Awakening Ganesha

October 1 , 2006                       Monthly  Newsletter                                        Volume 23                  

Namaste,

It feels like Fall.  The mornings are cool and the days are warm - perfect weather for hiking in the Red Rocks and being with and in the beauty of Nature.  Being in the fresh, open air dispells any feelings of disconnection and lifts the spirits to a higher place.  No matter where you are, there's a place where you can feel the sun on your face, the wind in your hair and the earth beneath your feet. Notice the feelings and reflect on what being in/with Nature means to you.

The Adventures of Lionheart,  Temple Cat

A Taoist Meditation Practice

While I have taken liberties with the posture, this is a highly recommended way to experience the "secret of the golden flower".

Absorbing the sun

"At night, (preferably at Midnight) while either sitting or standing, concentrate on the idea of the sun entering your body by way of the mouth.

The sun passes to your hear and you imagine that your whole heart is being illumined by the bright, penetrating sunlight. Concentrate on the sun in your heart for some time and feel the glowing warmth increase there. Next you send the light of your internal sun from the heart to all other parts of the body in turn. Visualize and feel the light and its warmth radiating throughout your body. Now you return your awareness to the heart and feel a tiny flame beginning to grow in strength. The sun passes out of your body and you remain only aware of the small flame burning in the heart.

According to Taoism , the light dwells quite naturally within a person , in the heart….Taoist Meditation is a practical system concerned with the rediscovery of a natural innate wisdom in the deeper parts of our ..being which is ever in harmony with the rhythms of the universe."

Excerpted from Sure Ways to Self-Realization by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.

The Ayurvedic Corner

Sattva, Rajas, Tamas

HOMEMADE YOGURT RECIPE

Yogurt is an interesting example of these three qualities of nature.  Freshly made yogurt is sattvic. Processed, preservative-laden store-bought yogurt, which is not freshly made, is rajasic. Frozen yogurt is tamasic.   Homemade yogurt is quite simple to make and far superior in taste and nutrition.

Ingredients

 3 ½ cups Milk (use organic whole milk –organic raw milk is best if you can find it)

2 heaping TBSP  Yogurt Culture or high quality organic whole “live culture” yogurt (yogurt from a batch you’ve previously made yourself is best)

Preparation

Heat the milk, stirring constantly. When milk begins to boil, stop stirring. After milk has boiled, remove from heat and let milk cool to about 118 – 115 degrees (owning a kitchen/food thermometer really helps at this stage). Place cooled milk in mixing bowl or directly into mason jars or other storage container. Add the culture and stir until mixture is smooth. Remove any “skin” that has formed on the surface. Incubate the milk, undisturbed, for 6 to 8 hours (no longer than 10 – or it will go sour), holding the temperature at about 110 – 115 degrees. You may incubate with precision by placing in a heated dehydrator. You may also place anywhere in your kitchen (or house) where the temperature hovers around 110 – 115 degrees. If you like, you may also prefer to just go “au naturelle” and let sit outside in the bright summer sun for a day. The number of incubation methods is limited only by your imagination. If your yogurt isn’t thick after 6 – 10 hours, something went wrong. Remember, however, that this method usually produces “runny” yogurt - the kind you find in foreign countries. Getting that thick, creamy, American style yogurt requires a special yogurt culture - or using powdered milk (not sattvic!). Also remember that the yogurt will firm up even more once it cools in your refrigerator. If your yogurt went bust for some reason, you can always use what you created as milk in cooking.

 Kevin Afuso is the Cook for the Ayurvedic Kitchen at 7 Centers. He both educates and nutures the teachers and students with conscious food during yoga trainings.

  Vedic Astrology News

Spirituality and the Vedic Astrology Chart

In Vedic astrology there are certain houses in the chart that signify one’s spiritual life and practices. The main houses of spirituality are the ninth, twelfth, eighth, and fifth. The ninth house is the house of the guru (spiritual teacher), philosophy, religion, and dharma or purpose in life. It is a house of divine blessings. The twelfth house rules enlightenment, liberation, meditation, introspection, self-sacrifice, and going on retreat or pilgrimage. The eighth house signifies astrology, kundalini, intense transformation, secret knowledge, and tantra. The fifth house is the house of positive past-life karma, mantras, yantras, and spiritual techniques. For those who have well-disposed fifth and ninth houses, spiritual practices such as mantra recitation and performing pujas tend to produce good results with less effort.

There are also deeper spiritual connotations to the planets. Ketu, the south node of the Moon, is the planet of spiritual liberation or moksha. It is a very mystical planet, expressing the quality of detachment and other worldliness. Ketu is a “wanderer” and is not so concerned with material success, preferring a deeper inner life. For instance, if one has a well-placed Ketu in the twelfth house, then meditation might be a recommended and complimentary practice. Rahu, the north node of the Moon, can represent unconventional spiritual beliefs and esoteric teachings. It can indicate being involved in a spiritual practice that is not traditional or of another culture.

Saturn, another deeply spiritual planet, indicates renunciation, practicing austerities, spiritual discipline, detachment, charity, service, and karma yoga. So if in one’s chart Saturn is well-placed, the idea of selflessly working for others in a charitable organization might be appealing as a means of sadhana.

Jupiter is the planet of the teacher or guru, and a well-placed Jupiter in the ninth house can indicate attracting very positive and influential teachers in one’s life, directing one on his dharmic path. A strong Venus in a chart can indicate the practice of bhakti or devotional yoga, as well as using art or music as a source of inspiration.

These are just some of the various significations of the houses and planets used in determining spiritual expressions in the Vedic chart, indicating how each person may contact the divine within.

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 Teacher Trainings and Special Workshops            

Teacher Training Alumni News 

Kelly Devlin (September, 2005) will be spending October as our Ayurvedic Apprentice, working with Kevin in the kitchen during the teacher training course.  We look forward to having Kelly slice and dice with us. 

Tamara Stewart (March, 2004) dropped in unexpectedly to say "hi".  Tamara and her partner will be moving awayt from Phoenix soon.  She has completed her Aveda training and will be using her skills to bring beauiy to the Denver area.   (By the way, she looks great!)

Rachel Jackson (April, 2006) has moved to Sedona and is currently pursuing her massage therapist license at NAMTI.  We are happy to have her teaching a few yoga classes a week here at 7 Centers.

Congratulations to Melissa Camacho (July, 2003).  Melissa and Wes are going to have a Sedona wedding on October 22nd!   Melissa is studying at the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico.  She did a spectacular job preparing the ayurvedic meals during the 10 day-500 Hour International Yoga College training.