unique

''We are each given unique gifts to assist us in carrying out our individual life’s purpose.

This is why it doesn’t pay to compare ourselves to the person next to us.

Comparisons keep you from being the best version of yourself.

What you have to offer no one else ever can, because no one else is you''.

by Yehuda Berg

happy feet

heart beats

'' The rhythm of drumming is easy for our bodies to take in as was the rhythm of our mother's heartbeat. That rhythm renews us is no secret.

Drumming is the oldest form of music on the planet.

Virtually every culture that exists or has existed on earth has practiced some form of drumming.

In Africa, the beating of a drum continues to be an important part of significant ceremonies and holiday celebrations. Native American cultures use drumming as a means to reconnect an individual’s mental and physical selves.

Throughout history, drumming has been a part of performing rituals, marking significant transitions, and celebrating life’s cycles.

Our lives are infused with rhythm beginning at the very moment we first sense our mother’s heartbeat in her womb.

All manner of drumming has the ability to put us in touch with our own natural rhythms, the rhythms of the earth, and the rhythms of the people we choose to drum with.

The drum can represent the heart, and drumming awakens the mind while stirring the soul.

Drumming can take you to a place deep inside you where you are keenly aware of your mind and your body, as well as the vital bond between the two.

Much like human beings, each drum has its own vibration and voice.

Drumming alone can help you release tension, dispel stress and aggressive feelings, and restore your energy. It can also give you an opportunity to reestablish your connection to Mother Earth, as the beat of a drum can represent a crack of lightning, pounding ocean waves, or the tumult of an earthquake.

Drumming with others brings with it many benefits. Taking part in a drumming circle attunes us to the invisible energy that exists between us while uniting us in a common purpose.

Drumming can be relaxing as well as energizing.

It quiets mental chatter and can create a peaceful meditative state.

In Navajo lore, the drum is the Great Spirit’s favorite instrument.

It is said that this is why all human beings were given a heartbeat. The rhythmic beating of a drum can move us into new realms of consciousness.

There is no right or wrong way to drum, and everyone has the innate ability to create rhythm.

When you drum with intention, you’ll discover the rhythms that move you.''

by Madisyn Taylor

a part of a bigger picture- i'm his daughter

have you

how we are

National Geographic

''You can travel great distances, but still stay where you are.

Sometimes we spend our lives running from one place to the next, but remain the same person.

This is why the same types of situations, people, and chaos seem to follow us wherever we go until we discover the lessons we are meant to learn and make an inner change.

Personal growth has little to do with where we are, and everything to do with how we are''.

by Heyuda Berg

 

embracing unpredictability

 


''In life, we are always setting goals for ourselves and working to make them happen. This gives us focus and ensures that we use our time and energy efficiently and effectively. It also provides us with a sense of purpose and direction. We know where we are going and what we want to do.

But quite often, due to forces outside our control, things do not go as we had planned—the flat tire on the way to the wedding, the unforeseen flu virus—and we have to adjust to a postponement or create a whole new set of circumstances.

Even positive turns of fortune — an unexpected influx of cash or falling in love — require us to be flexible and to reconsider our plans and priorities, sometimes in the blink of an eye.
This is what happens when life throws you a curve ball.

The ability to accept what is happening and let go of your original expectations is key when dealing with these unexpected turns of fate.

We have a tendency to get stuck in our heads, clinging to an idea of how we think life should go, and we can have a hard time accepting anything that doesn’t comply with that idea.

The fact is that life is unpredictable. The trip you thought was for business — and when the deal fell through, you got depressed — actually landed you at the airport two days earlier than planned so you could meet the love of your life. Your car breaks down, and you are late for an appointment. While it’s true that you never arrive at that important meeting, you end up spending a few relaxing hours with people you would never have met otherwise.

In order to keep us awake to opportunity and to teach us equanimity, the universe throws us the occasional curve ball.

Remember that curve balls are not only life’s way of keeping us awake, which is a gift in and of itself; they are also often life’s way of bringing us wonderful surprises.

Next time a curve ball comes your way, take a deep breath, say thank you, and open your mind to a new opportunity.

by Madisyn Taylor

habemus curriculuns

we love because

''
Nature is a manifestation of the Love of God.
Regardless of what we do, Nature continues to love us.
Let us, therefore, respect and understand what Nature teaches us.
We love because Love sets us free, and we say things that we once never even had the courage to whisper to ourselves.
We make a decision that we kept putting off.
We learn to say ‘No’ without thinking of that word as somehow cursed.
We learn to say ‘Yes’ without fearing the consequences.
We forget everything we were taught about Love, because each encounter is different and brings its own agonies and ecstasies.
(...)
We don’t close our eyes to the Universe and then complain: ‘It’s dark.’ We keep our eyes wide open, knowing that the light could lead us to do undreamed-of things. That is all part of love.
Our heart is open to love and we surrender to it without fear, because we have nothing more to lose.''

by Paulo Coelho

taking a time out

''Most of us feel a little crazy from time to time.
Periods of high stress can make us feel like we’re losing it, as can being surrounded by people whose values are very different from our own. Losing a significant relationship and moving into a new life situation are other events that can cause us to feel off kilter.

Circumstances like these recur in our lives, and they naturally affect our mental stability. The symptoms of our state of mind can range from having no recollection of putting our car keys where we eventually find them, to wondering if we’re seeing things clearly when everyone around us seems to be in denial of what’s going on right in front of their eyes.

For most of us, the key to survival at times like these is to step back, take a deep breath, and regain our composure. Then we can decide what course of action to take.

Sometimes a time-out does the trick.

We take a day off from whatever is making us feel crazy and, like magic, we feel in our right mind again. Talking to an objective friend can also help. We begin to see what it is about the situation that destabilizes us, and we can make changes from there. At other times, if the situation is particularly sticky, we may need to seek professional help. Meeting with someone who understands the way the human mind reacts to stress, loss, and difficulty can make us feel less alone and more supported. A therapist or a spiritual counselor can give us techniques that help bring us back to a sane state of mind so that we can affect useful changes. They can also mirror our basic goodness, helping us to see that we are actually okay.

The main purpose of the wake-up call that feeling crazy provides is to let us know that something in our lives is out of balance.

Confirm for yourself that you are capable of creating a sane and peaceful reality for yourself. Try to remember that most people have felt, at one time or another, that they are losing it.

You deserve a life that helps you thrive.

Try and take some steps today to help you achieve more balance and a little less crazy.''

by Madisyn Taylor

 

fotografia de Joey L.

 

 

 

não querer impor as suas convicções

  ''Por vezes, numa família, alguns membros manifestam aspirações espirituais e outros não os compreendem e tentam opor-se a eles. Não é uma atitude inteligente.

Não se pode impedir uma alma de caminhar para a luz, porque a alma é filha de Deus, ninguém tem direitos sobre ela.

Por isso, em vez de se ficar irritado, é preferível aceitar tendo presente que, se um membro da família se enriquece interiormente, toda a família beneficiará também dessa riqueza. Agora, para ser justo, direi que é sobretudo àqueles que desejam abraçar a espiritualidade que compete mostrarem-se, o mais possível, sensatos e conciliadores. Eles não devem, com o pretexto de se dedicarem à vida espiritual, descurar as suas obrigações familiares e pôr-se a fazer sermões a torto e a direito. Pelo contrário, para cativarem e convencerem os outros da justeza e da sinceridade das suas aspirações, eles devem usar a inteligência e o coração para fazerem reinar a harmonia nas suas famílias e, sobretudo, não se deixarem levar pelo fanatismo, permanecendo abertos e compreensivos; é a melhor maneira de mostrarem que encontraram a verdade. Quem tem tendência para proclamar a todo o momento que encontrou a verdade prova, pelo contrário, que não a encontrou, e não faz mais do que tornar-se insuportável e ridículo.

É pela ternura, pela gentileza, pela paciência, que deveis tentar influenciar para a via do bem os que vos são chegados.''

Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

letting the curves take you

''Trying to maintain control in this life is a bit like trying to maintain control on a roller coaster.

The ride has its own logic and is going to go its own way, regardless of how tightly you grip the bar.

There is a thrill and a power in simply surrendering to the ride and fully feeling the ups and downs of it, letting the curves take you rather than fighting them.

When you fight the ride, resisting what’s happening at every turn, your whole being becomes tense and anxiety is your close companion.
When you go with the ride, accepting what you cannot control, freedom and joy will inevitably arise. As with so many seemingly simple things in life, it is not always easy to let go, even of the things we know we can’t control.

Most of us feel a great discomfort with the givens of this life, one of which is the fact that much of the time we have no control over what happens. Sometimes this awareness comes only when we have a stark encounter with this fact, and all our attempts to be in control are revealed to be unnecessary burdens.

We can also cultivate this awareness in ourselves gently, by simply making surrender a daily practice.

(...)

We can give in to our fear and anxiety, or we can surrender to this great mystery with courage.

When we see people on a roller coaster, we see that there are those with their faces tight with fear and then there are those that smile broadly, with their hands in the air, carried through the ride on a wave of freedom and joy.

This powerful image reminds us that often the only control we have is choosing how we are going to respond to the ride.''

by Madisyn Taylor
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

contracting before expanding

''Sometimes our lives contract before they expand.
 
 We may be working hard on ourselves spiritually, doing good in the world, following our dreams, and wondering why we are still facing constrictions of all kinds—financial, emotional, physical. Perhaps we even feel as if we’ve lost our spirituality and are stuck in a dark room with no windows. We may be confused and discouraged by what appears to be a lack of progress. But sometimes this is the way things work.
 
Like a caterpillar that confines itself to a tiny cocoon before it grows wings and flies, we are experiencing the darkness before the dawn.
When things feel tight, it’s easy to panic or want to act in some way to ease the feeling of constriction. We might also spin our wheels mentally, trying to understand why things are the way they are. However, there is nothing we need to do at this time other than to be patient and persevering.
 
We can cling to the awareness that we are processing the shift from one stage to another, and the more we surrender to the experience, the more quickly we will move through the tightness into the opening on the other side.

 
Just like a baby making its way down the birth canal, we may feel squeezed and pushed and very uncomfortable, but if we remember that we are on our way to being born into a new reality, we will find the strength to carry on. Even as we endure the contractions, we can find peace within ourselves if we remember to trust the universe.
 
We can look to the natural world for inspiration as we see that all beings surrender to the process of being born.

 In that surrender, and in the center of our own hearts, is a willingness to trust in the unknown as we make our way through the opening.''

by Madisyn Taylor

 

 

 

 

 

atreves-te a sonhar?

all in the same boat

''One of my favorite stories from the Zohar, the source of all kabbalistic wisdom, is about two men travelling together by boat, each with his own side of the boat. One begins to drill a hole in the boat under himself, and his companion says,“Why are you drilling?”

The other replies, “What do you care? It’s on my side of the boat, not yours.”

We’re all in this world together.

Every decision we make affects the whole.''

by Yehuda Berg, daily kabbalah

the strength of compassion

''Conflict is an unavoidable part of our lives because our beliefs and modes of being often contrast powerfully with those of our loved ones, acquaintances, and associates.
Yet for all the grief disagreements can cause, we can learn much from them.

The manner in which we handle ourselves when confronted with anger or argument demonstrates our overall level of patience and the quality of our energetic states.

To resolve conflict, no matter how exasperating the disagreement at hand, we should approach our adversary with an open heart laden with compassion.

Judgments and blame must be cast aside and replaced with mutual respect.

Conflict is frequently motivated by unspoken needs that are masked by confrontational attitudes or aggressive behavior.

When we come at conflict with love and acceptance in our hearts, we empower ourselves to discover a means to attaining collective resolution.

The key to finding the wisdom concealed in conflict is to ask yourself why you clash with a particular person or situation.

Your inner self or the universe may be trying to point you to a specific life lesson, so try to keep your ears and eyes open.

Once you have explored the internal and external roots of your disagreement, make a conscious effort to release any anger or resentment you feel.

As you do so, the energy between you and your adversary with change perceptibly, even if they are still operating from a more limited energy state.

Consider that each of you likely has compelling reasons for thinking and feeling as you do, and accept that you have no power to change your adversary’s mind.

This can help you approach your disagreement rationally, with a steady voice and a willingness to compromise. If you listen thoughtfully and with an empathetic ear during conflict, you can transform clashes into opportunities to compromise.

Examine your thoughts and feelings carefully. You may discover stubbornness within yourself that is causing resistance or that you are unwittingly feeding yourself negative messages about your adversary.

As your part in disagreements becomes gradually more clear, each new conflict becomes another chance to further hone your empathy, compassion, and tolerance. ''

by Madisyn Taylor

knowing God

''The secret to empowering our prayers is to know God.

This means that when we ask the heavens for help with a sticky situation, we know the situation itself is from God. Therefore, no matter how challenging the situation may be, we are grateful for it.

It’s not an easy thing to do, but knowing God is having the certainty that everything in our lives is here to help us.''

by Yehuda Berg