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Finding Peace in a
Stress-Filled Day
by Chrissie Blaze |
My husband, Gary and I teach workshops, classes and seminars on many aspects of psychic and spiritual development. One of the challenges many people have is to focus their attention clearly on what they are doing. This is one of the
secrets of success and inner peace. The more “in the
now” we are – whether it’s when we’re praying or
preparing our taxes – the more profound the results.
Unfortunately, the society
in which we live is geared towards distraction. Our
cell phone rings constantly with no respect for our
activity at the time. Interruptions are the norm of our
hectic lives. We inhale them, and then wonder at our
increasing stress levels. Even when we watch our
favorite show on television, we are constantly
distracted by advertisements. When
we surf the internet we are bombarded by flashing neon
ads, and even now as I sit at my desk in a high-rise
building I look out over Los Angeles to see a plane
trailing an advertising banner.
So what can we do to find
peace? Is there no escape from this continual
bombardment of our senses? It is difficult to go within
while we’re agitated. It can be impossible to find an
hour to meditate when the kids or cats are waiting for
their dinner.
While we know of the vast
importance and power of our mind, most of us have little
time to plumb its phenomenal depths.
Swami Sivenanda, who was a
Master of Yoga and one of the greatest spiritual saints
of the 20th Century (1887-1963), taught the
practice of Attention. Buddhists call this practicing
Mindfulness. It is the same thing and an excellent
practice for us all. If we consciously decide to use
this practice, we can then use the frequent distractions
as aids to even better concentration. When the cell
phone rings mid-conversation, ignore it and continue
your focus. In other words, remain conscious of the
fact that the interruptions are external and that in
reality we are in control. We have the freedom to
choose whether or not we will react to the distractions,
or we will act from a place of mindfulness.
Let’s give it a try today. Whatever you are
doing, whether it is washing the dishes, reading a book,
or listening to someone speak, make sure you are only
doing that one thing. Put the whole of your
concentrated mind, the essence of your being, into what
you are doing. Although it often appears to us that we
can do many things at once, we actually only do one
thing at a time, but we switch backwards and forwards
between the two or more things we are doing. By
concentrating fully on one thing, you are throwing the
whole of your mental powers behind that. This is one of
the best techniques to develop the deep concentration
necessary for successful visualization and success in
all aspects of your life.
The more focused we are in
the present moment, and the better our concentration,
the more effective will be our work, our prayers, our
intention, every single thing we do.
The following exercise is
another powerful tool we can use to focus our mind. At
the same time we will be sending ourselves healing, and
also sending out our love into the world through the
intent and spiritual energy released through the prayer.
It is a win-win. When life is hectic, take two minutes
out of your day and try it. It will make a difference
to you – and to the whole world!
Exercise
· Make
sure your breathing is deep and even.
· Remember,
the deeper you breathe, the deeper are your thoughts and
the steadier is your concentration and focus. Keep your
attention focused on the breath for a few minutes.
· Now
raise your hands in front of you with the palms facing
outwards (the prayer mudra).
· Say
the following prayer focusing all your mind on the words
and meaning of what you are saying, with the exclusion
of all else.
· Afterwards,
see if you can feel energy flowing through you. Many
people feel this as a tingling sensation in the palms of
the hands, or as a feeling of heat.
· You
will find that the better your concentration, the more
powerful your prayers will become, and the more you
practice this the more you will feel the results.
Prayer for Self Healing
Oh Divine Creator of the
Infinite Field
May the Essence of Your Infinite Love
Flow through me like a
River of Light
Bringing healing to my
body, mind and spirit.
May it flow NOW, at this
very moment
Giving me the strength
that I need to
Overcome my weakness
The Love that I need to
fill, nurture and heal me
Now and forevermore.
Oh Wondrous God
I humbly ask that, if it
be Your Will
I may be healed at this
time
I pray that Your Healing
light
May serve as a beacon of
strength
Showing me ever more
fully
Thy Infinite Power
And allowing this to
manifest
More surely within my
Heart
© Copyright 2005 Chrissie Blaze. All Rights
Reserved.
Chrissie Blaze, a teacher, author, astrologer,
media personality and senior Aetherius Church minister
was a close student of Dr. George King (Yoga Master and
founder of The Aetherius Society) for 25 years. Chrissie
Blaze has written books including Workout for the
Soul: Eight Steps to Inner Fitness, AsLan
Publishing, Inc., November, 2001, Mercury Retrograde:
Your Survival Guide to Astrology’s Most Precarious
Times of the Year, Warner Books, Inc., April, 2002,
and The Baby’s Astrologer: Your Guide to Good
Parenting Is In the Stars, Warner Books, Inc., 2003
publication. Please visit
www.chrissieblaze.com for events, articles,
horoscopes and more.
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