Tag: advice

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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By Valerie A. Cody

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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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Copper Vessel Magic

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By Valerie A. Cody

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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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Hyper Focused Intuition

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By Valerie A. Cody

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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.

goddess

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.”

hp

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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My Greatest Version

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By Valerie A. Cody

Valerie

Dear Readers,

I am going to share with you the habits and lifestyle choices which I found (along my own personal journey) have led to the best version of myself.

Sleeping Regularly and Enough: Ladies and gentlemen, sleep is important. If you desire clear eyes, an agile mind, ambition, creativity, results from workouts, and ENERGY – you must rest. And you must rest at “normal” times. No, falling asleep at 1am and waking at 10am is NOT the same as being early to bed and early to rise. I did learn this the hard way and have no intentions of letting those habits creep back into my life. For my best life, I strive to be in bed by 10pm and awake before 8am.

Ben Franklin

Regular Yoga Sessions: For me, it is 5+ classes per week. This is my sweet spot. If I am doing yoga at this rate, I am likely doing everything else in life better and with more clarity. The practice of yoga can mean different things to different people. For me, that hour and a half during class represents meditation in movement; connecting with my body in a nonjudgmental way. The act of thinking of nothing beyond the asanas and my breath is truly what I strive for.

Positive Thought Patterns:  This year, I realized that the majority of my self-talk was negative. For example, while working out, my mind would race with uncertainty: Am I lifting enough weight? Doing enough reps? Is this going to give me the results I desire? I don’t look fit. This probably isn’t doing anything... Changing this mindset provided enormous relief. The point isn’t to be arrogant. The point is to soften these harmful thought patterns into a place of neutrality, and eventually our thoughts can be a voice of encouragement.

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Quality Over Quantity: I figured out my favorites. Favorite clothing brands and styles, favorite cosmetic brands, handbags, etc. I’ve stopped buying throw-away clothing because, in the moment, it was cute and inexpensive.  Instead, I’ve opted for pieces that may be higher priced, but will last longer and be more flexible within my wardrobe. How do you accomplish this? Try on all of the clothing you own and make three piles: Donate, Sell, and Keep. Learn what cuts/styles look best on your body. Learn what fabrics feel best against your skin. Next, become brand loyal to a handful of skincare/cosmetic lines and invest in your appearance without having an overwhelming amount of products that you never touch.

Reading: As in, actual books (not online articles). I made the promise to myself that I am going to read at least one page before bed.  If I’m tired, I can still convince myself to read only one page. Typically I end up reading about one chapter per night. It is important to me to always be learning, and making sure to read every night helps keep that goal in the forefront.

Meditation: I have two blog posts on this topic here and here. Seventeen minutes per day is what I require. Finding a quiet time of day to light incense or candles and listen to meditative music has become a regularly scheduled date with myself. Quieting our thoughts allows us to move on from momentum that is no longer serving us.

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