Do you Meditate?

I know, the word meditation usually gets an eye roll and then people want to change the subject. Or, did you want to give me an excuse? Perhaps you have tried and just got frustrated.
Think back to when you were a child. Did you trust anything that you didn't feel in your body? I am sure you did not. We need to have a full-bodily-felt experience to trust that it is happening!
It is likely that you have reached the meditative state and didn't realize it. People often confuse the gateways and triggers to help get into meditation as the act of meditating. Allow me to demystify this for you.

The state of meditation, trance and sleep are closely related. Your brain has the potential to naturally enter a trance state every 90 seconds. This is how a skilled hypnotherapist can draw you into this realm. Have you ever tried to get someone's attention when they are deeply involved in watching something on TV? Perhaps you have walked in front of them and stood there trying? Did they see you? They were hypnotized by the TV and enjoying chemical releases of dopamine. Here is more on this by one of my favorite authors John Gray.

When the body finds the state of meditation and is in need of sleep—it usually sleeps. Let it! This is very rejuvenative! Go with it. When people first begin to practice guided meditation they often fall asleep. This is a good thing as the body was likely really exhausted!
Visualization is just that. It is creative and lovely and I encourage it however it is a gateway to meditation and not the true state. Imagining is part of this.
Truly there are only three entry points into meditation.

1. Physical movement such a sport, dance, walking running or cleaning. This can easily trip the brain into a trance.

2. Creative visualization, guided meditation, or hypnotic suggestion. You are invited to try this out in my podcast Meditate with Ambika.
These first two are ways to settle into meditation. I am a true advocate of both of these methods and use them often myself! It is important to realize that creative visualization is not the deep-trance-state of meditation—it is a gateway to the meditative state.

3. The third is the true state of Meditation. It is the deep-trance-state and is accomplished by these three things:

1. Sit up straight. I know this sounds easy but it is really important to give space to the lungs so that you are able to breathe comfortably and fully. In addition the elongated spine gives space to the body and takes pressure of the central nervous system.

2. Close the eyes. This is easy, just relax the lids down and shut out the light. If you can find a darkened space or shroud your head and eyes with a shawl.

3. Focus on the breath coming in and out of the nostrils paying close attention to the quality of the air across the inside front edges of the nostrils. Many of the ancient texts are translated to say, "Focus on the tip of the nose." This is only going to make you cross-eyed! The secret is that you are going to notice a change in sensation of air as you breathe it in as compared to the exhalations through the nose. On the way in during an inhale the air is going to feel cool and fresh. On the way out during and exhalation the air seems to disappear. This becomes the point of focus.

That is it. Just these three things!

If the mind is engaged in following something you are not meditating yet. You are still trying to relax. This is why when you are listening to a guided meditation you might drift into sleep or you could come to a realization later that you somehow missed a large chunk of the words being spoken. I do not recommend using video for meditation as it puts too much blue light into your body and this prevents you from really letting go into the meditative state. When you are trying to focus on something—you are closer to centering then the true state of meditation.

All meditation gateways potentially lead to the full-bodily-felt sensation of the deep-trance-state. This is our true state of being. This is where the boundaries of the seeming edges of the physical body disappear and we merge into the state of oneness where we are pure energy.

Indeed meditation is a stress reliever. In the meditative state we have the ability to tap into the unified mind. We become one with the greater where—just as the statement by the great statesman Cicero suggests, "Everything is alive and everything is interconnected."

Here is the secret sauce: It is best to stay focused on relaxing. Forcing the mind and engaging it with a topic is exhausting. Just drift and float in the relaxed state of meditation once you feel it.

We find brilliant insights and gain information from the practice of meditation—and it is an on-going practice—is after we have been in the deep-trance-state and begin to realize that we are once again in a body. It is a good idea to keep the eyes closed at this point. This is where the brilliance happens so be sure to have a journal near by to write everything down!

I am happy to coach you and to create customized guided meditations for you to use. Contact me here.

What is the best solution for stress? Rest! Next, clean diet and health habits like bathing more. Sleep more when you are able.

Guided meditation is entertainment for the mind. It is like giving a monkey a banana. It is a pacifier. It is indeed valid and useful as a stress reliever but please do not mistaken it for meditation.
It is possible and even probable that one could focus on specifics like the ideas of emotions and a particular chakra and drift into the meditative state.  *Remember, these are gateways and that we do not find information in meditation.
In meditation we find stillness and supreme quiet.

Any ideas or brilliance come to us as we are exiting the state of meditation—not while in it. If we are conscious of thought we have exited the state of meditation.

Shifting brain wave influence can indeed bring inspiration and ideas. This is not meditating. Meditation is quiet stillness. Here is information about brainwaves you may find interesting.
I realize I am blowing up some preconceived ideas here and am happy to address further questions.
Meditation is an art. Therefor it is best to learn techniques from an expert.
Ambika Devi has a Masters degree in Yoga from the Hindu University of America and is passionate about proving to everyone that they are meditators! She is delighted to come and speak to your organization and lead you through an experience.

To book her as a speaker please visit: https://speechesbyambika.com/
For coaching please visit: https://ambikascoaching.com/

Listen to my podcast of Guided Meditations HERE!

Create Jedi—You are a co-creator with the Universe! ~Yogini Yoda

We are co-creators with the Universe!

That is right! We are here as co-creators? So what are you waiting for?

You don't need a red or blue pill to Enter the Matrix your words are creating it! But, even before they leave your lips, the thought seeds of words begin to settle and sprout.

The great philosopher Hafez said, 

The words you speak become the house you live in.

When I taught holistic health at the college level I insisted that my students read:

 

The Four Agreements 

If you haven't read it, I ask you to!

Find your copy here 

Please pay close attention to the First Agreement:

Be impeccable with your word.

 

The concept is absolute genius!

So, watch your thoughts in Meditation

Be Mindful of the words that come out of your mouth!

The best way to slow things down is to practice a mind-quieting Pranayama like Bhramari breath.

I have taught this to thousands of people over the years and find it to be absolutely magickal in its ability to instantly quiet the mind!

Still craving more?

 Engage me for a private session via video chat or bring me to your studio to teach!

Have you read my book on: Happiness, Health, Ayurveda and Meditation?

Find your copy of Unfolding Happiness here!

 It is my pleasure to guide you!

 Contact me today!

 

How to do Bhramari Breath with Ambika Devi

Ambika leads you in a soothing Bhramari Pranayama.

Ambika's research in meditation is earning her a doctorate in the
field. Her two books on the topic have won international awards. Ambika
guides you in Yoga Mystery School teachings utilizing Vedic chanting,
cosmic sounds with her voice, and techniques from Yoga Nidra that seduce
the mind into pure quiet. The result is a full body felt deep-trance
state of meditation!


More about Ambika here: www.AmbikaDevi.com. Call Ambika for more information on the meditation: 772.233.8229
Learn more about Ambika Devi and read her full bio at www.AmbikaDevi.com. Visit Ambika Devi’s home page at: www.AmbikasWisdom.com. Enjoy her Astrology blog at www.MoonWisdom.org and her Yoga wisdom blog at www.YoginiYoda.com

A Letter from 90 year old me to present moment me

One with the Universe we are Jedi however—it our job to keep it positive! ~ Yogini Yoda

Recently I have been experimenting with revisiting creative visualization young Jedis. As many of you know I have been meditating since 1967. This began when I was a student at the Abington Friends School as tiny child. You have to love a school that has the word friends in their name!

Back then I fell in love with the Quaker style of sitting silently for an hour on Wednesday mornings with everyone. Later in high school I added a two hour seated meditation with my school mates on Sundays. This is the antique meeting house that still hosts weekly meditations on the property that once belonged to William Penn!

Over the years I have been certified as an instructor and taught many forms of meditation including traditional seated silent Meditation, Mantras, Creative Visualization, and Yoga Nidra. I have experimented with Bi-neural beats and Innerpulse brainwave entrainment equipment both myself and with students and clients. Added to this list are my certifications in hypnosis and NLP. These last two weeks I have been revisiting many of these very valuable tools to help clear the mind-stuff and rejuvenate creativity. This and the constant thirst for learning is what drives me and inspires me daily! In addition, I know that when I am learning I am happiest!

Experimenting with various forms of meditation and mind control is a passion of mine. After 21 years of teaching holistic health for colleges in three different states, I retired in 2000 when I woke up to the fact that it is the mind and our relationship to it, that needs healing, not so much the physical body.

My recent need for a transfusion of knowledge led me to find my way to Mindvalley. Here I have been experiencing classes and quests led by superb instructors delivered in a great format to both my computer and devices. The delivery configuration is really remarkable and it is so wonderful to be able to take my classes with me whenever and wherever I choose. I find myself daydreaming to be an instructor for this wonder-filled organization and have already become a lifetime member of their tribe.

It is a wonderful gift when we stretch outside our self-imposed boxes. My current effort to do this is including a combination of silent meditation along with creative visualization and hypnosis at various points throughout the day. I have noticed intense dreams returning and I want to see just how much more happiness I can create to radiate to everyone around me. Today I watched people's expressions change from gloomy to smiles as I passed them at the grocery store. These three tools together seem to create a magical cocktail of happiness!

As you know I am a huge fan of happiness as it is the topic of my second book, Unfolding Happiness an introduction to happiness, health and Ayurveda with a great deal of hands on experiences in meditation written along with Ayurvedic doctor Vijay Jain, MD.

You might find it strange that a seasoned meditator wants to listen to a beginner level guided meditation. I am finding it to be rather magickal—I like to add the "k" as it is even more magickal! In creative visualization this morning, I had a flash insight into what is consciousness and found that it is centered in Vishuddha chakra.

 

The magick of the throat chakra is that words coming out of our mouths circulate back into our heads and there transform into images.

These pictures are the communication that form our realities.

 

The miraculous best-selling author, motivational speaker, leading celebrity therapist, and pioneering hypnotherapist trainer, Marisa Peer teaches about the importance of keeping the pictures in our heads positive, especially about ourselves. She encourages us to look at the words we use to describe ourselves and our situations. This inspired me to share a list of positive words with my students today. I urge you to have a look at the words and phrases you use on a regular basis to describe your relationship to money and abundance, career and relationships and your level of health and happiness. I have placed this on my mirror and around my home at eye-level to infuse myself with love. I hope you are going to do the same.

As Marisa advises, ask a friend to tell you the words they hear you speak repeatedly. If you find words that need to flip over to the positive, you can look up antonyms or search for new words here. I am so grateful for the inspiration and healing love I am receiving from this wise Yoda's teaching! Try putting I Am in front of one of these words for a potent infusion of self-love. This is a really dynamic way to make an affirmation!

Speaker, author, former business school professor and creator of Creativity and Personal Mastery, a course designed to affect personal transformation, Srikumar S. Rao is going to be my next great instructor at Mindvalley. I took a class with him today on the topic of resilience and am so excited to be going on a 45 day quest with him beginning in April. I invite you to join me!

 

Here is another an amazing video on Ted delivered by this fellow Yoda giving wisdom on happiness.

I hope I am inspiring you to learn and grow today and that you realize your mission. Let us all focus for a few minutes each day on making this world happier and healthier for all.
Do you crave knowing more?  Visit: www.AmbikasWisdom.com
Do you want to stake classes with me? Visit: www.GreySchool.org  and take classes in Psychic Arts.
Would you like a private session in Meditation? Contact me.
With LOVE and Magick always,
Yogini Yoda

Know thyself you must Jedi!

 

In the age old wisdom of the Vedas, four books of science and knowledge from the ancient eastern lands is written: आत्मानं विद्धि pronounced AtmAnaM viDhi. It is the phrase, "Know Thyself." This is one of the true purposes of Meditation and the Psychic Arts. AtmAm is the nature of one's soul, the true self. This is the light and energy that science is just now acknowledging regarding what we human beings truly made of. What this esoteric statement is poetically teaching is this:

1. Direct experience is the foundation of true knowledge.

2. In order to truly experience anything, one must fully merge with it or become one with it.

3. The experience one has determines the quality and ability to fully merge.

4. All dualities must be embraced and unified. One must move beyond, “I like it, I don’t like it,” and be fully immersed in, and unified with the experience.

5. It is human nature to avoid dualities. This is a quality of beta behavior. Therefore we must push through and embrace seemingly uncomfortable situations. How do you accomplish this? If you believe you do not like something, can you accept that others do? Can you be comfortable in a situation that you normally avoid? Can you immerse yourself in what you perceive as uncomfortable and find acceptance?

6. In your quest, the mind identifies obstacles. The mind fools you. You are not the mind. The mind is a tool that you have a unique connection to. It is exterior. The mind constructs what you perceive as reality.

Strive to find the light in your own being and in the being of others and all things. The greatest gift the world has to offer you is knowledge. Realize there is no such thing as time for you truly are an infinite being wearing the cloak of a physical body, like the robes of a wizard. Become fully absorbed in all experiences and wear your wizardly robes humbly.

When you are able to become fully absorbed in situations and fully embrace them, there is no possibility of being disturbed or distracted. Duality confuses the mind to perceive that all things are separate from the observer.

Just as are motto of Grey School, where I teach says, “Omnia vivunt, omnia inter se conexa,” which translates to, “Everything is alive, everything is connected,” we must not just accept the statement but become it!

Practice silencing the mind in the deep-trance-state of meditation and know thyself!

Water we are-water we must bless! ~ Yogini Yoda

 

Dr. Emoto has long been an inspiration for me. His love and understanding of the mysteries of water have fascinated me.

Many years ago, seeking shade from the July heat outside Sedona Arizona, in Cornville my good friend Jo and I set out to go to West Sedona.

We were unable to get down the only road that led from her house as the bridge was blocked. Taking this as an omen we flipped our plans and headed to what would have been our final destination that day. 

 The cooling waters of the aqueduct behind Montezuma's Well.

There we cooled our feet and sat in the shade marveling at the magickal quality of this precious water in the desert. After we headed to our favorite trees to meditate. What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary! What appeared as a prim Japanese business man appeared. He began to lay out ceremonial cloth and objects by the creak nearby. Then disappeared into the mouth of the crack in mother earth on the backside of the well that feeds the peaceful channel. He emerged with large containers of water he had gathered then disappeared and reappeared once more dressed in the robes of a Shinto priest.

We startled and he motioned for us to stay. We were honored. The priest proceeded to conduct a ceremony blessing and thanking the earth and the waters. I leaned on my tree and closed my eyes. 

The Hopi Kachina of water, Long Hair emerged from the rock of the well, and towered above me. Later the man explained he was headed to a summit with tribal leaders and Dr. Emoto that would take place in the San Fransisco mountains to bless the waters of the earth.

I urge you to do a water ceremony in thanks for this precious element during the upcoming Solar Eclipse for together we can heal this planet. When we focus and direct consciousness we are indeed the vehicles of magick!

Diving inside the pool of Wisdom with Yogini Yoda

Ambika in an interview with the Hot Chicks of Elite Online Publishing Talking on the topics of Vedic wisdom, her books and meditation. Join her in the realm of magick!

More on Meditation and the wisdom of Yoga in my book Lilith.

More on Happiness Health and Ayurveda in my book Unfolding Happiness.