Recent Christmas tradition seems to have
become the tradition of busy-ness.
With shopping mayhem, forced 'party'
smiles, the last minute wrapping frenzy, 1
day of 'celebration' (to include the 'must
be special' food stress experience) and a
swift return to shopping mayhem as the
sales kick in on boxing day - it's a one
way ticket to a whacked out, zoned out,
Christmas nightmare!
This version of the festive season,
fortunately, is optional.
Below are my 10 Top Tips
for bringing the 'Presence' back into your
Christmas. Follow at least some of these
this Christmas, and you will give everyone
you're with the best gift of all -
the gift of You!
1. Invest in Stillness
What appears to be required at this time
of year, is a lot of activity. However,
activity for activity's sake, without the
Presence of You - to put it in grossly
understated terms - is inefficient. It
tends to drain you on all levels, generate
frustration and generally feel hopeless.
So, perhaps what we really required here,
is a willingness to do the opposite. A
willingness to invest some time in
Stillness.
Stillness injects space into your being,
and space is vital for life to flourish.
Stillness plugs you in to the Universal
Power Supply - where you can recharge your
batteries - and it doesn't cost a penny!
2. Take Time for Silence
A noisy mind, chugging out the same old
thoughts on auto-pilot has no space to let
new and inspired Christmas ideas flow in.
Silence injects space into your
mind.
This revitalises those aching
synapses and resets your point of
attraction - allowing you to actually
'hear' the inspiration arising directly
from the Self.
3. Just Stop
Whatever you are doing, thinking, feeling
- if you are experiencing stress,
striving, efforting or lack on any level -
you are not with your Self.
Just stop.
You could even try it right now. Go on,
give yourself permission to just stop
right now. Give your Self a chance to
catch up with you, and your whole being
can relax!
4. Follow your wave
When you begin to get in touch with your
self, you'll begin to notice that you have
a natural energetic wave. There will be
times when it feels genuinely good to
engage in the 'doings' that (you can
rationally see)create and manage the stuff
of life.
There will also be times when it feels
genuinely good to relax, kick back and
perhaps engage in 'doings' that seem
trivial or even out of sync with apparent
priorities.
Follow
your wave, and you will stay in the flow. Even
though the mind might have a different
opinion of what's good for you - feel, and
follow your wave.
When you are with your wave, activity
times will be 1000 times more productive,
down times will be 1000 times more
restorative, and fun times will be 1000
times more joyful and nourishing!
5 & 6. Two Christmas Inquiries
The usual way we have learned to answer
questions is to respond by invoking the
mind. It heads off on a mission to seek
through it's knowledge base and come up
with the best answer it knows.
Inquiry is different. Wth
inquiry, the question comes and our
response is to be still and wait. In this
space we allow the answer to find
us! It arises from the place of
'no-mind', our deeper awareness.
A good practice with a single inquiry
question (such as the ones suggested
here)is to ask it. Then simply allow the
answer to arise, express an inner 'thank
you' and repeat the inquiry until you feel
a sense of completion
Christmas Inquiry 1: What do I
want?
Not so much a request for your Santa list
- more an opportunity to get in touch with
your deeper longings.
This
may be useful when thinking about what to
give your loved ones this Christmas. It
may seem a little odd, as the question is
self directed - and I have noticed that
when we get in touch with our True Selves
we align with the longings of The One (as
it wishes to be expressed through us).
So, for example, as you focus on the
experience of giving your Mum her
Christmas present, begin the inquiry -
what do I want? The answers may flow
along the lines of - Heart, joy,
connection, laughter, delight, to witness
her feeling seen...
While this may seem a little non-specific,
or even obvious on the surface, it will be
connecting you directly to your deeper
motivations, and invoking the energy of
what you really want from the experience.
This can have a profound impact on your
energy around the subject, it informs your
inspiration, thinking, decisions and
approaches as you embark on the 'shopping
experience'.
It literally puts the Real You in the
driving seat when you are shopping for
your Mum and will attract to you, the
gift, that somehow perfectly reflects your
intentions and can bring you the
experience you long for.
Christmas
Inquiry 2: What really matters here?
This is a good one for helping you centre
your self when you feel stressed about
'getting everything done', 'getting it
right', 'making it special' etc.
For example - It's Christmas lunch, the
gravy has gone lumpy. Your diligent mind
reminds you that you want to please your
guests, nobody likes lumpy gravy and your
guests are all going to spend the rest of
the day pondering your incompetence.
Time to take a deep breath, and inquire:
What really matters here?
You may be surprised what answers flow. It
might even take only a few moments to come
back to what's truer for you than the
minds stressful chatter!
7. Winter Wonderland
I
love to wonder, and I highly recommend it
as an approach to life in general.
Rather than trying to figure stuff out
this Christmas - simply relax and wonder
about it. Start your sentences with
"Hmmm... I wonder..."
You'll find that, somehow, the minds
tone and energy softens and
solutions, directions, answers and
inspirations easily, breezily waft your
way!
8. Keep Yourself Topped Up
Take
time to nurture yourself over the festive
season and you'll find you have a lot more
energy for fun, love and laughter, and to
really be with your loved ones.
So notice the little things that would
feel good to give yourself: a moment's
peace, a massage, a trip to the salon,
coffee & a cake, time with a friend -
whatever feels genuinely kind to you.
Fill your cup so it can 'run-eth over' in
the Yule-tide!
9. Prayer
Asking
for the Christmas you want invokes its
energy. So take time to see your life
playing itself out the way you would love
to experience it.
The power of visualisation and prayer is
well documented - so a little conscious
intent could go a long way over the next
few weeks.
10. Surrender
And
finally - just let go! At the end of the
day, reality (what is) rules. Play lightly
with your prayers and requests, for the
pure joy of it, and let them go - to
the greater flow that is the life stream.
The Morning Prayer on the
'Heaven
& Earth' meditation CD
teaches you a great way to achieve the
balance of asking for what you want with
surrender.
CLICK
HERE for details or see below.
Satsang events will, of
course provide a space where you can stop,
get a very healthy intake of stillness &
silence and get back on your wave!
Last event
before Christmas:
Blackheath (SE3), Tue 16th Dec.
Call Christine for details: (07963) 318838
Oh
yes, and keep your eyes open, as Santa-Satsang
will be delivering your Christmas stocking
in the next few days, bulging with some
early Christmas gifts for you!
Satsang
Expansion - I'd Love Your Help!
