KAJAMA.COM NEWSLETTER

September 23 through September 29, 2024

It's all quiet on the astrological front this week, with only Mercury making a move into Libra on Thursday. Monday's Gemini Moon will have us networking, researching, and sharing information, all important for the work ahead. The Cancer Moon could put us in a reflective mood Tuesday through Thursday, and we may feel like daydreaming the days away rather than making much tangible progress. Our sensitive sides could also be triggered during this time, so we'll have to watch for moodiness and refrain from taking things too personally. Mercury will enter Libra on Thursday which can stabilize emotions and help us to look at things from a more balanced perspective. Let's turn the focus to ourselves and our own needs on Friday and Saturday, as a Leo Moon promotes self-care and self-nurturing. The week ends with a Virgo Moon, so after a week of internal processing, this could be the ideal day to get some things done!

10 Experiential Pathways into Meditation, by Murray du Plessis

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

As busy beings with daily chores aplenty, we're quick to rank "intangible" activities like meditation low on our priority list. After all, doesn't meditation require us to stop all activity and sit in silence? More than that, it's difficult, right?

Nope! Meditation is, in fact, a very natural activity, where we engage our inner energy and open our hearts. We start to see the self clearly, and the magnificence inherent in simply. Being. Me.

The beauty of meditation is, of course, that it's not limited to any singular approach; a myriad of paths are out there inviting us to reconnect with our sacred inner space. And once there, seated comfortably at the center of our being, we begin to see, and feel, and grow. In this activated state, insights into our inner world, and the world around us, are quick to follow. We carry this alertness into our day, too, bringing precision and fullness to whatever we do.

Let's look at ten uncomplicated pathways into depth, power, and a world of peace.

1. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
Being relaxed is surprisingly underrated as a basic feeling for which we should all strive. Just think about the immediate, tangible benefits relaxation delivers: our bodies feel good and our minds become lucid. We have more confidence in ourselves and our abilities, our personality flows, and our relationships—both with ourselves and others—improve.

PMR, where we gradually move through all the muscle groups in our body, consciously releasing tension, is wonderfully effective in inducing that feel-good, relaxed feeling across the length of our body. And when our body is relaxed, our mind follows suit; before we know it, we're thinking clearly, feeling calm, and ready to take on the world!

I breathe into my toes, and as I breathe out, I release all tension, saying to myself: "My toes are soft and relaxed, warm and full." I feel that softness and warmth in my toes, and notice a buzz of comfort surfacing there. I now gradually move up my body, inch by inch, through my feet, calves, knees, thighs, hips, stomach, hands, arms, shoulders, neck, mouth, cheeks, eyes, forehead and scalp. I'm simply breathing into each area, then releasing tension alongside my breath. I am coaxing my body into feeling relaxed and full. Once done, I observe the totality of my body, and notice how good it feels, how calm and settled it has become.

Scanning the inner space of my mind now, I appreciate the clean atmosphere that has surfaced there, too, observing the serenity and clarity, and feeling the light.

2. Breathing
Breath is life, as they say! Let's experiment with this idea, and observe how conscious breathing can make us feel truly alive.

I become aware of my breath, drawing it gently in through my nose, all the way down my body and into my feet. Exhaling very slowly, through my mouth now, I listen to the swoosh of air exiting my lips. Inhaling again, I appreciate the cool current of oxygen flowing in, down my core, through my legs, into my toes. Exhaling, I feel my body sinking comfortably into stillness, into peace. Inhaling, I become aware of the life-force inherent in this oxygenated air, touching and awakening all parts of my body as it streams in.

Repeating this simple activity—breathing deeply in, slowly out, energy in, tension out—I feel how my vibration rises with each breath. My senses sharpen, my mind lights up. I am focused, in the present, existing in a state of full life.

3. Visualizing
We are creative beings, building our lives every moment of every day. By flexing our creative potential and bringing the power of our imagination into play, we can see, then feel, and live our dreams. Visualization, where we paint beauty on the palette of our mind, then step into that painting, is one such method to create, then access the wonderworld of our dreams.

Go on, paint, then step into the masterpiece that's uniquely yours. Make it as magical and perfect as you wish; it is your creation, after all.

I visualize any natural scene, a landscape soaked with peace. Perhaps I see a still lake surrounded by mountains, or a vast, green meadow, or a forest alive with nature's vibration. Whatever vista appears before me, I notice how the colors, saturated with golden sunshine, sparkle with impossible depth.

Now, stepping into my creation, I stand very quietly in its midst, simply taking it all in. I listen to the sounds, the calm hush, the calls of nature. I smell the freshness, the heady fragrance of the damp grass, or sweet-smelling flowers. Now, as I begin to walk, I feel the spongy grass or rich soil massaging my feet. A cool breeze caresses my skin, and I breathe it in, filling my body with fresh, countryside air.

This is my paradise, existing at the center of my mind. I feel a sense of comfort in knowing it's always here for me to step into, whenever I wish.

4. Letting Go
Consciously stop, and check yourself, asking: "Where am I holding tension?" In your shoulders, lips, or eyes? Focus on that area, breathe into it, and as you exhale, let go. Release the tightness, and watch it evaporate like mist. Now, notice the change, feel how clean and light the area has become. Ah, that feels better!

Our minds, too, can become blocked with tension. Let's lift those mental blockages, now.

Breathing oxygen into the room of my mind, I aerate my inner world. Exhaling, I let go, discharging all the clutter, all the noise, all the waste. Inhaling again, I observe how my mind is opening up, expanding on all sides as it stretches out far into the distance. Inhaling, I invite freshness and light, and with the light, clarity. Exhaling, I cast off all the unwanted, all the excess, and give myself permission to simply be. How good it feels to relax and release, to free myself into being just me.

5. Opening Up My Heart
Our heart is that pure, spiritual space inside us, a soft expanse we tend to neglect in the busy-ness of our lives. By taking a moment to look within, and acknowledge our heart's presence, we ignite the beauty, the energy, the wisdom of this immaculate space. As our heart comes to life, we're given an instant reminder of spirituality, and that infinite world we all carry within.

I turn my vision inward, finding that clean, warm, wholesome space that is my heart. Just by observing this sacred inner space, by acknowledging it, I am giving my heart permission to emerge, to shine and flow. And flow it does! I feel a current of energy rising from my heart, overflowing into my body and caressing me with its glow. As I release this energy across the broad landscape of my inner world, I watch as its radiance finds every nook, every corner of my being, bringing the sparkle of spirit to life. Lit up from within, I surrender to the blaze, to the bliss, to the might rolling out from the space of my heart.

6. Surrendering to Light
Light is a symbol of positivity, of clarity, of strength. And as luck would have it, light is precisely what we carry within! That light, of course, is the soul, pure and powerful, and always shining. Look within right now, and you'll see it, a star both full and bright. Now feel it, as you embrace your very own light.

I turn my gaze inward, to the cool space within, and look for the light. Ah, there it is, shining like a soft, silent star at the center of my being. I edge in closer, toward its warmth, its gentle glow. One more step inward now, and into the very essence of my light I go. Light permeates my vision as I find myself at the source. This shimmer, so uniquely mine, is pure and spiritual, full and powerful.

I offer my light to my body now, saturating my core, my limbs with healing energy. I observe my muscles absorbing its nourishing glow, feel my skin start to tingle. I now release the force of my light into my mind, simply flooding my mental space with radiance, and immediately witness my mood brightening and lifting.

Offering this shimmer outward now, I shower the world with purity and light.

7. Reflecting on Virtues
Our heart is like a treasure chest, replete with all the virtues: peace, love happiness, purity, and strength all exist like jewels within. And though we know each one of these jewels intimately, having experienced them at different times in our lives, we're inclined to wait for outside events to trigger their release.

Let's stop waiting for the stars to align, instead taking the initiative, via meditation, to activate inner beauty and wonderful feelings. Let's emerge the jewels, now.

Glancing inward, into my depths, I look for peace. And I see it, shining calmly at the center of my being. I feel it, too, that serene vibration touching and uplifting every part of my being.

Now, stepping inward, into my own quiet space so saturated with peace, I surrender to the gentle atmosphere, the beauty, the warmth. I now consciously open my inner world up, and emit this peace outward, allowing it to surface across the plains of my skin.

Resting here, within, I observe my glow, appreciating the halo of calm that has spread out warmly around me.

8. Talking Lovingly with Myself
When the subject of relationships emerges, the focus falls largely on our relationships with others. We neglect the most important one: the relationship we have with ourselves. Ask yourself: "What is my relationship like with myself? Am I offering myself warmth and love, right now?"

Let's bring our focus squarely back within, to our hearts, our minds, our souls. Let's nurture this beautiful being that is me, via an encouraging, loving conversation with ourselves, and coax ourselves back to health and wholeness.

I choose to spend time with myself, right now. Looking gently inward, to that quiet, beautiful inner space at the center of my being, I recognize the importance of my relationship with myself. I am deserving of my attention, my energy, my love. And so, very gently, I say to myself: "I'd like to heal myself, right now, to invite wholeness and peace to my inner world. To do so, I simply need to send love inwards. And I do so now, sending a current of warmth toward my center. I fill myself light."

As my inner world begins to sparkle, I see and feel my beauty. Loving myself becomes both natural and easy.

9. Healing through Sound
Auditory vibrations, like the hum of a deep, resonant Om, can ease and energize us. By opening up to vibrations, allowing them to flow first through our body, then into our mind, we can invite an experience of holistic healing.

Besides om, we can use a host of other sounds to induce this therapeutic massage. Singing bowls are great, of course, as is music, the swish of the wind, the gurgling of a stream, or the murmur of people's voices. Each one carries a unique vibration that we can tune in to and absorb, then observe its effect as it rolls through your body and mind, massaging and cleansing all in its wake.

I inhale deeply, then slowly and consciously breathe out an Om. Ommmmm. I feel the vibrations of this sacred syllable thrumming through my bones, into my muscles, across the surface of my skin. I inhale again, then exhaling, hum another long, rumbling Om. It pulses through me, massaging my muscles with its tremors, energizing every part of my body it passes through. Inhaling, then releasing another deep Om, I now direct its rich vibration toward the room of my mind. Waves of peace and strength roll through my mental landscape, healing and uplifting me from within.

10. Sending My Energy Upward
Conversing with God, in whatever form we consider this higher energy to exist, is a powerful way to enter meditative states. By doing so, our attention goes to a dimension of purity and power, and we experience that spiritual atmosphere, first-hand. This dialogue may be in the form of prayer, via an actual expression of words, or simply by us directing of our focus upward, toward the sacred world of spirit.

Let's send our energy out to that higher dimension, then pause and listen for the response. As we wait, with hearts open in anticipation, a critical shift in our energy occurs: we move from a condition of incessant production, to a more receptive, absorptive state. Our senses sharpen, and we're brought into the present. We attune ourselves to subtlety, to the flow of spiritual energy, to those divine whispers directed our way. We begin to truly commune with God.

Sitting quietly, I direct my focus toward God. I may wish to say a silent prayer, or perhaps all I do is offer my energy upward, to this highest light. Now, with my attention focused solely on God, I wait patiently, listening for a response. By opening up my heart and mind to the energy of spirit, I have invited communion with God.

I feel a soft energy entering me now, indeed God's warmth, her strength, her love. It flows into me like a stream of golden light, filling me from the tips of my toes. Absorbing all the goodness so inherent in God's light, I feel myself growing, gaining strength, becoming whole. Connected to the divine, my world fills with radiance and might.</blockquote.

If you found the above pathways rewarding, you might consider Modern Meditations, where 101 guided commentaries are presented in an easy-to-follow, experiential way. Organized into twelve fields—including relaxation, abundance, transformation, and healing—each meditation encourages discovery, growth, and adventure through the power of focused thoughts.

Happy meditating, everyone!

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2021. All rights reserved.

I am a Leo born 8/22/1957. I have ash wood night tables that I bought from an antique store. They were made sometime in the 1950's. After I moved to a new house and was in the midst of a very destructive relationship, I started to hear clicking, creaking and tapping sounds coming from them. I checked for bugs, etc. - nothing. I was told to put a mango seed and a bowl of milk under the table that seemed most active. The sounds stopped for a while, but started coming from another night table. This one is made of glass and wrought iron, but it produces the same wood-like noises. Then the noises happened from under the bed. I moved one table downstairs, and noises started again from the other table. Last night, noises from under my bed woke me up again. I don't quite know what to do. I don't know if it is a spirit from the land or house, or an entity that was attracted to the person I was in that destructive relationship with (which has been over for two years now). Maybe it's a guardian angel trying to get my attention? I have burned incense, sage, etc., and I can't get a read on its intentions. Should I give the furniture away? I don't feel right selling it to someone else and passing this on to them.

Elisa

Dreamchaser:

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and I have to say it gave me quite a chuckle. Your "problems" are not in the tables. Your "problems" come from the land AND the house. You've burned sage, incense and prayed, and it's still there. Guess what that means? This being is not harmful. I want you to try one more thing just to satisfy your own mind. When you hear the noises again, I want you to say out loud, "If you are not from Love and Light, you must leave this house IMMEDIATELY in the name of the One God." If you still hear the sounds after that (and I am sure you will), then you can rest assured that the being is not evil in any way.

You mentioned your ex as a possible "source." If the beings were attached to that person, they would be with that person and not still living in your house. These beings are living in your house because that is where they live. You have quite a few living there, actually. They really just want you to know that they are there and that they are looking out for you. If they wanted to harm you in some way, believe me, you would know it. Nothing in your house means you any harm. Actually, it is quite the opposite. They realize how many scars you are carrying around with you and they do not want to add more. There is one woman in particular who is very protective of you. She is actually the one that is attached to the house itself and not the land. She died in that house, but loved it there and was very happy. She has maternal energy, and she never wants you in a relationship like that one again.

Many times when we are asleep, spirits think that they can roam around freely because we cannot see or hear them. They were once alive after all, and understand our ways. My bedroom is a loft space, and I can see out through most of the house. There have been times when I am lying in bed and can hear all this noise going on in the house, and I say out loud, "I can hear you." Things get very quiet very quickly. I know this is easy for me to say, but do not be afraid of your spirits. EVERY place has them. We just do not see or hear them usually, because we are moving through life too quickly.

Next time you get that chill up your back or feel like someone is watching you, stop and FEEL the energy that is around you. Do not use your eyes, as you will not see anything. Use your other senses and your instincts. It is quite an interesting exercise. Do not be afraid. Nothing can or will harm you. You are actually being watched over. I wish you healing.

*****

Astrea:

Haunted furniture is quite common in my family, but I don't think that's what you're dealing with; I think you have Ibys. They are SO HARD to get out of FURNITURE! You're correct that if you pass the furniture on to someone else, some of the Ibys will go along with it. What's worse, at least HALF of them will stay on with YOU!

At first I thought they were Old Wood Ibys or Carpenter Ibys, but they got into the glass and iron furniture too, so they are either Antique Ibys or regular House Ibys who have moved into your furniture. Wood Ibys tend to prefer Oak. They don't care for Ash wood because so many magical things are made from it. They were probably always in the house, but if you move from the house, they'll move WITH you unless you get rid of them first. Even if you buy NEW furniture, they'll move into IT, so get rid of them altogether if you can.

The bowl of milk and the mango seed worked for a while because they had to figure out why you did that. It takes Ibys a while to figure humans out when they act in unusual ways. I can just see them bending their little brown heads out of the tables, looking for the CAT who might come to drink the milk! (Cats love to chase Ibys.) When you took the milk away, they started up again because they knew there wasn't a cat on the way. They travel through all your furniture, knocking around, making noises and changing locations. That means that they ARE OUT of the furniture at times, and that's when you have to catch them, for that's when they are at their most vulnerable.

Go to the lumberyard and buy four scraps of oak lumber, each at least a foot long. Put a plastic trash bag on the floor in the center of the room where most of the activity is. Place the pieces of wood around in a square, touching at the corners. In the center of the square, put a slice of cake. (Ibys are very fond of cake.) Walk three times counter-clockwise around the square with the cake in the center. As you go around the circle, sprinkle a tiny bit of salt around it. Do this right before bed.

In the morning, take the whole thing (plate, cake, wood and trash bag), put it into ANOTHER trash bag and throw it out. The Ibys can only cross ONE WAY over the salt, so they'll eat the cake and then go back into the wood pieces, be picked up by the trash people and wind up in some landfill. Don't worry: they'll find their way into another piece of furniture sooner or later, or they might evolve into Fairies at the Land Fill. That happens sometimes, too.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.