2009.12.20 19:00 - Breath

The Guardian for this meeting was stevenaia Michinaga. The comments are by stevenaia Michinaga.

stevenaia Michinaga: hello Edan
Eden Haiku: Hi Steve!
stevenaia Michinaga: how are things in Montreal, we have our Montreal friend with us this weekend
stevenaia Michinaga: he just enjoyed the 6" snowfall we had
Eden Haiku: The eather is milder today.
Eden Haiku: *weather
Eden Haiku: Nice snowfall!
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, light and fluffy, roads are clear and day was sunny today
Eden Haiku: Do you practice winter sports where you live Steve?
stevenaia Michinaga: no, I had my moments when I lived in Northern michigan and chicago (more snow there) Now I just walk around and enjoy the cold and snow when I have the chance
stevenaia Michinaga: do you enjoy the cold and snow?
Eden Haiku: Me too ;-) I stopped skating when I hurt a knee but I have been enjoying it here in the PaB village, at the nice skating ring we have.
--BELL--
stevenaia Michinaga: I have skates (on) but missed the PaB skating Rink, where is it?
Eden Haiku: It is to my left over there, you can see it from here. There is a Christmas tree and even hot chocolate and you get skates!
Eden Haiku: An SL friend of mine was telling me that I am the only person he knows in SL who enjoys her neighbourhood. I do!
stevenaia Michinaga: you mean your neighborhood?
Eden Haiku: bor or bour?
stevenaia Michinaga: either
stevenaia Michinaga: do you mean your neighborhood here in PaB
stevenaia Michinaga: you said her neighborhood
stevenaia Michinaga: hello Maggie
Eden Haiku: Yes, in PaB. I was showing him the skate ring, the museum and so on...
stevenaia Michinaga: welcome to confused stevenaia
Magdalena Colclough: hello
stevenaia Michinaga: awww I see, thanks Eden
Eden Haiku: ;-)
Eden Haiku: Hi Magdalena!
Magdalena Colclough: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: I come to my little plot every now and then but there usually isn;t anyone about, although I have been spending a bit of time in Adam's Museum
stevenaia Michinaga: have you seen it Maggie?
Eden Haiku: Yes, the Museum is nice isn't?
Magdalena Colclough: I saw something maybe 6 months ago
Magdalena Colclough: was that it?
stevenaia Michinaga: it;s a museum adams did of comparative religious architecture in RL and SL, this is a recreation and expansion of it as some of the SL structures no longer exist
stevenaia Michinaga: (yes)
stevenaia Michinaga: it is quite an extensive display
Eden Haiku: You are breathing cold air Steve? Did you script that yourself?;-)
Magdalena Colclough: no, my alt gave it to him
Magdalena Colclough: if you take it off for a second you should be able to give Eden a copy
Eden Haiku: /I wanna breath cold air too!
Magdalena Colclough: then you can put it on again
Magdalena Colclough: this alt doesn't have it, I'm afraid
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: seems I have an extra copy to give
Magdalena Colclough grins
Magdalena Colclough: thanks
Eden Haiku: All breathing together now!
stevenaia Michinaga: thank your alt, Maggie, next time you see her :)
Magdalena Colclough giggles
--BELL--
Magdalena Colclough: will do, Eden
Magdalena Colclough: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: has anyone been using the 9 second meditation keep centered during these apparently stressful holiday times?
Eden Haiku: I had a spontaneous 9 secs while coming back from Christmas shopping this afternoon.
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Magdalena Colclough: are people really still trying the 9 sec thing? I thought maybe Pema had changed it to 90 seconds, since that's what the bell is saying now
Eden Haiku: The top of the trees were all pink-colored in the declining sun and the beauty of the light stopped me.
stevenaia Michinaga: sounds like the light caught you nicely in the moment
Eden Haiku: And it shook me from my absent-mindedness and I became aware for a few minutes.
stevenaia Michinaga: rather than the moment catching the light
Magdalena Colclough smiles
Eden Haiku: Hi cold-air breathing Storm ;-)
stevenaia Michinaga: I find this season like one long 9 second moment , walking around, seeing everyone shopping, being worn down by the holidays and I stand like an observer, like PaB
Storm Nordwind: Hi warm-in-the-chill Eden! :)
Eden Haiku: ;-)
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, seems the cold breath is catching on
stevenaia Michinaga: brought on be the recent snow here
Storm Nordwind: Most of ours has long melted
Eden Haiku: Do you mean you can always remember who you are through all the whirlwind Steve?
stevenaia Michinaga: in this case it is not my whirlwind
stevenaia Michinaga: (not celebrating christmas)
Eden Haiku: Oh I see, it makes things easier I guess ;-)
stevenaia Michinaga: certainly interesting
Storm Nordwind: I like the Yule lights. They can be fun. Either they are inspiring and tasteful... or I really can poke fun at them. Either way, I like them.
Eden Haiku: Still, it is an accomplishment to keep centered in the midst of it all.
Eden Haiku: Yule lights?
Storm Nordwind: You know... those things people decorate their houses and windows with at this time of year
stevenaia Michinaga: no inflatable Santas helps
Eden Haiku: Oh, I never heard that word before, thanks.
Storm Nordwind: Which one Eden? Yule?
Eden Haiku: I hate inflatable Santas...
--BELL--
stevenaia Michinaga: http://yulelights.com/
stevenaia Michinaga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_log
Eden Haiku: Yes, Yule. Thanks for the link Steve.
Storm Nordwind: I remember learning a meditation technique, perhaps 35 years ago, which it was possible to do all the time. And it certainly kept you centered in the midst of it all.
Storm Nordwind: As for Yule. It's a germanic/norse word of uncertain origin. They still wish each other God Jul in Sweden at this time of year
Eden Haiku: listening
stevenaia Michinaga: which specific meditation technique, storm
Magdalena Colclough: please excuse me
Eden Haiku: Yes, just read on Wikipedia, thanks. So now I know saelig and yule, my nordic vocabulary is improving :-)
Storm Nordwind: haha Eden!
Eden Haiku: Bye Magdalena.
Storm Nordwind waves
Eden Haiku: Yes, what about this meditation technique?
Storm Nordwind: The meditation was ostensibly on the breath, but the idea was to meditate on the energy driving the breath, which hopefully is there all the time. I guess it was a kind of pranayama.
Storm Nordwind: I found that I could focus on this constant wave of energy flowing through me constantly. Never forgot how to do it! :)
Eden Haiku: Sounds great.
stevenaia Michinaga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranayama
Eden Haiku: I practiced pranayama a lot in India. I find it difficult, frightening sometimes.
Storm Nordwind: In what way?
stevenaia Michinaga: Is that the technique used in Cundilini(sp) yoga (my friend does this)
Eden Haiku: It was with a group and it was pretty intense, and for a long time. Too long for me.
Storm Nordwind: It wasn't Kundalini yoga, no Steve
Storm Nordwind: I wasn't into those intense practices Eden
stevenaia Michinaga: thx
Eden Haiku: Yes, It was a group practicing Kundalini yoga Steve.
Storm Nordwind: I can imagine they could be upsetting
Eden Haiku: Yes, it was. I stopped.
Eden Haiku: It felt too forceful. I prefer gentler, more natural ways.
Storm Nordwind: This was far more gentle. No holding the breath or breathing through one nostril etc. And yet the effect built up until it was like being washed all over in a warm shower :)
Eden Haiku: That sounds much nicer yes.
stevenaia Michinaga: sounds lovely
Eden Haiku: Fire breathing at work might get you into trouble yes...;-)
stevenaia Michinaga: indeed
Eden Haiku: As we talk about breathing, I notice my breathing pattern.
stevenaia Michinaga: http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/~keutze...ni-faq.html#1b
--BELL--
Eden Haiku: Wow! Words are powerful Storm: I felt what you described. The breaking of the wave.
Eden Haiku: And I smelled tobacco. Are you smoking Steve ;-)?
stevenaia Michinaga: no
stevenaia Michinaga: must be something closer
stevenaia Michinaga: your mind
stevenaia Michinaga: there are some fireplaces in homes nearby me
stevenaia Michinaga: I must be off, thank you for joining me

Eden Haiku: Could you teach me this breathing exercise Storm?

Storm Nordwind: It's not something I have ever taught someone who wasn't standing next to me!

Eden Haiku: Willing to try it in this sacred place of PaB? Who knows, it might be possible!

Storm Nordwind: Let me think about it. Yes it might be. I will take 'advice' ;)

Eden Haiku: Sure.

Eden Haiku: Kuan Yin ? ;-)

Storm Nordwind: Yes perhaps Kuan Yin! However, I should warn you. I found it life-changing and you might too!

Eden Haiku: I agree with that.

Storm Nordwind: If you have a portable focal point that you can access at will at any time of the day, that can have a progressively big effect

Eden Haiku: Portable focal point as ?

Storm Nordwind: On the other hand, I know people who have tried this and they didn't 'get' it.

Storm Nordwind: It didn't kick in with me until a month or two after I started

Eden Haiku: I will try my best,

Storm Nordwind: The portable focal point is basically this constant energy wave coursing through you. Once you have it, it's hard to ignore it. Yet you can function in the world and do everything else just as before, only with improved focus and poise

Eden Haiku: I like that very very much. I know there is such a thing, such a wave. I do not always recognize it,

Eden Haiku: It is like when you have momentum and everything seems so easy?

--BELL--

Storm Nordwind: I think also meditating on this wave dramatically brings about greater and greater peaceful states of mind... and from that spontaneously arises happiness

Eden Haiku: And in the body, this wave is noticeable in the in-breath?

Storm Nordwind: For me it is at its most powerful near the top of the in-breath, but I can feel it at all stages of the breath cycle, just more subtle at other times

Eden Haiku: The in-breath would be like the prow of the ship (the figure in front, not sure of the word)

Storm Nordwind: yes that is a lovely analogy!

Eden Haiku: That will be a good reminder for me. I associate it with a wonderful poem I know by heart,

 

Ce fut un grand vaiseau taille dans l'or massif
Ses mats touchaient l'azur sur des mers inconnues
La Cyprine d'amour cheveux pars chairs nues
S'etalait a sa proue au soleil excessif

 

Storm Nordwind: Wonderful!

Eden Haiku: First verses of a sonnet by Emile Nelligan. Born in Montreal December 24 1879.

Storm Nordwind nods

Eden Haiku: Wrote all his work before he was 19.

Eden Haiku: Died in an asylum.

Eden Haiku: Yet, such a visionary.

Storm Nordwind: In a way the prow metaphor is rather aggressive, and it does not often feel like that (unless i want it to)

Eden Haiku: This breathing technique resounds very deeply in my mental constellation.

Storm Nordwind nods

Storm Nordwind: There are whole ways of walking and moving that you can combine effectively with it. I discovered many myself

Storm Nordwind: And it can definitely be used during healing processes.

Eden Haiku: It is like the in-breath is connecting with the wholeness.

Eden Haiku: Very interesting Storm, thank you so much for sharing .

Storm Nordwind: You are most welcome. I even found some notes, as we were talking, illustrating the ways i used to teach people on these things

Eden Haiku: I love walking. I walk by the river almost every day. I will try to put this into practice. Notes ? Can you tell me more?

Storm Nordwind: Here's something that I am reading...

Eden Haiku: I know it is late and I don't want to insist...

Eden Haiku: listening

Storm Nordwind: part of the training included a very simple physical posture change when standing...

Eden Haiku: oh, yes?

Storm Nordwind: just standing but with legs slightly unlocked...

Storm Nordwind: It takes just a little more effort, so why do it (people would ask)

Storm Nordwind: And my reasons (as noted down on this piece of paper)...

Storm Nordwind: 1. You are actually more physically stable like this

Eden Haiku: Standing in front of my screen

Storm Nordwind: 2. You become far more sensitive to the ground, especially when you incorporate the breathing meditation

Storm Nordwind: 3. You feel a greater wholeness with respect to the earth

Eden Haiku: Like for an Indian dancing?

Storm Nordwind: Yes. Or for Tai Chi

--BELL--

Storm Nordwind: But there are metaphorical lessons too

Eden Haiku: Or tai chi, got it!

Storm Nordwind: a) You are less likely to be 'knocked off course'

Eden Haiku: listening with great interest

Storm Nordwind: b) You are more connected with the greater flow

Storm Nordwind: c) You become MUCH more sensitive to gentle "hints" from that flow

Storm Nordwind: d) You feel less isolation and a greater sense of participation with the energy of the earth, or...everything

Eden Haiku: Wondering how to do that in public... must look a bit weird?

Storm Nordwind: Actually no. No need to adopt the "horse riding" stance of Tai Chi

Storm Nordwind: Just a very subtle unlock of the legs

Eden Haiku: Ah...

Eden Haiku: Subtle...

Eden Haiku: I see what you mean. It brings awareness

Storm Nordwind: and at the same time what happens is that you feel as though your whole body is hanging from a kind of hook at the top of your head

Storm Nordwind: Yes. It works!

Eden Haiku: I do that when on stage, reading poetry.

Storm Nordwind: It is intuitive for many sensitive people

Storm Nordwind: But some forget they can do these things more regularly

Eden Haiku: To bring it on the stage of my daily life could bring changes, I feel it.

Storm Nordwind: Yes. Combine these physical techniques of stance and motion (that I discovered) with the yoga and meditation of breathing (that I learned) can have far reaching effects

Eden Haiku: I'm going to travel in India in February. India is a good place for that: especially that my boundaries are constantly crashed over there and I find it threatening sometimes. This could help me handle it.

Storm Nordwind nods

Storm Nordwind: We will miss you Eden!

Eden Haiku: I was trying to find out if I could keep SL through Sparkle on IPodTouch. But it is only IM...

Storm Nordwind reflects that he uses the language of attachment while feeling delightfully calm!

Eden Haiku: ;-) When are you leaving for your retreat Storm?

Storm Nordwind: On the 4th January. And I return on the 31st

Eden Haiku: Will miss you too ;-)

Storm Nordwind: I think the night closes in around us and right now I will seek a rest place for the night.

Storm Nordwind: Please excuse me till another day

Eden Haiku: Yes, thank you so much for this teaching Storm, I really appreciate ;-) Good night!

Storm Nordwind: Good night. And I will take 'advice'! :)

Eden Haiku: Bye!