"Je suis, Charlie" 3.7 Million Unify and March

I woke this morning knowing I wished to blog about the march taking place in France this past weekend--over 3.7 million people turned out to protest the terrorist attacks taking place in France over the last week: at a magazine office, a Kosher grocery store, and the assassination of a police officer. If you wish to see the details here's a link.

I felt tremendous hope when watching this event unfold and here's why:

• 3.7 million people turned out to protests terrorism. That's more people than took the streets after the liberation following World World II, setting a record in French history!
• 56 world leaders were in attendance and walked with the people, including world leaders from Jordan, Israel, Turkey and Tunisia, countries literally submersed in daily terrorist acts of violence. 
• French Muslim leaders harshly condemned the killers and asked Muslims to turn out "massively" for the rallies. I don't know the count. 

"Charb," the chief editor for French magazine Charlie Hebdo and among the slain, was quoted as saying, "I would rather die standing than live on my knees." The people of France seem to have taken his words to heart as they protest his death and that of fellow journalists after posting satirical cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. The tragedy brings to light the value of free speech and freedom of expression. These values were North Stars for the journalists and editors of Charlie Hebdo. I will await the following days and watch events unfold as a result of the peaceful, unifying march of over 3.7 million strong. 

Love Dual! Wait...What?

I just got home from being with my Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community Peeps and am inspired to

Pull them in --heart-side!

throw down the gauntlet! It's a love dual, baby, will you accept? Here's the challenge:

Today offer someone a heart-side hug and hold it for three in-breaths and three out-breaths. Inspire others by sharing what happens at the bottom of this post (in blue, click on "Comments/Leave a Comment") or on the Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community Facebook page: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/570858886370763/

You know I'm a power of the heart cheerleader and have all confidence in our electromagnetic heart--scientists show that its waves are detectable 5 to 8 feet from the body. If you want to read more here's an Inner Constellation article on the power of the heart:
http://innerconstellation.blogspot.com/2011/06/youve-lost-that-loving-feeling.html

If you have a nice smooth heart rhythm (thank you, HeartMath, Mindfulness Practice, Meridian Tapping, hangin' with Mindfulness Community), then get it groovin' with others--pull them in to your heart-side for a heart-side hug!

Ok, enough, I'm entering a state of euphoria here. Let me know your results below or on Facebook.

New Year's Resolution Resolved!

Happy New Year 2015, Inner Constellation Readers! Winter is turning, and the IC theme for January is moving from “stillness” (December) to “resolution.” I don’t know if you’re one to set a New Year’s Resolution, but if you’ve ever aspired for personal improvement, no matter what the time of year, this article is for you.

A few days ago, I had a temper tantrum, a sudden irritation that spurted out of me so fast, I didn’t realize it had manifested until…well, it had manifested. It was late, past my bedtime and fortunately me and my beloved (who was the lucky reciprocator) realized I was tired and feeling the effects of a fairly emotional day, so we stopped what we were doing and put me to bed! However, when my eyes opened to the new day, a resolution become clear—my seed of anger needs attention.

What do I mean by “seed”? I’ve considered this metaphor for years—emotions as seeds, present in each of us: anger, jealousy, sadness, as well as patience, generosity, love, etc. Which seeds do we choose to water? For instance, on the particular day of my flair up, I had interpreted a court procedure resulting in a heart-breaking chain of events rehashed the entire day. I had practiced mindfully tending to my emotions, aware that my seeds of anger, grief and judgment were being watered again and again, but still the residual flare up. I obviously needed to raise the level of my self-care. Here’s a question to consider when an emotional seed appears—what is its antidote? In other words what is the emotion’s opposite, in the case of anger, the antidote might be: patience, acceptance of how things are, peace, humor, gentleness. What if  I make a conscious commitment to selectively water anger’s opposite, the seeds of patience, peace and gentleness? Next time I become aware of anger in my body I will:

1)      stop

2)      identify what’s present

3)      breathe while giving myself the antidote

Breath my anchor, in and out, while establishing compassion for myself, patience and acceptance. Hmm, good food for thought, this will take daily practice. I look forward to diving deep into the January theme of resolution*, and the commitment that Inner Constellation practitioners take to mindfully identify, transform and resolve all resistances so we can flow into the year 2015!


*if you would like to receive the M-F email Inner Constellation Blessing send as a gift, please contact me. 

Holiday Benediction

Holiday Benediction

©2014 Karla Johnston, InnerConstellation.com

Christmas Eve morning,
I pondered how lovely if our power to bless were reclaimed.

I put aside the bling: wrapping paper, packages, and bows

and when I did, heard deep within, “you are a gift.”

Many faces of loved ones appeared:

relatives, friends, sangha members,

creatures of this land, furred and winged,

evergreen trees, sun, stars and a sliver’s moon...
gifts all.

A wealth is held within sacred form,
richness shines beyond measure,
capacity for beauty, love, stillness,

respect and tender mercy.

How lovely this season

to reclaimed our power to bless—

You, Most Precious One, are a gift. 

"Stillness" Winter Mindfulness Retreat

Duck sanghas at Paradise Park inspired our walking mediation

Hello Lovelies, what a fine time we had last Saturday at Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community Winter Retreat. Our theme was "Stillness," and we enjoyed a sweet day of sitting and walking meditation, interspersed with mindful moments together which included inspiring poetry, discussion on Winter Meridian Treatment Points and the Three Kinds of Energies: Mindfulness, Concentration and Insight. We also enjoyed a variety of warm beverages and a delicious Lentil Soup. I wished to put together this article as a care package of resources to keep your winter practice fueled:

• poem read prior to walking mediation at Paradise Park--Haloed Tree
• gift link to gobs more Inner Constellation poetry 
• Inner Constellation blog articles on Bladder Meridian and Kidney Meridian
• Link to more IC Meridian Articles.
• talk by Thich Nhat Hanh on the Three Kinds of Energies that might strengthen your practice. It can be watched or downloaded in mp3 format for your listening enjoyment.
  
  
  If you would like to deepen your work with Mindfulness and the season of Winter, please don't hesitate to contact me and we can set up a private session. Also, Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community meets every Wednesday morning, 7:30a-8:30a at The Studio Lake Tahoe for community practice. Check out LTMC's Facebook page for the latest. Thanks to everyone who joined together on Saturday to practice--may it nourish us, our loved ones and our community. Look forward to the Spring Retreat, March 21, 2014 from 8:00a-11:00am. 

Create Good Will--Devonte Hart Sure Did!

Devonte Hart, 12 years old, and Sgt. Barnum hug at Oregon protests

A good friend told me about this amazing photograph that went viral as soon as it hit social media, and I had to do my research! A young man, Devonte Hart, decided to hold a sign, "Free Hugs," during a demonstration in Portland. When officer Barnum saw Devonte holding the sign and crying, he approached, started up a conversation and then asked for one of his hugs. 

People are good, and strive for the good in others to come out and shine through. Thank you, Devonte Hart and Sgt. Bret Barnum for knowing this and being courageous examples of hope in the midst of turmoil. You are both Inner Constellation Freedom Series Heroes and your story will inform our Winter Retreat this coming Saturday, December 13. 

To inspire your practice in the meantime here's video of this amazing story with an interview from Sgt. Barnum. Here's an article on the miracles that you might not know as a result of that sweet moment above, one of which is that the amateur 20 year old photographer has now been discovered and the above photo was his first published work. See how good will spreads--shine on! I love this story.

Winter Mindfulness Retreat

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I just finished my advent wreath and lit the first week's candle, then shared a lovely dinner with my beloved by the evening fire, soaking in the theme for this coming Saturday's retreat--stillness;. Ahhh, there seems no better theme with all the holiday hubbub upon us. I've been in weekly conversations with community members about the importance of strengthening the calm reserves within each of us. I'm looking most forward to coming together to explore the conditions of stillness that empower our practices and create a nourishing space. We'll be practicing the postures of sitting, walking, standing and lying down meditations at The Studio Lake Tahoe and Paradise Park (weather permitting). Please bring a cushion for comfort and a mug and spoon for warm, sustaining beverages and soup. The winter season will be our inspiration and guide on this precious day. Hope to see you there.