Meeting Asciepius and Transformation of the healer

Hello Everyone,
After a busy day and week I had trouble with this imagery exercise. I had trouble visualizing my deceased father, even though I know what he looked like. Was I forgetting my father, whom I was so close to all those years? I was kind of frightening. A few years back I was disturbed by the fact that I couldn't remember all the details of my grandmothers face. I think you all should try to visualize a long diseased relative and see if you can remember all of their features. I'm sorry to say I fell asleep three times (I started the exercise over three times) during this exercise because it was very relaxing. I think this was a more advanced exercise and should be done after you have gone through the loving-kindness and witnessing-mind exercises and have turned inward to the calm abiding step of your transformation to integral health. I haven't been doing the mindfulness exercises on a daily basis but I have been doing abdominal breathing religiously on a daily basis and they do seem to relax and calm me, which is probably due to the increased oxygen supply from the deep inhalation and exhalation.
The saying: "One cannot lead another where one has not gone himself" means that an individual must experience his or her own spirituality and flourish integrally before he or she can help another. Experiencing the different holistic practices gives the practitioner and idea how he or she can help another and which might be better for the client in the long run. This can help the individual develop mentally, physically and spiritually.

Universal Loving Kindness and Integral Assessment

Hello Everyone,
I practiced the universal Loving Kindness exercise and thought it was relaxing. I got as far away from the bustle of the household, and escaped to my backyard sanctuary at dusk, where the only sounds I could hear were the trickle of my neighbors water, the wind chimes with their deep resonant tones and the soft whisper of the breeze. I let myself experience these sounds for a few minutes and then I drew my attention to my breathing-the rise and fall of my stomach as my breath goes in and out, in and out. I do this for about 5 minutes, enjoying the stillness and bringing my "monkey mind" back assertively to focus on my breathing, and just when I thought I had the hang of it...I forgot the words to the phrases! My "monkey mind" was unleashed! : ) I had trouble remembering the exact words of the phrases, but I got as close as I could and started the exercise again. I thought it would be more difficult to repeat words or a phrase as the focal point than it would be to focus on my breathing, but in fact it kept my "monkey mind" occupied and my focus stronger.
After completing the integral assessment, I determined that out of the four aspects of my life I needed to focus my attention on the biological quadrant because it is in distress at this time in my life. I have been diagnosed with a problem and now I will need to see a vascular surgeon. I will need to adjust my nutrition and develop better self-regulation skills. I have lowered my sodium and caffeine intake and I am working on disciplining my self to attain a more desirable weight. Hopefully these practices will take some of the pressure off of my leg and allow it to heal properly.

In Love and Wellness,
Pen

The Key Role of Thought in Wellness and Healing

Hello everyone,
I've completed the loving kindness and the subtle mind exercise, and I think they will fit nicely into my daily routine, if I can be more disciplined about it. The loving kindness exercise was a lesson in feelings of caring and compassion, and it gave you many choices to practice the concept on. On the other hand the subtle mind exercise was a lesson in the openness and vastness of the mind and how to quiet it's restlessness. The main idea was to focus on either the breath or the rising and falling of the abdomen, thus bringing the wayward mind back into focus. While loving kindness was based on gently expressing love to yourself and others, The subtle mind was more assertive-forcing the wandering mind to come back and focus, no matter how many times it took. This is definitely the style my wandering "monkey mind" needs. The loving kindness practice had short pauses to allow a thought process or concept to sink in but not to let your mind wander too far. The Subtle mind exercises had longer pauses that where so long that when the lady started to talk again I was startled! I think I might have dosed off, but it didn't feel like it. : )This exercise might not be good when you are exhausted. I love the quietness and stillness throughout both exercises and the flute added to the ambiance.
Stress often manifests itself in the mind first before progressing to the physical body and then to chronic ailments like heart disease, cancer and stroke. Spirituality can help calm these destructive thoughts and help an individual attain a better sense of overall wellness. These spiritual meditations will be able to help with my stressful, restless mind if only I would show a little more discipline and incorporate them into my daily life. I think that if I take it one step at a time I will succeed.

Take care,
Pen

Loving Kindness Review

Hello Everyone,
As always, the mental exercises seem to relax me, but I have a hard time believing that I'm actually doing the exercise correctly. While doing the Dacher exercise on Loving kindness I could picture the person or persons but I wasn't sure I was taking in the negative energy and exhaling the healing energy correctly. I know most of this is in the mind, but what does it feel like to do it correctly? When I become better at it and more in control of my thoughts then yes, I would recommend it to others, if nothing more than to relax them.
When we train our mind we can influence our physiology and our immune system to help us ward off ailments and disease. Mental workouts can help alleviate the stresses in life and put us on the path to better health through the mind body and spirit.

Take care!
Pen