Mindfulness & Polarities: Creative Possibilities

[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]Dive into the life activating forces of polarity work as John Kesler, renowned mindfulness expert, guides us through the pole of clarity & confusion, and how holding both of these can give rise to creative and experimental possibility.


CREATIVE POSSIBILITY

If we are present in the moment it can create new possibilities.

A primary polarity for holding this sense of abundance is “clarity/confusion” If we are present to what is arising we can be clearer about the reality before us instead of being immersed in a narrative based on our biases grounded in experiences of the past and/or in fears of the future. Related to this is that we have greater clarity by not being in denial and accepting what is before us.

We should also face the reality that any mental framing we have of what is arising has to some extent inevitably been constructed by our minds. If we realize this we may be thrown into confusion. Or on occasion we experience confusion in any event because we have no sense of what is going on. Such confusion is a gift, though, because we are freed from the unconscious limitations of our own faculties.[/two_third_last]

[two_third]The challenge is learning not to swing dramatically from clarity to confusion and back again. It is optimal when we can lightly hold the interplay of perceiving with our latest framing capacities as things arise from moment to moment and also noticing that any act of framing is limited in its grasp. In this way we live in an endless series of moments of clarity/confusion.
Buddhists call this “beginner’s mind”. Having beginner’s mind implies the courage to look at everything with fresh eyes with minimum bias, to have the integrity to be responsible for what is arising but humble enough to realize that we must stay open to the possibilities of every moment. This can gives each moment an element of surprise and delight.

When our awareness can access a stillness underlying this free flowing dance of clarity/confusion, another phenomenon happens. That stillness is an opening to our deepest wisdom and compassion, which transcends the thinking mind. This is also a place of abundance giving rise to hope, possibility and experimentation.

Because of this opening to something deeper beyond the everyday conceptual mind, we are also more prone to be open to inspiration. In this moment there is an opportunity for the emergence of creativity and with others, co-creativity.

All this depends on being present and being aware of these basic universal dynamics of consciousness. [/two_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]

Feel It All: Come Together

[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]The Deeply feeling Katie Chirgotis of Eothen entices us with some Aquarius Season sensing and a call to action of coming together, during this new age we find ourselves in; an age that is asking us to step out of the shadows of great revolutionaries to keep watch over the freedoms that have rightly been fought for and are our responsibilities to uphold.
Photography also by Katie (view her instagram here).

Perhaps you remember “20 Questions” played at a slumber party when you were young. There’s a range of asks: the name of a major crush to ketchup v mustard preference to a brush with a ghost. A question I remember was, “if you could live in any age, what decade would it be?” My answer, shushed out from behind a mangle of braces and bad bangs, “the 60’s!”

Several reasons:

Peace, Love and Rock n’ Roll.
Flower Power and all the daisy crowns that came with it.
Low-waist bell bottoms (back en vogue at the time).
Something about the way my body felt and my heart synced up when “Come Together” played on my parent’s Abbey Road album. A call, a thrum, a delicious idea of rebellion.[/two_third_last]

[two_third padding=”5% 0 0 0″]I was in love with the titillating juxtaposition of kumbaya anarchy, hand-holding, and peace-sign flashing. As a young person who so often felt alone and strange (along with almost every teenager that ever was), I imagined myself surrounded by others who felt and sang and danced like I did to the same Drum.

Decades later and more informed, I am sobered by the horrors of war and racial inequality that lit the flame of resistance. I recognize the cost of a generation disillusioned by and divided from the one before.

Generation( S ).

When we connected during Sagittarius season, we named that many of us haven’t needed to resist the current state of being. Rather, we distractedly stood on the shoulders of past radicals, artists, and truth-speakers who came together in protest of growing ugliness.[/two_third][one_third_last][/one_third_last]

[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last padding=”9% 0 0 0″]This Ugliness. Let’s sense into what reaction or feeling lights up in each of us. Division. Accusation. Acceptance. Disbelief. Hope. Doubt. Fear. Grief. Resolution. Revolution. Whatever the light may be, it is not just us alone. It glows within the person beside us, facing us, following us. As we turn to acknowledge the flame burning within each other’s heart, we see our Community.

In Aquarius embodiment, we are again gathering as Fire-keepers and High Idealists have done before. Creating tribes to support, keep watch, and act. Whether you have marched, called your Senator, or opened your heart/mind/mouth in kindness to connect with someone who feels differently than you, community is formed. Our former limits of time and space are rendered boundless by the seamless interplay of reality and virtual reality, (the use of the Internet/social media, by the way, is SO AQUARIAN). With no limits, we are drawn to one another. [/two_third_last]

[one_sixth][/one_sixth][one_third padding=”3% 0 0 0″]At the end of March, I am co-leading a gathering to hold space for this fire, and what we need to do to sustain it. For a few days, we’ll spend time in the wild nature of Big Sur, a place that I feel is incredibly close to Source. Through the practice of yoga, artistic creativity and spiritual healing – men and women will be a community that honors the need to feel safe AND free. Grounded AND in flight. An honoring of something bigger than ourselves, and longer than our brief time here on Earth.

I know you, you know me. So, let us beat the drums, gather around the fire, and see each other through the flames. [/one_third][one_third][/one_third][one_sixth_last][/one_sixth_last]

Mid-Winter Yoga: Finding Familiarity with Failure

[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last padding=”2% 0 0 0″]Yogi, Brooke Musat, joins us with insight from our Seasons of Greatness, Winter Workshop on how to use failure as a way to reinvent your goals after we’ve all had blunders with our New Year’s Resolutions. Get curiosity, relax your standards, and negotiate with yourself! Photography by Ann Whittaker

It’s no longer the season of New Year’s Resolutions, instead, it’s that tricky time of year when resolutions of the New Year start to lose their “newness” and motivation starts to dry up. If your start of February is anything like mine, you may have found yourself failing to stick to what you promised yourself you’d stick to in January, and swore you’d stick to throughout the year. That’s okay, a lot of us are in the same boat, and actually, I am encouraging you to continue to fail.

Yup, that is right, I think you should fail more often. Build a familiarity with failure, and generally get more comfortable with committing to do so.

Just saying “fail” out loud feels slightly taboo, maybe it’s because it’s a 4 letter word that begins with an “F”, or maybe it’s the weight the word carries. “Fail” is defined as “being unsuccessful in achieving one’s goal.” Yikes! Just reading that might make your shoulders slump, your lip droop, or your stomach begin to turn. The definition of “fail” is 2 parted, with an element of expectation and an element of disappointment. But what I think the dictionary’s definition doesn’t include, is the importance of failure in achieving one’s goal.
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[full_width]Before successfully inventing the light bulb, Thomas Edison failed 10,000 times. When asked about his number of failures, he said “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Failure lets us know we must amend, redefine, adjust, reroute, modify, alter, revise, and so forth. Each failure is a breadcrumb on your path to success, a nod from the universe you are 1 step closer, and an opportunity for you to reevaluate or pause.

So how do you begin to build a familiarity with failure? Read below for 3 tips that may help. [/full_width]

[full_width]GET CURIOUS
When you fail, because you will, we all fail, get curious about WHY you failed. If, for example, you failed by falling out of a balancing yoga pose, investigate whether you fell forward, backward, or to one side. If you fell forward, you need to lean less forward, if you fell backward, you need to lean more forward, and if you fell to one side, you need to find strength in the opposite side for which you fell. This example may seem obvious, but this type of investigation is important and 100% appropriate when deciding your next move.
Try the sequence below, but keep curiosity top of mind. If you can’t get curious about poses you’ve done a million times, think about how you can make them feel different. Maybe try thinking about how 1 particular body part is positioned in a pose, stare at that body part, push down, pull up, or direct your breathe toward it. Take time to explore the boundaries of each pose. If this doesn’t work, try adding weights to the hands or feet. If you can commit to remaining curious, you’re sure to make a better next step.
“We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious…and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” – Walt Disney [/full_width]

[one_half padding=”7% 0 0 0″]o Upward Salute Pose
o Standing Forward Bend
o ½ Standing Forward Bend with arms out to the sides (3X)
o Focus on squeezing shoulder blades together (pictured)
o Chair Pose with feet hip distance
o Bring hands to the outside of the knees (push hands into knees and knees into hands)
o Standing Forward Bend with alternating bent knees
o High Plank
o Four-Limbed Staff Pose
o Downward Dog with legs turned out and then in
o 3 Legged Downward Dog
o Low Lunge with knee down
o High Plank
o Four-Limbed Staff Pose
o Sphinx, Cobra, or Upward Facing Dog
o Repeat sequence on opposite side. [/one_half][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

[full_width]RELAX THE PROBLEM
If you’ve experienced failure because you were unable to solve the problem right in front of you, then this tip is for you. Inspired by the science and application of algorithms, this tip reminds us that sometimes success can’t be achieved through intensity, but rather finds its way to us when we are relaxed.

Have you ever focused so hard on solving a problem, decided to give up after a significant period of time, then later, when you’re completely unfocused on solving the problem, the solution comes to you? If you’re nodding your head “yes”, then try this sequence. Each of the poses in this sequence have an advanced version, and slightly less advanced version. Try the advanced version first (it will appear first in the sequence), if you fail at embodying it comfortably and safely, then “relax the problem” and go for the less advanced variation. Give yourself permission to fail, and you might be surprised how “permission” temporally allows relaxation to sneak in.

“When we give ourselves permission to fail, we, at the same time, give ourselves permission to excel.”
– Eloise Ristad[/full_width]

[one_half][/one_half][one_half_last padding=”11% 0 0 0″]o Dolphin or Short Downward Dog (Step feet 6-12 inches closer to hands)
o Low lunge (Transition Pose)
o Crescent Lunge or Crescent Lunge with back knee down
o Revolved Side Angle or Revolved Side Angle with back knee down
o High Plank or Forearm Plank
o Downward Dog (Transition Pose)
o Warrior II with hands reaching toward the diagonal or traditional Warrior II (pictured)
o Side Angle with hand on mat or Side Angle with hand on block
o Triangle with hand on shin/mat or Triangle with hand on block
o ½ Moon or ½ Moon with hand on block
o Flow to Downward Dog
o Repeat sequence on opposite side.[/one_half_last]

[full_width]BE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE WITH YOURSELF
If you are that individual who sets the same goal ever New Years, and you fail every year, this tip is dedicated to you. It’s clear, the goal you make every year, isn’t going to pan out exactly as you imagined. Your failure to achieve that goal year after year, is a clue that you need negotiate with yourself.
What about the goal would you being willing to reshape, reframe, or redefine? Let’s say your goal was to run 10 miles each week, but by mid-February you’ve consistently only run 7 miles each week. Clearly, you’ve failed at achieving your initial goal, but instead of getting down on yourself, take the hint from the universe, and use the failure as an opportunity to reflect on the goal. Maybe, you’d be okay with running an average of 10 miles each week. In a month, that could be 2 weeks at 7 miles, 1 week at 12 miles, and 1 week at 14 miles. At most, that is only 2 miles each day!
Try the strengthening poses in this sequence, and think about how you’d be able to build on them over time. If the suggested number of breathes, or recommended time holding the posture does not feel appropriate, negotiate with yourself until you feel comfortable with the terms.[/full_width]

[one_third padding=”21% 0 0 0″]o Plank Pose – hold for 30-60 seconds

o Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya II – hold for 10 breathes each side

o 3 Legged Downward Dog – 7 breathes each side

o Low Lunge (transition pose) – do not hold

o Warrior III or Warrior III with blocks – hold for 30-60 seconds (pictured)[/one_third][two_third_last][/two_third_last]

[full_width]“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
– Michael Jordan

With the remaining 11 months of the year still ahead of us, find comfort in the length of runway we still have to achieve goals we initiated at the start of the New Year. Whether you are on track to achieve your goals, or you’ve lost a bit of steam, recognize that failure will likely play some role in your story of success. If at any moment you find yourself failing, falling, or in the aftermath of a major F***up, remember these tips: get curious, relax the problem, and be willing to negotiate with yourself. If you keep these tips at arm’s reach, you’ll be sure to find success in 2017! [/full_width]

Cultivating Networks of Generosity: Aquarius Rituals

[two_third] (Photo by Ann Whittaker of our Seasons of Greatness Workshop, January 28, 2017)[/two_third][one_third_last]Ann Whittaker, our muse of eloquence, guides us on a journey through beautiful mid-winter rituals to help us take advantage of Aquarius Season’s connection to humanity.

“Conquer the angry one by not getting angry; conquer the wicked by goodness; conquer the stingy by generosity, and the liar by speaking the truth.”
– Gautama Buddha, The Dhammapada

My desire for tenderness, compassion, and generosity are potent these days. It’s midwinter, and all I want to do is make sure that hearts are warm, and that we are gathering to propel each other’s dreams forward–working together to unearth any dormant resources or to uncover the pathways that will move humanity into inspiring systems that can create beauty.[/one_third_last]

[full_width]None of us can do anything meaningful alone. We need each other. We need collective courage when we are afraid; we need collective trust when we are uncertain; we need collective imagination when we forget that darkness is where creation begins; we need collective tenderness when criticism lashes out.

DAILY, WE REACH OUT
Aquarian Rituals

Most days I run into fear, anxiety, anger, self-doubt, stinginess, or regret in some form or another. I’m hoping to be more present and aware when the ego creeps up by tending to these daily rituals that will keep me focused on contributing to this good world and the humans who inhabit it. [/full_width]

[one_sixth][/one_sixth][one_third padding=”3% 0 0 0″]MORNING: Light up your room, light up the world
Light a candle in the dark of the morning. Take notice of your breath. Notice if you have any fears, any self-doubt, any feelings of scarcity or possessiveness. Notice. Then present yourself with other options. If you are worried a new project isn’t gaining traction, reach out to friends or colleagues that you admire. Or, better yet, take a break from your own work, and be a light for someone else–who can you give your time, your heart for an hour or two? [/one_third][one_third][/one_third][one_sixth_last][/one_sixth_last]

[one_sixth][/one_sixth][one_third][/one_third][one_third padding=”3% 0 0 0″]MIDDAY: Turn on the music, identify the patterns
Find some inspiration in music or any art that you particularly enjoy. We love art because we love patterns. How can you tap into an art world of ideas, patterns, composition, and imagination to move forward on a project? Let the work of others inspire you–continue and expand upon conversations that have been going on for centuries.

(Try our Aquarius Season Spotify playlist: a mix of all our Muses Aquarian inspired faves)[/one_third][one_sixth_last][/one_sixth_last]

[one_sixth][/one_sixth][one_third]EVENING: What have you gained, and how will you share it?
Each day we acquire new knowledge, new hopes, new wounds, new insight, new resources. The truth is, none of it is really ours. How does a person actually “own” knowledge? Do we even really “own” our wounds, or can we let them pass through us, and let them exit us with tenderness? Can you be vulnerable without being dramatic? How can your new insight help someone who is struggling? What knowledge did you gain that can help a friend? Perhaps you are sitting on an abundance of resources that need to start flowing into the community. Write down the things you gained during the day, and identify a person or group who you would like to share it with. [/one_third][one_third] (Another image by Ann Whittaker of our recent Seasons of Greatness workshop, gathering and sharing with our loved community)[/one_third][one_sixth_last][/one_sixth_last]

[full_width]“One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn’t as individuals. When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility, we can welcome many people, even those in deep distress, and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing.”
– Jean Vanier[/full_width]

Inner Musings: Discovering Your True Self

[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last padding=”1% 0 0 0″]Resident mental health counselor, Lauren Eimers-Wangrud, is back with us today—this time sharing exercises and musings on how to get in touch with your unique self—a very Aquarius Season topic. Images via Dreaming Soul.


“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
– Mary Oliver, b.1935

How much of yourself have you become? – Aquarius Season Insight

The past few years have seen a cultural phenomenon of scaling back and paring down one’s material possessions in search of true happiness. Call it minimalism or the Konmari method, this winnowing of possessions has struck a chord with many disillusioned and unhappy individuals. This Aquarius season I challenge you to do the same in the uncovering and discovering of your true self in shedding layers that do not serve your life and fail to reflect who you really are.

Aquarius season is a time for experimentation, progression, and open-mindedness – the perfect time to get better acquainted with your true self. This can be a scary journey to embark on, but in recognizing who we want to be and then pouring our energies wholeheartedly into fulfilling our unique destiny, we begin to get closer to our personal truth.[/two_third_last]

[full_width]To start this journey, you’ll want to give yourself at least an hour of solid “you time,” free of your mobile device, computer, television, or distractions. You want to create a space where you can focus solely on yourself. If that means you need a hot cup of tea and your favorite music playing or heading out on a long walk with a small notebook and pen to jot down your thoughts, great! Just find the space and time to allow yourself to let your mind wander.

Next, you’ll want to tell yourself that you can worry about all of your stresses and pressing matters in your life in an hour. You’ll also want to let your inner critic know they can pipe down, at least for a bit, while you work out some important things. It sounds silly, but giving yourself the mental space and direction to process some thoughts is imperative in this exercise. If you find your inner critic or everyday stresses needling into this you-time, calmly tell them to take a seat and you’ll get to them in a few.

Now, time for the digging to begin. You’ll want to imagine a scene where you are completely at ease. It could be a place from your past, a place you’ve visited, or even a place that only exists in your imagination. What does it look like there? Are there buildings? Are you indoors or outside? Is it present day? Who is there with you, if anyone? What feelings or emotions are brought to the surface while you’re in this serene place? Continue looking for details about this place and write down things that resonate with you. Be sure to try and keep that inner critic out of the observation, since this is a judgement-free zone.[/full_width]

[one_half padding=”8% 0 0 0″]After you’ve really mined this scene for details, sit back and look at what observations really stuck with you. These elements that have boiled to the surface is your true self giving you clues as to how to make your way to self-actualization. They could be the emotions elicited from your scene, to people you met there, to the surroundings.

Everyone will have vastly different scenes and details. You could have found yourself in a lecture hall learning something new or in a kitchen whipping up a recipe with a dear family member or friend – the possibilities are truly endless. The key here is to look for themes and elements that really resonate with you.

Once you’ve teased out the themes of your exploration, think of how your life now is mirroring that. Is it on a similar or on a divergent path from your exploration? If you’ve envisioned yourself very differently from your present state, what small changes can you make to start to align with that vision of yourself?[/one_half][one_half_last][/one_half_last]

[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]For example, if you imagined yourself in a lecture hall, but aren’t a student, maybe you just need to feed your thirst for knowledge with more books and time to read them. If your life as a chef is restricted to watching cooking shows on Netflix, maybe buying a new cookbook and preparing a meal each week is a way to get closer to what makes you really tick. You may not need to enroll in classes or run a restaurant to find your true self, but these clues are imperative in helping you get there.

Shedding layers of yourself from your past can also help in getting closer to the true you. Don’t let yourself be tied down by perceptions of yourself that are outdated. Clinging to old definitions of yourself is a disservice to you and your growth. Make a promise to yourself to let your present self, and the self you want to become, dictate how you spend your precious time.

Just as Marie Kondo states objects in our life should “spark joy,” so should our pastimes, hobbies, friends, and work. While we may not be able to overhaul our jobs or friends in a weekend of self-exploration, I guarantee you’ll be able to change the way you spend your free time or try a new hobby that excites you in the matter of a few weeks. Starting with small changes is what leads to bigger and more impactful shifts. Use this Aquarius season to dive in and rediscover yourself. [/two_third_last]

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow We Rise

[one_third][/one_third][two_third_last]CosmoMuse astrologist, Allie Couch, reflects on yesterday’s Women’s Marches and musefully projects into the future of a Trump era and progressing past it.
Photography: Ann Whittaker, Park City, Utah

YESTERDAY It was an historic day and Together We Rose. The Women’s Marches across the world brought so many together, in solidarity, around much that the Trump administration is openly trying to take away. This march means something different to everyone but as a unified thread, it ignited the empowerment of all that are disenfranchised, unheard, or unfairly treated.

To CosmoMuse, this is a time when we see the need to empower the yin, or feminine, in everyone (men, women, transgender…); the energy of listening, intuition, community, nourishment, peace, and love. Yin in it’s healthy state is not seductive, receiving through manipulation but rather a High Priestess and magnetic, receiving with gratitude. Yin is organic, nourishing, mystical, receptive, and channeling. The out of control Patriarchy, wars, segregation, and hate crimes show a clear indication of an overtaxed yang energy in our world and an undervaluing of yin.

It’s time to understand that yin or feminine energy is not weak, it’s not unqualified to lead, it’s not overly emotional. Over the next year we will be laying out ways to heal and empower our yin, or feminine, sides to bring balance to our overheated yang energies or undervalued yin energies, however those play out in each of us. [/two_third_last]

[one_third padding=”17% 0 0 0″]TODAY
Rest day. Make sure to nourish yourself and reflect so you know just what it is you are fighting for as the tides shift throughout the course of Trump’s Presidency.
Drink tea, meditate, journal, and listen to others on the days that are less active on the front lines. Flex some of your yin muscles to channel and find magnetic attraction to what is needed and where your energy is best directed before shifting to the next day of yang action. Let these energies support and work in harmony through the flow of this movement in your life.
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[two_third][/two_third][one_third_last padding=”21% 0 0 0″]TOMORROW
Back to the movement. Get up, know from your days of recovery where you are going next and no matter how bruised or bloody you feel, get out there and join the resistance as well as join in with innovations and movements that move past the resistance and have a life of their own, creating the future, rather than waiting for the battle to end. We need both of these actions if we are going to move humanity forward in a healthy way.
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[full_width]WHAT COSMOMUSE IS DOING:

Astrological guidance: Astrologically, as the physical march on January 21, 2017, being the thing that brought us together as a collective, was ignited under the season and sign of Aquarius, it holds an energy of forward progress and hope for humanity and the future. A good omen if there ever was one.

My biggest fear of the astrological signatures that graced both January 20th (start of the Trump era) and the 21st (ignition of the Together We Rise movement) is they are both ruled by an Aquarius sun, Scorpio moon combination. These are both fixed signs so an absolute stubborn approach is indicated by both. I hope we can find ways to talk to each other effectively but the indications show a battle ahead. On our end, we can uphold our own integrity and maturity by attempting to listen and find unity with those who voted this administration in, in order to help both sides overcome ignorance of each other’s needs. There is a reason that so many jumped on the Trump bandwagon and they will likely be sorely bruised, disillusioned, and taken advantage of over the next four years by his egregious lies. Let’s be there with solutions, waiting in the wings to say, we hear you, we understand that life is hard on you as well right now. Let’s listen to each other’s stories and find ways to make progress together. [/full_width]

[two_third][/two_third][one_third_last]Lunar Phase Connection: Every time the moon is in Aquarius, things started in this season will see progress. We’ll make sure to call out the Aquarius moon days to remind us all that these are very activated times for forward progress in humanity.

Season of Gathering: This once a month gathering, near the start of each new zodiac season, we will touch on how yin and yang energies might play out within the movement for the next four-week period and how we can utilize that for the best paths forward.

Feminine Rising Products & Proceeds: We’ve started with one Feminine Rising product, a beanie, and hope to do more with our new CosmoMuse affirmation by creating products that also benefit the causes we see as being important to the movement. [/one_third_last]