by carlashakti | Aug 14, 2019 | embracing shakti, yoga of the heart
Have you ever had a felt sense of knowing. A deeper sense about something or remembering things that should be unfamiliar but aren’t? Some resonant memory, “I have been here before, I remember this.”
We all have.
This for me is remembrance. Remembrance speaks to a sense of knowing something but not always why we know it. It is often the first step on the path towards connecting with Spirit.
It is so interesting that many languages have 2 words for knowing: French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish and Hungarian to name a few. One word describes knowing something factually and the other is to have a deeper understanding and wisdom. In English we have lost this distinction when we gave up the old English word “witan” centuries ago.
But when we ‘know’ something, we really ‘know’ it. It is not something we experience intellectually. We feel it in our blood and bones. You hear the resonant call “I have been here before, I remember this”. And that knowing is at the heart of remembrance.
The term Gnosis means “knowledge” in Greek. It refers to the type of knowledge that one has that is based on one’s own practical experience. The Gnostic path asks you to go within and remember the inner teacher. The inner Guru. The inner divinity that resides within each and every one of us.
It is in this space that we acknowledge the deeper knowledge and wisdom of who we are. It is an invitation to empty the expectation of the mind and remember the essence of you.
So the next time you have that inner feeling of knowing, close your eyes and take a few deep, diaphragmatic breaths. Feel what arises from the depths within you and listen.
Your divine self is speaking directly to you. What is s/he saying?
PS. On September 10th, my FREE 13 day Embracing Shakti Journey for womxn is starting. Thirteen magical days of remembrance, connection and living from the wisdom of the heart. To get on the waitlist and be first on the list to register, click HERE.
by carlashakti | Aug 14, 2019 | embracing shakti, goddess
This month in the Embracing Shakti Temple our featured embodiment of the Divine Feminine is Isis, the Egyptian Goddess of Magic, Motherhood and Healing. Known as a healer, physician, enchantress, magician, patron of women in childbirth, mother and devoted wife, Isis is referred to as Goddess of 10,000 names, and her temples lined the Nile in Upper Egypt for more than 800 years.
She was the first daughter of Geb, god of the earth, and Nut, goddess of the sky. The core of the Isis myth is the story of her relationship with her divine consort and brother Osiris. They represented the sacred couple, the divine marriage.
Osiris was killed by their jealous brother Set and his body parts scattered all over the earth. Isis searched tirelessly to find all of the pieces of his body in theform of a vulture. She then uses her sexual energy to bring Osiris back to life and at the same time conceived their son, the hawk headed god Horus.
She had an eternal relationship with her beloved Osiris – her brother, husband, lover and co-ruler — and they shared the same soul, he as the King of the Underworld and she the Queen of Heaven. The story of Isis going to rescue her husband and creating the transformative journey of the soul became an important story of the mysteries and is thought to have influenced other religions.
Here are some suggestions to evoke the energy of Isis so that you too may connect to her magic and power:
- Isis was a winged goddess and motherly protector of women. Hang a feather in your window to remind you of her protective wings. Ask her to look out for you.
- Before going to sleep, call on Isis’s healing and creative forces to enter your dreams. The astral realm is truly the best time and place to accept any wisdom or lessons she has to offer you.
- When was the last time you talked to your mother? In person or on the phone … NOT through text message? Reach out to the one who gave you life and thank her for everything she has done for you. If your loved one is no longer alive or not a part of your life, reach out and thank a woman who has made a difference for you.
How does Isis’s story inspire you? Do you have another practice that connects you to her mysteries? Please head over to my Facebook page and post away!
PS. Does this theme resonate with you? Every month in the Embracing Shakti Temple we feature a different goddess from around the world and learn from her through ceremony, embodiment practices, drum journeys, and deeply connected conversation and support. Our Temple helps womxyn channel the Feminine as a transmission of embodied presence in our daily lives. Doors open again for only 4 days on September 23rd. To find out more and get on the waitlist, click HERE.
by carlashakti | Jul 24, 2019 | mindful words, yoga of the heart
Ever have one of those weeks? Over the past several days I’ve been noticing that sh*t has been getting stirred up, like really over the top stirred up. And triggers have been coming at me left, right and centre.
I know I have the tools – I have been starting my day with meditation, intention setting, being open to help. I’ve been going for walks by the river. I’ve been consciously breathing.
But I still felt stuck.
Last night after a particularly trying day battling with technology, I sat myself down and decided it was time to get real. I asked myself – “Why do I feel like I am in this loop of frustration, constriction and…resistance?”
Resistance. As soon as that word came into my awareness, I knew that was it.
The stories in my mind, the excuses, the blame, the projection, the isolation, the separation – underneath all of this was resistance.
In that moment I immediately softened. I could feel my body relax as if I had just shed a suit of armour. The ego creates resistance to keep us safe. Or rather, to make it appear we are safe. To avoid the uncomfortableness of intimacy, vulnerability, surrender and being real.
So what did I do? I took a deep breath and told my resistance – I SEE YOU. WHAT DO YOU NEED? And I listened. I listened to the part of me that was afraid, the part that feels not enough, the part that feels judged, the part that feel unloved.
And then I asked if I was ready to expand around the contraction.
YES!
So I breathed and offered myself the opportunity to expand. Towards vulnerability. Towards surrender. Towards evolution. Towards my infinite self.
And today? I feel more ease. The resistance is still there, but less somehow. I feel more compassionate and loving towards myself. And today, that feels huge.
Does this story resonate with you? Is resistance showing up in your life right now? What does it look like? How does it feel in your body? What is it saying?
And most importantly, how can you honour this part of yourself. Let’s start the conversation – please reach out and let me know.
by carlashakti | Jul 19, 2019 | Uncategorized, yoga of the heart
Do you have a garden? If you do, how do you feel about weeding? We have several gardens on our property and weeding is just part of my summer routine. I don’t really mind it at all actually – I love getting my hands in the soil and actually find it quite meditative.
Recently I have become more interested in learning about the plants that flourish so abundantly in my garden beds. It is actually quite amazing how fast and prolific some species can be and I’ve been curious to know more about how these plants are ecologically valuable, edible, medicinal or sacred in some way.
Here is a little of what I’ve learned:
- Chickweed ~ Stellaria media: This plant is native to Europe that has widely naturalized in North America. Chickweed indicates tilled, fertile, nitrogen-rich soil and is excellent raw (in place or sprouts or salad) and is also delicious cooked. However it should only be eaten in limited amounts since it can cause an upset stomach for some.
- Common Horsetail ~ Equisetum arvense: Prefers acidic soils. Externally it was traditionally used for chilblains and wounds. It was also once used to polish pewter and wood (I’m definitely planning to try this!) and to strengthen fingernails (because of it’s high silica content).
- Common Plantain ~ Plantago major: Loves disturbed areas – I seem to be constantly pulling them out of my gravel driveway. If you can leave them to mature, the ripe seed heads can be used for bird food. Common Plantain is often referred to as the ‘soldier’s herb’ because it has been used over the centuries to treat wounds on the battlefields. Roman legions also used it in footwear to prevent blisters and the leaves can be chewed and the juices mixed with saliva to be spread on abrasions, burns or bee stings.
Kind of amazing right? Knowing more about all the plants in my environment makes me feel so much more connected with nature.
So over to you. Can you learn about at least one weed you see in your garden and share what you find out with us? Head over to my Facebook page, post a picture and what you’ve discovered.
by carlashakti | Jul 10, 2019 | breath, yoga of the heart
If we went way back in time and asked one of our ancestors about their connection to Spirituality they might look at us in disbelief. Before the word and concept came into being, each of us experienced a seamless connection to life and the Earth that was embedded deeply into our bodies.
That connection took the form of waking to greet the sun in reverence, drinking life-giving water, harvesting plants for sustenance, playing with thriving children, feeling the effects of the phases of the moon – all of this, permeating every aspect of our existence in the world, was the experience of Spirituality.
And even though in our modern world there is often a feeling of disconnection, each of us carries an inner remembrance of our connection to Source, and the current of transmission and reciprocity between all beings.
Just as a seed does not need to be taught to grow and become a plant, flower, fruit or tree – your body contains the imprint of exactly what is needed to be complete and whole exactly as you are. To sense that you are always held in belonging and connected to all beings everywhere through space and time.
The invitation is there. Always. Come closer to your essence. Trust that your body…remembers.
by carlashakti | Jul 10, 2019 | embracing shakti
This month in the Embracing Shakti Temple our featured embodiment of the Divine Feminine is Airmid, the Irish Goddess of Herbs and the Art of Healing. She is a goddess who takes things slowly and is content to wait. She understands that healing and growth can take time and she embodies the sweet quality of patience.
Airmid was a member of the Tuatha De Danaan, the most ancient race of deities in Ireland. She and her brother Miach followed in their family’s footsteps of being incredibly powerful healers. Both were more skilled and impressive than their father, Dian, who was so envious of his children’s gifts, he murdered Miach.
Deeply grieving, Airmid went to her brother’s grave and laid a cairn of stones around the burial plot. She went there everyday to grieve. Then, after a year, she noticed three hundred and sixty-five herbs grew on that spot, one for each day and one each to cure a specific part of the body. She spread her cloak and began to gather up the herbs according to their properties. Dian learned of this, and again in a fit of rage, he overturned the cloak scattering the herbs to the wind, so no one but Airmid would ever understand their healing gifts.
Little else is known of Airmid in Celtic folklore, but after falling out with her father, she spent her time in the mountains where she tended to fairies, elves and humans that needed medical attention.
It is through the essence of Airmid that we may learn to use and appreciate the sacred power of plants. The symbolic number 365 tells us that, with time, we can heal our wounds and that herbs have power throughout the solar year, whether in seed and root, bud and stem, or flower and leaf.
Here are some suggestions to evoke the energy of Airmid so that you too may connect to the secrets and powers of the plants around you:
- Go for a walking meditation and gather plants along your away. Pause and reflect upon each species that you choose and ask permission to take a piece of the plant with you. Find a quiet place to create an earth altar with your gatherings and sit in final reflection of the abundance and beauty of plant life everywhere.
- Sit outside and take 20 conscious connected breaths. Breathe in and out through your mouth and drop the breath right into your belly. Every breath you take in has been imprinted by the plant that created those Oxygen molecules. This is medicine that I believe is activated by consciously breathing. Take in the healing that the plants around you are providing all life.
- Plant a garden, flower pot or window box in Airmid’s name and ask her blessings for the growth of your herbs. Do some research and learn about new ways that you can use the plants that you grow. Great opportunity to get creative!
How does Airmid’s story inspire you? Do you have another practice that connects you to the plant world? Or do you have a picture of your garden or earth altar to share with us? Please head over to my Facebook page and post away!
by carlashakti | Jul 10, 2019 | breath
This week I am in Joshua Tree, California attending the 2019 Global Inspiration Conference (GIC) – a gathering for breathworkers from around the world. There are more than 25 countries represented and 250 incredible breathwork facilitators sharing their teachings, ideas and gifts. Pure magic.
I wanted to share some words from a master teacher Jessica Dibb that touched my heart and moved me deeply. This, to me, expresses the essence of the breath so beautifully.
Every cell of this body
Every feeling of this heart
Every thought of this mind
Every atom of this soul
Every action of this lifetime
Consecrated with
This sacred Breath.
May you be inspired to breathe consciously today.
by carlashakti | Jul 10, 2019 | celebrations, rituals
The longest day of the year fast approaches, this Friday, June 21st.
The word solstice comes from two Latin words meaning ‘sun’ and ‘stoppage’, this will be the day that the sun stops moving North and reaches its highest point of the year.
The Solstice represents a time of newness, nourishment and sustenance – an opportunity to turn our attention inward and cast light on the shadows.
Cultures all over the world and throughout history, have celebrated this day. They observed that the expansion of consciousness opened through meditation, practice and ceremony on the Solstice is magnified in a very powerful way. Taking pause on this special day can be a very potent experience.
There are many ways to celebrate this special day, here are a few suggestions:
- Be intentional and turn off all your devices for some part of the day. This helps you align into the frequency of your chosen ritual.
- Prepare a home altar with colours of the sun – brilliant golds, red and oranges. Use candles, flowers, food and anything that brings thoughts of brightness and radiance into your being.
- In a journal or in meditation, reflect upon your journey over the last 6 months. What has transpired for you in the first half of the journey around the sun this year?
- Place a jar or bowl of water out in the sun early on Friday to be energized with the Solstice sun. Drink in the later day to receive the vitality of the most important of cosmic entities.
- Write a list of your intentions for the next 6 months. Bury these intentions in your garden to grow with you over this next cycle of light.
Most importantly, play, have fun and remember all that you’ve generated this year & honour what has burst into creation!
If you have a particular ceremony or practice that you use to celebrate the Solstice – please share it on my Facebook Page. I would love to know how you honour this special day.
by carlashakti | Jul 10, 2019 | yoga of the heart
Today I want to say thank you. Thank you for being here and being a part of my community. When we come together, even virtually, we create the space and support to grow and evolve. Collectively we raise our vibration so that together we can contribute to the raising the consciousness of all. In Sanskrit the word kula means community of the heart, an intentional tribe, clan or family. Every one of you here certainly feels like my kula.
Over the past several months, my team and I have been working hard behind the scenes on a new website and some exciting offerings that will be launched soon. A few of the (free!) things we have in the works include:
- The Shakti Oracle (this summer)
- Prioritizing Pleasure Webinar (this summer)
- Embracing Shakti Movement ~ 13 Day Journey (starts September 10th)
And so a couple of quick things in anticipation of lots of new and exciting content coming your way…
1. Please make sure that my emails are not sitting all sad and lonely in your spam or promotions folder. Just drag over this email into your main folder and voila, you will find them easily when they arrive.
2. If there is anything I can do to make your experience and our community better, please let me know and email me.
And to show my gratitude for letting me show up in your inbox each week, please enjoy this short video where I lead you through the Deerga Pranayama. Watch it and breathe with me – I guarantee you are going to feel amazing!
by carlashakti | Jul 10, 2019 | celebrations
Around the world our Muslim friends have been celebrating Laylat al-Qadr. Considered to be the holiest night of the year, it is traditionally celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan. Known as the “Night of Power,“ “Night of Decree,” “Night of Destiny,” or “Night of Measures,” it commemorates when the Quran (the Islamic holy book) was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
The Prophet Muhammad retreated from his daily life on a regular basis to meditate on the higher truths within the human existence. After fifteen years of this practice, he received his first call of revelation from the angel Gabriel, beginning with “Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists).”
It is said that on this night, God gives abundant blessing while also showing mercy to practicing Muslims, who actively seek His forgiveness and engage in various acts of worship. Praying for salvation and blessings (known as Ehyaa), Muslims believe that past sins are forgiven if the person prays throughout the night. Additionally, it is believed that angels descend to Earth during this time to perform every errand decreed by God. Muslims also believe that this evening marks their fate in the following year.
Laylat al-Qadr is a time of community, where everyone comes together to worship, pray and celebrate. It is also a time of acts of good will and charity, particularly towards the poor and unfortunate. This holy night is celebrated by millions of Muslims around the globe and is quoted in scripture as being “better than a thousand months”.
So, tell me, my Muslim friends, I would love to know what this special evening means to you and how you celebrate it with the ones you love. What are you asking for this year? Drop me an email back and let me know!
