Rewrite Your Storyline - Inspiration from Wah!

Wah! the great spirited Yogini with the voice of honey gives a little meditation to help you rewrite your storyline for the new year.

Heal.

Re-examine.

Resolve. :)



If you are unfamiliar with Wah!'s beautiful music, get ready to be inspired here.

Beautiful Intentions - Zafu Giveaway

This is my favorite time of year! We consciously make an effort to take more time for reflection, to spend more time with loved ones and create positive intentions for the upcoming year. To start it off with a little inspiration towards our goals, I thought it would be lovely to have a giveaway!

It all started with an elephant.... 

My dear facebook yogini friend Angela of Inner Space Yoga had inquired about creating a custom elephant necklace recently, which then sparked the idea to ask her if she would like to participate in a giveaway. I was thrilled when she agreed that she would! You see, I have been adoring her zafus, eye pillows and bolsters for many many months now.  So with elephants on the brain, she diligently went to work to create this gorgeous handmade zafu just for this event. If you missed the last blog post all about Angela and Inner Space Yoga, you can read it here.

For those who are not familiar with what a zafu is, it is a cushion designed specifically for seated meditation. Angela told me a bit about the fabric (called "Karavan") and design. It was created by a designer named Valori Wells, for Free Spirit Fabrics.  Angela tells me she chose this fabric because it reminded her of the brightly decorated buses, delivery trucks, and autorickshaws in India.  And they sometimes decorate elephants there, as well.  It's a very happy fabric!  The base fabric is a very soft deep navy blue brushed twill. The zafu is filled with buckwheat hulls, and there's a zipper under the carrying strap so the buckwheat hulls can be emptied out to adjust the height for sitting.

To enter to win this unique zafu (make sure to do all three!):

1. Head over to Inner Space Yoga on Facebook and click like. Angela is a beautiful and colorful yogini with so much to share!

2. If you aren't connected with me on facebook, I would love to meet you! Click like on the Jewels Of Saraswati page.

3. Leave a comment on this blog post about what your beautiful intentions (or resolutions) are for the coming year. It can be to sit for more formal meditation or simply to practice more lovingkindess.....no intention is too big or too small. Just make sure to leave an email or info so that I can contact you.

*The winner will be announced on the Jewels Of Saraswati facebook page and will be contacted via email. If there is no response within three days, then another winner will be chosen. This giveaway will end 1/16/12. (Sorry, this giveaway is only for those residing in the U.S.!)

Good luck everyone!

This Mantra is Stale. Do You Offer Exchanges?

I call the it the plateau. It happens to the best of us, especially in the beginning.When I began meditating I ran into this plateau and thought- I can't be the only one!

Does this sound familiar?

First, you gently ease into our meditation space, light the incense, and comfortably seat yourself. Taking great care, you take our mala from its pouch, remind yourself of beautiful intentions and begin your japa and nothing. This old friend that first inspired you, called to you, even walked around with you all day while you did our dishes, brushed your teeth, focused you on stillness and awareness somehow feels....dare I say it?.....stale.

We can often struggle as our minds wander into the abyss of swirling thoughts. This mantra feels off, it must be this mantra. Maybe, just maybe I should be working with a new one. Maybe if I tried Ganesh instead he would aid me in overcoming certain obstacles. Maybe "On Namah Shivaya" will bring the transformation I need. Or....

Maybe it needs to be worked through. Maybe that is the lesson. Maybe the very expectation of clarity needs to be let go, tossed in with the before-mentioned swirling abyss and simply witnessed.  Meditating isn't the clarity, it is the journey to the clarity. The mantra is your vehicle. Watch the scenery as you drive through, stay in the car and keep riding towards your destination. You may or may not reach it in this life, but isn't the landscape just lovely? 

The remedy? Don't exchange it!!!

Be kind to yourself. Let the thoughts come and let the thoughts go. Let them tease. Smile kindly as you would to a naughty child. Stick to your mantra. Don't give in! Say it with all the love in your heart. Very often we give up just before we are about to succeed. Soon you will find the plateau crumbling, your are free falling, soaring.....free.

Original Artwork by Bevin Valentine Photography

Malas 101 - Part 2 - How to Use Your Mala

If you have not meditated with a mala before and you would like to try, here are a few brief instructions on how to use your mala.

Hold your mala in your most comfortable or dominant hand. The mala should be held resting on your third finger and the beads "counted" with your thumb. The index finger should not touch the mala as it represents the "ego". And who wants that interfering with our practice! :) (If you would like to see some wonderfully detailed pictures illustrating this click here to visit one of my favorite yoga blogs.)

As you begin your mantra, draw the beads inward with your thumb for each recitation. Keep bringing the beads inward, thus bringing your concentration inward. When you have gone completely around the mala you will come to the center bead or "guru" bead. If you wish to continue and do another full mala, do not cross over the guru, but respectfully flip the mala around and begin again. (If you have a smaller mala such as a 54 or 27 bead mala, also make sure not to cross over the guru.)

Malas are very personal items and may be used as you wish. The instructions above are the way I was introduced to meditating with a mala. I am very grateful to my teacher who has inspired me to work with these wonderful tools!

Some like to wear their malas as sacred jewelry to remind them of their intentions, others keep their mala tucked safely away in a pouch and only use it during their meditation practice. However you use your mala, I hope you enjoy it's benefits!

Malas 101 - Part 1 - Origin, Use and Variations

Recently, I have been asked many questions concerning the nature of the mala. What are they used for? How many beads are there and why? How exactly do I use it during my meditation practice? These are all wonderful questions that I thought I might address here.

Malas are believed to originate in India around 500 B.C, or perhaps earlier. They are a set of a particular number of beads used to count repetitions of a mantra during meditation. They have been called many names such as worry beads, prayer beads or rosaries and have various traditions in many cultures. The malas I enjoy creating are of the Hindu tradition and are comprised of 108, 54, or 27 beads (54 and 27 being divisions of 108). A full mala is considered 108 beads and can be a wonderful tool to keep track of your mantra during meditation and aid you in focusing. Many believe it can enhance your meditation if your mala is created from certain gemstones, seeds, or wood. 

There are many theories as to why malas have the specific number of 108, some of which are fascinating! One of my favorites is that 1 stands for the Higher Power, 0 symbolizes emptiness and 8 represents infinity. Another explanation is that 108 is a harshad number, or number meaning "great joy". A harshad number is divisible by the sum of it's digits. 

Here are some examples of malas that I have created with a varying number of beads.

108 Bead Mala

Each mala will have a "guru" bead or center bead(s). This bead actually makes the mala 109 beads and it not technically "meditated on". It signals the end of the mala and can be used as a kind of marker, or stop for the finger to feel when you have reached the end.

54 Bead Mala

This 54 bead mala will give you a compete mala after going around twice.

27 Bead Mala

This 27 bead mala, or pocket mala is easy to carry with you anywhere. Pocket malas fit exactly there, in your pocket or bag! Four times around this mala will give you a full mala.

There are as many options for malas as there are individuals! Each mala is very special to the one who uses it and it can feel like an old friend after diligent meditation. One should treat it will love, care and reverence as well enjoy it's beautiful effects!

I hope you will join me on my next post which will be a short introduction for beginners on how to use your mala.

Give Me Hand - An Introduction to Mudras by Meredith LeBlanc

One of the biggest dilemmas for me when I started my meditation practice was what to do with my hands. Should I fold them? Hold them? wave them? Should I scratch my ankle? Having a job for the hands keeps them from getting fidgety: enter the mudra.

Mudras are yoga asana, postures, for the hands and the aid us in fine tuning the energy in the body. Connecting with certain spots of the hands help to access specific areas of the physical body and the different energy centers.

The most common mudra is jnana mudra; jnana means knowledge. The tips of the index finger  and thumbs touch, middle, ring & pinkie extend, with the palms facing up. (The same position with the palms facing down is chin mudra.) Commonly depicted in yoga media, it is familiar and this the mudra I  introduce first to students.

The thumb is the boss; it represents our big “S” self (divinity/higher power) and the macrocosm (external world). The index finger is the little ”s” self (the ego) and our microcosm (our internal world). By joining them we’re creating a circuit to balance that which is greater than ourselves with our material self, much like syncing your computer with your cell phone or iPod.

To help newer meditation students to get to know their breath and get in touch with their hands I came up with simple 10 minute practice with jnana mudra and a knuckle breath count.

1. Breaths per minute (BPM): using a timer set for one minute, count the breaths you take during a minute. The breaths should be natural not forced. Take an inhale and count on the exhale. (I like to repeat the process a total of 3 times and take an average of the 3 outcomes.) 
2. Find a comfortable seat. Place the right hand on the right thigh in jnana mudra, tips of index finger and thumbs touching, remaining fingers extended. Take a few cleansing breaths: deep inhale, exhale through the mouth. 
3. Place the left hand on the thigh palm up. Bring the tip of the thumb to the first knuckle on the index finger closest to the palm (see knuckle marked #1 in the picture). Take your breathe per minute, BPM, on #1. Move the tip of the thumb to #2 knuckle (see picture!) and repeat your BPM. Continue to move the tip of the thumb around the knuckles clockwise as numbered up to #10. 
4. Take a nice deep inhale in gratitude. Shake out the arms and legs. Stretch any way that feels natural. 

This practice helps to train the mind to focus on the breath through counting and following the left hand knuckles, while the right hand in mudra brings balance into the body, mind, and spirit. It helps to remove the time pressure since you are acting as the timer rather than a clock you want to look at. If 10 minutes seems too much at first, try 5 ~ a few minutes is better than none.

Enjoy and breathe!

 

 

Meredith LeBlanc has been a yoga & meditation practioner since 1996. She expresses herself through The Pondering Yogini (http://www.ponderingyogini.org/) and The Scarlet Sutras (http://www.scarletssutras.org/). She works as yoga teacher and also in an office keeping things running smoothly. She shares her life with her husband Mike and her pug Scarlet. She enjoys reading, beading, and gardening. Recently Meredith started taking Kundalini yoga classes and is thoroughly enjoying being a student of something new.

Om is In!!

For those of you who meditate, the sound of Om (often spelled Aum or Ohm) should be a familiar one! Om is said represent the Universe, even it's very vibration. Chanting Om can instantly draw one inward and create a space of peace.....

I am endlessly browsing Etsy for handmade goods for this most ancient and mysterious symbol. I hope you find these images as inspiring as I do!

  Silver Om And Copper Heart Necklace by Tah's Jewelry Shop

  Organic Henna Om Candle by All About Henna

 

Forest Nymph Earrings by The Tattered Gypsy

 

Om Ecofriendly Gift Set by This Is It

 

Sweet Mantra Rings by Teri Lee Jewelry

 

OM IZ OM - hand painted one of a kind recycled cotton sleeveless shirt by Xusah

 

Meditating Woman Hand Carved Rubber Stamp Set by Sugarskull7

Mantra Mom - Uplifting Mantras For The Modern Mom

Mantra Mom (aka. Nina Patel) is a special recording artist that I am so excited to introduce you to! She is a unique and vibrant kirtan artist who has been practicing mantra yoga since she was a young child. Now with two children of her own, she seeks to create music for on-the-go woman/mother that will both invigorate and educate.

For those who may not be familiar with mantras, they are vibratory sounds that exist in all languages and religions. As Nina explains "Our minds can find healing and empowerment through meditation and recitation of mantras. If repeatedly constantly during meditation...mantras have the power to change our consciousness." And who wouldn't want a little change of consciousness on our way to or from work to help us ease out of a stressful day?!

Nina says, "My music won't get you into alpha mode.  It's not meant to mediate with. My music is meant to teach you the correct pronunciation and enunciation of the mantra with the help of catchy beats so one can  learn them faster and accurately. Hence, the tracks are only 3 minutes long and the CD is only 30 minutes long which is perfect for someone to play during their morning commute or before bed."

Her newest album I am.. is a balanced mix of her Indian heritage and Westernized life. She presents lyrical mantras over Indian instruments and layers them with Western beats, creating a fun and easy to learn presentations of some of the most ancient and powerful mantras. "My new album offers a simple and practical way for people of all religious backgrounds to experience the ancient healing powers of mantra music while driving, cooking, exercising, and simply living their daily, modern life..." Nina explains.

Moms are extremely busy these days...I just hope you aren't doing all of those things at once! And if you are, perhaps listening to Nina's work will keep you focused and joyful.

And what is even better is that her music is not only accessible to adults, but to children as well. Nina noticed the calming effects of chanting mantras with her own children and was inspired to create and album geared towards kids of all ages and backgrounds. The children's cd, called Mantras for my children..and yours as well as I am... is available on her website, iTunes and cdbaby. (I am will be released in three weeks on iTunes.) 10% of the CD profits will go towards Vibha, a non-profit organization helping kids in India.

To listen to samples, view videos or purchase her albums please visit her website http://www.mantramom.com.

Many Malas For Many Hands

Recently I was asked to do a very special wholesale order that I would just love to share!

I was asked to create several malas from stones that correspond to the seven chakras (or energy points). Each chakra has associations to colors, gemstones as well as specific qualities and are said to connect to our being on many different levels. Admittedly, I had not done much work with chakras before and found the research aspect of this project so much fun!

This was such a rewarding and enjoyable endeavor for me, I just had to share a few pictures of them with you. I created a 108 bead aragonite mala, 27 bead fluorite mala, 108 bead sodalite mala, and a 27 bead red jasper mala...to name only a few!

My favorite part is shipping them out and wondering who will be meditating with them in the future!

 

A beautiful trade...

I had the pleasure of my very first trade last week!


Laura of Compassion Malas  and I decided to trade malas from our shops. Her work has been featured on this blog already, but I can't say enough about it! I chose the the picture jasper pocket mala......

And she chose the Black Agate Mala......

The mala I received was beautiful and warm. I admit I have yet to meditate with it yet due to my schedule this week, but I plan to tonight! I will let you know how it goes. 


Peace to all! And a special hello to my new followers!