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Happy New Year!
The following excerpts are from the book "A Year of Living Consciously" by Gay Hendricks.
As we begin a new year, "Stand in a clear space of heartfelt appreciation - for where you are and where you've been - look forward now to where you want to go next. What heartsong hums quietly in you, waiting to be brought to full voice? What grand vision inspires you? What will call forth the excellence that will make the next year, and the next and next, a journey of ultimate fulfillment?
These questions of the heart, the mind and the spirit will be answered one breath at a time, choice by conscious choice. They will be answered as they have been by your fellow travelers on the path of conscious living for thousands of years; by opening up to the power of consciousness and love, the glorious flowers of the human heart and mind, and by committing to carry those living treasures forward into the future.
Today, focus on something - material or not - that you can give yourself to celebrate the journey that you began a year ago. Some ideas:
*a trip (short or long) to somewhere peaceful and centering
*a class you've been wanting to take (perhaps a creativity class)
*a book you've wanted to read - and the time to read it.
*A piece of jewelry or aritcle of clothing that represents your journey
*a piece of artwork that captures the conscious path you have chosen."
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In case you're wondering about the change in the newsletter:
What does "Mata Shakti Ashram" mean?
*The word "Mata" means "mother" in India. In Portugese and Spanish, the word "Mata" means wood or forest, and Mata Shakti Ashram is located in a quiet wooded setting.
*The word "Shakti" means empowerment and primordial cosmic energy. Shakti represents the dynamic forces of feminine divine energy that move through the entire universe.
*The word "Ashram" means the locus of activity for spiritual practices.
Mata Shakti Ashram will be filing for non-profit status, and is asking for your help as we determine how best to move forward. If you are interested in finding out how you can support this center of spiritual practice, contact me: hardarshan@matashaktiashram.org
I will continue to include information about special events related to my counseling practice in this newsletter, and www.sacredlistener.com will be the website focused on the psychotherapy services that I offer. Contact me for information about the new classes for The Highly Sensitive Person which will begin in February.
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Over the next 40 weeks of classes, the yoga sets and meditations will be drawn from insights from the book "The End of Karma" by Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD. This book takes the 40 parts of Japji, the sacred Sikh morning prayer, and illuminates the basic message of each. This path of inquiry is open to people of all beliefs and faith traditions! Topics for each week:
Jan. 2 & 5: "Seeing the Unseen"
Yoga for Active Bliss
Ra Ma Da Sa healing meditation
Jan. 9 & 12: "Listening"
Yoga to Master Your Domain
Ma Meditation
Jan. 16 & 19: "Deeply Listening"
Outward Bound Yoga Kriya
Meditation for the Arcline and to Realize your Power
Jan. 23 & 26: "Truth, Tranquility and Wisdom"
Yoga for a Calm and Open Heart
Evening Meditation Against Loneliness and Restlessness
Jan. 30 & Feb. 2: "Going Deeper"
Yoga to Prepare Yourself Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually
Grace of God Meditation
Mondays 11am - noon
Location: 305 Glenwood Drive, Chapel Hill, NC
Fee: $10
Thursdays 6:15 - 7:45 pm
Fee: $15 drop in or $10 per class when paying for multiples
same address and contact as above
Special Workshops
Sunday, Jan. 15, 10 am - 5 pm
"Mind and Meditation"
Learn about your three functional minds and a journaling technique to get to know yourself on a deeper level. You will practice many different versions of meditation in the Kundalini tradition: silent, and with mantra, mala meditation, gong meditation, moving meditation, and more! A delicious raw vegan lunch is included in the registration fee of $80. Please sign up before Jan. 7 to reserve your space: 919-257-7814 or hardarshan@matashaktiashram.org
This is part of the special monthly workshop series that is an opportunity to join part of our teacher training weekends. You may want to attend if you are interested in what teacher training is like, if you've already done teacher training and want to revisit some of the topics, or are just interested in the topic presented. Here's a preview of upcoming workshops:
March 12, Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm, includes lunch. "Humanology" - lifestyle aspects of yoga. Fee: $90
April 9, Sunday, 8 am - 12 pm. "Relaxation and Kundalini Yoga" with visiting instructor Dukh Niwaran Kaur. Learn to give and receive relaxation massage! Fee: $50
June 2, Friday, 6:30 - 8:30 pm. "Kirtan!" 6:30 - 8:30 pm
includes refreshments, Fee: $20
Stay tuned for more information about this workshop series.
If you are a registered yoga teacher, and need some continuing education credits, these classes have been approved by Yoga Alliance for CE credits. You will receive a certificate of completion. Please specify if you are taking any of the workshops for this purpose so I can have your certificate ready for you at the end of class!
"United State of Women" - a workshop/gathering
Perhaps you have heard about the Women's March on Washington on Saturday, January 21. If you are not able to attend physically, come and join us at the ashram that day from 1 - 3 pm. We will be uplifting one another through our own healing potential as women, with dance, poetry, and more! You will receive a special gift for attending and yogi tea and snacks will be provided. Fee is $25.
Please reserve your space by Jan. 15.
Mark Your Calendar for the next Sacred Feminine gathering:
Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017 1 - 4:30 pm
Our theme will be "Angels Among Us!" We will practice yoga, meditation, and foot massage with aromatherapy! Fee is $50
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| Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training, Level One |
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The current course is already under way, but it's not too early to begin thinking about next year's training, which will begin in September of 2017.
Consider joining us for what many have said is "The best thing I have ever done for myself, the best decision I ever made!"
Here are some photos of the beautiful training space:
when the weather is nice, we have lecture and discussion outside!
walking meditation in the heart labyrinth
enjoying graduation!
blissful meditation
Stay tuned for more info on the Level 2 training "Conscious Communication", coming in the fall of 2017! |
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Durga's Magic Closet!
The closet is making some changes, also! All yogic white clothing is now in the Free Box! All books are also free! All yogic music CDs are $5.
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Quote of the Month
During teacher training weekends, we sometimes have guest teachers that often leave us gems of wisdom. Here's the latest, from visiting teacher and musician Sat Purkh Kaur:
"Don't accept anything less than radiance!"
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Recipe of the Month
Tahini Date Fridge Fudge
Makes about 18 Fudge Squares
Ingredients:
3 oz. pitted dates
4 oz. light tahini
2 Tb. coconut oil
sea salt flakes
1 TB sesame seeds
1. Line a small baking pan with parchment paper
2. Slice one of the dates finely and set aside to decorate the top of the fudge. Place the rest of the dates in a food processor with the tahini, coconut oil and 1/8 tsp. salt flakes and blend to a smooth thick paste.
3. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and use a spatula to press down evenly.
4. Decorate the top with the date slices and a sprinkle of sesame seeds and press down gently.
5. Chill in the fridge until firm, about 30 minutes. Slice into squares and then store in fridge.
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Service Opportunity
Mata Shakti Ashram welcomes your support! How can you help?
Time and Talent: help with yard and garden maintenance, upkeep of classroom and workshop/training spaces, vegetarian raw food prep, help with social media and technology.Talk to your friends and perosnal community about Mata Shakti Ashram, for we are truly "grass roots"!
Finance/Funds: Donations of money to assist Mata Shakti Ashram pay the overhead cost for the current space, pay guest teachers, and provide some scholarships to those in need. Let us know how much you are willing to pledge monthly or yearly over the next year to 5 years, as we prepare the non-profit status. Every donation will receive a class pass to share with a friend to acquaint them with the ashram.
Thanks to Lisa Brown and Jennifer Pittman, who have already given their support!
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Sacred Listener, Transpersonal Counseling and Kundalini Yoga, Chapel Hill, NC
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