 Emerging from murky waters, like the lotus flower, the three powerful movies recommended below, represent awakening, transformation, and self-awareness. The result is one like the pure lotus revealing awe, beauty, and faithfulness.
1-The Mission (1986; starring Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons)-Spanish Jesuit missionaries travel to remote villages in South America with the mission of converting the natives to Christianity. However, when Portuguese colonizers attempt to enslave the indigenous people and the Spanish representatives rule in favor of the colonists, the Jesuit missionaries are determined to not give up on the mission and to follow God’s will. 2-Maudie (2016; starring Ethan Hawke and Sally Hawkins)-An intelligent yet severely arthritic woman yearns for independence from her controlling brother and aunt. Responding to an advertisement for work, she achieves her independence and true talent, as well as forging new relationships. 3-Queen of Katwe (2016; starring David Oyelowo and Madina Nalwanga)-Phiona, a poor and hungry young girl, daughter of a single mother, sells corn on the streets to help her family. Curious about the daily escapades of her brother she follows him deeper into the slums of Africa. This little girl’s life is changed forever. Checkmate. My husband and I are always looking for impactful movies to add to our movie night list. I would love to get some recommendations from YOU! Namaste.  Fear, anxiety, and resistance to change all lead to worry. This can create a paralysis of the body holding one back in situations, not fully participating in this thing called “life”. Increasing your contact with the natural world is essential. Your body is the engine which takes you on this journey to meet your need to survive. Having the right for success, prosperity, time for yourself, pleasure, adventure, friends, and so for forth are all necessary to survive physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. To do this we must pay attention to ourselves, our body, and let go of those holding patterns that paralyze us. How can we discover new oceans if we don’t leave the shore? Taking that first yoga class, initiating a new hobby or sport, going on an adventure are all great ways for the journey; liberation; letting go. The journey begins with one simple step. My “Letting Go” story: I began practicing yoga in 2013 after suffering for many years from many complicated physical ailments. My doctors then diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Within six months of doing yoga I noticed a tremendous change in my body. In 2015, a yoga teacher friend recommended I take yoga training classes. Even though I felt the desire to take one foundational training to make sure I was doing the poses safely, I hesitated. “What about the costs? How in the world am I going to last 10-hour days of training with all my pains? I can’t leave my husband, son, and dog for weekends around the United States? I’m afraid to be alone in the hotel at night?” Fear, anxiety, and worry were swallowing me into a black hole. Amazingly, with prayer and support from friends and family, I took that first step. To my amazement, one training gave me the confidence to take the next training, and the next one, until finally I completed all trainings becoming a Registered Yoga Teacher in 2018. It’s been a liberating adventure! Do you have a “Letting Go” story you’d like to share? I’d love to know about it. 🙏
“Meditation is a specific technique for resting the mind and attaining a state of consciousness that is totally different from the normal waking state. In meditation, you are fully awake and alert, but your mind is not focused on the external world or the events taking place around you. Neither is your mind asleep, dreaming, or fantasizing. Instead, it is clear, relaxed, and inwardly focused.” -Swami Rama  Jennifer Aniston Meditation entails: |
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It all started when one of my old yoga training instructors, Renee, called the class’ attention by striking two round looking things. Its sound vibration captivated my attention. Intrigued by this I inquired about it after class. Renee said they were Tingsha Bells. She let me try them. Tingsha Bells are two cymbals joined by a leather strap or chain. When struck together they produce a sharp clear high-pitched tone. These bells are used in meditation in Asian culture. So, my mission to find my own pair began. After a doctor’s appointment in Worthington I decided to grab a bite to eat at the Panera Bakery at the Worthington Mall. Afterwards, strolling through the mall, I discovered and entered Asian Traditions, a store which sells unique products from countries all over Asia, including Pakistan, Nepal, India, and more.
Not finding any Tingsha Bells, I asked the female Asian store manager if they had any. She said no; however, led me to a table with something else that was also round yet completely different. Immediately she struck it and then rotated what looked like a mallet all around this thing. The sound generated by this item completely mesmerized me. I felt like my brainwaves slowed down and became very sleepy but totally relaxed. My inquiring mind needed to know more. The manager told me this “thing” was a Singing Bowl. These are also referred to as Tibetan Singing Bowls, bowls that produce a singing sound. They are inverted bells supported from below with a wide upper rim dating back to well over 5,000 years ago. Available in a variety of sizes they're made from copper, bronze, silver, or a mix of multiple metals. Each one is unique and belong to the family of bells and gongs.
Tibetan Singing Bowls are often played by striking but can also be played by rotating a striker (or mallet) around the outside rim to produce meditative sounds (sound vibrations). Tibetan singing bowl meditation has been scientifically proven to reduce feelings of tension, anxiety, and depression, and increasing spiritual well-being (Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-being: An Observational Study).
Enthusiastically, I did locate a pair of Tingsha Bells and a Singing Bowl that sung to me. Show up to one of my yoga classes and you may get the chance to experience this type of sound meditation.
Namaste.
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