Beggar's Bowl

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Meditation to Reverse Childhood Patterns

In order to have a better understanding of our childhood patterns, let us first get a general understanding of early childhood development. Here are a few bullet points from my parenting book, "Kinnecting: Healing the Difficult Child with the Creative Arts" to give us increased insight:
• When a child’s survival and emotional needs are met promptly and consistently by the mother (primary caretaker), typically, the child will thrive physically, cognitively and emotionally (Stern, 1973)
• Negative feelings (fear, hunger, discomfort, etc.) permeate a child’s being because their survival is dependent on their mother (primary caretaker)
• Children use their bodies to communicate because they lack the verbal and cognitive skills to get their needs met
• Children are receptive to verbal and nonverbal forms of communication through energy level, vocal tone and body posture
• Parents/caretakers help mold a child’s body boundaries by providing safety and containment through structure and limitations
• Child development during the formative years (0-6) will set the precedent for the way in which he/she problem solves, expresses feelings and relates to others

Our childhood patterns are developed as a way of getting our needs met and a way of dealing with stress and/or early childhood trauma. These patterns become our means of survival. The way in which our brain normalizes the toxicity in our lives in order for us to function. For a time, these patterns serve us and for that they should be honored. But the environments to which we become habituated and the ways in which we deal with these challenges as a child do not always serve us as adults. These patterns become habitual and rigid and limit us from living an abundant, fulfilled and radiant life. Oftentimes these patterns are borne of fear and doubt and stifle our true essence prior to psychic wounds. To function optimally as a fully healed and integrated adult, we must operate from a place of: Knowledge of Self, Self analysis, Critical thought, Self correction, spiritual connectivity and energetic flow. That is why I love Kundalini Yoga so much! It is the quickest and most effective way for one to re-parent one's self from a Divine perspective with courage and clarity. It is the Warrior Healer's Path. For the individual willing to put one's Self in the healing fire and emerge transformed. I've been feeling the effects of this meditation even before we have begun. This is going to be a power-full journey. Let's do this!

BEGIN: Sit in EASY POSE, with a light JALANDAR BANDH (elogated spine, lifting behind the head and slightly tucking in the chin). Rub your hands together and bring them to PRAYER POSE with your thumbs against your sternum and your shoulders rolled back and down. Your eyes rolled in and up towards your THIRD EYE. Inhale through the nose and chant ONG NA MO GURU DEV NAMO (I bow to the Divine Teacher within) on two breaths. Listen here for the correct pronunciation and cadence of the ADI MANTRA which is found on my CD URBAN MANTRA: VOL I. Please purchase if you have not already and show your support of Rhythm & Breath. All proceeds from the album go to Rhythm & Breath's continued effort to bring affordable and accessible mystical tools to urban folk.  
MUDRA #1:
1. Sit in Easy Pose. Place left hand in front of you at chest level. Keep the fingers straight with the palm facing right. Press the fingertips of the right hand into the mounds at the base of the fingers of the left hand. Palms face each other. Right fingers are bent. Thumbs rest alongside each other. Eyes are closed. Begin to breathe long and deeply through the mouth with a ‘throaty breath.’ Hear the sound of it. Regulate it from the throat. Feel the breath and the energy it creates. Continue for 3-5 minutes. Then inhale deeply and suspend the breath for up to a minute. As you hold it, go through your psyche deeply. Gather all thoughts, feelings, memories  you want to release. Exhale through the mouth like a cannon. Expel the impressions. Release the feelings.

To End: Inhale and exhale a few times then suspend the breath again. Repeat this two more times.
MUDRA #2:
1. Still in Easy Pose, bring the hands in front of the shoulders with the palms facing forward. With the left hand, connect the little finger to the tip of the thumb. With the right hand connect the ring finger to the tip of the thumb. Close the eyes and begin Breath of Fire through your mouth. Steady breath. 3 minutes. Inhale deeply and concentrate through the top of the head for up to 30 seconds. Repeat three times.
MUDRA #3:
3. Cross your hands on the Heart Center, right over left. Focused at the tip of the nose through closed eyes. Breathe normally in your own rhythm. 7-11 minutes. Meditate on a feeling and quality in your heart. Feel your innocence. Connect to your sense of totality and vastness. Extend your sense of peace. Any thought or people that come to your mind, grant your blessing. Bless your Self, any thought in awareness. Enter a state of gratitude, light and blessing. Survey each year from birth to 11 years old. Bring in the sense of light, kindness and blessing to each memory. See what happens as this entire period is cleared and released by touching it with your light and openness

TO FINISH: Recite the Warrior Healers Affirmations in GYAN MUDRA, your index finger pressed against your thumbs. Or in BUDDHA MUDRA one hand resting in the other with the thumbs touching.

TO CLOSE: Rub your hands together, bring them to prayer pose and chant SAT NAM (Truth is my Identity) on one breath 3 times. Bring your hands up to your forehead and bow bringing your hands and head to the floor. This seals the work in your frontal lobe.

Well there it is! Let us reclaim our innocence and our birth right to a prosperous, radiant, content and complete life! I will meet me you in the Rhythm & Breath circle with your questions, comments and impressions. I look forward to healing individually and collectively.

Sat Nam, Salaam, Shalom,
Mama Luz