Friday, April 30, 2010

So okay...I am ruled by Uranus

And "Uranus often reacts in unexpected ways".

I remembered correctly. My rising sign is Aquarius being born at the witching hour (3am).
The rising sign is the "sign rising over the horizon at the time of your birth... " This explains a lot. Some of the Piscean traits have been overruled apparently.

Thank goodness for yoga. It kicks ass and it looks like Uranus needs a lot of it.



Photo and text below from http://www.astrologycom.com/aquasc.html
***
Aquarius Rising gives you a detached, intellectual outlook, combined with considerable mental poise. You stay cool under pressure and take sudden shocks or unexpected changes in your stride. An interest, not to say a fascination with the bizarre and unusual can lead you down some rather interesting pathways. Status, power, and wealth are of marginal value, for you are interested in people for their own sake, not the social trappings which accompany them. Friendships are easily made and not so easily broken, for your air of easygoing familiarity and pleasant demeanour is rather attractive.


Ruled by Uranus (lord of reversals and unexpected upheavals) and Saturn, lord of karma (purification and restriction), your personality can be changeable, yet deeply focused and quite original in approach. Most likely your life will undergo one or more dramatic changes of direction, often through some twist of fate or circumstances over which you have no control. Changes can occur suddenly and unexpectedly, for though Saturn's influence implies a calm and stable disposition, Uranus often reacts in quite unexpected ways.


Unpredictable and independent, you can be argumentative and love to play devil's advocate. You need your personal freedom, so when you marry or form partnerships you should choose your partners with care, since you are quite unable to put up with possessiveness and over-dependence. You enjoy physical and mental stimulation and, my dears, whilst you are keenly interested in the future and are fascinated by the past (especially the offbeat, little-known areas), you somehow lose track of what's going on in the present. Ahead of your time, others may perceive you as out of step with the rest of society.


Your strong physique and reserves of stamina, combined with your notorious stubbornness makes it difficult to break undesirable habits and behaviour patterns. Your independence is legendary and, of course, you do tend to be somewhat opinionated, especially in matters that have stimulated your interest in the offbeat. Others stand little chance of changing your ideas, for you must become convinced on your own account that such changes are necessary. You probably like science, sociology, music and design, while your pursuit of hidden things and unusual research can lead you to an interest in astrology and other arcane matters. You are good with money, which tends to come your way unexpectedly, yet appropriately to your lifestyle. You are subject to nervous conditions, problems with the lower legs, ankles and stiffness or inflexibility of the bones and joints.

***

Govinda is back!!


Govinda Hare Gopala Hare

Govinda Gopala Devakinandana

It is wondrous that this was in a recent blog entry and that it was the chant of the day. Such a joyful, happy, lively chant. Practice was beautiful, as it is when I am around Govinda and some of my favorite yogins an yoginis, like lovely lovely Tesa...We share the same birthday and the same 3:00 birth (hers in the afternoon, mine early morning) and so the moon treats us similarly. That's what got me to looking for my rising sign.

I loved my practice and was finally able to get a beautiful Savasana. And the talk was around Truth.

Sometimes, our priority in life is to get other people's approval. We base our degree of connection on how many people like us or agree with us.
Our spiritual practice allows us access to discover truth. This is through genuine, actual direct experience.
There are two versions of truth as we know it. Relative and Ultimate. We know that relative truth is near proximity to ultimate truth when it is more and more unchanging. We are looking for the truth that DOES NOT CHANGE.
We look to teachers and books for truth and while this is good, this is not enough to make it your own truth.
If we are seriously seeking truth, we must cultivate TRUST in ourselves. Live our lives so that we can EXPERIENCE. This means taking chances, making mistakes. learning to be less and less protective of ourselves - not taking the safe and popular choice.
See the people who are not afraid of death are sometimes the most alive.
Say the things you are afraid to say, do the things you are afraid to do.

Speak and be your Truth.


* * *

Radhe Radhe Radhe Shyam
Govinda Jai Sri Radhe
Govinda Radhe Radhe Shyam
Gopala Radhe Radhe

Jai Jai Radha Ramana Hari Bol
Jai Jai Radha Ramana Hari Bol
Hari Bol Hari Bol Hari Bol Govinda  Govinda Gopala
Hari Bol Hari Bol Hari Bol Govinda Govinda Gopala
Jai Jai Radha Ramana Hari Bol

Om Nama Shivaya

* * *

The foundation of deeper yoga practice is practicing distinction.
Distinction between what is PERCEIVED by senses and what is BEYOND senses
As we practice, our awareness becomes more fine tuned, more sensitive to energy.
This requires the CAPACITY to bring your attention to PRESENT TIME.
The motivation to escape the realm of the senses often comes from the realm of the senses.
The goal is not to escape but to DEVELOP AWARENESS of the distinction.
The realm of the senses and the realm beyond the senses are one.
But when we identify with the realm of the senses, we create an illusion.
Looking deeply and connecting deeply is often messy so the mind chooses to skim the surface.
Look more deeply. Listen more deeply. 
COMMIT TO LOOKING BEYOND THE SURFACE OF THINGS.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Now Playing: Women's Yoga Chants

As this is the weekend after Earth Day and 2 weeks before Mother's Day, I chose this album from my beloved iTunes Playlist. I then looked for the dusty CD case of this fantastic compilation from 2001 from Gaia. It comes with a booklet and I wanted to share the chants and their meanings (as translated by the artists) in this entry. It's playing now as I smell the rain on its way to us. Perfect for a Sunday Afternoon at home, while cooking or during some happy times with your kindred spirits during a long drive or at the beach. And of course, for some happy Kirtan moments.

To my friends, let me know if you want a copy :)

(Photo from Amazon.com)

Track One
Govind Gopala (Wah!)

Govind Gopala Devaki Nandana
Gopala Gopala Devaki Nandana
Krishna Krishna Shree Krishna!

Krishna touched all with an intoxicating Divine love. In Indian mythology He was known as a cowhereder and He cared for Hs cows so lovingly that the great God Indra crowned Him Gov-Indra or "God of the cows, God of all living beings." Krishna is both playful and powerful. Chanting to Krishna is opening to a vast experience of love.

Track Two
Sadashiva Ranjani (Suzin Green)

Sadashiva Ranjani Jai Janani
Shambhavi Shankari Durga Bhavani
Akhilandeshwari Raja Rajeshwari
Mata Maheshwari Jai Narayani
Jagadambe Jai Jai Ma

The first line of this chant translates as  - Rejoicing in the ever-blissful Self, let me sing praises to Janani, the Great Mother. Shambhavi, Shankari, Durga, Bhavani, Akhilandeshwari, Raja Rajeshwari, Mata, Maheshwari and Narayani are all names of the Goddess. JAi means "victory" or "all glory to.:

Yogis of the Hindu Goddess tradition worship Devi, the Great Goddess as a sacred presence that can be experienced through chanting "Her" names. Each name is a mantra that can awaken the living grace of the Devi in our inner and outer lives. It does not matter if we are a man or a woman. Devi belongs to everyone. She is the Universal Mother, Light of Awareness, Ground of Being, Field of Time. This glorious chant has the power  to lift the singer into a state of joy, merging singer and song with light, love and boundless compassion that is the heart of the Devi.

Track Three
O Ma Kali Ma (Chaula Hopefisher)

O Ma Kali MA
Sadaguru Shri Mata
Para Shakti O Ma Kali
Sadaguru Shri Mata

O Mother Kali, inner teacher, most holy
Mother, supreme energy that propels
The entire univers, inner teacher
Most holy mother

I sing this chant as a small child calling out in her anguish to the most perfect perfect mother imaginable, a mother who would never deny the crying of her child. I bring everything to her in supplication - my suffering, fears, hopes and dreams. It is a prayer for guidance and for intuition.

Track Four
Bhava Bhayana Harana (Sita)

Bhava Bhaya Harana Vandita Charana
Jaya Radha Jaya Madhava Hari
Mangala Charana Kali Mala Dahana
Narayama Keshava

Victory to Radha. Victory to Madhava (Krishna), who eliminates the fears of the Universe. His feet are worshipped. In them is welfare. And all the sins of the Kali Yuga are burned away. Victory to Narayan, Keshava (Krishna), and Radha.

Track Five
Ambe Mata (Wah!)

Ambe Mata, Jagan Mata, Viran Mata, Satya Prem Data
Ambe Mayi, Jagan Mayi, Vira Mayi, Satya Prem Mayi

Mother Goddess, Mother of the World, Fearless Mother, Giver of Love
the Essence

This chant is in praise of the Diving Mother, and describes some of Her qualities: Mother is Goddess, perfect in form. She cares for every child in this world as if it were Her own. Like Mother Nature, she is awesome in Her strength and not afraid to use it. She is the kindest of all and She gives love in its purest form. This song is inpired by Ammachi (Mata Amritanandamayi Devi) from Kerala India (http://www.ammachi.org/)

Track Six
Sita Ram (Diana Rogers)

Sita Ram

Sing to Goddess Sita and Lord Ram, the upholder of auspiciousness and source of all virtues.

This is a chant affirming divine love in this world - a love that permeates everything. It feels good to celebrate this in times like these. Also, it's joyful tune. It reminds me of being with the Ma's at a mountain ashram in India late at night when they all gather together, pass around the harmonium, cymbals and drum, and sing and dance. Jai Sita Ram!

For more info on the artists:
www.wahmusic.com
suzingreen@mindspring.com
www.chaula.com
sitarecords@yahoo.com
www.dianarogers.com

Friday, April 23, 2010

Putting a lot of heart in Samastithi

Because I put a lot of heart into moments of Samastithi, workday stilettos and Saturday Sandals, I'm putting a lot of hearts for the spaces between the toes of these happy helping feet.

Pink pedicure separators from Watsons :)

Monday, April 19, 2010

Sights and Sounds of Singapore

At a music shop in Little India, kids learning how to play the tabla


Little India in Chinatown for the reopening of the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple...




At the Sri Krishna Temple on Waterloo


At a random wall on a street in Little India...(I love this!)


In front of the Kwan Yin Temple, right beside Sri Krishna Temple (beautiful that the Buddhist and Hindu devotees went to both temples)


Little Boy and the gong in China Town


Tea Ceremony at Tea Chapter in China Town...


The Raffles Hotel...Classic


At the Handicrafts shop in Little India, right before I was told, no taking photos...


My favorite shot of ze hubby at the MINT Museum of Toys


My favorite photos in the Singapore Art Museum

By Filipino Artists




My favorite thought-provoking pieces...









Me and my best friend and hubby pretending pre-nup at Universal Studios


Live fully. Love Well. Be Grateful.

(...the rest of the photos will be posted in my other blog) :)

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Secrets, Anyone?

When I was 13, I bought a booklet worth Php22 from a shop in Landmark that sells religious books and items (right beside gift gate, back then). I kept it all these years.

The booklet is called Secrets, Anyone? by J. Donald Walters. It was a compilation of the Secrets of Better Living Series originally published by Crystal Clarity, Publishers USA. It was published here by St. Paul Publications.

Even back then, I loved this little book containing "seeds of thought...offered for every day of the month" I've read and re-read this long before yoga entered my life, not knowing its roots.
I went over the text again recently and found them to very, very familiar -- very, very yogic!  And so I googled J. Donald Walters. To my surprise (or non-surprise), I learned that J. Donald Walters is Swami Kriyananda, a disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda. This little booklet is a compilation of 7 books.


Here's 31 days of the Secret of Inner Peace. Om Shanti to you.

The secret of inner peace is -

Day 1 - self-control; not scattering your energies, but holding them in check and directing them usefully.
Day 2 - giving full interested attention to everything you do.
Day 3 - to live fully in the moment, releasing past and future into the cycles of eternity
Day 4 - inner relaxation - physically, emotionally, mentally, then spiritually
Day 5 - non-attachment; being everconscious that nothing and no one truly belongs to you
Day 6 - contentment; consciously holding happy thoughts
Day 7 - desirelessness; realizing that happiness is within you, not in outward things or circumstances
Day 8 - accepting things as they are, and then, if necessary, acting calmly and cheerfully to improve them
Day 9 - realizing that you cannot change the world, but you can change yourself
Day 10 - cultivating harmonious friendships, and shunning the company of peaceless persons
Day 11 - projecting peace outward into your environment
Day 12 - a simple life; reducing your definition of "necessities"
Day 13 - a healthy life: exercising regularly, eating properly, breathing deeply
Day 14 - a clear conscience; remaining true to your highest ideals
Day 15 - acting in freedom, from your inner center and not in bondage to the world's demands.
Day 16 - accepting truth, in all circumstances as your guide
Day 17 - not coveting what others have, but knowing that what is yours by right will find its way to you
Day 18 - never complaining but acknowledging that what life gives you depends on what you give, first, of yourself
Day 19 - accepting responsibility for your failures, and realizing that only you can turn them into successes
Day 20 - found in self-conquest, not in the mere cessation of hostilities
Day 21 - practicing willingess, even though your mental habits urge you to cry "NO!"
Day 22 - smiling in your heart, even when others scowl
Day 23 - giving joy, rather than demanding joy of others
Day 24 - including others' well-being in your own
Day 25 - harmlessness; never deliberately hurting anyone
Day 26 - working with others, never against them
Day 27 - meditation, and tapping the wellsprings of soul-peace
Day 28 - raising your consciousness: directing energy to the brain, then centering it at the seat of higher awareness between the eyebrows
Day 29 - self-acceptance: not blinding yourself to your faults nor hating yourself for them, but claiming your higher reality in infinite Light
Day 30 - loving God, and striving to be worthy of His love for you
Day 31 - loving others impartially, without selfish motive


Sad dramas and secrets also enveloped the life of Swami Kriyananda. Still, this little treasure booklet is a keeper. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Kriyananda

Thursday, April 1, 2010

La Union ~ Yoga ~ Union


Playful Prasaritta Padotanasana A

My "teacher" pose - Urdvha Mukha Svanasana

Another "teacher" pose - Sirsasana

Ommmmm...

Inspirational Lotus Pond

Singing Bowls