Dear Yogis,

This Sunday I went to THE GREAT STUPA in Marong.  The Stupa has grown quite a lot since I visited last.  Inside it looks like a cathedral it is so tall , and getting taller.  It is always worth a visit – the next big ceremony is the CEREMONY OF LIGHTS in June, and then the Vegetarian Feast Day October.  Google for times and days.  You can go anytime for a “self-guided” walk – it is worth the time – Marong is an hour from Woodend although you can catch a train and get the bus from Bendigo Station.

Around the extensive grounds (200 acres) are extensive landscaped gardens and statues.   The elephant is life size with the four animals on its back emphasising the fact that life goes easier when we work together, and Quan Yin is the feminine form of The Buddha and the Bodhisattva of Compassion. It is a giant statue standing in a beautiful, tranquil pool.

In Sanskrit she’s known as Padma pani – “Born of the Lotus” symbolising purity, peace and harmony.
Another version suggests she originated from the Taoist Immortal Ci Hang Zhen Ren,  a Taoistic ‘perfect person’ having an endless willingness and sparing no effort in helping those in need.  Commonly known in the West as the Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin is also revered by both the Taoists and Buddhists.

Quan Yin is usually shown in a white flowing robe – white being the symbol of purity, and usually wearing necklaces of Indian/Chinese royalty. In the right hand is a water jar, (one of the eight Buddhist symbols of good fortune) containing pure water, the divine nectar of life, compassion and wisdom, and in the left, a willow branch to sprinkle the divine nectar of life upon the devotees to bless them with physical and spiritual peace. The willow branch is also a symbol of being able to bend (or adapt) but not break. The willow is also used in shamanistic rituals and has had medicinal purposes as well.

THE TAROT THIS MORNING.  

I chose THE STAR.

When they gaze up at the stars, many individuals claim they feel like a completely different person.  Their perspective has changed – they somehow feel connected to the Universe.  Looking up at the stars, you can see a thousand distinct flickering lights in the sky: the sky is similar to our planet in that sense, and each individual is a bright, lovely star. I often spend some time gazing up at the sky and absorbing the genuine peace it provides. The Star’s tranquility is like this. In the Muslim faith they believe that every star is a departed soul – a comforting thought.

The Star Card prompts me to ask crucial questions.   What are your expectations? What are your aspirations? What drives you to get out of bed every day? What brings you joy? Are you pursuing what you like to do? Do you feel like you could use a little more hope in your life?

I believe that the Star has appeared today to remind me to come back to my senses – literally. In the RW deck, the 5 streams of water spreading out on the ground in this card represent consciousness flowing out through the 5 senses. In this information age we spend too much time in our minds.  We end up thinking so much that eventually, all we have to think about is more thoughts that might not have anything to do with what is real. This state of overthinking leads to anxiety and unrest. The best way back to reality is by focusing on the senses. Listen to the sounds in the room or focus your eyes on a single point for even just a few minutes and watch how your mind begins to relax.

It is a prompt – a reminder to me (and to you) not to leave your meditation until you have time.  Meditation should start your day, even if the half hour before rising you call “day dreaming”, do it.  That calm before the storm is hugely useful

You know i love everything Taot, and i wondered if you would be interested in a TAROT CHALLENGE.  I can draw a card for you every day and tell you about mine, and you can draw a card for yourself, write it down in your journal and learn, learn, learn.  It is this continuous use of the tarot which will help you get on top of the skill.

You can use my REVELATION deck or you can use any deck you like.  I swing between my deck and the Rider Waite.  Although I have quite a range of decks to choose from – I am not a “tyre kicker”.  Some at-home readers keep on swapping between decks to get a better reading – it doesn’t work.   My card today was THE EMPEROR.

THE STUDIO 

CLASS TIMES:  (Windarring –  Tues x 2 /Thurs/Fri).  STUDIO WOODEND: Monday Hatha 1pm, Wed. Restorative 1pm –   I am also thinking of a Saturday morning YOGA class, although I do have to accomodate a gallery obligation one morning a month – tricky but we can manage, maybe Saturday afternoon would be better?

FREE ZOOM HERBAL WORKSHOP.  Mondays at 6.30 on zoom.  Remember – Bach Flower Therapies are PRANA SHAKTI in a bottle!

ZOOM – YOGA FOR DISABILITY – Please register your interest – Maybe a Thursday or Friday evening zoom would suit us all.  Let me know or I will make an executive decision.   The zoom will include the book.  We can also do a CHAKRA BALANCING HAND MASSAGE ON ZOOM.  For either of these, let me know your interest.

THE YOGA LUNCHEON:  “THE FULL MOON SALOON”, Last Saturday in the month (a change of day) at 1pm. (we are still discussing times).

 

SEE YOU ON THE MAT (SOMEWHERE)

JAHNE

 

Dear Yogis,

Our YOGA LUNCHEON  happens today at 12 noon at THE FULL MOON SALOON  next to the Victoria Hotel in Woodend.  I hope you plan to join us. Just come!  Doesn’t matter if you are a bit late.

 

You know i love everything Taot, and i wondered if you would be interested in a TAROT CHALLENGE.  I can draw a card for you every day and tell you about mine, and you can draw a card for yourself, write it down in your journal and learn, learn, learn.  It is this continuous use of the tarot which will help you get on top of the skill.

You can use my REVELATION deck or you can use any deck you like.  I swing between my deck and the Rider Waite.  Although I have quite a range of decks to choose from – I am not a “tyre kicker”.  Some at-home readers keep on swapping between decks to get a better reading – it doesn’t work.   My card today was THE EMPEROR.

 

CLASS TIMES:  (Windarring –  Tues x 2 /Thurs/Fri).  STUDIO WOODEND: Monday Hatha 1pm, Wed. Restorative 1pm –   I am also thinking of a Saturday morning YOGA class, although I do have to accomodate a gallery obligation one morning a month – tricky but we can manage, maybe Saturday afternoon would be better?

FREE ZOOM HERBAL WORKSHOP.  Mondays at 6.30 on zoom.  Remember – Bach Flower Therapies are PRANA SHAKTI in a bottle!

ZOOM – YOGA FOR DISABILITY – Please register your interest – Maybe a Thursday or Friday evening zoom would suit us all.  Let me know or I will make an executive decision.   The zoom will include the book.  We can also do a CHAKRA BALANCING HAND MASSAGE ON ZOOM.  For either of these, let me know your interest.

 

SEE YOU ON THE MAT (SOMEWHERE)

JAHNE

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Yogis, 

This morning (Sunday) I did an ION CLEANSE.  I felt that things were changing, and I wanted to get my body ready.  It was amazing.

The water at the end was cloudy with lots of toxins as you can well see, keeping in mind this was clean, clean water when I started,  resulting in this mess half an hour later.  It feels fantastic.   I do these cleanses when I have upped my yoga times, have been super busy,  had a protracted time of Bach Flower Therapy and want to get the refuse out of my system.  This time I also had to get the residue from an unfortunate work encounter out of my system too.  It works for me, and it might work for you – usually does with my clients.

 

A GOOD NEWS STORY……

 Don’t you just love this – I wish they could make this change in our supermarket.  I found the notice on QUORA.

It would put an end to the complaints I hear from people who are sick to death with the impersonal service at checkouts…. A SLOW LANE, for people who want to chat…  I would even love to work in a supermarket that did that, and especially on a slow checkout where i could chat with the clients – wouldn’t you?  It would be great fun.

Please SPEAK to the manager of a supermarket in your area, and ask them to bring in a SLOW LANE REVOLUTION.  

The supermarket is already a social outlet for many lonely people, and here is a way to make it especially valuable.

 

REMEMBER WHEN I TAUGHT YOU ABOUT TELOMERES IN CLASSES ABOUT THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID?

The world is catching up with us.  A cause of ageing is the loss of telomeres, which are the protective caps on the ends of our chromosomes. Every time a cell divides, the telomeres become shorter. When the telomeres become too short, the cell can no longer divide and begins to die. This process is thought to contribute to the aging of our cells and tissues.

There are several ways in which we can slow down the aging process and maintain good health as we age. One way is by following a healthy diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This can help to reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Exercise is important, but most important is MEDITATION. Adequate sleep is also a factor.

 

TODAY’S TAROT.

TODAY I CHOSE THE  THREE OF SWORDS – This card invites us to consider the beyond and its significance in our lives. It has a message for all of us…..If you have a Rider Waite deck, have a look at this card.  Although I am not interpreting it as being  the end, I am looking at it as the end of one part of my life and the beginning of another.

If the man in the image on the card is, in fact, deceased, then he is in the midst of the last rest. So, If you choose this card, what does this imply for you? What would you do if you knew you were about to die? Would you be willing to make amends with family members? Spend all of your time with the people you love? What’s keeping you from doing it now, rather than waiting until that fatal day? Many people on their deathbeds don’t wish they had worked more or spent more time seeking financial security; instead, they wish they had spent more time with the people they care about.

 

CLASS TIMES:   Monday Hatha 1pm, Wed. Restorative 1pm –   I am also thinking of a Saturday morning YOGA class, although I do have to accomodate a gallery obligation one morning a month – tricky but we can manage, maybe Saturday afternoon would be better? 

FREE ZOOM HERBAL WORKSHOP.  Mondays at 6.30 on zoom.

ZOOM – YOGA FOR DISABILITY – Please register your interest – Maybe a Thursday or Friday evening zoom would suit us all.  Let me know or I will make an executive decision.   The zoom will include the book.

YOGA LUNCH.  12 NOON ON FRIDAY 27TH JANUARY AT THE “FULL MOON SALOON” (Not “Lone Star”, not “Blue Moon”), restaurant next to the Victoria Hotel in Woodend.  It looks like a Western Saloon…..  I lunched there the other weekend and it was great.  A surprise.  Even if you can’t join us, please try it.  I have booked for  12 noon for the usual group, if you would like to join us and haven’t before, please contact me so we can add you to the table and make sure there is room for an extra chair with no squeeze.

 

SEE YOU ON THE MAT (SOMEWHERE)

JAHNE