Beggar's Bowl

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

New Moon in Cancer: Meditation for Prosperity & Self-Esteem




Greetings new, returning, and crash and burning R & B Yogis! If you are reading this: you are alive! And for that you are already abundant. Be grateful. As long we can breathe, we can do yoga and clear the way to receive our blessings and alter our life condition. Even during a global pandemic and Up-Rising. Because COVID-19 attacks the lungs, the air we breathe is even more precious. Now more than ever, be intentional with every thing you are taking in. The air you breathe, the information you take in, the food you ingest, the spaces you occupy. Self-care is paramount. Especially when we come from an abusive home and/or up bringing. Remember how I keep saying that prosperity is directly linked to our feelings of self worth? Let's focus of receiving prosperity and building our self-esteem as Cancer season comes to an end with a Cancer New Moon. Cancer season has done a number on our emotions. So many unknowns as our foundations are being shaken internally and outwardly. Maybe the coming of Leo season will bring with it some clarity. At the very least, we can do our part in remaining grounded throughout the turmoil by maintaining our daily spiritual practice.  

This meditation is a relatively easy one. It is based on "one minute breath" which is called a Master Breath. It is said, if you can master this breath you can master your life condition. The pranayama goes like this: You inhale for 20 counts, you hold the breath for 20 counts and you exhale for 20 counts. 20 + 20 +20 = 60 (one minute). It is much easier to "take in" air and hold onto breath which we associate with life than exhaling which we associate with death. We wont be holding our breath or suspending it for that long but this is where we are trying to arrive: increased lung capacity and calm whether we are taking in or expelling breath/life. Over the next 40 days think of what you are letting go of: perceptions of your Self that have held you back, or blocked you from loving yourself and receiving true love. Rethink your ideas of home, your body as h(om). And by all means, drink copious amounts of water! Cancer is all about water and flow. There is no coincidence as to why money is also called currency. Now for the meditation.

BEGIN: Sitting in easy pose (or in a chair). Rub your hands together. Press your thumbs against your sternum, shoulders rolled back and down. Eyes are rolled in and up towards your third eye. Chant the Adi Mantra, ONG NA MO GURU DEV NA MO. Chanted on two breaths. You chant ONG NA MO. When you are out of breath, sip in air through a circled mouth. Then chant, GURU DEV NA MO. Which means, "I bow to the Divine Wisdom within." Affirming that the Master, Guru, Teacher we seek is already inside of us. For the correct cadence and pronunciation of the mantra, listen here. If you would like to purchase the mantra album which contains this and other healing mantras, go here. All proceeds go to the creation and dissemination of healing tools to the community. Thanks in advance for your support!

FOCUS: Maintain your focus on your third eye.

MUDRA: Gyan Mudra. Press your thumb and index fingers. Resting your wrists on your knees. Elbows relaxed.

PRANAYAMA: Inhale slowly. Hold the breath. As you are holding the breath, mentally project the mantra.

MANTRA: I am beautiful . I am blissful. I am bountiful.

PRANAYAMA: Slowly exhale. Once you are completely out of breath. Suspend the expelled breath and mentally project the mantra.

MANTRA: Excel. Excel. Fearless. 

TIME: Continue the meditation for 11 minutes.

CONCLUDE: Conclude the session with the recitation of the Warrior Healer's Affirmations.

CLOSE: Close out the session with three long Sat Nam(s). The translation is, "Truth is my Identity." It is chanted on one breath.  

There it is folx. Let's release what no longer serves us and step into our birth right. Which is  a radiant, abundant and fulfilled life functioning from a place of trust and love. Then we will be able to take better care of ourselves and it will then over flow to our loved ones. 

See you on the sidelines and the ethers!

If you would like to join the R & B meditation collective, for support, ask questions and accountability follow me on IG @rhythmandbreathyoga

And please don't forget to drop a lil sumthin in the beggars bowl! $5 minimum heart donation. If you are unable to bless me now, bless me later once you make it rain : ) 
Reach out to me and express your desire to participate.

"The student that arrives empty handed, leaves empty handed." - Yogi Bhajan

- Mama Luz 


Thursday, May 21, 2020

NEW MOON MEDITATION: Fifth Chakra // Throat




Greetings new, returning and crash and burning R & B Yogis. For those of you that are new to Rhythm & Breath, I have been holding online space for a collective of global warrior healers since 2009. Why "warriors" because we are victors of our karma not victims. We fight for our self-preservation with every breath and every thought projection. Why "healers?" Because we have incarnated and embarked upon THE PATH because we seek our own healing. We recognize that in healing our selves, we heal everything that surrounds us, from our families to our communities to the cosmos. When one practices Rhythm &  Breath, one consciously places one's self in the fire's of purification. Through asana (postures), pranayam (breath work) and meditation (incantation).
We began gathering on Facebook but have since shifted to Instagram. We do cycles of Kundalini meditation every day for 40/90/120 days to heal certain human conditions which helps us burn our karma, increase intuition and clear the way for a more fulfilled and prosperous life. To join us, follow me @ rhythmandbreathyoga, make a heart donation through PayPal and I will add you to the group thread. There, we have strictly confidential discussions about whatever comes up for us during meditation and over the period of meditation. The meditation is to be done every day (on your own time) before midnight for 11 minutes. As we explore our new reality during the time of Corona, I along with other's are finding that a regular yoga and meditation practice is a vital part of maintaining one's physical and emotional health. Another element, we will take into account is how the cosmos influences our earthly existence. As above....so below. As we enter the New Moon in Gemini, May 22nd, let's explore the human conditions this moon phase will bring up and the corresponding body parts to take extra care of. Which auspiciously are particularly important during this global pandemic.

Information for Moon in Gemini:
Manifests itself by the need for changes and spontaneity. You will be more talkative but only confide in those that you feel safe with. Alignment of your mind and heart are important.

Organs influenced by Gemini Moon:
Shoulders, arms, hands, respiratory system, bronchial tubes, lungs, nervous connections for sensor and motor skills, blood capillaries. 


For the next 40 day meditation we will focus on the fifth chakra, the throat chakra. The throat chakra, the fifth chakra, referred to as Vishudda in Sanskrit is located in the center of the throat. Just as with the other chakras, the energy flows out of the front of the body and out of the back as well, so a vortex is formed under the chin and a smaller one at the back of the neck. This chakra is connected with all forms of expression, communication and speech. The throat chakra helps is with ones ability to communicate with that which is inside yourself and will help all communications with others to be harmonious. It can also help you be more creative in general but especially with your words. With this chakra blocked however the psychological aspects include obsession, repression of speech, not saying what you need to say, creative blocks and a general inability to express yourself.

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.  


MANTRA:
Chant Humee Hum Brahm Hum with the root of the tongue, and holding the firm Neck Lock. The ancient sound “Hummm” is a beej mantra. Beej means seed and is the shortst form of the mantra. This Kundalini mantra translates as ”We are we and we are God.”

MUDRA: 
The arms are straight and the hands are in Gyan Mudra. The wrists are resting on the knees, palms up.

EYE FOCUS: 
Focus at the tip of the nose.

NOTES ON THIS MEDITATION: 
Meditation for the Fifth Chakra heals your Throat Chakra so that it can function optimally. The hormonal balance that results from a balanced thyroid delivers a sense of well-being, and a clear and bright face and grace. It is said that if you do this meditation for 11 minutes daily for 18 months, your face will not age and it will give endurance, intuition and reverse disease.

So there it is folx! Let's clear the way for creativity and communication to flow.  Try to do the meditation first thing in the morning before you start your day. Our minds have a way of putting off what is good for us which in this case is our spiritual elevation. And please don't forget to bless my bowl at the top of the blog. Or better yet send through PayPal friends and family using the email jogobonitoink@yahoo.com. Your generous donations make it possible for R & B to serve marginalized communities that might not otherwise receive this Yogic technology making it accessible, culturally relevant and inclusive. If you are not participating in this round of meditation but benefit in any way from the information on my blog, please consider making a donation of any amount.  Thank you!

Sat Nam, Salaam, Shalom!

- Mama Luz 

Monday, March 16, 2020

D.I.Y Coffee Filter Face Mask

Looks like shit has hit the fan, R & B Yogis. Some of y'all that have been meditating long enough with me know that mama didn't raise no dummy. Like most of you, I am taking care of my temple eating well and doing copious research. Ravenously reading about COVID-19 symptoms, natural remedies, and possible outcomes the worst being death. At best, if one recovers, one loses 50 % of one's lung capacity. Yikes! I am trying to balance the information I gather with my own inner wisdom. I am sure you are met with the same challenges. Now that our lives, as we have conceptualized them, are unraveling, I am seeing the need to hold space again virtually through this blog. It served me, and possibly you, during other transitions in a not so distant past.

The main reason I am back here is to share an idea I was struck with randomly which happens to me usually during meditation, or in the shower, but this one came to me while I was watching the documentary, Pandemic. FYI: it is not that great of a documentary and is really just a glorified commercial for vaccinations and surveillance. But might be worth watching as we all will become guinea pigs for human trials for a COVID-19 vaccine. But back to my need to share and Rhythm & Breath, it wouldn't make sense for me to reinvent the wheel and start a new blog on some revolutionary shit. I am still the same person I've always been...deeply spiritual and radical. Some of us are just now coming around while some of us have been here. This health and financial crisis will ask us to use both critical thought and our intuitions. Like you, I have read and seen how other countries are responding to COVID-19. Some countries have been swift, others like our own are lagging and letting us essentially fend for ourselves. We can all agree that the authorities are not being completely forthcoming and it is best to protect ourselves and our loved ones. I have read and watched interviews and taken notes on how other countries are given face masks for free and are required to wear them in public. I think it is wise for all of us to cover our nose and mouths when out in public space to minimize the inhalation of liquid or solid particulate and the possible spread of dis-ease. I believe the only reason the authorities are deterring the use of masks is because there is a shortage. They don't want people hording them when medical and healthcare professionals need them most. I get it. But like my mama says: it is better to prevent than to lament. So I bring you...the coffee filter mask!!! It doesn't have the best air circulation but in a crunch to get you out of the house and back it is working for my household. Plus most of us drink coffee and more than likely have coffee filters at home. Or you can get your hands on some. At least there isn't a shortage of coffee filters, yet. I have tested mine and it is breathable yet doesn't let liquid out or in. Who knew, coffee could possibly save our lives?!

All you need is the following materials:
Box of Coffee filters
Stapler with staples of course
Duck Tape
1) Fortify the top corners of the coffee filter with duck tape. 
2) Fold bandana into a triangle.
3) Place the coffee filter in the center
4) Staple the top corner edges to the bandana. 

5) Fold the bottom corner tip under the coffee filter.

6) Shape to your nose and mouth
7) Tie around your head.  

Voila! Minimize exposure to The Rona and keep it cute. Use when you go into pubic spaces only when you absolutely have to. You can swap out the filter and dispose after each use and reuse the bandana. Don't forget to wash the bandana every so often and hang in the sun. And don't forget to stick up your pretty Saturn fingers cuz FUCK RONA! We will survive this. We have already been through so much, right?! And even if we don't...our souls will be prepared for what lies beyond.


I will be back with meditations to help ease the reverberations of this horrible pandemic that could have been slowed down and contained if we had a government that gave a fuck.
Know that I do. Always have. I just had to take a break to address some family matters. But time is infinite and so is one's karmic family. I miss y'all. So grab your turbans and meet me in the ethers. SOON!

Sat Nam, 
Mama Luz

*Don't forget to drop a lil sumthing in my beggars bowl at the top of the page. No amount is too little and all is appreciated. Thank you.*