It seems everyone is looking to 2022 with hope and . . . well, a little caution.
Photo by Brant Bender
If you’re in the midst of planning your wedding or at the beginning stages, this new virus variant may have you feeling twitchy about making final decisions.
As a wedding ceremony officiant I can offer multiple options for performing your ceremony, including:
Nine years ago, I had the good fortune and privilege to get a hug from Amma.
At a big event in a Los Angeles hotel, people came from across the county – and the world – just to be near her. If you’ve never heard of the Hugging Saint, or never had a chance to be near her, find out more about Amma, here.
If you HAVE received a hug from Amma, well . . . you know.
On this occasion, her helpers and staff “prepped” those of us in line, waiting to go up to receive a hug. I was asked if there was something in particular I wanted Amma to address. I told the attendant I was experiencing a crisis of Faith, and the attendant jotted something down to show Amma. Then, when it was my turn, I went up on the dais to receive my hug. As she held me close, Amma chanted in my ear a Sanskrit mantra (even as I type this I’m feeling goosebumps, remembering). And what she chanted, her attendant wrote down and translated for me.
I won’t reveal it exactly (it’s just between Amma and me) but essentially, it means, “I trust in and honor my Higher Self.”
Every morning during my 15 minutes of meditation, I focus on that mantra. For anyone who meditates or has tried, you know the first several minutes are simply about squirming and getting settled! Once I’m in the groove, any time I catch my monkey brain in action, I return to my mantra. It brings me calm, my breathing evens. Then, finally, about 30 seconds before the 15-minute alarm goes off, I feel a brief sense of pure peace, during which, just maybe, my Higher Self can get a word in edgewise. (This tells me that I need to extend my meditation to 20 minutes!)
I trust in my Higher Self – It knows better than I. It is the quiet voice. It is the alignment with resources and perfect timing. It’s like the wise elder who’s been through it all.
For those of us who are spiritual (but not religious) it can be challenging to sort out how Faith actually comes into practice in daily life. Get in touch for more tools to connect to your Higher Self.
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