The Circle of Breath

AA wrote: Då har helt rätt att ditt finns så många sätt att må bättre på. Problemet med mig är att jag är lat och är nöjd med den nivån av välbefinnande jag ligger på. Alltså det skapas en stress hos mig om jag tänker och utför allt jag bör göra för att må ännu bättre. Jag har därför nöjt mig med att sätta målet att gå min runda en gång om dagen.
BB wrote: Skall prova idag!

The Circle of Breath

The simplest and most direct way to experience the full promise and power of the breath is through a pattern that is often called “circular breathing”. --- Circular breathing works by creating a strong, flowing circuit of energy throughout the body and mind.

                                                                 Michael Sky: Breathing

Breathing is life. To stay alive we must constantly breathe and still we rarely give this human reflex a second thought. I find it fascinating to actively work with my breathing, and often find new insights or exercise inspiration on the Internet or in books. 

The circular breathing pattern mentioned in the quote above is, indeed, very easy and it can be practiced anytime, anywhere. Here’s the instruction from Sky’s book: 

“In circular breathing, one breathes in a continuous flow, without interruption or pause, for an extended period of time. The inhale leads directly to the exhale, without the breather stopping or holding the breath in; and the exhale leads directly to another inhale, without any pause between breaths. The inhale and the exhale are connected, flowing easily from one into the other, allowing for one continuous flow of breath – inhaling into exhaling into inhaling – and thus creating the image of a moving circle of breath/energy.”

Practicing this breathing pattern might lead to a wide range of physical and mental effects according to Sky. The breather may for example feel a warm, tingling sensation in the hands, face, or feet, which may spread throughout the body, become faint or light-headed and have difficulty remaining focused, or  experience nausea choking, muscle tremors or sudden extremes of hot and/or cold temperatures. I have only very lightly experienced the warm, tingling sensations. However, after 10-15 minutes of practice I feel very open and energised, and somehow more connected to life.

The beauty of the whole process of breathing lies, in fact, not just in it keeping us alive, but also in the fact that it connects us with all that surrounds us; with other people, with trees and animals, with the falling rain and the ground beneath our feet - with the whole universe.  

PS In an earlier post (“Breathing”, dated 18^thApril, 2016) there was a link to the 4-7-8 breathing exercise, if you wish to re-try that one.

Let the Light Enter

AA wrote: This is beautiful - a wonderful prompt for thought. I have chosen to do just what you suggested and it has been a long process. Since wounds for me are often attached to another, I keep coming back to reminders that the only behaviours we truly direct in life are our own.

Let the Light Enter

The wound is the place where the Light enters you.

                                                                 Rumi

We spend so much time trying cover up our wounds, old and new ones. We put on masks of cheerfulness or perfection, or hide behind piles of work, and we think they will stop hurting and somehow miraculously disappear. Such a waste of time and energy...

It takes a lot of courage to face your wounds and take care of them. You have to be willing to go through the pain that you tried to keep away by turning the other way. It will hurt – but if done wholeheartedly it will also heal. 

Just like Rumi says: through our wounds the light can enter; the light of healing and love. It does not only take courage to face your wounds, but also practice. Which smaller wounds could you care for right now, to make some extra light enter into your heart?

Greet Others With Joy

AA wrote: I am so with you in this way! There are days when I live in my snail house and can't look at anyone and don't want to talk to anyone, but most days I'm out there with a smile and try to see what happens around me, try to see if anybody needs a smile or help. We just watched Moana, the latest Disney movie and my daughter loves the character of the Grandma of the main character, who stands in the water dancing a strange dance and when the granddaughter asks her why she is doing this weird thing in the water and telling strange tales, she says: I'm the village crazy person, it's my job. I love her! It's the strange people that can tell the best stories and have the most wisdom, please stay strange!

BB wrote: Bra tanke att tänka något för att få rätt karisma och avväpna spänningar.

Jag använde mig själv av det då jag möter människor som jag känner inte gillar mig. Då tänker jag: denna person är den mest begåvade och trevligast person som jag någonsin mött. Jag tror att jag då sänder ut rätt energi-fällt för att där igenom inte förvärra situationen.

CC wrote: Was für ein schöner Gedanke! Ja, all die lieben, liebenden und liebenswerten Menschen nimmt man so selbstverständlich. Dabei ist alles ein Geschenk.

DD wrote: Next time we meet I will say "I'm here" I promise!

Greet Others With Joy

I see you!I am here!

For centuries, African Bushmen have greeted each other this way.  When the one becomes aware of his brother or sister coming out of the brush, he exclaims, “I see you!” and then the one approaching rejoices “I am here!”.

                               Mark Nepo: The Book of Awakening 

Who doesn’t want to be seen and greeted with joy? Still we often acknowledge others quite carelessly - even the people who are important to us. We normally greet others with a swift “Hello” and in the best of cases a quick smile. Most often we don’t even really see the person we meet, because we're too caught up in our thoughts and worries. We’re not really there for them: we already are at the place we’re heading towards.

I’d love to greet others - Bushmen or not ;-) - with a happy “I see you!”/“I am here!”, and in my village that would be technically possible, but I guess that the villagers would consider me even more strange than they already do. However, I can do it in my mind...

Next time you meet somebody, fill your mind with a happy “I see you!” and a big smile. Even if you only say “Hello”, that person will feel appreciated and seen. :-)

Choose Happiness

AA wrote:  I love this one. I love the idea of setting our focus.

Choose Happiness

We have to choose to be happy and keep choosing it.

Henri J.M. Nouwen 

New Year resolutions, anybody…? I’ve made one, plus a checklist to keep it up for at least 66 days (the average time it takes to form a new habit)! 

One of my life-changing habits is the result of a resolution I made years ago: choosing to be happy. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I consciously do is to smile. I smile to myself and to the brand-new day, and I decide to meet everybody and everything with a smile. That’s already a good start.

Of course, not everything that happens to me, not everything that I see or hear about “makes me happy”. Still I choose to have a positive outlook on life.  I let the little things in life fill me with joy and awe, and I am happy simply to be alive. 

I have to actively choose happiness again and again, every day, in every situation. Even when it has become my second nature to be happy, I will still have to face difficult people and situations. The challenge is to choose happiness in such moments, that is dealing with them with a benevolent heart and mind.

Miracles Everywhere

AA wrote: Mitt mirakel igår var en ormvråk. Den satt och spanade på matbitar från en gatlykta just utanför mitt skrivbord på jobbet. Underbart.

Miracles Everywhere

If you live in awareness, it is easy to see miracles everywhere.

                                                 Thich Nhat Hanh: The Sun My Heart

Recently I read a lovely book about what a miracle life actually is (Jostein Gaardner: The Orange Girl ). It made me stop and think, and I decided to become more aware of all the miracles that surround me daily and hourly. I promised myself to be less concerned with things I’m worried about, and really celebrate Life with all its wonders. 

Imagine that this earth has developed from one Big Bang, and that all that surrounds us somehow - miraculously - comes from there! What a miracle that there are trees and oceans, butterflies and whales - and human beings. What a miracle that we humans can be aware of our lives, that we can decide to change, to do good, and to love. What a miracle that you and I are born as human beings and can enjoy all these miracles!

Let’s stop forgetfulness, and train in being aware. Let’s look around with open eyes and an open mind, and be grateful for being alive on this green and blue planet floating through a universe - of miracles.