Awakening Ganesha

August 1 , 2006                       Monthly  Newsletter                                            Volume 21              

Namaste,

Welcome to our August issue of Awakening Ganesha.  We are pleased to introduce two new offerings here at 7 Centers.

Zac Occhiline is leading a morning sadhana from 6:00 to 7:00 am and invites anyone interesed to participate.  It's a quiet time of meditation, pranayama and practices.

Barbara Mayer, a recent transplant from the Midwest, is facilitating a Friday evening meditation group.  Just forming, it will be from 5:30 - 7:00 pm and everyone is invited to join.  See below to learn more about Barbara. 

Next Introduction to Yoga:  Wednesday, August 2nd.  Tell all your friends and family that have any questions about what yoga is and isn't.  This month Rebekah will be in the hot seat.

The Adventures of Lionheart,  Temple Cat

                            KITTY SADHANA

In my unique role as the Center’s Temple Cat, I witness and participate in many yoga practices. My favorite is morning sadhana.

Daily spiritual practice, or sadhana, is a means of self-knowledge and growth. A yoga sadhana may include meditation or prayer, mantra and pranayama, as well as asana. The best time for sadhana is early morning, that sweet quiet before dawn. This is brahmamuhurta, the time considered most auspicious for prayers and meditation. The mind hasn’t yet turned to the cares of the day, and the powerful unconscious of dreamtime is still near.

It’s good to establish a place for your sadhana, perhaps near a personal altar in your home or even outdoors underneath your favorite tree. (I’ve found the willow near the yurt to be especially conducive to meditation, contemplation, yoga nidra and siesta.) Over time, this space will become charged with the intention and energies of your practice.

Routine is very important. After choosing place, time and practices, then commit: Better fifteen minutes every day than an hour every now and then. It’s through the supportive structure of routine and repetition that one can build and refine awareness and begin to experience the practices from an energetic rather than merely physical standpoint.

My own personal morning practice begins with circumambulating the Center several times before dawn while practicing flemen, the “tasting breath” (a pranayama perfected by the feline race but one that humans don’t seem to understand). Afterward, I join my humans’ sadhana inside the Center to help model stillness and meditation. Though I substitute my own stretches and twists for surya namaskara (sun salutations), I often participate in anuloma viloma pranayama, in which the breath alternates from nostril to nostril.

Your experiences in sadhana become a touchstone for the rest of the day. Over time, many old habits and desires drop away. The mind becomes calm and quiet, the ego or “monkey mind” less insistent. True relaxation becomes easier—yes, even for humans!—and you will develop an inner strength that sustains you through the demands of daily life.

At the Center, we offer morning sadhana to teachers, students and anyone in the greater community who has a sincere desire to embark on a journey of self-discovery. My friends anchor the morning sadhana and help translate my suggestions into guidance that other humans can easily follow. As Temple Cat, I consider it my karma yoga to help humans evolve toward perfection.

The Ayurvedic Corner..........

  Tongue Analysis

from Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A.Sc.

The ancient art of tongue diagnosis describes patterns that can reveal the functional status of respective internal organs merely by observing the surface of the tongue. The tongue is the mirror of the viscera. A discoloration and /or sensitivity of a particular area of the tongue indicates a disorder in the organ corresponding to that area. A whitish tongue indicates a kapha derangement and mucus accumulation; a red or yellow-green tongue indicates a pitta derangement; and a black to brown coloration indicates a vata derangement. A dehydrated tongue is symptomatic of a decrease in the rasa dhatu (plasma), while a pale tongue indicates a decrease in the rakta dhatu (red blood cells).

The front one-third of the tongue relates to the lungs, heart, chest, and neck. Froth in the middle of this area is often a sign of low lung energy with damp and cold lungs and may translate as a cold, bronchitis, asthma, or respiratory allergy. If there is a small depression in the heart area, it often relates to intense grief, sadness, or depression.

The central third of the tongue relates to the liver, spleen, stomach, and pancreas. Small ulcers on the tongue in the stomach area may reflect gastritis or peptic ulcer. The rear one-third area of the tongue relates to the lower abdominal organs, such as the small intestine and colon. If this posterior part of the tongue is covered with coating, that is ama or toxins in the colon, indicating low colon energy.

To cleanse the tongue, use a tongue scraper to gently scrape the from the back forward, until you have scraped the whole surface for 7-14 strokes. This stimulates the internal organs, helps digestion, and removes dead bacteria. Ideally, vata can use a gold scraper, pitta a silver one, and kapha copper. Stainless steel can be used by all people.

Reprinted by Dr.Vasant Lad, The Ayurvedic Institute, Albuquerque, NM

                Vedic Astrology News

Vedic Astrology and the Use of  Planetary Gemstones

Gemstones are commonly used in Vedic astrology to propitiate and harmonize with the nine planets.  Working with remedial measures (also called upayes) in Vedic astrology is one way we can help to shift or soften our karma. Mantra recitation is another frequently used remedial measure. On a materialistic level, the wearing of a specifically prescribed planetary gemstone is one way to uplift the horoscope.

Each of the nine planets has a primary gemstone that is associated with it. They are as follows: ruby for the Sun; pearl for the Moon; red coral for Mars; emerald for Mercury; yellow sapphire for Jupiter; diamond for Venus; blue sapphire for Saturn; hessonite garnet for Rahu; and cat’s eye for Ketu. The planetary gemstones are usually worn as rings or pendants, and there are specific carat sizes needed for each gem for its optimum potency. One can even wear all nine planetary gems in a special setting called a navaratna.

It is very much recommended to receive one’s “planetary prescription” from a qualified Vedic astrologer, as the wearing of the wrong gemstone for the chart can magnify more challenging issues. These gemstones are actually spiritual tools, working on a subtle energetic level, and in many cases the gem can be worn for a lifetime. The main intent in using this type of remedial measure is to increase the positive energies related to the particular planet, thereby strengthening these qualities and their expression in the wearer of the gemstone.

As Vedic gemstones can sometimes be quite expensive, bear in mind there are also less expensive ways to perform remediation for one’s Vedic horoscope. Other methods frequently used are prayer, recitation of mantras, meditation, pujas, and selfless service.

Debra Infante, Vedic astrologer, can be reached at (928) 639-0623 for astrological consultations, either in person or by phone.

 7 Centers Yoga Arts

Upcoming Yoga Trainings and Special Workshops            

 Teacher Training Alumni News 

Congratulations to the July 2006 teacher training graduates:

Rachel Hollingsworth - Kolonia, Pohnpei

Astrid Senturia - Haiku, HI

Mayumi Wright - Japan

Audra Friar - Carmel, IN

Jessica Azeez - Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Christyn Schroeder - Gotham, ME

Rachel Hanks - Phoenix, AZ

Erin Drummond - Minneapolis, MN

Jori Schaill - Phoenix, AZ

Dennis Andres - Sedona, AZ

Leilani Jefferies - Santa Cruz, CA

Kim Hyun Jung (Shishya) - Mapo-Ku, Seoul, Korea

Sandi Harmon - formerly RI, presently - SEDONA!

It was a great month, beyond description!