Mandala2_300px

Life is Ceremony, Ceremony is Life

by Nicole's Blog

What if we lived our lives as if everything were ceremonial? What if we lived each day making offerings to the life-giving elements of Fire, Water, Air and Earth. What would the world be like if we took the time each day to bless the trees, birds, plants, rocks and all living things?

This is the path of the Shaman.

The Shaman wakes each morning with blessings and gratitude for the unseen realms that are always supporting and mentoring us.  The Shaman offers rituals to honor that which gives us life. They co-create their realities with the presence of prayer and spiritual inquiry. They see the beauty and magic in all things God’s made.  Everything becomes symbolic and placed in Divine order as messengers along a path of awakening to higher consciousness.  All of life around us – the animals, herbs, crystals – they are guides, allies and healing companions.

We are inextricably connected to all of life on this planet. 

Whatever we do effects the whole, no matter how small you think you are.  Every thought, and word becomes an action that creates a wave of energy that changes the energy around you. It’s time for all of us to recognize how LARGE and IN CHARGE we really are.  How responsible and accountable we must be for the distribution of our energy.

Wake up each day and burn off the negative dross.

According to the Artist’s Way, one of my favorite books of all time, the “Morning Pages” are a very valuable tool in releasing this energy and creating space for creativity to move through you.  Place a notebook by your end table and write 3 stream of consciousness pages to release anything that’s accumulated from the prior day and dream state.  Pay no attention to spelling and grammar, just write! Place it to the side and never read it again. Metaphorically burning it up. Or check out the YogaWakeup app for some of my meditations (see below!).

Practice ceremony daily.

A ceremony is an offering of blessings in our lives. It’s an opportunity to thank your guides, spirit allies, and all of those things around you that bring you life, joy, celebration, love and prosperity. A way that you can honor God in all things.  Even those things that challenge you, are placed there for your own growth.

Ceremony Meditation

If you are unsure of how to start a ceremonial practice or if you want to share your practices with your community, come to Ceremony Meditation at 417 Rose in Venice across from Cafe Gratitude which will open in October.

Our mission as an intentional community is to provide a space where all beings can feel supported and safe within their spiritual practice(s), allowing them to step into the Trust of their own Evolution. We stand with open hearts and minds with all of creation. Ceremony is Life…Life is Ceremony.

Our Purpose:  We acknowledge this World is flourishing with wisdom teachings, sacred practices and conscious raising traditions covering the Globe. At the core of these teachings, we know and understand ‘Paths are many, Truth is one.’ We honor and host all practices that are in agreement with our commitment to every being on the planet discovering his or her Authentic Self, in other words Self-Realization. We will guide all beings to an experience in their heart, where the source of all creation emanates from.

Shamanic & Ceremonial Retreats – Spirit Wisdom Healing Transformational Retreats

You also have the opportunity in September  2016 to connect to all of Nature, experience deeply healing mineral springs hot baths, yoga, meditation and learn Shamanic rituals and ceremonies in Mount Shasta. The Spirit Wisdom Healing Retreats will be an annual retreat offering.  In 2017, you can join us July 27 – August 1st, 2017.

Infinite Blessings on the Path of Awakening to the Truth of It All,

Nicole
Ceremony Meditation
417 Rose in Venice
across from Cafe Gratitude
Open in October.
Nicole Doherty

Creating Ritual & Spiritual Practice

by Nicole's Blog

I’m reminded today of the importance of Ritual & Spiritual Practice. As a full-time working mom, it’s more evident than ever that keeping up with Self-Study and Personal Practice is paramount.  And yet, it can seem harder than ever before due to what’s pulling on my attention. What I recognize today is the pressure I place on myself to be perfect in my Practice (Zen on the tallest mountain peak in Lotus with Gian Mudra).  AND, this is not the Practice.

The Ritual of Practice is the Consistency of showing up for myself amidst the Chaos, Suffering, Challenges and every day Irritants that lower my Vibration. Svadyaya (Self-Study) is meeting myself daily to contest the mind’s desires to attach or avert the uncomfortable places that I traverse. The Cure to the Virus of the Mind is the Practice.

Michael Beckwidth of Agape International Spiritual Center, today explained that in our day to day, we live in a lower vibration than our full potential and that our Spiritual Practices (yoga, meditation, chanting, spiritual study) give us the opportunity to merge with our Highest Potential in the Quantum Field. When we were conceived in the Mind of God that version of ourselves was designed and we are evolving Now to meet in that realm of Divine Perfection, Beauty, Love and Prosperity.

It’s so easy daily to get diverted from the Path, so “JUST FOR TODAY… (much like the speak of Alcoholics Anonymous), I COMMIT to a DAILY CEREMONY for MYSELF” whether it be rolling onto my mat for 10 minutes of breath work, staying in the car for an extra 5 minutes to meditate, journaling before bed for a few moments or reading an inspiring article.  All of this is part of Spiritual Practice. Thus, removing the pressure of perfection and performance and making it manageable to achieve!

Infinite Blessings on the Path of Awakening to the Truth of It All,

nicole-doherty-meditation-training-classes-yoga

5 Quick Tips for a Daily Meditation Practice

by Music & MeditationsNicole's Blog

I love meditating and have incredible insights in them, yet I find there are a million excuses not to meditate.  I know it’s because the mind is restless.  For me, meditation sometimes feels like I’m not doing anything.  And yes, Nicole, that is the point!!! It’s to let the mind relax, or as they say at the Den Meditation studio where I work, #ctfo (chill the F out!).  I ironically teach this class. LOL.

Here are 5 quick ways to create a meditation practice:

  1. Put meditation in your calendar just like any outside appointment that you have. Make it at a consistent time so it becomes a ritual. Either early AM before your day or late PM before sleep are great times.
  2.  Do not move your appointment or cancel it.
  3. Create a beautiful inspiring space for it. Make it comfortable, quiet and peaceful and not in an area where you can be distracted.
  4. Start easy – 1 minute the first day, 2 minutes the 2nd until you reach 7 minutes at the end of the week and start to climb from there.  It’s still meditaiton if you have allowed yourself peace and quiet. Ideally work to a 30 min practice.
  5.  Try using quiet music to set an inspiring backdrop. Pandora has some great stations like “Samyaya” that are meditation channels. Music may help dissolve the thoughts for some of us that have trouble getting into the practice.

If none of these work for you, then get your butt over to the Den Meditation Studio on LaBrea and start meditating with other people to get inspired in the group collective consciousness!

There are so many amazing benefits to meditation such as improved sleep, memory and clarity. It helps to connect you within, dissolve obstacles that hinder and bind us and gives you the ability to understand your soul’s deepest desires, passions and purpose in life!

While you are at it. Start a journaling practice which will help you integrate the wisdom teachings you receive. Check out this ultimate guide to meditation journals as well!

 

10477885_10152207283422406_4296905009444545053_n

When I (blank) then…

by Nicole's Blog

How is it that we can make up so many excuses for when we will actually live our lives? I’ll travel when I’m wealthy. I’ll write that book when I have time. I’ll have a baby when I find the perfect relationship. I will be happy when I get this promotion.

“When I (blank) then” is a great excuse for not doing something we may really want to do. Or maybe in fact we are choosing not to do those things because they aren’t our priority or in our alignment, so let them go.

My friend Deirdra Martinez of the Uplift Movement always inspires me.  I joined her “Conscious Collective” group recently to be associated with a group of like-minded souls who are truly up to greatness and upliftment in this world. We are all life coaching each other into living our dreams and potentials.

In this group, my goal is to write a book. As a new mom, I find myself strapped for time and having to adjust to managing my full time work schedule with being present with my newborn baby.

My excuse time and time again each week at check in is that I have absolutely no time to do this.  In essence, it is very true that I have less time than before, but if I had the time would I be writing my book or creating other excuses?

What I find most interesting for me in being part of this group are the games that I play with my mind. It has been a very interesting inquiry.

Do I want to write this book?

The answer is yes, however, I keep saying, “I will write this book when I have time.” Does the time ever come?

If I’m being authentic, the book is not my biggest priority now,

like it was when I started the group.  My son is my number one interest.  And knowing how fleeting this time with him (as a baby) is, instead of admitting that the book isn’t my biggest priority currently, I keep using the excuse “I just don’t have enough time”. I don’t want to let people down either.

What I also realized in this inquiry is that I could be more creative with my time.

For example, in the car I have much wasted time here in LA. I’m in the car several hours a day commuting. During my drives, I’d listen to the radio or CD or make phone calls.  These are all well and good activities, but if I plan to write a book, I could be creative and voice record my book on an app and then transcribe it later – thank you Deirdra for this idea! I have been doing this several times now and have received about 20 pages of transcriptions back.  In actuality my book is being written, verbally!

The deeper layer of the procrastination on my book too is the fear around whether or not the subject will be of interest or if anyone will care. Or if I can organize my thoughts. Will spending all this time be a waste in the end?

This group coaching experience has given me cause to look all around my life for other excuses.  If I really want to do something, can I make it work? Or maybe that thing just isn’t my priority anymore and I need to be more upfront, authentic and honest with others and myself.  I need to release the “should do this” script which is about disappointing people and meeting expectations.

What have I learned?

If you want to do something that’s in alignment, look for all they ways that it can happen. Be creative.  And if it’s not in alignment, then let it go. Be honest. Let go of the scripts that cause you to look outside yourself for answers.  Go within.

151119_YES_CHW_2595

The Yoga of Parenting

by Nicole's Blog

As I sit in front of my computer with our baby in my wrap all nestled to me, I feel so much gratitude for this most epic gift. In the last 7 weeks I have not stepped foot in a yoga studio. I felt a bit worried by this, then the voice of my teacher Malachi echoed in my ear, and I realized that in this moment the art of parenting IS my Yoga practice.

While I have the opportunity to stay home with our baby I want to be as present as possible for him. So he feels safe, loved and nurtured. As my wonderfully brilliant teacher Malachi often states in her classes, PRESENCE is the real Yoga.

I recently went to a workshop by Malachi on the “Yoga of Parenting” as seen through the Yamas, which represent a series of “right living” or ethical rules within Yoga. We went on a spiritual inquiry on how these relate to parenting. Learning how to navigate the Yamas is imperative. In fact THIS IS our daily practice, not just the Asanas or the physical postures.

Here are the Yamas below. As you go through them, think about how you may or may not be practicing these in your life or as a parent. These tenants relate to thought, word and deeds/actions:

  • Ahimsa – Non-harming or Non-violence toward the Self or Others
  • Satva – Truthfulness to oneself, speaking one’s truth or with others
  • Asteya – Non Steailng (of time, present awareness, materials)
  • Brahmacharya – Reserving one’s energy, not leaking one’s energy (with Facebook for example, or not taking care of oneself)
  • Aparigraha – Non-greed or possessiveness

It was an excellent exercise to recognize where we fall asleep and where we are most aware.

We are not always very conscious, in fact as research proves only about 5-10% of the time are we operating from that space. So we need to really dig deep and find those neural pathways that are in need of change and actively work on developing new ones through our practice of Kriya Yoga: Tapas (discipline), Svadhyaya (self-study and study of spiritual texts) and Ishvara Pranidhana (devotion or surrender to God or a higher power).

As I recently read on a blog called Yoga Basics, “life presents an endless opportunity to learn about ourselves; our flaws and weaknesses give us the opportunity to grow and our mistakes allow us to learn. Examining our actions becomes a mirror to see our conscious and unconscious motives, thoughts, and desires more clearly.”

Our kids are a sponge and a pure, clear mirror. Parenting is one of the highest forms of Yoga.

Many blessings for this 2016!

May your heart be filled with peace and joy.