Synchronicity Simplified. "Be at Peace and see a clear pattern running through your lives." Eileen Caddy  It seems the more I raise my consciousness, the more my life fills with magical coincidences.  It’s as if people, places and events coincide to bring messages about the path that I am on. Carl G. Jung coined the term synchronicity and explained it as a principle by which improbable forms of coincidence occur where no causal connection can be demonstrated between two events, but where a meaningful relationship nevertheless exists. *C.G. Jung gives the example of a beetle flying into his room while a patient was describing a dream about a scarab. Jung interpreted: “the transcendental meaning of both the scarab in the dream and the insect in the room was that the patient needed to be liberated from her excessive rationalism.” *Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, gives the following example: “A woman admits to a buried dream of acting. At dinner the next night, she sits besides a man who teaches beginning actors.” *An example occurred with me, while teaching The Artist’s Way course, I was journaling about my desire to buy a Counting Crows CD when my lover came home from his guitar lesson with a copy of a live Counting Crows song that he wanted to play for me. *Another of my own examples happened when I had Turnips on my shopping list, as the only vegetable I needed to pick up to make a special soup for dinner, and while at a client’s house for lunch, we discover it was the only ripe vegetable in his garden! *A student cleaned her closet out and discovered an old sweater from an ex-lover that she hasn’t heard from in years, who happened to call that evening. Skeptics would like to dismiss these examples as selective perception, and the law of averages playing itself out.  Synchronicity is generally explained as the connection between the powerful unconscious mind and the phenomenal world of perception. Now, scientists seek to explain synchronicity with quantum physics, fractal geometry, and chaos theory. Physicists have shown, for example, that if two photons are separated, no matter how far, a change in one creates a simultaneous change in the other. Personally, I’ve interpreted synchronicity to be evidence of the Universe’s infinite intelligence, which responds to conscious and unconscious prayers. Regardless of why it happens, I invite you to observe and cultivate these signs. Notice that the more you look for and listen to them, the more they continue to happen. Meditation, journaling and prayer have all proven to increase their frequency.  By following these threads and themes you will inevitably raise your sense of wonder, magic and connection to the universe.

Tipping is Good Karma     You walk into your favorite coffee shop and notice a jar on the counter that reads: “Tipping is Good Karma.” Does this inspire you to turn away, or reach deeper into your pocket book, in hopes of getting greater gratuity yourself? I invite you to stop and ponder: What is Karma? And what forces govern this law?     The basic concept is not only common to Hinduism, Buddhism, Zen, Jainism and Paganism, but is becoming a mainstream Western assumption. Karma is the law of cause and effect, and it is associated with such clichés as:

--“What goes around, comes around”,       --“You get what you deserve”      --“What ye sow, so shall ye reap.”      The Sanskrit word Karma translates to 'action, deed, destiny.' The earliest written records of this principle are found in the Vedic Upanishads around 1500 B.C. In India, where the term originated, good and evil deeds are believed to return to a person in this life, or in a later life. Karma is deeply intertwined with the concept of reincarnation, and one’s disposition. circumstances, and station in life are all determined by past karma, which is a possible explanation to the disparities and varieties of life.     In Hinduism, Gods or planets play a role in dispensing one’s Karmic retribution. This is similar to the Judeo/Christian notion of God punishing or reward people for their sins or their virtues.     In contrast, most Buddhists see the consequence of an action as inseparable from the original action which caused it; karma is an inherent principle of the universe, without the intervention of a supernatural force.     Osho says, “There are no books which God is keeping. Your being is the book! Whatsoever you are and whatsoever you do is constantly being registered. Not that there is somebody writing it; it is a natural phenomenon.”     The Threefold Law, or Law of Returns favored among Pagans, similarly states that whatever negative or positive energies one sends out into the world, will come back to the sender with THREE times the force.    Swami Sivinanda notes, “Destiny is created by man's thoughts, habits and character. There is every chance for his correction and improvement by changing his thoughts and habits. The scoundrel can become a saint; the prostitute can become a chaste lady; a beggar can become a king.” This view of karma is very empowering because it enables us to more consciously create our own lives.     Many Buddhists however, view karma as the greatest obstacle to enlightenment, regardless of whether the actions are positive or negative.  Karma burdens one’s freedom. The goal of spiritual practice is to break the bonds of karma and unite with the infinite. Once we’ve transcended all duality of self-separate from the universe, there is no individual self to receive the Law of Karma, whether good or bad.     Liberation can also be experienced through Karma yoga, which is the practice of doing good without being attached to the fruits of your labor.  Selfless actions are said to purify the heart and prepares the individual for Self Realization.     In conclusion, if you choose to put money in the tip jar, in hopes of getting something back, you will be happily rewarded.  But if you chose not to tip, or to tip as an altruistic act of love, you are that much closer to enlightenment. Enjoy the dance, Kamala Devi

The REAL meaning of Namaste Date: April 1, 2005 In one tantric myth it is said that the great lover god,  Krishna made away with the clothes of unmarried teen-age  maidens, who were bathing in the river Yamuna. Their  fervent pleading didn’t sway him. Only when they performed  the eternal gesture of Namaste, out of total devotion, did  he agree to hand back their garments so that they could  recover their modesty.  The greeting "Namaste" is commonly used in our  spiritual community and is pronounced "Namastay.” In  Sanskrit it literally translates to, Namas:"I bow” Te:“to  you." It is often expressed with two hands pressed together  near the heart center with the head gently bowed, and eyes  closed. Thus Namaste is both a Mantra (sacred sound) and a  Mudra (sacred gesture.) The hands held in union signify the  oneness of the apparent duality: left and right, masculine  and feminine, spirit and matter, or the ego-self meeting  the higher-self.   Namaste is sometimes expressed by bringing the fingers  of the clasped palms to the forehead, where they touch the  brow, the site of the mystic Third Eye. A third form of  Namaste brings the palms completely above the head, a   gesture said to focus consciousness in the subtle space  just above Crown Chakra. This form is so full of  reverence it is reserved for the Almighty and the holiest  of the gurus.   According to Hindu Today magazine, the essential  expanded meaning of this gesture is the same as silently  saying, "I see the deity in us both, and bow before Him or  Her. I acknowledge the holiness of even this mundane  meeting. I cannot separate that which is spiritual in us  from that which is human and ordinary."

Altar your Spirituality Date: March 1, 2005 Want to take you Spirituality to the next level? I  recommend creating and sustaining a physical Altar in your  own home. This is a simple and effective way to raise your  vibration on an ongoing basis. An Alter is a sacred space  where you place your inspirational/devotional objects and  consciously practice prayer, ritual, magic, or meditation.  The specifics of one’s altar are as individual and personal  as the contents of one’s diary. Following are 6 easy   guidelines to optimize the potency of your Altar.    1. Clarify your intention. What do you want to create your  altar for? To find peace, manifest abundance, attract love,  decorate your home, balance your feminine and masculine  energies, increase your connection to Spirit… Pick a  primary purpose, and allow it to evolve with your practice.      2. Find a physical location. Not everyone has the luxury  to designate a whole room, but if you can, fabulous. I’ve  seen gorgeous altars in bedrooms, offices, kitchens and  back yards and entrances. Next, decide on a direction to  face. It’s widely believed in belief systems ranging from  Vastu to Wicca, that altars are best facing North or East,  however, there is some debate as to whether the altar  should face a desired direction or if YOU face that  direction when sitting in front of it. I say, unless you’re  already following a specific doctrine, use your intuition.     3. Chose a surface. Altars can be anything from a  upside-down orange crate, to elaborate woodwork on an  ancient ritual table. Counter tops, dressers, and coffee  tables also make great altar spaces, as long as they’re not  used to dump keys and pocket change on when you come home.  By dedicating a specific space only to Spirit, I’ve found  that Spirit flows more freely through all other spaces in  my daily life. Dressing the surface with the right fabric  can help preserve this energy. Be mindful of the color and  textureof the scarf, cloth, or lace that you chose. Some  Wiccan practices involve changing alter cloths with each  changing season.    5. Arrange your sacred objects. Instinctually, you may know  which Deity makes the best centerpiece because it has the  most resonance for you. I grew up with an altar of Virgin  de Guadalupe in my mother’s bedroom, while my father had  Buddha in his office. It’s OK to have multiple symbols for  multiple purposes, but I recommend you arrange them as  symmetrically as possible. In India, I took mantra  initiation in front of an altar with 22 realized beings, 10  wisdom goddess, 9 planetary deities and 1 peacock in a pear  tree ;-) Tantra practitioners often dawn both God and  Goddess on their altars to express of the duality of  nature. Mother can be represented with symbols of earth,  water, rounded stones, bowls, flowers and/or statues of  divine feminine usually placed on the left half of the  altar. Whereas Father can be represented on the right side  with horns, lingam shapes, feathers, blades, pictures of  gurus, and/or something your father gave you. I now have my  Shiva Lingam in the middle of my altar because the base is  Shakti’s yoni and together these symbols represent the  ‘androgynous ideal’ and spiritual Non-duality.     6. Energize your altar. You may initiate your sacred space  in any number of ways: calling in the four directions,  ringing bells, burning sage, sprinkling salt water, or  simply praying for protection. Once initiated, you will  continue to add and change the symbols as you please.   Each time I approach my altar, I bring an offering: a fresh  flower, a penny found on the sidewalk, a card my lover gave  me, a check my client wrote, an inspiring quote, light for  the candles, oils, crystals, herbs or incense. When each  sacred object has been energized, I remove from the altar,   with the same mindfulness in which I originally brought  them.   Most recently, my offering has been my open heart and  empty hands. I practice staying open to whatever arises in  this space. You may be surprised to one day find yourself  journaling, reading, or channeling here. The powerful  symbology on your altar reflects your own dynamic goals and  beliefs. The energy raised here is cumulative. With time,  simply being in front of your alter will align you.  According to spiritual law, whatever energy you put into  consciously raising the vibration of your inner world, will  be matched with like vibration from the outer world. Let  me know what you’re consciously creating, and how I can  help you manifest magic this month.   Have fun with the co-creation; enjoy the dance,  Kamala Devi

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Ommm Sweet Ommm Date: May 2, 2005 The Meaning of Om: The supreme and most sacred syllable in Sankskrit. It is believed to be the original primordial vibration of the universe, after the big bang. It is uttered as a mantra and in affirmations and blessings to connect all living beings. Made of the three sounds (a), (u), and (m), representing various fundamental  triads:  (Beginning, Middle, End)   (Past, Present, Future)   (Father, Son, Holy Ghost)   (Creation, Preservation, Destruction)     Om in Hinduism: The mantra Om (or Aum) has been handed down  to us by the Himalayan sages. The Mandukya Upanishad  explains it’s significance as everything manifest which has  its origin in the Un-manifest. "Om is the primordial throb  of the universe. It is the sound form of consciousness."  The repetition of OM, leads one's mind into deep  concentration, meditation, and finally to samadhi, a state  of higher consciousness.   Om in Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism: Om is an integral part  of the philosophies, rituals, meditations and chants in  Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism. It has the same meaning and  ramifications as in Yoga.   Om in Tantra Yoga: Tantric scriptures declare that OM is  the storehouse of mystic power. When OM is uttered  according to Vedic injections, the throat generates the  sound A by beginning the sound from the bottom of the spine  (Kundalini) and thus using the entire depth of the human  mechanism to produce this sound. It is the mantra for the  7th chakra, it opens the lotus at the crown.  Aum (Om) in ancient Egypt: It seems that the ancient  Egyptians knew of Aum as Amen or Amun. Amen-Ra was the name  of the supreme God who was considered the primordial  creator and ruler of the other gods which have no beginning  and no end.   Om in Ancient Greece: The ancient Greek alphabet had Omega  as its last letter. Omega written in the lower case of the  Greek alphabet, if turned to its side, looks quite similar  to the Sanskrit way of writing Om. It is from the Greek  alphabet "Omega" that we have the English phrase "the alpha  and Omega", which means, "to include everything".  "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God  and the Word was God. Amen.”  Om in Judaism and Christianity: Indian mystical thinking  influenced Judaism in many ways. Scholars believe Aum (Om)  became Amen and, as such, was later incorporated into  Christianity. Amen is said to mean ‘so be it’, though this  may be a later interpretation. Amen is widely mentioned in  the Bible. It is used during worship (Revelations 3:14); as  an expression of benediction (1 Chronicles 16.36); for  expressing one’s love of God (2 Corinthians 1:20); or as  sign of gratitude.   Chanting Om: The repetition of OM or AUM dissolves the mind  in it's Divine Source. If you chant OM several times out  loud it purifies the atmosphere: try it! Take a deep breath  and Chant AaaaaUuuuuMmmm as long as you can. Then take  another deep breath and repeat at least 3 times in  succession... Then stop. Sit in Silence. What do you  feel?Benefits of Om:  -Drives away all worldly thoughts   -Removes distraction.  -Infuses new vigour in the body.   -Raises your vibration and consciousness.   -Improves your voice.   -Improves concentration and self confidence.  -Raises your overall attractiveness.    Meditating Om: Sit down in a quite place, close your eyes  and completely relax both muscles and nerves. Concentrate  on the space between your eyebrows and slow the mind by  slowing the breath. Repeat OM silently to yourself. When  the mind wanders bring it gently back to OM again and  again. Keep the meaning of Om always at heart: infinity,  eternity, immortality, purity, perfection, all-knowing,  truth consciousness and bliss. Om may be safely used by  anyone of any religion. For more instructions on how to  meditate see my  website: www.partnerplayshop.com/page/page/1881063.htm   OM -AUM – AMEN – AMIN – OMEGA   Doing Darshan “If you would learn the secret of right relations look only for the divine in people and things, and leave all the rest to God. “ J. Allen Boone Darshan is a Sanskrit term for being in the presence of the divine. In India, people travel hundreds of kilometers to be in the audience of a saint or a sage in order to receive their blessings. During my pilgrimage, I experienced many forms of Darshan. For devotees of the divine mother Amma Chi, darshan means a warm healing hug. If you follow Sai Baba, darshan might include standing at his feet, amongst thousands of other truth seekers. In some temples, darshan is sitting in silent meditation before a guru. Darshan may also be the act of viewing statues, sculptures, or pictures of deities after they’ve been bathed and dressed in fresh costumes. Frequently, Darshan is a private Question and Answer session with a master teacher. Receiving audience with a realized being, is a unique, personal and powerful experience. It is not easily intellectualized, and affects everyone differently. Energetic transmission from a divine being has the potential to transform one's consciousness. My experience of life Coaching is a lot like Darshan. Instead of having clients come to me for blessings and transmission, I often experience the divine in them. Using a constellation of personal growth techniques, I assist people in recognizing their own eternal, blissful and all-powerful Self, which launches them towards their glorious full expression. I invite you to join me in a a 9-week Manifestation course this fall, in which you’ll explore the power of conscious creation. I expect you’ll awaken your divine potential and align yourself with success and self-realization.