We must really be evolving as a race cause it seems that nobody is being let off of big spiritual decisions these days. It's really a gift although it may not seem like one at first, we get to choose, do we become like the serpent shedding an old skin and face the deeper pain, first of all discovering the inner belief in our emptiness then releasing it as the illusion it is ? Or do we let the situations convince us to continue running after our unfulfilled needs as we choose to believe in our lack and hunt for the outer vehicle to fill us up, the Band-Aid to distract us once again from the true experience of metamorphosis. This choice keeps our hunger for love and connection reading the menu rather than eating the meal.
The Universe and free will, will allow either choice, in theory, yet it seems these days the nudges keep getting stronger when we turn away from love and the belief in our fullness and give ourselves to conscious and unconscious survival fears. The problem is that so much of the time we feel ashamed to look at ourselves so instead we engage in power struggles that divert our feelings of lack for the time being. If we couldl remember for ourselves and each other that the only reason we come into a body is to find out where we don't know ourselves and work it through........well Life would feel so much nicer and all the energy that gets invested in judging ourselves and others, would have something positive to dedicate itself to.
The sanskrit word Prana means constant flow. Our fears and limitations create constrictions in the healthy flow of prana. It all starts with Maha Prana the great prana of Creation then steps itself down into physical prana. In our physical prana we have two kinds Chitta or Manas Prana which is a mental prana governing thought and emotion and Prana Shakti which is the prana behind all the physical systems. The nose is one of our most important organs . This is because two of the most important nadis(psychic nerves) Ida and Pingala are located there, one connected to each nostril. The left nostril is connected to right brain and activities associated with it like creativity and deep thought, introversion and the right nostril is connected to the left brain and activities associated with it things like extroversion and physical activity. When we are feeling unhappy we can be sure that these two Nadis are not harmonized. The purpose of Asana and other yogic practices is to awaken your pranic shakti and consciousness and create a harmonious flow between the ida and pingala nadis. Practicing yoga helps to recognise the internal and external aspects of our prana. When we can feel the internal prana it deepens our relationship with the external prana and our senses. At this time in our evolution we do not need to reject the external world of senses to find our deeper meaning, we just need to know it's Source. Knowing the changeless Source of Creation lets us overcome the fear of losing what we experience through our senses, and lets us fully enter life. It's the fear of losing that holds us back from full enjoyment of inner selves ourselves and the outer world. Now back to the beginning when we were talking about the challenges and how understanding prana can help . When the opportunity for transformation comes our way it is the mental prana or the thought process that we want to transform. Doing this will allow the new thought form to educate and heal the emotions. Emotion is actually a mental experience !!!
And the deepest Healer is recognizing that - Love Is -there is nothing that is excluded from it, ever in any moment, in any situation, in any pain, in any revelry...........It simply is everything, without beginning or ending without form yet all forms, without attraction or aversion, without freedom, without entrapment......."Love is yours in the inner hunt for Love that includes the outer enjoyment ...

by Anandashakti

In man's search for truth, the first lesson and the last is love. There must be no separation, no "I am" and "thou art not". Until man has arrived at that selfless consciousness, he cannot know life and truth.

The brain speaks through words; the heart in the glance of the eyes; and the soul through a radiance that charges the atmosphere. The phenomena of the radiance of the soul are apparent to the student of the human body. The body with its perfect mechanism loses power, magnetism, beauty, and brightness, when the soul departs from the body. This shows that the power, magnetism, beauty, and brightness belong to the soul. As the brain is the instrument of the mind, which is invisible, and the heart of flesh is the vehicle of the heart within, which is above substance, so it is the illumination of the soul, our invisible being, whose light is reflected within this physical body. When active it beams through the eyes, through the radiance of the countenance, charging the whole environment with a magnetic atmosphere.

There is an answer to every call; those who call on God, to them God comes -

There is no doubt that if an individual or a multitude believe that a teacher or a reformer will come, he will surely come to them. Similarly, in the case of those who do not believe that any teacher or reformer will come, to them he will not come. To those who expect the Teacher to be a man, a man will bring the message; to those who expect the Teacher to be a woman, a woman must deliver it. To those who call on God, God comes. To those who knock at the door of Satan, Satan answers. There is an answer to every call. There is nothing that you ask that this universe will not answer. For it is the nature of this universe to answer your soul's call. ... When a person seeks for something in the universe and he cannot find it, it is not true that it is not there. The fact is that he does not see it.

-Inayat Kahn, Sufi writings

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/obama-and-the-rise-of-sec_b_158965.html

"I TOOK THE VOW": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5Nf0USMLL4

Music and Video credits: I Took the Vow
Written by: Dave Stewart, Deepak Chopra, Django James, and Mike Bradford
Performed by: Django James, featuring Dave Stewart and Deepak Chopra
Produced by: Weapons of Mass Entertainment
Video edited by: Kori Bundi

To learn more about The Vow, click here: http://www.itakethevow.com/

January 26th Solar Eclipse: New Moon: 6 degrees of Aquarius: 02:56 AM EST
All that glitters is not gold and change is only good if it doesn't destroy the organic wisdom of nature. May our intentions be for the good of all. May our information gathering be intelligent. May we focus on the goal that takes us to the highest good.

by Julie Simmons.ca

The exact New Moon Eclipse occurs on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009 at
2:56 AM, EST (1:26 PM in Gujarat) in the I Ching hexagram
"Following". The image is thunder below or within the lake. The
association is to sudden change with regards to what we like or enjoy. It
is said that a joyous movement will gather a following. Perhaps this
refers in part to the charisma and influence that President Obama is
having on the world. The old ways seem to be changing. The majority
are happy with the change and yet many are not!
One needs to remember that these are politicians and not saints.
However a way has been set in motion, changes beneath the surface
are happening. There are very powerful mental forces at large trying to
figure out the implications and measure the consequences, especially
on the stock market. Who will win and who will lose? How much will
you gain or lose?
Unfortunately this works against the spiritual light. The more
you think and plan, the less you will trust that God is taking care of
things regardless of how we see it. How many of us are really trusting
and have faith in God? Enough to be at peace in this time of change?
Worry begets worry and closes off the heart.
In the I Ching the interpretation of this hexagram and line is
exceptionally positive. For the New Moon to be happening here, a deep
and profound happiness is touched. That this New Moon is also a Solar
Eclipse increases the intensity. Unfortunately being overly concerned
about the political movements and changes in the world, is not a
spiritual affirmation, but rather a distraction or a depletion. The challenge
becomes on this Aquarian Solar Eclipse, to cultivate the experience of
silence …. Wordless, and thoughtless silence. It is too easy to hide
behind the events of the news, and rationalize where one is. This again
is not a spiritual voice.
Eclipses are the most intensely spiritual moments of the sun moon cycle.
Deep feelings surface and try to block out or eclipse the light of our
inner being. If you move out into darkness, greater darkness will result. If
you surround yourself with weaker people or those who are up to no
good, then no goodness will come out of it. You will be challenged to
listen to your inner voice rather than the call of your senses or thoughts.
If you can silence your thoughts at the moment of an eclipse,
profound repercussions will result. If you do not, less than profound
repercussions will result. It is your choice. Can you affirm the will to
goodness and light when the darkness is strongest. Within this
darkness lies great sensitivity. --

Note: An annular solar eclipse will be visible on Jan. 26 from a wide track
that traverses the Indian Ocean and western Indonesia. A partial eclipse
will be seen within southern Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia and
Indonesia. The annular path begins at 00:06 CT and ends at 03:52 CT.
Moreover, there will be a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse on Feb. 9. (Everyone
should be careful and patient during the two weeks between the eclipses.)

Elevate Films is proud to announce the release of a new genre of film, one that will accelerate the global and inner shift we're experiencing in these historic times!
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Based on the work of Michael Bernard Beckwith (Founder of Agape International Spiritual Center and a regular on Oprah)
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May your vision become truth and your noble sprit shine. You were incarnated for just this purpose and seem like a very high Bhakta indeed ...

JAI HANUMAN!

To treat every human being as a shrine of God is to fulfill all religion.

Where is the shrine of God? It is in the heart of man. As soon as one begins to consider the feelings of another, one begins to worship God. ... There is a story of a murshid who was going with his mureeds to visit some village, and he was keeping a fast. The mureeds also had taken a vow of fasting. They arrived at the peasants' home where there was great enthusiasm and happiness and where a dinner was arranged for them. When they were invited to the table, the murshid went and sat down; but the mureeds did not dare because they had taken a vow of fasting. Yet they would never mention it to the murshid. They thought, 'Murshid is forgetful; Murshid has forgotten the vow.' After dinner was over and they went out the pupils asked, 'Did you not forget the vow of fasting?' 'No,' was the murshid's answer, 'I had not forgotten. But I preferred breaking the fast rather than the heart of that man who with all his enthusiasm had prepared the food.'
The thirst for life makes us overlook little opportunities of doing good. Every moment of life brings an opportunity for being conscious of human feeling, in prosperity, in adversity, in all conditions. It costs very little; only a little thought is necessary. ... There is no greater religion than love. God is love; and the best form of love is to be conscientious regarding the feelings of those with whom we come in contact in everyday life.

Deepak discusses secrets of happiness
http://deepakchopra.com/?p= 1444

Re. Grievances and Resentments:

Having a grievance or a resentment is like drinking poison and thinking it will kill your enemy.
Nelson Mandela (As spoken from Deepak Chopra)

Love is the Ultimate Truth at the Heart of the Universe.
Deepak Chopra

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."

~ Viktor Frankl

The inauguration horoscope of President Obama gives the Aries rising
sign, ruled by Mars, which is placed in the ninth house of divine grace and
spiritual progress. This is helpful and hopeful for courage, leadership, and
new projects. Partnerships and foreign relations are likely to flourish.
The chart, however, also shows conflicts, enemies, financial strain, health
issues, weak assets, and vulnerable domestic peace for the country during
the first term of the presidency.

Misbelief alone misleads; singlemindedness always leads to the goal. He who sincerely seeks his real purpose in life is himself sought by that purpose. As he concentrates on that search a light begins to clear his confusion, call it revelation, call it inspiration, call it what you will. It is mistrust that misleads. Sincerity leads straight to the goal.

Saturn is a planet that makes us aware of limitations in life.
Because underneath it all we are an unlimited, infinite being --
Saturn's influence tends to feel difficult to our mind, body and
ego - the very structures of limitation themselves. Through the
mind/body we only have so much time, energy, intelligence -- and
really anything else you can imagine. Pondering these
limitations, we become serious about life - we grow up. The
ultimate limitation is the death of our physical body and mind.
Ultimately that is the job of Saturn, to make us mature. We would
like to be foolish and forget unpleasantness. Especially in the
West, where we have been taught the point of life is to have as
much fun as possible, Saturn is looked at as quite a difficult energy.

AUM SHRI SHANAISWARAYE SWAHA

As with everything in reality, and in life, is all good. We are
never being punished for anything. That is a very misguided
Western notion. Karma is simply the effects of our actions. When
our actions are aligned with truths, and the willingness to
commit to facing it, the results are sweet. When our actions are
aligned with negative tendencies, those negative results also
happen.
The motion of the planets simply show which energies within us
are becoming activated and awakened. Planetary energies, and the
universe itself, is not something "out there" -- it is something
"in here". As above, so below. The universe is what formed us -
and continues to form us all the time. Understanding what those
energies are is what astronumerology shows.

Installing a New Operating System - May 11 - 16

By the consistent and progressive development of words and their
meaning through definition and context, Patanjali created a
perfect interlocking diagram of meaning that is elegant in its simplicity
and compelling by the force of its truth. As the internal diagram of
the sutras takes root, it creates within an irrefutable internal
conviction that gradually weakens the longstanding language
foundation of human suffering while gaining its own momentum
until it is - in Patanjali's words - flowing downward with the
gravitational force of viveka, carried onward to kaivalya -
freedom. In all 4 books Patanjali describes the path to Kaivalya
from various perspectives. All of these lead to viveka-khayati,
or the discerning of sattva and purusha, the difference between
the subtle changing substratum of creation and the eternal seer
who looks on unaffected and unchanged.
By sampling a choice selection of sutras from all 4 books, and
extracting the specific practices to internalize them - this
course will clarify the precise direct path to viveka-khyati
outlined by Patanjali, and consider the final stage of sustained
viveka-khyati and its relation to Ishvara-pranidhana, Patanjali's
choice as the ultimate practice.
Tuition: $650
REGISTER NOW - Accomodations limited to 6/7 people and total
registration to 15. Call 800-459-4176

"Do not get attached to worldly things and pursuits. Be in the world, but do not
let the world be in you."

- Sathya Sai Baba

Food and Water Watch: Consumers & Communities Reject Nestlé's Extraction of Water for Profit
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/01/14-15

" Always remember that our true family is the world family,the family of humankind."
~AMMA

Commentary by Hazrat Inayat Khan:

The real inclination of every life is to attain to something which can not be touched or comprehended or understood. The hidden blessing of this knowledge is the first step to perfection. Once awake to this fact, man sees there is something in life that will make him really happy and give him his heart's desire. He can say, 'Though there are many things in life which I need for the moment, and for which I shall certainly work, yet there is only that one thing, around which life centers, that will satisfy me: the spiritual attainment, the religious attainment, or, as one may even call it, the attainment of God.'

Such a one has found the key to all happiness, and has found that all the things he needs will be reached because he has the key to all. 'Seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you... Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.' This kingdom of God is the silent life; the life inseparable, eternal, self-sufficient, and all-powerful. This is the life of the wise, whatever be the name given to it; this is the life which the wise contemplate. It is the face of this life that they long to see; it is the ocean of this life that they long to swim in; as it is written: 'In Him we live and have our being.'

Sentient beings are numberless: I vow to save them.
Desires are inexhaustible: I vow to put an end to them.
The dharmas are boundless: I vow to master them.
The Buddha way is unattainable: I vow to attain it.

boddisattva vows -

Belief is like a staircase. Each step takes one higher, but when one remains standing on a certain step of the staircase one does not progress. Belief may nail the feet to the ground and keep one there ... standing on a certain spot on a staircase. As a person evolves so his belief evolves, until he comes to that stage where he harmonizes with all the different beliefs, where he is no longer against any belief. Then he is not nailed down any more; he is above all the different beliefs. Very often a person says, 'I cannot understand what God is. Can you explain God to me? But if God were to be explained He would not be God. To explain God is to dethrone God. God apart, can one explain anything fine and subtle such as gratitude, love, or devotion, in words? How much can be explained? Words are too inadequate to explain great feelings, so how can God be explained in words?

There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond the highest, the very highest heavens. This is the light that shines in your heart.

- Chandogya Upanishad

Jayati Ghosh | The Outcry Is Muted, But the Food Crisis Is Getting Worse
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/09-1

Those who rejoice in the joy of another, though at their own expense, have taken the first step towards true life. If we are pleased by giving another a good coat, which we would have liked to wear ourselves, if we enjoy that, we are on the first step. If we enjoy a beautiful thing so much that we would like to have it, and then give that joy to another, enjoying it through his experience, we are dead. That is our death. Yet, we live more than he. Our life is much vaster, deeper, greater. Giving joy and pleasure to another human being is the sign of a mature soul.

When an individual is firmly established in non-violence (ahimsa), all beings who come near him also cease to be hostile."

- Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 2.35

The transit of Mars and the Sun through Sagittarius continues.
Since that transit began we have had war break out in Israel and
escalating tensions in India and Pakistan - the embattled
governor of Illinois has decided to fight charges on principle
and his Senate nominee will face opposition, also based on
principle. On a more personal level, I continue to see more and
more arguments among people and I am also tempted into
confrontations.
However, in conjunction with these indications I've also seen
many increase their spiritual practices and disciplined course. I
hope you're one who has allowed the heat of tapas to burn your
impurities. Expect the heat of self-righteousness to continue at
least through January 13, when the sun enters Capricorn.
Hopefully, shortly thereafter we will have a peaceful resolution
in the Middle East.
Mercury has now entered Capricorn and joined Jupiter and the
North node. This Mercury and Capricorn brings some intelligence
and flexibility to the placement of debilitated Jupiter. Given
that both Jupiter and Mercury are planets of intelligence,
sharing directional strength, I see them as being able to support
each other -- yet in different ways. This debilitated Jupiter
often leads to a lack of hope. It is a situation where we may
tend to forget our teachings when we need them the most.

One thing is true: although the teacher cannot give the knowledge, he can kindle the light if the oil is in the lamp.

- by Hazrat Inayat Khan

No one can give spiritual knowledge to another, for this is something that is within every heart. What the teacher can do is to kindle the light which is hidden in the heart of the disciple. If the light is not there, it is not the fault of the teacher. There is a verse by Hafiz in which he says, 'However great be the teacher, he is helpless with the one whose heart is closed.' ...
In ancient times, the disciples of the great teachers learned by a quite different method, not an academic method or a way of study. The way was an open heart. With perfect confidence and trust they watched every attitude of the teacher, both towards friends and towards people who looked at him with contempt. They watched their teacher in times of trouble and pain, how he endured it all. They said how patient and wise he had been in discussing with those who did not understand, answering everyone gently in his own language. He showed the mother-spirit, the father-spirit, the brother-spirit, the child-spirit, the friend-spirit, forgiving kindness, an ever-tolerant nature, respect for the aged, compassion for all, the thorough understanding of human nature. This, also, the disciples learned, that no discussion or books on metaphysics can ever teach all the thoughts and philosophy that arise in the heart of man. A person may either study for a thousand years, or he may get to the source and see if he can touch the root of all wisdom and all knowledge. In the center of the emblem of the Sufis there is a heart; it is the sign that from the heart a stream rises, the stream of divine knowledge.

In Universal Astrology we see that all forces of the Universe are
benevolent and divine - leading us to greater wisdom and insight.
The only reason we perceive certain experiences as "Bad" is
because that Planetary/Universal force within us is compromised
by certain factors. This perspective is not a way to sprinkle New
Age fairy dust on people. It is a world view rooted in the
understanding that we are guided internally and externally by a
caring and loving universe. In fact we realize that we ARE the
universe, once we awaken to full consciousness. Until that time,
we struggle much like a child struggles, due to a false
perception of limitation and ignorance of Self. Yet we are always
protected and guided lovingly by the universe, whether we know it
or not. The Universe does not make mistakes and it is a testimonial to
human arrogance to think otherwise. The things that feel
unpleasant due to our ignorance, are what test and strengthen us.
The dignified view presented through Universal Astrology never
loses sight of the cosmic genius unfolding through us every
moment. Once we know the evolutionary process (called "Anchoring
Process" in Universal Astrology) we need only reconnect to that
process to taste the divine sweetness that once seemed like a
bitter swill. The inner and outer are one creating the other. To
struggle against and judge our Divine Mother (the Universe) is
the real reason we suffer and our greatest undoing.
By using the specific methods of Universal Astrology (Anchoring
Principles, Anchoring Techniques, Anchoring Process, Anchoring
Conditions and Anchoring Moments) we can assess how our limited
self is darkening / afflicting the divine energy within us and
then reorient our intention toward the divine goal. Anything less
is an abomination of spirit. Universal Astrology honors a Scientific approach to
AstroSpirituality in the same tradition as Yoga, Vedanta and
other Eastern, Mystical Sciences. Accepting the Universe as the
divine being does not reduce Astrology to a religion. It elevates
the Science to its proper place as the "Creatrix" of everything including
the freewill/karma cycle.

-by Sadasiva

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.

- Helen Keller

When you stand with your back to the sun, your shadow is before you; but when you turn and face the sun, then your shadow falls behind you.
Plato wrote that we live in a shadow world, where we confuse the shadow of ourselves with reality. This is the Nafs, the false ego, which stands in the light before God, causing, so to speak, a spiritual eclipse.... The Nafs turns us from the One to the many, enticing us with the things of this world. Then man attaches himself to one thing after another, which brings, at best, momentary satisfaction. Through his spiritual practices the Sufi learns to chain the Nafs, to perceive that it is only a shadow of reality; and finding the sun of truth within his being, looking upon it, one is no longer aware of the shadow.

in 2009 we will experience a lot of pointers to SATURN and his rashis in CAPRICORN, and need to be mindful not to add to the negative emotions and emotional patterns that prevent healing solutions and inspiration Many negative trends are happening in the world today, such as troop movements in Pakistan, war in the Middle East, worldwide economic recession, and global warming. These are not problems imposed from the outside; they all originate in the minds of men due to greed, hate, and other negative emotions.

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

LONDON, UK, October 28, 2009: An extract found in the bright yellow curry spice turmeric can kill off cancer cells, scientists have shown. The chemical — curcumin — has long been thought to have healing powers and is already being tested as a treatment for arthritis and even dementia. Now tests by a team at the Cork Cancer Research Centre show it can destroy gullet cancer cells in the lab. Cancer experts said the findings in the British Journal of Cancer could help doctors find new treatments.
Dr Sharon McKenna and her team found that curcumin started to kill cancer cells within 24 hours. The cells also began to digest themselves, after the curcumin triggered lethal cell death signals. Dr McKenna said: Scientists have known for a long time that natural compounds have the potential to treat faulty cells that have become cancerous and we suspected that curcumin might have therapeutic value. Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: This is interesting research which opens up the possibility that natural chemicals found in turmeric could be developed into new treatments for oesophageal cancer.

2009 Has some Major Astrological Events. You and yours will want to be
prepared. Consider getting a reading done. The 1/2 price discount for
astro numerology readings continues to apply throughout the month of Jan only.

Jupiter will be debilitated and with the North Node for much of
the Year - challenging our sense of hope and making us work hard

Venus will be exalted for more than 4 months yet also retrograde
- bringing a lot of creative and romantic possibilities but also
many potential upheavals.
Saturn will finally leave Leo and enter Virgo, declaring a new
cycle of comittment and the sacrifices we must make.

The Nodes will Change Signs (Gemini/Sagittarius Axis) showing a
new cycle of awakening and completing karma.

Mars will settle in Cancer, where he is debilitated, for seven
months, into 2010

As water in a fountain flows as one stream, but falls in many drops divided by time and space, so are the revelations of the one stream of truth.

In a fountain there is a big stream which flows up and then breaks into many drops. The stream is like the divine will, and the different drops like the wills in us. One drop goes higher, another lower, one falls to the left, another to the right, one goes north, another south. But the source of all this activity is one; it is one thing that turns into so many, scattering in all directions. Thus from unity there has come variety.