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Chakra Ta​lk

Putting the Pen to Paper

11/5/2015

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Writing, for a long time, has been a big part of my practice.  I write to process, I write to inspire, I write to heal and to hear the Truth.  And sometimes it's just a bunch of babble about boys.  But sometimes, my soul really does speak.  Like the other day.  I sat down and this poured out of me.  I'd like to share it with you.  From the center of my being, my soul speaks.  She says:

"What i'm starting to understand is that life is meant to be experienced. It's not enough to just get through the day - we must do the work and connect and move and feel and love and share and kiss people and hug people.
Coo at babies. Make silly faces at toddlers.
Tell yourself "I love you".
Shine your face to the sun
Stare at the moon, make love under her light
Go for a walk in the rain. Go for a walk in the snow.
You'll get wet, it may be cold. It's okay. You'll be okay. You'll go home and towel off, you'll have a warm drink. You'll normalize.
Feel everything. All the good. All the bad. Don't run from pain. Don't shrink away from challenge. It's all good. It all holds space in the story of your life.
This is how you grow. This is how you learn. 
You are stronger than you think. More capable than you know.
Do you know this? But really, do you?
That you have it in you to make a difference. That this world is meant to be lived not merely survived.
So go out dancing. You will sweat, your feet may get tired, you may stay out too late and sleep in the next day - go out anyways.
Spend time laughing. Laugh at the absurdity of it all. Laugh at the beauty of it all. Laugh with those you love and laugh with those who challenge you. But don't laugh at them or at yourself, laugh for them and for yourself.
Because laughter awakens the soul.
Don't you feel it?
Laugh until your ears hurt and tears are streaming down your cheeks. Laugh until you fall to the floor and then hold your companion close and tell them you love them. Tell them how they make you feel, how they've changed your life. And hug them. Kiss them. Tell them your stories. Listen to theirs.
Cry over the absurdity of it all. Cry so hard that your eyes hurt and there are puddles on the floor. Tell your companion you love them. Hug them. Kiss them and do it all over again.
Life is meant to be lived. So go
This is your time
Don't wait for tomorrow or next week or until the bills are paid or you've lost 5 lbs.
Go
now
begin
and remember, always - you are loved
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A Monkey Tale

5/31/2015

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I love story telling, especially when the story includes a monkey.  Here's an old Hindu tale that I heard at the end of class the other day.

As the story goes...

The people of the village used to put out coconuts to catch their food.  In order to entice their dinner,  they would cut holes in the coconuts and fill them with sweets and leave them out around the village.  

When no one was around and the village was quiet, monkeys would sneak over, and seeing and smelling the sweets would draw nearer to the coconuts.  Making sure the coast was clear, they would reach in and take a hold of the sweet.  With the sweet in hand, they would then try to pull their hand out of the coconut to enjoy their prize.  But they would be stuck.  For the hole was only big enough for the monkeys to reach in, but small enough to trap a closed fist.

Determined to hold on to the sweet, the monkeys would remain trapped, and as a result would later become dinner themselves.  But had the monkey simply opened their hand and let go of the sweet, they would have been free to see another day.

This is us.  We are the monkeys.  And the coconut our minds and the sweets are our thoughts.

The moral of the story is to let go.    

There are times when we hold on so tightly, we are so connected and attached to certain thoughts and ideals that we become trapped.  Determined, we hold on with such force, with these tightly closed fists that these attitudes take over and start to become who we are.   At times it seems almost impossible to detach from these thoughts and ideals.  We want to be free, but it seems like a lot of work.

But if this tale of the monkeys is true, (and I'm sure that it is) than really, all we need to do is let go.  All we need to do is open our hand and let go of the sweets.  Letting go really can be that simple.

Try it.

What sweets are you holding on to that are keeping you trapped?

Take a deep breath and let go.
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you are free.  letter to my 5-year old self.

11/17/2014

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Picture
My five-year-old self wears a lot of pink.  Pink dresses to be exact. She loves to play outside. Despite the dresses she’s a rough and tumble kinda gal that likes to get into the thick of it.

Her nursery school teacher once told her mom that if ever there was a boss of the playground, it would be her. She loves her family and her friends and doing cartwheels. She’s so happy.

Here’s my letter to her:

You are free.
You are free to choose—to choose the life that you want to live. You have the whole world before you and the unshakeable love and support of your family behind you. All you have to do is jump, and trust that the wind will carry you.


You’re young and smart and beautiful and live in a time and a place where anything is possible.

Your path to freedom and happiness is yours for the taking.


It’s this spirit of freedom that makes you special; this sense of wonder that keeps you alive. Don’t cage yourself to suit others. Embrace who you are. Even if what you want and what you need seem scary a times.

Your free spirit will lead you to greatness if you just let it.

Believe in yourself. Don’t hold yourself back out of fear. Don’t let yourself be held back by others out of a sense of duty.

You’re light and loveable—let yourself soar.

Free yourself of judgment and expectations; of fear and worry.  Let go and follow your heart. 

You are free. Never forget that. 

P.S. I love you.



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