Archive for the ‘Meditation’ Category
Self-Respect, Magical Thinking, and Blue Nights
Tuesday, November 1st, 2011
One of my favorite authors is Joan Didion. Her writing is sharp and deep. And I credit her book, The Year of Magical Thinking, for helping me grieve after the loss of my mother. Her new book, Blue Nights, about the loss of her daughter is released today and I wanted to honor this brilliant writer by highlighting some of my favorite quotes. Each one is a meditation in and of itself. Do yourself a favor – go out a read one of her books.
The willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life is the source from which self-respect springs.
To free us from the expectations of others, to give us back to ourselves – there lies the great, singular power of self-respect.
Was it only by dreaming or writing that I could find out what I thought?
I was thinking as small children think, as if my thoughts or wishes had the power to reverse the narrative, change the outcome. In my case this disordered thinking had been covert, noticed I think by no one else, hidden even from me, but it had been, in retrospect, both urgent and constant.
In time of trouble, I had been trained since childhood, read, learn, work it up, go to the literature. Information was control. Given that grief remained the most general of afflictions its literature seemed remarkably spare.
That I was only beginning the process of mourning did not occur to me. Until now, I had only been able to grieve, not mourn. Grief was passive. Grief happened. Mourning, the act of dealing with grief, required attention.
Grief turns out to be a place none of us know until we reach it. We anticipate (we know) that someone close to us could die, but we do not look beyond the few days or weeks that immediately follow such an imagined death.
You have to pick the places you don’t walk away from.
Mary Anne
How Can We Occupy Love?
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
Throughout the world, there is a shift happening. People are waking up to the changes in their lives, in their neighborhoods, in their worlds, and in their hearts. People are noticing the radical changes happening and are speaking up about creating a more equitable, sustainable, and loving world. I have been listening. I have been watching. I have been having conversations. I have been chanting. I have been praying.
As Occupy Wall Street has made its way to other cities, towns, states, and countries, there is something bubbling up. It’s more than arrests and protests shown on the news. It’s a movement. For me, it’s a movement towards grace. All it takes is one heart to change and a revolution (there is love in revolution) has started. It’s a movement of waking up. It’s a movement of noticing what is occupying my mind, heart, soul. It’s a movement towards building community, creating dialog, and opening up to more love.
When I meditated on the Occupy Movement, I sat with the question: How can we occupy more love? Here is what my meditation revealed:
How can each of us occupy more love? How can you liberate love in your every day interactions? All it takes is one loving heart. Love creates more love and more love and more love.
The voice of love starts inside and only then can it echo outwards. Notice what is occupying your mind, body, spirit, family, and world. All of it starts within. Breathe. Breathe love.
There is so much love to be shared and it comes in many forms. We love “love” so much that we share it with our words and actions. We love ourselves so much that we can move beyond greed. We love our country so much that we are willing to share with our neighbors. We love our world so much that we create policies that reawaken the planet.
How are you liberating love? What is your Occupy Movement that you are waking up to? What is occupying your mind, body, spirit, and soul?
I have more listening to do.
Mary Anne
It Is Time to Align My Heart & Soul
Friday, October 14th, 2011
As the world evolves and more people are called to demonstrate and speak out, I couldn’t help but ask, is this my time to connect more vocally with love? As I sat in meditation, I listened to aligning my heart and soul. It is time to align in new ways, with more people, in a bigger way.
This time I will align my heart and soul.
This time I will call myself home.
This time I will journey to the source of all love.
This time I will connect my vision with deep love.
This is our time. I can no longer do it alone.
This is the time we are called together in peace.
This time. Your time. My time. This time.
My soul is demanding me to show up differently. I am listening.
Mary Anne
Meditation Is…..
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011
Meditation is not about zoning out; it’s about zoning in. 
Meditation is about getting real with your physical body.
Meditation is about listening to your emotions.
Meditation is noticing your thoughts and where your attention is flowing.
Meditation is sitting with your breath.
Meditation is about opening to your inner life.
Meditation is about living.
How do you want to live?
Breathe. Again. There it is. Life.
Mary Anne
Dedicated to everyone who is celebrating and discovering their “OM MOJO”
Breathing Love
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
Are you breathing? There it is – a breath. 
Are you smiling? There it is – a smile.
Are you laughing? There it is – laughter.
Are you listening? There it is – sweet sounds.
Are you loving? There you are, Love.
Harvesting Your OM MOJO
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
As we begin to prepare for a new season on the East Coast of falling leaves and changing colors, I invite everyone to take time to look around at the changes happening in nature and within ourselves. Many of us have experienced extreme weather conditions these past few months. As I listen to the news about earthquakes, droughts, tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods, I listen for the lesson. Evacuating from my apartment this summer taught me to pay attention to what is in front of me right now.
As I listen to clients speak about their lives and the ‘stress’ they want to release, I found myself inviting them to get their “OM MOJO” going. I asked folks to share what was getting in the way of finding their OM MOJO — their personal meditation practices that would give them space to slow down. Listed below are the most common things I heard and my invitation of new ways to respond:
I can’t do meditation. I don’t know how.
Perfect! The first place to begin is beginners mind – no expectation & an open heart.
I can’t meditate. I don’t have time.
Perfect! All you need to do is breathe consciously and you are set.
I can’t do meditation. I have attention deficit disorder.
Perfect! You get to wander with your mind. Wander towards one place and see the peace waiting for you there.
I can’t meditate. I have too many thoughts going on (Monkey Mind).
Perfect! Each thought can be a mantra to breathe in and out.
How do you want to harvest your OM MOJO?
Need support harvesting your OM MOJO? Join us for some upcoming Toning the OM™ events, workshops, retreats, and sessions!
Mary Anne
Breathing More Love
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011
Can you breathe more love into your day?
Can you breathe more peace into your day?
Can you breathe more joy into your day?
Can you breathe more light into your day?
Can you breathe more radiance into your day?
Can you breathe more kindness into your day?
Can you breathe more clarity into your day?
Can you breathe more trust into your day?
Exhale love, peace, joy, light radiance, kindness, clarity, and trust and notice what happens in your day, in your life, and in your world.
Mary Anne
When Was the Last Time…
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
When was the last time you spoke to a blade of grass? 
When was the last time you listened to a grasshopper?
When was the last time you walked with a tree?
When was the last time you slept under the stars?
When was the last time you picked up a pine cone?
When was the last time you let the river run through your hands?
When was the last time you danced with daisies?
When was the last time you touched love?
Mary Anne
This is dedicated to my teacher, GH, who reminds me to breathe, to let life flow, to keep writing, and that everything is okay.
Listening to Clouds
Thursday, August 18th, 2011
How often have you looked up at the clouds and thought it looked like something familiar? The clouds have been magical this summer. I am not sure if they seem more magical because of all the summer thunderstorms or just because I have been noticing them more. While walking, I have looked up at the clouds and it feels like they are are putting on a show. The clouds have stopped me in my tracks and I have taken (too many) photos of them with my iPhone.
I have watched the clouds as they have moved softly through the sky or moved rapidly as if to remind me there are big changes happening. As I stared at the clouds, I sat and listened. In that quiet space, I meditated on and with the clouds. After a few moments, I wrote:
Where there is light, there is shadow.
Where there is hope, there is peace.
Where there is love, there is you and me.
Change comes in soft breezes and big thunderstorms.
Move with the clouds. Every sky has a rainbow. So does every heart.
Where there are clouds, there is life.
Mary Anne
Radiating Love
Monday, August 15th, 2011
Could you be more Love?
Could you be more Peace?
Could you shine your Light more?
When we radiate love, we attract it.
What are you attracting into your life?
If you could radiate more of who you are, what would you be radiating?
Mary Anne