Summer’s morn
Radiant with light
Soft breezes
The sea glistens
With diamonds of blue
A golden yellow stone
Emerges from the sea
Into my palm
Cool, warm briny water
Soothes tired feet and hands
An olive colored stone emerges
With a galloping horse
Keeping them close in hand
Immersing deeper into the calm still
Blue sea under the eyes of the sky
and back again.
Emergence!
Copyright (C) Ingrid-Dana Larson 2014 All Rights Reserved
Kalachakra thangka painted in Sera Monastery, Tibet, (private collection), (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Recently while driving home, the song Crystal Blue Persuasion by Thomas James and Shondells played on the radio, transporting me back to my youth. As a young girl growing up in the 1970’s, these songs have always moved me spiritually. I also felt that same connection with two other songs of this time period, Day by Day (1971) from the musical Godspell and Shambala by Three Dog Night.
Last night, I played two of these songs and that same euphoria consumed me once again. While in reflection, I realized that as a young girl, I was fascinated by the notion of Shambhala. Perhaps these three songs, and my reaction to them, were indicative of the path that I would walk at some point in my life.
Wikipedia states that ‘Shambhala’ or ‘Shambala’ derives from Tibetan Buddhist and Indian Buddhist traditions. It has been written about in ancient texts that describes a mythical kingdom located somewhere in central Asia. Shambhala has become known as Buddhist Pure Land, a kingdom whose reality is visionary or spiritual as much as it is physical or geographical. This idea has had an influence on Western and Non-Buddhist spiritual seekers.
In Sanskrit, Sambhala, is most commonly understood to be a place of peace, tranquility and happiness. It is a society where inhabitants are enlightened according to the Kalachakra Tantra. There is also an inner meaning associated with the concept of Shambhala and that is in relation to one’s own mind, body and spirit.
When I began meditating at the age of thirty-three, during my spiritually transformative years, and hearing these three songs playing on the oldies station, my journey to find Shambhala or the essence of Shambhala had begun. My spirit was guiding me to that place or space were peace, tranquility and happiness resided.
After more than eighteen years of meditating, I have had many deep spiritual experiences that I have chronicled in my journals. During my meditations, I have touched the veiled light of Shambhala that has filled me with awe.
Is Shambhala a physical place of enlightment or is it an inner place of enlightment? Is it a spiritual journey that you choose to travel upon or does the journey choose you? From my experience, the journey chose me and I said, “Yes”.
Does the practice of meditation lead us to that elusive, mystical, mythical place of Shambhala? Do we have to evolve and transcend in mind, body and spirit first in order to enter the gates of Shambhala? I cannot give you the answers to these questions, but I can tell that my practice of meditation for over eighteen years has filled me with the most unexpected and awe-filled experiences that I have still yet to comprehend. All I know is, my journey towards Shambhala, wherever it may be, or where it may reside, draws me forth each and every moment to fulfill my quest. Through this journey, I have not only acquired a greater sense of well-being, but an understanding of who I am and my connection not only to the divine, but with all of creation.
I know this journey will continue to evolve and transcend with each passing year not only for myself personally, but as a practitioner within the healing arts. To accompany me along the way, I will always have these three songs as a source inspiration and joy.
“Look over yonder, what do you see?” (Crystal Blue Persuasion, Tommy and the Shondells, 1969)
What are your songs? Have you begun your journey towards Shambhala?
Namaste
Ingrid
Copyright (C) Ingrid-Dana Larson 2012 All Rights Reserved
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shambhala
Ingrid-Dana Larson is available for meditation seminars and retreats. Visit Eagle Breath Healing at www.eaglebreathhealing.com.
Many thanks to my Editor Jordan Weinberg
Birds sing with elation
In the crisp morn
Under the rays of sun
Spring is dawning
As I travel back
From whence I came
Walking along the briny shores
Of the Celtic lands
With staff in hand
Blessed and comforted
Whilst walking my path
With soft silent steps
For I know these lands
I have been here before
And can still feel
The rich, rustic beauty of the lands
That so comforted my soul
Watching the movements of the sea
Feeling its energies restore and refresh
My mind, body and soul
For I am one with the sea
Communing with the trees, the sun,
The moon and the stars
Whilst collecting healing herbs
And drawing sacred
Water from the seas
For I know these lands
And long to go back
Because it is where my being is most at home
And for me, Saint Patrick’s Day is a
Time when these memories always come
To greet me in the rays of the sun on
Cool, crisp morns and I know
That I am still connected and nourished by
These memories and they will always be
A part of who I am as soul continuing her
Journey whilst in the company of
Guides and spirits
And one, in particular, who walks
Alongside her and with all
With soft silent steps whispering “Peace be with you.”
Copyright © Ingrid-Dana Larson All Rights Reserved
Intention (Photo credit: turahbird)
Close your eyes. Begin to breathe in and out slowly and evenly without effort. With each exhalation, relax your mind and your body. Allow the rhythm of your breath to guide to that place of stillness within.
Let your breath be your ally on your journey to what it is that you seek. Your breath has the power to nourish, refresh and restore energy to your mind, body and soul. Your breath helps you to release tension and negativity that we trap within our bodies and our minds which, in turn, leaves us feeling drained, tired, out of balance and out of harmony within our being.
Take a few moments to connect with your breath. Begin to release any tension or negativity that you may be carrying with you at this moment in time. Let it all go with each exhalation and begin to prepare your mind and your body for meditation. Meditation is a natural state of being even though we may think that meditation is a foreign concept. It is not.
Release all of your thoughts and feelings of judgment from you and come into sacred tranquility and just be. A friend told me once, there is no thought required to just be. All you need to do is ‘just be’ and stillness will happen within.
The brilliant white moon
Sits within a tree
Like a magical mystical orb
Illuminating the starless sky of the misty Celtic woodlands
As far as the eyes can see and beyond
So pristine, so white, so peaceful
And so close as if you could touch it.
Rising slowly above the trees
It rests in serene stillness
Radiating tranquility and awe
Let the energy from this magical mystical moon renew, re-energize your mind, body and soul.
As you travel with awareness, with an open heart and mind through the enchanting misty paths of the Druid woodlands, what are your intentions for beginning or continuing your meditation practice? Is your intention to find peace, compassion, love, integration in mind, body and soul, finding harmony and balance, developing intuition or to attain enlightenment?
Whatever your intention(s) maybe send them out into the universe with each exhalation filled with love and light.
In the rays of the moon’s light, there sits a man serene and loving. He welcomes you, the sojourner, into his abode. As you step into his cave, the most spectacular, clear pristine crystals radiant with love and light welcome you. He offers you a place to rest, in stillness, amongst the luminous healing rays of the crystals.
He also wants you to know, that your intention(s) have been received and that the universe will work out the details to manifest your intention(s) for your highest good.
You have entered the crystal cave, the realm of the great healer/wizard Merlin. Relax and ‘just be’ in this astounding place of natural wonder, light and love. Let the healing energies of the crystals, that Merlin has offered you, envelop your being and restore harmony and balance to your mind, body and soul.
May the gifts that you have received during this time of sacred stillness be with you always. May you also know that you can always travel back to this wondrous place anytime you wish. The great wizard does not mind.
When you are ready give thanks for all that you have received and to Merlin. Take a deep breath in and exhale slowly awakening your body and coming back to this present time and space. You may sit in quiet reverie for as long as you wish.
Copyright© Ingrid-Dana Larson 2012 All Rights Reserved
www.eaglebreathhealing.com for all the latest news, coming attractions, classes and more for 2012!
Image via Wikipedia
When you are ready, begin to breathe in and out noticing the gentle rise and fall of your abdomen. Let the sound of your breath begin to envelop your being in the serenity of stillness and relax. With each breath in and out and with each gentle rise and fall of your abdomen let yourself fall deeper into the serene stillness of your being.
Notice your thoughts and your feelings but do not focus on them. You are not your thoughts. Let your thoughts and your feelings float like petals in a gentle breeze above you. You can retrieve your thoughts and your feelings later.
Continue to breathe in and out slowly and evenly. Allow yourself to become still and peaceful without thought.
Begin to visualize a white stone path leading into a tranquil garden. As you walk along the path, notice the pure splendor of color that surrounds you. Allow this splendor of color to envelop your mind, body and soul as you continue walk whilst the rays of the sun warms your being within and without. Be present in this moment and continue to breathe in and out slowly without effort. Notice the gentle rise and fall of your abdomen and let your breath take you into a deeper state of stillness and peace.
Within the center of this tranquil garden, you see a fountain of marble flowing with pure crystal water that seems to become rainbow-like when illuminated by the sun. Surrounding this fountain are smaller pools made of stone that are filled with divine colorful lotuses. Each color symbolizes the soul’s journey towards transformation and evolution. Red symbolizes the heart. White symbolizes spiritual perfection and purity. Pink symbolizes the Buddha. Blue symbolizes wisdom. As you gaze upon these divine lotuses, notice which color you are most drawn to. Do not force it; let your heart choose the color it wishes you to connect with. As you walk over to the pool admiring its enchanting beauty, begin to visualize the lotus magically growing and welcoming you to sit its center offering you a sacred place in which to just be, to breath, to connect with you and the greater source through love. Allow the energy of the color and its symbolic meaning gift you with what you need for your journey of the mind, the body and the soul towards evolution, transformation and interconnectedness.
Once you have nestled yourself within the lotus’ center, visualize its petals folding up slightly and holding you within its sacredness. Remember, this is only the beginning of your journey. Do not conform to the practice of meditation for transformation and evolution; let the practice of meditation itself transform and evolve you from within.
Be still and continue to breathe in and out with gentle ease allowing your mind, your body and your soul to awaken petal by petal just like the lotus when it emerges from the darkness and into the light of a new dawn.
As you sit within tranquil sacredness, behold all that is sacred because it is sacred. All is sacred including you. Notice the beauty, the grace, the wonderment, the glory, the love, the joy and the compassion that your lotus is offering you. Know that beauty, grace, wonderment, glory, love, joy and compassion are with you as your true being begins to blossom and unfold petal by petal to its true purpose in this life and Just Be………
When you are ready, give thanks to your lotus and for all that you have received during this moment in time. Sit in quiet reverie for as long as you wish while repeating the mantra ” Om Mani Padme Hum” ‘Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus.’ Namaste
Copyright © Ingrid-Dana Larson 2011 All Rights Reserved www.eaglebreathhealing.com
Image via Wikipedia
In the stillness of the night
Wrapped in blankets
Nestled by the warm crackling fire
Whilst gazing upon the beauty of the night
The North Star
Radiant with reverent joy
Remembering when it witnessed
The messenger of love and light
Born into the world
Comforting the child resting within the stable
With each passing year, the child blossomed
Illuminating the hearts of all whom he touched
With his love and light
Encouraging them to walk the path of love and light
There is a gentle man
Who walks silently
Although he is not seen
His presence is known
He is a gentle man
Overflowing with divine love, wisdom and grace
He walks; he dances in the love and in the light of God
He is a gentle man
Radiant and loving
Nourishing, comforting and embracing all of God’s children with his
Everlasting love and light
He is a gentle man
Loving and true
He will always be a loving and peace-filled presence in the world
And to her because he touched her heart at thirty-three
And on Christmas Eve in the still of night
She will sit in reverence and in joy
Remembering when the birth of love and light came into the hearts of the world and into her heart
He, Jesus, will always be her Christmas and her “Spirit of Love”
“Love is the core. Love is the way and love is the key.”
All we have to do is walk the path of love each and every moment as Jesus did. And all those Saints, Sages, Prophets and Messengers who followed beside him and those thereafter, found this love that Jesus spoke about. They understood this love, they knew this love and they felt this love in their hearts, in their lives and in the lives of others. They like many are keeping this love’s eternal embrace present and forever flowing like a fountain.
Peace be you with you all. Merry Christmas!
NAMASTE, IDL
Copyright © Ingrid-Dana Larson All Rights Reserved 2011
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Image by Lucy_Hill via Flickr
It has been a while since my last blog and I have some catching up to do. Time has not been wasted though. I have been spending time, when I can, nestled in a window-lit corner of my favorite coffee shop in Plymouth, MA writing a book about a true story of healing.
The story is about a young woman who became broken, lost and disintegrated in mind, body and soul. She takes it upon herself to bring peace, healing and balance back into her life. Where this journey takes her and who she meets along the way, you will have to wait and see. It will be nothing like you have ever read before. Here is tease…. Namaste.
She walks in silence….
through darkness of woods as she has been for the past seven years, trapped within herself searching and crying out for the free spirit that she once knew. She is reliving the past over and over again never healing the wounds. The free spirit that she knew who was integrated, whole, balanced and loving in mind, body and soul was now broken, lost and disintegrated.
When she was here as a child, she felt connected to One who provided and nourished her being with each breath. It was here surrounded by the mountains where she soared with the hawks, where the sun, the moon and the stars danced with her by shimmering lakes, rushing rivers and still streams, offering her tranquility. It was here, nestled within the mountains, that she “a free spirit” became one with nature. She climbed Mount Rattlesnake and quietly watched as doe and her fawn ate within the trees whilst the rays of sun shone down and she became one with them…..
This is only the beginning……. Where will her journey take her? You will have to wait and see.
Copyright © Ingrid-Dana Larson 2011 All RIGHTS RESERVED
Image by whitecat sg via Flickr
The following poem is my testimonial of an authentic astral travel experience with spirit.
In the stillness of the morn
She was neither asleep nor awake
But in between silent slumber
She found herself walking down
A dusty dirt road in an awakened lightness
Grassy lands and water to her left
Women dressed in vibrant colorful hues dotted the landscape
Cattle strolled by her as did passersby
Never noticing her
She hears nothing
She only sees with acute vividness
She senses the sun’s heat along the dusty road.
She sees a humble place before her
People entering and exiting
Monks dressed in orange and saffron meander about
There is a tree decorated in regal homage
A monk sits in quiet reverence
She knows it is a sacred tree
People, once again, pass by her never noticing
Do they not see her?
Entering the temple in awakened lightness
A man to her right sitting in the lotus position utters to her
“How are your grandparents?”
Knowing that her grandmother has passed on she replied “fine”
The exchange between them was not spoken but she heard within her his voice.
She walked to the center of the room
And stood in wonderment at its ornate beauty
Candles flickered casting serene shadows
Smoke rose from the burning incense and encompassed her
As she stood in the midst of the temple’s room
Watching people both Indian and tourists admire its beauty
They passed by her as if she were not there
She turned slightly, her head rose and she gazed
At the most magnificent golden Buddha she had ever seen
Sitting upon an altar illuminated by flickering candle light
Colorful flowers surrounded him with homage
Standing in the midst of this simplistic wonderment comforted her
But how did she get here?
People mingled around her never taking notice of her presence
A procession of monks dressed in orange and saffron
Entered the room and walked silently passed her in reflection.
Their peace filled auras consumed her
As the last monk passed by her, he suddenly stopped and turned towards her
He is young and slender with a serene face
His eyes widen
His mouth drops open with astonishment
Their eyes lock
She is mystified as is he
She wonders why he is staring at her
He slowly turned around and followed his brothers out of the temple as she watched
She was jolted awake with a tremendous start from her slumber
To find that she was home resting in her bed and not walking the lands of India
As she had done before in silent slumber
Where had she been?
She was guided to watch a particular documentary
On India that she had never seen before
She was told that she would recognize something
To her astonishment, she saw the lands she walked,
The humble temple,
The sacred tree, the Bodhi tree
And the magnificent golden Buddha sitting upon an altar
Just as she had witnessed
How could this be?
She had never been to India and yet she had been there
Who had taken her in silent slumber to visit the land of the Buddha and why?
Why was the last monk in the procession the only one to notice
Her standing in the midst of the temple when no else did?
This journey in the stillness of the morn
Will always be shrouded in mystery
But one she will always treasure.
Copyright © Ingrid-Dana Larson 2011 All Rights Reserved
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EAGLE BREATH HEALING, VISIT www.eaglebreathhealing.com
“Sound is the medicine of the future” Edgar Cayce
Eagle Breath Healing is heading towards a new horizon for 2012. It has begun to raise its vibration. When you come to visit Eagle Breath Healing, you will find it blossoming more into sanctuary of peace, love and compassion. Eagle Breath Healing will be integrating the power of sound more into its offerings for optimum health and wellness of the mind, body and soul.
In keeping with this new path of integrating the power of sound as a healing modality, Eagle Breath Healing was honored to host Martin Klabunde and Wingman from Collective Awakenings, Tucson, AZ one of Eagle Breath Healing’s new collaborative partners in this journey of healing awareness through sound as medicine.
On Saturday, July 30th, Martin and Wingman, acclaimed musicians, who took all of us on a Sacred Music journey that included a variety of instruments including Ugandan harp, Kalimbas, West African Drums and Tibetan Singing Bowls. The evening ended with everyone participating in a drumming circle that moved us all emotionally, physically and spiritually leaving most in a state of astonishment.
On Sunday, July 31st, Martin and Wingman led us through a deep meditation journey called “Learning to Fly” which is similar to the Native American way of journeying. Participants give their spirit permission to travel to any place on earth or the universe. Martin played the didgeridoo which is an Australian instrument used by the Aboriginial peoples for at least 40,000 years. The didgeridoo has the power to touch every cell in your physical body. Your body literally vibrates within and that is awakening experience. It has been said that Aborigines can heal broken bones with didgeridoo.1
Wingman played the drum which also resonated within our beings that also guided us away from ourselves (ego mind) into an altered state. The drum is great medium for meditation because it is the heartbeat of our beings; it is heartbeat of Mother Earth.
When the 90 minute meditation concluded, everyone sat in stillness and in a state of awe trying to find an explanation for what they experienced and how they felt but could not. That, my friends, is the power and the mystery of the universe/divine that defies explanation.
Eagle Breath Healing is honored to be collaborative partners with not only accomplished musicians but with two people whose auras radiate peace and love. They touch the hearts of all they become acquainted with. Together, along with many others, are walking the path light and love to help raise the healing vibration in this world through the healing power of sound with love, compassion and peace in their hearts.
On behalf of Eagle Breath Healing and myself, many thanks to you Martin and Wingman for touching and gracing our lives with your healing presences.
We look forward to seeing you in the spring of 2012!
If you would like to learn more about Collective Awakenings and get to Martin and Wingman, please visit www.eaglebreathhealing.com and there you find a link to their website.
Namaste
IDL
Resources:
Sitting nestled within a blanket
By a candlelit window
On a cold March’s eve
The brilliant white moon
Sits within a tree
Like a magical mystical orb
Illuminating the starless sky
As far as the eyes can see
And beyond
So pristine
So white
So peaceful
And so close as if you could touch it
It rises slowly above the trees
And in serene stillness it rests
Radiating tranquility and awe
How long will it be before the
Magical, mystical moon
Graces the night with its presence…..
Copyright © Ingrid-Dana Larson 2011 All Rights Reserved
Come and experience peace through the path of guided meditations with Ingrid at Eagle Breath Healing. We invite you to visit us at www.eaglebreathhealing.com. New workshops and classes coming this fall. Ask us about Ingrid’s brand new guided meditation CD Journey into Sacredness.
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