Tantra Tip of the Day - Facing into the Wind Called Suffering

When suffering arises separation is created. There is a “me” and the thing that that is causing the suffering. Most often we turn away from the suffering; we run, we hide, we deny, we numb out, we will do almost anything but turn and face into the wind and look into the heart of our suffering. What is this thing called suffering? If we open fully and feel it all the way into the heart of our suffering we discover that it is not separate from us at all. Ultimately there is no separation. There is a moment melting into the One and in that moment we see that suffering is just an opportunity to awaken to Truth.

What creates separation in your life? How to you deal with suffering? See if you can turn and face it fully and discover the truth it holds for you. Use this practice as often as you can in the next few days. Notice how you suffer over minor things, like being stuck in traffic, unset over being late, disappointed when a goal is not met. How is it to face the wind?

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C) Copyright 2009, Crystal Dawn Morris, all rights reserved.

Tantra Tip of the Day – Leaping into the Void, Part 3

Stop, be still and allow awareness of Awareness. When all thoughts stop, even for a moment, you awaken and discover that Truth as your essential nature. (This is paraphrased from a teaching by Gangaji.)

I have been very still the past few days. I have not been on the computer or doing much of anything. I have been meditating on Awareness and allowing myself to stay connected to it. My consciousness has shifted away from concerns and thoughts, towards being present with what is arising. I notice my ego is very uncomfortable with not doing and has been badgering me to stop being still. I know I am entering a new stage of awareness. I see my ego reacting as I approach a leap in consciousness.

Thoughts come and go but Awareness always is. I have contemplated this before but now I am exploring it at a deeper level and seeing how temporary thoughts are and yet how years of believing in them makes it challenging to just watch them without reacting. My ego has been filling my mind with thoughts and fears about the future. I have been dancing the razor’s edge switching my attention from Awareness to thoughts and back to Awareness.

Because of years of conditioning it is easy to be seduced by the thoughts and fears. Money issues are up and some big changes are in order. I am allowing myself to be in the stillness even as the turbulent thoughts flow through me. I have never been this present in watching my thoughts before. I am allowing the unfolding and being as still as I can while moving through my life. More to be revealed…

Today notice your thoughts arise and pass away. Be aware of that they are temporary. Become aware of the Awareness that always is. If fear arises see if you can watch it without getting caught in believing in it.
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C) Copyright 2009, Crystal Dawn Morris, all rights reserved.

Photo by Andy Goldsworthy

Leaping into the Void, Part 2

I woke up about 4AM and finally took the leap into the void. I could feel myself falling like a skydiver, wind in my face arms and legs stretched out. Suddenly I was suspended in the emptiness. "Stop." "Be still." "Be." No movement. No story. Emptiness. Silence. I lay there feeling into the void. Still.

I got up and meditated. I dozed. I listened to Gangaji speak on stillness. I am in a new place. I feel resistance. I breathe. Instead of pushing through to something or backing away from something. I am being with what is. I am aware of the urge to do, of thoughts and of feelings. It is uncomfortable in the unknown, in the dark. I like resolution.

When I am still I immediately connect to joy and spaciousness, it feels good. Yet I don't allow myself to relax in this knowing. Very quickly my habit is to go back to thinking and doing. What is my resistance to being, to stillness, to peace?

Today I am slowing down and being aware of the stillness inside me. I am doing things from a place of stillness. I am noticing my discomfort at times. I feel the stillness as not separate from me. Being still is not a doing. Surrender, breathe, be, open, close, breathe, relax, deep silence, peace, fear, close, breathe open, thoughts, let go, surrender....

Tantra Tip of the Day – Leaping into the Void

I have been feeling a deep need to let go of control, let go of directing the show, let go of being strongly in my masculine. This is a role I am comfortable with from many years being a teacher, midwife and mother. I am used to holding space for others, so they can feel safe. I am comfortable helping them explore their edges.

Now I am at the edge of a precipice. There is something essential just beyond what I can safely reach. I need to surrender into the unknown and trust that is it ok not to know. I need to let go and breathe into my heart. I need to trust this process called life. I need be willing to fall apart. I need to surrender and trust the process.

It is hard to do this alone, to hold space for myself. I long for a strong man to hold space for me. I long for my heart to open and trust this man. I want to see in his eyes that he believes in me and will be there at the end, no matter what. I long to surrender and fall apart with total abandon.

Where in your life do you need to surrender? What is your relationship to trust? What is your relationship to your inner masculine? How can you show up and support your inner feminine?

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C) Copyright 2009, Crystal Dawn Morris, all rights reserved.

Tantra Tip of the Day - Be a Love Artist

What does it mean to be a love artist? Be love. Celebrate love. Create acts of love, for no reason at all. Know love. Appreciate love. Share love. Surprise the world with new and unexpected forms of love. Stretch yourself and discover new ways to love as you never have before. Be a canvass for love to play upon. Know you can not fail as a love artist. Humans are love in form.

Today share a moment of love and know you are a love artist.

Original Art by Paul Heussenstamm,
www.Mandalas.com

C) Copyright 2009, Crystal Dawn Morris, all rights reserved.
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Tantra Tip of the Day - Focus on the Gaps

"Pay attention to the gap – the gap between two thoughts, the brief silent space between words in a conversation, between the notes of a piano of flute, or the gap between the in-breath and the out-breath. When you pay attention to those gaps, awareness of “something” becomes – just awareness. The formless dimension of pure consciousness arises from within you and replaces identification with form."

Eckhart Tolle

Try this: Take moments today and allow yourself to focus your attention on the gaps, the emptiness, instead of what is happening in it. See if you can experience awareness itself rather than awareness of “something.” Once you discover awareness as separate from things you are on the path of discovering your true nature.

C) Copyright 2009, Crystal Dawn Morris, all rights reserved.
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Tantra Tip of the Day - Conscious Breathing

An important aspect of Tantra is the practice of presence. A gentle way to begin being more present is to allow yourself to notice your breath several times a day. Instead of “doing” a formal practice, you just become aware of the breath, as it is, for 10-20 seconds and then go back to your usual state of awareness.

Focus on your breath several times a day. Begin by noticing it 4 times a day and then gradually increase it to 4 times an hour. As you become aware of the breath you will notice it naturally becomes more calm and deep. This practice comes from Danial Odier’s, Desire the Tantric Path to Awakening. In it he recommends several types of short practices, he calls micro-practices. He suggests they are a natural way to begin bringing Tantra into daily life, rather than trying to force a longer practice, such as a prolonged sitting mediation. I have found that these micro-practices are very helpful in bringing increased awareness into every aspect of my life.

http://www.danielodier.com/ENGLISH/entree_e.html

(C) Copyright 2009, Crystal Dawn Morris, all rights reserved.
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