Author: Valerie

🃏House of Cards or Holy Temple?

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By Valerie A. Cody

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As we work with our earthly forms, we should ask ourselves: Are we building a house of cards, or a Holy Temple?

The House of Cards
A house of cards forms when we build our lives, our worldview, our spiritual practice, or even our bodies without first anchoring ourselves in truth. The unsteady “house of cards” metaphor reveals the inherent instability we risk when basing ourselves on anything other than alignment with Universal Truth and our individual purified will.

This unstable foundation may have an outward veneer that attracts interest or attention, but when we walk up to it, even the light tread of our slippered feet may be enough to shake it to the ground. This structure relies on sleight of hand, on smoke and mirrors that divert us from noticing its deformed fragility. Those who are drawn to them are also disconnected from integrity themselves, and so they delight in the spectacle without noticing its bizarre angles, its distorted walls, or the way it violently sways in the winds of truth. And those who build them separate themselves from the nourishing, glistening material of veracity. 

This kind of builder prioritizes the weak, false facade because it seems easier and faster to produce than the strong, steady, deep-rooted framework of the Holy Temple. The house of cards seems to thrive in a time when the art of paying close attention has withered. The skill of discernment, the ability to see the materials and methods used in this kind of construction is underdeveloped and atrophied. Few pause long enough to notice the warped floorboards…to open the doors and discover they lead nowhere…to take a second look out the window and sense something uncanny…to lift the decorative painting into the light and see that it is actually ugly. The house of cards fools many because the “fool” is content to be fooled.

The Holy Temple

It takes a desire to build with integrity and truth to construct a Holy Temple. It requires the willingness to sacrifice the pace, expectations, and easy applause of the masses. It demands an inner connection to what is true and an unwavering refusal to build upon anything less than the shining blueprint of one’s unique spiritual patterning. We all have an inner connection to truth, but it requires spiritual discipline, concentration, discernment, bravery and vulnerability to express it.

The spiritual aspirant builds their Temple in silence. They check their construction daily with a discerning eye. They do not allow emotional or egoic projections to solidify into the structure. They select only the finest materials. Everything has its place, so if a deviation occurs, it is immediately noticed and corrected with accountability and precision. These deviations are moments of disconnection from truth which are born of erroneous perceptions, emotional distortions, or spiritual delusion. All are symptoms of internal impurity.

The Holy Temple is balanced. Its walls are steady and beautiful from every angle. The Temple radiates harmony and healing, decorated with the curated artifacts of lived personal experience. Its structure sparkles with cleanliness and integrity, upheld by Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian pillars which represent wisdom, strength, and beauty in perfect proportion.

At the edge of the village, the aspirant builds their Temple from the ground up using their internal guidance system. To onlookers, the process seems strange. What are those materials? Why that floor plan? Why choose that plot of land?

This is reflected in the way that sites of ancient sanctuaries, temples, and even cities were said to have been chosen via “omens” such as lightning strikes or bird flight patterns. The teaching was that “God chooses the place, not the builder.”

To those who have not contacted their own inner point of everlasting truth, the Temple and the builder appear odd…until it is finished. 

When the Holy Temple is finally complete, its height…its materials…its undeniable beauty is mesmerizing to the once confused and gossiping onlookers. The truth of the matter is now immediately apparent and attractive. Now, dwelling within the finished structure, the Temple Master sits in command of their surroundings, unthreatened by storms, winds, or the footsteps of passersby. The integrity of the structure is sound and unaffected by external circumstances. The Temple is fitted with a specially coded lock, one that opens only for the truest seekers with the purest intentions. Any misshapen key fails, and so the Temple becomes a sacred fortress: solid, sovereign, and self-protecting for the builder who labored in truth.

This lock-and-key symbolism is, of course, also a reference to sacred sexuality. It speaks to the feminine aspect and responsibility on this path – her need to be fitted for truth, steady in her own architecture, and capable of discernment. For more on this feminine topic, I highly recommend the work of Claire Nakti.

And just as the house of cards attracts those who delight in ignorance, the Holy Temple calls to those who wish to align their own foundations in truth. To them, the Temple is a distant reminder. It is an invitation to rise.

We see this process echoed in the building of King Solomon’s Temple in the Biblical books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. As with all Biblical stories, we can learn the allegorical, metaphorical, and mythological message within the parables. In the narrative, Solomon does not design the Temple himself; he receives the plans from his father, David, who received them from God. This transmission from God to David to Solomon, is a symbolic depiction of DNA genetic patterning. Solomon receives the plans through his father because this is how exoteric teachings point toward an esoteric truth without revealing it outright to be distorted by the spiritually profane. 

Note: I only share the Bible verses below to show that the scriptures of Abrahamic exoteric religions point to esoteric truths using allegorical language and etymological symbolism. The outright words and public rituals are for mass consumption (such as during Catholic “mass”), and so are useful in that context. It is important that those who may be oriented into these traditions go deeper into the teachings in order to avoid being caught up in surface-level understanding. For this in particular, I recommend the teachings of Manly P. Hall.

📜1 Chronicles 28:11–19 (King James Version)

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, for the courts of the house of the Lord…
18 …and for the chariot of the cherubims…
19 All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.

Notice the repeated use of the word “pattern.” I discussed the etymology of this word further in another post: 🍦here.

Certain spiritual ideologies expand on this idea by translating the construction of Solomon’s Temple into the process of perfecting the human energetic system, physical body, and soul. The emphasis on craftsmanship, geometry, and the sacred tools of measurement are used to guide the process of self-refinement.

Square: moral integrity
Compass: spiritual guidance and sacred boundaries
Level: inner equilibrium
Plumb line: uprightness and alignment with truth

These symbols remind us that a Temple (outer or inner) cannot be built or accessed without spiritual discipline, discernment, and a steady devotion to the blueprint placed within us. This is the same truth I wrote about earlier in this essay: each of us has a unique Divine blueprint. The actions required to build this Holy Temple can appear strange to others, because often the required actions will place us outside of traditional conformity and societal conditioning. When we follow Divine impulse, we act from a place of deep, wordless knowing. The fruits of that knowing often emerge only later, shaped by our faithfulness to the instructions we received long before we fully understood them.

”LOYALTY TO A UNIQUE CHARACTER” is written in Latin across the top of this document. Pulled from “General Ahiman Rezon and Freemason’s Guide.”

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🧶The Entwining of Consciousness

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By Valerie A. Cody

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A diptych is a two-sided altarpiece. One side depicts a deity or sacred scene, the other presents something more earthly, such as a self-portrait, an ancestor, or an influential figure like a patriarch or monarch.  The two panels are bound together by a hinge or spine, much like a book or a locket. Historically, diptychs (unlike the larger triptychs used for liturgical altars) were placed upon personal shrines within the home. During the late Medieval Ages and the early Renaissance era especially, commissioning a “donor portrait” diptych was common. These works of art represent, whether consciously or subconsciously, the seeker’s desire to fuse with the Divine. 


The Wilton Diptych, c. 1395-1399, displayed at the National Gallery in London. Commissioned by and depicting King Richard the 2nd on the left, and the Virgin with Child on the right.

The hinge of the diptych is both utilitarian and symbolic. Outwardly it’s just a joint, but symbolically it represents the “axis mundi.” It is the same motif we see in myths of a central pillar where heaven and earth meet. Specifically, I will be exploring the Nordic myth of Odin and the tree Yggdrasil below. In esoteric anatomy, this axis is the human spine: The subtle corridor where instinct can be transformed into insight and the Divine descends into form.

Placing a diptych on an altar is a physical reenactment of an inner reality. One side shows the Divine, the other the human, and the hinge becomes the meeting-point between them. It is the place where consciousness can move upward or downward without severing itself from the body. Like the nervous system itself, the “hinge” keeps us anchored while we reach upward. It prevents the seeker from dissolving entirely into transcendence, and instead supports the weaving of the heavenly and the earthly. The diptych becomes a symbolic mirror of this inner ascent, showing how human consciousness joins with Divine consciousness through a shared axis. This movement is an internal anointing: a rising, consecrating current within the subtle body.

Exoteric religions echo this inner process through outward sacraments. In Catholicism, a consecrated oil is placed on the forehead of worshippers as a sign of blessing. This is a symbolic reflection of an esoteric secret that happens within. The “inner oil” is a subtle essence recognized across spiritual traditions, it gathers and rises through the spinal channel, enlivening centers of perception as it ascends.

Even the Catholic term “chrism” reveals this esoteric heritage: it is related to Christos, “the anointed one,” and literally translates to “oil.” What is enacted externally as ritual anointing is a representation of the inner refinement and elevation of one’s own subtle essence.

 It is the sacred elixir:

  • the milk-and-honey fluid of the mystics
  • the Shekhinah descending and rising
  • the serpent-fire of the yogis
  • the pneuma carried up the ladder of Jacob’s dream

As the internal chrism rises, it anoints the brain (the inner temple) and opens the higher centers of vision and gnosis. This is how the seeker moves from belief to knowledge, from worship to union. Thus, the spine is the metaphysical hinge through which human consciousness weaves itself with Divine Will.

This ascent is the basis of many mythological journeys. For example, in the Nordic myth of Odin and Yggdrasil, Odin sacrifices himself by hanging himself upside down on the tree (named Yggdrasil) for nine nights. He does this so that he may gain the knowledge of the Nordic Runes. The understanding is that in order to properly intuit Divine knowledge (rather than be spun off into delusion), one must purify themselves. This myth is a good example of the internal annointing because Odin is hanging upside down, which mimicks the act of raising of the inner chrism.

The “Ascent Myth” follows this pattern:

  1. A lower world: Ordinary consciousness, instinct, matter
  2. A middle journey: Trials, purification, initiation
  3. A pinnacle or summit: Revelation, union with the divine
  4. A return: The enlightened hero re-enters the world transformed

This motif mirrors the movement of energy up the spine, from lower instincts to higher perception and finally to Divine union. The spine has 33 embryonic vertebrae, which alludes to why this number is used in certain fraternities to denote a “rise” in rank amongst one’s fellows.

The Feminine and The Masculine

Although the ascent of the chrism is a universal mechanism, the masculine and feminine bodies conduct this ascent in different ways. These differences are not oppositional but complementary expressions of the same spiritual physics. This is why we see symbolism in the form of the sun/moon or fire/water. 

In the masculine form, the generative essence gathers like pressure. It behaves alchemically like steam building within a sealed vessel: focused, upward-driving, and linear. This is why Hermetic texts describe the masculine path as the “fire rising.” It is the solar current that pushes toward illumination through intensity and disciplined direction. When conserved and sublimated, this pressure moves through the spinal axis as a concentrated surge. 

In the feminine form, the same essence does not accumulate as pressure but diffuses as luminosity. It spreads through the subtle body like light filling a chamber, illuminating her inner space before rising higher. The feminine stores life‑force in a more distributed, oceanic way; therefore, her spiritual ascent is not a push but a glow. It brightens the womb, the heart, and the imaginal centers before lifting toward the crown. The internal tide of intuition rises not through force but through fullness. Women are inherently generative and naturally retain more essence; because of this, she can often achieve this ascent without the same strict conservation required of a male aspirant. The ascent can feel spontaneous, almost trancelike, as she channels connections, ideas, or inspiration for art and poetry (her unique interests are a reflection of her own personal essence, genetic inheritances, and Will) — manifesting works that seem to emerge from a source larger than herself, flowing naturally from the wellspring of her preserved essence.

When this life-force is preserved (through purity of input, rest, love, intention, lowered overstimulation), its substance becomes the raw material of inspiration itself. It refines into completely unique ideas, concepts, inventions, and art. These creations are as singular and unique as a fingerprint. This is because the same generative essence that produces physical life (via pregnancy), when redirected inward, produces physical rejuvenation, as well as psychic, intellectual, and spiritual life. The life-giving essence is the same; only the direction changes. 

The diptych is a medieval spiritual device and its impact depends on how it is used. Through spiritual fidelity and consistency, we invite the Divine to enter and reshape our awareness. With pure intention, even the most modest object can reveal profound treasures to the worthy, truth-loving aspirant. When regarded merely as decoration, it may yield only ephemeral wisps of wisdom. When viewed as a symbol of our desire to weave our consciousness with the Divine, the diptych can inspire devotion to our internal ascent.

A page from the Aurora Consurgens, a Medieval alchemical manuscript. It uses visual symbolism to convey this mystery.

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🍦On the Development of Good Taste

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By Valerie A. Cody

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The following is the extended version of a caption I posted on Instagram today. There is a character limit on that platform and I had to omit some of the original text. Find it in totality below:

“Good taste” emerges from the two foundational qualities of discernment and aesthetic judgment. These qualities simultaneously sharpen the eye and refine the spirit. Through them, beauty becomes something we can learn to recognize rather than something we merely prefer and call “personal preference.” To gain aesthetic intelligence, we study both symmetry and anomaly in order to achieve a sense of context. Knowledge of symmetry allows one to recognize when something is out of alignment. Knowledge of anomaly helps one identify exactly what is out of place. Symmetry is a matter of mathematical proportion and is the physical representation of universal truth. For this reason, symmetry creates objective beauty. Humanity introduces deviation. Emotion introduces asymmetry. Evolution introduces variation. If we want to understand symmetry as Divine truth, we look to the Renaissance Masters and classical architecture. If we seek emotion, imagination or subjectivity, we look to modern art. This is why, on page 91 of my poetry book Slow Motion, I wrote, “Don’t look at modern art.” It was a playful exaggeration expressing this idea. I have shared this poem here:

Don’t glorify the future
Don’t look at modern art
The techniques of the masters, learn them by heart
Renaissance works still stand when pulled apart

Use the past for a proper frame of reference
Not these confounding scribbles on a digital canvas
Only a return to the truth can save us

Goddess, save the art world
God, save us from the screen
-art save the artist from the modernity scheme

In ancient times, symmetrical art and architecture were understood as a form of medicine. To gaze upon perfected form was considered therapeutic, a way of restoring inner harmony through outer harmony. Today, we readily accept that sound can heal—hymns, chants, certain frequencies, binaural tones—yet we have largely forgotten the healing power of symmetry itself. We recognize vibrational medicine in music but overlook the mathematics of beauty as a parallel form of spiritual alignment.

This is distinctly different from what many describe as “healing” through splattering paint or releasing emotion onto a canvas. Such methods are practices of emotional transmutation, valid in their own category, but unrelated to what I am referring to. What I am pointing to is the quiet, corrective effect of merely beholding art or architecture that carries divine proportion. Modern art, with its emphasis on emotion, spontaneity, and imprecision, serves a different function entirely.


⚖️ The first step in cultivating good taste is to immerse the mind in symmetrical perfection. Discernment then develops as an internal system of metrics, created through observation and reflection. This internal vetting naturally shapes our aesthetic judgment. It becomes a silent instrument of measure. Once this instrument awakens, we begin to recognize mathematical cohesion immediately, and a taste for this recognition emerges. What reflects proportion reflects truth, and those who are aligned with this truth instinctively resonate with it. This is why the word “integrity” refers both to structural soundness and to alignment with truth. And why the word “sound” itself is used to describe a “state of being in good condition, the quality of being based on valid reason or good judgment” and also “vibrations that travel through the air and can be heard once they reach the ear.”

Integrity, proportion, and beauty mirror a metaphysical pattern, the Platonic Form of order that underlies both art and existence. This connection alludes to the mysteries of fraternal societies that symbolically use the jargon of masonry to guide spiritual initiates. 🛠️


“Pattern” is the directive masculine principle, and matter itself is the receptive feminine principle. To quote Goethe, who said, “Architecture is frozen music,” vibration becomes form when pattern impresses itself upon matter, translating harmony into geometric structure. The masculine embodies, enacts, and impresses the pattern. The feminine is the substance upon which the pattern is received and revealed. The word “pattern” is etymologically rooted in “pater,” or father/patron/protector, while “matter” is rooted in “mater,” or mother/material/matrix. The word “matrix” literally translating to “womb” or “breeding female.” The interaction of pattern and matter reflects the sacred act of creation. To develop good taste is to consciously participate in this mystery, to train the senses toward the architecture of the Divine. 

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Raw Materials

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By Valerie A. Cody

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At our most basic, we humans have a lot in common with each other; in fact we have everything in common.

We are bones, blood, skin, tissues and organs.

We are spirited and animated by the life force within us.

We form thoughts, feel pleasure, get hungry, fall in love, and fall asleep.

The raw materials of our “selves” are across the board – fairly similar.

Yet.

…

An inextricable force makes us all somehow different. Much like walking through a neighborhood of homes – we witness the same raw materials (wood, stone, planks, boards and nails) making up houses that all look and feel different.

This force is energetic intention and focus. How we physically manifest into this 3D reality is more than just our genetic makeup.  How we manifest has everything to do with our intentions and our energetic fields. Our energetic blueprint.

The music we choose listen to and the foods we choose to eat, the constant stream of thoughts we entertain throughout the day, the people we love and the animals we cuddle – these aspects become our energetic signature.  Because we have either consciously or unconsciously made the decision to include these interactions in our consciousness.

This energetic signature is what makes us more than flesh, bone, and soul. How we choose to focus, wrangle and direct our energetic field creates our individual life experiences and our physical bodies.

Behind the facade of skin colors, money systems, sports teams, religions, and political preferences – there is only this absolutely fundamental difference amongst individuals: How are you choosing to direct your own personal energetic field?

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Rosicrucian Meditation Technique

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By Valerie A. Cody

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When we venture towards new understandings of spiritual life we often find ourselves wondering “where is Spirit showing up in my life?” and looking for concrete evidence to support what we are feeling deep down.

Maybe we are so close to a situation energetically that we cannot see the big picture. Maybe we have been staring at the same project for hours or days, but cannot see where it is headed.

During these times, we may find ourselves in a mentality of lack, or possibly doubt. Thoughts begin to circulate, telling ourselves we are on the wrong track or that we should give up.

In today’s post I would like to introduce you to a tool that may be helpful in identifying how and when Spirit (God, Source) is gently guiding you throughout the day.

Rosicrucians called it the Backward Review – or “Zurückschauen” to German Rosicrucians. Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian Rosicrucian Theosophist and occult philosopher, made this practice a basic requirement for students of his own initiation school.

The concept is that: While you are lying in bed before falling asleep for the night think of the very last thing you did. Maybe you brushed your teeth or stretched. Then, in reverse order, the prior activity all the way up until the last time you were asleep. Maybe it was that morning or perhaps you had a nap.

An example would be the following:

Here I am in bed.

I just put my book down after reading for 20 minutes.

I applied hand creme.

I applied lip balm.

I showered.

I ate dinner.

Etc, etc.

In regards to your entire day: What did you have planned versus what ended up happening?  This practice can allow us to observe things that happened throughout the day that we did not expect. Corollary to this, when we wake up in the morning or from a nap, we spend a moment pondering what we think will happen next. We might plan to go to work, to go the gym, etc. This is our general plan for the day.

Then, during the Backward Review at the end of the day we sometimes find that very different things happened than what we had planned. Or something totally unexpected was inserted.

In this way, we can start to see where Spirit may be guiding us. What divine intervention (small or large) may be taking place in our daily lives.

This is an essential addition to the “hustle and run your day” sort of attitude that is popular at the moment. Having a plan is important, but equally important is the balancing act that leaves enough space for Spirit to guide us.

For example, after doing this nightly for a week we may realize that a number of different friends throughout the week extended an invitation to a yoga class.  Or we may find we are gravitating towards certain foods – and away from certain ones. It could be possible that we are hearing a particular song daily. These are patterns. Notice them and reflect.

By going backwards in the day’s activities, we begin to become conscious of our day’s activities. We can notice if there are blank spots or times when we were just acting from auto-pilot.

This reverse order of thinking also activates a new strength, it’s like flexing a muscle within our etheric body. The etheric body is our body of memory. The etheric body holds all of our life-forces as well.

When we begin to exercise our capacity to think backward instead of forward (the way we normally do), we are exercising the body of memory that will become a force that can be used for higher spiritual development and alchemical purposes later on.

Remember, our individual spiritual paths are divinely protected and guided. Our guides are constantly showing us messages and we only need to become aware.

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How To Connect With Divine Wisdom

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Even if we have never put words to reason, all of us can actually feel when we are consciously connected to Source Energy. If we were to reflect on life, I would guess that our favorite conversations, meetings, meals, workouts, etc., were all so amazing because we were connecting with Source Energy or we were witnessing this quality in another.

Abraham Hicks once said that trying to take action while disconnected from Source Energy was like trying to make toast without plugging in the toaster. Meaning, without that certain connectedness – the bread (our progress) would just sit there, waiting to be transformed. Link to YouTube video of this Abraham Hicks workshop recording: Here

For reference, in the context of the blog post and also metaphysics, “Source Energy” is the term used to describe what others may refer to as God.

I truly believe that our best work and most satisfying moments are a product of being connected consciously to Source, or being “plugged-in” per the Hicks analogy.

In my experience, some situations afford us an easier opportunity to connect than others. This is also common sense. Watching a beautiful sunset or engaging in an intellectually stimulating conversation – these can very easily turn into experiences of connectedness. While sitting in traffic might turn us off and cause us to subdue the inner wisdom.

Divine wisdom and guidance is always available to us. Though, there are certain patterns that may cause us to feel disconnected from this. Behaviors and compulsions such as: Overthinking, not following divine impulses, not knowing what a divine impulse is, allowing dogma to take precedence, not taking proper care of our physical body, being consumed by addictions, engaging in negative self-talk, as well as many other unique and individual ways of being.

We are divinely intuitive beings and extensions of Source Energy. We are immeasurably powerful and we can truly be, do, or have anything that our minds conceive. In metaphysical terms this means: If we have the thought or idea – then the path has already been paved. It is just the question of how well will we manage to get out of our own way and allow ourselves to follow the path?

If this concept is totally new to you, I urge you to reflect on some of your best moments. Journal about them and try to remember every detail. Is there a through-line?

How to Connect:

  1. Gratitude – This emotion is one of the highest on the vibrational scale of emotions. It is also one of the most easily accessible from some of the lower vibrating emotions such as fear. This means that it is easier to find something to be grateful for in moments of despair than it is to suddenly feel pure joy or bliss.
    Emotional Scale
  2. Mindfulness –  Find God in the moment. Take pleasure in the little things. Do daily activities with a certain care and awareness.
  3. Yoga – When we combine conscious breathing with physical movement, we create space inside our physical bodies for the divine to enter.
  4. Hobbies/Purpose – We can access our inner wisdom during moments of flow. Or, as sports has categorized this state of being “in the zone.” When we have hobbies or a purpose that make us forget that time is passing, we are dancing with the very energy that creates worlds.
  5. Meditation – I love this quote by Kelsey Grammer:

    “Prayer is when you talk to God. Meditation is when you’re listening. Playing the piano allows you to do both at the same time.”

    What better way to feel your guidance than to actually attempt to hear it? Meditation can be a practice of actively quieting the mind long enough for divine wisdom to subtly speak. The whole quote is applicable too because playing instruments can be another way of finding the flow and letting Source move through you.

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Sacred Space

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At the end of 2018, I spent 30 days in Boca Raton, Florida, studying for my 200hr yoga teacher training certificate. The experience was truly phenomenal, and a milestone in my life that I will never forget. Upon meeting the criteria to graduate from the program, I completed the course with accreditation to teach yoga as well as meditation classes.

An individual meditation practice can and does vary greatly from person to person. In many ways, the term ‘mindfulness’ has become synonymous with meditation – meditate while brushing your teeth! While showering! While driving!

 

….

And while I think mindfulness is key to living in the present moment and enjoying life – it doesn’t always equal ‘meditating.’

In the Eight Limbs of Yoga, we learn to steady the mind and come to full concentration on a specific deity, sound, object, phrase (mantra), or movement. This is the 6th limb of yoga, known as “Dharana.” The limbs of yoga are meant to be practiced in succession – meaning each one prepares you for the next. By focusing intently on our breath, gazing into a candle flame or chanting a mantra (mantra japa) – we can begin to steady the mind and enter a state of pure concentration or Dharana.

For some, a large segment of the 20 minute meditation can be spent in Dharana. One may find at first that only fleeting moments of true meditation or what is known as the 7th limb of yoga (Dhyana) may occur. Dhyana is the uninterrupted flow of concentration. In your mind, imagine small drops of smooth oil dripping individually from a glass container. Drop by drop, the oil of concentration flows, until it begins to flow as an even stream. The even and uninterrupted stream is Dhyana.

It is important to remember that every stage of the process is beneficial to our spirituality. We must not try to rush ourselves to the next limb, rather try to acknowledge our progress and live in the present moment.

When practicing meditation, lets remember the following habits that will enhance our focus:

  1. The Place: Maintain a tidy space that will be your meditation room or corner. I will be delving further into props you may want to include in this space later in this post.
  2. The Time: The most favorable times of day to meditate are dawn and dusk. If you cannot commit to one of these times, commit to a time that does work for you and stay consistent.
  3. The Habit: Consistency is key. Try to meditate at the same time every day.

Now I want to move into a few props that you can include in your practice that will make the practice more enjoyable and possibly even fun!

  1. Meditation Cushion: The practice of yoga began as a way to cultivate deeper breathing. Thus, if you aren’t breathing properly – you are not technically practicing yoga (even if you can twist into a pretzel or perform a serious inversion). For this reason, the beginnings of yoga looked like people sitting cross-legged (Padmasana) and breathing. Sounds like meditation, right? I recommend a cushion for meditating so that you are able to sit comfortably in Padmasana with an elongated spine. Doing this will greatly enhance your ability to breathe properly.
  2. Eye Mask: An eye mask is a fantastic aid in reaching a state of concentration. With the eyesight blocked, we are forced to go within and we cease to be bombarded with external visual stimuli.
  3. Oracle Cards: We can use oracle cards like these: {Goddess Guidance, Sacred Traveler, Tarocchi della Magia Sessuale, Rider-Waite Tarot} to conjure the energy of a specific deity. Pulling a card before meditation can provide an internal focal point. Pulling a card after meditation may provide insight you can take with you and use throughout the day.

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Copper Vessel Magic

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An interest in yoga rarely goes very far without encountering the Ayurvedic teachings. My last blog post covered the necessity of dry brushing, an ancient technique rooted in Ayurveda. Today, I want to discuss the magic that happens when we drink water from a copper vessel – another practice found in these ancient teachings.

Here is the copper water bottle I use. It is FDA-certified and leak-proof.

As we delve more into Ayurvedic teachings here on my blog, I wanted to include a look at the etymology of the word.

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In Sanskrit, which is the also known as ‘the language of yoga’ – the word Ayurveda is literally translated to ‘life science.’ So, through these teachings, we can learn how to become more attune to the needs of our bodies.  We can view healing as something the whole body does, rather than just the ‘injured’ parts. We can learn how the systems of the body connect to function as one human organism.

Copper is considered an essential mineral for our body.  Ayurveda recommends storing water overnight in a copper jug and drinking it first thing in the morning.  The water stored this way is called ‘Tamra Jal’ and drinking this will work to balance all three doshas (Kapha, Vata and Pitta.)

Copper has an electromagnetic energy which is called Prana Shakti. Drinking water that is steeped for 3-6 hours in a copper vessel is very beneficial to the body – it helps maintain the body’s pH (acid-alkaline) balance.

Like everything else in life, the key to receiving the most benefit from this practice is balance. It is important to use this technique as a way to supplement your healthy lifestyle, but do not make this copper vessel your ONLY receptacle.

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It is advised that the best way to incorporate this extremely powerful practice is in a 3 months on/1 month off fashion.  

The following is a list of benefits you can enjoy by following the recommendation of drinking water in this way four times per week. 

  1. Anti-Aging: Say farewell to worries about fine lines and wrinkles, copper is your natural remedy.  Infused with powerful anti-oxidant and cell forming properties, copper fights off free radicals which are the main cause of oxidation in the body. Copper also aids in new cell formation. Out with the old and IN with youthful skin.
  2. Anti-Inflammatory: It is said that all sickness begins as inflammation. You can also feel inflammation in the body when you have aching joints or even arthritis. Drinking water steeped in a copper vessel can help to relieve pain in the joints caused by inflammation. In this same way, this practice can help with the relief of acne, eczema, and psoriasis (all three are evidence of inflammation).
  3. Regulates the Thyroid Gland: Experts agree that people with diseases of the thyroid have one thing in common: Low levels of copper. Copper is one of the most important trace minerals the thyroid requires to function optimally. A lack in copper will cause the deterred function of the thyroid. In this way, drinking water from a copper vessel can help to regulate the functioning of the thyroid gland.
  4. Melanin Production: Copper is the main component in the production of melanin – and melanin is the pigment that is found in our hair, skin and eyes. Say yes to brighter eyes and healthier hair! Melanin also helps to guard against sun damage and speeds up wound healing.

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Further reading from a blog partner: https://www.indianshelf.in/10-benefits-of-drinking-water-from-a-copper-vessel/

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Why You Should Dry-Brush Today

Valerie1 Comment
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By Valerie A. Cody

Valerie

Spring is here and today I wanted to bring you a quick and simple guide to body brushing. Spring is THE perfect time to start a self-care practice like body brushing, and this blog post will explain why.

Using a stiff-bristled, natural fiber brush to gently stimulate the lymphatic system is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that I have been doing for over five years. Here is the link to the dry brush I use.

Let’s first discuss the lymphatic system in a little more detail.  This system operates along side the circulatory system. It is the network of vessels through which lymph drains from the tissues into the blood.  But unlike the circulatory system, which has the heart as its pump, the lymphatic system lacks an automated pump.

What does this mean?

We have to find ways to activate this system manually.

How can we care for the function of this very important system? Here are a few strategies we can use to improve lymphatic function:

  1. Any exercise that involves jumping
    1. Jump Squats
    2. Jump Roping
    3. Trampoline Time
  2. Dry Brushing
  3. Take time to reduce stress
    1. Yoga
    2. Pilates
    3. Deep Breathing
  4. Herbs and Ancient Remedies
    1. Milk Thistle
    2. Essiac Tea
    3. Manjistha Powder or Tea
  5. Perspiration
    1. Exercise
    2. Sauna
    3. Steam Room
    4. Hot Vinyasa Yoga
  6. Proper Hydration

Today I am focusing on body brushing in particular because it has the added benefit of getting your skin warm-weather ready through the method of topical exfoliation.

Other benefits of body brushing include:

  1. Reduced cellulite. Those lumps and bumps are the accumulation of strangled fascia and toxins. Gently stimulating blood flow across these areas will increase the drainage of unwanted build-up.
  2. Softer, exfoliated skin. Dry and flaky skin doesn’t stand a chance against your dry brush. This is something you can see immediately, the skin is instantly more smooth.
  3. Stimulating the nervous system. That’s right, not just the lymphatic system gets spoiled! You will  be able to feel the little bristles of the brush stimulating the nerve endings on the skin. You definitely feel it working.

How and when to body brush:

  1. I do it right before a shower, when skin is dry.
  2. I do it every day.  
  3. Move the brush across your limbs in the direction of your heart. Helping to move the lymph and blood towards your heart is a main component as to why this is an effective practice.

A few more tips:

  1. Be gentle. This should be stimulating, but not uncomfortable.
  2. The bristles will soften over time with continued use. This is a good thing.
  3. Access the mind/body connection during this practice! Use this as a time to praise yourself for taking a step towards a positive body image. Don’t get down on yourself.
  4. Stay consistent.
  5. The best time to brush is right before a shower, follow up with a rich body cream for luxuriously soft skin.

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Hyper Focused Intuition

Valerie4 Comments
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By Valerie A. Cody

Valerie

I have found that the focus of energy is the source of personal power. As humans, we have the capacity to focus our mental energy. We can train our minds. Our thought patterns can either bolster or deter our progress in all areas of life.

Through focused thought, we can engage the power that creates worlds. This is leverage. This is momentum.  This engagement results in a hyper accurate, better executed, easier to produce outcome. 

Notice the two voices that run inside your mind on a daily basis.  (If you’ve never considered this concept, the following may seem odd to you.) The first voice is the one that we interact with all day long. The first voice is the running stream of thoughts in our own minds. We are thinking about plans, observations, the future, the past, other people, etc.

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Now, Voice #2 is only noticeable when you make the effort to quiet Voice #1 by consciously deciding to focus on only the present. It may help to use the sound of your breath as a mental focal point.

Detracting focus from Voice #1 for a long enough to hear Voice #2 is the goal of meditation. This doesn’t take long, it only takes about 17 seconds of absolute focus to quiet Voice #1. The second voice is what you hear asking your thoughts to dissipate. It is the voice that you hear when your streaming thoughts are interrupted with a jolting “Oh yes, I am supposed to be focusing on my breath.”

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The second voice is our connection to Source Energy: The voice of intuition.

By the way, how do you know which voice is speaking? Your voice of intuition will be subtle, but it will always make absolute sense. It is typically emotionless (as emotion is usually connected to the ego). This is a voice of clarity, not confusion. Those moments when we know exactly what our next step should be and we cannot wait to take it – these are messages from Source translated by our intuition.

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