5 ways to make peace with your past this January

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January is named after Janus, the God with two faces that looks forward and backwards.

The New Year is a time of fresh new pages, clean slates, new energy, new beginnings.  There is the feeling of possibility of new hope and, especially after the shift in consciousness of 2012, a butterfly in many of our stomachs of de-lightful and insightful anticipation.

Yet to be able to full embrace all that the year ahead offers, we must be able to be present in the now.  So how do we do that?  In a stressful  rather than being mentally dragged into worries about the future, or being locked in emotional and physical pain and discomfort because of “things that happened” in our past.

So how DO you make peace with your past?

We can begin by intending that we are going to learn from mistakes or uncomfortable situations to be able to accept, make peace with ourselves and others that participated in difficult situations in our past.  To do this takes courage yet the rewards are the beauty of new, fresh, light energy rushing in to a heart previously darkened by anger, hate or fear.  Yes it can be confronting and challenging to admin what we feel in ourselves.  What we don’t want to see are what our ego judges as “embarrassing or humiliating faults”, or maybe we were simply holding on to the past because we are scared of letting go of something or someone that had given us a sense of comfort or security..  even if things weren’t really good for us…. or for them.

So what do you need to do to let go of bitterness, frustrations and all of the other uncomfortable feelings?

Here are 5 ways to make peace with your past so that you can arise like a beautiful butterfly, spread your wings and shine this year:

1. Write a list of everything that is still “on your mind” – anything you feel uncomfortable about, have shoved under the carpet or feel angry or frustrated with.

ie: he stayed out late which was disrespectful of my feelings so I felt hurt

2. Write a list of how you want to feel – or be thinking – instead, what thoughts about each situation can help you accept it for what it is?  How can you forgive the other person – or yourself – what is the objective “truth” in each situation? (as the truth WILL set you free)

ie: he stayed out late and I have not done enough nice stuff for myself recently – so I felt jealous of him

3. If you – and only you – can be responsible for the way that you are feeling, what new years resolutions can you make for the better?  What thoughts and actions and behaviours can be new ways of thinking and acting in 2013 to help you TAKE YOUR POWER back and feel better about the situation in yourself now?

ie: I am going to the spa once per week to invest time purely in me, followed by dinner with my girlfriends because I know I deserve it and the joy it brings me will lift everyone’s spirits too!

4. Forgive yourself – and the other person – or circumstances that were out of your control.  Say sorry in your mind, with your mouth (even to the mirror or out to the sea) – and write it down to do so even more powerfully, even if you do not send the email or post it.  Claim your emotions back for yourself and your energy will stop projecting out negatively towards others.  You will feel more energised immediately – notice the difference!  Saying sorry enables you to be responsible for whatever your part in the discomfort was (even if you can’t see it!) and it will diffuse the unconscious ties that can keep triggering uncomfortable memories.

5. Appreciate your amazing life now! We are so fortunate with all we have in this world compared to so many others.  Make gratitude your daily practie, start the day with 5 things you can genuinely appreciate, your warm fire, the roof over your head, the beautiful blue skies (here in Ibiza!), dear friends who are there for you, your partner, your family, new socks, the freedom to choose where to go and how to enjoy this magical world we live in.

 

And most of all…… en JOY – live in JOY and joy WILL be with you this year….. it is that simple!

 

 

Yoga Asana of the week – The Tree

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As the new energies of 2012 flow in, we welcome you all to join us in grounding the lighter, faster vibrations by getting grounded, centred and strong like a tree. With our spine and body aligned we can be clear to receive the energies from the Universe above and release down into the earth below in an ongoing, powerful flow.
When the challenges blow like strong winds, you can maintain your strength and calm to help you see the higher, greater vision.
Here are 7 steps for a firmly rooted tree:
1* Placing both feet firmly into the ground, lift all your toes and release them back down, shift your energy onto your right leg, activating the muscles strongly
2* Find an external point of focus – a fixed point in front of you – and focus your gaze softly here
3* Inhaling, turn your left heel towards you at a 90 degree angle and raise the heel upwards, catching your left ankle with your left hand.
4* Exhaling, press the sole of the left foot firmly into your right thigh, press your inner-right thigh towards the sole of your left foot
5* Inhaling, draw up your pelvic floor to lock your energies in the core of your body (mulahbhanda), drawing your hands together in Namaste
6* Exhaling release all tension down through the soles of your feet
7* Inhaling, raise your arms up above your head in namaste, melting your shoulder blades down either side of your spine, opening your heart and allow a soft smile (if it feels good to!)
Continue breathing into your belly, exhaling completely and lengthening and deepening your breathing.
Enjoy the feelings of connectedness, alignment, lightness, height and strength – feeling anything more? Wonderful….. enjoy the tree-journey.
With great thanks to our beloved yogi-life-friend Laura Bridge inspiring us all from the top of Macchu Picchu in Peru this week!

Feeling a bit in the spin with these new energies coming in? – Be like a rock in times of change.

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Take time to stop completely and allow yourself to sit quietly and observe the world around you. Witness other people, see other situations from afar, rather than getting mixed up in the middle of them. Feel the warmth of a rock that has been heated by the sun and enjoy this deeply supportive and reassuring energy. Feel the total peace of being centred and grounded with the ancient wisdom that only comes from watching, witnessing, being still and quiet and listening. And if the rock is cool instead, allow this to release any hot thoughts and emotions from your mind, your energy, your head. Find a small rock that feels good in the hand and keep it close to you, in your pocket, to hold and reconnect, whenever you wish to with the memory of this calming stillness.

Trust = the vital ingredient for Going with the Flow

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Life coaching techniques to help you refine “The Art of letting Go”.  A body-mind tool, that is part of the art of letting go, is trusting in the higher intelligence of the universe to guide you,

When life presents challenges that just feel like too much, rather than breaking down into a sad or stressed out puddle, ask yourself honestly:”is this something I want to overcome….. or am I holding on because I am scared of what others’ might say, about being wrong, about being deemed a failure?”

Do I genuinely want to persevere for this because I believe will benefit my / my families whole being and life experience?

Or is it because it is actually easier to hang on in there in an uncomfortable comfort zone, than to dare to stop, reflect and choose a path that is different.

There is a saying that we love here at Ibiza Retreats… “Let go and let God”.  The more we can allow our life horse to occasionally buck and rear and gallop, the more easily we can ride through turbulent moments and remain seated in the saddle.

And when we stop trying too hard to do and be and achieve, very often the lovely things that open up, the positive people and lucky opportunities, are already there…..    When we let go and go with the flow, trusting that everything is happening in a perfect divine order, we relax, physically and emotionally…. which allows us to see the wonderful things that are there.

I though today that I really wanted to pick up my son from school to take him for a medical check-up.  Yet when the rain suggested that the roads may be challenging to drive, a subsequent hiccup with the car meant that I had to stay inside.  And whilst I originally felt concerned about “cancelling the appointment” and “letting other people down”, the moment that I phoned to rearrange things, I found that the whole world was on my side.  The receptionist rebooked us easily, my car problem was then swiftly sorted….  and how much lovelier it was to rest with a cup of tea and my laptop by the fire.

When we are too focussed on what we THINK we want to happen, we can be blind to what will really help our heart sing.

So remember to question your motives behind all the “trying situations” that happen this week….. if you find yourself trying to hard, and pushing to make things happen, take time to reflect on what will genuinely bring you greater happiness, fulfillment and peace.

Monday to begin your week – retreatful stress-busting tips to keep your feel-good-energies flowing

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Take us dancing naked in the rain! Here in Ibiza, we love the rain that replenishes our terrain and offers time to retreat inside.  Rather than grrrrrrroaning about the weather, why not allow mother nature to offer her cloud-covers as signs that it is time to to step back from the rat race, to be with yourself, reflect on your goals, dreams and life aspirations.   Amidst the grey the sun can still shine through within you, get cosy and… rather than becoming board….  create a vision board!