Good morning Yogis,

Tuesdays class finished… so I don’t get to see my zoom classes until Sunday morning.  I hope you can join us.  We will be studying the Tibetan Book of The Dead.  It is not just about the dead, it is about how to live.

ZOOM
SUNDAY 10am: The Tibetan Book of the Dead
MONDAY 6.30: Free Teacher Training. Mary Magdalen
TUESDAY 7.30: Mary Magdalen Study.

STUDIO
Monday 1pm (full), Wednesday 5.30 (full), Friday 5.30 – vacancies please email to book

ART/CRAFT CLASS.  Saturday 26th June 2pm to 4pm – Depending on covid restrictions.  Otherwise July 3rd

 

THE COMPASSIONATE COMPANIONS PROJECT:  I am almost ready to launch the web site. It will explain the course, the extensions, the registration to the “Alliance”, insurance, community access points, and general networking…  Everything you need.  Plus room for you to register once you graduate so that you can be contacted by organisations and clients seeking your services.   I will not be releasing the course until mid August, but I can take expressions of interest right now.  Those students who apply early will get the first view of the web site, the first introduction  etc.  I will keep you close and in the loop. Email me at: yogafirst2@bigpond.com

 

THE GOSPEL OF MARY MAGDALEN:
(PAGE 10)
Mary said to them:
I will now speak to you
of that which has not been given to you to hear.
I had a vision of the Teacher,
and I said to him:
“Lord I see you now
in this vision”
And he answered:
“You are blessed, for the sight of me does not disturb you.
There where is the nous (heart), lies the treasure.” 

I Hope that after reading this you see there is a mystery here that you want to uncover.  To do so, you may have to join either of our classes.  It would be very worthwhile.

 

I WILL SEE YOU ON THE MAT.
NAMASTE.  JAHNE

 

Dear Yogis,

I am writing this on Sunday afternoon.  Another weekend is past and only a few days to go until we hear what restrictions have been lifted for our brothers and sister yogis in Melbourne.  Out here in the Macedon Ranges we have weathered the furious storm, and now we are in a place of peace and calm.  I even plan to have afternoon tea on the back verandah…  I think I have reawakened to the joy of flicking a switch for power, and the bliss of a hot shower.

ZOOM:  
SUNDAY.  This morning we decided to study Mary Magdalen  (Instead of the Bardo)
MONDAY 6.30 Mary Magdalen FREE TEACHER TRAINING
TUESDAY 7.30: The Tibetan Book of the Dead (If you are thinking of joining us for The Compassionate Companions Project, you would do well to come to this class.
STUDIO
MONDAY Hatha Yoga (full), WEDNESDAY Restorative Yoga (full), FRIDAY Hatha Yoga – vacancies available

SMOKIN – THE YOGA OF SMOKE – The herbs, the book and the pipes, are  now on my etsy site.  www.myyogabooks.etsy.com

 

MARY MAGDALEN – The teacher.
We have spent quite a lot of time discussing The Gospel of MARY>  It is always surprising to people to realise that Mary was not the “penitent Sinner”.  She was a woman of means and one of the women who funded the travels and teachings of Jesus.  Without her and the others the travels and the teachings Jesus gave would have not been possible in the way that they were.  Even Buddha was funded by Princes and wealthy individuals.  They all needed a Michael Gudinski, to organise things…..and usually one was there.

To dismiss Mary Magdalen as the  Church did, relegate Mary the Mother of Jesus to a sexless holy being devoid of other children, feelings, love and a husband (not a convenience), and have Jesus appear a sinless icon, well let’s take another look.

In our Studies on The Magdalen we are doing just that.  Examining the writings, what motivated her, and interestingly the difficulties she had with the males, especially the disciples who wanted her to remain in the background after Jesus death…  Jesus gave his most metaphysical teachings to her – she was the “one He loved”.  I think she was the smartest.

Having these historically portrayed,  real people,  grow up human and still achieve the wonderful things they did, is much more inspiring to me than to imagine that in some impossible way they arrived on the earth without blemish and stayed that way.  They had mothers, fathers, relatives, children, neighbours, needs and desires as we all have.

We all have the opportunity to choose goodness in every moment, that is the joy of the spiritual path, and the great gift given to us by God.  It is not to arrive on the earth sinless, but to understand the choices that we make in every minute.  That is the hard part.

Jesus said “I am the door”.  The door to the Kingdom.  Buddha is also described as a door, a teacher who shows us the way.  It is said there are 84,000 Dharma doors.  If you found a door, it would not be very Buddhist of you to say yours was the only door.  We should not be afraid of more Dharma doors, only afraid that no more will be opened.  

Remember the Buddha relies on us for the Dharma to continue to develop as a living organism – not a stale Dharma but a real “DHARMAKAYA”, a real body of teaching.

 

I WILL SEE YOU ON THE MAT (or in a one-to-one perhaps),

NAMASTE – JAHNE

 

 

Well yogis,

Here we are… power off on Wednesday evening, not on again until noon today.  I learned a number of things.  How to repatriate an old camp stove was the greatest of these and allowed me to have hot water and cook.  Thank goodness for the wonderful student who allowed me to power up my computers, and phones at their unaffected home.

ZOOM CLASSES

SATURDAY 2PM.  The first meeting with regard to COMPASSIONATE COMPANION PROJECT.  I don’t expect to launch it until August, but there is a lot to do until then, and I would like your  input and your enthusiasm.  I have always been student led, and I have not changed.  I am taking a “Bardo” direction, and hopefully taking you with me.  This course will give you three certificates on graduation.  “Compassionate Companions” Certification, “Death Doula” Certification and “Compassionate Companions – Veterinary” certification.

If you want to join the conversation, please email me and I will send you a zoom ID. The course will cost under $400 and take 12 weeks.  That is the plan.

SUNDAY 10am: The Bardo (Tibetan Book of the Dead).
MONDAY 6.30: Mary Magdalen
TUESDAY 7.30: Mary Magdalen the study course.

STUDIO
Monday 1pm (full), Wednesday 5.30 (full), and Friday Hatha 5.30 vacancies available.

THE RED THREAD

Everyone who joins the COMPASSIONATE COMPANIONS COURSE will receive a RED THREAD – a  Red Thread bracelet the origin of which is drenched in history.  I make and will give these to the students in the class, to help them to remember who they are, and will be a way of recognising, noticing people who are on the same path.  It is an ancient sign.

If you google “RED THREAD” or ‘RED STRING” you will get pages of references to why people wear them.  But for us, it helps us recognise those who like us are on the same path.  I wear one and have for years.  It is worn on the left side (feminine) side of the body.  It is the receiving side, the side of the heart.  It is worn to honour the feminine and this is the side that allows us to “receive” spirit, and dream.

In Japan, they believe that the Red Thread has to do with our fate, that we are tied with this thread to all people we are destined to meet in order for our soul to evolve.  The stories are echoed in ancient Islamic, Christian and Jewish texts, and is even mentioned in the Bible.

Even if you don’t want to join my studio, or sign up for the course you can own a RED THREAD BRACELET and an accompanying booklet.  Please go to www.myyogabooks.etsy.com.   and don’t forget to google ‘THE RED THREAD”  for pages of background historical facts.

 

THE SMOKING HERBS.
The mix I make (mostly from herbs I grow myself), is getting fabulous reviews about its relaxing properties.  It really gives great sleep! So if you buy some do not take it before you drive or before work.  Save it for before you go to bed.  It contains damiana (sister to cannabis), hops (also a sister to cannabis), lavender, mullein, mugwort.  10grams for $20 including postage.  This is enough for 10 to 15 “doses” the way that I smoke it in my little pipes.  You don’t need much.  Just smelling my fingers after I have been blending is enough to calm my body down… and I have to be very careful with the hops, they are sticky with resin.

If you don’t smoke, then make a little cotton bag, pop in a little of the mix and put it in your pillow.  Very relaxing.  Good dreams.
email if you are interested… I don’t have enough home grown herbs to put on etsy.  This is just for my clients and students. yogafirst2@bigpond.com

 

I will see you on the mat (I really will – restrictions lifting, power on!)

NAMASTE.  JAHNE