The “New” Now
OK, you know by now that every moment is a new moment. That the present, the now, is fresh always. Or do you? Many of us practice meditation or yoga and we know that we’re supposed to be present. We understand intellectually that every moment arises new with every breath.
But we avoid the Now like all get-out! Most of us do our very best to be so busy and distracted that we can’t feel it. Why? I think it’s because we’re all unconsciously afraid that every “now” will be like most of our last ones – boring, or disturbing, or disappointing, or just repeating the same patterns we’ve done over and over in our life.
In order to experience each of life’s moments as new, the patterns established in our consciousness must be cleared out and a change of perspective established. The problem is, most of us haven’t learned the skills to achieve this. It necessitates that we learn to detach from anything that arises in the mind.
When we do, every “now” really is interesting, transformative, and fresh. Yes, we can be fully present in the now, but it’s not an easy task. So this month I’m giving you some tools to help shift you into new awareness; to begin to see the world, your life, and yourself anew.
I have two new blog posts to point you in the right direction (which, by the way, would be right here where you are!). In Love the Wind! I realized I wasn’t really appreciating the wind, but projecting my own uncomfortable, limited experiences on it. Then, in Steps to Santosha, I offer you a step-by-step practice to bring you back from catastrophizing into being OK in the Now.
Are you a woman longing for a group that supports you in being present as your fully authentic, empowered self? My second Sacred Journey Women’s Psychotherapy Group has 3 spaces left on every other Thursday evening, 6:30-8pm. Starts in a couple weeks – contact me as soon as possible to reserve your space! See details below or on my website.
This month’s Evening Meditation and Inspiration radio show supports you in being present by releasing everything that gets in the way. Tune into “Let Go, Let God” on Tuesday, June 18th from 9-9:30pm PDT (or anything thereafter). You’re stepping into the “new” Now… an awakened awareness of what is, within you and around you.
It’s beyond your thoughts – the field of infinite possibilities, ready for you to create, explore, and play. In the words of Rumi… “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase each other doesn’t make any sense.”
Blessings,
Connie
Contents:
- Announcements
- Blog: “Love the Wind!” by Rev. Connie L. Habash
- Event Calendar
- Blog: “Steps to Santosha” by Rev. Connie L. Habash
- Awakening Self Radio Show Schedule
- Spiritual Quotes
Announcements
Sacred Journey Women’s Spiritual Psychotherapy Group – 2nd group starting on alternate Thursdays, 6:30-8pm!
3 SPACES AVAILABLE (6 members maximum) – STARTS SOON! Do you long to uncover your authentic self? To awaken your awareness and vital energy to serve your purpose and be fulfilled? To live vibrantly in the present moment? All in a community of loving, supportive women? Sacred Journey is for you! A place to call your sanctuary… A group of women who deeply support you on your spiritual path and nurture your personal growth, healing, and transformation
- Find your authenticity
- Develop trust – in yourself, others, and the Divine
- Learn to communicate confidently and honestly
- Transform your relationships
- Work through challenging emotions
- Experience potent awareness and aliveness in the present moment
- Discover your true, empowered Self
Spiritual topics each session lead us to explore meaningful areas of our lives. Meditation and other spiritual practices deepen the experience. This is a place to bring it all, knowing you’re accepted and embraced in your unique spiritual and personal path. This is a Sacred Journey. See my website for more details. If you feel called to this group, call or email me for further questions or to schedule your one-on-one initial session. 650-996-2649 or contact me
Online or Phone Counseling
Are you longing to create positive, empowering, meaningful change in your life but my counseling office is too far away or you prefer the comfort of your own home? For residents of California, I’m available for telephone or Skype counseling sessions! Find out more on my Counseling Page, or email me at contact me Some sliding scale spaces available. Not in California? I’m available for Spiritual Guidance sessions for people all over the planet! Let me support you in deepening your spiritual journey, answering questions, and shining the light on your own inner wisdom. Offered by donation.
Spiritual Family
Sunday, August 18th – Theme: Sacred Fire
Sunday, October 27th – Theme: Gifts of Our Ancestors
Sunday, December 8th – Theme: Heart of Gratitude
9:15-11am. 330 Melville, Palo Alto, CA Join us for an all-ages celebration of the Divine through yoga (kids and adult classes!), meditation, singing, spiritual discussion and community. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. For details, see Spiritual Family.
Mind-Body Zone Teacher Training returns
Once again, I’m teaching Yoga Philosophy, Ethics, and Lifestyle in the Mind-Body Zone Yoga teacher training, beginning in September. If you would like to join this extraordinary training with Lynn Cheng-Kaylor, Setareh Moafi, Lorien Neargarder, myself, and others, check out the MBZ website!
Yoga Quest is coming in October!
What is Yoga Quest, you ask? I’ll be sharing the details in July. Look forward to 4 Monday mornings, from 10-11:45am at YiY in Mountain View of Yoga and deep inner exploration!
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Love the Wind!
I admit it, I’m not fond of cold wind. It aggravates me and sometimes even causes me to feel light-headed, off balance, and disturbed. So whenever there’s a cold wind (which there often is when I pick my daughter up from school), I tend to get a bit whiny and complain. But I thought about it – the wind is important! Without the wind, we wouldn’t have fresh air. No rainstorms would travel through. Pollen and seeds often wouldn’t find new places to plant themselves and grow. And how would you fly a kite? Read complete article
Event Calendar
Steps to Santosha
We all have times when we’re faced with fears or challenges. It’s part of life. But sometimes those challenges seem overwhelming. Our minds blow them up into crises, replaying the many terrifying, possible scenarios over and over again in our minds, until we become agitated, anxious, or immobilized. Are any of those scenarios actually happening? Chances are pretty good that they aren’t. But our bodies do not know the difference. When the mind creates images and thoughts that are fearful, our bodies react with the same chemicals that are produced when we are faced with a true threat to our life. Which means that we are creating unnecessary stress and trauma in our minds, with little or no basis in reality. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Read complete article
Awakening Self Radio Show Schedule
This Month’s Show:
Tuesday, June 18th, 9-9:30pm PDT – Evening Meditation and Inspiration
Theme: Let Go, Let God Meditation is very much a process of letting go – releasing attachment to thoughts, sensations, and emotions. This is different than resisting, forcing, or denying; it is acknowledging, softening, and allowing these phenomena to flow through you to be offered up to the Divine. Learn to let go, opening to the Sacred present within you.
Last Month’s Show:
Tuesday, May 14th, 9-9:30pm PDT – Evening Meditation and Inspiration
Theme: Embracing Discomfort Not every meditation session is going to be pleasant, easy, and enlightening. In fact, many of them aren’t. Does that mean we don’t meditate? NO! Meditation actually teaches us how to be present with and embrace whatever arises, the pleasant and the unpleasant. Learn some ways to work with physical, mental, and emotional discomfort during meditation practice. When we can embrace our experience for whatever it is, we develop more compassion and peace within.
Spiritual Quotes
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” – Buddha “Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” – 1 John 3:18 “We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us, and make us kinder. We always have the choice.” – The Dalai Lama
