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healing

Silence Envelopes the Voices of Insecurity

Our culture supports individual effort and perfection. In fact, I recently read about an experiment done on two groups of people, one from the United States, and another group from Japan. Each group was shown an image that included an individual scuba diver sinking into an ocean full of fish and other marine life. The group was given a few minutes to look over the image, and was later asked to recall what was presented there.

The American group had a marvelous recall on the diver. They could remember what color his tank was, his facial expression, and even the type of gear he was wearing. This same group fared very poorly on their remembrance of the fish, the plants, the water, and the general geography of where the diver was located. In strong contrast to the American group’s ability to recall the diver, the Japanese group remembered much less about the individual, but had dramatic recall of the environment in which the diver was swimming. They described, in ardent detail, the schools of fish, the marine layout and the general situation in which in which the diver found himself. The social scientists concluded that this spoke to our cultural value system. Americans group up in a world that values the individual, and takes pride in the perfection of individual efforts. Eastern cultures, on the other hand, are known for valuing cultural context and group identity.

It’s not to say that one way of seeing the world is better or worse than the other, but it does bring up an interesting question regarding focus. Remember, our prana (energy) follows our focus, and much of our prana (remember, that is our energy) goes to focusing in, honing in, even obsessing over, our own individual situation. This is another way of saying that much of our energy goes into mental processing in a push towards personal perfection, a never-ending process that can lead to a deep sense that we can never be fulfilled, that life is never enough, and a deep insecurity and fear.

Why does this happen? According to the wisdom of Ayurveda and Tantra, it happens because we are confused (or experiencing avidya – mis-knowing). We have forgotten. What have we forgotten? That the continual processing towards perfection, a quest to avoid pain and disappointment and gain things that feel good, leads us a false belief that we are not good enough already. We forget that, deep within, lies an bottomless well of support and freedom, and this bottomless pit of ambrosial nectar in our own light – an eternal bridge to freedom from the duality of good and bad, as well as a gateway into peace. It’s what Buddha was so pumped up about. Jesus said it as well when he encouraged us to “let thine two eyes become one” (i.e. our dual thinking line up with Spirit).

All of this beautiful philosophy and ambrosial nectar-speak may have you rolling your eyes. You may feel like freedom and peace are two states of being really far from your current set point. You may be laughing right now. “Yeah, right, sister. I’m an elementary school teacher with two kids and a beer-guzzling husband. My life is as far as you can get from the peaceful gateway.” I totally get it – but we ALL have the ability to tap into the loving, the invincible…

Ok, so what is this secret doorway into the Divine? Its simple. Its profound. And its not always easy to find. Its just silence.

Try it now.

Stop reading.

And take a few deep breaths into your own belly, your own heart. Keep breathing until you taste a tiny drop of silence, and then tell me if you are not, in some way, great or small, closer to heaven.

Here's a short guided meditation you can do whenever you need a moment.

~Katie

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10 Ways to Improve Your Sleep and Love Life Immediately

Whether you suffer from insomnia or sleep like a log, the ancient teachings of the Vedas tell us that the way we set up our bedroom can have a powerful impact on the depth and quality of our sleep. It can also boost the sensuality-factor for deeper connection with our loved one.

Vastu shastra (literally the ”science of construction or architecture”) is an ancient science that arranges dwellings in accordance with natural elements and directional alignments. Think Indian feng shui.

Here is my modern interpretation on a simple vastu bedroom wisdom. Use it to optimize your sacred sleep chamber. In general, these pointers will help you create an atmosphere that begs for sensual ritual and deep sleep:

  1. Keep the room light and airy. Open windows as much as the seasons allow.
  2. Keep the temperature mild and pleasant. I recommend avoiding overheating or over-air conditioning the room. Make sure your body feels comfortable. Sometimes just feeling cold is enough to cause insomnia.
  3. Get rid of the clutter. There should be nothing in the bedroom that reminds you of work. Move the stacks of papers you need to file at the office out of this sacred sleep chamber. Take the spare change and those piles of mail off the top of your dresser. (Go do it now, you know you have a stack like that!)
  4. Bring in harmony by keeping the room clean, well-painted and orderly.
  5. The room should be private.
  6. The room should be empty of machines or technologies. They kill the buzz of sensuality, and increase restlessness in the body and mind.
  7. Create some boundaries on your e-life. Life changes when we make the adult decision to turn off our electronic devices after 9pm. Seriously, the iphone may be one sexy technological wonder, but your significant other is sexier. If you are single, relish this time alone to read your favorite books.
  8. Avoid all forms of news media in the bedroom.
  9. The room should smell good, but not too scented. Avoid heavy incense. Use fresh romantic scents such as ylang ylang, sandalwood, jasmine, and rose.
  10. The bed should be comfortable, not sag in the middle, and made with sheets should be made of natural organic fibers.

This article was originally published on the Yoga Journal blog on September 13, 2013.

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theshaktischool

TheShaktiSchool

Head on over to @yogalifemag to snag our Golden Yo Head on over to @yogalifemag to snag our Golden Yogini Milk recipe✨⁣
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Repost from @yogalifemag ⁣🤍
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“In Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric has long been used to help and ease ailments in the body and this Golden Yogini Milk recipe from Ayurvedic expert, Katie Silcox M.A. is no exception! Packed full of natural anti-inflammatory, immunity and digestive properties, this drink will help to keep your body’s defense up through the colder months of the year.”⁣
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Check out the full article & get the recipe by clicking the link in their bio! ❤️🫖🔥
“Learning Ayurveda this past year has been a pow “Learning Ayurveda this past year has been a powerful ride. Ayurveda teaches us to vibe with our body’s natural flow and rhythms. I have started to honor that feminine energy that is within me.⁣
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The wisdom and depth of this ancient holistic healing system not only provide insights into physical health but also offer a profound understanding of the mind-body connection and the intricate nuances of feminine well-being.”⁣
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Meet our beloved Cynthia @cynthia_amaro__ one of our students here at The Shakti School!⁣
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Cynthia is a Fashion Licensing Agent in NYC and a Dog Momma to 2 doodles. She’s currently enrolled in our Level 1 Ayurveda School. ⁣
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She writes, ⁣
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“Ayurveda has helped me connect with my true purpose aka My Dharma. Ayurveda has reignited my passion for yoga, and I’m now working towards becoming a yoga teacher and starting Level 2 in 2024. ⁣
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Learning that Ayurveda is the healing aspect of yogic science has brought everything into perspective. It’s teaching me to heal myself first so I can inspire and help others heal too. ⁣
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Realizing that true awareness leads to the recognition of unity and transcending personal limitations is the ultimate goal of Ayurveda. Being a student of Ayurveda is my Self-Care Routine and I want to share it with the world.” ⁣
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You can book a call with a coach to explore whether our year long Ayurvedic Wellness Coach program is right for you at the link in bio or go to our website and click “book a call!” ❤️
Shakti Fire Cider 🔥🔥🔥 Here’s your winte Shakti Fire Cider 🔥🔥🔥 Here’s your winter immunity boost recipe (and home-made gift idea!) ⁣⁣
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Here’s how to make it:⁣⁣
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~ 1 medium onion, chopped⁣⁣
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~ 10 garlic cloves, smashed or roughly chopped⁣⁣
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~ 2 jalapeños, sliced⁣⁣
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~ 1 organic lemon (grate it and juice it)⁣⁣
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~ 1/3 cup grated ginger⁣⁣
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~ A bunch (3-4 sprigs) of fresh rosemary (dried is also fine!)⁣⁣
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~ 1 T black pepper seeds, crushed⁣⁣
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~ 1 T cardamom pods, crushed⁣⁣
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~ 2 blood oranges, finely sliced⁣⁣
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~ A few of cinnamon sticks⁣⁣
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~ 1 T cloves⁣⁣
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~ A big dollop of raw, local, honey ⁣⁣
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~ Apple cider vinegar⁣⁣
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Add all ingredients to a quart size jar. Cover completely with ACV (push down everything in the jar so that it’s below the ACV). Place a piece of parchment paper between the lid and the jar to prevent any transfer from the lid. Shake daily, storing in a cool place for about a month.⁣⁣
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Then sip daily (you can also add it to your salad dressing or food, but don’t heat because of the honey! 🍯🍯🍯)
Vatas and ‘feminine-form-style-work’ goddesses Vatas and ‘feminine-form-style-work’ goddesses, welcome to the club 💃🏻
The latest episode of Spirit Sessions podcast, The The latest episode of Spirit Sessions podcast, The Deepest Meaning of Ayurveda with Sandhiya Ramaswamy, is here!⁣⁣
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According to Katie, this is her favorite episode ever! ⁣⁣
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This week, Katie chats with Ayurvedic Practitioner and beloved Shakti Ayurveda School teacher, Sandhiya Ramaswamy. Their conversation goes way beyond the typical nutrition and lifestyle tips into deeper spiritual concepts of Ayurveda and Tantra such as Sadhana and Swastha.⁣⁣
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Did you know the way you eat your food is the way you make love? ⁣⁣
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Join Sandhiya and Katie for a love-filled conversation about duality, ego, joy, ancestral medicine and how to stay mindful and present in a world of social media and breaking news.⁣⁣
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In this episode you’ll hear:⁣⁣
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~ How Sandhiya went from stressed-out corporate life to Ayurvedic healer⁣⁣
~ Sandhiya’s #1 Ayurvedic lifestyle tip⁣⁣
~ What does reclaiming our root healing traditions look like?⁣⁣
~ Why food is the primary medicine in Ayurveda⁣⁣
~ What are Sadhana and Swastha?⁣⁣
~ How to be established and centered in your divine self⁣⁣
~ Why Ayurveda is community healing⁣⁣
~ How to banish Ayurveda guilt⁣⁣
~ Level 1 Ayurveda School is open for registration! Join now and begin a deep soul-journey in January with incredible teachers like Katie and Sandhiya.⁣⁣ @sandhiyaramaswamy 
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Listen to the full episode by clicking the link in bio or by going to https://theshaktischool.com/podcast/ 🎤❤️🌹

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