There is something about a book that can move you and make you really think about your life, beliefs, and spirituality.  I recently finished reading The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by Howard cutler.  It was such a great read making me feel assured that I am where I want to be in my life.  It was inspired by the Dalai Lama and his spiritual joyfulness.  The book talks about the importance of finding happiness in everyday life through your own mental state apart from outside factors.  It really spoke to me on an intimate level and highly recommend it for anyone regardless if you have spiritual rules or religious guidelines.

I shared this book with a friend and she is finding it just as captivating as I did.  I want to share with you a few other of my favorite books that really ignite my mind and help me discover my spirituality.
The books have inspired me to change for the better and continue to be the human I am today.

• Cutting through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche made me evaluate the nature of spiritual materialism.  It gets to the details by clearly highlighting the most common pitfalls spiritual people fall into now and again.  It is hard hitting but also very compassionate.  It makes the reader dig deep and analyze their spiritual path.



• Finding Freedom by Jarvis Jay Masters is one of the most honest spiritual books that I have read time and time again, and find something new each time.  The book was written by Masters who has been a death row inmate since 1990.  He was prisoned 9 years before death row after being convicted of collaborating with two inmates in the murder of a prison guard.  In the book he insists he’s innocent and showcases supportive material.  The book was written from inside the wall of the prison and will provoke all sorts of emotions on his journey to find spirituality.



• A Gradual Awakening by Stephen Levine, describes how to meditate and gives simple instructions that were very beneficial to me when beginning my journey.  It outlines the importance of mindfulness and the spiritual stages and developments.  Although the book is based on Buddhism and Vipassana meditation, I believe it is a great read for anyone interested in meditation regardless of their beliefs.



• A Brief History of Everything by Ken Wilber is a phenomenal book about his thoughts about men and women’s place in the universe concerning sexuality, spirituality and many other topics.  He somehow connect religions and spiritual traditions into the arts and business.  It is very inspirational and captivating.


I enjoy reading books that spark question and curiosity.  If you have books that bring joy and spirituality to your life, I would love to hear about them so I can engage with you as well.

Namaste.

Every morning is the birth of a new day and an opportunity to do something incredible.  I am only human and know that there are some days when my alarm clock goes off and the absolute last thing I want to do is get out of bed.  But I do, I rise up to greet the day with a grateful mind and thankful heart.  It is not my body that makes me get up, it is the discipline needed to be the person I want to be.

My disciple makes mornings roll like a movie, it is a well memorized routine that I can do without thinking.  The moment I step on my mat to begin my morning practice, my discipline heightens and I am able to give all my energy to each vinyasas.  It is easy to get lazy in the mornings but I tell myself not to waste any moment on the mat and to give everything I have.


Along with my disciple it is crucial to have a strong will power.  The will to make a change for the better, the will to be the best person you can be, and the will to commit and follow through with passion.

It takes the combination of will power and discipline to make a lifestyle change.  I remember way back when I first started taking yoga and wanted to recreate my life and make it something I would be proud of.  It was one of the most challenging yet rewarding journeys in my entire life.  To anyone who is beginning a change for the better and is expending their will power and discipline, here are some aspects of them I learned along my way.

1. Will power has limited energy and can be easily expended.  It is difficult learning to say no, make the right decision, or turning back when things get difficult.  The easy way out will always be present, but it is your decision to continue progressing.  Know your will power and avoid tempting situations that may push you over the edge.

2. Focus on one or two goals so you are not wearing yourself thin.  I still have the tendency to throw myself into too many projects making them take longer than they should.  I try making it a point to only make one or two realistic goals with measurable success every step of the way.

3. And when I finally reach a goal or a milestone, I make sure to acknowledge my accomplishment.  I have learned to write down what I did each day to become closer to my goal.  With my will power and discipline I know I will reach the goal, it is just a matter of getting that far.
 
To anyone out there just beginning a journey, know that there will be challenges and obstacles in your way.  But remember that with the power of your mind through your will and discipline anything is possible.

Namaste

“Faith means belief in something concerning which doubt is theoretically possible.” –William James
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary faith is a “strong belief or trust in someone or something.”  I believe that having faith in something is essential in a healthy human existence.  Faith is an expression of hope that there is something better.  I believe faith is engrained in our minds from the first day on this earth.  It is more than just a wish for something, it is a firm believing and spiritual connection to something greater.



Faith is an expression that goes beyond the conscious mind.  I believe faith is one of the original expressions of the human heart.  Our hearts provide faith in things that are uncertain.  The uncertainty in the future of humanity is indisputable, but people are still having kids because they have faith in humanity and what is to come.
Is faith the key to eternal happiness?  The easier it becomes to live in this world, the easier it is to lose faith.  With technology a pivotal part in the way the world turns, I believe we are losing faith and happiness.  Because of technology, things are becoming more convenient and the need to believe in a greater good is becoming less necessary.  There is no need to put faith in the earth that it will yield food because we have supermarkets and grocery stores.  Without faith we lose the little aspects of life that bring happiness.




Faith is what enables positive growth and movement in everyday life.  It is what keeps the mind and emotions balanced.  It provides peace, support, comfort, security, and awareness that there is something better to come.

People who lack faith are those who are trapped in bad situations, jobs they hate, and relationships that are going nowhere.  They stay in circumstances that don’t make them happy because they don’t have faith that something better will come along.

Whether you are a religious person or not, we can agree that faith is one of the most important things in life.  I believe it is a quality that we are born with and as we grow older we define it in our own unique way. 
“Faith is not something to grasp, it is a state to grow into.” –Mahatma Gandhi

Faith is a doorway to the greater good of the world, recognizing that we need faith in humanity is the first step to opening the door.

Namaste,




Anita

Growing up I celebrated Christmas, the religious holiday, with my family, but as I grew up and decided I would form my own spirituality I began celebrating December (winter) Solstice.  I honor the cycles and the seasons that remind us of the ever changing flow of life that we are part of.  Obviously, you cannot get rid of Christmas in today’s society but, I put my effort in celebrating and having a Solstice party.





Sunday, December 21st was the Winter Solstice.  And just like the past 7 years, we hosted a Winter Solstice dinner party at our house for our good friends that celebrate it as well.  It is great to have friends that have similar beliefs and enjoy celebrating aspects of the earth….we also have a summer solstice party too! :D

At our party we celebrate the “light” coming back to the world.  After the solstice the days begin to get longer and nights get shorter, meaning the sun will be out longer.  At our celebration we make a big dinner, similar to the one I used to make when celebrating Christmas, give gifts, usually have a campfire and engage in conversation all night. 

Even though we have good friends that understand what the Winter Solstice is about, I often get questions from students in my yoga class or other acquaintances what it is.  Here are a few common questions I get-
What is the December (winter) Solstice?  The winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon where the sun in in the furthest part of the southern sky.   It is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. After the winter solstice the days begin to get longer and the nights get shorter.  It is the first (unofficial) day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer in the Southern.  Below is a map of the world during the time of the solstice.




Is it related to Christmas?  Some believe it is because there is no date in the bible that specifically says December 25 was the birth of Christ.  The December solstice is tied to many cultures and events including the Mayan apocalypse scare that marked the end of their calendar.

Do you decorate for the solstice? Yes we do.  We decorate the house with evergreens and wreaths representing the rebirth of the circle of life.  We decorate the house with candles, lights, mirrors, prisms, and everything that creates light to welcome back the light.



The winter solstice is a magical time when we acknowledge our incredible earth and the change in seasons.  Even though the winter solstice has past, make your calendars to celebrate the summer solstice on June 21, 2015.

Happy Solstice!

Namaste

Anita