May 2017
In this beautiful green month of freshness, my thoughts turn to the meaning of purity. Looking up the meaning of the word purity, this is what I find: "Freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, pollutes, etc. Freedom from guilt or evil; innocence. Clearness, clarity, freshness, goodness, saintliness, honesty, integrity." Purity is associated with understanding, patience, and kindness.
Let this month bring you also to a reflection on purity. How pure can your diet be? How pure can your thoughts become as you direct them in meditation? How clear and pure can your communication be? See what happens!
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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.
Group classes for The Highly Sensitive Person will be held on May 10, May 24, and June 7.
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Over the next few months 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: (Thursdays only)
May 4: "There is no End in Sight"
Yoga set to Renew your Nervous System and Build Stamina
Meditation to break through limitations
May 11: "There is so Much Karma"
Yoga for Opportunity and Green Energy
Meditation with 25th pauri of Japji
May 18: "Priceless"
Yoga for Eliminating Tension and Pain
Meditation for Blessings
May 25: "In What House"
Yoga for Removing Body Blocks
Ganpati Kriya Meditation
Location: 305 Glenwood Drive, Chapel Hill, NC
Thursdays 6:15 - 7:45 pm
Fee: $15 drop in or $10 per class when purchasing a 5 class pass.
The Monday lunchtime class has been re-visioned!
For the next two weeks, the Monday class will continue with the series entitled, "Discovering Kundalini Yoga".
On May 1 our focus will be "How to Go to Sleep at Night", including foot massage and yoga and meditations to help with sleep.
On May 8, our focus will be "Great Day in the Morning", including an energizing yoga set and meditating with the mool mantra.
This class is open to all, but will be especiallly great for those new to this practice.
The time has changed slightly: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm.
Fee is $20 drop in.
To register, contact HarDarshan: hardarshan@matashaktiashram.org or 919-257-7814
Special Group Sadhana to welcome the Spring!
Saturday, May 6
5 am - 7:30 am at the Ashram
Begin your weekend with prayer, yoga, and meditation!
A night of Kundalini Yoga Music
June 2, Friday, 6:30 - 8:30 pm. 6:30 - 8:30 pm
includes refreshments, Fee: $20
Save the date for the next Sacred Feminine gathering:
Sunday,August 6, 2017 1 - 4:30 pm
"The Summer of Love"
This summer is the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love. We are celebrating with music from the 60's, making tie dye prayer flags, practicing yoga, meditation, snacks, and each other's company!
Fee is $50
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| Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training, Level One |
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Free information meeting on Thursday, May 18 at 8 pm. Have some Yogi Tea, meet the Lead Trainer and past graduates, peruse the textbooks, and ask questions! Register with HarDarshan: hardarshan@matashaktiashram.org
The next Level One Kundalini Yoga teacher training will begin in September!
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 info on the Level 2 training "Conscious Communication", coming in the fall of 2017!
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Quote of the Month
"Stay still, be quiet, and listen to your heart. Then, when it speaks, get up and go where it takes you."
Susanna Tamaro
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Recipe of the Month
HarDarshan's Cucumber Rolls
Serves 4
Marinade
1/2 cup nama shoyu
2 TB plus 2 tsp. lemon juice
2 TB peeled and minced fresh ginger root
1 clove garlic, minced
freshly ground pepper
Cucumber Rolls
2 English cucumbers, each at least 12 inches long, peeled
1/2 avocado, peeled and julienned
1/2 carrot, peeled and julienned
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and julienned
1 small young Thai coconut, meat julienned
1 cup salad greens, torn into tiny pieces
2 TB fresh cilantro leaves, torn
2 TB peeled and finely julienned fresh ginger root
1 TB toasted sesame oil
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup alfalfa/radish sprouts
Garnish
1 TB chile infused sesame oil
2 TB alfalfa/radish sprouts
freshly ground pepper
To make the marinade: Combine the shoyu, lemon juice, ginger & garlic in a bowl and whisk to mix. Season to taste with pepper.
To make the cucumber rolls: Cut each cucumber crosswise into at least 4 inch long logs. Using a mandoline, cut the logs lengthwise into paper thin slices. Lay 4 of the slices side by side, overlapping them slightly to form a square.
Combine the avocado, carrot, bell pepper, coconut meat, lettuce, ginger, cilantro, sesame oil, and 1/4 cup of the marinade in a bowl and toss to mix. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Working with one cucumber square at a time, spoon some vegetable mixture along the bottom of each square. Top with sprouts. Roll up tightly.
Assembly: Lay summer rolls on serving plate and spoon the remaining marinade and the chile infused sesame oil around and over the rolls, sprinkling with more sprouts and freshly ground pepper.
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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, Jennifer Pittman, Lindy Hoeft, Joni Liebel, Michelle Hill, Sat Inder Kaur and Karta Purkh Singh of Kansas City's Param Tirath Ashram, Elke Dickerson, Ranpreet Kaur, and Ashleigh Jackson, who have already given their support!
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Sacred Listener, Transpersonal Counseling and Kundalini Yoga, Chapel Hill, NC
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