What is Flow?

The Truth stands before me,

On my left is a blazing fire, and

On my right, a cool flowing stream.

One group of people walk toward the fire, into the fire,

And the other towards the cool flowing waters.

No one knows which is blessed and which is not.

But just as a just as someone enters the fire,

That head bobs up from the water,

And just as a head sinks into the water,

That face appears in the fire.

Those who love the sweet water of pleasure

And make it their devotion are cheated by this reversal.

The deception goes further-

The voice of the fire says:

“I am not fire, I am fountainhead,

Come into me and don’t mind the sparks.”

                                                              Rumi

What is Flow?

The flowmasters do not have only one approach to life. Some are fiesty and engaged in changing the world; some are gentle and relaxed; some have the exuberance of children; some have thoughtful, deliberate ways. Flowmasters are open; they stretch themselves to learn and grow; they have deep integrity; they constantly feel steadfastly grateful; and they are dedicated to living by their inner truths.

Flow responds directly to our beliefs, behaviours and actions. We can either enhance this state of perfect timing and flawless serendipity, or we can diminish it and even cut it off. When we become open, willing, trusting, we experience flow as fulfillment and joy, and synchronicities pop up all over the place. When we become fearful, doubting, controlling, flow diminishes, our day is filled with blocks and frustrations, and synchronicities cease.

Below are nine attributes (based on major beliefs, attitudes and behaviours) that engage flow:

* Commitment - Living by our deepest values
* Honesty - Telling the truth to ourselves and others
* Courage - Overcoming our fears
* Passion - Engaging at deep levels with what we care about
* Immediacy - Being in the moment
* Openness - Saying Yes to whatever comes our way
* Receptivity - Listening to inner and outer messages
* Positivity - Finding the value in each situation
* Trust - Having faith in ourselves and the Universe

The following techniques deepen those attributes in ourselves:

 1.  Be aware
 2.  Accept yourself and others
 3.  Express who you really are
 4.  Create silence
 5.  Follow your intuition
 6.  Practice mindfulness
 7.  Do 100% of what you know to do -- and trust
 8.  Finish things and move on
 9.  Take risks
10. Break with your old reality
11. Appreciate yourself
12. Express gratitude
13. Give of yourself
14. Get a point of view from the Universe

We don't have to be yogis chanting mantras in icy Himalayan caves to live in this state of inner peace. Because synchronicity is the key - and synchronicity occurs to absolutely everyone - we all have it within ourselves to live in flow.

If your world is devoid of meaning, there are ways to find significance in every day life.. a bird flying across your path, a book dropped at yoru feet, a postcard arriving in the mail - all can connect you to deeper currents of existence in the ocean of life.

The journey will transform your life. With synchronicity as your compass, flow is your inevitable destination.

Embrace the flow of your life...stay open to grace and synchronicities and watch your life unfold in the most miraculous ways..
With love & radiance,
Anil xox

The Goddess Rocks!

Durga Mantra
AUM
AING HRING KLEENG
CHAMUNDAYE VICHCHEY
AUM

This is the most popular mantra of the divine Mother Durga.
This mantra should be repeated 500.000 times.
The fire worship should be performed with 50.000 ahutis of the same mantra.

A goddess in human form embodies and consciously pursues, some of the following traits: She:

* Is focused, dedicated, passionate and not afraid to pursue her dreams.
* Even when she is afraid, she does it anyway and calls upon a deeper reserve of inner power
   to move forward with goals and dreams.
* Knows that accomplishment without spirit is not as rewarding as a life that is successful and
   soulful.
* Seeks a balance between material and spiritual accomplishments.
* Is of service to others and understands that giving in many ways is the same thing as
  receiving, and that when we help others we are empowered and made stronger.
* Has come to learn that power is not external, or something you seize from the outside world.
   It starts within.
* Honours the men in her life, and the gifts that they bring, and desires partnership based on
   truth, soulful and sacred living.
* Fiercely adores and protects her children, the ones she loves and the things she believes in.
* Champions other women and honours female friendship.
* Celebrates women's real power, and recognises a connection to the divine, or the creative
   power of our universe, even if she does not call it Goddess.
* Is honest with herself and those around her.
* Most importantly, she is true to her own heart and follows the call of her soul.

The Goddess -- and her many forms, and faces -- is accessible to modern women for divine inspiration and guidance, yet she can also be appreciated for her archetypical meaning and the metaphor of female prowess she represents. On a global level, we desperately need the Feminine Divine to balance our world. On a practical level, it's time for women of today to develop "Goddess Consciousness" that will help elevate self-esteem and empower personal and professional growth.

Tune into your inner Shakti, the subtle inner life-force energy that makes life juicy and alive.. breathing in Shiva, the Divine Masculine, Consciousness and exhaling Shakti, the Divine Feminine, creativity and power.. feel the subtle energy of Shiva and Shakti inside of you on the pulsation of the inhale and exhale and let it draw you deeper and deeper into its field of vibration. Trust it's taking you to the essence of who you are.. When you awaken the Goddess within, magic starts to happen...

Wishing you all a magical and Shakti-filled Spring-time creating and manifesting your visions, dreams and aspirations..
With love & sparkles,
Anil xox

Ganesha - The Elephant Headed God

Happy, Happy 2012... Divine blessings to a most spectacular year ahead.. to new beginnings, dreams and desires manifesting and a blissful journey ahead...  


As one year passes and a new one begins, it's a wonderful time to invoke Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, to help you remove all that stands in your way to greater freedom, success and happiness and to move on from those people, places and situations that no longer serve a purpose on your life's journey..


So, I thought it apt to write my first blog for the new year on Ganesha (also knows as Ganapati), the Hindu Elephant Headed God, Son of Shiva and Parvati (Shakti).


Happy manifesting your dreams, goals and aspirations.. may all that you wish for manifest in divine timing.
With radiant Goddess blessings.. give love in ALL that YOU do..
Anil xox

Ganesh, the elephant-headed god of Wisdom is one of the most loved of all Hindu gods. He is happy, wise and without anger. His love of food, especially sweets, is evident in his large, round potbelly. Ganesh is usually shown with his elephant head and four arms. His mount is the rat.

Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva, the Destroyer, and Goddess Parvati (Shiva’s consort).

Discover how Parvati created Ganesh, and how he acquired his elephant head.

Once, the god Shiva was called away from his home on Mount Kailash. Urgent matters in the world needed his attention, and he did not know how long he would be away. The goddess Parvati, his wife, was left alone. When Shiva did not return for many days, she began to feel lonely. 'I wish I had a little son,' she sighed to herself. 'I would talk to him, and play with him, and keep myself busy during the long days that my husband is away.'

So Parvati decided to make a little child for herself. She took the dust from the ground, and mixed it with the perspiration from her own body. From this clay she fashioned a little boy, perfect in every detail. She took the clay child into her arms, and breathed on him, and the child came to life. He was a bright little boy, full of life and utterly devoted to his mother. He would follow Parvati around all day long, keeping her amused and happy with his chatter. Parvati did not feel lonely any more.

One day, while Shiva was still away from home, Parvati said to her son, 'Child, I am going down to the river for a bath. Don't let anyone enter the house in my absence.'

The child stationed himself obediently at the door to their house, determined that he would let no one in until his mother said so.

Meanwhile Shiva returned, his work in the world outside done. He saw a little boy sitting at the entrance to his house. He wondered who this child could be - he had never seen him before. But Shiva was tired, and longing for some rest and his wife's company. So he thought no more of the child, and made to enter his house.
But the little child stood up, and barred his way into the house. 'Stop!' said the child. 'You cannot enter my mother's house!'

Shiva stepped back in amazement. 'Do you not know who I am?' he asked the child. 'I am Shiva, and no one may stop me from going where I will!'

'I don't care who you are!' replied the child. 'I cannot let you enter. My mother said I was to let nobody in till she said so!' The child stood resolutely in front of Shiva, barring his way into the house.

'Move out of my way, child!' cried Shiva in anger. 'No one stops me from entering my own house!' But the child was adamant. 'You cannot enter until my mother says so,' he said again. Shiva was furious, and without another thought, he cut off the child's head.

Just then Parvati returned. 'What have you done?' she cried in grief. 'Oh Shiva, that was our son, our very own child whom I created from my body's sweat! How could you kill him?'

When Shiva heard this he was stricken by remorse. 'I will bring him back to life,' he promised Parvati. Shiva sent gods and men out in all directions, to bring back to him the head of the first creature they saw - human or animal.
As it happened, the first creature that anyone came across was a baby elephant in the forest. Its head was promptly cut off and brought back to Shiva who used his great power to fuse the elephant's head onto the body of his son, thereby bringing both back to life as one.

Parvati was overjoyed to have her son back again, even though he now had an elephant's head. The child combined in him the wisdom of the gods and that of the most intelligent creature on earth after man, the elephant. He grew to be the best loved of the gods. He is called Ganesh, or Ganapati.

All the qualities of elephants are signified by Ganesha’s head. These are the qualities of strength, auspiciousness, and extraordinary wisdom. Like the elephant, Ganesha can be powerful and destructive, yet he is similarly loyal, kind and may be swayed by the affection of his devotees. His large ears - like winnowing baskets - sift truth from untruth. Winnowing baskets are used to winnow grain. The husk and the grain get separated, so does Ganesha distinguish between truth and untruth. It may also be said that the broad ears symbolize his capacity to listen to the prayers of all his devotees with great attention. Ganesh’s twisted trunk represent the zig-zag path of wisdom. It reminds us that there is no direct path, and that there are many twists and turns in the search for truth. While his ever-moving trunk teaches that one should be active always, his single tusk denotes single-mindedness in action. His huge belly signifies that the entire Brahmanda (universe) is hidden within Ganapati. He rides a rat. The rat personifies evil qualities like anger, too much pride and selfishness. Riding on the rat shows that Ganesha checks these evil passions.

According to Kundalini yoga, Ganesha resides in the first chakra, called Muladhara. Mula means "original, main"; adhara means "base, foundation". The muladhara chakra is the principle on which the manifestation or outward expansion of primordial Divine Force rests.

Ganesh Mantra

"Aum gam ganapataye namah"

This is a mantra from Ganapati Upanishad. One may always use it before beginning a journey, a new course in school, new career or job, or before entering into any new contract or business so that impediments are removed and your endeavor may be crowned with success.