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Posts Tagged ‘Human Interest’
SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTMENT
April 27, 2012 | 
Author What Is Spiritual Enlightenment
As it seems, spiritual enlightenment is often categorized into levels for practical purposes. Highest stage of spiritual enlightenment marks the attainment of God, but still there are certain levels through which the individual needs to evolve. It is like rising from the levels of animality to which we often tend to degrade ourselves. From the levels of animality, we rise to the level of humanity, which constitutes our true nature. And further from humanity to divinity, where we merge back in the source from where we have come. Let us, for our practical purpose, put them in stages and analyze the state of being in each stage:
At the very first level of spiritual enlightenment, the individual starts experiencing the reality as it is. It means that your mind ceases to interfere with what you are experiencing. Quite often, we are engaged in continuous talk, gossip, analyzing the environment around us, planning about future, and so on. However, when spiritual enlightenment dawns on your being, you take everything as it is.
At the second stage of spiritual enlightenment, you feel yourself in almost everything around you. You feel that you have some connection to every object and every individual in the world. It is like losing your own individuality. Spiritual enlightenment has its culmination at merging the soul in Supreme Soul, and this is where you start experiencing it. You feel that you are not individual anymore and not separate from anything. You feel that you are in everything and everything is just a part of the Supreme Soul from where you also have emerged.
At the third stage of spiritual enlightenment, you no longer feel connected to everything but realize you are everything. Because spiritual enlightenment gives you the experience of oneness with God, you feel that you are not separate from anything. You are not merely the body, sense, mind, and faculty of intellect: you are what everything else is. This stage of spiritual enlightenment imparts the direct experience of oneness.
Spiritual enlightenment is the fruit that sets you free, as you lose all wants and wishes to receive the fruits of your actions. You feel the bliss of completeness through spiritual enlightenment. At first it gives you the feeling that you need “Light”. At the next stage, you feel that you are merging in “Light”. At the culminating stage, you feel that you are no more separated from “Light”—you and “Light” are one.
How Meditation Can Lead You To Spiritual Enlightenment
Have you ever found yourself struggling in meditation? You sit to meditate expecting bliss or enlightenment but instead all you really experience is frustration? That’s because the very attempt to get something out of meditation, blocks you from actually meditating.
Meditation is a bit like gardening, you plant some carrot seeds and then every day you water it, you pull the weeds, you nourish the carrot plant in every way you can. You don’t expect a carrot instantly. But out of love for gardening you do the work without expecting anything in return. And then one day to your surprise,there is the carrot, beautiful, orange and delicious. Same with meditation.
If you commit yourself to meditation without expecting anything in return; If you give yourself to this moment out of the love of giving. Because some days meditation will be challenging, some days meditation will be blissful and some days meditation will be a challenging surrender to the intensity that is here.
But simply by meditating and by nourishing your awareness in every way you can,one day, without even focusing on it, you could be reading a book or walking in the woods and suddenly there is an opening. Suddenly, bliss is radiating freely from your heart.
Enlightenment will happen without you thinking about it. Without you do anything on your part.
It arises on its own, at its own time, yet it arises also because you planted the seed and helped it grow.
And the best way to help your meditation grow into enlightenment is by sitting in the presence of an enlightened teacher, one who has mastered high states of meditation. Such a teacher naturally radiates a bliss(known as shaktipat) that can be felt by others. And so simply by sitting with them, you easily enter deep states of meditation.
But you can experience this same bliss by listening to a very unique Enlightenment CD. Simply by listening to beautiful meditation music, you effortlessly attain deep states of meditation and bliss.
Bhakti Yoga for Spiritual Enlightenment – Devotional Bhajan
HAMSA-YOGA.ORG Himalayan Master Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath. The flavor of devotion in India, called bhakti. Details about Anandamayi Ma, Mahavatar Babaji (Shiva-Goraksha-Babaji), and the Avatars of the Himalayas. The knowing of a true master. ***Yogiraj is considered an illumined living master and solar seer, and helps sincere practitioners of yogic meditation awaken to higher levels of consciousness through chakra awakening and esoteric practices of Himalayan yoga. Yogiraj Gurunath Siddhanath was born on May 10, 1944 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. He has been meditating since the age of 3, and spent his early years in the Himalayas amongst the HamsaNath yogis, in whose presence he was transformed. The divine transformation flowered after his deep and personal experiences in 1961 and 1967 with the yogi-christ Mahavatar Shiv-Goraksha-Babaji, the same spiritual master described in Yogananda´s Autobiography of a Yogi. He has a wife of 30+ years, Gurumata Shivangani, with whom he built by hand the Hamsa Yoga Sangh Ashram (Spiritual Retreat) outside the city of Pune, near Bombay, India. They have two sons, and two grandchildren. Yogiraj teaches yogic meditation for the evolution of human consciousness. These perennial practices of yoga are the most ancient closely guarded sacred practices of the Himalayan yogis and masters from time immemorial. They help the practitioner gradually transform him/herself into the likeness of his/her own divinity. This ancient art and …
Watch for more of Spiritual Enlightment in our BLOG!
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Learn to Speak Astrology
I came across this astrology class being offered online…it is pretty different from other astrology courses!!
I thought I would put up the introduction video and if your interested in astrology it may be something you want to look into further!!
World Renowned Astrologer Reveals Revolutionary New Approach to Learning Astrology That Will Have You Unlocking the Secrets of Your Unique Birth Chart and Creating Your Own, Detailed, Specific, Practical Interpretations in a Few Short Weeks!
More information about the classes
Unfortunately, the answer to that question has always been “no.”
Until now.
For the first time ever, you can experience a revolutionary new approach to learning Astrology. Whether you’re new to Astrology or you’ve been studying it for years, this powerful system will unlock the secrets of your birth chart and make Astrology come alive for you.
But before I tell you about this new system, let me introduce myself.
My name is Kevin B. Burk. I’ve been counseling professionally as an astrologer since 1996, and I have clients around the world. I hold a Level IV certification in Astrological Counseling from NCGR, and my website, TheRealAstrology.com is one of the premiere Astrology resources on the Internet. I’ve been teaching Astrology since 1999, and I’ve been invited to speak at some of the largest and most prestigious Astrology organizations in North America. My articles have appeared in The Mountain Astrologer, Llewellyn’s Moon Sign Annuals, and in the Australian publication, Well Being Astrology. I’m the author of 10 books (so far), including The Complete Node Book, Astrology Math Made Easy, and the Astrological Relationship Handbook.
In fact, my first book, Astrology: Understanding the Birth Chart, is the gold standard of Astrology books. It is widely regarded as the best book on how to interpret a natal chart using classical Astrology. It’s been used as a textbook in Kepler College’s certification and degree programs, it’s been translated into Russian, and it’s being translated into Bulgarian.
Someone with absolutely no background in Astrology can pick up my book, and by the time they’ve finished working through it, they will be able to interpret any birth chart from start to finish. But getting to that point takes a lot of work.
Astrology: Understanding the Birth Chart still follows the old paradigm of how to teach Astrology. You have to digest a staggering amount of information, and even though it does make an effort to show how to apply the techniques in practical ways, it still amounts to too much theory and not enough application.
In the Summer of 2007, I decided to revisit the fundamentals of Astrology and see if I could make them more accessible. Astrology: Understanding the Birth Chart included just about every technique and approach that I’d ever used to interpret a natal chart. But over the years, my practice evolved, and I discovered that I could get a wealth of detailed, specific information using only the simplest, fundamental classical techniques. Not only am I able to prepare for a client in a fraction of the time it used to take me, but my clients come away from the session with practical, specific tools they can use to improve their lives dramatically.
I’ve shared these techniques in workshops for Astrology organizations in the U.S. and Canada, and the response has always been the same. A light seems to go on for everyone in the audience. All of a sudden, something clicks for even the most experienced, professional astrologers in the room, and the birth chart springs to life before their eyes.
That’s why I’m calling this new program:
The first class in this series covers Natal Astrology and teaches how to unlock the secrets of your unique birth chart.
I have always been very interested in astrology so this course caught my eye and just wanted to share!! Plus I have a few readers whom have asked about Astrology….I am NO expert so decided to share once I found one 
For more information or to sign up CLICK HERE!!
Watch our BLOG for more meditations coming soon!!
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Striking the Balance
This was a pretty good read and is for sale for under $5 so I thought I would share.
Excerpt from Salespage:
Our spirituality and our physicality are the two components of which we are made. If we could strike the right balance between the concrete and the abstract parts of our being, we could definitely turn ourselves into better people.
You’re about to embark on a journey that takes you through striking this all-important balance.
As we’ve gotten to the point of fact that everyplace we look, we’re inundated with messages that our country is in dyer straights. Numerous people are being laid-off, downsized, or working extra hours to accommodate the decrease in fellow workers.
It’s hard not to feel out of sorts under this pressure. But, you can learn how to come through not only this crisis, but any crisis that should come your way. Discover how to go from victim to victor and how to tap into your inner strength that will help you endure any adversity. Learn how your perceptions create stress and how to challenge and alter them.
The cost of the book is $4.77 CLICK HERE if you wish to purchase!!
Watch our BLOG for a whole new set of Meditations coming soon!!
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Attitude of Gratitude
Attitude of Gratitude Meditations
When looking for meditations I could share with you about gratitude I found these 3 little gems…hope you enjoy them as much as I did!!!
We have so much to be thankful for in our lives yet we often take the time to show gratitude! If you want to receive you must be grateful!!
I also wanted to thank all our readers for their patience while we moved our office…it was a couple of busy and stressful weeks but we are back and happy to be posting again!! We are grateful to be able to share our love of meditation, inspiration and decoration with you!!
Thankful Thursday Gratitude Meditation #1 – Winter Tranquility
www.HomeSpaGoddess.com Do you have an attitude of gratitude? Start a weekly gratitude practice by watching Thankful Thursday´s with Denise from HomeSpaGoddess.com! This week watch the show first and then the meditation Thankful Thursday Gratitude Meditation #1 – Winter Tranquility This weeks links: Gratitude Power Kits www.gratitudepower.net How to Live in the Land of Enough
Thankful Thursday Gratitude Meditation #2 – Winter Serenity
www.HomeSpaGoddess.com Do you have an attitude of gratitude? Start a weekly gratitude practice by watching Thankful Thursday´s with Denise from HomeSpaGoddess.com! Thankful Thursday Gratitude Meditation #2 – Winter Serenity
Thankful Thursday Gratitude Meditation #3 – Winter Calm
www.HomeSpaGoddess.com Do you have an attitude of gratitude? Start a weekly gratitude practice by watching Thankful Thursday´s with Denise from HomeSpaGoddess.com! Thankful Thursday Gratitude Meditation #3 – Winter Calm
Special thanks to HomeSpaGoddess.com for these videos, we are grateful
The ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE!!
Many people mistakenly believe that meditation is a passive activity in which a person simply empties their mind of all thoughts, and sits doing nothing but mindless breathing exercises. While this may be how some people practice meditation, it is not meditation in the true sense. Meditation is never a passive activity. Of course, in order to enter a true meditative state, you must quiet your conscious or objective mind, but this is done for a distinct purpose. And, there are techniques which actively quiet the objective mind. These are not used to put a person into a mindless state, however, they are done to help the practitioner contact their higher mind. This is often referred to as entering the silence. However, it is what one does when they enter the silence that determines whether one is meditating, or simply entering a mindless, hypnotic trance.
True meditation happens when we enter the silence and then attempt conscious awareness, without reengaging the objective mind. This is difficult to do. However, there are techniques that even a beginner can use to increase their awareness when they enter the silence, without waking up the objective mind. One good technique is to use a mantra or prayer that is short enough to remember, so that it can be repeated slowly in your mind. For example, if you are a Christian, you could repeat the phrase “no longer I, but Christ who lives within me.” As you repeat the phrase, say each word slowly, trying as best as you can to feel the meaning and significance of each word. Link your mind, or thoughts, to your heart, or emotions. Then, try to visualize what each word means, again linking a feeling to the picture you create in your mind. Don’t worry if you struggle with visualization; many people, (myself included), struggle with it. Do not let that be a barrier, continue practicing visualizing, and linking your thoughts with your feelings.
After you complete your meditation, journal the experience, and reflect on it critically, but without judgment. Ask yourself questions, and see if any insights emerge. Whatever you discover, write them down.
And lastly, be normal. Do not imagine you are special because you are practicing meditation. You are special because you are a child of God, but then again we all are, so that is nothing to boast about. Always approach meditation with a sense of humility, love, gratitude, and praise. If you do this, you will truly meditate and your life will be abundantly blessed.
As you can see, meditation is an active practice, designed to quiet the objective mind, and bring you into contact with the Divine Mind, The Power of the Spirit.
Yes, it might feel great to win the lottery. Money, houses, travel – these are wonderful, but not enough by themselves. You need the right frame of mind to fully enjoy life. You need the attitude of gratitude.
Be Grateful
Life is better when you feel blessed, when you can look around and say “Thank you, God.” Religious or not, when you see life as a wonderful gift, your experience is a richer one than any amount of money can provide. Imagine going through life like you’re a child, and every morning is Christmas.
It’s tempting to think gratitude comes from having what you want. You see yourself giving thanks if you had money, a loving family, and maybe a house on the beach. Still, you know there are ungrateful, unhappy people with these things, and poor people full of gratitude for what little they have. Where does this feeling come from?
Creating Gratitude
Gratitude arises from how you look at things. It is the natural feeling that comes from truly appreciating the people and things in your life. It is also something you can learn.
First, you have to stop and smell the roses. You can’t be thankful for something you don’t notice or enjoy. Roses really do smell great, by the way.
Then, you need to make this appreciative approach to roses and life a habit. There’s no need to ignore the ugliness in the world, but you have to habitually see the beautiful things.
Start writing down every positive thing that happens to you, and all the things you like. Do this until you start automatically seeing the good things in life. If you’ve ever bought a white car, and started seeing white cars all over, you know how awareness can alter your perception of reality. To see wonderful things all over, train yourself to look for them.
When you are in the habit of “counting your blessings,” gratitude, and a much richer experience of life is the natural result.
In its simplest form Prayer is speaking with God/Spirit/Universe and Meditation is listening to God/Spirit/Universe. The Universe works on the principle that you ASK and it is GIVEN. So prayer is a time for asking, whether for yourself or for others. It is also a time for praise & thanksgiving, which is also called appreciation & gratitude. Here you are giving thanks and/or marveling at the wonder of your fabulous life. It is energy directed out of you. You can speak your prayers aloud or silently in your mind. It doesn’t matter to the God/Spirit/Universe.
Meditation is the listening part. You see, G/S/U speaks to us through intuition. We need to have good inner listening, which gets clearer when you meditate. Now, listening is a relatively passive activity and is not embraced nor encouraged by your ego/conscious mind. So the goal is to quiet your mind and get it to go away. You want to empty your mind of thoughts. This is energy directed in you. When your mind is empty, that is when God/Spirit/Universe can speak to you.
So that’s the bare bones of the two. Both expand as your practice them. But here are some suggestions for success in each:
Prayer: Keep a prayer journal. This helps you to see what has come to pass that you have prayed for. If you wrote a list of the 5 favorite things in your life right now, you’d realize they were all prayers of yours, not so long ago. Therefore you know prayers are answered. So will be the ones you are praying now.
Meditation: Set yourself up for success by turning off the TV and the phone first.Find a very comfortable spot and set an alarm that beeps to let you know you are finished.
Exercising and maintaining an attitude of gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to incorporate the Law of Attraction into your life. As we know, the Law of Attraction is a universal law. It can be described in the phrase “like attracts like.” Because of the Law of Attraction, you will attract similar thoughts to the ones that you are thinking. Whether those thoughts are negative or positive, they will attract the same types of thoughts.
The attitude of gratitude seems like such a simple phrase, but the powers that are represented by that simple phrase can bring a multitude of things to the person who knows how to use those powers along with the Law of Attraction. Many times a person will try to use this law to benefit their life. Perhaps they are searching for meaning, or maybe they want to improve their finances. Let’s say this person starts to repeat affirmations aloud every day, twice a day. This person also tries meditation and they might even make a list of goals. But for some reason, this person doesn’t feel as if their efforts are working.
This is where the attitude of gratitude comes in. Sometimes, for different reasons, no matter how much a person tries to do the right things; they still have a negative mindset, even if they repeat positive phrases over and over. No amount of repetition is going to work if you have a negative mindset while doing the repetitions. This is exactly when the attitude of gratitude is needed most. Having an attitude of gratitude puts your mind on a more positive track. The attitude of gratitude gets you into the mindset and frequency that you need in order to receive the things that you are trying to get by using affirmations and meditation.
Even if a person makes a list of goals that they want to accomplish, if they are stuck in a negative mindset, the goals will not end up in them receiving what they want. By implementing an attitude of gratitude, they can break the cycle of negativity and start to operate on a positive vibration that will allow them to turn their desires into a reality.
Examples of ways to incorporate an attitude of gratitude within yourself include expressing gratitude for everything that you have. When you wake up in the morning, express your gratitude. Say thank you out loud for your bed, for your room for the food that you eat, and for the water that comes out of your tap.
Express gratitude for everything that you have, and while you do so, feel the happy and warm feelings that come with having gratitude. This is the way to get on the right track in order for your subconscious mind to be able to receive the things that you have been wanting and trying to receive through other techniques. Utilizing an attitude of gratitude in your daily life is the best way to make sure that you are on the right wavelength to receive everything that the universe sends to you.
Watch our BLOG for more meditations coming!!
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Healing For Mother Earth
The Meditation of Heaven and Earth
The instructions that follow are simplified so that anyone can do this.
You can be living anywhere on Earth. Just find a quiet place and sit comfortably, on the Earth itself if possible, and close your eyes.
Begin to breathe rhythmically and evenly — meaning that you inhale in the same amount of time that you exhale. Relax, and let your everyday thoughts go. Just simply follow your breath.
In your inner vision, see a beautiful scene from nature. Whatever you see as beautiful, whether it is in the mountains, the desert, the ocean — it doesn’t matter. If it is the mountains, for example, you might see their peaks covered with snow. You might picture rivers, trees, and the animals, and see white, billowing clouds in the sky. Breathe in the clean, fresh mountain air. Do something similar with whatever place you have chosen that is dear to your heart. And in your heart, feel the love that you have for nature and for Mother Earth. Allow this love to become strong until your very body feels this love.
Then take this love that you have for Mother Earth and place it in a little ball — perhaps two inches across — and with your intention send this little ball filled with your love down to the center of the Earth. You send it with the intention that Mother Earth feels the love that you have for Her. And then you wait.
You wait for Mother Earth to send Her love back to you. She always will, as you are Her child. Some people experience it immediately and for others it takes a little while. It is a very real experience. It is not an intellectual thing. It is not you saying to yourself, ”I am now feeling Mother Earth’s love.” When Mother Earth’s love returns to you, it will be as sweet as the time that your own mother looked into your eyes when you were a baby. Feel this love, and let it move all through your body. Let it move through every cell in your body. Let it move even into your Light Body, and all that you are. And for a time — as long as you wish — simply stay in this connected love, with yourself in the arms of the Divine Mother.
When the time seems right, and without breaking the connection with the Divine Mother, turn your attention to the Divine Father, who is the rest of creation other than the Earth.
In your inner vision, see a night sky filled with the multitude of stars of the Milky Way. See the planets, the sun (which would have to be over the horizon), and the moon. See the beauty of Creation, and feel the love that you have for the Divine Father. Allow this love to grow stronger until you are ready to burst with tears of love.
And then, just as with the Mother, gather this love and put it into a little ball, and with your intention send it into the Heavens. Either send it to the sacred grids around the Earth, if you understand them, or send it to the Central Sun, if you understand what that means. Or — which is what most indigenous people do — send it to our own sun. It is your intention that matters. And then you wait.
As with the Mother, you wait until the Father sends His love back to you. He always will, as you are His son. When you feel this love return to you, let it move throughout your body and to all your cells. Let it move even into your Light Body and all that you are. Again, you can stay in this love with the Father as long as you wish.
Realize that at this moment you are in love with the Divine Mother and Father at the same time. This is extremely rare, for a human being to experience this. And realize even further that the Holy Trinity is now being manifest on Earth. The Divine Mother, the Divine Father, and you — the Divine Child — are all bound by Love in a Holy Triangle.
According to Sri Yukteswar, it is only from this sacred place of the Holy Trinity that the Creator can be seen so clearly and experienced so directly.
Now, without breaking the bonds of love between your Divine Parents, simply allow the presence of God to be experienced directly. Allow God to come within your body as well as all around you. What happens now is between you and God. Trust yourself, as you are a Child of God. Believe in yourself, as you are one with the Source.
From this point on, there are no words.
May this meditation be a blessing in your life and to all those you touch.
**Credit for the meditation goes to Spirit of Maat**
Watch our BLOG for MORE Meditations coming soon!!
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Accents In The Garden
Shop for garden statues, busts, angels and cherubs from Accents in the Garden the source for garden decor and outdoor statuary.
Love your garden? Love statues? Have a beautiful garden to decorate?
Then this is your site! Ever wondered why we love our outdoor spaces? Well I have often wondered that myself and have spent a lot of time thinking about it, and I think the biggest reason is safety and control! We always feel safe at home don’t we? It’s our haven away from the crazy world we live in.
And have you ever thought about why we spend so much time making our homes, and outdoor spaces warm and beautiful? I believe it’s because we can control those environments, and will spend all our time making them safe and comforting, so we have a special place to get away too! I know I do that with my house and yard, because they are mine and I can control what happens there, where I can’t control the rest of the world!
Knowing this can make you happy and will bring a smile to your lips, every time you look around at what you have done for your soul!
ACCENTS IN THE GARDEN can give song to your soul, when you look at all their beautiful heavenly products for you! Let’s look at what Accents in the Garden are all about…They say to you…..
Welcome to Accents in the Garden, your resource for garden and home decor. Browse our line of custom-made products of cast stone, aged stone, Italian marble, fiberstone and fiberglass.
Offering religious, angel, cherub or animal statues, garden benches, water fountains, bird baths, planters and iron furniture – you’re sure to find something for your home or garden!
Aged Stone:
Aged stone is a fiberstone mixture of sand and stones cast into the surface using terrazzo-like techniques. The surface is then sandblasted and chemically treated, followed by an acid stain to give the appearance of aged stone in our garden statues, gargoyles, planters, urns, and vases. Since it is reinforced with a fiberglass backing, it remains light-weight and less fragile than concrete.
Fiberstone or Fiberglass:
By mastering the art of casting our garden statues, gargoyles, planters, urns, and vases in fiberglass resin we manage to retain all the detail or the original with the added benefits of less weight, greater strength, and a product suitable for indoor and outdoor garden decor use.
Fiber Stone is a mixture of sand and stones cast into the surface using terrazzo-like techniques. The surface is then sandblasted and chemically treated, followed by an acid stain to give the appearance of aged stone. Since it is reinforced with a fiberglass backing, it remains light-weight and less fragile than concrete.
Italian Marble:
Italians have always been known for their remarkable art and design. In addition to their original sculptures and other fine art they are also known for their detailed marble castings. Accents in the Garden now offers these beautiful Italian statues for your home. We hope you enjoy our selection as much as we do.
How are they made? This fine statuary is created by reconstituting real Carrara marble (approximately 70% marble and 30% resin). This allows for exceptional detail that would be very difficult (if not impossible) to sculpt from a solid block of marble. Some sculptures are supported by a genuine black Carrara marble base to give it the elegance it deserves..
There are so many ways to decorate your outdoor haven and make it your special place to re-treat too, I will try to help you with a few ideas.
1/ Something I love to do is go outside at night and see my large pond all lit up, and my fish swimming around! How awesome is that? It gives me so much pleasure to see what I have created, and enjoy it to the fullest! So lighting is a great addition to your haven.
2/ Plants- Plants- Plants!! You can never have enough greenery and live flowers in your haven, so load up and make your yard very special with lots of color!
3/ Bring the Birds in! I spend a lot of time watching my special feathered visitors, so have bird houses in your trees and enjoy the show!
4/ Your haven needs furniture! You can place benches and chairs around your yard, at special places you enjoy like a pond or in among your flower garden. You will find yourself drawn there often!
5/ And of course we can’t forget about the best feature and that is water!! You really need to have a water feature, where you can sit and hear the water running. In my pond I have a high rock bed that the water runs down, and into the pond and OMG!! there is nothing like the sound of water!! I can sit there for hours just daydreaming!
6/ Something that really adds to your haven is STATUES!
I love ANGELS & CUPIDS! BUDDAH’S are awesome too, I have a laughing Buddah and smile every time I look at him. There are many beautiful statues out there and you will feel your body tingle when you find the one you should have, so touch them and spend some time quietly standing with each one. Trust me you will know!
When making your special haven use your imagination and what YOU are attracted to, after all it’s your haven and you want it to reflect who you are, not me or your neighbors!! The most important thing to remember is to have fun, make it your own and spend all your free time relaxing in your special place.
ACCENTS IN THE GARDEN can help you with your haven, come and see all the beautiful items you can beautify your home and outdoor space with.
You will find all the great Statues, Birdbaths, Garden benches, Pedestals and much much more!!
Come and see us today and find Your garden accents here…
Brutus Bust
$ 279.95
Nativity Set-14″H
$ 350.00
Bell Outdoor Garden Ornament
$ 180.00
Old World Birdbath
$ 284.95
Double Shell Water Fountain
$ 420.00
Watch our BLOG for more beautiful home and garden decor from Accents in the Garden
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Today's Meditation
Todays Meditation – Giving and Receiving
Today’s Quotation
Character is the product of daily, hourly actions, words and
thoughts: daily forgiveness, unselfishness, kindnesses,
sympathies, charities, sacrifices for the good of others,
struggles against temptation, submissiveness under trial.
It is these, like the blinding colors in a picture, or
the blending notes of music, which constitute the person.
Today’s Meditation
Today’s meditation is a bit longer than I have posted in the past few weeks! But it is of great importance as we head into the holiday season! Giving and Taking, Giving and Receiving Ying and Yang!! A balance must be attained to fully understand how powerful these actions are, and how they are intertwined.
I will go more in-depth with Giving and Taking in a future meditation. So enjoy the meditation and I hope it helps YOU find the perfect balance!!
Namaste
TONGLEN Meditation – TAKING AND GIVING
“Without attuning body, speech and mind unto the Doctrine,
What gain is it to celebrate religious rites?
If anger be unconquered by its antidote,
What gain is it to celebrate religious rites?
Unless one meditate on loving others more than self,
What gain is it merely from the lips to say: ‘O, Pity (sentient beings)”
Milarepa (From Evan Wentz ‘Tibet’s Great Yogi Milarepa’)
INTRODUCTION
This meditation technique can be extremely powerful when practised correctly. To me, it represents the full idea of a Bodhisattva; a being who wishes to help all sentient beings, without concern for his/her own interests. It is advised to read the pages on Meditation Theory (chapter on Vipashyana) and Meditation Practice if you are not used to (analytical) meditation..
In case you find this meditation very difficult to do, it may well be a very positive sign! It is definitely extremely difficult to let go of our selfish attitude and deciding to give all one’s own happiness and positive karma to others and take upon oneself the suffering of all sentient beings.
If you do this meditation seriously, it cannot be easy – unless you are an extremely advanced practitioner. If you realize that doing this practice is too difficult when trying to focus on all sentient beings, it may be helpful to start at an easier level; instead of being surrounded by all other sentient beings, you can imagine sitting opposite yourself of a future lifetime and practice giving and taking.
If that works well, try to imagine your mother, father or a good friend with whom you practice. Next, one can try to think of ones entire family, friends or neighborhood, and so gradually expand it to include everyone, even animals and life forms we cannot even see.
This meditation works in many ways, to name but a few:
- reducing selfish attachment
- increasing a sense of renunciation
- creating positive karma by giving and helping
- developing loving-kindness and bodhicitta
- it refers to all of the 6 Perfections: giving, ethics, patience, joyous effort, concentration and wisdom.
Set yourself a time, like 15 or 30 minutes for the session, put a clock in front of yourself.
Take a couple of deep breaths to relax, check if your body is relaxed and reasonably comfortable.
Set the motivation: for example recite the refuge prayer:
I go for refuge to the Buddha,
I go for refuge to the Dharma,
I go for refuge to the Sangha. (3x)
Setting the mind towards enlightenment:
By virtue of giving and so forth,
may I become a Buddha for the benefit of all sentient beings. (3x)
The four immeasurables:
May all sentient beings have equanimity, free from attachment, aggression and prejudice.
May they be happy, and have the causes for happiness.
May they be free from suffering and causes for suffering.
May they never be separated from the happiness that is free from suffering. (3x)
The seven limbed prayer:
Respectfully I prostrate with body, speech and mind;
I present clouds of every type of offerings, actual and imagined;
I declare all the negative actions I have done since beginning of time,
and rejoice in the merit of all Aryas and ordinary beings.
Please teacher, remain until cyclic existence ends
and turn the wheel of Dharma for all sentient beings.
I dedicate the virtues of myself and others to the great Enlightenment.
Short breathing meditation (maybe 5 minutes or so):
Concentrate on the tip of your nose, and feel the breath going in and out.
To help your concentration, you can count every out-breath as one, and count from 1 to 10. When you arrived at 10, simply start at 1 again. All the attention is with the feeling of the nose and the counting, nothing more, nothing less.
Regularly check yourself if you are still concentrated, do not get angry when distracted, simply return to counting from 1.
Just before the end of the session, release the concentration on the counting and the tip of your nose, and simply be aware of how you feel.
Giving and taking; try to imagine the following:
- Visualize all sentient beings around you: enemies in front, friends behind you all sentient beings are in the form of human beings.
- First visualize that all their sufferings take the form of black clouds of smoke that surrounds them, and inhale this smoke.
- Direct the smoke to your heart where you visualize a black spot, representing your own egoistic self-cherishing mind.
- The destructive force of all the black smoke of suffering goes to this self-cherishing mind, completely destroying it
Take some time to do this.
- Now imagine exhaling bright white nectar and light towards all beings. This white nectar is your own potential for happiness which you give away.
Take some time for this part. When you are used to both practices, you may try the following:
- If possible combine both above practices of inhaling black smoke and exhaling light and nectar with every in- and out-breath. If this takes too much effort, simply return to either giving or taking.
Near the end of the session, let go of the thoughts of giving and taking, and take some time to sense how you feel now.
Next, try to make some sort of brief positive conclusion, like: “this meditation is too difficult, so I need to practice more”, “this was really great, I should do this more often” or “I must work harder to control my selfish mind”, something like that – but it must be your own conclusion.
Then try to concentrate very strongly on this conclusion, but without discussing it in your thoughts: just try to hold on to the feeling that the conclusion gives you and try to focus intensely on it for just one or two minutes.
Dedicate the positive energy of the session to whichever goal you like, use for example:
May all sentient beings have equanimity, free from attachment, aggression and prejudice.
May they be happy, and have the causes for happiness.
May they be free from suffering and causes for suffering.
May they never be separated from the happiness that is free from suffering. (3x)
and below prayers:
By this virtue may I soon
reach a Guru-Buddha-state,
and lead each and every being
to that state of Buddhahood.
May the precious Bodhicitta
not yet born, arise and grow
may that born have no decline
but increase forever more.
And any specific wishes that you may have.
ViewonBuddhism.org is who gets FULL CREDIT for this wonderful meditation!!
Today’s Inspirational Pictures
I a world of darkness, be the light. Be the hope for those who don’t have any. Give your strength to the weak. Light the way for those who are lost. Dare to be different, dare to love&to live. And always remember that life is fragile and should be handled with prayer.- Abigail Jourdain Miller
Today’s Decorations – Indoor Water Features
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Cherub Statues
Garden statues and sculptures add character to a garden highlighting movement, color and character to a given space. Many of us may like the look of children statues especially reading statues or even children sculptures which deliver the look of innocence to the garden. Some of us may like religious statues especially holy family statues and statues of Jesus and Mary to celebrate the inspirational delight such statues offer us.
Comes Christmas, it would be nativity statues which will fill the landscape to the home front. Regardless of what your interests are, statues offer a completeness to the garden sometimes imbibing a soul that is uniquely that of the owner.
There’s no better way to add character to your garden, patio or yard than with garden statues. Garden statues can be a reflection of your personality or of your garden theme. Tucked into a corner, or right by your front door, garden statues are a great way to decorate.
Garden statues can be used to create an atmosphere in your garden. For example a deer or bear can give your yard a woodsy feel, while a replica of a famous work of art will give your garden a formal feel. You can plan your entire garden around a large garden statue or use small garden statues to add a decorator touch in hidden places in your garden.
By mastering the art of casting our home decor and outdoor garden statues, decoration, gargoyles, dragons, angels, cherubs, cupid, fairy, busts, planters, urns, pots, garden benches, pedestals, columns, garden ornaments, fountains, wall decor, vases, holiday, religious and animal statues in fiberglass or fiberstone resin we manage to retain all the detail or the original with the added benefits of less weight, greater strength, and a product suitable for indoor and outdoor garden decor use.
Como Cherub Set With Wings Outdoor Garden Statues:
Price: $1108.80
Available in Fiberstone or Fiberglass
Fiberstone has a rough surface and fiberglass has a smooth surface.
Both materials are about half the weight of cement and can be outdoors year round.
Water Pourer Cherub Outdoor Garden Statue:
Price: $309.95 at time of post
Garden Statue / Garden Ornament
Cherub Victorian Plaque: Price: $205.60
Cherubs Lunette Plaque: Price: $377.00
Fall Angel Statue: Price: $833.80
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GIFT ANIMALS!! | animal
GIFTANIMALS – Animal Figurines!!
Handmade Cyber Monday Deals! Save $10 Off $50 at NOVICA. Code: SAVE10TODAY. Valid through 12-31-2011
Novica is proud to announce the launch of GiftAnimals, the world’s largest resource for animal-themed handmade gifts!
Animals have always fascinated mankind, and so has its figurines. Animal figurines have been popular as gifts, household items and decorative pieces for many decades. These animal figurines are meticulously crafted by skilled craftsmen to create stunning handmade animal statues & figurines. Excellent for birthday gifts, Christmas gifts or even house warming gifts.
Figurines are generally small human-made statue’s that represent a deity, human or animal. Derived from the word figure, animal figurines are typically smaller than life-size, which can be iconic or realistic depending on the creator’s skill. Earlier animal figurines were made of stone, but today are available in a variety of ceramic, wood, glass, crystal, plastic, metal, etc. Animal figurines can be used to adorn tables or decorate gardens, as well as be used to top cakes. It can be used as something that complements home decor or as collectible pieces.
We dedicate these featured Animals to fellow Animal Lovers.
Come meet talented master craftsmen and discover their exquisite, handcrafted, animal-inspired creations!
Animal Wood Sculpture – Lion Majesty - Price $157.95
Roaring with valiant pride, this lion proves why he is considered king of jungle. Wearing its mane like a crown, the lion exudes strength and power.
Celadon Ceramic Statuettes – How to Create Universal Peace (set of 3) Price $69.95
The universal parable of “Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil” comes to life in the cool tones of celadon. The timeless lesson is personified by three monkeys – a tradition adapted from the Japanese culture. Painting celadon ceramics since adolescence, Thatsanee and Ramphan are experts in the traditional craft.
Animal Cedar bookends – Rhino Guardian (pair) Price $69.95
Deftly carving cedar wood, George Obeng exhibits the fierce majesty of the rhinoceros. The horned creatures stand guard in the library as handsome bookends.
Animal Wood sculpture – Majestic Tiger – Price $97.95
Carved from Peruvian ishpingo wood, a tiger is at once majestic, wise and pensive. John Barrow reveals his sensitivity for the animal world with this elegant sculpture. The big cat’s habitat is endangered in some parts of the world.
Animal Wood sculpture – Mighty Tiger - price $197.95
The beauty and might of tigers is unique and masterfully exemplified in this hand-carved sculpture by Ketut Taram. Throughout Asia and Indonesia, tigers are associated with power, ferocity, passion and sensuality, beauty, speed, cruelty, and wrath. It is believed that when a tiger appears in a dream it may signal the awakening of new power or passion.
Watch our BLOG for other handmade products from Novica!!
Handmade Cyber Monday Deals! Save $20 Off $100 at NOVICA. Code: SAVE20TODAY. Valid through 12-31-2011
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Throne Ottoman's
Throne Ottoman
Shop Eco-friendly Treasures by Novica Artisans
Ashanti throne ottoman, ‘Friend’ Price $289.99
Inspired by ancient custom, Nana Frimpong presents this exceptional ottoman in the style of regal Ashanti thrones. Frimpong carves this piece by hand of sese wood, his expertise evident in the fine detailing of the motifs that celebrate his adanfo, meaning “friend.”
Ashanti throne ottoman, ‘Trust Wisely’ price $182.95
Nana Frimpong patiently crafts this masterpiece of sese wood, allowing the material to dry in the sun before executing his imaginative designs. Attractive crosshatching and finely carved curves enhance the beauty of the royal African throne. The name Gye Medi refers to “Trust” in the Akan language – a quality needed by anyone with authority.
Ashanti throne ottoman, ‘Decisions’ Price $233.99
This magnificent sese wood throne ottoman by Nana Frimpong illustrates a West African saying. Meko anaa menko is a statement in the Akan language that means “the decision to go or not to go depends upon whether or not you are subordinate to anybody.” Traditionally expressed in Adinkra symbols, popular wisdom is communicated to the people. Frimpong carefully sculpts the piece by hand, polishing it to a rich finish with dark tan mansion polish….
Beaded throne ottoman, ‘Wisdom of Ghana’ Price $179.95
Traditional Ghanaian Adinkra symbols cover this captivating throne ottoman by Abdul Karim Star. The central image represents sankofa, meaning “go back to your roots,” a message conveyed through the form of a bird with its head tilted backwards. On either side, sweeping curves symbolize sharp blades of blue steel, the Adinkra symbol known as Akofena. It means “Sword of Honor;” the imagery comes from crossed swords used…….
Wood throne ottoman, ‘African Guardian’ Price $69.95
Bold and handsome, a warrior stands guard in this design by Salihu Ibrahim. Inspired by traditional West African thrones, he transforms sese wood into a footstool or child’s throne ottoman.
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