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Classroom Material: Embracing The Here and The Now

MWL Jul 8, 2024


A Fundamental Practice in this Journey


The concept of mindfulness, often described as being fully aware of the present moment holds profound significance in navigating life's challenges. Amidst chaos, pain, anger, or confusion, our ability to harness this present awareness can be transformative. "The Here and the Now", a practice my teacher and mentor emphasizes, is crucial for awakening consciousness and setting the foundation for further work. It allows us to cultivate mastery over our emotions and thoughts, instilling within the capacity in addressing the catalyst of the moment with empowerment. It paves the path to inner peace. This inner peace, when achieved individually, radiates outward, influencing our collective consciousness and eventually fostering a world of harmony and balance.


The Power of Inner Peace


Each of us plays a crucial role in this cosmic symphony. We are all unique co-creators, deeply loved and filled with purpose. It's through embracing inner peace that we contribute metaphysical, psychological, and spiritual weight to the global pursuit of harmony and unity. Peace in the world begins with you! Thus the importance of this exercise.


Building Your Spiritual Muscles


Let's delve into the practical application of The Here and the Now exercise. Imagine it as a workout for your spiritual muscles, essential for navigating these transformative times of the heralded age of Aquarius. Just like building physical strength, consistent dedication to this practice will tone your spiritual muscles.  Make this practice a daily habit, as essential as brushing your teeth or combing your hair. Here are some suggestions to help you build a habit:


  • Schedule it In: Just like gym sessions, block out dedicated time for your "The Here and the Now" practice. Start with 5-10 minutes and gradually increase. This could be first thing in the morning, before bed, or during a lunch break.


  • Find Your Anchor: Pair your practice with an existing habit. Do the practice right after making your morning coffee, or before getting into bed. This "anchoring" helps build the practice into your routine.


The Division of Consciousness


The Here and the Now exercise unfolds in 3 steps. It begins by directing attention to 3 focal points: the subject - one's physical body, the awareness of "I am in my body", the object - action, what I am doing, and the setting - surrounding, environment that I find myself at.


Breath and Body Awareness


In this section, we delve into the first step: bringing your complete attention to the subject, your physical body.


First, we want to address being aware breath. Start by simply noticing your breath

—feel its rhythm, its depth. Then you want to move into acquiring the knowledge of breathing properly, and for this it's essential to master diaphragmatic breathing. This method not only enhances physical well-being but also anchors you more firmly in the present moment. I've included a link below to a well done and explained YouTube video on the subject.


As you gradually integrate diaphragmatic breathing into your daily life, you'll find yourself breathing automatically with the diaphragm 24/7. This is exactly what we want.


Now you want to cultivate a heightened awareness of your body. Be aware of different parts of your body such as your feet, hands, heart, lungs, fingers, head etc., in a continuous, self-observing manner.


The Journey Begins


So there you have it, the first step - awareness of the body/breath - in order to master The Here and the Now. In future articles, we'll explore the 2 remaining steps of this exercise: The object (what we're doing) and the setting (our surroundings).


Each layer enriches our understanding and practice of being in the moment, offering deeper insights into our interconnectedness and the creation of a harmonious world, both within and without.


Work it and exercise your present moment!



My love and Joy,

Medicine Woman Lizette


Sep 20, 2024


STEP 2


Let's proceed with this method of breaking down consciousness into the three components: Subject, object, and setting. In this step, we will cover the object. In simple terms, it involves being conscious of one's activities, what one is doing such as sitting, walking, talking, observing, reading, cooking, etc. Now also incorporate the awareness of breathing, along with being mindful of the body. So you are combining subject/breath-body and object/action awareness. Make sure to practice this consistently on a daily basis.


STEP 3


Now, we transition to the setting, which refers to the specific place where one is situated. This encompasses awareness and observance of the surroundings, such as sounds, scents, colors, images, and the physical space being utilized.


The objective is to actively integrate all three steps with complete awareness for approximately 5 to 10 minutes, 3 to 5 times daily. The aim is to progressively extend the duration of this conscious practice until you are engaging in "The Here and the Now" exercise throughout your waking hours.


Being fully present in The Here and the Now—tuning into our bodies, our actions, and our surroundings—opens the door to deeper capacities within us. This practice helps quiet the incessant chatter of the mind, reducing excessive thinking. The continual chatter ends with the division of consciousness.


This skill transforms you into a spiritual warrior, capable of serenity amidst life's storms—an essential quality for contributing to global peace. In addition, it allows us to tap into the cerebellum’s potential for astral projection, enabling us to explore beyond our physical realm. By practicing this exercise, we are compelled to center ourselves, enhance our focus, and direct our attention towards the sole purpose of truly living. It serves as the groundwork for the journey of Self-Discovery, and awakening to our inner power!.


Happy discoveries and work it!


My love and joy,

Medicine Woman Lizette



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