......Relaxation / Meditation: Stillness / Earth

"Taking distance from Mind,
just watch Life's Story w/out
getting caught up in Drama."
( Osho )

The Turkey is being taken out
of the oven, potatoes are being
mashed, too many Cooks are in
the kitchen, it smells wonderful.
Relatives are arriving, kids are
playing outside, football is on TV,
new parents are showing off baby.

Taking a deep breath, I enter the
Thanksgiving Chaos, enjoy the
climactic Feast, relax into Lyrical
after-waves of Coffee & Dessert,
and find a quiet place outside to
Contemplate the years blessings.

Returning Home, I slip on my PJs,
offer left overs to Bear Dog and
try to Still my Mind from todays
days activity. Realizing Trying is
not Being, I check e-mail, turn on
TV, trim & simmer Carcass for our
annual Turkey Soup for tomorrow.
Chopping celery & veggies to add
to broth, becomes my Meditation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"With the Mind calm, Ego quelled,
inner-turmoil can be transcended.
Relationships benefit from inner-
Stillness. Meditation renews Body
and Mind with true Relaxation."
(I-Ching #52)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Autumn Air is chilled, as I walk
outdoors into the Stillness of Night.
Sensing the presence of my Father,
who crossed over in 2006, I greet
him and then release him to Love.
Mother Earth is resting now, after
another year of Abundant Harvest.
It is time for me too, to find rest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Movement of Stillness is
Internal, a feeling of Fullness,
of Concentration, of Vibrant
Presence. You Move in Slow
Motion, Move /Stop, Breathe.
Move /Stop, find the Stillness
in your Movement, Movement
in your Stillness."(G. Roth)

m/s.sage
www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
FB: Sandy Shaw-Kovacs

Thursday, 11-26-09
Thanksgiving

Beyond Boundaries: Lyrical , Wind ~ Air / Crystal ~ Metal

"Stillness pools into Flow which 
teaches us to be part of a Tribe. 
Staccato is how we're in community. 
Chaos teaches us to direct energy into 
service, Lyrical reveals our place in 
the Universe as a Whole." (G.Roth)

Sharing Sacred Space can be an initiation,
without healthy respect, clearly defined
rules, boundaries, and limitations. Since
we all have our own perspectives about
what is Sacred, this can be a challenge.

Entering Family Dojo today, I sensed a
disturbance in the healing force field.
Things were in disarray, like a Fox had
dis-respectfully raided the hen house.
This spun my energy into Chaos.

I had a choice to React from a
place of Fear Based Aggression,
to create conflict, express blame,
inflict harm; or I could Respond
from a neutral place of Love Based
Compassion, seek understanding
resolution, healing and Peace.

Utilizing the Dog Whisperer's wisdom,
I set the intention, to remain calm yet 
assertive, as I approached those who 
were responsible, to express my truth.

Releasing attachment, I then immersed
myself in some Mickey Hart drumming
music. Dancing my inner-Chaos, the
intense energy shifted; releasing in
joyful, playful, relaxing, freeing,
Lyrical waves of acceptance as
I smudged and cleansed the Space.

"All over the Globe specific forms of
music, dance and rhythm accompany
the important events of the human
experience. Rhythm assures us that
some fundamentally reliable power
operates throughout Nature." (Roth)

After working out, I returned home
to take Bear Dog for a nature walk.
The sky was gray, overcast, even the
birds were quieted by the Stillness. 

A light breeze dispersed the clouds
into a wispy, mystical veil gracing
Gaia's cool azure blue, female face.
My expression softened into a smile,
as I walked down the familiar dirt
roads, that I ran down as a Child.

"Disease = a Rhythmic Disturbance 
that requires assistance, of those 
who possess wisdom's knowledge of 
Rhythmic Healing." ( Bonheim/Diallo )

Exploring the full spectrum of the
basic 5 Rhythms of Life, including
the emotions that color them, we
give Voice to our Soul's Quest for
meaning /purpose and direction.

For many of us, Lyrical is our least
familiar rhythm because we fight
letting go of control, to allow a
Higher Power, to steer awhile.
This requires Faith and Trust in
ourselves, loved ones, and Life.

Moving into acceptance of change
allows us to remain open hearted to  
be able to receive the unexpected gifts 
within many joyous Lyrical aftermaths. 
We then express our gratitude for a 
spontaneous dinner with loved ones,
an invitation to a spiritual gathering,
or a new career opportunity, etc. 

"Seeking truth about the mysterious
unknown parts of our 'Shadow-Self' 
we must eliminate all resistance to the
Creative Process of Self- Discovery and
develop discipline to be a Free Spirit."
( G. Roth )

by m/s.sage

Friday, 11-20-09

www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
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..Releasing Inhibition: Dance of Chaos / Fire

"Before Beginning of Great Brilliance,
there must be Chaos." (I-Ching)

"One must have Chaos in oneself
to be a Dancing Star." Nietzsche

"Chaos is rooted in Flowing and Staccato
Rhythms, but revs them up beyond control.
Carried away with tribal drumming, every
movement,  takes us over 'The Edge". 
"Spinning, jerking, flowing, we surrender 
to surges of music, yet remain grounded 
in our feet.  Letting go of the Mind and 
brain, we allow Body to be loose and 
allow ourselves to be moved by animal 
intuition.  We shift into the "Zone" of 
the imagination where we re-make Self 
in each moment."( G.Roth ~ Maps to Ecstasy )

Every Mother knows the moment during 
Child Birth, where the Body takes over. 
Waves of pain become unbearable, until 
one with breath, they're transformed into
ecstatic 'Waves of Bliss' and Child is born. 

"During Creative Process, we surrender to 
Chaos of the Unknown / to rebirth Self. 
We "Sweat Our Prayers". (G.Roth) 

While entranced, awareness expands, 
loosening all of the conditioned ways 
we relate to home and environment. 
The way we perceive our Self and 
others is forever changed in this 
new evolving state of consciousness.

The I-Ching Indicates clearly, how 
Heaven and Earth, unite to bring 
forth re-birth of Individual Beings. 

"Arousing thunder and abysmal rain 
fill Air, Chaos passes beyond danger 
and thunderstorm brings release 
from tension. Things breathe freely 
once again." (I-Ching #3 - R.L.Wing)

My Grandsons love spinning in our 
tire swing, until they're dizzy. When 
they try to walk, the world seems as 
a lucid Dream. Shrieking in laughter, 
they fall to the ground and lay there, 
still in the Center of spinning Chaos. 

Hanuman the Hindu Monkey God, 
creates Chaos with humorous antics. 
This Prankster, teaches us to embody
the courage needed to take spontaneous 
'Leaps of Faith'. He also reminds us to 
Quiet the Chattering Monkey Mind, 
to remain calm in the center of our 
Chaos, to remain devoted to service. 

"In Zen, you're Coming from Nowhere 
and Going Nowhere. You are just 
'Now Here'. Everything passes by; 
your Consciousness reflects it but it 
does not get identified. All states of 
being are reflections of an evolving 
eternal pool of Consciousness." (Osho)

by m/s.sage

Saturday, 11-14-09

www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
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.....2. Inertia vs Ecstasy: Staccato / Wood

"Inertia is seductive. It 's the home 
of the "Victim" who wants Life, 
friends, situations to stay the same."
(G. Roth)

Have you noticed how quickly Life 
is transforming, as our Planet spins 
into  2012  alignment with the 
Sun, in the center of our galaxy?

Personal and planetary Karma used 
to take years to recycle. Currently, 
what goes around, comes round daily
or hourly, giving us the opportunity 
to do our best Aikido from one breath 
to the next, from moment to moment.

Urban Shaman Gabrielle Roth explains 
that when we choose to Live in a state 
of Inertia (asleep), reality is comprised 
of a matrix of unquestioned beliefs and 
frozen attitudes. This resistance to 
change compromises the essential 
quality of our personal reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Stagnation produces the ambiance of 
decay and decadence."( #12 ~ I-Ching / R.L. Wing)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Focusing on Breath within Inertia, 
then exploring it with movement 
or expressive arts, opens up space 
to discover healthy Pathways of least 
resistance, that transform rigid beliefs 
that hold us back from growing 
and expanding awareness.

"The False Ecstacy of laziness, 
indulgence and passivity we think 
we are enjoying, is an Illusion.
Eventually it takes its toll on us, 
with Self-destructive effects of 
imploding energy. We can choose 
to live in Inertia or Move into Flow 
w/our Life's natural rhythm."
(G.Roth)

Moving from Inertia to Flow, energy 
waves build until we become inspired 
by Staccato's Percussive, surges and 
bursts of movement toward a goal.
Bow, Arrow, Archer become One in 
dynamic release. New shoots burst 
forth and buds flower in Spring.

"Woodpecker = Earth's Drummer. 
Drumming = the Heartbeat of Mother 
Earth and Shamanism. Woodpecker 
Medicine, allows one to shift dimensions 
at Will, to explore hidden layers and 
understand rhythms, cycles and patterns. 
Associated with warnings and prophecy, 
their Staccato tapping Pecks away at
deception until the truth is revealed. "
(S. Pouncey)

Changing the Mind, Changes the Body 
and Changing the Body, Changes Mind. 
As soon as an intention is set in motion, 
resistance, challenges desire for change.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I set in Motion trip to Marin, my Mom 
thinks of ten reasons why I should not go.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resistance, gifts us with the challenge
to see just how committed we are.
Following through and overcoming 
obstacles, we see and experience
unimaginable levels of gratitude.

Remaining Present with resistance, 
with our eyes on the Goal, we keep 
moving, through what blocks our Flow.

Flowing into Staccato, we feel the 
excitement, of a wild Horse cantering, 
Majorette and Drum Line, warming up, 
as they march in place for half-time.

"We are made to Move, to become, 
grow, change, create and evolve. 
The true paradise of Ecstasy lies in 
Action that is so absorbing that
it seems like no work at all."
( Gabrielle Roth (Maps to Ecstasy)


by m/s.sage 

Saturday, 11/7/09
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
FB: Sandra Shaw-Kovacs, MA, CHT

1. Surrender to Flow : Water

"My intent today is to do Less and to 
accomplish More, by practicing 
Law of Least Effort." ( Deepak Chopra )

Observing a meandering River on 
a beautiful Day, I see how filtered 
Sunlight graces effortless Movement.
The River Goddess constantly changes 
with the currents, yet she remains 
true to Self, with same essence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" The Yielding and Responsive quality 
of Nature is the focus of this time." 
(#2 ~ I-Ching / R.L.Wing )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Water caresses lands of Mother Earth. 
Free from from judgment and criticism, 
Water always accepts what's offered. 
River's Constant Flow, relaxes and 
soothes Soul as it remains fully 
Awake, while it is Dreaming.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In an early Dreamtime Sojourn:

"A Rainbow Serpent rises Cobra-like
from a toilet, in a hotel room, I am in.
As I run for help, a heavy Door begins 
 to close, almost locking Me out, but I 
quickly slip back inside the room." 

Snake = Kundalini = Life force Energy.
Cobra = Sacred Wisdom rising up spine
Toilet= Vessel = flushing of experience.
Hotel = Space, temporary resting place.
Door= A Protective Boundary/passage 
between endings and beginnings, 
all that is Self and Not Self.

Inspired and Alert in Cobra Stance, 
inner-Shiva / Shakti energy reveals 
itself in my Dreamtime World. 

Reacting in FEAR, I run out of the room 
and as the Door closes, I almost loose the 
opportunity to commune with Myself. 
The Message: "It is time to be Visible."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Snake Medicine is akin to Fire because 
of its ability to strike like lightening, 
yet observing Snake, we also learn the 
undulating flow of Water's graceful art of 
"Moving as Oneness, in the Dance of Life." 

Snake undulates, as one fluid gesture. 
Head, body, tail,  all move in unison.
The Serpent appears in Dreamtime 
shimmering all colors of the Rainbow,
indicating unification of aspects of Life; 
Past which was digested and integrated, 
the Present, alert in Cobra Stance, and 
it inspires as unknown Future Potential.

As Snake, slithering into subconscious  
Waters, I can swim effortlessly to the 
other side, linger in deeper pools of 
subconscious Shadows or swim against
Life's current main stream thinking.

Colors of Snakeness, allow for choice.
I can retreat, and lay in waiting, arise 
when I'm unexpected, even maneuver  
through mazes of man made structures. 
My colorful, fractal awareness, inspires 
attention and reminds me of the need 
for discipline and consistent cleansing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" Flow contains power. Notice when 
Consciousness isn't Present. When 
Stance or Posture isn't appropriate,
energy flow isn't Flowing."( S. Heller)

" Movement is the vital energy of  
relationship. We're all Moving Energy. 
How we tense makes a difference. 
Assume a position. Open to Flow.
Wait and listen." ( Stuart Heller )

How we relax to enjoy Life, also makes 
a difference. Stress from all work and 
no playful activity can equal Burnout.
Laughter, Love, Passion, Compassion = 
cellular elixir for Body/Mind/Soul/Spirit.

Water reminds us to replenish and 
nurture Life. Meditating on Flow, as 
Breath, we can explore the innate 
rhythms within our Soul's Dance.

You're the Way, the Truth, the Life.

Tao as Water, Flows Home, into 
vastness of the Sea. Relaxing Ego's
hold on us, we can learn to surrender
to the Flow of Creative Process.

Blocked energy Flow = Stagnation. 
Examine what is blocking progress. 
What are you willing to let go of, to 
move  forward gracefully in your Life?
Become the Flow. Move like Water. 
Embody river, stream, waterfall, ocean. 
Flow into Depths of a Creative Process.

by m/s.sage 

Wednesday, 11-4-09
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
FB: Sandra Shaw-Kovacs, MA, CHT

Soul Quest / Creative Passion

"Dance has been my Medium, my
Metaphor, Message and Meditation." (G. Roth)

Stillness of breath, 
transcends all of life, 
transforming inertia, 
inspiring movement.

Rhythmic energy Flows,
inhale to exhale, inspiring
Staccato pulses to wildly
dance the dance of Chaos.
Drifting into Lyrical ecstasy,
ecstatic ripples, surrender
into Stillness of breath.

This initiating cycle, births the  
Shamanic Journey, as described by
Urban Shaman, Gabrielle Roth.

"Move and the Way will open."  
~(Zen Proverb)

When Facing outer-Challenge, how does
 your inner-Shadow embody your Fear?
Do you Faint, Flee, Freeze, Fight Back,
or courageously Stand Your Ground?

Our ability to Respond to Life, 
reflects the state of our growing
conscious awareness, as it expands
and contracts, breathes itself alive.

"Direct your Strength wisely. Choose
useful endeavors that inspire Humanity."
What you Create NOW is the inspiration
for what you experience NEXT." (I-Ching) 

An evolving fractal spiral refines 
 the Tao of Movement. (m/s.sage) 

"You can always trace back to Beginning,
but there will never be an End, to what
you choose to set into Motion." (I-Ching)

"Don't tread where a Path leads, go where
there's No Path and leave a trail."( Emerson)

"No longer lend your strength to that which
you wish to be free from..." (Jewel)

"Blaze Forth Your Trail, I will Follow
Your Tail, Like a Bird, Like a Song
in the Wind." ( m/s.sage )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

m/s.sage

Monday, 11-2-09

www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
FB: Sandra Shaw-Kovacs, MA, CHT