JOURNAL PROMPTS for MARCH 6 – APRIL 23, 2019 LENT
Observant Jews have a practice that’s called ‘Counting the Omer’. It is a spiritual practice of counting the days between Passover and Shauv’ot that occurs in late Spring.
I devised these exercises on a similar context of using the planetary energies of the lower 7 spheres in the Kabbalah glyph; (beginning March 6 as the first day) just as Mercury goes Retrograde, for a time of reflection and renewal prior to Easter.
The JOURNALING practice helps us to experience the subtle differences of combined planetary energies with a Theme that we can consider, practice, write about and learn to embody. I hope that we can meditate on these energies for insight and listen for inspiration toward action we can take towards spiritual observation, purification & growth.
Have fun with these exercises; doodle, create symbols, ponder, dream and explore the concepts for greater self-exploration and insight! ~K
Day Planetary energies -Theme
March 6 Jupiter Jupiter -Love
7 Mars Jupiter -Mercy
8 Sun Jupiter -Pride
9 Venus Jupiter -Desire
10 Mercury Jupiter -Planning
11 Moon Jupiter -Romance
12 Earth Jupiter -Environment
13 Jupiter Mars -Energy
14 Mars Mars -Vitality
15 Sun Mars -Personality
16 Venus Mars -Relationship
17 Mercury Mars -Argument
18 Moon Mars -Leaking energy
19 Earth Mars -Work
20 Jupiter Sun -Equinox
21 Mars Sun -Anger
22 Sun Sun -Light
23 Venus Sun -Pleasure
24 Mercury Sun -Expression
25 Moon Sun -Truth
26 Earth Sun -Life
27 Jupiter Venus -Agape
28 Mars Venus -Lust
29 Sun Venus -Pleasure
30 Venus Venus -Self Care
31 Mercury Venus -Flattery
April 1 Moon Venus -Foolish Heart
2 Earth Venus -Sanctuary
3 Jupiter Mercury -Opinion
4 Mars Mercury -Defense
5 Sun Mercury -Originality
6 Venus Mercury -Song
7 Mercury Mercury -Reflection
8 Moon Mercury -Meditation
9 Earth Mercury -Creativity
10 Jupiter Moon -Lunacy
11 Mars Moon -Eclipses
12 Sun Moon -Cycles
13 Venus Moon -Illusions
14 Mercury Moon -Subtlity
15 Moon Moon -Solitude
16 Earth Moon -Compatriots
17 Jupiter Earth -Continents
18 Mars Earth -War
19 Sun Earth -Nurturance
20 Venus Earth -Beauty
21 Mercury Earth -Storms
22 Moon Earth -Peace
23 Earth Earth -Gaia Alive
24 April – Insights and collective experiences shared….
About Metaphysical Me…
One of my most impactful experiences with spirituality/religion was being ‘failed’ from the second year of my three year Lutheran Catechism class. I told my minister and vicar that ‘God doesn’t fail people from church!’. They agreed with me and after a year’s sabbatical and the subsequent firing of this teacher who failed kids in church, I asked many pointed questions, finished my lessons, got confirmed and left.
In college, my most influential classes were the three-term Shakespeare series, learning how to SEE and draw from an artists viewpoint (that was quite esoteric) and an Introduction to Comparative Religions. Then I took a term off and studied with Mormon missionaries, read the Bhagavad-Gita, Tibetian and Egyptian Books of the Dead, the Tao te Ching, and many other metaphysical books. This lit my Spiritual Fire and I’ve been devouring these books ever since!
(See recommended book list) —> Archives
Later, upon becoming a Unitarian Universalist, I had the opportunity to learn more about many religions and experience them firsthand in “Neighboring Faiths” Sunday school classes. After teaching students for 8 weeks, I accompanied groups of children to Buddhist center feasts, Catholic mass, a Jewish temple, and Pagan ceremonies. Over the years my family has participated in Kwaanza, Hindu Festival of Lights, and Hanukkah festivities.
I homeschooled my kids for 8 years founded on a History-based Wholistic education, of which I wrote my own curriculum. I based my lessons and exams on textbooks from various points of view and encouraged open-minded discussions about the reasons for the author’s points of view and their veracity. We first studied World Geography & World Religions as a comprehensive introduction to becoming ‘Citizens of the World’.
As homeschoolers, we practiced exercises by Rudolf Steiner and read Classic English literature, Great Books, Historic Fiction and books of Cultural Literacy from all continents. We read ancient philosophers and discussed their subsequent roles in modern society.
I was engaged with esoteric studies for many years before co-leading a Women’s spirituality group. We incorporated many facets from various spiritual traditions, and each woman encouraged to bring her gifts and experiences to share with the group.
After leaving that position, my 10-year interest in the Kabbalah, led me to study more intently and take a year-long webinar class with two Rabbis. I learned much about the Hebrew Mystical traditions from a Jewish Reform perspective. I found the Kabbalah to be THE foundation for the many esoteric paths I had studied since my 20’s.
Today I practice Tai chi, Chi Gong, Kundalini Yoga and write ‘Morning Pages’ as is recommended by Julia Cameron in her transformational book, “The Artist’s Way”. I participated and led classes in “The Artist’s Way” and discovered that it was a book written (by and) for the Enneagram Type #4 personality, the ‘Artist’. That’s when I decided to create workbooks for the other 8 Enneagram personality types that I call, “Integrated Spiritual Practices”. TBA
I’ve studied and used the Tarot as well for many years. I started noticing the esoteric ‘threads of Truth’ that run throughout all the systems and traditions that I’ve engaged with and noticed their Archetypes can be found in pictoral symbolism on the Tarot.
I’ve created a unified system that is based on a lesser-used form of the Tree of Life Glyph. I see it as the original glyph of Kabbalah before the ‘fall’ of man. I have placed my own version, the “9 Keys Tarot” cards onto this Tree in a unique way as a blueprint to help people ascend to their Higher Self – closer to a state of Spiritual perfection. This corresponds to 9 Esoteric systems, which is no small feat!
Metaphysics describes both the ‘Art of Living’ & the ‘Science of Life.’ I hope that my writing will encourage you to look within yourself and begin what Plato called, “The Great Work” of personal understanding and wisdom. After all, it’s our once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn, grow and evolve our Souls while we are incarnate beings. Look within!
Namaste’ ~K
#9KeyTarot #Ascension #GreatWork #Introspection #Purpose #Meaning #Understanding #Wisdom #Transformation #SpiritualEvolution
Follow Kalin Swann on FB for regular updates!
Posted January 30th, 2019. Add a comment
Grounding & Centering techniques and tips:
~So, a friend of mine wanted to know how to get herself ‘grounded and centered’ after a hard weekend event that she was involved in. If you are an event planner, promoter or producer, you know how whacked out you can get emotionally and physically after a HUGE event! So here are some tips for getting your MoJo back after you’ve been physically and psychically drained. ~These are also some good practices for regular Spiritual hygiene:
*GROUNDING is reconnecting your body’s electromagnetic field, or aura, to the Earth’s. It is done by Visualizing your energy flowing from your crown down to the soles of your feet into the Earth and then flowing back in. It is best done on the Earth in bare feet, but you can do this on the floor as well. As you inhale, envision your crown chakra at the top of your head, slowly opening with each breath and allowing you to gather up all the energy that lies in the bubble that surrounds you, called your aura. Gather up this energy and send it down through your body, out through your feet and into the Earth with an exhale. As you inhale, breathe in positive Earth energy to fill up your body into every cell and filling your aura.#
*CENTERING is another Visualizing and Energetic movement exercise where you gather all of your scattered energies and gently compress them back into the center of your Soul at your Solar Plexus Chakra. It is important to learn to hold your mindful presence in this mental and physical state, so that you can stay in a calm center even as chaos rolls about outside of you. Think of yourself as the eye of the storm as you move calmly and decisively through your day.# So here’s how to do it:
A. CLEANSING; Have a hot Epsom Salt bath. This helps to ease weary muscles and is a great way to get vital nutrient magnesium back into your body. The salts will pull toxins out of your body so shower off with cooler water and have a tall drink of water and a good long rest. Anytime you’ve had a hard day or taken an emotional hit, take a shower and visualize the negativity draining away as you shower it off. If you need to, have a good cry and release that stress right down the drain too!
B. GROUNDING; To get out of your headspace and back into your body, do a little barefoot movement to connect the soles of your feet to the Earth energy. You can stretch, roll around on a mat, do yoga and/or walk barefoot on the soil or sand. This is a great way to wake up your body again after that long nap. Start working the joints of your feet, roll your ankles, stretch up onto the balls of your feet and down on a step, while balancing by holding onto a chair. Then stretch your calves, knees, hips and thighs by doing some lunges. You know, pretend you are sword fighting and step out and bend your knees gently as you say “En guarde!” Do this on both legs gently to warm up.
Then walk briskly while swinging your arms (or even march) to get some air flowing in and around your body. The aerobic inflow of oxygen will help wake up your brain and revitalize all of your cells. At this point, sing a song or chant or shout. It releases tension held in your body.
Then try a Yoga “Tree pose” by standing with both feet squarely and comfortably below your shoulders with your hands at your sides. Raise your arms as you inhale and slowly drop them with each inhalation. With each deep and slow inhalation imagine your breath coming from within the Earth, up your legs and into your body. With each exhalation allow your nervous energy to flow back into the Earth. Try breathing IN, to the count of 4 and OUT, to the count of 8. This allows you to relax. Be aware of how your body feels. Be aware of how YOU in your body feel! Hopefully, your body is more solid and strong feeling.
C. CENTERING; Close your eyes, and feel your SELF within your body. Extend your energy outward horizontally as far as you can picture, visualizing the natural elements of the Earth. FOCUS on a theme or KEYWORD. As you bring your awareness back into yourself, gather all the positive energy you need from the trees, rocks, streams, sunshine, and Earth. State your Intention; “I need to remember who I am.” or “I intend to reclaim my natural state of grace and calm that refreshes me.”
At this point, I gather my art supplies, mandalas, incense and candle to prepare for a “busy but relaxed” mental state of meditation. As I light my tealight candle, I state my intention and say a prayer of gratitude for being able to take time to heal myself through mindfulness. Then I relax as I color the mandala. All the while I think of myself as the shape of the mandala and infill those parts of my body with colors that seem appropriate for the energies I want to embody from the center, outward.
D. EMBODY this energy; When I’m finished coloring I like to vocalize something about it aloud. This will remind me to EMBODY my intended energy! I will strive to feel this same way whenever I look at this mantra. A simple song I like to use is this; “As I breathe in, I breathe in Peace. As I breathe out, I breathe out Love.”~ You can chant while you finish up the last bits of coloring to embed your emotion into the art that reminds you of your Authentic Self that lives in your Center.
E. RECHARGE; Did you know that our bodies are electromagnetic batteries!? In order to recharge your body use this Chi-gong inspired method; Place one hand over your dominate fist and place it on your stomach, just below the center of your ribcage. It fits there nicely. In a sitting position, bend forward and exhale to the count of 4. As you sit back up, inhale to the count of 8. Do this as it feels comfortable to you. Repeat until you feel your energy flowing into all of your cells. That could be about 10 times.
F. MOVE IT; Try the Tai chi “Moving Ocean Waves” exercise to get your chi moving. I found this youtube of Jake Mace doing some great movements that beginners can do: Be comfortable. Move at your own pace gently so nothing hurts. The third movement, Ocean Waves is my favorite for getting your center energy moving!
Namaste’
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHBR5MZmEsY
#Yoga #Grounding #Centering #Peace #Revitalizing #Exercises #SpiritualExercises #SpiritualHealth #Mindfulness #Recharging #MentalEmotionalPhysical #MindBody #ElectroMagnetic #Meditation #Mandala #Relaxation #SpiritualHygiene #Cleansing #Prayerful #Intention #SpiritualPractices
Posted January 12th, 2019. Add a comment
Posted October 25th, 2018. Add a comment
Posted October 22nd, 2018. Add a comment
The Shadow is the ‘unclaimed’ part of our psyche that is alert and aware 24/7 because it resides in our Subconscious Mind. As children, we are programmed into our view of the World; it’s language, customs and our place in it. As adults, we can reflect on these programs and become “Aware” of them.
If you start to feel like a victim of your programs, stuck in a rut, without possibilities, I want to tell you that you can change ANYTHING, at ANY TIME!
If you’re interested in doing Shadow work, investigating this phenomenon via inward reflections, let me know. Send me your Email request at KalinArtAndSpirit@gmail.com and I’ll send you the password. (Passwords keep out bots)
Thanks!
Posted October 21st, 2018. Add a comment
Posted October 19th, 2018. Add a comment
Posted October 16th, 2018. Add a comment
Posted October 15th, 2018. Add a comment
