Finding True North

Historically we use a compass to indicate magnetic north.  One of the four greatest inventions, compasses originated in China in 60 CE and comprised a lodestone spoon and a metal ‘heaven plate’, together they were called sinan. The spoon would always point south when sitting on the plate. This evolved in the West to the floating magnetic needles that we know today.
 
Our lives are directed by our internal moral compass that guides our decisions based on our concept of right and wrong.  We are said to be ‘in integrity’ when what we say, think and do is wholly embodied and consistent to our values. 
 
Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.– C. S. Lewis
 
Integrity is also defined as the state of being whole and undivided. As a gong player we play from our heart with singular attention to energise the intentions of our clients. Some teachers focus on ‘Integral Gong’.
 
Disappointingly my students report of gong players who are checking messages on their phones while playing; who carbon copy the words and practices of other players without crediting their source; who focus more on appearances in their Instagram post than on delivering a quality sound experience; and some who believe gongs are no different than bowls and therefore do not seek relevant training before playing for the public.
 
… know that integrity, honesty and truth are the highest vibrating energies to guide you forward. Everything else will fall away. -  Molly McCord

It was predicted that where yoga is today, gongs would be in 20 years. Given the rapid rise in popularity it already seems as though we are “flooding the zone.” There are even several online courses, ‘How to make money playing gongs”.  Spiritual materialism has arrived.
 
We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles. - Jimmy Carter
Despite temptations we must adhere to the Six essential qualities that are the key to success: Sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom, and charity. - Dr. William Menninger
This defines me.

Nature Heals

Everyone needs a place to retreat; a spot where the world grows silent enough for the soul to speak. - Angie Weiland-Crosby

Yutori is a Japanese concept of a conscious decision to create space and time in life to slow down, relax, reflect, and enjoy life. Thoreau went to the woods, I travel to my homeland in Nova Scotia - equidistant east or west of HK.  After a long drive one arrives at a small cabin brimming with decades of eclectic family memories only steps away from a serene lake yet minutes to the ocean.  

I go to nature to be soothed, healed and have my senses put in order.- John Burroughs 
Each night as the embers fade I strain my ears to hear ANY noise. The silence is only pierced by the ethereal haunting call of loons.  Theirs is the quintessential sound of the Canadian wilderness.  (listen here). We all have memories triggered by specific scents or sounds. For me, the calls of these amazing birds defines time spent beside, in and on the lake.  Their calls travel further on a still lake at night and sometimes you can even hear a response from a neighbouring lake.  Simple pleasures surrounded by nature serves to restore on all levels.

There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature – the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter. Rachel Carson   

I am sure you have experienced the sense of awe, wonder and peace when you walk into a sacred space such as a great cathedral.  Is it their magnificent sacred geometry, spectacular stained glass windows, or sense of history?  Science has shown these sites contain an energetic memory or imprint of what has gone before such as prayer or healing. Many of my clients say that as soon as they step over my threshold they let go the stresses of their daily lives. They enter to the lingering scent of spiced tea (or the chocolate brownies), and then step into the studio. There they are surrounded by the quiet, dignified presence of my gongs, enveloping the listeners even before I begin to play. 
 
If one uses a space repeatedly for higher energy practices the ‘charged’ energy lingers and can be measured with a Random Event Generator (REG).  This is called ‘conditioned space’ as identified by Roger Nelson of Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR). He conducted numerous studies at sacred sites around the world to measure their fields of consciousness which eventually led to the establishment of the Global Consciousness Project (GCP). In every case he noticed an increase of REGs as if the location contained a lingering vortex of coherent energy from the previous participants.
 
Researchers Graham Watkins and his wife Anita recruited participants, many known for their psychic ability, and asked them to attempt to mentally influence anaesthetized mice to revive more quickly than usual.  The mice that were targeted did revive seconds earlier than the controls.  However what was more striking was that if they placed a new mouse onto the spot on the table where another mouse had previously received the psychic’s intentions, the second mouse revived more quickly as well.  Thus confirming that the location of the directed ‘healing intention” developed a memory charge that affected whatever or whomever subsequently occupied that space.
 
Simply being in such a place has healing benefits.  This is one of the reasons I intentionally maintain the energetic integrity of the studio by playing mantras 24 / 7, cleansing with sage and palo santo, meticulous attention to cleanliness  etc. Welcome to Red Doors.

Recognition

Don't work for recognition, but do work worthy of recognition. - H. Jackson Brown Jr. + Abraham Lincoln

A quote I use in my level 1 gong training is from Walt Disney - Whatever you do, do it so well that when people see you do it they will want to come back and see you do it again.

Over the years the studio has received accolades such as  CItyLUXE - 'Hong Kong's best kept secret!' or Vogue - 'the address no black book should be without' and Tatler 'HK's best first date'.  From Caring Company to Innovation and Excellence, APAC Business Award for Best Traditional Relaxation Centre to HK Design Academy Best Branding the studio received recognition as a leader in wellbeing.  Since opening I was recognised as a woman leader in wellness in HK, executive coach and counsellor.  This week I received  Asia's Most Valuable Corporate as All in One Wellness and Meditation Centre.  For this recognition I am truly grateful.  

Recognition is the spark that ignites the flame of inspiration in the hearts of others. Ava Thompson

Since the beginning as the first dedicated gong centre in Asia there was no established template to follow so I created a 'best in class' approach to set an example for my students and some have.   As early adopters in a new field we are only limited by our imaginations as to our offerings yet package them with integrity, consistency and professionalism.

Thank you to all who were responsible for this award reinforcing my dedication to continue to just 'do good'.
 
Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts. Alan Cohen

Healing Vortex

Numbers rule the universe - Pythagoreas

Today is a # 9 day = May 22, 2025 = 5+2+2+2+0+2+5= 18 = 1+8=9

Nikola Tesla is attributed to saying If you knew the magnificence of the numbers 3, 6 and 9, you would have the key to the universe. He believed that these numbers were fundamental to the universe's energy patterns and held a great deal of significance. To date this has yet to be proven however there is no doubt as to the mystery that surrounds the digits 3,6,9.

In the world of numerology and sacred sound, 3, 6, and 9 represent a trinity of cosmic forces:

·       3 – The Number of Creation
It symbolizes expression, birth, the trinity (body-mind-spirit), and the first point at which energy becomes form. In sound, it relates to the beginning of vibration — the spark that sets the gong in motion.

·       6 – The Number of Harmony
Representing balance, love, and union, 6 is the vibration of beauty and healing. The harmonics of the gong often build into 6-fold overtones, creating a sense of soothing order from apparent chaos.

·       9 – The Number of Completion
9 is the full return — where all cycles close, only to begin again. When the gong fades back into silence, we’re reminded of the eternal loop of existence — the infinite spiral of transformation.

Together: 3 gives birth;  6 nurtures and  9 transforms.

This trinity reflects the gong journey itself: from strike (creation) → resonance (harmony) → release (completion). We believe the gong is the sound of creation.  When we play - it is as if we are playing the universe of sound, using these numbers as a cosmic map to guide us.

Healing Power of Moms

When was the last time you spoke to your mother?

As babies they comforted us with their touch but more importantly their voice.  Our sense of sound is the first to develop in the womb and the echoes of her voice become associated with safety and security.  No matter where I go, my mother's voice always brings me home. anon
This is true even as we grow older. Girls who heard their mothers voice either in person or by phone had a 30% decrease in cortisol and increased oxytocin after doing a stressful task. 

In the womb we are surrounded by the sounds of digestion, heart beat, and rhythmic breathing which served to stabilise our heart rate, improve our sleep and decrease pain. 

A mother's voice is like no other. We recognize every lilt and whisper, every warble or shriek. Mitch Albon

it has also been reported that a mother's voice created a 200% increase in brain activation in infants versus a stranger's voice. We are intrinsically bonded for life.

Today is world mental health day. If you live too far away to give your mother a hug, I suggest you give her a call.  You will be glad you did. It's like a band-aid for your soul.

You never know how precious your mother's voice is until you can no longer hear it. anon
As a mother myself I am prompted to create a recording or two for my grown children to listen to when i am no longer here. I only wish my mother had done the same.

Full Flower Moon

 The golden ratio, also known as the golden mean, is a ratio between two numbers that equals approximately 1.618. Usually written as the Greek letter phi, Φ, it is strongly associated with the Fibonacci sequence, a series of numbers wherein each number is added to the last.

 This ratio has been used for thousands of years including the Pyramids and the Parthenon;  Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam to Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.  Our brains prefer objects and images using the golden mean.  In nature we find it in the shape of the galaxy, the petals of a flower, a coil of a seashell and tropical storms.  Even our faces and body proportions loosely follow this mean.  Cathedrals built in the middle ages took advantage of phi to create structures that evoke a sense of peace and balance simply by being in their presence.

 Phi is also found in the solar system. For example the dimensions of the Earth and Moon are in a ratio of phi. Also Mercury, Venus, Earth, Jupiter and Saturn’s orbits are multiples of phi.

 Monday is Full Flower Moon marking the fullness of spring. Renewal, growth and abundance are common themes.

Gazing into the centre of this flower one can see the spiralling of the petals following the golden mean.  For us, at this full moon we are encouraged and emboldened to explore new opportunities yet stay focused on long term goals. It is a time to cultivate new intentions and to honour your journey thus far.  Imagine you are like this flower, lifting your head to the sun to embrace the new day while staying fully grounded.

Inspiration

The ancient Greeks believed inspiration came from the Muses, divine beings who whispered ideas into mortal minds. The root of inspiration is ‘inspire’ or to breathe into.  This breath leads to a creative idea or may motivate us into taking action.

Where and how do we find inspiration today? 
Science says inspiration comes from an interplay between two brain networks: the default network (the pattern of neurons that activates when you daydream or let your mind wander) and the executive network (the network that governs high-level conscious tasks). When these two interact creative ideas are generated. Essentially we need to focus our attention while letting our imagination run wild.  There are two triggers for inspiration: one is intrapsychic (connections between two ideas already in your head) and environmental (when you connect what you see with something you already know).
 
The air is full of ideas. They are knocking you in the head all the time. Henry Ford
Repetitive movement such as gardening, meditating or knitting, spend time in nature or try something new are some reliable techniques So too.going for a walk. Stanford scientists determined that people are 60% more creative when walking than when sitting down. (come to my labyrinth workshops)
 
During a gong bath we evoke Theta. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is especially good at prompting inspiration and alternating between REM and non-REM sleep helps your brain reshape neural networks, making you more likely to think up ideas when you wake up. Inspiration strikes when curiosity meets openness, receptivity meets attentiveness.  I invite you to find the quiet space and take the opportunity to set your intention in your next gong bath to find the answers you seek. Listen. And have the courage to take action.
The new idea either finds a champion or it dies. Tom Peters

We CAN Do It!

Gloria Steinem reportedly once said The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.

March 8 we celebrate International Woman’s Day.  Officially recognised by the UN in 1975 its origins date back 200 years to Abigail Smith Adams, first lady to President John Adams who wrote 'Remember the Ladies' letter on March 31 urging that women's rights and protections be considered by Congress when drafting laws for the newly independent nation of America namely, the Declaration of Independence.

It took time for women to achieve recognition and acknowledgement for their contributions to society. On March 19, 1911 over one million attended rallies in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. In 1922 Vladimir Lenin declared March 8 International Working Women’s Day, honouring women's role in 1917 Russian Revolution. And in 1922 China first celebrated IWD, recognising it as a national holiday (for women only) in 1949. Other countries followed suit. In 1980 President Carter proclaimed the week of March 8 'National Women's History Week’, 200 years after Abigail’s letter!

IWD celebrates the achievements of women and is a call to action to advance gender equality.  This year’s theme is ‘accelerate action’. The poster above was commissioned by Westinghouse Electric in 1943 to boost morale of their female workers. Painted by JH Miller it is titled ‘We Can Do It!’ and is frequently confused with ‘Rosie the Riveter’ painted by Norman Rockwell used for military recruitment. In those days management sent messages to staff on bulletin boards in hallways and cafeterias. This woman symbolises determination, strength and unity. To me, it is also a reminder that Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.  Helen Keller

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Be the change

We change the world not by what we say or do but as a consequence of what we have become. Dr. David Hawkins.
Every day I turn on the BBC to hear of yet another executive order from the White House. It seems far, far away however at some level the increasing tidal wave of fear and anxiety throughout the world influences our perspective and energy.

When a body becomes overwhelmed with toxic substances, thoughts or feelings, the positive bio-electric field is immensely lowered. George Lakhovsky
The human body is a symphony of sounds. Every chakra, cell, organ, bone, tissue has it’s own resonant frequency.  When an organ is out of tune with the rest, the entire body is affected. Amit Sharma
The International Journal of Electrical, Electronics and Data Communication identified the frequencies of the body ranging from the brain at 72-90 MHz to the liver at 55-60. There are many variables to affect the readings such as environmental, fitness etc and every organ is linked to another.  On average a normal healthy body averages 62-78 MHz. Dis-ease starts when the frequency drops to 58 MHz. Bruce Tainio. This is why we feel 'down', 'cold' etc when we are not feeling 100%.
 
These are measures of the physical body.  Dr. David Hawkins was a pioneer in calibrating levels of consciousness using muscle testing on a scale from 0-1000. He identified 200 (The level of Integrity) or above as positive (“power”); anything below 200 is negative (“force”).  He noticed an inverse relationship of low consciousness to high unemployment, poverty and criminality. While high consciousness equated to higher states of happiness. His research identified 78% of the world’s population measuring <200 or lower states drain energy, cloud perception and create suffering. While only 4% >500; and even smaller percentages at the higher figures.
 
500 equates to unconditional love, profound inner peace, compassion, and true joy and is the level at which spirituality starts.  Interestingly the same as the unconditional love of a dog's wagging tail, birdsong and a cat’s purr. This is why their presence is so calming and healing.  (cat purrs also stimulate bone growth)  He states that light overcomes dark and that one individual at this level counterbalances 750,000 people below the 200 levels.
 
As a sound practitioner I am an energy shape shifter and as my students know.. plumber.  My tools are my mallets and gongs, my talent is channelled in the moment to address the energy in the room removing blockages and re-establishing a state of ease and harmony.   Gongs are incredibly powerful tools as you know and I believe that every gong player has a moral responsibility to the planet and humanity to elevate energy with the intention for the greater good.  I calculate we need 8424 level 500’s to elevate humanity.
 
The time is now. As Yogi Bhajan said, When the time is on you, start, and the pressure will be off.   I beseech all gong, bowl, voice, sacred sound practitioners, meditators to redouble your efforts to shift the 78% towards positivity, optimism and hope.  We have the tools, we have the skills, we have the will.  If you don't play gongs, attend as many sessions as you can for as you increase your frequency, you will positively impact those around you.  We are the change.

Perpetual Motion

Perpetual motion is the concept that a motion can continue forever without an external energy source.  An example is the desk toy with hanging balls that swing back and forth or the Rolex Oyster’s self-winding mechanism, powered by the wearer’s movements. Unfortunately when left alone, all perpetual motion devices will eventually stop.

Oftentimes I am asked where do I get my energy?  Like the self-winding mechanism above my energy levels are elevated and maintained on a daily basis as energy begets energy.

The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel, and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.  Anthony Robbins,

I love what I do.  Every day offers unique opportunities to utilise my diverse skills and The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have. Norman Vincent Peale

I believe that as an energy worker my purpose is to alleviate pain and suffering – whether helping a client sleep better to relieving arthritic pain, every day in every way I serve. Oprah says Energy is the currency of the universe. You get what you give.  And Benjamin Franklin said Energy and persistence conquer all things.

Red Doors has come a long way in ten years largely through optimism, enthusiasm, a willingness to say ‘yes’ and to break new ground William Shatner said Energy is the key to creativity, the key to life. Nothing is more powerful than a person with a fully-charged energy. Paulo Coelho

Who knows where the next ten years will lead?

Feel the Love

On this day 25 years ago the last Peanuts cartoon was published. One of the most loved and successful American comic strips of the last century it was first published in July 1952.  Although Charles Schulz’s original art work was rejected by his high school yearbook his talent was recognised years later with a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.  He drew 17,897 Peanuts strips and was published in 2,600 dailies in over 75 countries in 21 languages.  He often predicted the strip would outlive him. He died on Feb 12, 2000 one day before his last strip was published. I grew up with Peanuts and related to their simple philosophies of life.  From Happiness is a warm puppy to All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt. Charles M. Schulz

Love someone not because they give you what you need, but because they give you feelings you never thought you needed. anon

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and World Sound Healing Day. Both are opportunities to express and receive the love frequency.

Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.  Paulo Coelho

Love is more than a feeling. Love is a decision. Action follows emotion. anon

You may reach out to speak to a loved one rather than text (speaking releases the cuddle hormone oxytocin), or possibly share a hug. Family therapist Virginia Satir said, We need four hugs a day for survival, eight hugs a day for maintenance, twelve hugs a day for growth. Or maybe you stroke your favourite pet. In all cases  A touch, a compassionate hug can take away our fears, soothe our anxieties, and fill the emptiness of being lonely. Randi Fine  

 In the words of Diana Ross I invite you to reach out and touch somebody’s hand to make this world a better place if you can.

Dreams

Feb 2 was Ground Hog day when Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, is pulled from his burrow. This year he saw his shadow predicting 6 more weeks of winter.  Some animals such as bears hibernate during the winter by sleeping to conserve energy when food is scarce and the weather is harsh. We fortunately only require 6-8 hours a day rather than 2-7 months of sleep.  During our sleep we elicit dreams.
 
In a gong bath one passes through a number of sleep and dream states. As you lie down your body relaxes into the hypnogogic state or transition from awake to sleep.  In this first stage of sleep or theta your muscles relax and you release stress in the form of rapid fire, disjointed, lucid dreams accompanied by Rapid Eye Movement or REM.  These Dreams are driven by a natural tendency to bring resolution and closure to unfinished emotional and mental problems of the day. Carl Jung
 
They make no sense but represent your brain’s effort to reverse engineer the stresses and sensory overload of the day. Terry Guillemets says dreams digest the meals that are our days.
For what one has dwelt on by day, these things he sees in visions of the night.  Menander
 
Once your brain has attained equilibrium and refreshed itself with nutrients you will drift into deeper sleep. Here you may experience another type of dreams known as ‘cognitions’. These are not random and may repeat themselves until you understand their meaning.

All brain states are relative to each other, waking, sleep and dreaming.
You will REM dream to the extent you were stressed when awake.
You will have freshness in the waking state relative to the amount of stress released during sleep.
You will dive into sleep state relative to how tired you were while awake.

The fourth state of consciousness is called Turiya or ‘true self, it is spiritual or transcendental consciousness.  Turiya is the interface between each state – waking – dreaming – sleep and the more we meditate or experience gongs the more time we will spend there. Turiya symbolises pure knowledge, non-duality,  and ultimate reality, and is essential for achieving liberation and inner peace.  Next time you come for a gong relaxation I invite you to simply e aware of your dreams and the inner silence within.  Dreams are the hushing of the bodily senses, that the eyes of the Spirit may open. Harriet Beecher Stowe

Aligning with the Cosmos

This week we are experiencing a remarkable cosmic event.  On Jan 25 and for the next two weeks or so eight planets in our solar system will be in alignment. 

The planets all orbit the sun in roughly the same flat plane, known as the ecliptic, but they move at different speeds (Earth is 365 days, Mercury 88 days, Neptune 165 years) Thus to have the planets to all be in their orbits on the same side of our sun, within the same degrees in our sky, so that we can see them is more than special. On average the three inner planets line up every 39.6 years while eight every 396 billion years.

The alignment is seen as a moment of cosmic synergy, where the Earth and its inhabitants can tune into the rhythm of the cosmos fostering a sense of unity and collective growth and to manifest intentions aligned with universal flow. How apropos as Red Doors begins our countdown to our tenth anniversary next month.

On Feb 1 ten years ago I took possession of the keys to the bare studio and began construction.  Literally on a wing and a prayer driven by determination and an inner voice saying ‘do it’ unquestioningly I anted up my savings to establish the first dedicated gong centre in Asia.

They say it takes a village to raise a child.  The studio is a living breathing testament to the dedication and contributions of many over the years to whom I am eternally grateful.

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. Helen Keller

It is true I can do anything but can’t do everything. Oprah advises that it is ok to rely on others to accomplish our goals. I have been blessed over the years with talented hands and hearts appearing seemingly just in time.

Anderson Wong conducted the Feng Shui reading and placed auspicious elements in strategic locations; Jane Chow’s good taste and eye for design created the colour palette and was instrumental as a liaison with the contractors; Makin Ma and I spent considerable time on the brand essence and logo, we ordered everything from the cups to bolsters. The multi-talented Jenny Stocksen was invaluable as my right arm for sourcing my first purchase of 120 yoga mats, moving in, settling, and capturing moments on film.

The planetary alignment aligns us with universal flow, the gongs connect us with this universal sound current. 

A ship is always safe in harbour, but that is not what it was built for. Albert Einstein

My passion to share these tools with all and sundry has never waned, if anything it is a powerful as ever. The potential is a blue ocean of opportunities with each day, each email, each inquiry offering ways to make a difference to the lives of others.

In the coming weeks I will continue to share my story – capturing highlights in a timeline on the website.

If you have a story or memory of how Red Doors has touched your life or wish to share a testimonial, please do email me at martha@red-doors.com

Renewal

The Oroborus is an ancient symbol of a snake or dragon eating its own tail.  Known to many cultures including the Norse and Egyptians it has held meaning in religious, occult, and alchemic traditions, where it may represent time, infinity, the cosmos, death and rebirth, the beginning and the end, or unity with nature, the universe, or God. It is also interpreted as a symbol for eternal cyclic renewal.

Life depends on change and renewal. Patrick Troughton
Maybe it is a coincidence that we are about to embark on the year of the wood snake.  2025 in numerology is a '9' year (2+0+2+5=9) meaning endings, personal growth, and helping others. It's time to reflect on the past, close old chapters, and to focus on making positive changes in your life and the lives of those around you.

Stressed captive snakes are known to ingest their tails without realising it.  They also slough their skins as a as they grow, letting go of the old to make way for the new. This year I suggest you do too.

It is very ok to outgrow your old self. Wild Faith
for  To be born again is not to become somebody else, but to become ourselves. Thomas Merton. Transitions are a part of life, allowing for perpetual renewal. David Simon

As we embrace the new year I invite you to open yourself up to new ways of thinking and feeling. Deborah Day; to Take time for daily renewal to enrich our lives and help us avoid mediocracy, apathy, and burn out. Stephen Covey.  You may ask how? 
The best way ... is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.  Barack Obama.  ...It is our only legitimate hope of survival. Wendell Berry.

Soul Renewal

January is the first month, it is a time of renewal and of shedding that which is no longer of use – energetically, physically, emotionally and spiritually. In Kundalini number one equates to the Soul Body. Plato and Socrates believed it to be the true essence of a person, immortal and distinct from the physical body. It is that spark of life differentiating you from a lifeless mass.

You don’t have a soul. You are a soul, you have a body. Attributed to CS Lewis and others

Last weekend I attended a Mental Health First Aid Course offered by Mind HK.  The mental health statistics for HK reflect the growing global trend – increasing exponentially while interventions, diagnosis and support services are not.  The road to positive mental health begins with awareness leading to change in behaviours then engagement.

Last night was the first full moon of the year.  A time to illuminate your path accompanied with energy to implement plans and strategies for personal growth.  This week

Be your own moon. Angie Weisland Crosby

Think about change from inside out, after all we are what we think- Lord Buddha

These practices will nurture your soul:

Laughter is the language of the soul. Pablo Neruda

Prayer is the life of the soul. Madame de Stael

Wisdom is the health of the soul. Victor Hugo

The soul is healed by being with children. Fyodor Dostoevsky

The soul becomes prudent by sitting and being quiet. Aristotle

The soul knows how to heal itself… to silence the mind. Carolyn Myss

Practice any art …. Is a way to make your soul grow. Kurt Vonnegut

 Creating a life that reflects your values and satisfies your soul is a rare achievement. Bill Watterson

The Soul is known by it’s acts. Thomas Aquinas. When you do htings from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. Rumi So Let my/your soul smile through my/your heart and my/your heart smile through my/your eyes that I /you may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts Paramahansa Yogananda For Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another. George Eliot

Go well, be well and share your inner light

Martha

Windows to the Soul

Our eyes are the window to your soul. William Shakespeare

In Kundalini we practice tantric eye gazing – the practice of staring intently without blinking focused either on the horizon, the sun, a candle flame, a photo of an enlightened Guru, into the eyes of another or into a mirror.  The latter two are deeply intimate practices as they require sitting not with your thoughts but with your eyes turning inwards.

As little as 10 minutes a day will reduce stress and promote relaxation as your breath softens, your focus and introspection deepens while simultaneously unlocking creative insights. While staring can be intimidating and forceful gazing is gentler and consensual where the viewee feels seen, not threatened.

On Oct 29, 2016 the world’s biggest eye contact experiment was held.  Strangers in 124 countries made eye contact for 1 minute resulting in surprisingly intimate and powerful interactions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSLJ3JDIDgY&ab_channel=TheLiberators

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. I Corinthians 13:12, 

Mirror gazing is like looking at ourselves as others. Social neuroscience and social psychology offer support for this view by showing that we use similar brain and cognitive mechanisms during perception of both others' and our own face. Doing so is shown to create a sense of “oneness” between two or more people by lowering the walls between the “self” and the “other.” This practice could build connection and empathy among diverse groups. Eye increases trust and intimacy levels. And it has been proven that the longer you look at someone’s face from the front, the more attractive you will think they are!  

This week I offer you a personal Buddhist practice shared by Dr.Martha Beck:

Sit and imagine facing yourself as if in a mirror and offer the following kind words:

May you be well

May you be happy

May you be free form suffering

May you feel safe and protected

May you live with ease and grace.

And as I offer myself these wishes I become part of myself that is real because suffering is part of the dream world while reality is infinitely loving.

The eyes are the voice of the heart - Confucius, the heralds of our soul’s messages - Anon, and the mirrors of the soul. – Yiddish Proverb

And I’m Feeling Good

As the earth turns, we flip the page on our calendar to 2025.  Usually a time of revelry watching a clock, this New Years Eve we held our annual gong puja aka adult pyjama party.  Thirteen gong players stayed the course to evoke cosmic journeys in our sleepers playing the house gongs continuously for 10.5 hours or the equivalent of 15 - 45 min gong baths!!
 
Gong pujas were first conceived years ago by Don Conreaux.  At that time Yogi Bhajan’s son was very ill so he played him a gong for 45 min for ten consecutive days. His son recovered.   YB then turned to Don and asked him how to conduct these ten gong baths more efficiently.  Don’s solution was to play them back to back all night long and thus the gong puja was born.
 
If you visit the studio during the holidays you will notice our Christmas tree brimming with birds.  Most of them are the cute fat English Robins.
 
All birds are believed to be messengers of God. Their presence portends assistance in overcoming obstacles.  The reason why the robin has a red breast according to Mother Teresa is because one saw Jesus on the cross with a crown of thorns.  The helpful bird flew over to remove one thorn and in so doing pieced his chest, forever to be stained red. Mother Teresa asks: Each of us should try and be that bird – the little robin. When we see someone in pain, we must ask ourselves: ‘What can I do to give them comfort?’ Does my work really mean something?
 
As a totem, Robins indicate to let go of stagnant things, of new beginnings, of planting new seeds, of hope, renewal, and rebirth. As our puja was coming to a close I turned once again to the beginning of my daily meditation book written by Eileen Caddy who founded Findhorn in Scotland.  For January she writes:  I was shown a bowl of food placed in the snow and I saw imprints of many birds and other animals around, as they knew they would find food there. I hear the words. You cannot live by bread alone. Come to Me for your spiritual food and sustenance, and I will infill you and send you forth refreshed, renewed and fully satisfied.

We woke to Michael Buble It's a new dawn, It's a new day, It's a new life, For me, And I'm feeling good

We all reluctantly departed wanting to linger as long as possible in this temple of gongs. Leaving with happy hearts, full tummies, increased clarity, inspiration and light. Feeling o’ so good. Sat nam.

Myth, Mystery, Magic and Miracles

December 21 is the winter solstice marking the longest night of the year.  For the Chinese it is called Dongzhi or ‘winter arrival’ as it marks the official start of winter.  The days will progressively grow longer to bring balance and harmony between yin and yang on June 21. It is also the day the Kitchen God goes to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor on the conduct of a family.  Interestingly in the west we also believe our behaviour is monitored as to whether we were naughty or nice by our friend in the red suit.

Sparkling lights, ornate shop windows and the sounds of carols fill the air. Infectious good cheer, long school breaks, festive food and ‘happy holiday hugs’ abound. At no other time of the year are the feelings of happiness, love, excitement and brotherhood expressed so freely. The dark cold nights of the northern hemisphere are rich with mystery, myth, magic and miracles.

I do not  know of any adult who still believes in the myth of Santa however we keep it alive generation after generation until the magical appearance of presents under the tree is revealed.  One year my brother attached a horseshoe to a fishing rod and plopped it in the snow on the roof outside his bedroom window.  In the morning he excitedly said ‘Santa’s been here…’  The truth was out, the bubble burst however the mystery still remained.

Magic is performed by humans while miracles are events that are physically impossible or impossible to confirm by nature and are attributed to the presence of a divine power. The Bible has numerous examples of miracles such as Jesus’ conception.  In the movie Miracle (awesome by the way) the USA hockey team overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to beat Russia in the 1980 Olympics.  Sometimes we believe miracles only happen to others I think otherwise.

Miracles happen everyday, change your perception of what a miracle is and you’ll see them all around you. Jon Bon Jovi

Albert Einstein said There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.  So To live at all is miracle enough.  Mervyn Peake

The miracle is not to walk on water or in thin air, but to walk on Earth. Walk in such a way that you become fully alive, and joy and happiness are possible. That is the miracle that everyone can perform....If you have mindfulness, concentration, and insight then every step you make on this Earth is performing a miracle. Thich Nhat Hanh

PS Midnight December 24th to dawn January 6th is regarded as a microcosmic experience of the macrocosm. It is a time to connect and correlate the cosmic and yearly rhythms, to contemplate our connections to our future. The ancients believed the 12 days of Christmas were a portal to the heavens and therefore the future.

 ‘In the darkness of winter’s night, when the great breath of the Earth Mother finds its greatest point of inhalation, human beings are afforded the grace to touch into both magic and miracle. In the pause between her mighty in-breath and out-breath there is a still point of rest. This still-point has long been known as the Holy Nights. In these blessed Nights, the angels circle the globe as if in a great cosmic dance. They long to speak to listening human hearts. Throughout the ages the ‘listening ones’ on earth have heard the angelic chorus; they have received messages of Peace and Love. What is received during these sacred days and nights, resounds a thousand-fold in the year that follows. In this year before us a great light is striving to find willing human hearts. May we each be the listening ones during these Holy Nights. May we work with angels.’ Claudia McLaren Lainson

Rudolf Steiner, believed that at this time the veils are the most thin between the spirit realm and the human realm. And as such was the best time to set intentions, to plant seeds and to go inward in prayer and meditation.  Join me on Dec 21 in the journaling class to receive instructions how to do so during this magical period.

Time Keeps on Slippin

Where did 2024 go?
In his 1890 book, ‘The Principles of Psychology’, philosopher and psychologist William James wrote that ‘the same space of time seems shorter as we grow older’. This is referred to as 'log time'. As we age, a year becomes a smaller fraction of our entire lives up to that point. For a 5-year-old a year is one fifth (or 20%) of their life, but a year to a 50-year old is one fiftieth of their life (or 2% of it) so it seems to pass ten times faster.
 
The bad news is time flies, the good news is that you are the pilot. Michael Altshuler
While there is no way to slow down chronological time, we can affect psychological time for  our experience of time is perception.
 
In a recent study of 918 adults led by the psychologist Ruth Ogden, 77% of respondents agreed that Christmas seems to arrive more rapidly each year. (14% were neutral on the issue, while only 9% disagreed.) An Iraqi sample with the same question about Ramadan received a very similar response. 

Why? 
Children have many new experiences, and so process a massive amount of perceptual information. They have an unfiltered perception of the world, which makes their surroundings appear more vivid: time passes slowly. Adults on-the-other-hand have progressively fewer new experiences, our lives become more automatic and de-sensitised through familiarity.  As a result, we absorb less new information: time passes more quickly.

Time is a brisk wind, for each hour it brings something new. Paracelsus
 
The key to slowing our perception of time is novelty. Try something new, learn a new language or hobby or change your daily patterns. Doing something new means your brain has to pay attention. When it pays attention, your perception of time is altered. Neurogenesis occurs birthing new brain cells and structures to hold new memories.  Other suggestions include mindful practices such as meditation and gong baths.
 
This week I invite you to Make use of time, let not advantage slip. William Shakespeare
Rather than letting Time slip into the future, allow Time, as he grows old, (to) teaches many lessons. Aeschylus. It is never too late so Hurry up: your dreams are waiting for you, but they will not wait forever. Paulo Coelho