Sage Magazine Issue 8

ISSUE 08 www.sagemagazine.net

Global Consciousness journeys with intention Visionary Artist Cameron Gray looks at the importance of the unification of a global community.

Calling All Nations the west papuan crisis

Nattali Rize of Blue King Brown speaks straight about the ongoing struggle for independence.

Sex, Drugs & Kirtan molecules & mantras

Kirtan artist Dave Stringer and Yoga workshop leader Dearblha Kelly explore the chemical side of mantras.

spirituality • healing • music • numerology • books • awareness • travel

sage magazine

WELCOME TO SAGE MAGAZINE ISSUE 8 Warmest embrace Soul Travellers to 2015 – the year of infinite possibilities and a heightened awareness of our Divine direction, devotion and desire to dream our world wide awake!

We are weaving threads of transition and powerful intention into an abundant web of wisdom, well-being and incredible self-expression like never before.

This is a conscious co-creation of empowered Beings bringing their soul Spark to the flame that is fuelling the fire of freedom; freedom to live in the Now (Kat Dawes), freedom to nurture your rebellious nature (Alana Fairchild), freedom from the fear of rejection (Tanya Allison), freedom to experience ecstatic bliss (Dave Stringer and Dearbhla Kelly), freedom to take the road less travelled (Scott Podmore, Conscious Travel), freedom to realise your potential (Thane Cooper) and freedom from oppression (Shayne Locke, West Papua).

The voice of these vocal visionaries and many more await you in this Issue….take this journey and manifest more meaning and magic into the life that you love to live, today – reach out to others with compassion and care for these are “souvenirs we never lose” as captured in the illuminating front cover artwork by Cameron Gray…Namaste.

Tanya & Shayne

CONTRIBUTORS

writeRS

Editor Tanya Allison | Sage Magazine www.sagemagazine.net

Tanya Allison | Shayne Locke | Alana Fairchild Eva Annaluna | Scott Podmore | Peter Dean Alexis Cartwright | Michelle Buchanan | Rob Flint Dave Stringer | Dearbhla Kelly| Thane Cooper Brianna Piazza | Leanne O’Neill | Raelene Byrnes Nicole Fisher | Julianna Suranyi | Sheryl Gottschall Les Pickup | Adrian Hanks | Erzsi Suranyi | Tori Rose Ayya Yeshe

Publisher and Program Manager Shayne Locke | Soul Traveller Radio www.soultravellerradio.com Digital Production Peter Campbell | My Entertainment www.thatsmyentertainment.com Cover Art Work ”Souvenirs” by Cameron Gray www. parablevisions.com

Sponsors & ADVERTISERS Peter Dean | Soul Traveller Radio | Unsigned Project Amethyst BioMat | Transference Healing | Blue Angel Earth Frequency Festival | One Space Desert Dwellers Byron Bay Blues Festival | Tanya Allison | Neon Pulse I Book U | Zen Cruises | Parable Visions | Sounds True Chobe Game Lodge | Bodhicitta Foundation

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Contents Page 2 page 4 PAge 12

Sacred Rebels

Page 4

UNITED GLOBAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Page 12

page 26 page 30 page 38 page 48

editorial Sacred Rebels United Global Consciousness Flying Free Sex, Drugs & Kirtan Crystal Children PT 2 Calling All Nations

Conscious Travel speciaL

Flying Free

Crystal Children

Page 22

SEX DRUGS & KIRTAN

Page 30

Page 38

Calling All Nations

Page 48

page 58 page 60 page 62 page 72

Conscious travel Intro Five To Thrive Soul Safari Ain’t No Mountain High Enough

page 78 page 86 page 90 page 94 page 100 page 104 page 112 page 118 page 120 page 126 Page 132

SOUL Traveller Radio I Can’t Breath SELF Realisation SOUL TV NOWISM REleasing the Light secret samadhi turtle time facing the wild winds signs of life choosing a career by the numbers Next Issue

Page 136

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sacred

rebels

ISSUE 08

alana fairchild challenges us rattle cages and ruffle feathers I have always had a non-conformist streak, descending from a long-line of female rulerbreakers. From a great grandmother who cut deals on the black market during the depression, to my grandmother who married out of her culture - causing uproar in both her family and her husband’s family - the pair of them refusing to continue with cultural traditions that did not honour men and women as equal, and even my mother who has done things her own way, gone against what her elders expected of her, with courage. It is no wonder that I arrived into this world a headstrong, independent type with a passion for doing things my own way.

is that whether or not others see what you see, or call you blind (when in fact you are just seeing differently), you trust the vision in your heart and act accordingly.

The rebel path can be hard sometimes. Every true pioneer in any field, whether it be consciousness generally, or in art, or in how you raise your children or choose to live your life, will experience loneliness. It’s part of the payoff of standing apart from the crowd, leading humanity forward with compassion, which is what sacred rebels do, in their own unique way. I find the Universe to be compassionate though and when you need kindred spirits - other rule-breakers and As I started to make my way in the world, I realised consciousness-makers like yourself - they’ll end that my rebellious, defiant streak was actually part up in your life somehow. of my spiritual survival-kit for life on this planet. If When I wrote the Sacred Rebels Oracle, I didn’t I was going to live my truth and make an offering know it was going to be about this topic. It to people beyond that which mainstream culture delivers (because what mainstream culture offers just sort of erupted out of me. I was already is rarely helpful or healthy for the soul), then I had contemplating the topic because I am researching to be willing to defy what was generally accepted. and writing a new book in my Crystal Spirituality series called Crystal Saints and Sages 777 Although some may find the notion of rebellion as Enlightenment with the Divine Power of Heaven being disrespectful or immature, a Sacred Rebel is and Earth for Blue Angel Publishing. actually deeply respectful of what truly matters to That book is about holy people that have lived or the heart, and that is a reflection of a spirituallyare still living upon the earth. Whether they are mature being, even if others may have difficulty understanding that. It is our own truths that point known as saints or wise men and women, they are all rabble-rousers, every single one of them is us in the right direction, nudging us onto our utterly defiant in their own way. They can seem unique life path. How can we find and follow our own life path if we make it conditional on gaining like naughty children at times, and yet what they are doing is helping support humanity to evolve approval from others? We’d never find ourselves in love, rather than fear. They are helping all of beyond what already is, we’d never truly grow up, spiritually speaking. There will be times when us to grow up, spiritually. I am looking forward to pulling the research together and writing that walking your truth is going to gain disapproval book because I know that any subconscious from others. expectations I have about it will undoubtedly be tipped upside down in the writing process.

It has happened during my life that most of the important steps on my journey have not been Obviously somewhere it was decided that met with approval from others. At least at first, humanity was ready for something wildly and some of the most dramatic steps I have taken in divinely rebellious now however, rather than in a my life were often considered to be foolish by those around me. But part of the rebellious nature year or so when that book will come out. Hence

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SACRED REBELS the unexpected birth of the Sacred Rebels Oracle. seems utterly terrifying! Of course living as a sacred rebel doesn’t mean these things have to happen. Often it’s quite the opposite. It is said When I think about it now, it’s funny because I thought it was going to be about living a creative that when we live our path, the heavens become gentle. Certainly it’s been my experience that life. There is still an essence of that theme trying to live a life that was most secure and running through the deck, because a creative safe according to the eyes of mainstream culture spirit is a daring spirit indeed, but the spirit of (as a lawyer, in my case) led me on a path to the deck kept fighting me on that - every time I depression, anxiety and despair. tried it pin it down as solely a deck on creativity, something wouldn’t feel quite right. Themes The rebel in me was my saviour. It couldn’t stand usually fall into place very easily for me with that feeling of being boxed into an office and writing, but in writing the Sacred Rebels Oracle, forced to work from my mind without my heart it was as though there was a refusal to be being brought into the picture. For me at least, categorised! Much like rebels themselves, who law of the human kind had to give way to law hate to be stereotyped! of the universal kind, and I found my way - or it Eventually I realised that this wasn’t a problem, it found me - through spirituality and creativity. was actually the spirit of the project was making I ended up eschewing what society held as itself known to me. And so I met the Sacred Rebel valuable in order to live what was truly valuable to me. It took time, each step taken in trust, energy. I realised the Sacred Rebel is the person and when the world didn’t end, I survived the who will live their heart truths no matter what changes within me and in my life - sometimes the cost. They are willing to do whatever they even through great loss - and no matter what feel is true, even if that means running the risk happened, I steadily grew more peaceful within of financial insecurity, loneliness, looking like my heart, and more wildly creative in my physical a damn fool, being considered weird, people life. not understanding them, or anything else that

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In a recent radio interview, it was said that I seemed ‘disgustingly at peace with myself” which led me and the interviewer to laugh uproariously.

I liked his irreverence. I could sense the rebel in him too.

When I wrote the dedication for the deck, which flowed on to the page in a matter of seconds, I felt the spirits of those that were Sacred Rebels in this world, like my kindred soul family. How I love a defiant bold heart! I could feel us all working to make a contribution to the world in our own particular ways. Here is the dedication from the Sacred Rebels Oracle that I wrote to my soul crew of divine agitators:

“This oracle is dedicated to those who aren’t afraid to rattle cages, ruffle feathers and rock boats, from a place of loving service to the spiritual evolution of humanity. May your rebellious heart beat with the power of divine grace, and may your soul thrive, as together, we create a world that is fully awakened to love” Do you recognise yourself here? Being a Sacred Rebel may seem like a huge task, and typically rebellious types aren’t afraid to dream big dreams, and hold daring visions for creating what might seem impossible to less imaginative types.

Yet part of how we gain energy and keep going, rather than burning out, is to learn how to choose our battles. For me that meant becoming more accepting of the state of the world without giving up on my desire to contribute something more spiritually-truthful and empowering to humanity.

I accepted that every situation serves love in some way (even though sometimes I’ll admit it’s nearly impossible to imagine how). I decided to not become angry if someone chose a different path or belief system to mine, even if it went against what I believed in, and instead to simply share as much of the loving energy within my heart with others as I could, in the most beautiful, creative, playful, truthful and uplifting ways as possible. If that resonated for others and could help them, then I was deeply honoured and delighted. I knew my work wouldn’t be for everyone.

Some people seemed to be scared of it, couldn’t understand it. I decided to rebel even against the boundaries of my own work and start adding some more accessible mainstream products to my catalogue for those more fear-based people who need help too. I am working on those new projects this year, whilst continuing with my spiritual work with projects like the Sacred Rebels Oracle deck, which really seem to resonate so powerfully for those already on a path of consciousness-building.

That’s part of the life of the Sacred Rebel. It is a willingness to be shown a different way to what has been, to what others have said is or is not possible.

One thing the Divine has taught me is that there is always another way. Love’s ways, of manifesting miracles of creation and healing, are truly limitless.

A Sacred Rebel is not scared of innovation or being open to new ways. We might have our moments standing before a great change and quaking in our boots as we contemplate it - but then taking the step anyway. That’s the rebellious heart in you that loves life above all, and I for one, am so grateful for your shining heart and loving life-affirming presence on this earth.

Let’s rattle cages with compassion and be generous with our love and kindness, as we live this great mysterious life journey together, thumbing our noses at convention as we go.

About the Author Alana Fairchild Alana Fairchild is a divine rebel, voice of the soul and child from the stars, who found her way to planet Earth, fell in love with nature and conversed with God through the entire process.

Her life path is dedicated to awakening the soul through the conscious and loving transmission of divine energy.

She does this through soul therapy sessions, best-selling books, meditations and oracle decks and, whenever possible, by singing and dancing. Find out more at www.alanafairchild.com

Alana Fairchild’s Sacred Rebel Oracle featuring the artwork of Autumn Skye Morrison is available now from the following online sites

become a sacred rebel. isn’t it time you rattled your cage!

CLick Here to win 1 of 6 sacred rebels oracle decks

SAGE magazine

United global consciousness

the visionary artwork of cameron gray

ISSUE 08

images Š cameron gray http://parablevisions.com

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”Silence Seekers”

ISSUE 08

”The Journey Begins”

THE NEW JOURNEY BEGINS The new year brings with it new possibilities, new opportunities and new reasons why it is more important than ever to unify as a global society. I don’t believe in borders and boundaries, we all share this planet together with each of us holding a key responsibility in nurturing and protecting it. It’s clear as we grow and progress into the next stage of our history, 2015 brings a great opportunity to set the standard for a galvanised and united global consciousness.

We’ve seen the power of the people so strongly already leading into 2015, the yearning for global unity is being voiced more strongly than ever after events in Australia, France, United States and the Middle East. People are tired of conflict, tired of racism, tired of sexism, and tired of decision makers who don’t speak the voice of the people they were elected to serve and represent.

This brings with it a great opportunity for us as individuals to have a positive influence on our immediate environment. Every individual has the ability to affect positive change onto others, people naturally gravitate towards positive energy and the energy we project onto the world around us is the energy that will mirror back at us.

Cameron Gray

SAGE magazine

ISSUE 08

”Waiting Bliss”

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”The Neverending Dreamer”

”The Knowledge of the Planets”

ISSUE 08

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”Perhaps the Dreams Are Of Soulmates”

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DEAD LETTER CIRCUS ARTWORK In 2010, Australia rock band Dead Letter Circus, known for their lyrical comment on the current state of the world, commissioned Cameron Gray to prepare album artwork for their new release, ”This is a Warning”.

Lead singer Kim Benzie said, ”The album’s basically a document of the awakening, realising that there is this structure and not being a part of it. We don’t really exist in that world, within the band. I really liked Cameron when I found him online. I just looked at his art and felt this real connection I think we did like 24 pieces of art for the 12 songs and a couple extras, as well, that we kept for posters.”

”From the Broken Grow the Saved”

ISSUE 08

SAGE magazine

”The Projection”

”Reach”

ABOUT cameron gray Cameron Gray lives and works in Melbourne, Australia. Known primarily as an emerging visionary graphic artist, Cameron has qualifications in Graphic Design, Photography, Multimedia Design, and Contemporary Arts, as well as a keen interest in new media, sculpture, jewelry making, painting, experimental video and sound design.

At the age of 21, Cameron published his first book of artwork (Parable Visions; the art of Cameron Gray) and to date has published four more books and collaborated with a range of international magazines, authors, musicians, film studios and independent publishers.

In 2010 Cameron was nominated for an ARIA Award (Australian Record Industry Association) along side Australian artists Birds of Tokyo, Angus & Julia Stone, Blue Juice, and Tame Impala in the category for Best Album Cover Art of the year for his work with Australian rock band Dead Letter Circus and Warner Music Australia.

Cameron’s work is regularly displayed in live music & arts festivals across the globe, the Museum of Computer Art in Brooklyn, New York, and his body of work has been selected for preservation by the National Library of Australia as one of the countries artists of the 21st century.

Find more of Cameron’s artwork at http://parablevisions.com.

ISSUE 08

WIN 1 of 3 exclusive cameron gray prints

enter here

”The Beauty of It All”

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Image Š Lucinda Rae http://www.facebook.com/LucindaKinch http://www.LightDivine.com

ISSUE 08

FLYING FREE FROM THE FEAR OF REJECTION by tanya allison The actual feeling of fear in our physical body is beyond discomfort, it is scary! Dread-induced fear feels like a combination of fullness and emptiness in your stomach and snakes its way to your throat like clasped hands on your neck – it is suffocating, debilitating and paralysing.

Fear of rejection appears very real – we are biologically wired with a longing to belong, this is tribal, because in ancient times to be cast from your tribe meant almost certain death! So our childhood begins with us desperately wanting the approval and acceptance of our ‘clan’ and this neediness can pretty much stay with us for our entire lifetime.

The truth is, rejection is an illusion, supporting the message of the masses – separation.

Removing the mask on human behaviour reveals the very truth of your existence – that your Core is whole and gorgeous! Yes, our behaviour can be downright ugly at times, but that is just behaviour – your ‘ego-driven-fear-propelled-response’ to situations that activate memories of hurt. Our suffering is then intensified when not only do we feel hurt, but we think something is majorly wrong with us for feeling it in the first place!

We need to feel the fear, to free it. That is the liquid gold in the learning of it all – that as we become less afraid of what we are experiencing inside – that is, less afraid of ourselves – we become less intimidated by rejection and feel more empowered to love and be love.

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I am going to get very vulnerable here and use my own ‘case history’ as an example that moving through the fear of rejection is not only possible but totally illuminating as well!

My journey is not dissimilar to that of many others; early childhood spent desperately seeking the approval and attention of my father to no avail – in my teenage years I floundered with a lack of direction and rejection in a broken home situation – transferring my neediness to men in my twenties, I experienced masses of rejection in my quest to love and be loved. Feel familiar?

My first marriage mirrored perfectly my selfdefeating thoughts that I was unlovable, realised through my ex-husband’s alcoholism. Let it be known that my negative thoughts around rejection attracted all of this to me – I just did not have the awareness at the time to recognise this (I forgive myself completely – I suggest you do the same). I can even remember one birthday thinking no-one will remember and guess what? Except for one, no-one did! But I created the whole thing – I was ignorant to the law of attraction. Our thoughts are powerful beyond belief, be careful what you ask for.

Many aspects of my doubt and mistrust continued into my second relationship and when it ended suddenly, over the phone, from a distance with no explanation, I again felt the very raw reality of rejection and terrifying fear, but my spirit was strong and I had a deep desire to be of service and find meaning for my life, so as to help others find meaning in theirs.

I had arrived at my choice point and I chose love. We all easily recognise emotionally how we don’t want to feel – but at some point we have to decide how we do want to feel and take full responsibility for creating courageous change in our thoughts, words and actions.

Rejection is necessary medicine in manifesting true magic – yes it may taste bitter and be hard to swallow but It does not mean you aren’t good enough; it just means someone else failed to notice all that you have to offer – they did not see the ‘diamonds on the inside’ and honestly, this says a whole lot more about them, than you. Your Divine essence is beautiful, powerful and absolutely worthy of the highest and greatest good that you can possibly imagine for this lifetime. There isn’t a soul on this planet that doesn’t feel a small fraction of their heart break at the awareness of rejection, but in this moment, reclaim and remember your ‘soul spark’ – all the absolute quirky and best bits of you that contribute something truly special to the planet, just because you have the courage to be unapologetically you!

So here is the Divine direction and the really important part of your beautiful new beginning you have to let your emotions fuel you, not fail you!

Let your feelings of rejection drive you, feed you, move you and inspire you to experience one totally amazing new chapter in the book of your biggest dreams; it’s a love story - a radiant romance of renewal and rebirth and you are the star.

Hindsight is a valuable tool, because as you reflect back on your life, you will often realize that many I did not recover from this hurt for quite some of the times you thought you were being rejected time and the pain was prolonged when I realised from something pretty good, you were in fact being that I not only took the end of the relationship as redirected to something unbelievably better. Let a massive rejection and affirmation that I am not go and live your life, co-create with the universe, worthy to receive love – every cellular memory because sometimes the outcomes you cannot from my past joined in the party as well! So my change, end up changing you….and this is the behaviour became super sensitive and very reactive happy ending, where miracles follow miracles and (remember, we can only have the capacity to hurt blessings never cease. others when we ourselves have been hurt) - I felt ‘filthy’ on the inside and when I aligned with my about tanya allison present life partner, for a while it was as if there were 3 energetic beings in the relationship – me, my Tanya Allison is a guided partner and my neatly packaged fear of rejection! meditation teacher and I am so blessed to be with a very beautiful man whose heart loves me completely and unconditionally and this support, coupled with my deep desire to grow and expand as a Divine Being of light, contributed to a day when I awakened to the reality that I had actually been rejecting myself all along! And I changed the way I viewed my world!

editor of Sage Magazine.

Tanya’s involvement in helping people find purpose and meaning lead to the creation of Sage Magazine, a guide for the soul traveller along the path of wisdom and understanding. For info visit www.tanyaallison.com

Sometimes The Best Medicine Is Music For The Soul

songs

of the

Radiance Sutras The First Single ”Dancing Ground” From The Stunning New Album

By Dave Stringer Donna De Lory & Joni Allen Now available from iTunes

Available From iTunes 24 February Pre-Order Now

Album of the Month Tune To Soul Traveller Radio To Hear Tracks From Elixir During February

Also Available

www.soultravellerradio.com

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SEX, DRUGS and KIRTAN

molecules and mantras

by dave stringer & dearbhla kelly

ISSUE 08

SAGE magazine

sex, drugs & kirtan Over the previous issues of Sage Magazine, we have investigated kirtan and mantras, looking into areas like Mantras and Children; the Love of Bhakti and the Rise of Conscious Music; so we were thrilled to discuss a story idea with popular kirtan artist Dave Stringer who, along with his partner Dearbhla Kelly, delve into the world of science and music during their workshops around the world.

The concept of Molecules and Mantras interested us as we hear so many stories of people’s lives that are transformed through the power of positive affirmation. What if the same power resides in the music we listen to. What if the sounds we feed our ears, not only touch our souls, but can also transform us on a molecular level.

Launching his new album with Donna DeLory this month, based on the Radiance Sutras, Dave has first hand knowledge of music’s transformative power. His partner Dearbhla is an expert in Yoga studies of Ashtanga, Forrest Yoga, Yin Yoga, Vinyasa flow, Yoga Nidra and Bhakti Yoga. Together they have developed a full study into the symbiotic relationship between mantras and molecules.

sex drugs & kirtan Kirtan, the call and response practice of chanting Sanskrit mantras, is usually associated with the devotional path of Bhakti Yoga. Experience, however, shows that it’s not necessary to know anything about the mantras or Yoga philosophy to have a deeply transformative experience at a Kirtan. Ecstatic bliss is frequently a byproduct of singing, but most people don’t think about sex and drugs - typical ways that humans pursue an ecstatic state - in the same category as chanting mantras for spiritual purposes.

Let’s break this down.

Sex is fundamentally about the search for ecstatic union, and so is Kirtan.

Interestingly, the neurological pathways that are stimulated in orgasm are also active when we experience a sense of union with the Divine. Singing together is a way we often experience this connection on a mass level; it frequently diminishes our feelings of separation from others, and enhances group cohesion and bonding.

We are always on Drugs, because our emotional lives (including our feelings of bliss and transcendence) are the surface layer of a complex Dearbhla often begins yoga workshops sharing dance of biochemicals that the body generates and her youthful experience of taking Ecstasy (MDMA) is constantly modifying. Viewed through this lens, in nightclubs in Dublin and London. She draws singing is a practice of self-medication. Regulation parallels between the ecstatic transcendence of the breath and rhythmic entrainment naturally she experienced under the influence of E and the increase the production of certain chemicals, and feeling of blissful union she discovered chanting depress the production of others. The result is a kirtan. shift in both mood and awareness.

Dave was once invited to leave an ashram after Rock & Roll and the Bhakti movement can be making the statement that Kirtan was really all equally iconoclastic and joyful; both urge people about sex, drugs and rock & roll. Given the context to rethink the relationship of the individual to the in which he made his remarks, his word choice may world. Neither Bhakti nor Rock & Roll have any use have been ill-advised, but upon deeper reflection for orthodoxy. The individual-dissolving Eastern his statement is less outlandish than it may at first tradition of Kirtan and the individual-expressing seem.

Western traditions of Rock & Roll and Jazz both We are not most people.

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”...Sex is fundamentally about the search for ecstatic union, and so is kirtan...”

Photo © Michael Longstaff

Dave Stringer playing dulcimer Photo © Michael Longstaff

SAGE magazine

arise from the same impulse toward expressing what is ecstatic and liberating and transcendent.

better living through chemistry Singing is a powerful and very effective form of pranayama (a yoga practice of conscious and regulated breathing). When we breathe deeply and regularly we stimulate the periaqueductal gray (PAG), a part of the mid-brain that releases endogenous (made in the body) drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid. From there, they diffuse to other areas of the body via an intricate system of chemical communication in the endocrine (hormone) and nervous systems.

The PAG is directly influenced by rhythmic breathing, so when we sing, we cause molecules of bliss in the form of chemicals like serotonin and dopamine and oxytocin to diffuse throughout our bodies, spreading their gospel of joy and delight. Singing Sanskrit mantras can bring about a chemical high as intoxicating as dancing to house music under the influence of ‘E’. Trippy indeed!

Enhanced physiological states like orgasm and drug highs arise from interactions of the brain,

the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the endocrine system. The ANS regulates essential functions such as heartrate, blood pressure, body temperature and digestion, and also has a role in modulating emotions. It has two parts, the arousal and quiescent systems, known respectively as the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS).

The arousal mechanism (SNS), also known as ‘fight or flight’, is the body’s response to stress, anticipation and excitement. It’s characterized by accelerated heart rate; increased levels of adrenalin; shallow, erratic breathing; increased perspiration and a heightened sense of awareness.

This aroused state can be amplified and given more meaning by the intention of the participant and the context in which it is experienced.

Quiesence (PNS) is the relaxation response – how we feel at the end of a chant or when we’re fully absorbed in something. It’s associated with both deep rest and and the process of digestion. Heart rate slows and blood pressure drops; breathing becomes slower and more even; brain waves shift from the beta-rhythm of alertness, to the alpharhythm of repose. Calming and stabilizing, we also

Dearbhla Kelly Photo © Hanumani

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often experience this as post orgasmic bliss, or the feeling of being deeply rested after yoga practice.

The hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA axis) is a complicated set of interactions between the hypothalamus (part of the limbic / emotional brain), the pituitary (master) gland and the adrenal glands. These communications take the form of a two-way feedback loop that links the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems with the endocrine (hormonal) system. The HPA axis ensures that the right chemicals (drugs) get to the right areas of the body (the immune, digestive and respiratory systems) via the orchestrations of the SNS and PNS. How we feel when either the arousal or quiescent system is dominant is a direct result of these chemicals.

then brain and body want stimulation. Under normal circumstances, the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems alternate dominance, but under certain conditions they can be triggered to operate simultaneously.

In a kirtan, as the singers continue to breathe together in a deep and measured way, the relaxing actions of the PNS continue to be sustained, even as the SNS is stimulated by the accelerating rhythms. Instead of oscillating between calm and excitement, the chanter experiences a union of both, as the PNS and SNS are concurrently firing. The effect is a kind of spiritual speedball, simultaneously tranquilizing and exhilarating.

At the moment of orgasm, we also experience maximum arousal concurrent with maximum relaxation. Given the necessity of orgasm for the species to continue, this has adaptive utility. The You may have never previously thought about what quest for connection and orgasm leads to the chanting Om Namah Shivaya has to do with the formation of relationships, the basic building body’s endocrine and nervous systems, but both blocks of society. the SNS and PNS are affected by the repetitions and rhythmic progression of Kirtan. This is why the Nature is very practical, seldom building two kirtan experience is so irreducibly visceral. Because systems when one will do. Marvelously, we use we regulate our breathing and elicit shifts in our exactly the same physiological systems when internal homeostasis when we sing, we effectively we engage in spiritual rituals as we do when we shift our inner environment. make love. Making love helps to create bonds on an individual level, and spiritual ritual helps us to Consider the arc of a typical 20-30 minute create bonds on a collective level. kirtan progression. At the beginning of a chant, participants must inhale deeply in order to sustain the long notes of a musical phrase at a slow tempo. This measured breathing stimulates the Parasympathetic Nervous System, and the chanters Indeed, a typical kirtan progression mirrors a typical lovemaking session. It oftens begins with begin to feel relaxed, entering into an expansive, an alap, an exploration of melodic theme without calm state of awareness. a clearly defined rhythm, which establishes a relaxing mood, and constitutes a kind of foreplay.

Eventually, as the singers continue to repeat At this point there’s little, if any, synchronicity the melody (usually consisting of two or three between people’s breathing in the room, and the primary phrases or motives), the rhythm begins dance towards union is just beginning. to accelerate. As the speed continues to build, a certain tension is introduced. The Sympathetic Nervous System kicks in, and participants begin to Typically the drummer then begins to establish a slow, spacious and seductive groove. As people feel a sense of anticipation and excitement as the sing along, their breathing starts to deepen and chant progresses toward a fast, pulsing peak. synchronize. The leader calls out the mantra and the melody, and the group responds; a dynamic The brain and body are constantly trying to process alternating between singing and listening. maintain equilibrium. Excitement gives way to During this period of entrainment the group begins tranquility, and when things become too slow,

how kirtan works

good sex, good kirtan

SAGE magazine

to cohere and the feeling in the room becomes noticeably relaxed.

Eventually the pulse begins to accelerate and anticipation builds. Because the group is singing as one, people’s breathing starts to synch up. This creates a feeling of unity, and as the pace increases, and people witness each other’s growing excitement, an electrifiying feeling of connection ripples through the room. You start to get high on each other’s high, just as during lovemaking, each partner’s state of arousal stimulates that of the other.

As the chant gets faster and faster, pressure and excitement build, becoming almost unbearable.

When holding this rhythm becomes unsustainable, the drummer cuts the rhythm exactly in half, opening the groove into feeling of great spaciousness and expansiveness. It’s at this point that some people shout or scream, and others feel catapulted into a feeling of timelessness and unity that is both thrilling and relaxing.

From this point of simultaneous maximal excitement and calm, the kirtan begins to wind down, slowly returning to a space of deep absorption. When the

last note rings out, many participants naturally fall into a profound silence characterized by a feeling of being incredibly present and aware, yet totally still.

During lovemaking and many ecstatic rituals like Kirtan and dancing, many people experience a softening of the boundaries between themselves and others, along with a sense of oneness with the world around them. This diminishment of feeling separate can also be observed in diminished activity in the brain’s Occipital Parietal Lobe which is thought to be responsible for our sense of self and body image; of where our body ends, and the world beyond it begins.

In Yoga philosophy, this state is referred to as Satchitananda: being, consciousness and bliss.

Vedanta describes this as the state of absorption in Brahman, the formless ground of being that gives rise to all form and is supreme consciousness itself. More poetically, the Bhakti poet Kabir wrote of the drop merging into the ocean, and the ocean simultaneously merging into the drop.

From a scientific perspective, we can say that both the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous

Photo © Ganapathy Das

Photo © Michael Longstaff

Photo © Michael Longstaff

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Systems are operating together to create a unified state encompassing both peak arousal and profound relaxation. And the brain’s executive command creates a set of conditions that dissolves the feeling of boundaries between ourselves and others.

music, science and social revolution Music has always served to facillitate the feeling of unity and sense of purpose and focus that has enabled social movements. The Bhakti movement of 15th century India introduced Kirtan and the ecstatic ritual of singing together to a mass audience. The Bhaktas wrote ecstatic love poems to the divine, and went around singing all the time. They taught mantras and spread ideas that had been previously been the exclusive knowledge of the priestly class to the common people. Their message was simple: Cultivate joy. See the divine in one another. In the eyes of Love, we are all the same. This was, and still is, a radical message, and it began the process of both upending the caste system and transmitting the ideas of Yoga philosophy to the world.

music combined the traditional and modern in new and exciting ways. They also gave young people a vehicle to ask questions about society and their role in it, transcending race, class, gender and ethnicity.

Like the Bhaktas, this cultural movement also held that the individual was linked directly to the divine, and that music was a means to liberation.

Rock and Roll provided a vehicle through which the ideas of Yoga gained entrance and traction in Western culture. Yoga teachers and philosophers and swamis began to appear regularly in the West, often in the company of musicians, and the music these musicians made also began to transmit the ideas and modalities of Yoga. The directive of Yoga has always been to inquire and experience, not to believe without question. This suited the mindset of Rock and Roll and Jazz perfectly.

The discoveries of Science have also upended and transformed culture and our relationships. Inquiring into the nature of ourselves and our universe, both the Western discipline of Science and the Eastern discipline of Yoga have arrived at the obstacles of In the Western world of the 20th century, Rock and the heart and mind. How can we transcend their Roll and Jazz also rebelled against a sclerotic system limits, live fully and thrive? Is it all just a matter of of cultural elitism, uniting the voices and traditions chemistry? Even if it is, doesn’t that deepen the of black and white people, and breaking down the mystery in unexpected new directions? Singing, we barriers between so-called high and low culture. move ourselves into a field out beyond questions As a potent voice for the expression of unity and and answers. Experiencing bliss, the heart becomes the necessity of equal rights, these new forms of unbounded in a feeling of unity, and the mind is still.

About Dave Stringer

About Dearbhla Kelly

Dave Stringer is profiled in publications worldwide as one of the most innovative artists of the new kirtan movement.

Stringer’s sound invokes the transcendent mysticism of traditional Indian instruments with the exuberant, grooveoriented sensibility of American gospel and the ringing harmonies of Appalachia. His work translates the venerable traditions of kirtan and yoga into inspiring and thoroughly modern participatory theatre, open to a multiplicity of interpretations, and accessible to all. Dave and his band tour tirelessly, giving concerts, workshops and retreats throughout North and Central America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Dearbhla Kelly is a Los Angeles-based writer and yoga teacher with a particular interest in neuroscience and philosophy. She began her academic training in Amsterdam and received degrees in philosophy in Dublin and Chicago. Her writing has been published in Yoga Journal, Huffington Post, Elephant Journal, Yoga Chicago and Origin Magazine.

Photo © Nic Frechen

And to find out more about kirtan visit Dave Stringer’s website - http://davestringer.com/

For more information on Dearbhla Kelly visit her website www. durgayoga.com Photo © Galio

SAGE magazine

Crystal children

part 2 of our crystal children special by alexis cartwright

ISSUE 08 Alexis Cartwright, of Transference Healing calls them Children of Light or Crystal Children, living among us, guiding and leading us into enlightment. “As these souls incarnate onto the planet, the world is experiencing a massive influx of higher and purer energetic frequencies. These children are anchoring light onto the planet, shifting us in consciousness and moving us toward the Light. They are breaking down our paradigms, and are transmuting pain, fear and the need for separation. They share love and light with all.

Crystal Children can be divided into three main groups and it is these groups that can give an insight and understanding into the new world that will be created at the hands of these phenominal children. As humanity awakens, the characteristics of the crystal child will become integrated into our global consciousness.

This issue Alexis Cartwright explores the practices you can implement to work with and protect your Crystal Child...

By 1999 all children born onto the planet were completely sustained by the new fifth dimensional grid. I refer to all children who have been birthed onto this planet since August 11, 1999 as Crystal Children.

This is because these children hold the template of the fifth dimensional crystalline grid. This template is etherically encoded within their DNA and heart chakra, sustaining them within one collective soul group or fifth dimensional hologram. Though they are all Crystal Children, some of them display the distinguishable attributes of Indigo and Star Children.

or opening different levels of intellectual perception and awareness. They are stubborn, sensitive, loving, courageous and very unique in nature.

These attributes are summarized below.

Indigo Children energetically respond to the way you feel and are very sensitive to the lightbeings that interact with our world. When they are manifesting ungroundedness and symptoms related to hearing, it is important that they feel your stillness, patience and love, while at the same time your strength and faith (in you, them, and the Universe). This allows them to remain balanced and to navigate the boundaries of their extrasensory perception.

crystal (star) children

crystal children

Crystal Star Children often seem disinterested in socialising. They tend to refrain from prolonged interaction with others and can often appear quite detached from the world around them. Although they are emotionally sensitive, their relationships with others tend to be founded on their spiritual and intellectual nature. If they are supported by a loving and unconditional caregiver or friend, these children can greatly excel.

While Star and Indigo children are able to attune to the knowledge and resources of the Earth and cosmos, Crystal Children hold these resources within them.

Star Children are very open in their third eye chakra and are quite clairvoyant. They have an intuitively heightened level of sensory perception, and often begin channelling at a very early age. They are very skilled at channelling information that comes from lightbeings, and from the holographic realities and dimensions that coexist with Earth.

crystal (indigo) children The term ‘Indigo Children’ refers to those born with psychic gifts, especially with regard to clairaudient and telepathic abilities. These children utilise their throat and third eye chakra in a unique way, creating

Crystal Children are more connected to their heart.

Their consciousness runs through their heart chakra, rather than their ego or solar plexus. They are therefore more emotionally open, and are more able to stay true to how they feel. Their strengths, and their vulnerabilities, are always on display. Because they live in a state of oneness with the Earth and Spirit, these children are more humanitarian in nature, and are less judgemental in their perception. They are born with a more unconditional heart.

These children are also more connected to the Earth and the crystals of the Earth. Because they run their consciousness through their heart chakra, (which is orchestrated by the crystalline core of the Earth), they have a unique attunement to the teachings of Gaia.

They energetically pick up on how others are feeling, and have a strong connection to the kingdoms of nature.

Crystal Children are highly attuned to energy and

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are impacted by it. It is important that they learn to clear and protect their energy field, either through frequency-healing procedures, or by working with crystals.

practices that support your crystal child FREQUENCY HEALING Learning how to work with energy and frequencyhealing (such as the procedures detailed in my book) will greatly benefit your Crystal Child. In fact, frequency-healing is fundamental to our evolution through the New Age. It supports your child’s overall wellness by raising your vibration and that of your home environment. This supports Crystal Children in ways we cannot comprehend. It maintains their health, as well as their emotional and mental wellness. Fundamentally, frequency-healing supports us, and our children, to embody a more enlightened way of life.

MEDITATION Meditation is another useful tool that can be used to support your CrystalChild. When we meditate, our breath and brain rhythms change, moving us from a ‘beta’ into an ‘alpha’ state of consciousness.

As we go even deeper into meditation, we enter a fourth dimensional state of consciousness, where all the boundaries of time and space no longer exist.

Meditation supports you and your Crystal Child to still the mind and to come into oneness with the planet and Universe.

or specific words are spoken to create a healing impact on the body and consciousness. They can be described as spiritual energy encased within a specific soundstructure. Mantras are known to increase energy levels, maintaining wellness and enhancing concentration. They create soothing feelings of faith and trust.

In this mantra we are using the words “I COME INTO A STATE OF ABSOLUTE BALANCE, CLARITY AND WELLNESS’’; words of a high energetic vibration.

This mantra brings stillness, and a sense of oneness and love for all life. The regular practise of this meditation will allow you to come from a place of calm, enabling you to counteract the energetic impact of overwhelming emotions and circumstances. It helps you to hold more light and create a higher vibrational environment for your Crystal Child.

This mantra should be chanted over a 5-10 minute period while in a state of relaxation or meditation.

Sit or lie in a calm, comfortable environment where you will not be disturbed. Ideally, this meditation should be practised with your eyes closed.

1. Bring your mind to your heart centre, located at the centre of your chest.

2. Clear any thoughts and feelings that continue to come through. Ask them to release to the Light.

3. Feel the tension releasing from your body and consciousness as you continue to centre into your heart chakra.

4. Feel yourself go into a deep state of inner peace.

You feel absolute stillness in your body and consciousness.

It is from this level of consciousness that realisations 5. Set the intent to bring through radiant WHITE can be made. In this state, stress, tension and LIGHT: energetic imbalances release with greater ease. The energetic shifts that occur while one is in a meditative • With intent, visualise your hands moving up state also change the frequency of the body and from the Earth and over your body. As you do so, consciousness, so the mind and body can come into a feel your body being absorbed by a crystalline state of balance. These shifts enable us to awaken and white light. Feel it washing over you. reconnect to the Higher Self.

• Now sense white light coming down from the The simple mantra practice below is a great way to heavens and cosmos. See or feel your body begin working with meditation. This is a modified being engulfed by this radiant white light. version of the Mantra Meditation in the Transference Feel it creating frequency shifts as it washes Healing® Child of Light Meditations and Affirmations throughout your whole being, creating a deep publication. It has been modified so it is more state of purification. appropriate for adults.

• Now sense the white light resonating out into the room, surrounding your body in light.

MANTRA MEDITATION Mantras are a form of meditation wherein sounds

6. Recite the following mantra slowly and with

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Image © Josephine Wall

www.josephinewall.co.uk/

heartfelt intent: ‘I come into a state of absolute balance, clarity and wellness’.

finish reciting the words in your mind. Continue to release any thoughts that come up. Maintain this stillness for about a minute.

7. Continue to repeat the mantra at a consistent tone and pitch, taking a brief pause between each 11. Slowly begin to bring yourself back into your body. As you come back into consciousness, begin recitation. moving your fingers and toes. Now make larger 8. After a few minutes, begin to lower the volume of movements with your body. When you are ready, your voice, speaking at first quietly, and then in a open your eyes. whisper. Continue to lower your volume until you are producing no sound, instead only moving your lips.

PSYCHOLOGY 9. For the last duration of the mantra, recite the words in your mind without moving your lips 10. Once you feel the meditation is complete,

Crystal Children are very sensitive to the consciousness of others and are energetically impacted by the psycho-emotional environment in

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Image © D R Walton

http://danny-walton.artistwebsites.com/index.html

which they live. If a parent, caregiver or family unit is emotionally or psychologically unbalanced, these children will be energetically affected by it. This can manifest emotional, mental and physical symptoms.

All of humanity is now being triggered to release deep genetic wounding. This wounding is the residue of painful issues from the past. As we heal these woundings can resurface, influencing our emotions and behaviour. Neurosis, dysfunction, insecurity, a lack of faith and self-worth, and an inability to trust and live our true feelings and beliefs can create an energetically dense environment. If Crystal Children are surrounded by this they will feel suppressed and constrained. They will become energetically and physically depleted, and can manifest more severe lightbody symptoms.

painful restriction our Crystal Children will respond.

clearing & protection As we work through various thoughts and feelings, their vibration and energy ripples out into our environment. Over time, dense or lower vibrational energy can accumulate in our personal space. By energetically uplifting our environment, the negative or lower vibrational energy is released into the Light.

This creates an energetically purified space that allows our body and mind to clear.

When running frequency-healing procedures (such as those detailed in my book) on ourselves or our children, it is very important to create a sacred, protected and high-frequency healing space. I refer Crystal Children are highly perceptive and intuitive.

When they are frustrated, angry, resistant, irritable or to this as ‘clearing’ or ‘templating a fifth dimensional symptomatic it is important to consider whether they space’. This process is a procedure in itself, and can be performed whenever we feel the need to purify are feeling secure in their environment. the home in support our family’s overall wellbeing.

There are various ways to clear and template a space, Most importantly, we must look at ourselves and some of which I have outlined below. ensure our energy and consciousness is running at a high vibration. We can do this by working through the issues, worries and energetic imbalances that are HIGH VIBRATIONAL SPRAYS being triggered by our own healing and awakening Misting sprays, commonly comprised of purified process. water and various essential oils, have a very remedial impact on the body and consciousness. Water is This is why it is so important that we, as adults, essential to this; it has a calming effect on the work through our own growth process, conquer our emotions, and is a basic but very effective tool that insecurities and fears, and regularly work with our can be used to clear and transmute negative energies etheric patterning. When we do this we create a into the Light. As a conductor, water also activates fifth dimensional reality for our family, supporting them to heal and grow. When we free ourselves from and assimilates the healing properties of gemstones,

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crystals and oils.

Essential oils are also very effective healing tools.

A perfect combination of essential oils can have a physical and therapeutic impact on the body and consciousness. When they are absorbed into our body through scent and touch they trigger specific responses. They have a metaphysical healing impact that supports spiritual opening.

Because each essential oil has different remedial effects, different sprays have their own purpose and impact. For example, if lavender is added to a spray it triggers feelings of tranquillity. When sprayed in our personal space it helps to protect us, to clear and uplift our environment, to activate our intuitive abilities, and to help us connect with feelings of peace and love. On a more remedial level, it is effective in treating headaches, nervousdisorders and exhaustion.

When essential oils are combined in water they create their own unique healing effects. They all, however, have a calming impact on the soul. When used to clear our environment, they ease anxiety and fears, release energetic density, and uplift our vibration and consciousness, stimulating a spiritual connection to the Universe. For energetically sensitive children, sprays are especially healing and soothing.

affirmations detailed below can be recited to your Crystal Child, supporting the maintenance of their crystalline consciousness.

• In the weeks following their birth, gently whisper into their ear, “Welcome to Earth”.

• When your child is distressed, whisper into their ear as they are sleeping, “You are home. You feel safe and nurtured by the Earth and Gaia”.

RESINS Resins, which are organic secretions from specific plants and trees, are healing extracts provided by nature. They have been used throughout history by shamans, mystery school initiates, medicine people, spiritual healers and psychic readers, and are still used today in churches, synagogues and mosques for ritual and spiritual communion.

Like essential oils, each resin has its own remedial quality. Myrrh, for instance, enhances spiritual visualisation and meditation. It releases repressed thoughts and feelings, creates a positive flow of energy in our body and environment, and clears astral energies from the Earth. It is a spiritually protective resin that can be used to heal the Earth, connect to spiritual guides, and support self-healing.

Instead of working with the element of water (like sprays), these clearing tools work with fire.

The purifying impact of fire is why candles have When I channelled the Transference Healing® Child been used for spiritual rituals throughout history. of Light procedures (for the Child of Light workshop), Because they work with this element, resins help I was guided to create a range of oils and sprays that to transmute negativity, and have a more powerful specifically work with Crystal Children. The white clearing and protection impact than sprays. lotus is the key essential oil used in these clearing and healing tools. When combined with other Burning resin is a more ritualistic or ceremonial purifying ingredients, the white lotus creates a fifth way to clear our personal space. They are therefore dimensional space for our children and supports us beneficial when we are working to clear more to heal our own inner child. intense energies from the Earth or environment, and denser energy from the body. Though incense is The Transference Healing® Child of Light made up of various resins, working with pure resin Purification Oil has a cleansing impact on the mind, has a more powerful healing impact. body and soul. When a few drops are placed into water with a small clear quartz crystal cluster, and WHEN TO USE SPRAYS AND RESINS then gently rubbed onto the skin of babies of three months of age or over, a healing impact is triggered. 1. Before you go to sleep. This uplifts the energy This oil supports children to heal genetic pain of the room to create feelings of tranquillity and and any trauma caused by the birthing process, peace, helping you to clear what is needed from while also purifying their energy and helping your unconscious in your dream state. Because them to sustain their unique, fifth dimensional sprays are gentler, they are often preferred for consciousness as they grow. Older children and this kind of clearing. adults can also use this oil when bathing. In the case of adults, it can be applied directly to the skin.

2. When you or someone with whom you share your personal space is suffering with physical Along with working with sprays and oils, the symptoms. At these times you are releasing CHILD OF LIGHT SPRAY AND OIL

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”Go into stillness...

Set the intent to bring through RADIANT WHITE LIGHT to help your crystal child ...” ”

energetic distortion from your etheric patterning.

Clearing your space aids the self-healing process.

Resins are more effective at these times.

3. When you or a family member is working on a task (such as study) that is causing depletion or producing feelings of stress. At these times, clearing your space can relax you and renew your energy. Sprays are generally preferred in these instances.

4. When you are feeling anxiety and stress. Clearing will help uplift your vibration, reenergise you, and offer you clarity. Sprays are generally preferred at these times.

5. When you are feeling mentally, emotionally or physically restricted. At these times it can feel as though you are encountering ongoing obstacles.

Shifting energy can release any blocks that are inhibiting movement, change and flow, while at the same time protecting and grounding you.

Resins are more effective at these times.

6. Before and after running frequency-healing procedures and meditation. Resins are preferred for this kind of clearing.

TEMPLATES Templates are images or geometric designs (similar to mandalas) that incorporate the energies of crystals, symbols and archetypal representations that express a specific meaning and purpose. When specific templates are placed on the wall in our living environment or healing space, it is important that we set the intent to integrate their energetic resonance and healing impact. Energy follows intent, and specific symbolic images create a flow of energy.

Templates can be very beneficial in supporting the clearing and templating of our reality, and the assimilation of enlightenment.

In Transference Healing®, we work with the Master Christ Template Set, Interdimensional Star Grid Set, Animal Magic Templates, Chiron Templates, the Angelic Grid Template, certain Ascended Master templates, the Dragon Power Grid, and the Child of Light Earth and Crystalline Grid Template, among others. More information on these templates can be found in my book.

WHITE LIGHTING White Lighting is a very effective clearing procedure that can be practised as often as you feel it

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necessary. If your Crystal Child is feeling depleted or impacted by various dynamics playing out in their life, the White Light procedure is one of the most fundamental ways you can support them. They do not need to be in the room with you when you run this procedure. At these times, visualise them in your mind’s eye before practising the procedure.

If they are in the room with you, you may perform it on them when they are lying down, or when comfortably seated.

Go into stillness. Set the intent to bring through RADIANT WHITE LIGHT. See, sense or feel crystalline, electromagnetic light coming up from the Earth and down from the heavens. See it resonate throughout your child’s whole body, purifying and unifying their body and consciousness. This procedure should take a few minutes to complete.

CRYSTAL HEALING Because of how connected they are to the grid, crystals are powerful healing tools for Crystal Children. At the most basic level, owning their very own clear quartz crystal (be it a cluster, tumble stone or wand), will help them to cultivate their energetic connection to the Universe.

When they feel drawn to a specific crystal, it is often an indication that they are working with its energy. If they are given this crystal to work with, it will support them to connect with their divine gifts and talents, and their attunement to the fifth dimensional grid. Regardless of its size, owning their very own crystal will have a resounding impact on the consciousness of your Crystal Child.

Educating them about crystals is also important.

Teach them how to look after their crystal, and how to clear it (detailed below), so its energy can remain at a high vibration. If their crystal is broken or lost, they will often feel a sense of grief, though teaching them how to give a broken crystal back to the Earth (by burying it in the soil) will help ease these feelings. When a crystal is lost, it is often an indication that we have completed working with its healing energy. Over time, they can change in

appearance, showing different flaws and prisms of colour. This is also an indication that they are working with our consciousness.

CLEANSING CRYSTALS It is important that you cleanse and reenergise your crystals once every few months. This is because crystals connect to us in consciousness, and like us, can become tired and drained. There are multiple ways you can do this: • Visualise WHITE LIGHT washing through and around the crystal while setting the intent for it to energetically clear and reenergise.

• Rinse your crystal in a bowl of water (rainwater preferred) or in the ocean. You can also leave your crystal in a bowl of natural sea salt overnight (always discard the salt after use), and then rinse it clean. Do not use hot or warm water, and do not use water or salt on soft crystals, such as selenite or angelite, as this will damage them. When in doubt, use other cleansing methods.

• Bury your crystal in the earth for a few days, before retrieving it and rinsing it clean.

• Place your crystal out in the moonlight for an evening (full moon is preferred). This creates a vibrational impact that reenergises them.

• Place your crystal in the sunlight for a few hours.

This increases its electromagnetic charge. Be careful not to expose your crystal to the midday sun when the temperature is very warm. Sunrise or sunset is the preferred time of day.

• Resin or spray your crystal when clearing the room. They love it!

• Place it on an amethyst crystal slab or in natural caves for a few hours.

Alexis Cartwright also recommends Essences for Crystal Children. To find out more about Child of Light Essences or Crystal Children visit www.transferencehealing.com

Alexis now travels extensively to teach Transference Healing®, supporting people around the world to heal themselves. She also facilitates mass healings and lightbody activations, (which can be attended in person, or as an absentee), as well as Trance Channellings, through which clients can receive an individual soul reading, alchemy healing and lightbody activation. Her dearest wish is to be of service to humanity in its journey of self-discovery, healing, mastership and ascension.

To find out more about Transference Healing, the Mystery Schools or to purchase any of Transference Healing products including Alexis’ book Beyond Doorways, visit www. transferencehealing.com

Transference Healing速 is a seventh dimensional frequency-healing and ascension process.

It initiates an alchemical healing response within the etheric/physical body so we can integrate the lightbody, raise our consciousness and live a multidimensional reality. At this vital time in human evolutionary growth Transference Healing速 is achieving profound results!

Empower yourself to self-heal through the divine technology of the Universe.

TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT WWW.TRANSFERENCEHEALING.COM

TRANSFERENCE HEALING: Australian Training Dates Join Alexis Cartwright on these special Australian training days and workshops

ONE-DAY SEMINAR: During this one-day event you will explore the mysteries of alchemy, the technology of our lightbody/ merkabah system, and the hidden dimensions of our planet and universe. Delve into the expansive teachings of Alexis’s globally-renowned publications: BEYOND DOORWAYS: The Mysteries Revealed, ANIMAL MAGIC: Earth, Mythical & Elemental Ascension Cards, and her most recently released publication, CHILD OF LIGHT: Meditations and Affirmations.

Journey through an array of healing meditations and channelled teachings. Empower yourself to create pure alchemy and ascension for the embodiment of your new, fifth dimensional body and reality.

COST: $175 pp DATES FOR ONE-DAY SEMINAR: QLD – SATURDAY 28 MARCH 2015, 10am – 5pm NSW – SATURDAY 2 MAY 2015, 10am – 5pm NSW – SATURDAY 9 MAY 2015, 10am – 5pm

LEARN TO SELF-HEAL Transference Healing® is a divinely-channelled healing and ascension modality that supports your selfmastership journey. Instructed by Alexis Cartwright, these workshops empower you to work with energy, light, elements and matter to create a deep healing response. Learn to channel the alchemical properties of matter and light to facilitate ascension in yourself and others.

NSW TRAINING DATES:

QLD TRAINING DATES:

10 – 19 April 2015 Transference Healing® Accreditation Workshops • 3-Day Fundamental Workshop • 2-Day Advanced Level Workshop (become a certified Transference Healing® practitioner) • 1-Day Teacher Training (become a certified Transference Healing® teacher)

23 – 28 May 2015 Transference Healing® Self-Empowerment Workshops Based on world-renowned publications by Alexis Cartwright • Beyond Doorways Level 1 & 2 Workshops • Animal Magic Workshop • Child of Light Workshop

13 – 19 June 2015 Transference Healing® Self-Empowerment Workshops Based on world-renowned publications by Alexis Cartwright • Beyond Doorways Level 1 & 2 Workshops • Animal Magic Workshop • Child of Light Workshop

SEE WEBSITE FOR FULL DETAILS

SAGE magazine

CALLING ALL NATIONS

nattali rize from blue king brown speaks straight about west papua with shayne locke

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SAGE magazine

RIZE OF THE MORNING STAR The struggle for independence in West Papua has become a forgotten cause for many, including the millions of Australians whose shoreline is a mere 250 kilometres from the West Papuan coast.

The stories of uncivilised natives and rumours of cannibalism have served to justify the military involvement by Indonesia and ensured that we are kept out of the conflict.

churned migration policy where they are bringing more and more Indonesians into the countr,y to the point where indigenous West Papuans have now become the minority in a small amount of time. This is due to transmigration but also due to the fact that they have killed so many indigenous people.”

“What is happening in West Papua is so horrible... so horrific that you wouldn’t think that humans It was my own ignorance that lead to a passionate are capable of doing these things to other human discussion with Nattali Rize, lead singer of reggae beings. Seriously horrendous torture and to band and conscious music champions, Blue King know this is happening on Australia’s doorstep is Brown, demonstrating that the issue, although unthinkable. Most people have never even heard of terrifyingly real, was not in the awareness of most West Papua.” people around the world.

Of course it isn’t that the media doesn’t want to “West Papua is the western half of New Guinea report on the issue. It is just that there is nothing which is being colonised oppressively and they can report on. From the beginning of the unlawfully by Indonesia. They invaded over 50 years Indonesian invasion in 1963 until now, the ago and have been keeping West Papuans very international media have been denied access oppressed. They have killed or “disappeared” over to West Papua to document the struggle. NGO’s half a million West Papuans and introduced this (”non-governmental organization” is any non-

if we pay attention to who they are rather than what we want them to be, then we will find ordinary people trying to come to terms with their place in the world.

Sarah Hewat - The Age, 2006

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profit, voluntary citizens’ group which is organized on a local, national or international level) have also been denied access to the territory.

thomas and valentine On 6 August, 2014, French journalists Valentine Bourrat and Thomas Dandois were detained in West Papua, arrested whilst doing a report for the Franco-German TV station Arte.

They knew it was near impossible to get a press visa for Papua so they decided to work without official permission, and they also knew they would be freer to move about and meet all the people they needed to talk to for their story, however the pair were caught and now they are accused of violating immigration regulations.

Until now, foreign journalists arrested in similar circumstances have been expelled within a few days, but Bourrat and Dandois have been held for nearly two months and are facing the possibility of a long trial and a sentence of up to five years in prison. #freethomasandvalentine

the lombok treaty How can this happen so close to Australia and the Australian government stand by idly? Whilst the horror and atrocity should be enough to call the foreign government to action, there is an agreement called the Lombok Treaty, signed by both Australia and Indonesia.

In 2006, Australia issued asylum to 46 West Papuans, angering the Indonesian government who withdrew their ambassador to Australia and called for a re-examination of the Australia/Indonesia relations. Under the guise of human rights the treaty was established to allow “reaffirming further the human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and relevant international human rights treaties”.

This could not be further from the truth. Article 2.3 of the treaty grants Indonesia permission to take action if anyone supports, displays, holds activities or shows any commitment to “separasi” which is a term for independence or self-determination. In

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Papua you can be jailed for 16 years just for raising “The video for the song All Nations was filmed in the West Papuan flag.

Vanuatu because West Papuans are Melanesian and Vanuatu is Melanesian and one of the only countries It took the Australian government 200 years to in the world that has always been a loud voice of say sorry for the atrocities carried out against support for their West Papuan brothers and sisters... the Australian Indigenous population, yet we are the only country to have had a representative go to allowing the same form of mass genocide to occur the UN to talk about the problem. All of the people in again for the sake of political diplomacy. the clip are really part of the movement for freedom for West Papua.”

a greater motivation...

This has not deterred Blue King Brown from taking action; if anything it has provided an even greater motivation.

“Obviously we work very closely with the West Papuan community because my backing singer is West Papuan...so we have been raising awareness for some years now. It is an issue we focus on as a band and one that we keep at the forefront of our live performance. When we talk about this issue on tour, in our concerts in Australia and Europe, most people are shocked that they have never heard of this before. Especially Australians, they are concerned they have never heard about it because it is so close. It makes them even more adamant about becoming involved.”

Blue King Brown’s well documented support for West Papua has been evident throughout their music, however their latest album Born Free brings the message to the forefront in songs like Rise and All Nations.

The passion that Nattali Rize and BKB cofounder Carlo Santone have for the West Papuan community is so strong that the message comes through as equally as loud as any journalistic report. It is time to take some action. Nattali felt so strongly she changed her surname to Rize.

“Times are changing, me as an artist and a musician, I am ever evolving and with these changing times has come a name that I am happy to carry forward into the next part of my musical journey. The spelling of Nattali comes from the first half of that word ’Natta’ being a Native American word that means Speaker, as in someone who speaks... and that resonates with me because I use my music as a voice for the people. ”The second part Rize is a strong word that also represents the intention behind the music I make in terms of trying to inspire myself and my listeners to Rize Up against all injustices and especially to Rize up and ultimately Unite in order to create and craft a new future where the people have the power...not governments, or should I say, corporations.”

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rize of the morning star

begun, and I’m grateful for it, Big Up dem freedom fighters givin’ In April 2012 Blue King Brown were joined on stage all their living, keep us thinkin’ now we’ll not by the group Rize of the Morning Star, a peaceful forget them.” non-violent movement, that aims to bring hope to the plight of West Papuans. The concert was Ignorance may be bliss however so many lives the biggest ever display of international public have been lost and many more will be taken if the support for West Papua by both groups. To be part violence doesn’t stop. Now you’re aware, don’t just of the movement, alert your community and local try and put it out of your mind. Talk about it. government or show your support visit www.rizeofthemorningstar.com.

“I’m ready for this, I wanna talk about it, ready to stand up and get heard, we have to shout “For Papuans to be seeing there are people outside about it. who hear their cries for support is really powerful.

And you’re gonna hear it, see we not gonna regret We are humbled and honoured to give our support it to them in the form of our filmclips, our support and ’cause if these times are gonna change, we’re our energy.” gonna change with it.”

It is a call to action that Blue King Brown feels we all have a responsibility to listen to, and act on, especially those with a voice in the community such as musicians.

“It is important for artists and musicians to remember that we are a reflection of our community, a voice for the voiceless. It is a responsibility for someone participating in this paradigm. We are more awake than ever, we are waking up as a species.”

To quote Blue King Brown’s song All Nations: “Dreaming of a day there’s justice under this sun looking at this movement I see that’s already

Shayne Locke is the Program Director of Soul Traveller Radio and Producer of Sage Magazine. After many years supporting Independent Music, Shayne is now taking his music passion and combining it with his own personal conviction to help bring conscious music to the world through Soul Traveller, an Internet Radio Station.

E: radio@soultravellerradio.com W: www.soultravellerradio.com

Thank you Nattali Rize for bringing this to the awareness of Sage Magazine. You are a true champion of conscious music.

Nattalie Rize is the lead singer and songwriter (alongside Carlo Santone) for Blue King Brown.

The latest album, Born Free is available now - click here.

You can also catch Blue King Brown at this year’s Bluesfest, Byron Bay, Australia.

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SAGE magazine

ISSUE 08

scott podmore presents

conscious Travel awaken your senses to a different style of travel … one that’s responsible, ethical, environmentally friendly and healing. a conscious approach to travel. sage magazine’s world of discovery just expanded.

SAGE magazine

five to thrive five experiences to nourish the soul

with scott podmore 1. the event - maui whale festival Our beautiful humpback whales stop in at Maui, Hawaii, each year and the world celebrates the fact with the 35th annual Maui Whale Festival throughout the month of February. Presented by the Pacific Whale Foundation, it’s a month-long celebration raising awareness about these mighty marine mammals and their unique ocean habitat through fun and inspirational events, including World Whale Day and the Parade of Whales. Take part in the Run & Walk For The Whales on January 31 and there’s a chance you’ll even catch the humpies breaching or tail slapping right before your very eyes.

More: mauiwhalefestival.org

2. the experience - whitsunday sup challenge Stand Up Paddling is experiencing boom time in the popularity stakes and where better to paddle than in the dreamy waters around the Whitsunday Islands off the coast of Queensland in Australia from May 1723.

This week-long event will see amateur paddlers from around the world paddle through the stunning natural backdrops of the Whitsunday Islands National Park. The adventure factor is high – start with races along the Whitsunday Islands, bring your friends and family to cheer you on as they follow the fleet of paddlers on your own sailing or motor yacht, then spend unforgettable nights under the stars as you anchor in secluded bays and unspoilt beaches.

The 74 islands of the Whitsundays lay in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, cradled by the tropical waters of the Coral Sea - a world of tropical wonder with the vibrant colours of the magnificent Great Barrier Reef and tropical rainforest providing plenty of scope for activity and adventure.

Easily accessible by air or road, the Whitsundays are located on the central eastern coast of Queensland in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

More: whitsundaysupchallenge.com

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3. the escape - mustang monument wild horse eco-resort, nevada Where the wild things are, Mustang Monument Wild Horse Eco-Resort is dedicated to giving a home to America’s threatened wild Mustang horses. The eco-resort is surrounded by 900 square miles of endless prairies, huge horizons and dramatic mountain ranges. Guests stay in ’one-of-a-kind’ hand-painted tipis or luxurious cottages and spend the days riding, learning cowboy skills, going on off-road 4x4 western safaris, archery, hiking and absorbing the gentle arts of the life of the Native Americans who live on the property. Essentially, Mustang Monument is a sustainable resort and preserve for wild horses. Luxury guest ranches and the Wild West merge as adventurers travel across the property and up the mountain to experience nature at its finest. Get your boots dirty with roping lessons, guided hikes and walking tours, horse-drawn wagon trips, paintball target practice, archery and much more.

More: mustangmonument.com

4. the feast - real food adventure, cambodia The good folk at Intrepid say to forget any resemblance to the cuisines of Vietnam, Thailand and Laos, as “Cambodia has a unique and ancient food culture that is truly exotic”. Using pepper rather than chilli to elegantly add spice, Cambodia’s unpretentious food is laden with fresh herbs, spices, rice, freshwater fish and condiments. And while there are influences from French and Thai cooking, Cambodian cuisine has a style and flavour all its own. While travelling from Phnom Penn through to Siem Reap, discover the sights, sounds and flavours of Battambang, Banteay Chhmar and Angkor Wat, and marvel at a cuisine, culture and population so awesome that you will quickly be won over for life.

More: intrepidtravel.com/cambodia/real-food-adventure-cambodia-84972

5. the journey - snow train splendour, canada Some of the most spectacular scenery in Canada can be seen by the comfort of a beautiful rail journey. In winter, The Canadian Snow Train is the perfect mobile setting as you take in all the sights from Vancouver to Jasper as the mighty Rockies come into view. Best of all, this hot deal with Flight Centre for March 31 means you can do it from $1039 per person! Top service and relaxed atmosphere on this train makes for a wonderful experience, especially when you soak up 360-degree views of the snowy landscape from the domed roof panorama car.

More: flightcentre.com.au/accommodation/canada/3405730

SAGE magazine

SOUL SAFARI the game lodge with eco-tours at heart by scott podmore

ISSUE 08

SAGE magazine

chobe game lodge There’s a game lodge with ecotours at its heart as a veteran speaks passionately about a part of Botswana luring visitors from far and wide. In fact since it’s inception in 1971 the only shooting taking place is behind the lens.

WHEN Albert Ndereki first worked at Chobe Game Lodge in 1971, beers were just 4 cents a pop and guests were expected to wear formal attire at dinner in the evening. Guests fly directly into Chobe National Park with Botswana Airways (now Air Botswana), landing at Serondela Airstrip by the Chobe River and continue to the lodge on a well-graded road. Today, he is proudly part of the first Ecotours now offered by Chobe Game Lodge.

From being born in the village of Satau in Northern Botswana to watching Richard Burton serenade Elizabeth Taylor in their private suite after their second wedding, Albert can tell you the stories of how he’s watched Botswana evolve from simple beginnings into the premier destination for safari goers around the world.

Albert talks about how challenging it was to establish Chobe Game Lodge, the first five-star lodge of its kind in Botswana.

“Things were very different then,” he says, upon reflection. “Many of the chefs, waiters, managers and

other such people came from places like Zimbabwe, South Africa and overseas because there were no trained Batswana to employ.

“You know, for the food waste at the lodge we used to dispose of it in a hole at the back of the lodge which we buried. During the Chobe River sunset cruises we used to tie reeds to fish so the guests could see the fish eagles fly down in front of them and take the floating fish.”

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SAGE magazine

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The lodge now actively works towards benefitting the environment and boosting the Chobe community.

Albert now oversees the ecotourism initiatives at Chobe Game Lodge, inviting guests to explore the lodge on an ecotour and discover what goes on behind the scenes.

During the ecotour, Albert spends time talking about the community, what he calls the most important asset at Chobe Game Lodge, and how the lodge has invested in empowering Botswana from the region.

More than 170 local youngsters have been trained and qualified through the Youth Trainee Development Programme initiated by the lodge in 2006. Eighteen of the graduates took up positions within Chobe Game Lodge while others went on to further their career in the tourism industry.

“Our company medic ’Doc B’ visits regularly to give us check-ups and provide any medicine we may need or even counselling and advice,” Albert says. “Every year when the company makes a profit our director calls us together to talk about the year and how we all worked as a team to make it successful. We also receive dividends through the company share scheme. So really for us working at Chobe Game Lodge, it is like being part of a big family community rather than just an employee.”

On the tour, Albert introduces visitors to the ecotourism projects taking place at the lodge. Food waste is now processed in a large biogas plant that produces methane for cooking gas in the staff

kitchens. Waste water is treated above ground with new technology that ensures all the grey water is safely recycled into irrigation. In fact, through processes involved in the reduction of rubbish, reusing of materials and recycling initiatives in place, less than 5% of the lodge’s waste ends up in the Kasane refuse facility.

Albert shows guests the first silent CO2 emission free electric game-drive vehicles and safari boats operating in Botswana. Travellers can now move silently through the Chobe National Park observing wildlife in their natural environment, undisturbed by the rumble of a diesel motor; a far cry from guests waiting on a boat for the Fish Eagle to be fed!

But it doesn’t stop there. There are many fascinating initiatives in place to help keep the lodge environment pristine and natural. It’s incredible to see what can be achieved with a committed approach to responsible tourism and the ecotour is certainly a refreshing look into the future of safari lodges in Africa.

Albert says: “If I think back to when I was first offered the job at Chobe Game Lodge in 1971 to what we have now, I am extremely proud and happy to be a part of this place – so much care and attention goes into every part and I really enjoy sharing this with our guests.”

Be sure to join him for an ecotour when staying at Chobe Game Lodge.

SAGE magazine

ISSUE 08

SAGE magazine

the only hunt is with a camera “Game Lodge”, the very name, can understandably jar animal lovers to the bone, especially Conscious Travel Mag readers.

But this particular African retreat clarifies it’s all about “game viewing”.

“Absolutely, no problem in helping point that out for your readers,” says the Lodge’s international trade and branding development manager James Wilson. “Botswana as a country has banned all trophy hunting (a few years ago). The Chobe Game Lodge has been a photographic safari property since it’s inception in 1972. Never hunting related.

“In fact, hunting hasn’t taken place in the region since well before the 1960s. It’s well known and a well established safari property.”

Chobe Game Lodge is part of a chain of eight luxury safari lodges who “offer spectacular game viewing opportunities that allow you to get up close and personal with some of nature’s biggest personalities. Desert and Delta Safaris owns and operates lodges in both Botswana and Namibia. These properties, located predominantly within Botswana’s famous game reserves and national parks, offer an unrivalled safari experience.”

Established in 1982, Desert & Delta Safaris’ portfolio brings together some of Botswana’s most historic and iconic lodges: Chobe Game Lodge, Chobe Savanna Lodge, Savute Safari Lodge, Camp Moremi, Camp Xakanaxa, Camp Okavango, Xugana Island Lodge and Leroo La Tau. Owing to their location, the lodges offer a diverse safari experience while providing the personalised service for which Desert & Delta Safaris is renowned. “This is, indeed, the best safari circuit in Botswana,” says Wilson.

More www.chobegamelodge.com or email enquiries@chobegamelodge.co.bw

about scott podmore

Scott Podmore is an internationally renowned travel and music writer, videographer, bestselling author and owner of October Grey Media. He is also the co-founder of Conscious Travel Mag in addition to running a multi-award winning community newspaper in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne in Australia. As well as being a regular contributor to large travel publications in print and online worldwide including Escape (News Limited, 5 million readers), Travel Talk, Flight Centre, Elite Traveler Asia and many more, he is a digital publisher, video producer and a content strategist for major companies in Australia and overseas.

His passion for travel writing and photography has taken him all throughout the world and he currently has a blockbuster book selling globally called Conversations With Mediums in which he interviewed some of the world’s most famous mediums including John Edward, James Van Praagh, Lisa Williams among others.

You can follow Scott on Twitter and Instagram @scottpodmore

ISSUE 08

ANGOLA ANGOLA

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SAGE magazine

AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH the women of sapa by brianna piazza

ISSUE 08

SAGE magazine

Sapa is famous for its picturesque mountains, terraced rice paddies and colourful Hmong women. But something is different here. As a small group of tourists discovered, there’s much more to the women of Sapa than meets the eye and a lazy tenner can make all the difference.

leaned over their table and asked if they could share any tips about surviving Sapa. “Sapa is the most amazing place and the scenery is beautiful,” one of the Canadian women told us. “But the local women are pests!”

Sapa is a charming mountain town in the far north of Vietnam. Not far over the surrounding mountains is China to the north and Laos to the west.

She went on to warn us not to buy anything from the local Hmong women in Sapa or our peaceful trek would be ruined with women continually pestering us to buy their junk and trying to rip us off.

The irresistible lure of Sapa is the country’s breathtaking scenery and the chance to learn about the region’s colourful hill tribes. Yet many tourists still return home unaware of the plight of the women who inhabit this magnificent countryside.

Keeping her advice in the back of our minds, we arrived at the Lao Cai train station, 40km from Sapa, in the early hours of the morning a couple of days later. A mini van picked up our group two Australian girls, two Spanish friends, a Polish couple, and a Scotsman.

I was fortunate to spend some time trekking through the beautiful region. I’m also fortunate to have walked away from Sapa with a valuable lesson – one I still carry with me every time I step off a plane and into a new country.

After a bumpy ride through the morning mist covering the mountains and valley below us, our mini van pulled up at a quaint hotel where we were to wait for our tour guide.

It all began the day before my friend and I left on our overnight train to Sapa. We were sitting in a small restaurant in the 1000-year-old Historical Quarter of Hanoi city when we overheard four Canadian tourists speaking negatively of their recent trip to Sapa.

Concerned about what they were saying, we

That was when we had our first encounter with the Hmong women. Dressed in their traditional, colourful, patterned clothes, they surrounded our van like a swarm of flies. Despite our driver beeping his horn to get the women to move out of the way so we could exit the van, their excited, curious eyes still peeked in at us through the windows. Some women were tapping on the windows, holding up their handmade scarves and

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jewellery in hope of a sale.

I glanced at my friend sitting in the back of the van and sunk into my seat. This was not my idea of a peaceful trek in the countryside.

A couple of hours passed at the hotel before our guide, Zi, arrived. During this time about 15 local women watched us through the windows at the front of the hotel, patiently waiting to pounce as soon as we left the building. We quickly learned to ignore them.

After taking a single step out the hotel’s door, the women crowded around our group and followed us through the entire town. They were persistent, trying to sell us handmade souvenirs such as scarves, bandanas and jewellery. Many of us - me included - ignored them as they asked our names, our age, and whether we had any brothers - the only English they seemed to know. Those tourists who were kind enough to respond ended up answering those questions constantly throughout the trek. It was all about keeping us engaged.

We reached the end of the township and started heading down a steep mountainside, assuming the Hmong women would head back into the centre of the town and leave us alone. To our surprise, the women – some elderly – followed us up and down the mountains, through the muddy, rocky terrain.

Some of the younger women, dressed from head

to toe in heavy layers of their traditional clothing, had babies strapped to their backs. Those without babies carried their belongings in a large, weaved basket strapped to their backs.

The Hmong women divided themselves among all the tourists, offering to hold our hands for support as we hiked up and down the mountains.

I suspected the women would expect money at the end of the hike for helping us so each time a woman offered to assist me I refused. There was no way that I, a backpacker with a strict budget that needed to last my entire trip, would be tricked into feeling obliged to give anyone money for something I never asked for.

It frustrated me that every time we stopped for a rest the local women would take their materials out of the baskets and start weaving bracelets, bags and other hand-made items. As soon as they caught us looking in their direction for a split second, they insisted we buy what they were holding in their hands. Despite their persistence, nobody gave those women a cent on the first day of the trek.

However, that night, during a conversation with our young guide, Zi, our attitudes towards these ‘pests’ changed dramatically.

Zi was from one of the indigenous Hmong village

SAGE magazine

communities just outside of Sapa, yet her strong English language skills meant she could find employment as a tour guide, unlike many other women in the villages surrounding Sapa. Selling souvenirs to tourists on the street was one of the few ways these women could earn a living and Zi said they only started following tourists on treks after police cracked down on illegal street trade in Sapa. She said local women feared beatings from police if they were caught selling to tourists on the streets. So hiking through the mountains, away from the scrutinising eyes of police in the town, was a safer way for the women to do business.

As we kept talking, it dawned on me that life in this part of the world could be very cruel to women. Zi revealed how many husbands beat their wives who fail to bring home enough money from tourists.

While I don’t doubt that occurs, it’s also important that we recognise this doesn’t apply to all men in the village.

However, what unsettled me the most were the stories of the abductions that regularly occur in the area. Zi, who was only 18, said two or three young women go missing every year from her village alone, never to be seen or heard from again.

One night Zi’s aunty went missing. Nobody has heard from her in years. Zi suspects her aunty was abducted, illegally trafficked to China and sold into marriage with a Chinese man. Stories like these aren’t uncommon and that’s been happening for years.

They are some of the 2.4 million human trafficking victims across the world at any given time,

according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Poor, uneducated, rural women, like the ones living in the villages outside of Sapa, are prime targets for this horrific trade.

We looked at each other completely shocked. Until now, I had failed to see the women as anything more than nuisances spoiling my holiday. I felt extremely guilty for previously ignoring the women and couldn’t begin to imagine how other annoyed tourists may have treated these women over the years.

The next day our group sat down for lunch after hours of hiking. The Hmong women hovered around us, shoving hand made bracelets, bandanas and small, traditional instruments in our faces, just as they had done the day before.

None of us had bought a single thing from the women … until lunchtime when somebody finally said ‘yes’.

It was a sudden frenzy, the women immediately buzzing around us. We all ended up buying something – and I wanted to somehow make up for all the glares and the rude behaviour.

If you ever find yourself in Sapa, you’ll notice that once you buy from one woman then her friend will rush over and try to persuade you to also buy something from her. The next will do the same, and so on. It took about an hour of continually repeating “no more” until the women were satisfied and left us alone.

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I had bought a pink bandana from one of the women for about 200,000 VND (about $AU10).

Proud of my purchase, I showed my new bandana to my friend but was met with shock.

“You paid that much!” she exclaimed. “I have the exact same thing as you and I only paid 50,000!”

Needless to say, I was angry and annoyed. I had felt that the Hmong woman who sold it to me had taken advantage of me when I had been so trusting.

Later, I looked over at the women while I was eating lunch. There they were, huddled together in a circle, excitedly dividing the money between them. I couldn’t help but admire that in a community where there is little money, the women shared their earnings with each other. I was truly inspired.

Then it dawned on me – what does $10 really mean to me? A few coffees, perhaps. What would that money mean to women who were trying to provide for their families? So much more. It was probably the best $10 that I had ever spent.

I was one of those travellers who had a negative view of street sellers in developing countries but these ordinary women from the mountains in Vietnam’s north taught us to open our minds, to look beyond the first impression and not treat street-sellers as inferior, simply because they irritate us.

Like anybody, they face hardship – probably more than their fair share – but I still think we shouldn’t

pity these women. Instead, we should admire them for their resilience. Besides, how many of us know what it’s like to hike up and down mountains for several kilometres each day, dealing with unpleasant tourists for the sake of earning a few dollars?

Yes, pushy street sellers can be extremely annoying when you’re holidaying around Asia. That won’t change but I’m simply suggesting that when we travel we put ourselves in their shoes. You may even be surprised at how much more you learn about yourself and the world during your travels.

If pestering tourists for money was your best chance at a better life for your family and community, wouldn’t you do it? I know I probably would. *originally published by website www.ourworldtoday.com.au (not-for-profit) Brianna Piazza is a journalist, travel writer and videographer, currently working for SBS Radio and a suburban newspaper in Victoria, Australia.

Working as a freelance journalist in South America sparked Brianna’s interest in travel writing - particularly conscious travel. She has since had a passion for seeking out and writing about travel destinations which are relatively unknown to mainstream tourists.

Visit Brianna’s website www.briannapiazza.com or follow her on Twitter @BriannaPiazza

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ISSUE 08

Soul Traveller Radio all conscious music NatTALI RIZE OF BLUE KING BROWN 2015 is destined to be a huge year for Nattali Rize of Blue King Brown. A new band album, Born Free, a tour and a second album, this time a solo effort slated for the coming months. Having a chat with Natalie in an episode of Unsigned Project Conscious Edition on Soul Traveller Radio was like having the spirit of Marley decend upon us.

The same consciousness.

Like Marley, Nattali’s passion for freedom and justice is a driving force in all she does both musically and personally. She is just as at home talking about the West Papuan crisis as she is talking about oneness, love and unity. ”It is important to me as a living being...musicians have a responsibility...we are a reflection of our community. We are more awake than ever so we need to use the platform we have been given...be a voice for the voiceless.”

Thanks to Blue King Brown you can stream Born Free for free here.

SAGE magazine

Soul Traveller Radio WOODFORD wrap-up

bunna lawrie

OF coloured stone

ISSUE 08

Soul Traveller Radio WOODFORD wrap-up

One thing is certain about Woodford, the day passes so quickly regardless of heat or pelting rain. 1400 artists, exhibitors, food and most importantly the happiest crowd of tens of thousands of people you will ever see in one place. The vibe is so infectious that it leaves you wanting more.

2014 Woodford was a week of incredible performances from so many conscious artists, however three events left us wanting more, the amazing blues sounds of Matt Andersen, the infectious Fantuzzi (check out his article on the next page) and the Four Sacred Fires Ceremony lead by Bunna Lawrie of Coloured Stone and The Whaledreamers. �Last time that was performed was 80 years ago by my grandfather.

The Four Sacred Fires welcome the dance of life and creation. In times of war it was used by tribes as a sign to come together for initiation and ceremony, to put aside our differences.�

As the smoke from the fires dissipated, one cloud remained above the crowd in the form of a whale. A fitting symbol for the new year being ushered in by a Mirning tribe (whale tribe) elder. And an indigenous blessing on all present for the coming year.

SAGE magazine

Soul Traveller Radio Woodford wrap-up

FANTUZZI The peaceful warrior One thing you can count on with Fantuzzi, no two meetings will be the same, but you are always guaranteed to walk away with a silly grin brought on by Fantuzzi’s infectious zest for life.

Fantuzzi is a man on a mission from God...without Jake and Elroy...just him and his ”Flexibles” band (made up from musicians from wherever he is performing) spreading ease and grace around the world. The beauty about Fantuzzi is his enthusiasm is so catchy that you almost want to learn to play an instrument just to join in.

Ram Das, Fantuzzi has always been in the middle of crucial moments in history that have brought about change. ”I was in a room with a bunch of people, Jai Uttal, Krishna Das, all the ones who brought kirtan over from India and introduced it to the west at the moment it all happened. Call it sychronicity. I am blessed to be involved at points when we can get our message of love out. Music isn’t just the message. Music is love.”

More recently Fantuzzi was invited to participate We caught up with Fantuzzi after Woodford where in Occupy Wall Street. ”...so I went, but not to his admiration for the festival was so high that he demonstrate in a march. There we were right felt it was one of the world’s best festivals. in the middle of it meditating with 500 people around thinking they were watching us when in ”1400 artists, tens of thousands of guests and at fact they were meditating too.” the end there was hardly one bit of rubbish lying around....we are a family, We’ve got to look out for Fantuzzi has that affect. He makes you stop and each other and especially our Mother Earth.” listen. The next moment you are singing along with his simple message and dancing to his afroFantuzzi is no stranger to history-making festivals. funk latin tunes.

He was one of the early pioneers of the Rainbow Spirit Festivals which is now held in over 30 It was a pleasure to speak with Fantuzzi during an countries and variations in many more. interview that you can hear this month on Soul Traveller Radio, however interview is a bit too He is also the poster child of Woodstock...literally. formal for this peaceful warrior. A chat on our In 1994 Fantuzzi graced the cover of Newsweek back veranda with the rain pouring down and kids dancing on his knees with a young Joan Bryant laughing in the background. ”...the rain...such a wearing nothing but a loincloth in a photo blessing. We need the rain on all levels. For our originally taken for Life Magazine during the land and for ourselves.” concert. ”The Hopi Prophecy says that a new warrior will ”It was a life changing experience. There were be born when the earth is dying. They will be 100,000 tickets sold and 400,000 extra people known as the warrior of the rainbow. The peaceful showed up at the festival. It was the time of peace warrior.” and love...a generation waking up and asking the question why?”

Find out more about Fantuzzi and his latest This was just the start of the journey that has album called ”Ease and taken Fantuzzi to every corner of the globe, Grace” at his website performing with some of music’s most respected www.fantuzzimusic.com and passionate artists like Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Billy Preston, Krishna Das and Michael Franti.

A personal friend of the late Timothy Leary and

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Soul Traveller Radio Woodford wrap-up

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10 year anniversary, 13-16 FEBRUARY, 2015 Temple of Youth, Soul Traveller Radio and Sage Magazine are very proud to be supporting this years Earth Frequency Festival 13th 16th February, located at the beautiful Ivory’s Rock, South East QLD ,Australia.

IVORY’s ROCK PROUDLY supportED BY

Earth Frequency is a 4 day camping; music, arts, lifestyle and eco festival featuring amazing local and international musicians, performers & artists, workshops, market stalls, frequency village and kids space.

Earth Frequency Festival began as Earth Freq in 2005, a small landcare based outdoor party in S.E.QLD, with around 300 people attending. It was one in a series of grass roots ’landcare doofs’ happening in various private locations in the beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland, with the combination of earth loving activism and electronic music making for a fun and productive community weekend gathering.

At the outset, there was no intention of making Earth Freq a big scale multi-day festival, but there was a certain spark and a special vibe that came together from the first Earth Freq, and after a few years of existing in this smaller format, the attendance started to rise and it became clear that Earth Freq was evolving in to something well beyond its original form.

Over the past 10 years, EFF has grown and evolved year to year, to become a 4 day multi-faceted celebration of music, arts, culture and community, and a unique event in the Australian festival calendar.

Earth Frequency Co-ordinator Paul Abud said ”It’s been an epic journey watching the festival find its current form from humble beginnings. 10 years is no small achievement in the ever-changing landscape of the festival industry.” ”We believe that a festival should be equally an expression of, and a catalyst for a community. We are honoured and blessed to have gone on this journey with a growing core team of dedicated individuals working on the event year to year, an expanding creative program touching on a diverse range of unique music and art forms, and a widening circle of people coming along to enjoy the festival year to year. As much as a festival is the flowering of communal creativity, it is also the seeding - new ideas, new inspiration, new experiences, new creativity, new networks.”

This year’s lineup includes US electronic outfit Beats Antique, the sound alchemists Desert Dwellers, the one man sound machine Dub FX, tribal conscious story teller Deya Dova and the world-infused electro-groove of Tijuana Cartel. With over 100 live bands, DJ’s and live electronic outfits, Earth Frequncy is a 4 day mix of music that will satisfy all tastes and push the boundaries.

Keep an open heart and through the weekend you’ll be sure to catch some amazing vibrations from right across the broad spectrum of the human experience!. To buy your tickets head to www.earthfrequency.com.au

SAGE magazine

I CAN’t BREATH #allofusareblood

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the new social campaign starting the conversation about awareness, justice & change on a global scale www.oneness.org

SAGE magazine

the power of oneness Founded in 1999, Oneness is a non-profit organization whose mission is the elimination of racism and the promotion of racial unity through music, the arts and education.

In 2015, Oneness is expanding its core membership and planning a series of projects throughout the year. The first is a social campaign and album project beginning with a powerful new song that musically translates the most iconic, poignant phrase of recent times: ‘I Can’t Breathe.’

The campaign, called #AllOfUsAreBlood, goes to the heart of what Oneness is all about and includes educational as well as artistic elements which will be rolled out over the coming months.

the origin of oneness In its early days, Oneness held two “Power of Oneness Awards” events recognizing individuals whose life and work have fostered meaningful change in the area of race relations. Winners include people such as Edward James Olmos, Michael Jackson, Nancy Miller and a special posthumous recognition of the work completed

by Jim Henson.

A series of Oneness Songwriters’ Summits were held

KC PORTER One of the founders of Oneness is a grammy winning producer known for his work with Carlos Santana, Ricky Martin, Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan, and Brian McKnight.

A member of the Ba’hai faith, Porter has dedicated his work to the cause of creating opportunities for change through the creative direction of Oneness.

As someone who has made his mark by helping artists and music lovers connect and communicate across cultural boundaries, KC Porter deeply understands both the beauty of all our differences and the spirit and power of uniting them in Oneness.

with over 50 producer/songwriters at one-day events in Los Angeles to create songs of social justice, racial unity and change. These events also included music mentoring sessions with up & coming artists teaming with veteran songwriters to create meaningful compositions that speak to the most important issues facing our communities relating to race.

Another major highlight was Project One, a collaboration with the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, in which music industry panels on music and social change attracted song submissions from youth artists. This resulted in the formation of The Bricks, a recording, performing band representing high school kids from all walks of life, who created an entire album of original compositions dealing with various issues. Several of these youth also received full scholarships to the LA Music Academy through the initiative.

Oneness continues its work — via educational outreach, awareness campaigns and collaborative initiatives — to make positive change in the area of race-relations with the aid of supporters including Carlos Santana, Quincy Jones, Ricky Martin, Macy Gray, Sarah McLachlan, Common, Brian McKnight, David Foster, Jimmy Jam & many others.

Soul Traveller Radio and Sage Magazine are proud to support the work of Oneness, creating a positive culture and encouraging conscious music.

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all of us are blood In the final weeks of 2014, a group of musicians including JB Eckl and Eric Dozier (Moanin’ Sons), as well as Lonnie Jordan of the legendary funk band WAR, joined forces with Grammy-winning producer KC Porter to record a new composition, ‘I Can’t Breathe,’ in response to racial injustices in the USA, including the recent deaths of people of color at the hands of law enforcement.

JB Eckl said that “The session was magical. I was surrounded by many of my best friends, playing this new song I had written only a few days earlier… everyone believed in what we were there to do and played from the heart. The cherry on top was looking over and seeing Lonnie Jordan, my old boss from the road, playing the Hammond B3 as only he can. I hope the song starts some conversations and inspires some reflection around this issue. Music has always been a huge part of social change in America; it got us through some rough periods in the past. It can do the same today.”

Oneness is proud to present #AllOfUsAreBlood, a social awareness campaign and ongoing album project for 2015.

Starting with the song ‘I Can’t Breathe’, Oneness will be facilitating the production of a series of songs of social change and awareness around the issue of racial healing and unity, featuring an array of top-level

songwriting, performing and producing talent. What makes this project unique is YOUR involvement: in addition to sharing this music and message with your friends, you can PARTICIPATE by sharing your own experience of the essential truth that ‘all of us are blood.’

Using your favorite social media sites, simply post one of your personal stories, photos, memories, artworks, quotes – anything that expresses the realizations, obstacles or breakthroughs you have experienced on this vital, sometimes painful journey towards race unity. This simple, authentic sharing – in whatever way seems authentic to you – is as important now as ever before, in a world that seems determined to keep us apart.

Always include the hashtag #AllOfUsAreBlood at the top of your post, and Oneness.org will find, collect and curate your posts to inspire our growing coalition of musicians, songwriters, filmmakers and producers as they create the next songs and videos for the project.

Posts that receive the most shares, Likes, retweets, etc. will be prominently featured on oneness.org and our own social sites.

Thank you for being part of the Oneness family. Let’s start the conversation. Download ”I Can’t Breath” here.

THE MOANIN Sons

Two of the industry’s finest songwriters have joined forces to re-ignite the flame of Oneness with the release of the new song ”I Can’t Breathe”. Inspired by the current deaths in custody in the US, JB Eckl (of Santana & WAR fame) along with Eric Dozier (former director of Harlem Gospel Choir) enlisted the help of producer, KC Porter and the vocal talents of Lonnie Jordan of the legendary funk band WAR. ’I Can’t Breathe’ is dedicated to all those affected by entrenched systems of racial discrimination. #allofusareblood

SAGE magazine

SELF REALISATION YOUR WORLD IS THE FACT by thane cooper

Image © Ingrid Tusell Domingo

ISSUE 08

SAGE magazine

”your world is so subjectively yours that if you ceased to exist, your world would cease to exist with you” Through its inspirational pages Sage Magazine offers intriguing insights into the limitless expressions of spirituality. While varied, each approach aims to lead you on a spiritual journey from darkness into light, away from mistaken assumptions towards the clarity of truth, and out of the limitations of the conceptual to the liberation beyond. Although one expression may resonate with you more resoundingly than another, it is important to remember that ultimately all share the same goal: all seek to lead you to the realisation of what you are.

Many deeply spiritual people assume that they live in a common world – ‘the world’ – which is observed, experienced and shared by all. While this may appear to be an unassailable statement of fact, as we will consider, it is actually a mistaken assumption, which can hinder genuine spiritual progress.

You may think that you experience ‘the world’, but when you explore this assumption a little more deeply you realise that the only world you can ever experience is your world. It is a world which exists as you sense it; a world which only you can know. It is your unique perspective, your private experience.

No one else can enter your world and live your life, sense your senses, feel your feelings, think your thoughts … experience your world. Your world is your subjective and unique experience.

While only you can know your world, by the same token, you cannot know another’s. Despite Self-realisation is the pre-eminent goal of attempts to explore another’s world you always spirituality. Why? Because there is nothing greater remain within the boundaries of your own. Those you can wish for yourself and those around you. In boundaries may be extended but can never be realising what you are, all purposes are satisfied and crossed. You can know no other world. Certainly, all goals are fulfilled. You see clearly. You love. You others can describe their worlds to you, but are happy. Your world is harmonious. You realise while you may appreciate their descriptions, that your potential. You lack nothing. appreciation is just another aspect of your world; it is not the experience of their world. And if the In these few short lines that we have together, truth be known, you cannot even share experiences, please allow me to share with you some insights let alone worlds. For example, if someone hugs which may hasten the fulfilment of your spiritual you, they know how it feels to hug you but you search, irrespective of the particular expression you know nothing about that experience, you only are drawn to. know how it feels to be hugged by them. In general conversation we may say that the experience is At the outset, it is important to remember that you shared but, in fact, it is not. Your experiences and are the goal and the destination. As such, there is your world are personal to you and all you can ever nothing that you need to learn, improve or change. know.

Instead, you just need to realise what you already are. To realise this reality, the accent is not on While it is true that people may use the same words what you need to gain but on what you need to let to describe what they experience and thereby go. It is your mistaken assumptions which obscure create the illusion of a shared common world – ‘the your reality and need to be relinquished. In their world’ – in fact, the experiences remain subjective, absence your reality is clear. You are whole and different and unique. Despite the commonality of complete. the language, the experiences which make up your world or any other are not common to all.

In this article we will consider one significant mistaken assumption which impedes the spiritual Actually, your world is so subjectively yours that if journey of many a sincere seeker … that being their you ceased to exist, your world would cease to exist notion of ‘the world’. with you. And more intriguingly, if hypothetically

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you never existed, then neither would your world.

Just think about that for a moment; if you never existed nothing in your world would ever have existed. The implication is that every aspect of what you currently assume to be ‘the world’ would not have existed either. It wouldn’t have existed because the world you experience isn’t common to all; it is unique to you.

your responsibility; transformation depends on you.

Your world is the fact. ‘The world’ is an assumption.

I wish you the blessing of self-realisation. You are what you seek

Crucially, when you understand that the only world you can know is your world and that it does not exist independently of you, then you have a clearer perspective to realise your reality and your full potential.

Certainly, the real significance of anything and Of course, if you can only ever know your subjective everything is the fact of you. Every sensation, experience and appearance points to you ... but just world then it is impossible for you to know ‘the what are you? world’. Why? Because anything you experience will always be an aspect of your world. And inasmuch as anyone can only ever experience their To realise your reality, question each and every own subjective world, no one can ever experience a assumption. It is your false assumptions which blind you to the goal of your spiritual search. common objective world.

Relinquish mistaken assumptions. See clearly. In that light you will realise your reality and nothing This line of thought brings us to a crucial point: will be the same again. if ‘the world’ cannot be experienced by anyone, then it must exist as pure conjecture; it is an idea Ask yourself one simple but startling question which can never be proved. And if it can never be – “What am I?” Investigate and your life will be experienced let alone proved, can it reasonably transformed. All will fall into place as it should be said to exist? Isn’t it just a product of the imagination … an assumption built on an illusion of and must. Your world will open to you in ways you couldn’t have imagined possible. sameness, where, in fact, nothing is the same?

It’s very interesting that, with just a little probing, a previously unassailable assumption (‘the world’) can be shown to be an over-simplification of the actual situation. Of greater concern is the fact that this type of mistaken thinking can obscure your reality. If you think in terms of ‘the world’ existing as an independent and objective reality, then you will think of yourself as an insignificant and fleeting dot appearing in that world, and you will fail to grasp your true significance.

Your world exists because of you. If you do not exist, neither can your world. Without you there is no consciousness, no sensations, no experiences, no thoughts, no feelings. There is no world. If you are not, your world cannot be. All is made possible because of what you are.

As such, the world you experience depends entirely on you. As your expression it is yours to explore, yours to learn from, yours to understand, yours to enjoy, yours to love. It is your world and, therefore,

about thane cooper Born in Tasmania, Australia, Thane worked as a legal professional for several years. A series of epiphanies radically transformed his life and lead him to undertake extensive overseas travel in combination with an intensive exploration of mind. The results were remarkable. As he describes, the shell in which he had been encased was cracked and inner and outer were dissolved … he was all, nothing and beyond all and nothing. A family man, he now resides in Sydney but travels to South America on a semi-regular basis. He is the author of Beyond Being: What Am I and What Does it Matter?, soon to be published by Tandava Press

SAGE magazine

Welcome to the first edition of Soul Academy TV with Sage Magazine! We are so honoured to be part of the collective power of information. Soul Magazine will be a regular supplement in Sage Magazine and is about sharing the learning’s, information and the contributors who present nightly on Soul Academy.TV. As we have so much wealth of knowledge-please feel free to pop questions or information through to me at soulacademytv@gmail so our Experts can help you!From Personal Development through to Mediumship, Psychic and Extra Terrestrials; if you’re curious we will go there.

This month’s edition will introduce you to; • Erzsi Suranyi who will be discussing what is self development. Its origin and why the upsurge it now has.

• Nicole Fisher in the understanding that to go with your

the aratians - the new species of dimensional

flow is key?

• Adrian Hanks looks at how to welcome in the New Year and make it as prosperous as possible for you.

• Les Pickup gives us an earthy and realist view at why Men need mentoring now more than ever before.

• Leanne O’Neill lets us know how we link our heart decisions to being a successful person .

• Sheryl Gotshall explains what are the benefits of ET interaction?

• And I introduce you to the Aratians - the new species of dimensional.

I look forward to sharing more of Soul Academy TV knowledge and information with you everyday online!

Love Psychic Julianna

continue to reproduce life and grow this life (parents for want of a human likeness) 5. The Generale- the Aratians who are of the highest social, emotional and intellectual intelligence who help to keep a warm and engaged peace within the Mulitverse

by Julianna Suranyi 6. The Darma- the peace brokers of the species who are able to shape and mould into other races, species The Aratians first came to visit me in 2014-January 3rd to and types in order to learn how to better improve and be precise. They informed me that they had, as yet, to be assimilate for the Aratian Civilizations. To me they are the initiated into the public arena or light. adventurers- always travelling to bring back gems and treasure that can teach and grow their Civilization Why I asked them; because our intelligence and military 7.

The Spiritus Magestus - the elite Spiritual thinkers and precision would and could , unleash destruction if used the beings who have come through all levels and stages in incorrect way. Yet they are immense technical minds that are time. The Spiritus Magestus sole purpose is to help to lift geared for healing and psychic development. and lighten the collective vibration.

Marsartus was the name of the General who came to me.

The Aratians came to me to inform me that it was time for They have, if you can imagine, a very shinny outer skin their presence to be known now. It was time for us to call on that presents as human yet glows ever so slightly. He has them to assist with the lack of stability within the world. To informed me that there are 7 platforms-or levels within the tell us that their teachings and intelligences are about being Aratians Civilization. in the collective so that the singular 1. The High Medicines-those who seek to heal and give can no longer create such conflict. insight to those they see as Global Leaders to their Civilizations As time goes on with 2. The Murcury- those who create the Healing needs and Soul Magazine- I will give tools to help with those Civilization and people who are you each of their lessons ill for us to ponder on. They 3. The Vangaurd-the outer Guardians who stand in all love the human interaction corners of the Multiverse ensuring that-as best to and if you have a question their ability-no transgressions or acts of aggressions of their civilization please occur to the Civilizations that ask for their insights and feel free to ask! intelligences approach to life 4. The Mormon- the Aratians who feel it is their purpose to

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heart decisions, what are they & how do we link them to being successful?

how to uncork your flow

by Leanne, The Barefoot Medium

We hear ‘Go with your flow’ all the time and not just in a self-development or spiritual context. This phrase is now given weight throughout many aspects of our lives and is said to us with the well-meaning assumption that we will cast off our problems and move freely through life as soon as we make the decision to do this.

As human beings you are presented with opportunities each day to make decisions about aspects of your life and the direction you wish to take it in. Some decisions will be simple, easy and clear such as what to cook for dinner or order at your favourite restaurant. While at other times you may be asked to make more difficult, complex and anxiety provoking decisions such as whether to commit to or leave a relationship, change careers, rent or buy a property or move to a new location. All of your decisions, big or small, have the ability to shift and change the circumstances you may be experiencing along this journey you call life. It is your ability to engage with your passions and to actually make choices that are at the heart of your success.

When it comes to making decisions and to following what you are passionate about in life, it is important to allow yourself to be guided first and foremost by your heart. Your heart is the most important organ and muscle in your body it stores the essence of your spiritual and emotional being, the core of who you are as an individual. It is your peaceful, happy, joyful, creative and loving space, the source of all richness, wealth and abundance, as well as the place where you are free to feel emotions. In order for the heart to be strong and healthy it needs to be exercised, connected to and engaged in every moment throughout the day, in your decision making, so that life as you know it keeps flowing in a positive and successful direction.

Your logical mind also has an important role to play in your decision making, as it is connected, not separate from your heart. It is the space where you can connect to and access thoughts, ideas, logic, reason, specifics and theories. The mind supports the heart by helping to gather the information you require from the world around you, providing you with various choices as well as practical steps you can take in any given situation. Once all the information or options are at hand, it is then that you link back to your heart by taking each of the choices available within and asking two questions: 1) ‘how does this decision feel’? 2) ‘what are the possible outcomes in moving forward with this decision’? You must then get out of the logical mind, allow the heart to be the director and shine the light on the best decision which will allow you to live the full, satisfying, happy, joyful and successful life you are here to live.

For more information on Leanne, The Barefoot Medium’s readings, channelling, teachings, mentoring programs and events, please visit the website www.thebarefootmedium.com.au

by Nicole Fisher

When we want to achieve and personally grow, going with your flow and living life on your terms is the ideal that we strive for. But how do you go with your flow if you can’t define where your flow starts, what it looks like and where it is flowing to? What if you don’t even realise that you have corked your flow by not being clear?

The answer is to know who you are and consistently check in with that, not just on the surface, but at your essential core, in a world that is increasingly wrapped in the understanding that to go with your flow is key. And that means going deep – to a place of self-honesty without fear of what you will find. Answer these four questions and you will be far closer to being in flow.

Question 1: What one thing is most important to me right now and why? Be very honest here and make it unapologetically about you. This is to understand what you need to prioritise to start your flow and highlight what you have been putting off to cork it. It focuses on what is driving you and why you need to create flow around it.

Question 2: What is my outcome for where my flow is taking me? What does it look, feel and taste like in tangible terms?

Constantly visit it or write it down so you don’t lose sight of it through distraction.

(continued over page)

SAGE magazine

how to uncork your flow (cont)

by Nicole Fisher Question 3: What do I have to action right now? Then do it.

Flow is momentum – so you need to push to get it happening. There is no other way.

Question 4: What am I really afraid of?

All of the fear around understanding who you are is related to what other people think and the impact that may have on your current relationships.

Your relationship with yourself is the most important thing we have, but we get told at an early age that to focus on ourselves is bad because it has to come at the expense of other people.

This is just not true.

When you know who you are and consistently check in with your core, you live your truth and actively stay in your flow.

welcoming in 2015 and planning for a prosperous, joyful and fulfilling year.

by Adrian Hanks I’m not a numerologist, but what jumps out at me about 2-0-1-5, is that it adds up to 8! From living in an area of Brisbane that has a high Chinese population, with lots of car number plates with 8’s on them, I know that 8 represents wealth and prosperity.

This excites me, as I already have my business plan ready for 2015 and it certainly includes creating a lot more money. Of course, the number 8 also represents the infinity symbol, which means that things may come back to us; as in the cycle of life – perhaps in a karmic way.

Getting ready and preparing for the beginning of any new year brings a mix of excitement, trepidation, expectations, joy, fear, doubts, panic and a myriad of other emotions, depending on what is going on for us and where we are in our lives in that moment.

One way to prepare and get ready for a new year is to make a plan. Even the word ‘plan’ is enough to rile some people up and get them into reaction if they are not planners. However, for many people, planning is all part of what they do each year to focus on what it is that they wish to achieve, especially for people in business. The question is: is all this planning any use; is it actually beneficial? If we plan, do we get better results than those that do not? The answer is yes, we do, if we add two other key elements: focus and action. Plan + Focus + Action = Results.

This equation is worth locking in to the memory hard-drive. It will be a good reminder when we reach February, when the ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ begin to wear off; when the promises and dreams begin to fade. This is common. Many people lose their focus and their vision about this time (February) each year; even those people with the best intentions that

made the double-double promise that it will be different this year.

‘Focus’ is an interesting word. The dictionary defines it as: ‘An act of concentrating interest or activity on something’. When we concentrate on something we can often get a deeper sense and understanding of that thing.

There are many ways to concentrate – one way is through meditation.

Whatever we wish for in 2015, be rest assured, it will come to us more easily if we are more conscious of the process Good luck with it all and have a great year!

Adrian is the author of Where Am ‘I’ Right Now? physically –emotionally – mentally – spiritually.

Visit: www.wairn.org He is also a regular presenter on Soul TV.

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self development - the old made new again

by Erzsi Suranyi I believe the perceived explosion of ‘self-development’ has been stimulated by our quest for happiness and for satisfaction in life. No longer do we want to separate work, home and play and nor do we want to run three separate and sometimes competing identities. We are ready to integrate, and to do that we need to understand our intrinsic nature and what motivates and makes us most fulfilled and happy in life.

Self-development has always existed.

Interestingly for western societies, the motivation and in some cases freedom to pursue personal development and self-actualisation was powered up with the inception of the industrial revolution which brought monumental change to the structure, education and expectations of our societies.

Interestingly science re-emerged as a consequence of this phenomenon, and we saw the gradual shift of society from the tenants of work and prayer to one that started to question the dogma and mandates of church and state in the quest of seeking a higher purpose and greater meaning in life.

In the mid 1990’s I decided to move from HR Management into the more specialised field of Learning and Development. I noticed that intelligent and progressive organisations acknowledged the power of providing self-development learning programs or opportunities because employees who participated tended to experience an unprecedented surge in personal satisfaction and success, which in turn inspired others around them to greater performances too. These employees had developed a greater awareness of their own identity, values and beliefs in order to access personal motivations which supported them to develop the skills, knowledge and attributes that would allow them to achieve their goals.

As you can imagine, what was once unconventional forms of training have now found their way into mainstream human development. For an employer it provides strategies for staff retention, performance optimisation, recognition and reward; and for employee’s personal leadership, continuous improvement and job satisfaction.

So what seems a sudden upswing in self-development has been a long time in the making; in fact one could say what is old is new again! And as we integrate our spiritual, mental and emotional development we will create the links between our motivations at home, work and play leading to a greater sense of happiness and satisfaction all of the time and in all of our life.

gifts of the gods - benefits of ET contact

by Sheryl Gottschall There are many different types of alien beings reported to be visiting planet Earth. They range from the small grey aliens described as having inverted pear-shaped heads, large black wraparound eyes and a small slitted mouth, to attractive blue-eyed, blonde-haired Nordic looking beings who generally communicate telepathically with humans as well as each other. There are a plethora of theories as to why aliens are visiting Earth, how long they’ve been coming here and where they are from. However, while these reports seem bizarre to some they are not as uncommon as one might think.

Looking through history we find many accounts of stories by indigenous people who believe their ancestors came from the stars and who still visit them today. When these star visitors originally came to Earth they were reported to teach the ancient humans many skills including how to grow crops, languages, arts and crafts and contributing greatly to the development of humankind. In the past there were many changes to indigenous societies reported to have occurred from this interaction with the star visitors. Today contact with alien beings still leaves it mark on humanity, in fact it affects people in such a real way that their lives are forever changed.

These changes are of great benefit to the people concerned, opening their eyes to a new reality and a sudden blossoming of their deeper authentic self. Most of them wouldn’t have it any other way either. While some contact experiences are not friendly, even the people who have negative experiences also seem to flourish in spite of them.

Are these changes in people post contact caused by the ETs themselves, or are they a by product of the human psyche attempting to integrate something beyond the range of usual human experience? (continued over page)

SAGE magazine

why do men need male mentoring?

by Les Pickup In a day and age where it’s all about being in touch with your emotions.

Why do we need to be guided to get there? Men have always had mentors throughout their lives although they may have been seen as parents, teachers, lecturers, sports or life coaches or apprentices learning a trade or some other specific career path.

gifts of the gods benefits of ET contact (cont)

by Sheryl Gottschall It may never be entirely clear but it certainly is true that close encounters with ETs not only unveils a greater hidden reality to humanity that we are not alone in the universe, but it also magnifies human potential that possibly prepares us for our next evolutionary step.

This leaves one pondering if ETs have been playing a pivotal role in the transformation of humanity all along, and if so, will it continue indefinitely?

A mentor embodies a particular skill set or way of life from their own or shared experiences on how to manage a new pathway and how to avoid the pitfalls. A role model.

If you are seeking really specific goals in your life you should be looking for someone who has achieved those goals in their own lives.

However in saying that have all our mentors been the right people to guide us? I believe that all my mentors had my best interests in their hearts, although what lessons were they sharing from their own life experiences and had they had the opportunities to learn from other mentors outside of family and basic schooling.

My own experience and upbringing shows me that many men of my dad’s generation and before, never had many opportunities to seek anything except a job and go to war, then come back into society and be normal. With these generations of men dealing with all the memories of those experiences, what was now normal for those men?

From my own experience I was looking for answers outside of myself, all my questions were coming from a mixed up mind, by me sitting with men who have shared similar experiences (mentors), I was not given answers and was encouraged to question myself from a heart space instead of my head.

My answers came from my inner knowing, not my controlling bruised ego mind. Since my journey began over six years ago, I have been privileged to see many new faces arrive at the mens gatherings I conduct. Some are guided by their partners or word of mouth, other come along with mates, others arrive because they notice a BIG change in a man they know and they want SOME of WHAT WE ARE HAVING. Some men find Mens Groups only when they hit rock bottom, maybe it is Divine Guidance.

If you know anyone who may need to just have a chat about men being down on themselves or going through a tough time for whatever reason, I can be contacted through this magazine or soul academy.tv.

It is OK not to be OK

liquid crystal beauty - the ability to tap into alignment

Our indigenous ancestors showed us the blue print for abundance. They lived lives that were often nomadic, only taking what they needed from the earth, knowing that they

by Raelene Byrnes would be provided for, respecting the land, and when they moved camps etc, they only took what they could carry, Utilising a Healing system that has unlimited applications nothing else. They lived simply, knowing they were provided allows incredible scope for transformation and changes in all for. areas of life. The Liquid Crystals offer such an expansive way to deal with all manner of issues, challenges, health crisis, So to align with abundance, means you have to remember emotional trauma or imbalance. This system is based on a it in yourself first, by seeing the abundant world we live in, return to the Atlantean way of Healing, where colour, sound, to have gratitude for what you do have, to flow, to be open vibration, frequency, geometric structure were brought to receiving what you require in a supported manner, to be together as catalysts for permanent change. clear about what you require for your life, and to embrace Recently I facilitated an event to kick start 2015 on the subject of Abundance and Prosperity. Bringing the Liquid Crystal symbol for Citrine, ( pictured) which is a crystal universally associated with abundance, we were able to raise the personal vibrations for those who were willing to address their perceptions around abundance through a deep meditation and visualisation.

I asked people to clench their fist, hold it tightly, feel the tension, feel the restriction, feel the lack of ease, then open hand, shake it out and allow it to fall open, then you feel the ease, the receptivity, the expansiveness. How we deal with ‘creating abundance’, is often like clenching a fist, we hold on too tightly, restrict and constrict the way abundance can enter our life, almost like we control how it happens and what it HAS to look like.

the willingness to do what is needed to create that in life.

Allowing our desires to be delivered when we are energetically aligned, being supported by the infinite intelligence of life.

At the end of this game, after all the accumulation, all the learnings, all the flow, we leave this earth with Nothing. Enjoy the game, and remember you are already abundant beyond measure. Embrace gratitude daily and watch the universe deliver more abundance to you.

SAGE magazine

Get used to everything always working out. Get used to it always working out better than you expected. Get used to being so blown away by the blessings... that you have to consciously keep up with what you are becoming! Get used to saying ‘YES! AND...!’

Normalizing the miracle is, the art of acclimatizing in the expectation that amazing things happen on a NOW to NOW basis. Being the one in a million, getting the car park every time, right time, right place, more than enough, just in time, right here, right now, it is THAT good, every time, ALL the time... and that doesn’t leave any moment out!!

ISSUE 08

practising present moment with kat dawes Ah! I love the #playfulness of a true NOWism practice. We work on constantly reframing what life presents to us, so that everything has a gift in it; you can grow from it. We build our lives around the Divine Romance; a dance with Universal Intelligence. We live in the #intention to wake up everyday in the midst of a Divine Assignment and uncover more of our true self; activating parts of our nature that we didn’t know existed.

Miracles are a part of personal Law in a NOWism practice. You begin to see that a miracle is simply an alignment with #truth. Normally, a miracle is considered to be a sudden positive result that feels so extraordinary, that it feels other-worldly!

A miracle stretches our imagination, taking us past the average expected path and into something breathtaking. It inspires us, delights us, tearing down the perceived limitations – if even just for a moment.

In a NOWism practice, the NOW NiNJAZ learn to “Normalize the Miracle”. It is a vibratory process when you deliberately exercise the feeling of Awe - like when a miracle takes place. Obey the Law of Awe! Feel it NOW! How? Take a look around!

We are standing in a field of infinity! ALL of it is awesome, even when it is not. Everything can be traced back to its cosmic origins.

We have deemed a miracle extraordinary, only because we are not used to feeling it. But the truth is, the glass of water you hold in your hands, is a miracle! This time in human history, we are used to feeling fear, doubt, lack, loss, worry etc. It is sold to us through TVs and magazines, we spread it on social media and talk about ‘what we do not have’ over coffee. It is a popular and ill trend – to be drama. As a collective we talk from there and walk from there, it is widely broadcasted; getting plenty of airtime in our minds. And practice makes perfect... many people perfect the art of anxiety!

Focus on it, and it will grow! Thus when a good thing comes to pass... we call it a miracle!

So the task of the NOW NiNJA is to look past the inherited dullness and collective trend of struggle, and instead look to flex the muscle of wonder! Be

aware of nearby potential contaminations of the present moment and implement a slick Quality Control Department on your focus, thoughts and emotional investments.

To normalize the miracle, doesn’t mean take it for granted. It simply means ‘I am not surprised, but rather I am in AWE!’ Stay in a wonder with your life! Your eyes blink, a phone rings, hearts break and ideas flow. As an apple seed lands in the soil, the earth plummets through the vastness of space, music plays, activating ancient rhythms; sun, rain, wind, birds and bees, the apple seed bursts into apple tree expression.

It IS a miracle – all of it, equally, all the time. The only thing that changes is your ability to see it.

You have to give yourself permission to feel it; tune yourself out of the mainstream broadcast of Fear and Lack and instead tune into to the cosmic broadcast of Intelligent Celebration. Open yourself up and see it running through your life. See it in your coffee, in traffic jams, in showers and in your cell-phone. Go on a hunt for the miracle and get into an activity with it. Feel into #awe on a daily basis and then... learn to rest in it.

Contemplate, consider, meditate and celebrate, feel into the Time and Space Grid from the formless Field of eternity! Where are you shinning in from? What are you noticing? What are you talking about? Get used to feeling and being in awe and wonder, operate from a level of vision and reverence! *The fine print on this most excellence NOWism idea is... as you are busy feeling into the wonder and awe of everything in general and nothing in particular – your vibration matches the vibration of the Highest Order in the the Universe; you reflect and reveal the Fundamental Cosmic Good of the Universe! Ease, flow, elegance, power, poise, playfulness and as you feel these high frequencies more and more; awe, wonder, gratitude, love... you become an opening for more of it to express through you.

Now, YOU Localize the Cosmic Good through

SAGE magazine

ISSUE 04

practising present moment with kat dawes your powerful way of BEing in the world, and you find yourself in an endless series of powerful unfoldment; situations, circumstance, people and places that have a miraculous component. Right place, right time, taking an unexpected detour and running right into the very answer you were looking for!

This synchronistic orchestration of events, is the everyday miracle of reality! What your life requires from you to experience this all the time is, permission; you have to say YES! to it!

Are you willing to consciously play in this Universal Law in order to thrive? Do you love yourself enough to normalize feeling really good all the time? You may need to swim against the grain for a moment, “How dare you get used to feeling so good!”

But as you keep moving further and further into your own NOWism practice, you will be intercepted, from time to time, by a like minded person who in essence will say, “I see you, and that mighty secret you are uncovering!” In that very moment, you can smile at a fellow NOW NiNJA, knowing that global transformation can only take place through individuals. And here you are, right now, not just finding the answer, but becoming the answer.

NOW is the time! You have the capacity, but do you have the audacity, to normalize the #miracle?

Become a Now Ninja! Head over to the Nowism website - www.nowism.tv. NOWism’s universal reminder service, is a light hearted weekly message in your inbox, prompting you to stay awesome and to live a full life in the present moment. Signup and we’ll remind you how amazing you are!

”Kat Dawes is the personification of her message, and whether catching a glimpse of her spirit, hearing the words she speaks or reading pages she’s written one can’t help but be powerfully moved into their Now!” Mike Dooley

”Kat Dawes has arrived in the HERE full of the Power of NOW to set us free from being a two tense person.

She, in a joyful, witty way, reminds us to be free of the past and future, the tenses where all problems reside.”

Rev. Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith

~Kat Dawes~ www.nowism.tv #nowism #nowninjaz #momenterrorism

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SAGE magazine

releasing the light past life healing by rob flint

Image courtesy of Š Artymori http://www.facebook.com/artymoriart

ISSUE 08

SAGE magazine

RELEASIng the light: past life healing The soul, the spirit, your true self, call it what you will, each of us carry within us a timeless essence, a portion of us that is eternal energy, shining with the purest of light. I like to visualise the soul as a crystal with many facets, without fractures or blemishes, a bright light emanating from within, a light that carries with it the purest of energy. It is easy to imagine such a vision of perfection, such a thing of beauty. In most of us imperfect beings, bound to this material existence, these beautiful, pure energy centres can become cloaked or clouded with thin layers of shadow. These swirling shadows, often the result of trauma suffered over many lifetimes, the accumulation of emotional or spiritual wounds, mistakes that have gone unresolved, can obscure the pure light within us, blocking our true selves from shining through, preventing our pure spiritual energy from being released into the world.

Most of my negative experiences in this life have been because of my poor choices, looking back, in most cases I have made a ‘rod for my own back’ over and over again.

I can only imagine how often I have done this in past lives as well. How often have I perpetuated a ‘loop’ of poor choices because I have not been ready, or unwilling, to deal with aspects of myself that I find confronting or painful?

the soul’s journey I feel I have suffered more in previous lives than I have had to endure in this life, these experiences range from being employed in an unpleasant job in very poor working conditions, torture at the hands of ‘righteous’ men even a violent death on a European battlefield. Thankfully, I have not had to endure these kinds of hardship in this lifetime.

This is due to my soul’s journey, the lessons learned in past lives and obstacles I have overcome and the healing I have received.

Fortunately, for we imperfect beings, life is not about suffering, it is about the soul’s journey, the soul’s progression, about the healing of past suffering in order to strip away these layers of shadow and pain that conceal who we really are, who we are meant to be, to

reveal the perfect, pure light and energy that is within all of us.

Past life healing can be emotionally and spiritually painful. Some may even find the experience physically painful. This is the result of releasing the negative energies that have been building up over many life times, the negative energy that we felt unable to deal with or refused to acknowledge for so long.

However, confronting that which causes us pain, while not pleasant, will make us better people. Healing the injuries of the past helps us move forward and will bring good things into our lives. In short, we will be happier people, our personal energy fields more positive and those around us will benefit from this as well.

If we choose not to deal with painful or confronting issues, we cannot expect to move beyond them. Quite simply, these issues will remain an obstacle in our path, our journey will continue to be sure, but until the obstacle is removed or a way past it discovered, the soul’s journey may well be stalled. We will always be given the opportunity to resolve the issue in our next life, but until we deal with the issues of our past lives, I don’t believe we will be able to make progress on our soul’s journey.

What a terrible thing, to be continually repeating past mistakes or experiencing the same pain over and over again, lifetime after lifetime. Yet, by not dealing with our ‘psychic scars’, by not seeking healing for past life injuries or refusing to deal with the shadows surrounding our true selves, this is exactly what we are setting ourselves up for.

There are triggers that can reinforce feelings of hurt or suffering. These triggers can be a place, an event or person, even simply a feeling or memory. By changing the way we respond to a particular trigger we are able to move past the hurt, to not only heal the immediate emotional pain, but to overcome this ‘psychic scar’ on our soul. This does not mean that the event or location no longer has a meaning to us, or that the painful event did not occur, it simply allows us to move beyond the pain and continue our journey, leaving behind the pain and suffering that has held back and

ISSUE 08

...By changing the way we respond to a particular trigger we are able to move past the hurt, to not only heal the immediate emotional pain, but to overcome this ‘psychic scar’ on our soul.

SAGE magazine

imprisoned the light within us. One way of overcoming these triggers is to change the thought patterns we develop. I know I must make a conscious effort not to allow myself to indulge the negative thoughts that are evoked by one of my personal triggers.

When these thoughts come to mind as I pass by a specific location near my home, I make the conscious choice to banish them from my mind, replacing them with thoughts which are pleasing to me. Over time, this location will be a source of joy to me rather than torment.

have started experimenting with a piece of ‘Golden Healer’ Quartz. It is early days, but I am optimistic about this crystal. A piece of Orthoceras or ‘Fossil Stone’ may also be helpful in travelling back to a past life.

A friend of mine suggested working with Obsidian; this could be particularly helpful in past life healing as it has emotional healing qualities. If you feel the need to use a crystal, the right one will appear to you.

confronting aspects of self

Start by opening your energy centres as you would in any meditation. Visualise a ball of light, energy or colour that illuminates your crown chakra, and travels down through each of the major chakras until you reach the base. Call to your spirit guide, power animal, guardian angel, being of light, who or whatever assists you in your spiritual work, and ask for their guidance and protection as you travel into your past life. You might visualise your ‘soul crystal’ with its glowing white light within. It may appear cloudy or dull, it may even appear to be shrouded in translucent shadow, this is okay, and this is why you are here.

I became very adept at justifying my selfdestructive thought patterns to myself and to others, particularly, those people who were important to me. By saying ‘This is who I am’ and refusing to confront the aspects of myself that caused conflict, or were too emotionally painful to deal with, I realise now that I only bought more pain and suffering upon myself and those I cared about. Who we are, or how we see ourselves does not necessarily need to be who we remain. Changing destructive thought patterns, the patterns that continue the cycle and prevent us from moving forward is the first step in continuing our journey, in becoming ‘more’ of the person we are meant to be.

In order to receive healing, we must first identify the issue that is causing us pain. In some cases this will be simple and straight forward. Perhaps you may already be aware of a recurring issue that is blocking your journey. It is also possible that the issue affecting you is buried deep in a past life.

I believe a past life meditation can bring these hidden issues to your attention, and from this, you can receive healing. You may like to consider using a crystal to assist your meditation. Smokey Quartz or Amethyst are reliable protective crystals and serve as generic healers. I have been using a piece of fire quartz for almost a year now with positive results. More recently I

past life meditation

Allow yourself to be guided back to a past life; your guides will know what it is you need to heal. Trust them to reveal to you the event or issue that you most need to address. They may show you this as an image, event or emotion. Be receptive to what is being revealed to you and try to acknowledge this without becoming caught up in it again. This event has passed, and while it may be emotionally painful, cannot hurt you again. Exhale, and as you do, release any judgment you may be carrying or the need to understand why this happened to you. As you inhale, receive the healing that is yours. Allow yourself to receive the healing light from spirit. Continue until you feel the release from this event experience or emotion. Accept the experience as part of your soul’s journey, a learning experience.

Visualise the shadowy clouds around your ‘soul crystal’ dissipating and vanishing as

ISSUE 08

...changing destructive thought patterns... is the first step in continuing our journey, in becoming ‘more’ of the person we are meant to be.

SAGE magazine

your pure energy and light is released from within. Forgive yourself, or others who have caused you pain, and give yourself permission to heal. You do not have to carry this pain with you any longer and will encounter it again in future lives. Send love, light and healing to someone important to you and return to your current lifetime, bringing with you the healing and resolution you have experienced.

Not all recurring similarities throughout our past lives are negative. Perhaps you have experienced similar roles or experiences in your own past life regression. Some of these are evidence that we have already experienced healing and are progressing on our journey. For example, in my own past lives I have played the role of a ‘guardian’ or ‘protector’ many times. This is clearly something that I have ‘got right’. Whatever lessons my soul needed to learn, whatever obstacles I needed to overcome around this aspect of myself, it is clear to me, were learned. This is evidence of past life healing in my life.

Regardless of your age in this life, keep in

about the artist Artymori (real name: Amandine Boudéhen) is a young french artist, painter, illustrator and graphic designer. After her studies in graphic design, she decided to discover the world, hitchhiking around Europe and America (From Alaska to Argentina).

She spent five years of her life travelling, discovering community and indigenous people which inspired her to live a way of life close to wild and natural principles.

Always drawing or painting, it is an expression of her subconscious. In 2012 Artymori moved to Chile, where she stayed for two years doing art, mural and exibitions. Painting is for her, a therapy of love.

mind our souls are much older than this physical body we currently inhabit. We have been working at healing and stripping away the negative energies over many lifetimes, sometimes without realising it. As we heal, we take a step closer to becoming our true selves. I wish you all the very best for your journey.

about rob flint In this life, Rob resides in Central Queensland where he works as a History Teacher, a Soul Traveller and Modern Age Druid.

Rob enjoys working with Spirit Guides and Power Animals; and has a keen interest in reconnecting with past lives and unlocking the knowledge from those experiences.

Rob can be contacted via the Sage Magazine website.

SOUL TRAVELLER MEDITATION & EMPOWERMENT GROUPS

with Tanya Allison CONTACT TO REQUEST WORKSHOPS IN YOUR AREA (BOOKINGS NOW OPEN FOR 2015)

PERSONAL & SKYPE READINGS ALSO AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT EMAIL tanya@sagemagazine.net

www.sagemagazine.net www.tanyaallison.com

SAGE magazine

secret samadhi

the spiritual head of the himalayan institute and author of the secret of yoga sutra, pandit rajmani tigunait, chats with sage magazine’s tori rose

ISSUE 08

If you’re a yoga practitioner or a spiritual seeker of any kind, you may enjoy Sanskrit scholar and spiritual teacher Pandit Rajmani Tigunait’s new book, The Secret of the Yoga Sutra: Samadhi Pada.

Equally appealing to newcomers and yoga geeks alike, it’s an accessible and insightful commentary on the Yoga Sutra, the seminal text on yoga practice and philosophy that was compiled by the sage Patanjali approximately 2,200 years ago.

Ever since then, scholars and yoga masters have penned their own translations and commentaries on the Yoga Sutra. So what, you may ask, makes Tigunait’s version unique?

For starters, it’s the first practitioner-oriented commentary that is fully grounded in the living tradition of the Himalayan masters, a lineage of sages that can be traced back 5,000 years to the Indian subcontinent. Pandit Tigunait is uniquely qualified to transmit the teachings of the Yoga Sutra because he’s been a seeker and practitioner since childhood, studying with renowned adepts of India and earning two PhDs (one in Sanskrit from the University of Allahabad in India, and another in Oriental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S.) And while most commentaries on the Yoga Sutra cover all four padas, or chapters, of the seminal text, Pandit Tigunait’s book is the first volume in a series of four in-depth, chapter-by-chapter commentaries on the Yoga Sutra that he’ll be publishing in the years to come. His first volume focuses on the Samadhi Pada (the first chapter of the Yoga Sutra, hence its appearance in his book’s subtitle). By referencing specific sutras, or verses, in the subsequent chapters, it lays the groundwork for further study and practice.

Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, who is the spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute - an international nonprofit educational organization headquartered in Honesdale, Pennsylvania in the U.S. - recently let us pick his brain about his new book, the deeper dimensions of yoga, and how we can apply its ancient wisdom to our modern lives.

to cultivate a clear, calm, and tranquil mind; how to expand the immense power of your mind; and how to begin unveiling, layer after layer, the mysteries of the universe within you and outside you.

When you practice the kind of yoga described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, you will experience what it’s like to be healthy, happy, peaceful, confident, and energetic. The literal meaning of “yoga” is “union,” “integration,” “reconnection.”

But in the context of practice, yoga is a way of gaining access to your own inner luminosity and becoming established in your essential self.

By studying the Yoga Sutra, you can learn how

Asana is a very important part of life. It keeps you healthy, strong, and energetic. And it enables you to discover and reclaim the innate wisdom of your body. But it is only after you rediscover the self-luminous nature of your own mind that you will begin to experience the true power of asana.

That discovery comes from the meditative aspect of yoga.

Why are its teachings so crucial today?

Because the human mind is scattered. We have So what exactly is the Yoga Sutra? become negligent about our mental distractions, inertia, confusion, doubt, fear, and anger. But The Yoga Sutra is a book of yoga philosophy. humans have been riding a roller coaster of ups It is a book of practice. And it is a book of selfand downs for thousands of years. The yoga realization. It was written 2,200 years ago, when tradition, which started at least 5,000 years ago a great master named Patanjali gathered the best and has continued without interruption, has aspects of yoga and delineated, in a step-by-step recorded all of the problems that humans face, fashion, exactly what yoga is and how to practice and the methods and techniques to overcome it. those problems. The Yoga Sutra contains the solutions.

What can modern students learn from the Yoga Sutra?

What role does asana play in yoga practice?

SAGE magazine

�the human mind is scattered. We have become negligent about our mental distractions, inertia, confusion, doubt, fear, and anger... The Yoga Sutra contains the solutions.�

Pandit Rajmani Tigunait

ISSUE 08

What inspired you to publish a commentary on the Yoga Sutra after 35 years of teaching in the West?

The Yoga Sutra is a compendium of a vast field of knowledge and wisdom, techniques and methodologies for discovering our multidimensional life. It is the source wisdom for all schools and traditions of yoga. We need to bring the spiritual dimension back into yoga and encourage students to look for teachings and practices that will take them to the next level. That’s why I have realized that I should share whatever I have learned in the last 35 years through this commentary, The Secret of the Yoga Sutra: Samadhi Pada, and by teaching and interacting with students.

What do you hope to accomplish through your Secret of The Yoga Sutra book series and related educational programs?

My wish is that the Yoga Sutra brings the same level of transformation to other people as it did to me. In order to make that wish become a reality, my vision is to bring the Yoga Sutra to people’s doorsteps, making this knowledge available to them on many levels and from many perspectives through this book and its subsequent volumes, through online study groups, and through a four-part master course that students can take in person or via live streaming video. (Although the master course

has already started, people can still sign up…and catch up online at YogaInternational.com/Sutra.)

My vision is that the yoga community, the scientific community, the medical community, and the health community take from the Yoga Sutra what is useful for them, conduct more research, assimilate the knowledge into their existing practice, and take their own field of knowledge to the next level. My vision is to explain, here is how you can embrace the teachings of the Yoga Sutra in your own personal practice for self-improvement and selfempowerment. Here is how you can accelerate your quest for total well-being and spiritual unfoldment.

the book

In The Secret of the Yoga Sutra: Samadhi Pada, Tigunait offers a step-by-step guide for yoga enthusiasts and spiritual seekers to deepen their practice and pave the way to spiritual awakening.

Through his practice-oriented commentary and detailed “nuts-and-bolts” instruction (drawn directly from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra & the sage Vyasa’s original commentary), Pandit Tigunait demystifies the levels of samadhi (a perfectly still, clear, tranquil state of mind). He makes it clear that samadhi is within our reach. And he gives readers the tools to take their practice to a new level.

SAGE magazine

Pandit Tigunait also includes five comprehensive appendices, several of which encourage students to study Sanskrit methodically in the context of yoga practice and philosophy.

One of the appendices is a primer on Sankhya philosophy, the profound metaphysical system that is the foundation of the Yoga Sutra. This appendix answers questions such as: Who are we? Where do we come from? What is the purpose of life? What is the cause of suffering?

Where do we go when we die?

“We are born with a mind endowed with limitless power and intelligence,” Tigunait explains. “Yoga practice, or sadhana, is the means for awakening the dormant potentials of our mind, experiencing our inner divinity, and becoming established in our essential nature. In The Secret of the Yoga Sutra: Samadhi Pada, my intention is to explain exactly how the masters

of the past practiced and what experience they gained, and to pass on those practices and experiences to the current generation of seekers.”

Tigunait makes it clear that sadhana goes far beyond the yoga postures commonly practiced in the West; it includes a comprehensive system of philosophy, tools for self-mastery, a healthy lifestyle, meditation, and other practices designed to help us experience our selfluminous nature.

Readers will find within these pages a rich combination of perennial wisdom from the yoga tradition, practice-oriented commentary on an ancient text, and detailed instruction to help them take their yoga and meditation practice to a new level. This is a visionary spiritual leader’s guide to the practice of yoga in all its fullness.

about the author Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD, is a modern-day master and a living link in the unbroken Himalayan Tradition. He is the successor of Sri Swami Rama of the Himalayas and the spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute. As a leading voice of YogaInternational.com and the author of 15 books, his teachings offer practical guidance on applying yogic and tantric wisdom to modern life.

Over the past 35 years, Pandit Tigunait has touched innumerable lives around the world as a teacher, humanitarian, and visionary spiritual leader. He lives at the Himalayan Institute’s U.S. headquarters in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

For more information about THE SECRET OF THE YOGA SUTRA: Samadhi Pada book, as well as the 4-Part Master Course Tigunait is teaching on the Yoga Sutra (both in person and online), visit YogaInternational.com/Sutra.

WHAT IS Samādhi?

Samādhi is concentration of the mind or meditative absorbtion. It is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path.

SAGE magazine

ABOUT THE ARTIST Eva Annaluna is an artist, aura healer, dolphin guide and hostess at the retreat center Home Heart Hawaii on the Big Island. Together with her husband she facilitates Healing Holidays and introduces people to the world of the dolphins. Start dolphin dreaming today: www.homehearthawaii.com

Turtle Flow Š Eva Annaluna

ISSUE 08

Dolphin Inspirations turtle time by eva annaluna

During our Dolphin Tours we swim with the Hawaiian Spinner dolphins in their natural habitat and are fully aware that we are entering their home. This means that we take the time to tune into their frequency and carefully watch their behavior to see if they invite us into their space, before joining them for a swim. If the dolphins are resting, then we make sure not to disturb them. Our ocean tours are a wildlife experience and we can never predict how it will unfold. Over the years we have learned that there is great truth to the song lines of the Rolling Stones; ’You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, that you get what you need.’ On those days that we don’t encounter any dolphins there is always a unique gift awaiting us that we couldn’t foresee...

When we didn’t experience any dolphins on a tour with Steve and Sarah we were all pleasantly surprised with what life had in store for us. After a snorkel practice in a beautiful bay with a rich coral reef, we drove to another bay to see if we could find the dolphins there. In the car we talked about the ’dolphin etiquette’ of how to swim and interact with them in a conscious way. I referred to several experiences with the dolphins and we all got very excited to meet these beautiful Angels of the Sea. Unfortunately they were not in that bay either and we drove further yet to see if they were in the next bay.

connection with each other is just as important as our connection and interaction with the dolphins. After all, we swim with the dolphins to become inspired and learn to live our life on land like a human dolphin pod.

It’s not about swimming with dolphins as often as we can, because it makes us feel good, as much as it’s about taking the precious gift of joy and playfulness that the dolphins teach us and truly living it ourselves. It is one thing to experience a blissful state while connecting with the dolphins and quite another, to actually embody this way of Being and share it with the people in our life!

As we arrived at the third bay with Steve and Sarah, we had to accept that this day was not about swimming with dolphins. By that time we were all deeply touched by our inspired conversations and admitted to each other that it actually felt OK. During our time together we experienced a shift into a mode of being where expectations were released as we took on a Higher perspective. The dolphins seemed to be present with us in energy nevertheless and we all noticed that we had become a human pod. There was a sense of caring for each other that reminded us of a brother- or sisterhood and we realized that this is exactly what the dolphins are trying to teach us.

We went for a wonderful swim in the ocean and to our greatest surprise we suddenly saw three green sea This is the moment that we started talking about turtles swimming by... We looked at each other in awe, expectations in life and how to deal with them. When mesmerized by the beauty and grace of these Hawaiian people come to Hawaii with the wish to swim with Honu’s. They were enjoying a breakfast at the ’ocean dolphins, there usually is an excited anticipation. We ourselves are enthusiastic guides and we would love for salad bar’, as they were munching the rich sea grass off the lava rocks on the shoreline. While the waves were our holiday guests to meet the dolphins and have this life changing experience. However, at the same time we washing ashore and rocking us all back and forth, the know that we cannot force anything and therefore start turtles showed us how to surrender to the movement. each tour with an open mind, knowing that we will have We were impressed with their ability to go with the the ”perfect” for this moment experience. Everything is ocean. No matter how powerful the wave, the turtles orchestrated in a mysterious way and the more we open didn’t resist the current, they relaxed and rolled along ourselves to the flow of life, the more we will recognize with it. They don’t swim against the current and avoid and enjoy the magic and beauty of the present moment wasting their energy. Sometimes we saw a turtle being spun upside down and he seemed to know that the tide as it unfolds for us. would simply bring him back to his delicious sea grass Since we live a conscious life and our passion is to work if only he would be patient. After our swim we all felt deeply grateful for this special day. When we released as a transformational team, my husband and I attract our expectations, true magic manifested with the people that are on the path of initiation. It is fairly exact life lesson that we all needed to learn. Instead of common that we connect with our holiday guests on a wasting energy, rather surrender to the flow of life and deep level and recognize each other as ’Soul Family’.

We mutually learn a lot from each other. What we have trust that it will bring you exactly where you need to be at the right moment. Take your Turtle Time... noticed during many of our tours, is that our human

facing the wild winds Story by AYYA YESHE

ISSUE 08

’Buddhist Reflections on Healing, Letting Go and How Suffering Can Lead to Freedom.’

Letting go is a big theme in Buddhism. It has also been a big theme in my own life. Change and the need to let go are issues we don’t mind hearing about in the context of other people’s lives, but one we don’t really like taking place in our own. But the fact is, sooner or later we all have to accept change, whether we want it or not.

Change, cycles of life and death, creation, expansion and decline are as natural as the seasons. Change can also be a liberating thing, and without it, life would be stale. Change is not always negative. It means we can grow and learn and expand. It means unpleasant situations can transform into more positive situations, but it can also mean we suffer. We can all appreciate the beauty and tempest of nature. We enjoy the blossoming flowers in spring and the new life that emerges from the earth, bringing renewal. We can also enjoy the graceful surrender of autumn as leaves fall and dark comes earlier. Life would be very dull if nothing ever changed. But being born, things must also die. Meeting, they must part and reaching their highest arch, they must also decline.

This is a natural law.

Somehow because we live separate from nature and mostly in our heads, we have lost sight of this natural law. We hide from old age, try to create permanent security and try to insulate ourselves from anything nasty that could disturb our comfort too much.

In some ways it’s understandable that we don’t wish to suffer unnecessarily, but in some ways we are just keeping some inevitable and important truths of life at bay. In cutting ourselves off from the unpredictability of life, we have also cut ourselves off from the vividness and mystery of what it means to be human.

If we live in an artificial world in which we are socially isolated and only choose to allow in things we like, we are also living in a narrow way.

If our comfort zone is never challenged, we are not seeing the greater picture of life. We become numb, apathetic and small hearted. It becomes easy to just pursue narcissistic entertainment, pleasure and distraction while corporations and millionaires take over the world, destroy the environment and make the poor poorer, all the while distracting with trivial entertainment and getting them to participate in a system of meaningless consumption that is unsustainable and in many ways unnecessary and toxic.

In truth, living in this way, we are more interested in playing on phones mined by children than we are in feeling that as the wealthiest nations in the world we have an individual and communal responsibility to help those children get an education. Do face book or online

SAGE magazine

’learn from life, even when it is painful... allow the genuine heart of tenderness to just be there, with all its vulnerability...’ gaming/shopping/gossip magazines allow the overwhelming injustice of the world to touch us? Are we not just burying our head in the sand while the world is dying? Is it not the height of stupidity?!

Fortunately, life has a way of waking us up, even if we try to hide, life will challenge us, and shake us, and force us to open and be present to the rawness and aliveness and chaos of human existence. How do we practice when life is squeezing us? What do we do when all we love is torn away from us? How do we open to truly aliveness? There is what we usually do – hold on and obsess. This is so often a road we choose to go down - when a relationship has been ended by the other party and we are left with all the questions and pain and emotional baggage of “WHY?!” it can be very hard to let go. When one we love dies, or we lose a baby, or a job, or fail an exam or our parents’ divorce, it can make us feel we are adrift, alone or don’t even want to live anymore.

There is perhaps a path involving more wisdom; in times of great challenge, ask yourself. “What

can I do to suffer less?” It is so tempting to jump into that ocean of pain, fear, regret, anger and self loathing. But does it help? Or does it just prevent the healing that needs to take place?

In challenging times it’s good to try to be a bit sensible and restrained. I’m not talking about repressing feelings. So many things in life will get under our skin, grab hold of our heart and give it a great big yank… But what’s the best way of coping? Can we open up and learn from life, even when it is painful? Can we allow the genuine heart of tenderness to just be there, with all its vulnerability?

Being calm and not escalating the emotions by creating a big obsessive storyline around the event might help. Story lines are the stories we repeat to ourselves that help us avoid the unbearable pain of actually just facing our broken heart. But story lines eventually become concrete.

The stories and thoughts and opinions we hold onto can stop us from moving on and can make us bitter, paranoid and leave our painful issues unresolved. We may even start projecting our unresolved emotional issues onto new situations in our life and it can stop us from seeing new

ISSUE 08

opportunities or really enjoying our lives and connecting with others.

Of course most Buddhist Teachers will tell you that letting go is a good thing and that Buddhists think attachment is not great. But how do most Buddhists with a 9-5 job really live? It’s not so easy to reconcile the teachings of a 2600 year old Sage who lived in a cave with the complexities of the modern world that requires us to pay mortgages, pay bills and negotiate a complicated technologydesire based society. And yet in some ways, society has not changed that much. People still felt jealous, depressed, and fell in love and fear 2600 years ago.

Small countries invaded each other, leaders lusting after wealth and resources stole the wealth of other nations and thousands of young men still lost their lives to pay for the greed of these leaders.

We hear our meditation Teacher say ‘let go’, or ‘live in the now’ and maybe we agree. But how do we actually do it? When something painful rips our life apart, how do we pick up the pieces and find peace and clarity?

There inevitably has to be a period of mourning and a bit of pain, that is part of the healing process.

I have had a very tumultuous life. Sometimes when bad or unjust things happened to me, I felt angry. I also knew that it was not good to have anger, but I have come to take a much less black and white line on life. I have come to see that time has its own way of healing things and that sometimes the best thing we can do is just be present to the pain without obsessing too much, while knowing at the same time that things will not always be this way, that we will heal and feel better, that nothing lasts.

Being compassionately present to yourself and the world can be very healing. We don’t run away, but we don’t obsess. We take refuge in the timeless element of peace that heals all, puts all things in perspective, but at the same time we don’t close our eyes to injustice. In that way, the knowledge of impermanence can heal us, but the acceptance of our imperfections and the inevitable sufferings of life can give us a deep compassion for and understanding of others.

Breath meditation is a great way to become aware of yourself. When you have self awareness, you

naturally start to see some of the thought processes and emotions that are unskillful. With the peace that accompanies meditation, you also become aware that your mind is a lot bigger than you thought, that you are more than just your thoughts and you have a basic wholeness and purity that is bigger than time and space and the small ups and downs of life. That basic goodness is Buddha nature. Uncovering that original purity in yourself and others is the purpose of life. But that state is not permanent or separate like a ‘soul’ or ‘heaven’, it is just the thread understanding it is part of the greater weaving, the emptiness in the fullness, or the peace that is there when the small conceptual mind shuts up for a while.

It’s not that this deeper understanding of interconnectedness and letting go of self grasping makes us some kind of ineffective, self absorbed blob…. This understanding should free us from narcissism and negative emotions and make us wiser. We become more compassionate, happy and effective in helping ourselves and the world, because we are skillful in following mind states and actions that lead to wholesome states and we let go of thoughts/emotions and actions that lead to confusion, un-awareness, harm or suffering. That self awareness, or mindfulness, when combined with altruism and compassion is a powerful way to overcome suffering and open up to a greater, more infinite and profound way of living. We start to see that what we do to others, we do to ourselves. From this more concern and practical actions to benefit others naturally arise.

I think love and relationships are the other great obsession or drug of our time. I certainly notice the absence of many Dharma practitioners from the Centre when they fall in love! I call it the 30s vortex.

People enter it, get married, and usually don’t show up at the centre again until they are 50 or divorced! People are always asking advice from me about relationships and love, which is pretty ironic, considering I’m a celibate Buddhist nun.. But I think living in monastic communities and dealing with students is not that different to dealing with the ups and downs of any other kind of relationship.

How do we know when we need to let go, and if we need to hold on? First we need to ask ourselves what we are holding onto and if it will bring us

SAGE magazine

’Perhaps we need to ask ourselves, how much do we really need to be happy? ’

you reduce your needs, live in a smaller house, find more inner clarity and fulfillment, you actually find you need a whole lot less than you thought you did and you start to value people and community more than things and distractions.

That has certainly been the case with me. It is mostly because our lives are toxic that we need distractions to be absent from them. When I had a job at a big insurance company I made 3 times as much money as I do now, but I felt what I was doing was meaningless. This is not to say that everyone should quit their jobs and move What is real happiness? And what is the difference to a slum… but it is possible to simplify life, this is a natural process that comes about through between want and need? building up inner clarity. You find you have more time to give others and become less interested in I live near an Indian slum, and I know that self obsessing or doing unwholesome things. people can actually survive on very little. Half the world lives on $1.25 a day. Just because we Just because you let go of holding onto things have more money, does not mean we are more (because you know everything is impermanent fulfilled. Sometimes less is more, sometimes if long term happiness or not. We can hold onto ideas, opinions, dreams and people. Some of us hold onto ideas about what a good life is or what we need. I see people working themselves sick 50 hours a week to pay for a huge home in the suburbs, because that’s what they think they need to be happy. Many of those people hate their jobs and would rather spend more time practicing or being with their family. Perhaps we need to ask ourselves, how much do we really need to be happy?

ISSUE 08

and conditioned) doesn’t mean that you don’t love or you can’t have meaningful relationships. In fact, if we recollect impermanence we don’t sweat the little things and we don’t take our relationships for granted. We know each day is precious and we don’t hold a grudge. We want to give the best of ourselves to the ones we love, and we cherish them more, as we know they are not ours forever. To live with the knowledge of impermanence and letting go can set us free and make us feel truly and joyfully alive. I have some friends who say they didn’t start truly living until they were diagnosed with some life threatening disease. It would be sad if this had to happen to us before we put down our mobile phones and started to actually live life fully, have real quality time with people and turn within.

Like everyone, I bear the scars of the wounds life has inflicted on me. I lost my father to cancer at 14, which woke me up and made me want to live fully whatever short time I have in this world, and also set me on the spiritual path. I lost partners I loved, my foster daughter died, jobs, communities and situations fell

apart. 14 years ago I ordained and hoped I would found a community for nuns of my tradition; I hoped that Buddhists would support Australian Monastics to study and practice, but pretty much everyone I ordained with has disrobed due to lack of support.

I am still homeless. Perhaps life does not always give us what we think we want. But sometimes, we may find we have learnt a great deal along the way.

Letting go is not a cold detachment to life, it simply means we choose to live in the now, to bravely move forward and learn from our disappointments and losses.

Rather than become bitter victims, our wounds are our teachers, our imperfections are the compost from which the wondrous flowers of insight spring. The poison, if taken skillfully, can become the medicine.

May you all have peace.

Ayya Yeshe Bodhicitta Bodhicitta Foundation www.bodhicitta-vihara.com

Bodhicitta foundation Taking Light into the Dark Places of the World “Happiness has to come from a sense of social responsibility, compassion, and inter-connectedness. universal responsibility the dalai lama would call it.”

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Click here for more information

SAGE magazine

Signs of life understanding spiritual aspects of symbols by peter dean

ISSUE 08

SAGE magazine

In this issue we deal with three symbols from three very different cultures. The first one, the Palm Branch, comes from ancient Egypt and might be surprising for its importance.

Then we move to the Celts and ponder about their interest in knots and what they meant to these artistic and spiritual people. And finally, we go to Japan and look at one of the country’s gods, called Jizo.

palm branch

The Palm was a symbol for reincarnation and immortality. The god Ra and the goddess Hathor were closely associated with it. Their temples were often adorned with palm groves. Pharaohs and the elite planted palms in their gardens. Many painted scenes depicting the tree were included in the burial chambers of kings.

Dates from the palms were used in a more practical form. They served as sweeteners for beer. Or they were fermented to become the base of a highly regarded wine.

what does the palm branch mean to you?

You will finally be rewarded for all your good deeds. You have been long enough one of the silent battlers who did their part to create a better world.

You never asked to be compensated or praised.

Without even giving it a second thought, you took on many tasks which most other people would have avoided. This led only too often to you being bitterly disappointed and facing the cold reality of having to confront users and abusers. But it never got you down to the point of giving up. Although you might have pondered occasionally if it was really worth your effort to continue the battles in an unfriendly environment.

This will all be over soon. Peace is waiting for you.

You will find a way to change your life. Leave the old hassles behind and follow a new direction to a brighter existence. From now on you will have a light shining on you that lets you see everything very clearly. It will help you to avoid any further mistakes.

You have finally learned what your real destination on Earth is. In the past you have overcome so many obstacles. You have helped so many others to do the same. Sometimes by physical support, sometimes just with a few well-chosen words.

It is time to look after yourself. Be selfish for a change. There is nothing wrong with a healthy amount of egotism. After all, nobody can or will live your life for you. You have done enough for the world, let the world look after you now.

ISSUE 08

It is possible that the style had its origins in Roman art. It was taken over by the Celts who made it very much their own. They used it as decorations on jewellery, pottery, torcs and illustrations in manuscripts.

what does the celtic knot mean to you?

celtic knot

Whatever happens, your first reaction is to have doubts. You will not believe anything that hasn’t been proven to be correct. And then only if you have been personally convinced that this is the case.

This is quite a sensible way to look at life. Being as careful as you are, you can avoid many pitfalls.

It will definitely help you to make your life run smoother and keep you on an even keel. For you, difficult times are only there to be analysed and then discarded as something unnecessary and unwanted.

However, as much as you steer around the trials and tribulations, you could also miss out on many highs. By the time you work out if something can be trusted or not, the opportunity is often gone.

Become a little bit more spontaneous. Of course not to a dangerous level. That is totally against your nature.

You have problems with trusting other people. Even the ones who are supposed to be close to you. Let go! Relax! Not everybody is out to stab you in the The above image is one of the very simple forms of back. If you don’t work on that issue, you will find knots. There are eight types which form the bases that people tend to move away from you. If not for the more or less endless variety of different physically, at least mentally and emotionally. This designs. In fact, they could become quite elaborate. is very disturbing, since deep down you long for Sometimes they are so intricate that they seem to be an honest, loving relationship. Stop yourself from nothing more than a marvellous display of line work. expecting disappointments. You will be rewarded by someone really caring for you.

We believe that the Celtic Infinity Knot was a symbol for the unending development of life. The Because of your questioning mind, you would be interwoven stylization expressed the evolvement of one person or humanity as a whole. The power of excellent with anything that has to do with research the mind always continues to search. Only to realize or working out problems. You can be painstakingly meticulous and people can trust you. They know that that there is no end to it. The constant need for you would never declare something as finished as discovering more and more goes on into infinity. long as more work has to be done on it.

Learn to listen to others. Some of them have Celtic knots were also a symbol of binding people together. They were an image of true and lively excellent contributions to make. By all means, work relationships which would never be devoid of love out whether they are based on facts and whether and caring for each other. you can trust them. But don’t miss the opportunity to have your life made richer by embracing the The Celtic Infinity Knot is an excellent tool for opinions of others. meditation. It will be an excellent agent in situations where concentration is needed.

SAGE magazine

jizo symbol Jizo is a very popular deity in Japan. He is treated as an incarnation of the Buddha. But he renounced the final stage of enlightenment because he didn’t want to remove himself from this world. He believed that there was still too much to do on Earth. Humankind needed help in their struggle to deal with all the problems of life.

what does the jizo symbol mean to you?

You have realized a long time ago that the world should not be seen in black and white. There are many grey tones in between. This will get you occasionally into conflict with people who believe that their way of thinking is absolutely right.

Don’t worry about them. Stick with your ability to be flexible. It will provide you with a lot more opportunities. But learn to keep your thoughts to yourself. Play the game of life and enjoy it.

Find your own values. Ask yourself every time, when you are confronted by something new, what it Anybody who is oppressed or has physical or mental means to you. Gradually, you will find out that many of your ideas are different to what you thought they incapacities can turn to Jizo. With his gentleness should be. A tremendous step in your evolvement. and his never ending optimism he will heal many psychological and spiritual wounds.

But since you still have to function in society, hide your true feelings. Learn to act. By assuming a role, He is especially looking after the plight of women but not really believing in it, you will find it a lot living in bad circumstances, and children who are easier to manoeuvre your way to the top. not yet able to voice their concerns.

But his most important task is to care for the souls of children who die before their parents. According to Japanese mythology, these unfortunate beings have left Earth before they could do enough good deeds. They cannot cross the Sanzu River to enter the afterlife. They languish on the banks of the river and pile stones and pebbles as a way to cleanse themselves of their negative dharma. Jizo protects them and teaches them positive ideas.

Jizo statues can be seen in many parts of Japan. He is usually portrayed as a childlike monk. He carries a jewel which holds the dharma truth and therefore acts against all fears. In the other hand he carries a staff with rings at the top. They jingle when he walks. It warns animals to get out of his way and save themselves from harm.

About PETER DEAN Peter Dean lives in Australia. He has been involved with symbols for over twenty-five years. He has given many lectures and workshops on the subject. Using his very personal symbolcards, he has been able to counsel and help innumerable people in Australia, Europe and the United States. To ask Peter a question, contact Sage Magazine.

His new book Egyptian Symbols For You is available now from Adyar Online & Amazon.

Embrace any challenge waiting for you. Remember that life is a continuous flow of having to choose.

There is never an end to it. But you wouldn’t want it any other way.

Jizo is a healer. Whenever you need help, meditate on the symbol. The necessary answers and solutions will come to you.

ISSUE 03

FOR FANS OF DAN BROWN’s PETER DEAN PRESENTS

EGYPTIAN SYMBOLS FOR YOU ancient and modern interpretations

Ancient Egyptian Symbols are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. They give strong guidance and, like oracle cards, offer an instant reading for your personal use.

For a better understanding of this fascinating culture, this book also includes a short history, a look at the social life of the ancient Egyptians, their writing and literature, and their religious beliefs.

everyone has a symbol

what’s your symbol?

ALSO AVAILABLE

available now from: The Davinci Code, The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown and associated logos are not associated with Peter Dean and are used for reference purposes only.

SAGE magazine

CHOOSING A CAREER

BY THE NUMBERS Discover Your Dream Job Numerology can be a very helpful tool when it comes to choosing your career. Since our numbers uncover the heart and soul of who we are and reveal our natural talents and abilities, why wouldn’t they offer deeper insight into the type of career that suits us best?

Even though there are “7 Core Numbers” in a numerology chart, your Life Path Number (calculated from your birthdate) uncovers the type of work you are naturally suited for. It will point out the skills and personality traits you were born with, that can applied in your everyday career.

As well as helping to determine your own career path, numerology will give you an idea of your child’s natural talents and abilities too. I have consulted many teenagers over the years to help them choose the most suitable area of study, leading towards their long term career.

In my experience I have found, the most successful careers are formed when we follow our passion – and numerology is a fact track way to uncover what that passion is!

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR LIFE PATH NUMBER Add up all the numbers in your birthdate then add any double numbers together until you get a single digit Life Path Number. Be sure to calculate the full birth year – ie. 1969 rather than just 69.

3+0 = 3 Life Path Number Continue to add any double numbers together until you get a single digit Life Path Number between 1 - 9 Please find your Life Path Number Career Choices Below: Bear in mind the Life Path Number is only 1 of the ‘7 Core Numbers’ in your numerology chart.

If you are drawn to the career choices of another number, that number is probably one of your other 6 Core Numbers.

Life Path Number 1 The Independent Individual Independent contractor; business owner; manager; team leader; sales, marketing or advertising professional; designer; engineer; public speaker; politician; real-estate broker; executive; media professional; financial advisor; creative director.

Life Path Number 2 The Co-operative Peacemaker Counsellor; healer; health professional; vet; caregiver; chef; mediator; politician; musician, artist; social worker; life coach; personal assistant; administrator; guidance counsellor; massage therapist.

Life Path Number 3

For example: 11th December, 1969:

The Self-Expressive Creative

1+1+1+2+1+9+6+9 = 30

Entertainer; communications professional;

ISSUE 08

using numerology to discover your dream job with michelle buchanan artist; chef; landscaper; designer; musician; writer; consultant; photographer; salesperson; architect; graphic designer; hairstylist; literary, visual, or performing artist (anything creative).

Life Path Number 4 The Dedicated Worker CEO; manager; business owner; editor; auditor; accountant; administrator; physician; technician; police or military officer; lifecoach; analyst; landscaper; architect; urban planner; executive; banking or finance professional (many 4’s can be workaholics).

psychologist; therapist; teacher; reporter; scientist; engineer; mechanic; computer programmer; technical or health consultant; accountant; spiritual teacher; alternative therapist.

Life Path Number 8 The Business Minded Leader Business owner; independent contractor; manager; supervisor; banker; financial analyst; business advisor; real-estate broker; property developer; surgeon; lawyer; politician; executive; administrator; project manager.

Life Path Number 5

Life Path Number 9

The Freedom-Loving Adventurer

The Compassionate Humanitarian

Consultant; event planner; advertising, marketing, or sales person; promoter; communications or media professional; writer; life coach; publicist; journalist; hospitality professional (anything to do with people—5s often get bored and work in a variety of roles throughout their lives).

Government worker; teacher; artist; writer; police or military officer; actor; health or education professional; politician; alternative therapist; counsellor; social worker; activist; humanitarian; HR consultant; environmentalist; designer; photographer; literary, performing, or visual artist.

Life Path Number 6

About Michelle Buchanan

The Responsible Caregiver

Michelle Buchanan is a numerologist and author of The Numerology Guidebook and Numerology Guidance Cards who has studied numerology for 23 years. Michelle provides personal readings, workshops and seminars to clients all over the world. www.michellebuchanan.co.nz

Manager; hairstylist; fashion or interior designer; counsellor; Health professional; teacher; chef; customer-service representative; caregiver; child-care professional; artist; musician; actor; life coach; cosmetologist; flight attendant.

Life Path Number 7 The Contemplative Truth Seeker Researcher; analyst; IT consultant; philosopher;

“WE don’t separate we break down the lines we unify the tribe...” srikalogy

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SAGE MAGAZINE

In the next issue we travel to the heart of Hawaii including a look at the Big Island and the surrounding jewels, its culture, its deep aloha spirit and the emerging musicians.

” There’s something about Hawaii...the islands possess an irresistible allure, drawing people from every nation to it’s shores” THAI NGUYEN

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