"Snowflakes" Hologram Sculpture by Nancy Gorglion
“Religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell. Spirituality is for people who’ve been there.” – A Navajo Elder
Let’s face it. Whether or not you believe in the spiritual component of it all, these are trying times. Our inner and outer worlds are in deep transformation. Have you experienced or witnessed any shake-ups or symptoms of dis-ease in your body, your emotions, your mind, your relationships, your career, or your world, lately. Me, too. The following links are to teachers, activities, and practices that have provided enormous support, healing, and enrichment in my life. I hope that they can offer you the same.
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ALEX GREY (artist) Don’t believe in all of this spiritual hokum? Take a look at some of the art of Alex Grey. His Sacred Mirrors depict medically accurate meta-physiology of the spiritual bodies of man. Auras, chakras, and meridian points, are rendered in all of their fiery brilliance. It is our energy perceived and available for viewing. Undeniably powerful, inspiring, and mind-blowing, I first stumbled across a book of his art in 1991, and it triggered some sort of deep memory in me. Soon after, I began what I call my spiritual awakening.
Click here to open your Third Eye
THE ARTIST’S WAY - A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity (book) Ever found yourself asking the question: What do I want to do with my life? Whether you’re an artist or not, this book is guaranteed to be life-changing. A week of writing “morning pages” and you’ll not only know what you really need to do in your life; you will not be able to stop yourself from doing it. Be one of the thousands doing bold, courageous, creative things with their lives. Oh, yeahhhhh.
Get me out of this stinking office
J. BROWN (yoga teacher) When the still, small voice of my spirit spoke up in early 1994, one of the first things I found myself doing, quite automatically, was yoga. In the course of the last ten years or so, I’ve practiced with a dozen or so teachers, and I must say, Jason Brown is one of the bes. He teaches exquisitely nurturing, breath-based, enjoyment-required classes in and around New York city. Not near NY? He offers audio recordings to lead you through yoga sessions anywhere you want.
ALLEN CARR’s – The Easy Way to Stop Smoking (book) I smoked a pack a day for 7 years. As soon as I realized “it’s all about the breath” I knew I had to quit, but I tried and found it too hard. Like manna from heaven, while in England I ran across this book and it hypnotized me into becoming a NON-smoker (not an ex-smoker) . I am free. I don’t ever want a cigarette. Like someone who never smoked before, I don’t envy smokers, I pity them. Want to quit, and feel like you can’t? Please, check out this book. Not available in the US (damn those corporations) but easily ordered through Amazon.co.uk.
For an enjoyable way to free yourself of smoking
Dr. MAJID ALI, M.D. Ethical, preventive and integrative modern medicine. My father was a Radiologist and at the hub of our moden medical/healthcare system, that is currently LOST. Dr. Majid Ali is one of the few visionaries who is practicing medicine for healing, as opposed to the administering of drugs, surgeries, and insurance liabilities for the ruin of all. He says, “All disease is caused by toxic foods, toxic environment, and toxic thoughts.” The removal of these toxins (which are all encompassing in modern society) results in healing. This requires a much greater commitment by the patient to take responsibility for his health, but it doesn’t really cost much money, and the results are curative. I had developed many chronic, and common degenerative ailments (allergies, poor digestion, fatigue, etc.) that were specifically unresponsive to drug medicine. If you have any chronic physical problems that can only be ’managed’ with drugs, but not healed , you should get into this. You don’t even have to go to him. Read the articles on his website. Read his books. And live it. Health Responsibility
CHINESE KUNG-FU, WU-SU (kung fu classes) Martial Arts = cure for depression, ability to truly express one’s self. Become a dancing fist of power. I took classes at this Kung Fu temple for a year. Started by Alan Lee, a chinese Grandmaster, it has been effectively and positively creating bad asses for 30 years on 27th stree. Not for profit, and not for belt and trophy seekers, it is grueling, disciplined, spiritual, and seriously balanced and effective. Twice a week for 2 hours. I’ll never lose the techniques I got there. This is how they’ve been doing it in China for thousands of years.
GABRIELLE ROTH – The 5 Rhythms (ectastic dance classes) Somewhere in between a yoga class and a transcedent club rave, Gabrielle Roth dance classes are bare-foot, eyes-closed, candle-lit, ego-less, ecstatic free dances that give one of the best workout to enjoyment ratios around. With awesome tribal trance music being droppoed by the “teacher/DJ”, there’s minimal instruction and structure, but maximum movement and communion. At the end of a two hour session, you’ve never moved as much without knowing it.
Dance Damn it!
RON BAKER (healing practitioner) They say that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Ron Baker is my mentor. A former lead-role singing Baritone at Lincoln Center, Ron offers his ultra-compassionate, deep and effective private and group therapy sessions at his healing center: Children of Light on the Upper West side. A very holistic approuch, the process involves the total person, incorporating traditional talk therapies, breath, movement, and sound exercises, hands on Reiki massage and emotional release.
I did not know you had a blog! I love it! My sister googled you and found it. Then she told me about it. This is awesome! We are in Josh’s school. So far, I have done: Ron Baker, Easy way to stop smoking, Artist way, J Brown, Alex Grey. I am following your methodology and look at me blossom. For your list I would add Vappassana and I will think of some others. Blog Buddies!