HOLIDAY and NEW YEAR's BLESSINGS

We offer an eclectic, musical mix at Mom's Cosmic Diner.

Here's one of my favorites. MOM

Click here for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's OM Chant

MMM, TASTY LITTLE NUGGETS

An observation....

Each of us no matter who we are or what we do, are all on a spiritual journey. And with this shift of consciousness we begin to “see” how everyday we're meeting teachers and learning lessons. In doing so, we can begin to fully embrace the magic of our lives here on earth.  MOM

TRANSformATIONS

As Winter approaches the seasonal change once again reminds us that we are one with nature and her energies. It's time to retreat into our inner and outer "caves" surrounded by soft light. Time to be quiet and reflective. Time to dream our dreams for the coming year.

Living in harmony with the natural elements creates a sense of peacefulness. There are many approaches to accomplish this goal.

Winter is a great time to visit Mom's Cosmic Diner where you'll find tools to live a healthier, more conscious and fulfilling life.

Stephanie, Mom's Cosmic Diner's proprietor, is available for private phone consultations with her Energetic Life Journey Readings. *Click here for more info.

WINTER ENERGY

Winter epitomizes Mother Earth's YIN cycle. The deciduous trees are bare as the leaves have fallen back to earth creating a blanket of warmth for the seeds and bulbs below. Visually the starkness creates more space to see the world around us with a different lens. The colors are muted, the skies grayer and cloudy. Film noire at it's finest. Now that the days are shorter and our energetic batteries are receiving less light... it's time to enter our caves. Winter energy invites us to go inward. To become contemplative as we dream and gather our "thought seeds" on what we choose to manifest for the coming year.

It's all about the water element and if our deepest thoughts, and visualizations are either flowing and moving freely or are blocked and dammed. It makes sense that Winter's internal organs are the Urinary Bladder and Kidneys.

Don't be surprised if you're not feeling social during the holiday festivities and desire to be home and hibernate. You're actually following Mother Nature's advice.

Stay tuned as MOM will be posting recipes on nourishing foods that will sustain and support your winter energy.

*Click here for more info on Stephanie's and Sachi's Four Seasons Retreat Series

LAYERS

When visiting my father in Coconut Grove, Florida, I meditate on the balcony of his sixth floor condominium. Beneath is a beautiful rock garden surrounded by gardens.  I watch the sun languidly rise amongst the billowous clouds that make Miami’s sky so sensual. The various shades of tropical tangerine, pinks shimmering in the morning heat and the iridescent, turquoise blue waters of Biscayne Bay seem to applaud the appearance of a new day. I feel very fortunate to observe this beauty. 

As I close my eyes the warm breezes caresses my skin allowing me to feel the borders of my body. I hear the gentle rustling sounds of coconut palm trees, the waterfalls in the gardens, the birds chirping and singing their morning songs. I also listen to the wind playing angelic chimes. I’m watching myself think "how tranquil and soothing nature’s sounds are."

Then I hear a jet as it flies high above me. At first I begin to attach judgments to the sound… "it’s so loud, uncomfortably powerful, annoying, an irritant." I stop myself and allow the sound, just to be a ~ sound ~ a vibration. Not good. Not bad. Just energy.

As I realize this I immediately understand I can still hear the water, birds, trees, and wind in the background. I feel my perception of reality shift.

After my meditation I thought about the experience and appreciated the lesson I had been given. Often times in our daily encounters we experience anger, sadness, low self-esteem, etc. and these powerful feelings have strong energies attached to them. However, if we begin to understand that life is a spiritual journey we can perceive the emotional upheavals as static and still know the peaceful humming core within all of us is always there.

This is why the meditation practice is so important. It’s a sacred space of clearing. A daily reminder that we can always access our inner peace, which is always quietly waiting for us... to be still, to turn our attention and intentions inward and gift us with another way of perceiving life.

MAJORITY RULES

Sri Swami Satchidananda in his wisdom would say,

"When you point your finger at someone whether mentally or physically... 

~ there's one thumb that represents your belief (higher power), 
~ there's one index finger that is you pointing at the object,
~ however there's three fingers pointing back at you, majority rules!"

A great time to think about what you need to learn from the situation aka spiritual lesson!

*Click here to learn more about Sri Swami Satchidananda's teachings

WELLESLEY'S SUNDAY FUNNY

Wellesely's* SUNDAY FUNNY is now our weekly comic strip.

*(MOM's Mascot) 
See below photos of Wellesley at 3 months old and the current one from W's car trip across the USA. MOM found his puppy photo posted on Petfinders and upon seeing it she instantly knew he was cosmic.

THE WIZARD of CHI

Tai Chi creates physical balance and also gifts the practitioner with an inward journey that heals the soul. This unfolding is similar to Dorothy’s adventures in the Wizard of Oz. And like the Yellow Brick Road, tai chi’s path is windy as it traverses through a new environment and unfamiliar territory.

Many of my students enroll in my Tai Chi for Enlighteners program* to improve their physical realm; by gently stretching muscles, strengthening bodies, enhancing balance, improving memory, or learning to walk with confidence. However on the journey they discover other challenges to overcome when encountering their “inward” Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and Dorothy.

The Scarecrow wanted a brain. As the student learns tai chi, the body is being taught novel ways to move. The brain needs to be totally focused and is “exercised” as new memory is created. The left / right balancing act creates mental clarity and has a positive, stimulating impact on both hemispheres as they communicate and absorb the new, physical information (very similar to the benefits of a child crawling.)

The Tin Man first needed to be oiled before he could even talk and tell Dorothy he desired a heart. Tai chi first “oils” every muscle and ligament in the body. The arms and hands are held higher than the heart so the heart muscle is gently strengthened as it pumps blood to the elevated limbs. The heart is described as being the center of one’s emotions. Through the movement of inner “chi” (life force) energy the student is more in touch with their emotional state and can heal the wounds of past transgressions.

The Lion yearned to have courage. Courage is the first step on becoming a spiritual warrior. After a few months of being “one” with the movements, the mind has been focused on watching and correcting the body. Once the body understands and flows through the steps, the mind is free to meditate. Tai chi is aptly described as moving meditation. When in a meditative state there's an opportunity to explore deeper levels of the soul. It takes courage to take an honest assessment on how we're choosing to live life... conscious or unconscious. It takes valor to release negativity, and harmful habits that halts the upward journey of one's soul. Tai chi gives one the space, time and courage to explore all the inner realms.

Dorothy desired to “go home”. This is the essential yet hidden reason to learn tai chi. It's a safe place where one can release what I call “glommers”.  Glommers are words, attitudes, and actions, that have attached to one’s true nature from past interactions with family members, friends, teachers, etc. It’s only when we build the courage, strength and insight to release these glommers that we can find our way back HOME to ourselves; to be light enough to click our heels and create our own reality.

*I invite you to take a lesson with me by clicking here. MOM

MEDITATION... Quieting the Mind

Breathe deeply,

become one with the breath.

Then step aside and listen.

Hear the silence,

feel the inner quiet,

and the peace that is you.

Click here for MOM'S Seated Deep Relaxation