s) as well as what’s going on locally.  But, more on that another time.

This post remains #2 on most viewed.  Can someone give me an idea of why?  This post and this one are close in numbers coming in #3 & #4 of all time.

So.

What now?

I guess I’ll just keep blogging and see.

Om shanti, shanti, shantihi.

 

Blogging journal entry Miscellaneous

consciousness Feng Shui Meditation Miscellaneous Yoga

Practice Patience.

(I’m using a very wide orb here)…..

if so, then Saturn is coming up to conjunct your natal Pluto.

Heavy.

Dense.

Solid,

and sometimes Immovable.

Patience is key.

A good time to establish a yoga practice to re-generate your stress and turn it into skillful action and right thinking.

Easily said.

Difficult to practice.

Find a spiritual  teacher.

Commit.

Breathe.

Astrology Miscellaneous My photos Planets and their Cycles Saturn Yoga

the tortoise

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices around you

kept shouting

their bad advice–

though the whole house

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug

at your ankles.

“Mend my life!”

each voice cried.

But you didn’t stop.

You knew what you had to do,

though the wind pried

with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations,

though their melancholy

was terrible.

It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice

which you slowly

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do–

determined to save

the only life you could save.

Mary Oliver

Pulitzer Prize for poetry

Ancient Wisdom Buddhism consciousness ecstatic poetry Miscellaneous My photos philosophy Yoga Therapy

I’m pretty happy with my stat’s this past year.  Even though the goin’ was slowin’, the numbers on the screen doubled from the year before.  I don’t know what that means, but seein’ as i’m believin’ the times look good.

Communicating with others thru the medium of blogging certainly does bring up some ethical, moral, and curious conditions.

The three top posts have remained the same for a very, very long time.  I suppose that’s how most of you find me here.  As for the rest of those who regularly check into this site, Thank you!  You keep me goin’, when goin’ keeps slowin’.  (I’m working on some song lyrics these days 🙂

Oh well.

Here’ are some of my numbers:

In 2007 I received 11, 325 hits.

In 2008 I received 25, 028 hits.

I like the trend.

In 2007 I averaged 36 views per day.

In 2008 I averaged 68 views per day.

I like this trend too.

Time to go, now.

Blogging Miscellaneous self-promotion

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I wish I had a picture to show you the duck that I saw yesterday!

Here’s the short story.

I’m driving down a straight road and looking at the oncoming traffic. Suddenly, in between two cars heading towards me I see a duck flapping and flying in exactly the same place as a car would be. It was not high in the sky. It was  in formation with the cars, and really flapping those wings hard to keep up with the traffic. Oddly enough,  it looked like the most natural thing in the world for a duck to be in line with these cars.

Anyway, it was so startling that I nearly had to pull over from laughing so hard.

The world can be a magical place sometimes.

Look around.

Stop.

Look.

Listen.

Be kind to others.

Om shanti, peace.

Blogging journal entry Miscellaneous StoryTelling The Jersey Shore

I’ve been listening to a lot of speech’s recently.

Today, I listened to someone speak about speech’s and speechwriting.   In 1989 & again in 1998 I spent some time working as a speechwriter.  It was part of my job as Assistant to the female President of a hugely successful NJ real estate company.  I learned a lot about a lot, and I’m grateful for that job experience.  During that time, I was also learning how to deliver speech’s myself.

There is No Substitute for good communication skills, regardless of gender, education, intellect, socio/economic class, religion, or anything else.  And yet, it has obviously not been a priority in our culture….. either for the masses,  public officials, and don’t even get me started on the level of communication skills within our established medical/legal communities!!  For this reason alone I applaud Barack Obama, regardless of whatever he does or does not do.

As a graduate of NLP, I feel a certain responsibility to practice conscious, effective, and clear communications as often as possible and to teach/train others to improve their communication skills with others.  In my yoga classes I have often guided the students thru what is called Co-Listening. I learned & practiced many variations of this technique at Kripalu Center in the Berkshires. (1994 – 2008.)  The combination of NLP techniques with yoga philosophy & practices is quite effective when skillfully applied…..at least in my experience.

This century has challenged us to learn how to communicate thru technological mediums.  The internet has indeed changed everything and some are being left behind.  However, for those out here in the blogosphere with me, it’s vital that we all remember that these are just words on a screen.  There is no substitute for human-to-human contact.  Sounds, smell, touch, sight, movement, gesture, are also parts of the whole of communication.

th_cardinalHere’s a cardinal rule to follow.

We are all, as individuals, responsible for what we say & what we hear.  When you ask a question and do not get the response you anticipate, ask again, differently.  If you have an emotional response to something you’ve heard….seek clarification to make sure that what you heard was what the speaker intended to say.  Defense mechanisms have deep roots and we are all responsible for pruning back what no longer works.   (I feel a rant coming on here so that’s a good time to sign off.)

Mercury is still retrograde and will remain so until January 31.  A good time to re-consider how to improve your communication skills.

Have a nice day.

Blogging consciousness journal entry Miscellaneous

As you know, I don’t usually engage in online political discourse however I am going to make an exception here today.
In our Tuesday am class we discussed the link that I am sending you and as a group we sort of decided that this NJ Congressman needs to hear from us, us being those practicing yoga.
As you will read,  Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts from District 5 (Camden & Gloucester) has submitted a bill to the legislature of NJ that would require yoga teachers and studios to be licensed by the State.  He lumps us in with “exercise facilities” & “fitness professionals”, disregarding completely the uniqueness of yoga.  His ignorance reflects that of the mainstream with regards to what yoga really is.
Now, I do not claim to KNOW what yoga actually is, or isn’t.
I’m still engaged in the practice of knowing who I am or aren’t and we all know how long that can take!  Nevertheless, I feel that it’s my civic responsibility to add my voice to any issue that touches my heart.  This one, ‘got me’……………………………….
I feel that I am doing a part by keeping you informed.  Integrating skillfull mental activity (buddhi) with willfull action (tapas) and a spirited purpose (karma) is tough stuff and needs lots of practice.
My intentions are to join with other yoga/wellness/holistic professionals in NJ in educating our legislature as to the reality of yoga.
Many voices speaking truth at the same time can be ‘transformational’.
Do what you will.
Trust that everything is good.
And, please, share your yoga experience(s) with those around you so that we can bring more people out of ignorance and into the light.
Om shanti.
Om.
All that said, here are some links to check out regarding this issue.

Education Miscellaneous NJ The Jersey Shore Yoga

I really don’t want this to become a ‘media’ heavy blog site, however some things are just too good to pass up.  Go over to my vodpod on the right side and check out The Girl who Silenced the UN for 5 minutes.

Blogging Miscellaneous