Michael/Michelle here:
Summer solstice is nearly here, and many people will celebrate with 
different rituals. So now is the perfect time to learn about creating 
your rituals. I have found that a ritual together with sacred space can 
lead to deep inner transformation and give meaning and closure to 
otherwise upsetting events. Or help create greater meaning to happy ones!

I am currently in New Mexico for the Kundalini Yoga Summer Solstice 
festival (http://www.3ho.org/) with about 2000 other yogis. I spent the
day before the festival at Ojo Caliente hot springs - there is something 
about hot mineral springs, and water in general, that I find very 
relaxing. After an hour of soaking in the waters I found my mind 
emptying and my body relaxing (hmm could it be that a full mind tends to 
cause a tense body?). I have read that rebirthers use each of the four 
elements for rejuvenation and I can definitely say that water is good! 
(Air or breath is used a lot in yoga and works well too. Fire gazing is 
hypnotic and relaxing too. As for Earth, well being in the mountains of 
Peru was very connecting to spirit for me!). For me it is good to take 
time for myself and not overdo things like I used to. When I traveled on 
Monday I worked for 2 hours on email, had a relaxing lunch, followed by 
a massage and then took my time packing so I was not rushed driving to 
airport. At one point I reminded myself not to feel nervous and did some 
releasing on an old pattern I had of stressing out before travel.

I have seen a lot of changes in myself in last few weeks - I think with 
the 3 eclipses this month (6/1, 6/15, 7/1) plus the solstice there is a 
lot of energy for change in the air. I also experienced some back ache 
which I have done lots of healing on. For me it was nt just an immediate 
physical issue but an opportunity for me to learn better how to connect 
to the Earth and strength my lower chakras. And to notice a lot of 
tension that I had been holding in my legs and hips which were pulling 
on my back muscles. Tension that I had had for years! Thank you spirit 
for bringing me the back pain so I could work on these issues and 
transform them :-)

love
M/M

This entry was posted on June 20, 2011 at 9:47 PM and has received 1089 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Sometimes the days just seem to drift by without so much meaning. That is a clue to me that it is time to go deeper into my life. I have found many practices help me do this - noticing my thoughts, senses, what I eat, meditation, gratitude. I am interested in what works for you? So this week's Sandbox on Living more deeply and some practical steps for doing so is a good place to share what works for you.

Here in Peru I am in MiraFlores neighborhood of Lima. I didn't realize that Lima was so large (9 million people) - larger than Baltimore-Washington corridor I think. And having been built in the coastal desert of Peru it hardly ever rains here. However for 8 months of the year there is a high "fog" that covers the sun all day. I find it a bit depressing compared to the sunny days of Cusco! I don't know if it is the weather, the low altitude or the size of the city but people here seem less friendly than Cusco, less likely to smile on the street. The street where I am staying is also noisy with lots of buses and cars honking their horns. Perhaps that is something to do with the fact that many intersections don't have traffic lights or stop signs but are a free for all! One good idea I have seen here is a countdown on the traffic lights - similar to the pedestrian green/walk countdown there is in DC. But here it also counts down the time left on red. And it is on the car traffic lights lanes too. Makes it easier for the cars rushing to beat a coming red light to know exactly how many seconds are left, or for when to hit the gas when the light is about the turn green!!

I went for a walk by the Pacific ocean yesterday. The beach is mostly pebbles rather than sand and I still found the sea air and the sound of the waves to be nice. Speaking of wave they are big! 1-2 meters at the place where I was and I read another beach where they have 5m waves!! The surfers in wet suits were bobbing like seals in the waves and every now and again caught a breaker for a fast ride to shore. After watching all that action I wanted to relax. I found a nice massage place for S:/ 30 per hour ($11 USD) which was staffed entirely by blind masseurs - I take it that Peruvians don't like to be seen naked while being massaged! While I don't mind be seen naked I have to say that my blind masseur was very good and manage to find all my limbs by sense of touch alone. :-)

This entry was posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:12 PM and has received 1769 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we learn how to engage in deep, dogma-free spirituality with Dr. Anatole Ruslanov. Why do we crave DEPTH that seems inherently missing in modern culture? Join a much needed conversation where we shall touch upon the following questions:

• What are the true goals of all spiritual practices?
• What are your goals in life?
• Who are you down deep the well of your soul?
• Why would you be doing anything but jumping into this deep well now?
• It is time to see what YOU can become!

Spirituality, or knowing the real you, is a birthright of all living beings -- because it is built in: we cannot be other than ourselves. Humanity, however, is incredibly good and efficient at being distracted away from happiness and satisfaction by culture, social mores, insecurity, etc. Thus, we humans need a way to our very own inner being, the source of all happiness and satisfaction.

You can find the way yourself. It is not that difficult in theory because it is not like you can run away from being you. In practice, following a system that is proven to work is a much better idea -- an efficient and effective way. It is similar to studying in college vs. by yourself -- you benefit by the system, by people more experienced than you, and your peers are there as well, to make the journey together a fun group affair. Doing it on your own is an admirable but more work in practice.

Dr. Anatole Ruslanov is the founder of Modern Seers, an international organization providing profound impetus towards culturally-neutral spiritual practices that are truly effective in culminating in an authentic, dogma-free spirituality. Dr. Anatole is currently a professor of computer science at SUNY Fredonia. He has recently returned from a 10-month tour of South Asia , including teaching a semester in Bhutan .

Dr. Anatole Ruslanov is a naturally gifted mystic and a life coach, mentor, healer, and teacher.

He was formally ordained in Varanasi, India as a tantric monastic after completing full monastic training. He is a Lineage Holder of Advaita Shaiva Tantra Yoga Tradition and an initiate of the ancient tantric Avadhuta Order. He has also had a substantial training in Zen and Vajrayana Buddhist traditions, Native American Toltec traditions, and Russian Orthodox Christian mystical spiritualities. Dr. Anatole has been practicing tantra yoga meditation for 36 years and teaching for 27 years.

Dr. Anatole founded Modern Seers Inc. (formerly Abhidhyan Yoga Institute) in 1991 and is the originator of Abhidhya'na Yoga (macromeditation), Abhidhya'na Insight Meditation, Abhidhya'na Yoga Philosophy, and Abhidhya'na Yoga Community.

Anatole has a baccalaureate degree in mathematics and a doctorate in computer science. He is currently employed as an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at State University of New York at Fredonia.

Dr. Anatole is passionate about going deeper and taking you deeper!

Dr. Anatole’s involvements and personal interests include:

•     A no-nonsense approach to spirituality that embraces our complete humanity;
•     Life and transformation coaching;
•     Spirituality divested of religious dogma;
•     Vajra meditation teaching and teacher training;
•     Natural, organic food and living foods;
•     Energy-efficient, ecologically-sound community living;
•     Non-dual spirituality and spiritual practices;
•     Practice of science and rigorous inquiry as a spiritual path.

More info at http://www.modernseers.org/

This entry was posted on June 11, 2011 at 3:07 PM and has received 1074 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

This Wednesday Sandbox gathering we learn about Vastu, the Indian form of Feng Shui, the art of placement, with Dr. Manjul Kant Dwivedi. How can you change your luck and business good fortune by changing your home? What can you do to improve your relationship? And how can home arrangement affect your health for good or bad? Learn about Vastu and discover how you can affect your life with simple rearrangements of your home and it's energy.

Dr. Dwivedi will provide in-depth information about Vastu and practical suggestions on how one can benefit from placing certain objects in the right direction for peace and happiness. Vastu is a supporting science for Holistic Healing. You can increase the curing capacity of healings/medicines many times and turn them for instant action by following Vastu principles. Thus its hidden usefulness must come in light for the betterment of human health.

What is Vastu?

Vastu let you  benefit from the spiritual experience of Vedic sages over the years and live a life of comfort and peace. Apart from several Asian countries like China, Thailand and Singapore, etc., the principles of ‘Vastu’ are being practised in various other developed western countries as well. Vastu Shastra is not merely a baseless myth but it is a scientific axiom which strikes a maximum equilibrium among the 'five elements' and shows the way to keep them, as far as possible in balance. It is based on the gravitational force, magnetic force, air & water streams, electric currents effect of environment, effect of solar rays, significance of directions, etc.

Our wise sages laid down the principles of Vedas millenniums ago. One part of the 'Atharwa-Ved', dealing with architecture, was the first treatise on Vastu-Shashtra. Certain basic principles have been derived from the 'Rig-Ved' also. According to the Indian Philosophy, every particle is a part of the Universe, and therefore, is affected by unseen universal forces. In Vedic epics, construction of ones own house was supposed to be a religious act. ‘Yagya’ and the rituals were conducted in the course of construction to bring about good luck and success. Construction of one’s own house is fullfilment of four 'Purusharthas'.

There are also a lot of similarities between Vastu and its Chinese counterpart Feng Shui in that they recognize the existence of positive and negative forces (Yin and Yang) except for the fact that the latter attaches too much importance to gadgets, like fish tanks, flutes, mirrors and lanterns. This is one reason why Fend Shui is gaining rapid popularity in India.

Construction of a building was regarded as a disturbance to the Natural environment. Vastu Shashtra shows us the way to strike uniformity with nature. It is this uniformity on the basis of which we are able to obtain the practical energy of Universal forces and lead a life of peace and concentration, which brings about prosperity and success. Our existence comprises of the five elements. It is evident that our body is also based on the five elements. The significant aim of Vastu-Shashtra is to establish a positive balance between the nature and our body & mind by construction of a building. Modern Medical Scientists undoubtedly agree that by keeping one’s head towards south, his/her blood pressure remains normal and he/she gets sound sleep. This is the principle of Vastu-Shashtra. The magnetic currents of the earth move towards the North Pole and if the head is towards North Pole, the magnetic circuit will not be completed and will cause repulsion. As a result, concentration will not be possible. Around the body of every living human being there is a natural AURA, which is known as ‘Bio-Electro-Magnetic Field’. We should make it more effective and powerful.

Dr. Manjul Kant Dwivedi is a world-renowned Spiritual Vastuguru, Tarot Card Reader and Meditation Guru. He also uses Mudra Yoga and Healing through Mantras. He is available for private consultations by contacting Dr. Manoj Dharwadkar at             301-528-5986       till June 14th.  More info at http://www.vastushastri.org

Dr Manjul Kant Dwivedi is the founding president of International Society for Spiritual Sciences and is also a well recognized Vastushastri of Uttar Pradesh. Basically he is spiritual "Vastu Specialist" who visualises and feels the power of different Gods in every atom of land and construction. Dr. Dwivedi's specialty is that he has developed a synthesis of Vastu and Feng-Shui. He firmly believes that in India, all Feng-Shui principles cannot be fully applied though at times several remedial measures of Feng-Shui are definitely capable of doing miracles.

Dr. Dwivedi was born in a Brahmin family in the district of Hardoi, which falls under the ancient and holy area of 'Namisharnya' where eighty eight thousand sages did penance for a long time. After his birth, Dr. Dwivedi did not open his eyes for five days. Due to his sharp mind and remarkable personality, this child excelled in school and always acquired top position in his class. At the age of thirteen, he started writing poetry and prose. His work was published and he established himself as a writer. He also won various state and national level awards in creative photography and his photographs were published in established newspapers and magazines of the country.

He has been awarded scores of titles in dozens of international conferences. He was accorded Ph.D. from Colombo, Srilanka on the subject "Good Health from Vastu Shastra". He has been nominated President/Chairman of several Astrological and spiritual organizations of North India and believes in the reflection of echoes of the doctrine of Ved - "All be happy, all be disease free".

Dr. Dwivedi propagates the system of meditation for the removal of defects in Vastu. In this, he primarily creates a flow of super pure pranic energy in an individual, so that the individual becomes capable of creating positive vibrations in his house by this pranic energy. This makes the negative energy escape to some extent. Foreign experts have found his system of meditation very effective and with the regular practice, they convey their message of fruitful results. Dr. Dwivedi is often invited by foreign citizens and NRIs for consulting the "Vastu defects" of constructed home, industries etc. and the mapping of under construction building.

Dr. Dwivedi is the only specialist in North India, who uses cosmic energy while advising Vastu and judges the efficacy of his advice with scientific equipments. Further, he also uses Lecher Antenna and various scientific instruments (which measures the flow of electro-magnetic energy) to measure energy. It is a scientific instrument that measures the flow of energy in men or animals and gives suggestions to make it (flow of energy) more effective. One can easily measure the same by its scale. Not only this, it measures the flow of electro-magnetic current of the land and building as well as indicates the pathogenic emission present there. This instrument, invented by the German medical scientist, Emest Lecher also indicates the geo-magnetic currents as well as the ill effects beneath the surface of Earth. At the same time it gives directions to safeguard from those ill effects. Dr. Dwivedi says, "Although I give top priority to the voice of my soul in taking decisions, yet these scientific instruments do help in arriving at reasonable conclusions".

He never boasts of being a learned person and presents himself as a student in this field. According to him the whole universe is a playground of Energy. If we are able to conceive the flow of this energy, there will be no problems left.

This entry was posted on June 7, 2011 at 9:06 PM and has received 2159 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

I first came across Vastu and Feng Shui about five years ago and used them to change the energy flow in my home and business. I saw some amazing results. Subsequently I learned more about energy and how we can improve our  enjoyment of life by changing it. It is good to live in harmony with the Earth, as it seemed the Incas did here in Peru. This week at Sandbox we learn Vastu from an Indian Vastu-guru (see below for details)

Here in Peru I am back in Cusco staying at the South American Explorer's club house for my last week here before I move on to Lima. If you are ever interested in travel to this continent I can recommend SAE (http://www.saexplorers.org) for good resources, travel tips, a safe place to store bags and a good way to meet lots of other fellow adventures quickly. I have also been taking Tango lessons here which is both fun, romantic and also good practice for sensing and sending clear energy signals (eg which foot is moving, which way are we going). Being Bi I like to both lead and follow - both require different and related skills in feeling energy and staying connected with your partner - Good tango is a bit like a vertical expression of love making...

Last weekend I learned a lot about conscious healing and manifestation in our 3D world by working on conscious patterns in the heart-space of patterns. This was at Jaden Phoenix's (http://alchemywisdom.com/) workshop here in Peru - she will be teaching it in Seattle and in DC area later this year and has teleclasses too in case Peru is too far to come for a workshop! I found it easy to learn and seems to me to underpin some of the other healing methods I use such as Matrix Energetics and EFT.

Our tour group used it during a trip to Puno to keep us safe - the town was full of protests last week and we avoided the violence completely. :-) If you didn't hear about it the citizens were protesting that the Peruvian government had sold Uranium mining rights to a Western company and the company was polluting the water and many children had gotten sick from it. The government initially suggested improving the water over six months but the protesters didn't think that was a good idea and took to the streets. Some were violent and others were peaceful. And the Peruvian presidential election this week adds to the tensions (The two main candidates are a sort of daughter of Richard Nixon (her father is in jail for corruption during his presidency here) and a more right wing pro military guy (John McCain wantabe?). Peruvian friends here don't seem to think that either one is a great choice! On a side note several other counties in South America have introduced laws to make Mother Earth able to be a party to lawsuits so that the Earth's rights can be stood up for. I know Bolivia and Ecuador have this and perhaps Peru will follow suit after the Puno issue. (Some towns in US have introduced similar laws this year BTW)

love
M/M

PS We have three talented healers living at my house: Randy, Rukmini and Sandra. Plus myself remotely. Learn more about what we can do and help support this Sandbox gathering place at http://abundantmichael.com/blog/page.cfm/Sandbox-Healers

This entry was posted on June 7, 2011 at 9:00 PM and has received 1884 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.

Interesting that statistics showing that the radiation is much worse that we heard officially before.

And in case you didn't know radiation levels in US are an issue too. France issued public food warnings about radiation last month but it is business as usual in US (I posted on my blog last month in case you missed it
http://abundantmichael.com/blog/index.cfm/2011/5/2/Radiation-warnings-in-France--apply-to-US-too

Might be worth considering what you eat and where it comes from...

This entry was posted on June 3, 2011 at 2:08 AM and has received 791 views. There are currently 0 comments. Print this entry.