Dielle is featured at the following blog:
http://brookesnextthing.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Speaking in Tongues
Glossolalia, otherwise known as "speaking in tongues" has its roots in ancient tribal and religious practices. The idea is letting go, sometimes into a trance-like state but not necessarily so, and allowing Spirit to speak through you. And some who practice glossolalia also translate it into understandable spiritual messages.
Recent research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has shown just how glossolalia affects the brain. Those speaking in tongues experience a sharp decrease in frontal lobe function (this is opposite of what meditators' brain scans show) and an increase in activity of the parietal region. The former area of the brain enables reason and self-control so glossolalia involves a surrender or letting go. The latter takes sensory information and tries to create a sense of self relating to the world. So glossolalia may help us make sense of our experiences in life.
There is a lot of initial discomfort for people when talking this way. It may feel like silly, gibberish, and I guess from a certain perspective, it is. But the point is what that practice of making gibberish is doing for you and whether or not you can allow it to provide you with a rich resource for inner guidance that bypasses your judging, justifying, "need to know" mind. If you can get over yourself and the embarassment of making strange sounds, you may be able to get in touch with a part of you that is comfortable with and open to mystery. It just may enrich your spiritual life and fulfill a need you didn't even know you had.
Try it. Light a candle. And just set your intent to engage in speaking nonsense. See what happens. Do you fight it? Giggle? Can you let go of the part of the mind that resists? Can you enter a space of surrender? As you become more and more comfortable with this practice, you can begin to use it for information. You can ask for teachings on situations in your life that are troubling you. And eventually, you can learn to translate what you receive into messages that help you. It's just a tool. Experiment and see what it can mean for you.
Recent research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has shown just how glossolalia affects the brain. Those speaking in tongues experience a sharp decrease in frontal lobe function (this is opposite of what meditators' brain scans show) and an increase in activity of the parietal region. The former area of the brain enables reason and self-control so glossolalia involves a surrender or letting go. The latter takes sensory information and tries to create a sense of self relating to the world. So glossolalia may help us make sense of our experiences in life.
There is a lot of initial discomfort for people when talking this way. It may feel like silly, gibberish, and I guess from a certain perspective, it is. But the point is what that practice of making gibberish is doing for you and whether or not you can allow it to provide you with a rich resource for inner guidance that bypasses your judging, justifying, "need to know" mind. If you can get over yourself and the embarassment of making strange sounds, you may be able to get in touch with a part of you that is comfortable with and open to mystery. It just may enrich your spiritual life and fulfill a need you didn't even know you had.
Try it. Light a candle. And just set your intent to engage in speaking nonsense. See what happens. Do you fight it? Giggle? Can you let go of the part of the mind that resists? Can you enter a space of surrender? As you become more and more comfortable with this practice, you can begin to use it for information. You can ask for teachings on situations in your life that are troubling you. And eventually, you can learn to translate what you receive into messages that help you. It's just a tool. Experiment and see what it can mean for you.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Vocal Toning Meditation for Beginners
Announcing a new live web course in Vocal Toning Meditation starting Monday, March 9 from 8-9PM EST on Talkshoe! This is a weekly teleclass that requires no previous experience.
This teleclass, which is not open to the public, is being offered for $40 (or also register for the intermediate and advanced classes for a discount). Details for registration are on the Voice of Life website.
In this beginning program you will learn about the history of toning, its many health benefits, how to care for your voice, the signifcance of the vowels, vocal flexibility, how to tone for release, traditional toning methods, the importance of breath, how to listen, call & response, and how to focus your intent when toning. This course will lay your Vocal Toning Meditation foundation so you can fly on the wings of your voice!
This teleclass, which is not open to the public, is being offered for $40 (or also register for the intermediate and advanced classes for a discount). Details for registration are on the Voice of Life website.
In this beginning program you will learn about the history of toning, its many health benefits, how to care for your voice, the signifcance of the vowels, vocal flexibility, how to tone for release, traditional toning methods, the importance of breath, how to listen, call & response, and how to focus your intent when toning. This course will lay your Vocal Toning Meditation foundation so you can fly on the wings of your voice!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Beyond the Frige
I recently rented the movie Millions: A Lottery Story, a documentary about people who have won the lottery. It was fascinating to listen to the different points of view around that sticky, tricky topic of money.
One woman had purchased herself a new refrigerator complete with an external ice maker. It was a real splurge. She explained that when she got it, she started to cry. Her husband asked her, "What are you crying for?" And she replied, "Who would have thought I could have what I want." I got stuck in that moment as the film went on. My mind was astounded by what this woman had just said. It was a profound question.
First of all, this woman had won massive sums, and her big splurge wasn't on a Mercedes or diamond necklace. It was an everyday appliance. That was the greatest thing she could conceive in her mind...to have a new fridge. Yet she could have had practically ANYTHING! It reminds me of how elephants can be tied down with a simple rope because they are conditioned with a chain when they are very young and unable to break free. If they only knew how much they had grown!
Secondly, who would have thought we could have what we want? I certainly didn't grow up thinking that it could be so easy...that it could just one day happen. I was taught that I had to work for it, suffer for it, pine for it. I was taught to dream small.
The more I thought about this woman and her profound statement, the more curious I became. What was my refrigerator in life...what am I settling for because I can't think bigger? What is the ceiling I self-impose on what I am willing to receive from the Universe? And more importantly, what is beyond that refrigerator just waiting for me to see it and act? Am I afraid of what might lie beyond the refrigerator? I mean, it's so vast, so limitless, so...scary! But I want to know. I want to be that one crazy elephant that suddenly awakens to the flimsy rope at it's foot. Snap!
One woman had purchased herself a new refrigerator complete with an external ice maker. It was a real splurge. She explained that when she got it, she started to cry. Her husband asked her, "What are you crying for?" And she replied, "Who would have thought I could have what I want." I got stuck in that moment as the film went on. My mind was astounded by what this woman had just said. It was a profound question.
First of all, this woman had won massive sums, and her big splurge wasn't on a Mercedes or diamond necklace. It was an everyday appliance. That was the greatest thing she could conceive in her mind...to have a new fridge. Yet she could have had practically ANYTHING! It reminds me of how elephants can be tied down with a simple rope because they are conditioned with a chain when they are very young and unable to break free. If they only knew how much they had grown!
Secondly, who would have thought we could have what we want? I certainly didn't grow up thinking that it could be so easy...that it could just one day happen. I was taught that I had to work for it, suffer for it, pine for it. I was taught to dream small.
The more I thought about this woman and her profound statement, the more curious I became. What was my refrigerator in life...what am I settling for because I can't think bigger? What is the ceiling I self-impose on what I am willing to receive from the Universe? And more importantly, what is beyond that refrigerator just waiting for me to see it and act? Am I afraid of what might lie beyond the refrigerator? I mean, it's so vast, so limitless, so...scary! But I want to know. I want to be that one crazy elephant that suddenly awakens to the flimsy rope at it's foot. Snap!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Make Music!
Music is a form of love.
It is love you can hear.
It is love you can dance to.
Do not put off loving yourself.
Make music!
It is love you can hear.
It is love you can dance to.
Do not put off loving yourself.
Make music!
Monday, February 2, 2009
An Exercise in Exorcism: The Demon of Resentment
It started a couple of weeks ago when I slipped in some mud and injured my knee. What do they say, "Pride goeth before a fall?" There was an element of that in there, yes, but what was more evident to me was a relationship to stored resentment and anger. In fact, I was also having severe gallbladder pain a couple of hours before my fall. Gallbladder; resentment. Since then, I had also injured my right middle finger twice...resentment...and I woke up this morning with a head cold...again irritation and resentment. At least it is moving!
So, I decided to pay attention and work this out (I'm a little slow). First, I signed up for some free healing. Even healers need healing sometimes. Then I sat down with pen and paper and decided I wasn't going anywhere until I made a complete inventory of my past and present resentments. I wrote out about 7 or 8 pages! It was slow at first. I was in a bit of denial, I guess. But I was determined to have it out. After a page or so, the task started to feed on itself. Things were coming to me that I hadn't thought about in years. I decided that even if I "thought" I had released them, I would still write them down. I refused to censor anything. Some things carried quite a charge and other things felt stale. I underlined all the heavily charged ones. Into my 5th page, I realized this process could go on and on.
That's when I realized that I resented resentment. And that was when an interesting shift happened. I started to inventory why others may resent me. It didn't matter if it were true or not. Again, it was a creative act of intention but one that illuminated a things that I never considered before. This went on for a few more pages.
When I was done writing, some personal guidelines for living without resentment glistened out from the shadows between resentments:
By the time I finished, I was crying and feeling a great deal of relief and love. I toned "Shu Eh Eh Jiao", sounds associated with the Liver/Gallbladder and ended with a prayer. May the Divine help me to transform my anger and resentment into keen discernment and respectful action.
So, I decided to pay attention and work this out (I'm a little slow). First, I signed up for some free healing. Even healers need healing sometimes. Then I sat down with pen and paper and decided I wasn't going anywhere until I made a complete inventory of my past and present resentments. I wrote out about 7 or 8 pages! It was slow at first. I was in a bit of denial, I guess. But I was determined to have it out. After a page or so, the task started to feed on itself. Things were coming to me that I hadn't thought about in years. I decided that even if I "thought" I had released them, I would still write them down. I refused to censor anything. Some things carried quite a charge and other things felt stale. I underlined all the heavily charged ones. Into my 5th page, I realized this process could go on and on.
That's when I realized that I resented resentment. And that was when an interesting shift happened. I started to inventory why others may resent me. It didn't matter if it were true or not. Again, it was a creative act of intention but one that illuminated a things that I never considered before. This went on for a few more pages.
When I was done writing, some personal guidelines for living without resentment glistened out from the shadows between resentments:
- Don't make promises I can't keep.
- Follow through on those I do.
- Speak up if I feel uncomfortable whether or not I understand why.
- Don't be oblivious to others or exclusive in my attentions.
- Express appreciation.
By the time I finished, I was crying and feeling a great deal of relief and love. I toned "Shu Eh Eh Jiao", sounds associated with the Liver/Gallbladder and ended with a prayer. May the Divine help me to transform my anger and resentment into keen discernment and respectful action.
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