FROM THE HEART

[ FROM THE HEART ]

BIRTHING A PLANETARY RESET

by Alan Cohen

The world is not the same place it was just a few months ago. The pandemic and economic downturn have put humanity’s activities on pause and caused nearly everyone to make significant lifestyle changes. We are required to stay home, conduct business from our living rooms, homeschool and face family issues we have shoved under the rug for a long time. We are commanded to not touch each other or our faces. Just a short time ago no one imagined any of this would happen.

When the pandemic began, I wondered, “What good could possibly come of this?” Now some answers are obvious. For one, we are present with our families at a new depth. A friend sat on her porch and enjoyed a meaningful two-hour conversation with her 14-year-old son—an interaction that would never have happened otherwise. A Japanese woman who had a big argument with her parents before she went on a trip has returned to live with them and has made peace with them unlike ever before. A Portuguese woman, who was denied entry to England for a work visa, discovered two frail, elderly people in her apartment building who she is now cooking for and picking up their prescriptions. People are connecting with old friends and making new acquaintances from the far reaches of the globe via online video chats. We are valuing loved ones we belittled and jobs we once complained about. Meaningful moments are happening that we were too busy to enjoy.

It takes a lot to get our attention, but this event has succeeded. Let us reframe it not as a curse but as a wake-up call. Albert Einstein said, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” “What can I do to maintain my inner peace and help others?” we ask. “How can I use this experience to improve the quality of my life after the lockdown has been lifted? Who am I as I now recognize I am united with every other person on the planet in a common goal?”

and the planet far more than anxiety. Misery has enough company. The world needs people whose minds are clear, confident and connected to Higher Power. We have meditated, prayed, done yoga, sat at the feet of gurus and aligned our chakras at Sedona vortexes. Now is the time to put our training into action. Bootcamp is over. Now we must apply what we know and live the teachings instead of just talking about them, waiting for non-physical entities to save us, or hoping our kundalini will rise. It’s showtime.

The pandemic will pass and the economy will recover. But we will have experienced an event unprecedented in human history—a planetary reset. We will have reprioritized our values and recognized the preciousness of our lives and those we love. We will be glad we have jobs to go to, schools to educate our children, the ability to venture out of our homes, the exhilaration of walking in nature, and the safety to touch each other. Things we now take for granted or even complain about will reveal themselves to be blessings. Let us rise to higher and abiding appreciation for the immense good in our lives. Let us use our time and experience wisely. The beginning is near.

Alan Cohen is the author of many inspirational books including A Course in Miracles Made Easy. Join Alan for his lifechanging Holistic Life Coach Training beginning September 1, 2020. For information on this program and his books, videos, audios, online courses, retreats, and other inspirational events and materials, visit www.AlanCohen.com.

In her new book, 8Ways to DeclutterYourBrain,

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THE LUNAR WOMAN

by Shakta Kaur

Did you know that a woman is 16 times stronger, more intuitive and more powerful than a man? Did you know that a woman has 11 moon centers located in different areas of her body? That she moves to a different moon center every two and a half days? And, that she sees the world during those two and a half days through the quality of her moon center? It’s all true! Woman’s basic nature is like the Moon which waxes and wanes, while man’s basic nature is like the Sun which is continuous and constant.

THE MOON CENTER SEQUENCE

A woman’s moon center sequence begins in the womb. In fact, the moon center sequence begins just after conception. This is the subtlest cycle that any woman can experience. It contains the answers to many patterns that mystify both the Divine Feminine…and the Divine Masculine!

Often a female is labeled as emotional or unpredictable, always changing her mind, delivering the unexpected from day-today. The reality is that women have 11 moon centers that move to different areas within the body every two and a half days. These moon centers relate to different qualities and are used to process one’s environment and emotions. waxing and waning of the Moon. In the 28 days of the menstruation cycle, a woman’s moon can be found in one of the 11 different areas of the body. They are called the 11 limbs of the woman.

THE 11 MOON CENTERS

Hairline: steadiness, stability, divine clarity, reality Cheeks: unpredictability, emotional instability Lips: verbal, interactive, communicative Ear Lobes: intelligence, concern with values and ethics Back of the Neck: sensitivity, romance Breasts: divine compassion, giving (can be to the point of foolishness) Belly Button/Back: insecure, exposed, vulnerable Inner Thighs: confirmative, verifying, affirming Eyebrows: illusionary, imaginative, visionary Clitoris: external, talkative in social settings Vagina: depth, sharing in personal or cultural cycles How does the Divine Feminine use the knowledge of knowing what moon center she’s in? Well, the two and a half days when the moon is in the lips is a great day to give a public talk, teach

However, scheduling an important meeting during the two and a half days the moon is in the belly button/back would not be ideal! Those days are when the female feels most exposed, insecure and vulnerable. Schedule that important meeting during the two and a half days the moon is in the inner thighs instead! If that’s not an option, practice meditation or another technique to increase confidence, concentration and determination.

Knowing one’s moon center pattern can provide a great deal of insight into a female’s emotional ebb and flow. Once she understands her personal cycle, she’ll have a compass to align with her day-to-day feelings, responses and interactions.

A woman’s moon center sequence is unique. It will not necessarily follow the order listed above. It will not follow her siblings or her female friends’ cycles. The way the moon moves varies in each and every woman. It often takes a few months to accurately map one’s moon center sequence. Before going to sleep at night, spend 7 to 11 minutes to ask yourself, “What moon center was I in today?” Some women use a pendulum to help determine which moon center they are in. Others have their partner help them by using muscle testing. Or, partners help by simply providing plain old verbal feedback!

After a few months, a woman’s pattern should become clearer. If the moon center pattern is still not clear, there are meditations to help increase one’s sensitivity and balance the moon centers.

One of these meditations is called Kirtan Kriya. Kirtan Kriya can break any habits, complete any unfinished cycles and assist in moving through any transition or change and its accompanying emotional turmoil. Normally, Kirtan Kriya is practiced sitting in Easy or Lotus Pose. However, this version of chanting Kirtan Kriya is done lying on the stomach with the chin on the floor to balance the 11 Moon Centers.

How to practice: Lie on your stomach. Place your chin on the floor. Keep your head straight without looking left or right. Place your arms alongside your body, the palms of the hands facing upward. The eyelids are closed. Focus at the mid-point between the brows. Silently chant the mantra, Saa Taa Naa Maa. You are chanting the cycle of creation. From the infinite, Saa, comes life and individual existence, Taa. From life comes death or change, Naa. From death comes the rebirth of consciousness to the joy of the infinite through which compassion leads back to life, Maa.

The hand position changes with each syllable. On Saa, press the index finger to the thumb pad. On Taa, press the middle finger to the thumb pad. On Naa, press the ring finger to the thumb pad, and on Maa, press the little finger to the thumb pad. The fingers move throughout this meditation.

Practice Kirtan Kriya every day for 40 days to change a habit, 90 days to confirm the habit, or 120 days so that the new habit becomes who you are. Kirtan Kriya is a healing meditation for women trying to let go of past relationships. It helps in

SIXTEEN TIMES

Every human being has an aura surrounding and interpenetrating the physical body. What most people don’t know is that a woman’s aura is much thicker than that of a man. That’s because a woman’s aura has more antennae than a man’s aura. A woman’s aura has 16 times more antennae per square millimeter than a man’s aura. That’s why a woman is 16 times more intellectual, more patient and more compassionate than a man! It is all by divine construction!

However, this ‘16 times’ business is a double-edged sword—as the plus, so the minus. Yes, she is 16 times stronger and more powerful than a man. However, when she is feeling depressed or insecure she is 16 times more depressed and more insecure than any male. The female is, quite simply, 16 times harder on herself!

THE SOUL IS WITHOUT GENDER

We incarnate between Earth and the ethers for particular experiences. Sometimes we incarnate as a female and sometimes as a male. Each incarnation is designed for us to learn specific lessons. However, the soul itself is without gender. Each incarnation is comprised of different experiences that allow us to make decisions to ultimately fulfill our destiny.

It is said that the human incarnation is envied even by the angels, because of the unique opportunity humans have to make a conscious choice to be free from the cycle of birth and death. Whether embodied as the Divine Feminine or the Divine Masculine, let’s use this incarnation to utilize the Lunar nature of the female to better understand one another.

Shakta Kaur owns Kundalini Yoga in the Loop (KYL) in downtown Chicago. KYL offers 200-hour and 300-hour Kundalini Yoga Teacher Trainings. Shakta’s providing two new virtual workshops, Karma Kundalini on Mother’s Day, May 10, 2020, and Lunar Woman Solar Man on May 24, 2020. For more information, call 312-922-4699, or visit www.ShaktaKaur.com

MOTHERHOOD DURING CRISIS

by Tiffany Hinton

As our community struggles with the COVID-19 crisis, mothers are experiencing great changes as they try to find the “new normal.” This is especially true of working mothers, both those who worked outside the home and “momeprenuers” who own businesses and work from a home office. The current crisis has turned their lives upside down. They are now being asked to become an octopus, working eight fulltime jobs all at the same time. Mothers are still responsible for being a mom each day, working their full-time job, and now, they are also responsible for being a homeschool teacher or teaching assistant with kids on distance learning programs. Many are now the full-time cook, needing to prepare meals three times per day— especially if the family has food allergies or special needs. If they were not before, they are the cleaning lady, and if they are a single parent, they also take on the role of Dad. This is too much, with the expectations of what normal looked like just five weeks ago.

Mothers are putting extra stress on themselves trying to ensure it is all perfect and happening like everything is still normal. The world is not normal now. We do not leave our homes. We do not have other mom friends to talk to at work or the park. We have lost our nannies and cleaning ladies. Moms cannot expect to be 100% perfect in all of these jobs. The moms are breaking. We are breaking and when we break, what will our families do?

As women, we are strong and take on everything thrown at us with smiles on our faces. I keep telling myself, “If Eleanor Roosevelt could raise five kids while running the White House, then I got this.” The truth is I do not have this. I broke. I cried, my energy cup drained, and then I asked for help. I am grateful for my husband who realized and cared to listen. And, I am thankful for my girls who realize that I am not an octopus. I can only do one thing at a time. I am also working with my personal coach to acknowledge it cannot all be done; I need to choose what I can control and

let the rest go. If the girls do not attend school, I have decided it is their choice. And, if I wear my sweaty workout clothes all day that is ok, right? As a mom, sometimes you need to take up a journal and write—or rant—how you are feeling each day, then get a clean sheet of paper and make a list of three things to complete today.

It’s important to acknowledge that we cannot do the old normal anymore. Acknowledgment of where we are emotionally and spiritually is key during this crisis. Moms need to acknowledge themselves and what they are being asked to do. Family members need to acknowledge mom for what she is doing to support the family and home.

Conscious parenting is the second key during this crisis. Mothers can help their children by giving them the independence to try and do things on their own. The Montessori model is a great place to look for examples. Allow the children to pick out their own clothes and get ready in the morning. Release the idea the child’s hair or outfit needs to be perfect or match. Allow the child to make their own snack or make their own breakfast, as well as other things they know how to do, like help clean their room or the house with you and your spouse.

As a mother, be mindful of the words used with the children right now, as they are also experiencing separation and anxiety from “normal” life. The child’s world is not normal either. They are unable to go play with neighbors and friends. They are not on summer break and know they still have school but without the needed structure. Allow the child to communicate with their teacher and help only if you are actually needed. Many elementary students already know how to send emails. If the child decides today is not a good day for school or they want to sleep in the middle of the day, let them. Have a mindful conversation around what they are feeling and acknowledge them for their strength and smiles they bring the family. This time will change them, similar to children who lived during the Great Depression. The COVID-19 crisis will give our children a sense of independence and strength if we allow it. They can come out of this more resilient, having learned the valuable life lesson of how to operate under stress. Open communication and conversations will give the adults of tomorrow more strength.

Healthful, conscious food choices are another important key during this crisis. As many moms are now faced with cooking three meals per day, we have the ability to choose what the family is consuming. We have an opportunity to choose health for them through food. Our families need to be eating more living foods to have the energy to thrive during this crisis. Mothers can do this by keeping fresh fruit and veggies readily available for snacks, offering a fruit smoothie for breakfast (perhaps your child can make their own smoothie and be creative), and limiting the amount of processed and package food available in the house. The new food pyramid suggests we consume 50% veggies and 25% fruit. This means mothers need about six cups of veggies and four cups of fruit each day. By choosing veggies and fruit first our bodies will have increased energy and our immune system will grow stronger. Raw and living foods have the vital nutrients cells need to be healthy, aid in digestion and produce radiant skin. Children need at least four cups a day of fruit and veggies. Leverage the current over-abundance of produce at the store or through a delivery service. If you are afraid to stock up due to produce going bad, try cutting and freezing your favorites for later use. To save time in the kitchen each day, utilize meal prepping techniques or try using time-saving tools like a crock-pot for evening meals or morning oatmeal.

Mothers, we have to change. We have to choose peace during this time and break the old normal, to become stronger and create the new world our families need. This experience of being a mother living in a crisis is not unique. Women have done this for thousands of years. Open your heart and ask for guidance. We are all in this together.

Tiffany Hinton is an award-winning entrepreneur, and the author of the #1 Amazon best-sellers Gluten Free Mom Certified and Mom Certified Celebrates Heritage. She is a public speaker, professional health influencer and functional medicine coach for the gluten-free community. She is a regular speaker throughout the U.S. including the award-winning Gluten-Free and AllergenFriendly Expo (Nourished Festival) and Gluten-Free Food Allergy Festivals, where she shares resources and her brand partnerships with families throughout the nation. Contact her at tiffany@momcertified.net and visit gfmom.net.