The Next Meeting of SHIVA

Will take place on Saturday, February 17, 2007

from 1pm onwards at the home of Kaye Watt

53 Pearce Street, Wodonga, Vic. 3690

Anyone who is interested is welcome to join us for a casual afternoon tea and friendly gathering.

BYO nibbles, soft drinks & chairs. Tea & coffee provided.

Please contact either Heather (03) 57222332 or Kaye (02) 60562186

for details and directions.

Anyone in the Wangaratta area who would like a ride, contact Heather.

Many people think it has to be difficult to connect, or reconnect, with their spiritual selves when, in fact, nothing could be easier.

There is a lot written these days about how to meditate, make the spiritual connection, how to be a tree, how to fly... Okay. So I’m joking.

But seriously, it is so easy it’s almost funny.

You don’t need books, special tools, bells, candles, etc. However, if you are not used to visualisation, some of those things can help you to focus your energy and concentration. For some people, setting the mood with incense, candles, oils, etc. is an important physical ritual that helps to put them in the right frame of mind to meditate.

A Quick Meditation

Take a moment.

Sit yourself down somewhere outside. If that’s not available, find a nice place to sit by a window.

Close your eyes and feel the elements – wind, sun, etc.

If you’re inside, feel the heat or the breeze through the window.

Whilst you don’t have to keep your eyes closed throughout this meditation, it does help if you are a beginner.

Take a few really deep breaths. In through the nose, blow out through the mouth. Pucker your lips and blow as if you’re trying to whistle.

With each in-breath, imagine pure, golden energy flowing in and filling your whole body.

With each out-breath, imagine negative energy being blown out through your lips and turning into bright, sparkly positive energy as it floats away.

Do this until you feel lighter, calmer and more in control.

Let stray thoughts come and go. Don’t concentrate on any of them. Just let them flow through your mind and out again.

Hold your arms straight at your sides. Straight but not rigid.

Breathe in, and as you do, raise your arms slowly until your palms meet above your head.

Breathe out, and as you do, keeping your palms pressed together, bend your elbows and bring your hands slowly down in front of your face as though you are praying.

Breathe in and press your palms firmly together.

Breathe out and slowly straighten and raise your arms until your palms are pressed together over your head once more.

Breathe in and slowly lower your arms to your sides again. As you do, say out loud or think to yourself:

“I open myself to the energy of the earth. Oh, ancient mother, fill my body and my spirit with your calming peace, love and energy.”

Just sit for a few moments and feel the energy flowing into and through your body.

Open your eyes.

Say a sincere thank you for the gift of pure energy.

Take a few more deep breaths and rise.

You should feel refreshed, calm and ready to face whatever the day throws at you.

With practice, this meditation can be performed anywhere, anytime, to help you get rid of negative energy and re-focus your positive energy.

Making the Connection

To connect with your true spiritual self (ego), first perform the above meditation.

After asking the ancient earth to fill you with her loving energy, keep your eyes closed.

Concentrate on the energy flowing around you, through you, generated by you.

Visualise yourself sitting opposite yourself in pure, shimmering, energetic form. Don’t be frustrated if you can’t do this at first. Keep trying.

Concentrate on watching your energy ebb and flow. If you can’t see it, feel it.

Get to know how you look in this form. Learn how your energy feels.

Don’t worry if you can’t see any colours. Some people can, some can’t. Some learn to see the colours with practice.

Concentrate on getting to know yourself as you truly are.

Love what you see.

You are a being of energy and power, of great beauty, capable of many wonderful things, with an infinite capacity to love.

Love yourself as you are.

See the dark energy as well as the light energy. See how the negative is interwoven with the positive energy.

Know yourself in all your glory – both positive and negative.

Accept the truth of what you are.

See all that you are.

Love what you see.

Now watch as your energy extends in ribbons of colour and light.

See how each ribbon of energy is connected to mother earth, the sea, your own kind, the animal kingdom, the plant kingdom, the universe and beyond.

Know that you are a part of all that lives. Feel your connection with all.

Take a few moments to enjoy your true self.

When ready, give thanks for all that you are and for being a part of all there is.

Take a few deep breaths and come back into your physical awareness.

Give sincere thanks for yourself and all that is.

Open your eyes and feel refreshed, renewed, calm and energised.

Time to rid yourself of those who cause you grief

The moon is now in its waning phase and this is an excellent time to rid yourself of the negative influences of anyone who is trying to cause you grief either psychically or psychologically.

A Gypsy Spell of Unbinding

Take a thick piece of paper. Black is best, but white will do.

Think of the person you’d like to not have the power to upset you any more.

Write that person’s name in black in the centre of that piece of paper.

Fold the paper in half right across that person’s name.

Continue to fold the paper in half, half again, half again until you can fold it no more.

While you are folding say this:

“Person’s Name, I break the hold you have over me. I cancel out your negative thoughts and words and deeds. From this day forth, you can do me no harm. From this day forth, I will no longer be affected by you.”

Place the folded paper in a clean ashtray or bowl it’s safe to burn it in.

Set fire to the paper.

While you watch it burn, say this:

“Person’s Name, your power is burning away. You hold no power over me. Your negative thoughts, words and deeds hold no power over me. Your negative intentions hold no power over me. From this day forth, you can do me no harm. From this day forth, I will no longer be affected by you.”

When there is only ash left say this:

“Person’s name, your power to hurt me is gone. You can hurt me no more. I am free of your negative influence. And it harm none, so mote it be.”

It is most important to add at the end: “And it harm none” as the Romani believe that if you cast a spell or think a damaging thought against anyone it will rebound upon you threefold. So the words: and it harm none, are always said – the reasoning behind it being that if your spell goes wrong or does no good, it will do nobody harm. “So mote it be” is an ancient ending to any spell or spoken intention literally meaning – and so be it – let the deed be done.

There are two schools of thought regarding what to do with the ash.

Grind the ash (char) to a fine powder and keep it in a small container or black silk scarf (diklo) so it can be used as a positive aid in other spells.

Keep the char until the first night of the full moon then cast it to the four winds, thus dissipating any negative energy.

That’s all from me for now.

Give those meditations a try and see what happens.

I’ll see you in peace, love and harmony – as always.