Little Zen Avenue

Just some stuff that rolls through my head. Some of it makes sense, some of it is crazy.

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It’s back! Canada’s Luckiest Student 2 is now live at http://luckie.st/CLS2TWO.

Do you know a Canadian student who could use $20,000 for school and a bunch of awesome prizes? Please share this!

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"Pride & Prejudice"...my favorite Jane Austen by far :) (at My Zen Den)

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Meditation Challenge - Day 17

Living Creativity

Today's Centering Thought: Through rest and play, I open my creative channel. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Om Anandham Namah (My actions are blissfully free from attachment to outcome)

1. How do you express yourself? Through music, through writing/composing, through bettering myself in any art. My notebook is my pillow; my piano bench is my hammock.

2. What creative pursuits bring you the greatest joy? This makes me chuckle. Quite simply, see above.

3. When you have free time, how do you spend it? I might listen to some music, watch some TV or a movie, or update my blog & social networks. Another favourite activity is vegging on the couch with my fiancé and talking about everything and nothing.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. My mind continuously wandered to thoughts of my Treatments class. My Guides are telling me there must be some new, creative way that I can approach treatment of my fellow students, and - eventually - my clients. Today was beautiful (and also my birthday!).

Give yourself the gift of "Perfect Health" this Easter! Purchase all 21 meditations right here.

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 16

Living Nature

Today's Centering Thought: I am an exquisite expression of nature. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Om Bhavam Namah (I am absolute existence. I am a field of all possibilities.)

1. How do you feel when you've spent time outdoors? I feel connected - with myself, with my Guides, with nature. I feel as though Earth Mother is giving much needed love and support, and I can't help but feel gratitude and wish to give back whatever I can.

2. What special places make you feel most connected with the beauty that surrounds you? I feel the most connected with nature when I'm near the water, specifically at home on the East Coast, right on the Atlantic Ocean. Sitting on the old fishing warf, watching the waves. That's my happiest place.

3. How can you connect with nature each day, no matter where you are? Deepak's guidance during today's meditation was simple enough, and lovely enough, that I feel I could recall it to memory no matter where I am.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. I felt a certain level of astral projection again today. Apparently, the lush forest has always been there in my mind; it was just a matter of allowing myself to escape to it. Normally, distractions ruin the meditation for me, and I either have to walk away from it or start it over. Not today. It was an easy retreat back into my mind.

Deepak's "Pefect Health" meditations are available right here for only $39.99 - limited time only! Get all 21 meditations today!

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 15

Living Well

Today's Centering Thought: My little changes amount to big benefits. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Ram, Ram, Ram (Everything I desire is within me)

1. What does living well mean to you? Living well means eating right, exercising, praying, reading, doing what I love, nurturing myself in every way possible.

2. How do you envision incorporating everything that you're learning into your daily life? These meditations have become a habit for me. Deepak's 5 minute talks before the meditating begins have really stuck with me. He is so gentle and not judgmental at all - he makes me want to be better. Recently, whenever I've craved a soda or something I shouldn't be eating, his voice comes to mind, and gently asks me if I really want to eat/drink/do that or not.

3. List the positive changes you have made during this Challenge. No matter how crazed my day is, I set aside 15 minutes each day that are all about ME. No distractions, no errands, no taking care of anyone else. Just all about ME, and I don't apologize for it.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. Compared with yesterday's chaotic mess in my head, today just...was. I was able to sit and BE. It was beautiful.

Give yourself an Easter gift - click here to purchase all 21 "Perfect Health" meditations!

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 14

The Balance in Silence

Today's Centering Thought: I intend to take steps each day toward perfect health. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Om Ritam Namah (My actions and desires are supported by cosmic intelligence)

1. What do you desire for your life and overall health? I want better health. I want to love myself enough that I stop abusing my body and start treating myself the way that my loved ones treat me.

2. What intentions can you set to help bring you the well-being you envision? Truly, all I can do is remove the negative thoughts and welcome the positive thoughts. I need to get to a greater awareness within myself so that I can recognize those thoughts while they are happening.

3. How can you create time each day to continue building a sustained meditation practice, long after our Challenge has ended? This is going to be tricky. I don't know a lot of specifics. Without Deepak there to guide me and bring me out of the mantra, I worry that I may sit there for hours. Who knows, maybe that's a good thing. Or worse, what if I can't get into the right head space at all?

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. Riddled with anxiety. Can't sit still. Guides, help me.

We only have 7 days remaining in Oprah & Deepak's "21-Day Meditation Challenge"! This is so bittersweet. Luckily, you can purchase all 21 meditations here, for the low price of $39.99!

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 13

Moving for Balance

Today's Centering Thought: I am flexible, powerful and balanced. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Om Varunam Namah (My life is in harmony with cosmic law)

1. List the types of movement and exercise that make you the happiest. I love anything that gets my heart pumping. I love circuit training, cardio dance and yoga, especially.

2. How does your body and mind feel when you engage in those activities? I feel clearer. I feel happy and healthy, and on a total high. It's an amazing escape, and a great way to vent. 

3. How can you bring that good feeling you enjoy during your exercise back with you into your interaction with others? If I can get my eating habits to match my fitness habits, then I will feel better all around, and will therefore interact better with others.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. This session actually exhausted me. I could hear my heart pounding the entire time. I'm almost afraid to start working out again because I don't want to face up to out of shape I've become. Please, Guides, help me to move past this and to be gentle with myself.

Click here to participate in Oprah & Deepak's "21-Day Meditation Challenge"!

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 12

Connecting for Balance

Today's Centering Thought: I cherish my every connection. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Tat Tvam Asi (I see the other in myself and myself in others)

1. How much time do you spend each day connecting with loved ones, whether in person or through social media? The bulk of my day is spent doing this in some way, whether I'm connecting with friends at school or work, my fiancé and his family at home, my own family farther away, or my many connections on Facebook & Twitter.

2. How do you feel after you've spent time with good friends? This depends on the friend. With some friends, I don't want our time together to end. With others, I enjoy myself but am happy to part ways after a time. This doesn't mean I love them any less, I just feel that our energies and vibrations are quite different and can clash sometimes.

3. What are the unique qualities and talents that you can offer your community? I am a great listener, and over the years, I have become more adept at connecting with people, and empathizing with where they are in life. I love to connect with people via music as well, and like to think that the universe makes use of my musical gifts to bring people closer together.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. I was seeing a lot of purple auras and swirls during today's session, so I took some time to research the colour, as I've never seen auras before. One website said purple can be interpreted as "indicates spiritual thoughts. It appears only as temporary "clouds" and "flames", indicating truly spiritual thoughts." This describes perfectly what I was seeing, and is quite fitting, considering that I was focusing on reinforcing my spirit's connection with the spirits of my loved ones and friends. Truly amazing.

It's not too late to participate in Oprah & Deepak's "21-Day Meditation Challenge" with me -- and it's free! Sign up now!

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 11

Eating for Balance

Today's Centering Thought: I choose foods that help me thrive. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Om Vardhanam Namah (I nourish the universe and the universe nourishes me.)

1. What are some foods your body often craves? Are they healthy and supportive to your well-being? Is your body speaking to you about something it requires for balance? I generally crave sweet things, whether that's sugary junk or some fruit. I have to say, these meditations have been making me realize that I really have not been taking care of my body and its needs. This needs to become more of a priority.

2. How do you feel when you eat fresh, healthy food? I feel energized and (this might sound funny), CLEAN. On the inside and out. I feel light, I feel airy, I feel HEALTHY. Nothing tastes as good as this feels.

3. What changes can you make today to plan more nutritious meals and eat with more awareness? I could implement a "cooking day", where I make meals for the upcoming week. I could bring a good book with me to school and work, so that I don't automatically feel the need to eat something if I get a break. I could sit and eat my meals at the table, instead of in front of the TV or my computer.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. Today, I had a vision of myself in the future - the body and life that I could have if I implement helpful habits instead of harmful ones. It felt amazing. I am deeply grateful to my guides for bringing me more awareness over these last 11 days.

Have you been inspired by my journey so far? Do you feel compelled to go down these roads yourself? Sign up for Oprah & Deepak's "21-Day Meditation Challenge" by clicking here!

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 10

Breathing for Balance

Today's Centering Thought: I am one with the breath of life. Our Sanskrit Mantra: So hum. (I am.)

1. Close your eyes for a moment and allow yourself to enjoy three deep breaths, gently and slowly inhaling and exhaling. Notice and describe how your body feels afterrward. I feel lighter. I feel cleaner. I feel more alert. I feel calm.

2. How would a few minutes of conscious breathing benefit you throughout the day? It would help to settle my anxiety and nerves. It would keep me centered and grounded, and help to shut out the noise around me.

3. Identify situations in your life where you could restore a sense of calm by practicing conscious breathing techniques. When I'm in the midst of a stressful situation that has me in a panic, this could help. When I'm giving a massage or a Reiki treatment, I am consciously breathing in rhythm the entire way through. It keeps me grounded in the treatment room, so it stands to reason that it will help in basically any area of my life.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. I was able to focus today, and really pay attention to how eradicated my breathing naturally is. I was able to slow my heart rate and stop the subsconscious panic that was happening in my body. Now I feel energized and ready to take on my day. 

To participate in Oprah & Deepak's "21-Day Meditation Challenge", click here! Also, be sure to weigh in on today's questions in the comments!

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 9

Creating Balance

Today's Centering Thought: My inner world reflects my outer world. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Sat Chit Ananda (Existence, Consciousness, Bliss)

1. How do the environments where you spend the most time impact your goals of perfect health? Do you feel that these spaces support your goals or take you farther away from them? My living space, at its core, is amazing. But it's actually a mess ALL the time. Everything is everywhere, and in no particular order. It's not far off to say that this reflects my inner reality. Plus, it's not conducive to a space where I want to move and exercise.

2. What can you change in your current environment to create a more nurturing space? I need to clean it, and keep it that way. I need to get rid of the junk that I don't need and create a comfortable, sacred space where I can unwind but still keep myself organized.

3. In detail, describe your ideal living or working space. How does it differ from where you are now? My ideal living space is an airy, bright, warm, cozy space where the sights, sounds and smells are all comforting and soothing. It is a blessed space, one I feel excited to come home to every day.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. The distractions were a-plenty tonight. I can't seem to let go of the stresses of the day and the upcoming week and just focus on ME. When Deepak asked us to release the mantra, I almost cried out in frustration, because I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO. The meditative space my soul had entered into was not perfect, but it was comforting nonetheless. I learned today that even if I feel distracted and scattered, this does not mean the meditation is not working.

You can register TODAY to participate in Oprah & Deepak's "21-Day Meditation Challenge"! As always, let me know what you think about today's reflection questions.

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 8

Restoring Balance

Today's Centering Thought: With awareness, I create healthy habits. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Om Kriyam Namah (My actions are aligned with cosmic law.)

1. Take a moment to reflect on your daily patterns and habits. Which behaviours would you like to change? I would like to start working out again. I would also like to make healthier food choices and to stop using my busy schedule as an excuse to eat badly. I want to sleep more, and better.

2. How would your life improve if you changed these current patterns and habits? Not only would my weight go down and my energy go up, but my financial situation would improve as well, as I wouldn't have to eat out nearly as much.

3. When you review your habits and routines, what can you learn about yourself? You learn where your priorities lie. You learn a lot about the state of your emotional well-being and self-love (or lack thereof).

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. I was angry today. I sat down to meditate and I was angry, and I had hoped that by meditating, I would be able to release the angry feelings. Sadly, that didn't happen. I made it all the way through the session, but came out of my reverie still angry. I have some soul searching to do tonight. I am asking my guides for a dream or two to help me sort this out.

Join me and my fellow meditators on the journey to "Perfect Health" with Oprah & Deepak! Or, purchase all 21 meditations here for just $39.99!

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 7

Honoring Your Body

Today's Centering Thought: My body is a magnificent vehicle that connects me to Spirit. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Lam, Lam, Lam (repeating "Lam" opens the root chakra, allowing us to feel grounded)

1. Over the first week of our Challenge, what points have most resonated with you? I've always been told to love myself, but I've never fully known what that feels like, until we meditated on our bodies' perfection (see my post on Day 6 of the Challenge). If my body is perfect and I'm fully loving myself, then honoring my body will just come naturally. This should be a simple concept, but one I have only been able to grasp through Deepak's guidance.

2. When you hear the phrase, "The body is a temple", what comes to mind? The first thing that comes to mind is how we treat a temple, or a church, or a synagogue, or any kind of sacred space. We clean it up. We keep it in good repair. We try not to get into unpleasant discussions inside its walls. We take pride in it. All of these things are things I should be doing for my own body.

3. What are three positive changes you can make today to better nurture your body, mind and spirit? I can give conscious thought to what I put into my body. I can guide myself back onto a gentler path when I discover negative and harsh self-talk. I can take time to meditate at the beginning and the end of my day.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. The further along I get in this Challenge, the more I am realizing why my efforts to lose weight thus far have been unsuccessful. The self-love has just not been there, but there's been plenty of self-loathing. I need to fully release this before I have any chance of being successful at this. I could feel my body breathe a sigh of relief today. Only a handful of times today was I less than gentle with myself, and when I caught it, I corrected it.

It's not too late to sign up and participate in Oprah & Deepak's "21-Day Meditation Challenge - PERFECT HEALTH" along with me and my fellow meditators! Or, you can click here to purchase all 21 meditations now.

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 6

The Perfection of Your Body

Today's Centering Thought: I am perfection. I am healthy. I am strong. Our Sanskrit Mantra: So hum. (I am.)

1. What are three aspects of your body that you love? I love my hands. Even before I became attuned to Reiki, I've always been told that they have a healing touch. Plus, I just love the way they look - dainty and slim. I love my eyes. A person's eyes can say a lot about who they are, and I think mine show my zest for life, and my innermost kindness. I love my legs. For this I don't really have a reason.

2. What are some of the messages your body is telling you right now? Mostly, I feel my body is telling me to SLOW down, and CALM down. My mind has been racing so much lately that I've been sleeping without RESTING, and my emotions are through the roof at a moment's notice. Perhaps I should spend more time in meditation.

3. Take a moment to list what your body has allowed you to accomplish over the years. My body has been good to me. I have made it up to this point in my life virtually sickness-free. I have had no major illnesses to speak of. And let's be honest, my body has endured my abuse of it thus far with little consequence to me. These meditations are really inspiring me to change my thinking about healthy living. One day at a time.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. I definitely needed the encouragement today to love myself. Gentlessneeds to be the new order of my life.

It's not too late to sign up for Oprah & Deepak's "21-Day Meditation Challenge" with me! And you can ALWAYS share what your answers would be to these reflection questions!

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 5

The Rhythm of Your Mind-Body

Today's Centering Thought: I flow in rhythm with my mind and body. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Om Anandham Namah (My actions are blissfully free from attachment to outcome.)

1. Our bodies constantly give us messages. How does your body speak to you when you are in resistance to something or someone? My body will usually speak to me by tensing itself up in one area or another. If I am unable to physically release the tension, I am forced to dive into my emotions and find out if something there is causing my pain or my tension. If I am able to find it and release it, my physical pain usually follows and goes with it.

2. Recall a time when you decided to let life events unfold without trying to control the outcome. What did you learn from simply letting go? I learned that my intuition can be trusted more than I initially thought. When I made the HUGE decision to go back to school, all of the pieces took awhile to fall into place. But I went into this adventure telling myself that whatever was meant to be would be, and that my only responsibility is to follow the path that my heart is guiding me on. All of the pieces came together, and now here I am. I have learned, from this, that 9 times out of 10, I am safe to trust my intuition.

3. List the ways you can commit to living each day with greater passion and joy. Take time to stop and (literally!) smell the flowers/coffee/whatever you like to smell. Find bliss in the little things. Savour each bite. Thank my body for each movement.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. Tonight was not as intense as last night. I don't know that I could have handled it another night in a row. Tonight was simply a lovely reflection on my day, and an anticipation of tomorrow.

Are you participating in the "21-Day Meditation Challenge" with Oprah & Deepak? Tell me about your experiences!

Namaste, J

PS. If you're enjoying this as much as I am, you can now own all 21 meditations by clicking here!

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Meditation Challenge - Day 4

The Wisdom of Your Body

Today's Centering Thought: I trust the wisdom of my body. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Om, Om, Om (repeating "om" honours our connection to the universe)

1. What messages do you tell yourself throughout the day? I lecture myself about my food choices all day long, it seems. Or I'm giving myself a to-do list of everything that needs to get done. I never tell my body to rest. I never really give it a CHANCE to rest. I suffer from negative self-talk much of the time.

2. When faced with a difficult situation, what is one positive message you could tell yourself? "This, too, shall pass. You are strong, you are capable, and you are ready to take this on. You will be better because of it. It cannot kill you; it can only make you stronger."

3. How can you talk to yourself in more positive ways each day to support optimal well-being? I want to be more encouraging, instead of lecturing myself and being angry with myself when I don't choose the most nutritious food, or when I procrastinate on things I want to accomplish. "Gentleness" is a word I need to contemplate, and a concept that I need to introduce to myself.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. Today's meditation was, by far, the most powerful I have ever experienced. There was little to no distraction. I held onto that mantra for dear life, as I could sense a lot of turmoil within myself, and an energy that didn't feel entirely mine. My soul was in desperate need of releasing that. Soon after we began, I could feel my spirit lift itself out of my body, but always held close to it by some invisible, indescribable, unearthly force, as though I needed to leave my body to release all of this energy. When I re-entered my body, I quite literally came back to myself. But I felt closer to the Divine than I ever have before. Today was beautiful.

Oprah & Deepak's "21-Day Meditation Challenge" is still going strong, and it's not too late to sign up! Join me and the rest of my fellow meditators as we make the journey towards PERFECT HEALTH!

Namaste, J

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Meditation Challenge - Day 3

The Intuition of Your Body

Today's Centering Thought: My mind and body are in perfect sync. Our Sanskrit Mantra: Sham, Sham, Sham (repeating "sham" awakens the third eye chakra, your intuition)

1. How does your body feel when you are faced with a dilemma or important decision? Be specific; describe the sensations in your body. When faced with a dilemma, I generally feel frenzied, panicked. My heart starts to pound, my head starts to ache, my palms start to sweat, and I may even become itchy. Sometimes I experience all of these sensations; sometimes only one. I do tend to make an initial decision fairly quickly, but I still experience panicked sensations that I've made the wrong decision.

2. How does your body reveal to you its intuition and inner guidance? My heart is always a key indicator of how I feel about a decision. If I really focus on my choice, my heart will either slow down or speed up ever so slightly. This doesn't necessarily indicate a right or wrong choice; simply my feelings about it.

3. Describe a time where you followed your intuition. What was the outcome? The best example is leaving my first career (and a well-paying, albeit boring, job) to go back to school and pursue a career in massage therapy. I have an extremely external locus of control (the thoughts and opinions of others are very important to me) so I had a hard time shutting out the nay-sayers and letting in the positive believers. Thank goodness I followed my heart; I could not be happier doing what I am doing.

4. Please use this section to reflect on today's session. I'll be honest, today was a little distracting. I blessed my meditation space, like I always do; I entered into the right mindset...but for some reason my mind was just all over the place. I would gently bring myself back to the mantra, and a second later I would be gone again. I wasn't so gentle with myself near the end, it was getting ridiculous. I don't feel the same connection to my third eye as I did to my heart chakra. This is definitely something I can aim to work on and improve throughout this challenge.

It's not to late to sign up and participate in Oprah & Deepak's "21-Day Meditation Challenge - Perfect Health"! Sign yourself up and give me some of YOUR thoughts and experiences as you meditate your way to Perfect Health!

Namaste, J