PAWS Chicago’s Angels with Tails

Sunday, August 22, from noon to 4 PM.

Over 250 dogs, cats, kittens and puppies from 31 Chicagoland shelters and rescues will be showcased at 50+ business locations along Damen Ave (between North & Webster).  

http://www.angelswithtails.pawschicago.org 

 While it is easy for us to get caught up in the illusions of success and failure, it is important for us all to remember that they are merely that – illusions.  We are divine beings experiencing a human life, and our worth cannot be determined by the amount of times we have succeeded or failed.  The people we perceive as being the most successful have often failed more times than we could ever fathom, but the one thing that they all have in common is that they tried… and when they failed, they tried again. 

I have come to the realization that some of my biggest “failures” in life were succeeding at things that seemed right at the time, but ultimately weren’t in my best interest. I also realize now that some of my greatest successes in life were those things I thought were failures at the time, but ended up working out for the best in the end.

Don’t fear failure, but trust in the universe that whatever does end up happening is exactly what needs to happen for your path to unfold before you. Love and light to you all on this journey called life, may it be everything you had hoped for and more!

Melissa Marcy
Virtuality Studio Reiki and Meditation

Disclaimer: this article is intended for inspirational purposes only and the techniques and ideas described herein are not to be used as a substitute for professional medical or psychological treatment or without prior consultation with, approval of, and under the supervision of your physician or therapist. Application of the information, techniques and ideas in this article is at the sole risk and discretion of the reader.

Beginner Meditation Retreats – 1 Day
Our beginner meditation retreats are a wonderful way for those new to meditation to begin their practice. We provide an in depth introduction to the art of meditation, discuss some of the common difficulties people experience while meditating and how to work around them, we instruct you in several different forms of meditation and practice the meditations together as a group. Beginner meditation retreats run from 9am until 4pm and include a vegetarian lunch.8-15-10 | Park Ridge/Des Plaines | $125
9-12-10 | Park Ridge/Des Plaines | $125
 

Advanced Meditation Retreats – 1 Day
Our advanced meditation retreats are designed for those already comfortable with meditating for longer periods of time. In our advanced meditation retreats, we meditate together as a group incorporating both guided and silent meditations. Advanced meditation retreats run from 9am until 4pm and include a vegetarian lunch.

8-29-10 | Park Ridge/Des Plaines | $125
9-26-10 | Park Ridge/Des Plaines | $125

Get comfortable and take a nice, slow, deep breath. Breathe in love and breathe out any tension you might have. Feel your body relax.

Put your attention on the third eye area just behind your forehead. Allow your attention to focus there and grow in awareness. As it grows, notice that it begins to draw your consciousness away from other areas of your body toward it. Feel your consciousness flow through you like a gentle current as it travels upward and collects at your third eye.

Notice after a few moments that your awareness is completely seated at your third eye. Allow your consciousness to remain there, and as it does, feel the third eye chakra cleansed and healed by your presence until it begins to open.

As it opens, feel all barriers between you and the intelligence of Spirit begin to fall away. Feel more connected to the world, to Spirit, and to your path and purpose. Stay with the meditation for as long as you find it enjoyable.

Allow yourself to come back to the room now and back to your physical body. Take your time. When you feel ready, wiggle your fingers and toes and allow yourself a few moments to adjust before getting up. Take a few moments now to write down any experiences or insights you had during the meditation so that you do not forget them.

Melissa Marcy
Virtuality Studio Reiki and Meditation

Disclaimer: this article is intended for inspirational purposes only and the techniques and ideas described herein are not to be used as a substitute for professional medical or psychological treatment or without prior consultation with, approval of, and under the supervision of your physician or therapist. Application of the information, techniques and ideas in this article is at the sole risk and discretion of the reader.

Join us on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Group-Meditation-For-A-Better-World/109759975708104?v=wall

 Chicagoland/Park Ridge

$125 for a single class Reiki 1 or 2  (Reiki 2 requires you have already completed a Reiki 1 course).

Save $50 when you register for both Reiki 1 and 2 together!!!

At a certain point something changed within me however, and I now live from a sense of inner knowing that I am always exactly where the universe needs me to be at any given moment.  Regardless of what happens in life, I know that it is just a moment in the flow of things that is bringing me to where I am supposed to go.   If I get stuck in traffic, I am stuck there because I am supposed to be there.  If things aren’t going as planned, I let go and trust that they are unfolding exactly as they should.  Through synchronicity everything always works out in the highest and greatest good of all involved, including me.  Life is much more peaceful this way. 

This doesn’t mean that I don’t work hard or sometimes get caught up in trying to achieve something.  I am just much less attached to the results and much more open to allowing the work to flow through me rather than trying to control it.  I receive much more guidance from the universe now and am more receptive to it when it comes.  The best part is that the more I have learned to let go, the more perfectly things unfold on their own. 

We can either work from our limited human minds and struggle against the current, or we can open ourselves up to infinite wisdom and go with the flow.  The choice is yours.

Melissa Marcy
Virtuality Studio Reiki and Meditation

Disclaimer: this article is intended for inspirational purposes only and the techniques and ideas described herein are not to be used as a substitute for professional medical or psychological treatment or without prior consultation with, approval of, and under the supervision of your physician or therapist. Application of the information, techniques and ideas in this article is at the sole risk and discretion of the reader.

 Namaste,

Melissa

 Namaste,

Melissa

From the Meditation For Beginners Retreat Workbook Copyright 2010, Virtuality.

Melissa Marcy
Virtuality Studio Reiki and Meditation

Disclaimer: this article is intended for inspirational purposes only and the techniques and ideas described herein are not to be used as a substitute for professional medical or psychological treatment or without prior consultation with, approval of, and under the supervision of your physician or therapist. Application of the information, techniques and ideas in this article is at the sole risk and discretion of the reader.

— Bhagavadgita Mahabharata (from www.goodreads.com )

The words above touched me deeply and are a great reminder of how important non-attachment is in life.  Non-attachment to the fruits of your labor, or really anything for that matter, is often easier said than done, especially when what you are working on is something you care very much about.  This moves us a step beyond faith (that things will work out) and surrender (that a higher power knows best) to devotion (whether it be to God, to the work itself, to helping another or any other cause outside yourself).  Non-attachment means acting selflessly and out of pure love and joy, much like a parent who cares for their child out of pure love while expecting nothing in return.  The paradox of this is that the work we perform from a state of pure joy, love and non-attachment is often the work that ends up bringing us the greatest rewards in the end. 

Melissa Marcy
Virtuality Studio Reiki and Meditation

Disclaimer: this article is intended for inspirational purposes only and the techniques and ideas described herein are not to be used as a substitute for professional medical or psychological treatment or without prior consultation with, approval of, and under the supervision of your physician or therapist. Application of the information, techniques and ideas in this article is at the sole risk and discretion of the reader.

Imagine now that you are the ocean. Feel your body and soul become one with the vastness of the open sea. Feel all of the life within the ocean become part of you. Feel the rhythm of the ocean tides move energetically through your body. Feel the waves become one with your breath. In and out… in and out.

As you exhale, purse your lips and slowly push the waves out onto the beach with your breath. Hear the sound of the waves as they roll across the sand. When your exhale is complete, allow yourself to pause briefly just as the ocean’s waves linger on the shore for a moment before returning to the ocean. When you feel ready, slowly and gently breathe in your next breath and pull the waves back into the sea with your breath.

The objective is to breathe slowly and gently. Do only what feels comfortable to you. Allow your attention to be focused on your breath and if your mind wanders (as minds often do), just gently pull your attention back to your breath.

Melissa Marcy
Virtuality Studio Reiki and Meditation

Disclaimer: this article is intended for inspirational purposes only and the techniques and ideas described herein are not to be used as a substitute for professional medical or psychological treatment or without prior consultation with, approval of, and under the supervision of your physician or therapist. Application of the information, techniques and ideas in this article is at the sole risk and discretion of the reader.

Group’s facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/editaccount.php?networks#!/group.php?gid=131732863504459&v=wall

Join the Group Meditation For A Better World on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Group-Meditation-For-A-Better-World/109759975708104?v=wall and help us to make the world a better place!

Melissa Marcy
Virtuality Studio Reiki and Meditation

Once you have your flower, find a quiet place where you can sit undisturbed and get comfortable there. Take a few slow deep breaths, breathing in love and breathing out tension and stress. Feel your flower in your hands and send it love and gratitude. Feel the flower begin to draw out any negativity from within you. As the negativity exits your hands into the flower, feel the flower transforming the energy into pure love. Sit in contemplation with your flower, with your eyes either open or closed, until you feel your energies have been completely purified by the flower.

When you are done with your meditation, be sure to return the flower back to the earth (not via your garbage can) in a respectful way. You can lay the flower on the ground next to the plant you took it from, or if that is not possible, place it outside in a flower bed or on a forest floor where it can drop its seeds. Give thanks to the flower once again and to the earth that will receive it.

Melissa Marcy
Virtuality Studio Reiki and Meditation

Disclaimer: this article is intended for inspirational purposes only and the techniques and ideas described herein are not to be used as a substitute for professional medical or psychological treatment or without prior consultation with, approval of, and under the supervision of your physician or therapist. Application of the information, techniques and ideas in this article is at the sole risk and discretion of the reader.

As you begin your walk inward think of a question you have, a dilemma you are trying to solve, or just go in open minded and see what insights come to you. Focus on your steps and what you are feeling. At the center of the labyrinth you can do a variety of things depending on what your needs are at that time. Some days you might just want to take some time and experience being at the center, other days you might have a question to ask or a request for the universe. On your way out, focus again on your steps, notice how you feel inside, and try to be present with each step.

You can use the labyrinth locator at labyrinthlocator.com to find the closest labyrinth near you, or you can even create one in your yard or order (or create) a portable one that you can use either indoors or outdoors.

Melissa Marcy
Virtuality Studio Reiki and Meditation

Disclaimer: this article is intended for inspirational purposes only and the techniques and ideas described herein are not to be used as a substitute for professional medical or psychological treatment or without prior consultation with, approval of, and under the supervision of your physician or therapist. Application of the information, techniques and ideas in this article is at the sole risk and discretion of the reader.