Mindful Soul Center Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 1

MINDFUL SOUL CENTER OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2019

eno eussi eno emulov

bi-monthly magazine

TIME Y O U R

M O S T

P R E C I O U S

R E S O U R C E

MINDSET MATTERS

CHANGING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ANXIETY

AM I A YOGI? Introducing The Yoga Diaries

SELF-CARE CORNER FOCUS ON PERSONAL POWER

MINDFULNESS WHAT IS IT REALLY?

ALONE OR LONELY WHAT IS THAT? ARTHA RECIPES & FOOD DELICIOUSNESS 8D MEDITATION AUDIO https://themindfulsoulcenter.com

gratitude shmatitude: Don't just think it do it for

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The Mindful Soul Center Magazine VOLUME ONE, ISSUE ONE Mindful Soul Center magazine is free to read online on our website. The magazine features news and information on all your favorite health, wellness and spiritual topics like healing, selfcare, yoga, meditation, gardening and even food.

Editor: Amy Adams Editorial Assistant: Ruxandra Badulescu Mascot: Princess Kiki

Contributors in alphabetical order: Christine Boyd Miller, PhD Charity Collier, MA CADCII Deja Osbourne of Deja Drewit Brooklyn Storme, PhD

website: https://themindfulsoulcenter.com podcast: https://soundcloud.com/themindfulsoulcenter learning center: https://mindfulsoul.center Click here to buy this issue @ $4.50 USD PDF file, Fillable PDF Worksheets and the MP3 Click here to buy an annual subscription 6 issues @$18.00 Click here to join our mailing list and get the calendar worksheets for free https://instagram.com/themindfulsoulcenter https://pinterest.com/themindfulsoulcenter https://youtube.com/channel/UCUKxfTn1kLIWirFMW63-m-w https:/facebook.com/themindfulsoulcenter https://facebook.com/groups/mindfulsoulcenter

Editor's Letter

Dear Readers, Thank you for joining me here and digging into the first edition of The Mindful Soul Center magazine. My long and twisting path has ultimately led me here, right now to help others grow and evolve with me and with peace in their hearts.

It has been my hope since starting The Mindful Soul Center (formerly Conscious Life Space) to gather together women to help one another evolve and learn from each other. Now almost two and one-half years later it's happening on a larger scale through a new medium.

I don't want you to waste anytime this time around, telling you a story about me. Dig in, you'll get to know me and all of the writers and contributors with each issue. I hope that you will benefit from the words and messages on these pages. And hope you will have a listen to our 8D Meditation.

We want to hear your stories too. Write to us and tell us your interests, something you learned or what you want to know about in the realms of meditation, yoga, personal development, spiritual evolution and living a conscious life. Send me an email when you click here amy@themindfulsoulcenter dot com or tag us in a post on IG @themindfulsoulcenter or leave a comment on our FB page https://facebook.com/themindfulsoulcenter.

With love,

Amy Adams Founder & Editor The Mindful Soul Center

5

why we exist The Mindful Soul Center magazine was created as a tool to help women connect with their higher selves, to live with less stress, more consciousness, less anxiety, more presence and more joy.

LETTER

MEDITATION MINUTE

FROM THE EDITOR

MINDFULNESS WHAT IS IT REALLY?

05

CHARITY COLLIER'S MEDITATION MINUTE

TIME

32, 33, 34

YOUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE

08, 09, 10

MEDITATION ( LISTEN ) 8D SOUND MEDITATION HEADPHONES REQUIRED

CALENDAR

35

OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2019

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WORKSHEETS PRACTICE TRACKER SHEETS

12, 13, 14, 15

MINDSET MATTERS CHANGING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ANXIETY BROOKLYN STORME'S MINDSET MATTERS

36, 37, 38, 39

FUNDRAISING EFFORT DOGS NEED HOMES: LILI AND FRIENDS

40, 41, 42

ALONE VS. LONELY POSITIVE NEGATIVE

43, 44, 45

INSPIRATION QUOTES & REMINDERS

16, 24, 25, 26, 46, 47

THE YOGA DIARIES:

WHAT IS THAT? ABUNDANT LIFE: ARTHA

49, 50, 51

AM I A YOGI? CHRISTINE BOYD MILLER'S

TMSC RECOMMENDS

YOGA DIARIES

BOOKS | PODCAST | MUSIC

17, 18, 19, 20

52

GODDESS

RECIPES & FOOD DELICIOUSNESS

FOCUS ON PERSEPHONE

BERRY GOOD OATMEAL 54-55

AKA KORE OR PROSEPINA

MINT & FOREST FRUITS TEA 56-57

21, 22, 23

TANTALIZING TZATIKI 58-59 EXQUISITE ENDIVE SALAD 60-61

SELF-CARE CORNER:

53-61

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TIME

Your Most Precious Resource Back in the day, or should I say

In

before the industrial revolution

perception

of

and even in ‘modern times’ we

shared

thoughts

as children, used to be more in

even though time is elastic our perception

tune

operate

of it is relative. She points to the fact that

on the time cycles of day and

when you are only five years old, one year of

night in sync with the sun and

life is equal to twenty percent of your time

moon.

spent

being

with

nature

This

and

also

more

in

resulted

tune

with

in the

a

recent

her

on

arrived

thread it,

Earth;

at

the

on

time

Ashley

and

Collard

on

this

however,

fifty-year

our

recently

saying

that

when

you

have

mark,

one

year

seasons in the longer cycle of

represents merely two percent of the time

one

you have spent on the planet. It seems like

year.

shorter,

The

then

days

longer,

grow

seasons

life is flashing by or speeding up!

ever-changing continuing forward

in

what

seems

like

a

straight line.

Later

the

demands

institutions

like

corporations

of

school

or

even

and small

business begin to structure our days. We might indeed work at night or odd hours on someone else’s clock - time that doesn’t fit our natural rhythmic cycle.

Years

become

decades

and

decades become lifetimes.

For most of us, when we were children, we spent a lot of time playing

and

present

Human beings experience of time as adults

without having to take care of

can

our basic needs. We also were

repeat

less self-conscious.Our actions

consciousness.

often

things

transcended

thought

-

also

seem

faster

many

up.

because

behaviours That

is

unless

Unexpected

we

merely

without we

events

full

change

are

more

we weren’t overthinking things

memorable

allowing

the

brainpower to process. When subjected to

were

new experiences our brains are pumped up.

us

moment. hungry, adhere

8

being

to

When we

to

ate,

be

in

we

and

they

require

more

we

didn’t

Think about when you travel to a new place

schedules

unless

or the first day of a new job. As children,

they were enforced. It seemed

most

like we possessed a lot of time.

Things are novel.

of

our

The Mindful Soul Center | Time

experiences

are

new

to

us.

Time Your Most Precious Resource When

subjected

to

emergency

situations our amygdalas get revved up and lay down memories on what neuroscientist David Eagleman calls a

secondary

active

memory

brain

recording

in

all

track.

hyper

of

The

mode

these

is

details

consciously creating a high density of

memories.

business

as

Normally

usual,

our

when brains

it's still

record details but unconsciously. A lot of our life can become habitual requiring less attention.

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.

- Andy Warhol Here’s

the

thing

-

time

is

a

our consciousness can feel like slow

dimension and a concept. When we

motion.

are in an ordinary state, our brains

‘normal’

register

has

concludes an event must’ve taken a

happened – our consciousness lags

long time. Another trick of time or

80

an

activity

milliseconds

after

brain-based

experience

on

of

our time

actual

should I say the brain is that time can

events. Hence, our reality is unreal

feel longer when we are in pain. It’s

since

purely our perception.

we

are

behind

it

Our

always

in

some

way

living in the past, even if it’s only a millisecond.

Hence how do we stretch time? One way is to create novelty. For instance,

What

we

believe

undeniably

the

is

past

the -

present

even

if

is

the

if

you

work

traverse

each

day,

the take

same an

route

to

alternative

difference is only a few milliseconds.

form of transportation or if you go by

In high-density active situations, the

foot, then take a different route than

details and memories are processed

you normally would. Brush your teeth

into an experience that coming into

with a different hand or partake of

The Mindful Soul Center | Time

9

Time Your Most Precious Resource your food with chopsticks instead of

habit? Or are you being? Who are you

a fork. Do something different. This

spending your time with? What are

will

you spending your time on? Is it your

force

your

consciousness

to

engage; your brain won’t be able to

life’s

predict what is going to happen next.

children? Creating new experiences on

Another way

is

and

to

precious least

probably

treat

time

resource.

renewable

the

as

It

is

simplest

your one

resources,

most

of

the

and

it’s

limited and fixed and frankly we never really know when our time is going to

work?

your

Intentionally

own

or

with

raising

friends

or

a

partner? Are you taking the time to nourish

your

mind?

To

learn

new

things? To help other beings? Are you taking your

the

life?

time To

to

live

genuinely

the

life

enjoy

that

you

undoubtedly deserve?

be up!

Intentionally make the most of this

So ask yourself some of these

precious commodity — your precious

questions -

time Do you simply exist or are you living?

—

your

life

on

Earth.

Choose

happiness.

Are you undertaking things out of

Lasting happiness does not lie in the future. It’s here now.

Choose happiness.

The Mindful Soul Center Calendar & Tracker Sheets

Get them when you sign-up for the mailing list OR

The next five pages are designed to help you focus your time and keep track of your yoga and meditation practices, track your

monthly menstruation cycle if

still

have

one,

birthdays

and

you

other

Click to Buy the magazine

important dates. There is also space for goals and other important areas of selfdiscovery.

If

you

want

fillable

PDFs

of

these sheets there are two ways you can get them. Sign-up for

the list and get

them for FREE or buy the magazine.

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10

The Mindful Soul Center | Time

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MINDFUL

SOUL

CENTER

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THE MINDFUL SOUL CENTER SELF-CARE

GRATITUDE

YOGA & MEDITATION

JOURNAL

OCT 2019

1 First Day of Spring Australia 13 Hunter's Full Moon 21:08 UTC 14 Thanksgiving in Canada 27 Diwali Festival of Lights 28 New Moon 03:38 UTC 31 Halloween Flower: Calendula Stones & Crystals: Tourmaline & Opal Sun Signs: Libra & Scorpio

READING

TOP 3 MONTHLY GOALS

When you meet your goals, share them with us on instagram! No matter how big or small we want to celebrate your success. Share your wins when you post a pic and tag us @themindfulsoulcenter

BIRTHDAYS & OTHER EVENTS

BOOKS I'M READING & THINGS I'M LEARNING:

MENSTRUATION 1 2 3 4 5

6

7

16

21

22 23

17

18

19

20

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9

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28

29 30

31

12

https://themindfulsoulcenter.com

THE MINDFUL SOUL CENTER I AM GRATEFUL FOR:

I put this amount of money in my savings:

I took the time to nurture myself this month:

This month I discovered ? about myself:

You can access these calendars and tracker sheets to download when you sign-up for our mailing list - click here. These are fillable PDFS so you can check off the days you do yoga and meditation or track your menstrual cycle. Plus track your goals and other items.

YOGA

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

16

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21

22 23

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10

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MEDITATION 7

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https://themindfulsoulcenter.com

13

THE MINDFUL SOUL CENTER SELF-CARE

GRATITUDE

YOGA & MEDITATION

READING

JOURNAL

NOV 2019

TOP 3 MONTHLY GOALS

1 Day of the Dead 12 Full Beaver Moon 13:34 UTC 26 New Moon 15:05 UTC 28 Thanksgiving in the US Flower: Chrysanthemum Stones & Crystals: Citrine & Topaz Sun Signs: Scorpio & Sagittarius When you meet your goals, share them with us on instagram! No matter how big or small we want to celebrate your success. Share your wins when you post a pic and tag us @themindfulsoulcenter

BIRTHDAYS & OTHER EVENTS

BOOKS I'M READING & THINGS I'M LEARNING:

MENSTRUATION

14

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

16

17

18

19

20

21

22 23

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

24

25

26

27

28

29 30

https://themindfulsoulcenter.com

THE MINDFUL SOUL CENTER I AM GRATEFUL FOR:

I put this amount of money in my savings:

I took the time to nurture myself this month:

This month I discovered ? about myself:

You can access these calendars and tracker sheets to download when you sign-up for our mailing list - click here. These are fillable PDFS so you can check off the days you do yoga and meditation or track your menstrual cycle. Plus track your goals and other items.

YOGA

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

16

17

18

19

20

21

22 23

1

2

3

4

5

6

16

17

18

19

20

21

https://themindfulsoulcenter.com

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MEDITATION 7

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22 23

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9

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15

E TAK

UP

E M O S

space p.s. you are worthy

16

The Mindful Soul Center | Inspiration

DEAR DIARY The Mindful Soul Center magazine welcomes

Christine

PhD

a

as

Boyd

regular

Miller,

columnist.

Christine is a California mountain mama transplanted from the east coast.

In The Yoga Diaries the

obstacles

faces

as

poses,

&

she

learns

explores

attempts

to

she explores

challenges new

new

she yoga

ideas

maintain

a

and

regular

practice. Needless to say that

she

shares the benefits & joys too!

We hope you enjoy sharing in her journey

as

her

mind,

spirit are challenged in

body

and

this busy

modern world.

When

she's

practicing

not

yoga,

time

frolicking

with

her

son,

writing

she in

spends

or her

the

redwoods

hula

hooping,

cooking, and helping her husband tend to their garden and bees.

CHRISTINE BOYD MILLER

THE YOGA DIARIES The Mindful Soul Center | The Yoga Diaries

AM I A YOGI? Written by: Christine Boyd Miller, PhD The morning sun filters through the redwood trees. I open my eyes, the dementia of dreams slowly lifting. I take day

my

first

and

mind.

No

seeping grateful

awake

breath

contemplate regrets

in

so

my

from

that’s

of

state

the of

yesterday

positive.

I’m

for having remembered to

set the auto brew on the coffeepot last

night

as

the

aroma

of

fresh

Chocolate Blues Breaker wafts down the hall. I follow my nose out of bed stealthily

as

not

to

wake

the

four-

year-old sleeping sweetly beside me.

Just as I’m setting my toes on the

Fortunately,

floor, he sits up and exclaims, “Let’s

uncertainty,

play Legos!” while rubbing the sleep

My

from

flow with the sun so I can usually rally

his

eyes.

Sometimes

I

have

a

energy

for I’m and

a

this

daily

morning

mood

person.

pretty

much

few minutes of quiet solitude in the

for

kitchen before he wakes up. It’s hit

calm and ease. Although I do have to

or miss. Either way, there’s gratitude

wage heavy battle against my inner

so the morning is a win already.

busy person who is nagging at me to

a

7

or

8am

Lego

session

with

do chores and be productive. Then my

inner

child

reminds

me

that

spending an hour playing Lego with my

son

and

filling

his

emotional

bucket is a productive use of time.

The added bonus is that it gives me an

opportunity

to

practice

a

little

self-care, which I need desperately.

The Yoga Diaries 18

The Mindful Soul Center | The Yoga Diaries

Am I a Yogi?

Am I a yogi if I don’t go to yoga regularly?

I struggle with this question. I feel like I'm always trying to “get back” to yoga.

Squatting low over a puddle of Lego

Most days this is what my yoga practice

bricks

looks

with

a

warm

mug

of

coffee

like.

I

am

a

fulltime

parent

and

cradled in my hands, I elongate my

childcare is hard to come by these days.

spine

My

and

reach

my

crown

to

the

husband’s

new

job

requires

him

to

inhale

commute about three and a half hours a

deeply. With a long exhale I relax my

day and he’s been traveling quite a bit too.

face

Our

sky.

I

close

and

yoga

my

eyes

shoulders.

teacher,

I

can

Juko,

soothing

sage

shoulder

blades

and

hear

my

in

her

say

tone, drip

schedule

is

erratic

and

weeks

pass

without an opportunity to get to a yoga

“Feel

your

class.

Other

times,

even

if

a

kind

friend

down

your

offers to watch my kid so I can go, I’m too exhausted or incapable of getting my son

back,” and they do.

and myself together enough to make the effort.

After

I’ve

had

Batwoman

a

little

has

coffee

visited

and

Zombie

Construction Worker’s house for a sufficient my

amount

attention

of

back

time,

to

I

my

focus

spine.

I

stack each vertebra toward the sky, one

by

one.

against

the

I

press

insides

my

of

elbows

my

knees,

palms and fingertips meeting with Lego Batwoman tucked between my pinky and ring fingers. I play around with

my

center

of

gravity

as

I

contemplate crow pose. I press my hands

against

the

floor

offering

Batwoman a reprieve, spreading my fingers

wide

and

pushing

in

Am I a yogi if I don’t go to yoga regularly? I struggle with this question. I feel like I'm always trying to “get back” to yoga. I get stuck in my gerbil wheel of never-ending daily

chores

and

then

berate

myself

for

not trying harder to make the time for a 75-minute

yoga

class.

Then

I

tell

myself

that yoga isn’t just a class; it’s a mindset.

If I think regularly about my posture and symmetry, I find myself contemplating the intention of each movement. My breaths become whole. My mind and body connect for moments of yoga throughout the day, not just all at once in class.

my

thumb to make a supportive dome in

my

palms

(Thanks,

Juko).

I’m

almost in crow but my left big toe keeps floor.

bobbing I’m

not

gently

quite

against

there

the

yet

and

don’t want to tumble face-first into a pile of sharp Lego bricks so with slow careful breath I put my weight back on my feet again. As my son travels

further

imagination experiment dog

and

hovering

into

next with

plank, above

a

my

his

to little face

the

own

me,

I

downward and

Lego

heart

sea

of

bright rainbow colored possibility.

I spend most of my day either upright on my feet doing chores or squatting on the floor too,

playing. which

On

takes

good

days,

dedicated

I’m

writing

sitting

time.

Over the last year or so, I’ve been slowly integrating

small

yogic

habits

into

my

daily routine. When I sit, I sit square on my pelvis. I don’t use my hands to get up and down from the floor; I engage my core and legs. Sometimes I go into tree pose when I’m standing still. When the energy around me feels chaotic, I close my eyes and take a few slow deep breaths. The adjustments are small enough to not be overwhelming or unachievable but profound enough to make a significant uptick in my wellbeing.

The Mindful Soul Center | The Yoga Diaries

19

Am I a Yogi?

I’m certainly not unique in my tendency to

invest

most

of

my

energy

into

my

loved ones without keeping enough on reserve enough for myself. After awhile, I

end

up

empty

feeding

plate

my

utterly

family

spent,

from

an

depressed,

five pounds heavier, and exhausted with a

red

total

wine

hangover.

depletion

self-careless habits.

to

snap

coma

Whenever

It

and

my

takes me

out

almost of

my

reprioritize

bucket

my

feels

full

again, I take on more responsibility and obligation,

suffocating

myself.

It’s

an

endless cycle that is abusive to my body and my mind. Each time it gets harder to hit the reset button. I become angry and resentful with myself.

When

I

get

stuck

on

the

downside

of

these cycles, my ability to manage time and

routine

go

out

the

window.

Few

plans are certain and getting to a yoga class unlikely. I do have some stabilities in my life though that cannot and do not change even if I’m feeling depleted or lacking a babysitter. One is playing with my son every day no matter how poorly

Tree Pose, illustration: Mohamed Hassan

If I try to commit to planking for ten minutes a day, I will never plank. But if I’m on the floor anyway and have some space

for

a

good

stretch,

it

doesn’t

take much effort to put my body into plank for a few seconds here and there throughout the day. It works for me.

Even

on

more

bad

days

than

not,

I

things

are

'rain

or

such

a

going

shine' good

practice

in

life.

That’s

occupational

one.

moments

He of

just

duty

reminds

me

mindfulness

a

and to

as

I

immerse myself in play, living briefly in some glorious imaginative space. Even if that feeling only lasts for seconds, it still matters because I feel it.

spend a few seconds in plank staring at the floor in a different headspace, a short

reprieve

from

the

surrounding

energy. For that few seconds, at least,

I’m

getting

better,

with

practice,

at

focusing on the useful sporadic seconds that make up the nows of my life. I might pause to float above the rainbow Lego

I am a yogi.

sea or seek an occasional vinyasa with Self-care

seems

routine

nonexistent.

is

impossible

when

However,

if

I

can manage to work just a few seconds or minutes of routine into my day, the unstructured

part

manageable.

This

becomes

more

applies

everything of course, not just yoga.

to

Batwoman myself

and

every

available

friends.

challenge

day

to

remember

seconds

of

pure

these

magic.

The

brief flashes of yogic mindfulness help balance

out

the

whirlwind

of

uncertainty; even on the days I just want to go straight to Savasana.

Notes:

vinyasa - a specific sequence of yoga poses usually paired with breath savasana - a yoga pose usually at the end of a class aka corpse pose

20

I

The Mindful Soul Center | The Yoga Diaries

PERSEPHONE THE GODDESS

PERSEPHONE PROSERPINA KORE Written by: Amy Adams Persephone the goddess of springtime flowers and vegetation becomes the Queen of the Underworld and her mother Demeter the Goddess of the Harvest come into focus as we have entered Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and darkness comes.

To the problems of your life, you are the only solution. - Jo Coudert The Mindful Soul Center | Goddess

21

PERSEPHONE, PROSERPINA, KORE Persephone distraught.

is

sad,

Her

life

she

is

changed

in

a

worked She

with

moves

and

even

eventually

embraced.

from

her

life

moment to one that she could not

as a maiden or princess to that of a

have

she

Queen.

choose.

She

woman.

content

and

imagined,

did

not

was

a

to

a

life

consciously

young

maiden

that

not interested in the expectations

She

has

fully

become

a

When her mother Demeter learns of the abduction, she is distraught and

of others. Her rebuffs of the other

beside herself. She searches for her

gods

with

who

pursued

her

placed

her

Hecate

the

goddess

of

the

in a somewhat precarious position.

crossroads

Her

scream but did not see to where she

joyful,

innocent

youth

would

be taken away as she is promised

was

to

Helios

Hades

without

to

her

be

his

wife

knowledge

—

this

nor

her

mother Demeter’s knowledge, who

who

ferried. the

heard

The

sun

Persephone

two

god

women

who

ask

observes

everything where she was taken. He tells them.

is the goddess of the harvest.

This is the story of the abduction of Persephone daughter of Demeter and Zeus.

Her

descent

into

her

own

inner

Meanwhile,

darkness

she

is

seized by Hades, Zeus’ brother and

her

the

helplessness

King

of

the

Underworld.

For

the first time, she fathoms what it is

to

her

be

alone

family.

without

The

friends

darkness

is

or

upon

her. Even though Hades constructs illusory

worlds

flowers

in

appease

her,

plore She

the

is

with

the

fields

of

underworld

to

she

is

forced

depths

of

the

processing

this

to

ex-

unknown.

and

is

at

a

pain

intense. who of

and

Hades

he

Earth.

of

extraordinarily confronts

arranged

and

the

feelings

are

Demeter

admits

for

Zeus

this

union

Persephone.

She

pleads with him to no avail. She lets her fury and wrath towards Zeus and the gods forthwith and continues to neglect her duties. No sacrifices or worship

of

him

will

happen

by

humans if they are in dire straits.

standstill. She must come to know

Now the earth is barren and infertile

herself

—

so

she

can

accept

what

is

in the moment and move forward.

Persephone

can

occupy

her

time

hoping that things will change and do nothing or she can ask for what she

desires.

staying apathy

in or

ultimately

She

can

denial

or

deep she

spend a

time

state

sadness

can

choose

of or to

embrace what is and work with it.

Change

has

taken

place,

and

the

like

a

through

woman

who

menopause

has

to

passed

become

the

crone. Demeter now knowing where her

daughter

is

does

everything

in

her power to get her back. She has now come to this time of separation from

her

reunited year.

child. with

She

In

her

the for

end, part

confronts

she of

is

the

immense

sadness, an undesirable change but there

is

changes.

darkness is acknowledged and

22

caring

neglected

Everything is dying all around her as

when

of

has

her

begins

duties

Demeter

world where she will come to face

The Mindful Soul Center | Goddess

a

resolution.

Everything

PERSEPHONE, PROSERPINA, KORE the

Second lesson, no one is coming to

myth in many ways to acquaint you

save you. It’s up to you to face the

with Persephone and Demeter and

darkness.

to

glint of light and follow it.

This

is

merely

reflect

on

continuous

a

summary

our

cycle

of

inevitable

and

of

and

death

Find

the

glimmer,

the

rebirth from one state of being to another.

In

this

completes search the

a

and

path

tale,

each

cycle

of

ascension.

of

darkness

woman

descent, Traversing

they

trans-

form from deep sorrow to joy.

There

is

so

much

more

to

these

tales including a lot of things that are

really

not

levels

with

things

like

sexual

okay

this

so

story

kidnapping,

assault,

patriarchy.

on

including obsession,

incest,

Yet,

many

and

Persephone

the over-

comes her challenges- the sadness, apathy,

dismay

and

injustice—

in

the end, she is both the goddess of the springtime flowers and tation

AND

the

Queen

vegeof

the

Underworld. Her mother too, as an aging

goddess

does

not

lose

her

power, she claims it.

At

the

many

end

of

times

The

third

reading

summer,

our

own

like lives

may

lesson, this

maiden

who

mother.

the

in

PROSERPINA WITH POMEGRANATE DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI

a

all

you

the

will

life

human,

women be

the

into

the

mother

you

transforms

And,

give

than

-

to

as

the

to

something

you

may

other

even

care

darkness comes and with it so does

for others. Whatever you give birth

the bountiful harvest.

to,

First

lesson,

when

you

refuse

to

know

never

that

you

diminished

are by

whole

and

biological

make a choice or take a decision, it

circumstance or choice. In the end,

may

if

be

made

for

you.

This

is

how

you

live

long

enough,

you

will

we surrender our power and give it

experience enough life and become

to others.

the crone.

What's your take-away from the mother and daughter goddesses?

What goddesses would you like to see featured here? Send us an email to hello@themindfulsoulcenter.com

The Mindful Soul Center | Goddess

23

m oc.retnecluoslufdnimeht//:sptth

OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU WILL KNOW IN A LIFETIME, YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE YOU WILL NEVER LEAVE OR LOSE. TO THE QUESTION OF YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE THE ONLY ANSWER. TO THE PROBLEMS OF YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE THE ONLY SOLUTION. Jo Coudert

The Mindful Soul Center | Inspiration

25

IV CE

E

open EN

TO

RE

P OM O R BE S F T IF G SE R E E TH IV N U

TH

E

to receive the gifts of the universe

p.s. you are universe

26

The Mindful Soul Center | Inspiration

PICK A CARD Pick a card any card. Well if you don't

have

Deja

Osbourne's

decks yet, we're picking for you.

Deja was struggling as a single mom,

overwhelmed

and

tired

she decided to take her power back.

She

artistic deck

did

this

prowess

of

cards

with

and

her

created

with

low

a

cost

things she could do to get back on

track

and

She

knew

only

one

care

that

for

she

herself.

wasn't

struggling

and

the

there

were a lot of other women out there just like her. So began her mission to help women to truly love themselves and take their power back.

We welcome Deja here to share her

cards

with

you

from

her

Personal Power and My Quality Time

Self-Care

We're

looking

and

every

Card

foward

issue

as

Decks. to

she

each

shares

cards and messages to help us to

live

life

an

and,

abundant

to

gently

and

joyful

remind

us

that nourishing one's self means we can fill our own cup,

so we

have enough to give to others.

We hope you'll be as inspired as we

are

with

these

gorgeous

cards.

DEJA DREWIT'S

SELF-CARE CORNER The Mindful Soul Center | Self-Care & Personal Power

27

DEJA DREWIT'S SELF-CARE CORNER

SELF-CARE This is my favorite self-care activity because it helped me with chronic back pain and it is how I start each and every day.

If you can, try to incorporate stretching, yoga or movement

STRETCH

each day. Too busy? I usually listen to relaxing music during my stretches, but you can also catch up on some videos, podcasts.

My Quality Time Self-Care Deck

28

The Mindful Soul Center | Self-Care & Personal Power

PERSONAL POWER

S U R R E N D E R Tune in to what the Universe wants you to do.

Personal Power Deck

Have you ever been so

Surrender, have fun, do something adventurous and let

overwhelmed trying to

life be your inspiration or spark. When you surrender to

make something

life’s plan, it brings you the people and opportunities

happen and no matter

necessary to proceed to take the next step. Take a break,

how hard you try,

allow your mind to be still. Go for a walk, take a quiet bath

something always

or shower, meditate or swim. Journal and write down your

seems to get in the

thoughts. It can take an hour to get clarity or it can take

way? There are times

days, weeks or even more. Trust that when you are meant

things are beyond our

to take action, that spark of clarity will reveal itself to

control or we are not

you.

meant to take action.

Everything is about ebb and flow and we have to learn to acknowledge that time and simply surrender. Tune in to what the Universe wants you to do.

JOURNAL PROMPTS What have you spent a lot of time and effort towards and it still hasn’t worked out?

When has surrendering worked for you?

How can you tap into that power now?

How can you surrender when you don’t know what happens next?

Written by: Deja Osbourne The Mindful Soul Center | Self-Care & Personal Power

29

CREAMSICLE

DIY MAKE IT FRESH

BODY BUTTER RECIPE Did you ever eat a creamsicle? The delicious weird swirly vanilla and orange ice cream? This is reminescent of days past for me. Now you can get the olfactory sense stimulation of a delicious creamsicle and simultaneously moisturize your body and hair with this DIY at home recipe. Makes enough that you can give some away as gifts too.

INGREDIENTS 450 grams or 1 lb of Shea Butter 60 ml or 1/4 cup of avocado oil 60 ml or 1/4 cup of coconut oil 120 ml or 1/2 cup of olive oil 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil 20 drops vanilla essential oil 10 drops of sweet orange essential oil

OTHER STUFF YOU NEED Double Boiler OR a pot and a heatproof glass or ceramic bowl that can be placed atop a pot of boiling water Electric Mixer [recommended unless you have the strength of 1000 camels to mix by hand] Empty glass or other jars with lids

30

The Mindful Soul Center DIY Make it Fresh

DIY MAKE IT FRESH

CREAMSICLE BODY BUTTER RECIPE MAKE IT Cut the shea butter into smaller pieces so it will melt quicker and place in the double boiler. Add the avocado, coconut, olive, and jojoba oil on top and heat until liquid. Do not leave this on longer than necessary.

Remove from heat and refrigerate the oils for 1-2 hours (you can use the top pot of the double boiler or put into a new bowl) until stiff. Maximum time to refrigerate is two hours.

Begin to 'whip' the congealed mixture with an electric mixer for 10 minutes.

It will transform into a light and fluffy texture. Add the essential oil and blend for approximately one minute.

Add more essential oils if you want a stronger scent.

Transfer the mixture into a large plastic bag and seal or if you have a pastry piping bag you can use that. If you are using a plastic bag, cut a corner and squeeze your shea butter into your jars. You can use mason jars or recycle some of the glass jars left over from other products you have used. This recipe will fill three 16 ounce or 490 m jars.

NOTE: You don't have to use a variety of oils as shown in the recipe, you can use a single oil or a combo of any of these instead like jojoba oil, olive oil or grapeseed oil just make sure that the amount you use totals the recipe requirements.

Post a picture of you making this wonderful recipe or your finished product on Instagram and tag us! @themindfulsoulcenter

The Mindful Soul Center DIY Make it Fresh

31

IT'S SIMPLE Life

is

complicated

interested

in

but

Charity

simplicity

comes to mediation.

when

is it

Letting go of

the hype and mystery she teaches people how to practice mindfulness.

Her mission is to change the stigma around

meditation

everyone

in

the

and

least

bring

it

to

intimidating

manner.

Charity coach,

is

a

meditation

expert

teacher and drug addiction

counselor.

She

holds

a

Master's

degree of Mindfulness Studies from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA as well as a certificate in Substance Abuse

Counseling

and

a

BS

in

Exercise Physiology both from the U Mass, Boston.

She

offers

through

her

Together welcome

meditation company

and her

we're

at

The

coaching

Meditating thrilled

Mindful

to

Soul

Center as both a contributor to the magazine

and

teacher

(stay

tuned

to future issues to learn more in the upcoming months.)

CHARITY COLLIER, MA in Mindfulness Studies, CADCII

MEDITATION MINUTE

MINDFULNESS

WHAT IS IT REALLY? Written by: Charity Collier, MA in Mindfulness Studies, CADCII Mindfulness is such a buzz word these days. There are

articles

everywhere

saying

“if

you

meditate

you will be happy,” or “mindfulness will bring you happiness in life.” I am not writing to sell you that.

What

I

would

like

to

share

with

you

is

what

mindfulness is and how it relates to meditation.

Mindfulness 2600

years

was ago.

founded In

today's

by

the

Buddha

Western

society

over the

mindfulness most often spoken of and utilized is mindfulness

in

a

secular

manner.

Mindfulness

starts with a practice of meditation. A meditation practice is what many articles - talking about how mindfulness can help a person live a happier and less stressed - neglect to mention.

The Mindful Soul Center | Meditation Minute

33

Mindfulness, What is it really?

Meditation is how the Buddha came to his enlightenment. Mindfulness is the product, the

outcome,

Buddha

the

from

enlightenment

meditating.

of

The

the

Buddha

became aware of the present moment, that all

there

is,

is

the

Buddha

learned

listening

in

realization ebb

and

mediation

of

his

flow

meditation

present

moment.

The

sitting

and

thoughts.

The

through his

humanness

of

and

emotions.

taught

the

of

the

Sitting

Buddha

in

suffering

and happiness is a part of being human and how

to

let

go

unhappiness

of but

impermanence anyone

not as

of

can

only

thoughts

well

achieve

“enlightenment”

as

happiness.

through

of

the

Thankfully

mindfulness a

practice

of

meditation.

No one begins a meditation practice by sitting down and being great at meditation.

Mindfulness is not a grandioso thing.

Mindfulness is fleeting moments of awareness. what

one

a

meditation

mindfulness

practice

naturally

is

unfolds.

I

started

can

is

Mindfulness aware,

Once

The

hear

to

understanding

doing is

in

the

slowing

make

moment.

down

different

of

to

be

choices.

Mindfulness teaches compassion for oneself and for others. Mindfulness

readers saying “I can’t mediate”, “I am no

teaches

good

not

thing. In the non-attachment comes

stop.” I would like to say, no one begins a

the realization of not to “sweat the

meditation

small stuff” and enjoy the good.

at

meditation”,

practice

“my

by

mind

sitting

does

down

and

to

not

attach

to

any

one

being great at meditation. In fact no one sat down and knew exactly what they were doing

at

anything better

first. else;

at

it,

Mediation

you

and

practice

you

is

just

and

develop

like

you

from

get it.

I

invite you to take 5 minutes either before you

get

out

of

bed

in

the

morning,

or

I understand the process seems all too good to be true. I am not asking you to believe anything. I am inviting you to give a practice of mediation a try and see what happens.

before you go to sleep at night to close your eyes and follow your breath through your body. Do this for 21 days and begin noticing

the

difference,

either

in

your

morning or your sleep at night. After the 21 days

take

the

practice

longer.

Go

from

there in growing a meditation practice, as mindfulness awareness

of

unfolds the

in

your

difference

life.

your

The

sleep,

mood or day is, is mindfulness.

34

The Mindful Soul Center | Meditation Minute

MEDITATE AN 8D MEDITATION

This original piece composed by Dmitry Zhbanov

Integration an ambient

for

sound meditation -

meditation piece using 8d technology. What does

Listen with Headphones

CLICK TO LISTEN NOW

The

Mindful

Soul

Center

is

an

ambient

that mean? Simply 8d sounds create movement in aural space meaning that you get to experience sound coming from different directions as if this is a real life experience. Headphones are required -

of

course

you

can

listen

to

it

without

headphones but won't get the full effect of this beautiful meditation piece. Now sit back relax and soothe the mind-body. You don’t need to know ‘how to meditate’ this

8d

sound

to experience the benefits of

meditation.

You

can

bathe

your

home in this meditative soundscape or yourself or fall Download this mp3 file to keep and listen to anytime anywhere when you

asleep

to

it.

This

piece

will

place

you

in

a

relaxed meditative state. Do not operate heavy machinery whilst listening.

purchase this issue -> click here.

The Mindful Soul Center | Meditation

35

ALIGN & SHINE When

things

alignment.

flow,

Yet,

conscious

we’re our

mind

can

in

subcreate

resistance from time to time. It seems we might even get in our own

way

creating

some

low

vibe feelings. That’s why mindset

matters.

topic

and

It’s

we

an

are

important

pleased

to

welcome Dr Brooklyn Storme as a

contributor

here

at

The

Mindful Soul Center to help us all sort through the mire.

In

her

work

as

Strategist, upon

an

Alignment

Brooklyn

her

twenty

experience

as

psychology.

a

draws

years

of

doctor

of

She helps people

to understand the role that the subconscious each

mind

person’s

success.

With

promises

to

and

we

ways

plays

well-being each

offer can

issue

us

in and she

insights

manage

our

state of being helping us to get into alignment.

When

she’s

not

busy

helping

others to shine their light, you can find her at Kilcunda backbeach walking

in

Victoria,

her

Australia

Maltese

cross,

Gabe or singing (very badly so she says) in her car on weekend country drives.

BROOKLYN STORME PhD

MINDSET MATTERS The Mindful Soul Center | Mindset Matters

Mindset Matters

CHANGING CHA YOUR N YOU GIN G RELATIONSHIP R REL A WITH ANXIETY WIT TION HA SHI P NXI ETY Written by: Brooklyn Storme, PhD

It’s that feeling you experience in the pit of your stomach, the rush of heat, adrenaline, the fast

breathing

sense

of

dread,

something happen.

and a

dizziness.

seeming

absolutely

It’s

completely

the

the

that

knowing

that

unwanted thought

irrational

It’s

and

yet

is

about

that’s still,

to

often

has

the

power to change every fibre of your being at that moment.

But anxiety wasn’t always experienced like this.

In fact, the function of anxiety dates right back to early (hu)man times when our limbic brain was smaller than it is today and was covered by a

thin

layer,

differently fields,

called

then.

hunted

We

our

the

cortex.

walked

food,

We

lived

through

open

dwelled

together,

prepared meals together, cared for each other.

It was a tribal way of life in the truest sense.

The Mindful Soul Center | Mindset Matters

37

Changing Your Relationship With Anxiety The limbic brain helps us to be safe by

keeping

an

eye

out

for

any

threats. If a high risk was perceived, it would trigger a chain reaction of physiological

responses

that

were

designed to get us ready to stay and defend

ourselves

safety.

or

Today

to

we

run

call

for

these

responses fight and flight (and more recently, we also have ‘freeze). So in itself,

anxiety

is

good.

It

keeps

us

Anxiety comes from a thought that something bad is about to happen.

alert.

Anxiety

becomes

a

clinical

condition

when it begins to show up more days than not in your life for a period of a few

weeks,

to

such

an

extent

that

it

begins to impair your ability to do and enjoy the things that you normally do, like work or socialise. For most people, anxiety

is

short-term

participate

in

monitoring people

from

also

when

they

and

have

doctor.

Some

therapy their

benefit

from

medication

for a short time.

It’s helpful to remember that thoughts create feelings. Anxiety comes from a thought that something bad is about to happen. One of the most empowering CREDIT: ELISA RIVA

approaches to managing the symptoms and

when they arise is to remind yourself

maybe you can recall going out with

that this is only a thought and that a

the girls one night. At the end of the

thought can be changed.

Fast

forward

to

modern-day

evening, you all say goodnight and walk off separately to your cars. It’s dark and it feels like it might rain.

The parking lot seems dark too and is only illuminated by the dimmest of street

lights.

The

wind

is

moving

through the trees and causing them to

cast

moving

shadows

on

the

ground. You put your hand into your handbag and fumble for your keys, making

sure

you

have

the

car

key

ready to thrust into the lock of the car door so you can jump inside and lock it. This is anxiety. This is your body helping you to be acutely aware of

your

surroundings

to

keep

safe by acting more quickly.

38

you

Keeping a journal of experiences can also

help

triggers

or

symptoms could

assist

to

identify

patterns

that

keep

you

a

you

log

with

the

experience.

of

the

day,

any

You

time,

place, what was happening just before you felt anxious (the trigger), what you instantly moment did

said (the

when

the

to

your-self

thought) anxiety

and

at

what

became

the you

more

present (the behaviour). The following step would be to review your journal and when you are ready, look at each scenario that you’ve written down and imagine what might be different if you change the thought.

The Mindful Soul Center | Mindset Matters

Mindset Matters Anxiety is a sign for growth and for change and when you are able to change your relationship with it, you will begin to heal.

Changing thoughts takes practice and

Anxiety

is

patience.

change

and

It

also

takes

being

kind

to

a

sign

for

when

growth

you

are

and

for

able

to

yourself. If your alternative thought is

change your relationship with it, you will

the opposite the original one, it may

begin to heal. Another great addition to

not be helpful. I’ve personally found it

tools

more

and journaling, is a Metta meditation.

effective

in

those

cases

to

say

something like, ‘I’m in the process of

They

recognising

based

on

meditation

mindfulness

principles and can be very effective in helping you heal by viewing yourself and

feel

the

peace’.

and

are

mindfulness,

coming

at

thoughts

as

up with alternative ones that make me more

my

such

You

could

also

remind yourself that it is safe for you to

have

peace

of

mind

and

condition

from

a

different

perspective.

anchor

yourself into the present moment with

If your symptoms are worrying you then

mindful breaths.

please seeks support from a qualified therapist.

While I’ve been a Psychologist for 20 years,

outside

of

that

role,

I

do

Much love,

also

hold a belief that things are happening

Brooklyn

for me and not to me. This belief was instru-mental

in

being

able

to

turn

around my own anxiety. I was able to see

that

the

anxiety

was

providing

contrast and showing me exactly what I did

want

in

security).

my

With

life that

(more

peace

awareness,

I

and was

able to create the peace I was seeking step-by-step, realised

that

until I

one

hadn’t

day

I

panicked.

just And

that felt really good.

Hi Thought You're actually not so bad afterall.

Thanks! Glad you noticed I changed and we're friends now.

The Mindful Soul Center | Mindset Matters

39

r e t n e lC u o S ful ort d n i The M aising Eff r Fund $10 USD from item sold will go towards the purchase of items listed on the next pages to help 16 former street and rescue dogs to be cared and provided for the rest of their lives.

When you support this effort you get something in return - knowing you are helping the dogs and a cozy t-shirt or cute tote bag.

Click on any of the images below to visit the site and purchase a cozy t-shirt, tank-top or tote bag and support the dogs.

Women's Tank

13" $20

Tote Bag 16" $25

$28 Extra Soft T

$22

$20

$25

18" $28

Toddler T-Shirt

$30 Triblend T

$28 Heavyweight T

This shelter was built as a labour of love. It is run by Viorica who has been retired for several years. She uses her pension money to

purchase

donations

supplies

and

the

and

help

of

relies

on

volunteers

to

operate it.

She used to take in more dogs but she is getting older and now

wants only to care

for the 16 remaining dogs who live there.

They are loved, well taken care of and each day they run around for a little while. They are fed and given water. They are groomed and

time

is

spent

with

them.

They

take

turns running around the fenced in grassy

Current needs for the shelter at this time: A solar powered motion detector light to help protect the premises (no electricity on the property)

area up on a hill.

Special food for Lourde Viorica

uses

her

small

pension

to

buy

medication and other necessisities for the dogs.

When

donates don't

eat

plastic food make

left -

it's

they

buckets

from

spoons

in

scrape

the

sifts

aren't

mix.

a

that

Viorica

and

there

the

session,

lunches

and

them

sure

in

over

kids

plates

into

collects

through

any

Large

school

the

the

it

napkins

sacks

of

to or

bread

crumbs and stale bread from a local bakery are collected and brought to the shelter.

Industrial

plastic

containers

filled

Medication for Rex and for Myra

New roofing is needed over some of the dogs compartments. Some leak and need immediate repair before the harshest months of winter come.

with

water are refilled periodically.

A water pump to Most of the needs of the dogs are met but

not

all.

Medication

is

expensive

and

bring water onto the property.

necessary for some of the dogs. One dog needs special food since he suffers from allergies and can only eat one type of food and

its

expensive.

volunteer wanted

there

to

do

Recently

one

day

I

started

each

something

to

week

help

to

but

beyond

that. I made this dog art t-shirt and bag available

to

help

raise

money

for

If we can get the pump installed we will be able to have fresh water for the dogs year round and we will no longer need to refill the plastic water bins that freeze during the winter so they are only good for approximately 8 months per year.

some

needed items.

For every product with this design that is sold $10 from each item will be donated to purchase dogs

and

consider

items the

that

are

shelter.

supporting

needed I

hope

the

for you

dogs

the will by

purchasing a t-shirt, tank top or tote bag.

42

The Mindful Soul Center | Fundraising Effort

positive negative

ALONE = / LONELY

PART ONE

In the liminal state between waking and sleep, you muster all the strength you have and extend your arm towards your beloved next to you and they’re not there.

You hop nimbly off the bus and quicken your step with anticipation of seeing your grammy who lives in the modest apartment downstairs...did she make rice pudding?

For a moment you’ve forgotten that they left - your partner, your grandmother, your beloved friend, or dog — it doesn’t matter how they left — they’re gone and suddenly you feel alone. The feeling matches the reality. You are alone.

You are missing them and that state can pass as you process the feeling, the sadness. Maybe that state even lingers awhile, it’s a part of life - it passes. For all one knows it doesn’t. Maybe it continues to linger. Then you aren’t indeed alone, you feel lonely. You are naturally wanting something that isn’t anymore - the companionship, the laughter, the tears and all the things that invariably come with connection and relationship. You miss that person; you miss the feelings that you felt when you were with them.

The Mindful Soul Center | Postive Negative

43

When we are looking to others to give us the things, we need most, then we can ask ourselves if we’re giving these things to ourselves.

positive negative

ALONE = / LONELY

others. When we are surrounded by

others

wants,

and

needs

their

and

apparent

expectations

from and of you, we must take time

to

know

be

and

alone.

Not

appreciate

only

to

ourselves

We can dearly miss things and people

but to restore our own sense of

we never even had. They are emblems of

well being.

instinctive desire creating a wanting, a lack. Others can seem to “have it all” -

When

the people and things around them and

it's

still be lonely. You might even be that

us, it's us. We have abandoned

person

that

the

people

around

has

a

you

partner

or

and

lonely

be

other at

times. Sometimes that state passes and sometimes it seems perpetual.

we

not

don't

know

others

person

who

who

ourselves, abandoned

you

will

spend

your entire life with on Earth.

Through the years we keep shedding our skin. It keeps growing back as our life transforms and

Though, all the while, there is someone else that we must confront. The person that we have to come face to face with each day when you are lonely and that’s you. The whole you - the integral you. Do

changes able

in

until our

continue grow

get

skin.

to

and

we

be

comfort-

Then

we

will

challenged,

evolve

with

each

to life

that we live in this lifetime.

you like you?

The ineffable sadness will come and go.

That by heart is life on Earth. It’s when that sad state becomes perpetual, then it can become a negative state - it turns into

loneliness.

inevitably

over

Eventually

time,

the

and

weight

of

sadness becomes easier to carry from loss, separation and change.

As we let go of others ideas of whom

we

are

and

we

come

to

know ourselves, this discomfort can transform into joyful ease as we

peel

the

layers

away

of

identities placed upon us, even the

ones

that

we/ve

built

ourselves. Then we are alone and enjoying that aloneness.

Whatever independent judgements we place

on

our

attitudes,

habits

and

All of these thoughts and ideas,

unique ways of being are our own. When

even

we’re

separated

alone

there

is

no

one

else

to

if

they

are

from the

daily

life

are

when

blame for how we behave. That’s equally

we’re

in

true when we have others around us all

might

think

the time too. For then it’s easier to find

luxury of being alone. Or maybe

a convenient scapegoat, someone else

we

to blame.

because we are trying to distract

don’t

world

valid

we

living.

don’t

want

to

have

be

We the

alone

ourselves from us. Get to know If

you

haven’t

throughout

been

your

alone life,

very

it

much

can

be

profoundly uncomfortable at first. The

yourself.

Take

take

some

up

some space.

time You

and are

worth knowing.

discomfort isn’t the state of loneliness when we miss someone or miss the way

In part two we’ll hear about other

things were at one time. The discomfort

people’s experience of loneliness

is finding out who you really are without

and being alone. Send me your

the social and cultural expectations of

stories and experiences to amy@themindfulsoulcenter.com.

44

The Mindful Soul Center | Postive Negative

I WANDERED LONELY AS A CLOUD WILLIAM WORDSWORTH - 1770-1850 This poem is in the Public Domain

I wandered lonely as a Cloud That floats on high o'er Vales and Hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host of golden Daffodils; Beside the Lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the Milky Way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:— A Poet could not but be gay In such a jocund company: I gazed—and gazed—but little thought What wealth the shew to me had brought:

For oft when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude, And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the Daffodils.

shew - show jocund - cheerful and light-hearted

The Mindful Soul Center | Positive Negative

45

m oc.retnecluoslufdnimeht//:sptth

YOU MUST NOT EVER STOP BEING WHIMSICAL. AND YOU MUST NOT, EVER, GIVE ANYONE ELSE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LIFE. Mary Oliver, Wild Geese

The Mindful Soul Center | Inspiration

47

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NOVEMBER 2019

EFFORTLESS MEDITATION AN INTRODUCTORY COURSE

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Our Effortless Meditation Course is beginning on November 1st 2019. We practice three techniques over a three week period. Sign-up for the webinar to learn more when you click here.

Your teacher and guide: Amy Adams

O C T O B E R

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16TH @ 11AM EST/8AM PST

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MINDFUL LIVING MEDITATION FOR INSOMNIA

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48

INTRO TO MEDITATION FOR MINDFULNESS

COMING IN APRIL 2020

The Mindful Soul Center | Course Offerings

BEGINNER YOGA FOR BODIES 50+

What is that?

ARTHA SANSKRIT:

अथ )

If you look up the term artha you’ll gather the straight facts, the generic definitions.

They’ll say that artha is ‘one of four aims of life” noted in Indian Philosophy. You’ll learn that collectively they are called the Purusharthas…And

that’s

all

well

and

good and that’s even where we’ll start but keep reading beyond the basics because we’re going to go a step further.

Encyclopedia Britannica defines artha as follows:

“….material well-being is a basic necessity of man and is his appropriate pursuit while a householder, that is, during the second of the four life stages.

Furthermore, artha, as the pursuit of material advantage, is closely tied to the activities of state- craft, which maintains the general social order and prevents anarchy. But, as the immoderate pursuit of material advantage would lead to undesirable and ruinous excesses, artha must always be regulated by the superior aim of dharma or righteousness.” (source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/artha)

The Mindful Soul Center | What is that?

49

We’re

merely

about

artha

person

in

concerned

as

the

it

with

relates

scheme

to

of

the a

basic

distinct

society.

That

That answers the basic question of ‘What is that?’ today but I’d like to ask you to go a

little

bit

deeper

conundrum

wealthy life and being spiritual.

material money.

life It

and

is

the

can

and

activities

relate

wealth

to

and

of

as

treasury

and

‘that

career

which

is

desired.’

Money, wealth, and the accumulation of it become a sticky subject for many people who

have

a

long-held

belief

that

to

be

spiritual you should not accumulate wealth or live a material life. Except we live in a material world with rules that we all agreed upon

about

how

money

works.

We

don’t

barter with our neighbours for most things, and we all aren’t trying to become religious aesthetics

that

contemplate life

or

‘god.’

want

the

to

live

cosmos,

Most

in

the

a

cave

to

meaning

spiritual

seekers

of

are

living and functioning in society.

YOUR INNER BEING, THE SPIRITUAL AND OUTER MATERIAL BEING IN HARMONY The

common

both

simultaneously,

you

must

with

your

inner

being and outer being in harmony.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi busts the myth.

He taught the practice of Transcendental Meditation as a way to bring both these worlds in unison. Saying that 100% of the inner being and 100% of the outer being would compel us to live a life of 200%.

This is freedom because when you are beyond

of artha that induced a feeling of positivity

money

to

about

others,

and

and

that

simply is not true. You can live and enjoy

So that brings me to a definition that I read

spiritual

is

you must choose one over the other - this

more

a

belief

choose spirituality OR materialism, that

acting

living

prosperous

earning

your

from which you make a living. Artha is also defined

a

supposed

means,

resources

living

the

means that artha represents essentially the the

of

into

material

life

base

resources live

survival

including

your

do

purpose,

more

and

the

you time

for

your

greater

to

have and help

family,

simultaneously. In fact, I proclaimed in my

community

own mind -

you? Well, that is a question only you can

good.

Will

answer. He says -

“YES! That’s it, that puts it all together for me when it comes to experiencing an abundant life with money, with wealth, with the means to fulfil your purpose, your dharma."

The

brief

Frawley’s

definition book,

of

Mantra

“…being is bliss consciousness.

Through- out the world the same contention, that if you want to be spiritual you have to abandon the

artha

in

Yoga

Dr

and

David Primal

Sound, makes so much sense. He succinctly says this about it -

material, and if you are materiallyminded then you can’t enjoy the spiritual bliss consciousness, either this or this but it’s not that!

We are born to enjoy this and this

Artha - the achievement of necessary

and this with this.“

goals and objects including wealth and property to facilitate one’s dharma.

You can still enjoy many of life’s luxuries, that doesn’t make you greedy or a bad

Incidentally, dharma If you haven’t heard of that term is one of the Purusharthas as well and

is

much

more

commonly

used

and

it

means your work, your duty, your vocation, your primary purpose - your responsibility to yourself, your family, and society.

50

person.

Not

everyone

wants

similar

things. Some people love to wear makeup and spend money on that or someone else might want to buy certain foods or spend

money

theirs -

The Mindful Soul Center | What is that?

following

a

passion

of

everyone

to

What insights can you glean from these

decide what your priorities are when you

is

different.

questions? How do they make you feel?

spend

else’s

Are your own personal beliefs really yours

business how you expend your money and

alone? Did you learn them from society or

it’s really none of your f’ng business how

your family? We love hearing from you.

other people spend theirs- although I know

Share an image or comment on Instagram

sometimes

and tag us @themindfulsoulcenter or send

your

money.

I

hear

a

It’s

It’s

up

no

judgey

to

you

one

voice

in

my

head from time to time. You get to enjoy

us an email and we’ll read them on the

and experience your life. Will you become

podcast -

attached

to

money

or

act

without

integrity? Again, only you know the answer

hello @ themindfulsoulcenter.com

to that question.

Let’s look at attachment. How would you feel if you could no longer obtain one of your

luxuries?

Would

it

rupture

your

identity?

small ad EMAIL

US

FOR

RATES

Limited space available for advertising. Send an email to magazine@themindfulsoulcenter.com

If so, you may have too much attachment to

that

person

thing.

Would

without

the

you

be

thing?

a

different

Well,

you

wouldn’t have that thing but think about it.

Would

it

change

your

essence?

Your

beingness? No. Material possessions aren’t going to change who you are on the inside and out.

Will acquiring certain things make your life easier? Yes and No. It depends. How would you feel if you no longer had your basic needs met? Unless you were going to live in a cave somewhere, it would probably be on the level of ‘that sucks.

What

am

I

going

to

do?’And

might

even

throw you into a tailspin of how to manage.

That state of being creates undue duress and stress. How you handle your wealth in

small ad EMAIL

US

FOR

RATES

Limited space available for advertising. Send an email to magazine@themindfulsoulcenter.com

this world and your level of attachment to it is all up to you.

The Mindful Soul Center | What is that?

51

BOOKS UNDERSTANDING MEDIA Marshall McLuhan

https://amzn.to/2LHgU5I

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY Douglas Adams

https://amzn.to/30kvbOE

PODCAST MYTHOLOGY

https://www.parcast.com/mythology

MUSIC

ROYSKOPP THE LOST TAPES https://royksopp.lnk.to/losttapesYo

‐

‐

HUUN HUUR TU (TUVAN THROAT SINGERS) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ovoRyv4kw

MUSIC FOR YOGA A one hour fluidfied mix that is excellent music to listen to as you practice yoga

BLISSFUL SOLITUDE

https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=dTW2MxfqVLI

TMSC RECoM MENDS 52

The Mindful Soul Center Recommends

RECIPES & FOOD DELICIOUSNESS BERRY GOOD OATMEAL MINT & FOREST FRUITS TEA EXQUISITE ENDIVE SALAD TANTALIZING TZATIKI

berry good oatmeal INGREDIENTS 1 cup oatmeal water 1 tsp butter 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp brown sugar or maple syrup

handful of berries for each serving

Place oatmeal and water in a small pot and heat until boiling. Watch that pot no one likes burnt oatmeal :-) Just as it's almost done cooking throw in the butter, cinnamon and coconut and let it cook for another minute as you stir all the ingredients together.

Put each serving in a bowl and add a sprinkle of brown sugar

OR maple syrup and a

handful of berries on top and serve.

The Mindful Soul Center | Recipes & Food Deliciousness

55

mint&forest fruits tea INGREDIENTS 1 few leaves of Fresh Mint gently crushed or 1 Mint Teabag Forest Fruits Tea loose or 1 tea bag Sweetner (optional)

The refreshing mint will energize you and the fruity flavor creates a natural sweetness.

Forest fruits include currants and berries.

Black currant leaves and fruit can be included in tea. Black currant is antiinflammatory and rich in antioxidants, high in vitamin C which is known to boost the immune system.Blackberries and raspberries as well as blueberries all are rich in vitamins and minerals and have other health benefits as well.

Mint is an herb you can easily grow at home in a pot or outside in your garden or on your balcony. You can use it to flavor a variety of drinks and has a cooling effect, even when you drink a hot cup of mint tea! It stimulates digestion and curbs hunger. Mint is a common home remedy for gas and can relieve pain and discomfort from gas and bloating.

Serve cold or hot and enjoy this delicious rereshing tea!

The Mindful Soul Center | Recipes & Food Deliciousness

57

tantalizing tzatiki INGREDIENTS 1cup plain Greek yogurt 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons chopped green onion (scallions) 1 large cucumber diced, chopped or blended - your preference 1 clove fresh garlic pressed or minced OR 1/2-1 small teaspoon already diced and chopped garlic (I buy that in jars)

DIRECTIONS Mix it all up in a bowl and refrigerate for approximately 1 hour (if you're not in a hurry) to allow the ingredients to permeate throughout. It can also be served immediately - it's up to you :-) Serve with a baguette or with some tortilla chips for a quick meal. You can also add it on top of veggies in a wrap, etc.

The Mindful Soul Center | Recipes & Food Deliciousness

59

The Mindful Soul Center' Recipes & Food Deliciousness

exquisite endive salad INGREDIENTS 1 Belgian endive chop it up 1/2 large cucumber peeled, dice into small pieces 1/2 ripe soft avocado cut into small pieces 1 small ball of fresh mozarella cheese or equal amount of another soft white cheese

DRESSING 1 clove fresh garlic pressed or minced 1/2 tsp of fresh ginger peel & grate 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste salt & black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS Wash, peel and chop up the first four ingredients and toss them together in a medium sized bowl. In a separate cup or container mix together the ginger, garlic with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar and shake or stir well. Pour on top of the salad.

Pour on top of the salad. Mix it all up in a bowl with a wooden spoon and cover with with a towel to allow the dressing to be permeate the salad for a minimum of 10- 15 minutes - then viola it's ready to serve!

The Mindful Soul Center | Recipes & Food Deliciousness

61

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The Mindful Soul Center | Subscribe to the Magazine

Every issue of the Mindful Soul Center magazine is free to read online. Sometimes though reading a print copy is preferable, or you might want to keep something like a recipe, a worksheet or even the meditation from this edition without having to search for it again. That's why we made this available to purchase.

Buy this Issue Print Quality PDF MP3 audio meditation Calendar Fillable

$4.50 October/November 2019 | Volume One, Issue One

Tracker Sheets

WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE MAGAZINE: A print quality PDF file that you can download and print if you choose.

Especially useful if you like to have hardcopies of the recipes. Or you simply like to read text IRL offline.

Download and keep the mp3 audio file of this issue's meditation and listen on your favorite device, anytime, anywhere.

The monthly calendar worksheets as fillable PDFs without having to sign-up for the mailing list. You can update them on your favorite device or you can print them too.

The Mindful Soul Center | Offers: Buy This Issue

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