Even the most spiritual seekers experience times of aridity in their quest for the Divine.  These dry times are potent with inquiry, curiosity and possibility and inform something of the value of emptiness.

While some may experience the breath as a spiritual guide, others may see it as a practical way to come into rest & restore (activating the parasympathetic nervous system).  The practices offered in this podcast are both Divine Shovels and Secular Anchors, embodying the energy of the practitioner, while maintaining their purpose.  Cultivating practices, perhaps simply conscious breathing, supports the growth of courage, empathy & presence.  

Takeaways:

• What is spirituality and why does it matter? (Religious/Secular Spirituality)
• When do we feel disconnected/absent, spiritually?
• Practices are tools of access, embodiment & (re)discovery
• Anyone can practice
• Practices

Some of the Practices Offered in Today’s Episode:

Windhorse – Lungta 

• Ki Ki                 take your seat and feel connected to the ground
• So So              recognize the horizon line separating heaven & earth
• Ashe               crash duality, heaven & earth join together
• Lha                  universal heart of sadness – head dips, feeling the world
• Gyalo              look up, radiate goodness & joy

Tonglen/Maitri Mashup

Breathing in dark, heavy energy. (Sadness, grief, frustration, anger, etc.)

Breathing out white, light energy (healing, love, optimal outcomes for the situation, etc.)

While breathing in and out this way, we used one of the Maitri (Lovingkindness) models and took into our breath the heaviness and exhaled the lightness of:

• Someone we love
• Someone with whom we are indifferent
• Someone with whom we have a challenging relationship
• All Beings

Anecdotal Anatomy's Amazing Team:

Judith George - Editor (video & audio)

Keith Kenny - Music

Cindy Fatsis - Photography