Seven Days of a Calm Christmas Season: Day 7

Day 7: The Treasure Chest




"If our thoughts are dark and our view of life is bleak, our lives will be starved of richness and only the dark and the bleak will find us.  Make a point of focusing your mind on positive thoughts, and learn to trust and love all that you have and all that you are  In these ways the treasure chest of inner peace falls open and enlightenment comes without our grasp."  -pic and exercise from "The Relax Deck" by Chronicle Books.










Hope you have found these past seven days enlightening.  If you enjoyed these, I strongly suggest you get your hands on "The Relax Deck."  There are 50 cards in all.  Enjoy and Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!

Seven Days of a Calm Christmas Season: Day 6

Day 6: The Stillness in the Flame





"In the eye of a storm there is stillness.  No matter what happens at any moment of each day, however hectic or troublesome things appear, or how many tasks we seem to be trying to do at once, we only need to turn inward to find a haven of peace.  To access your haven, close your eyes and visualize a candle flame, letting its stillness fill your mind." -pic and exercise from "The Relax Deck" by Chronicle Books.

Seven Days of a Calm Christmas Season: Day 5

Day 5: The Wishing Well





"In a world where we need to use our aggressive, masculine traits to survive, it is important to keep in touch with our feminine side.  Imagine yourself drinking water from a well - a traditionally female symbol.  The sweet, clear water - the essence of life - refreshes and relaxes you.  Now make a wish.  In your mind's eye, toss the wish into the well, and at the same time give thanks to Mother Earth for her bounty." -pic and exercise from "The Relax Deck" by Chronicle Books.

Seven Days of a Calm Christmas Season: Day 4

Day 4: Pine Branches





"The pine is a Japanese symbol of longevity, fortitude and silence.  Just as you cannot see the tops of the trees in a pine grove because they grow too high, in the same way we can never predict the course that our lives will take.  But if we ensure that, like the trunks of the pine trees, our inner selves are strong and secure, they will support us no matter how far from our roots we grow." - pic and exercise from "The Relax Deck" by Chronicle Books.

Seven Days of a Calm Christmas Season: Day 3

Day 3: The Forest





"The forest is a place of mystery, but if you show no fear it can also be a place of peace.  Imagine you are in a forest just before dawn.  As the sun rises, it penetrates the trees and you see your surroundings in more detail.  You hear the sounds of the forest waking up - insects, birds, the rustling of leaves.  The forest is alive inside your head.  You feel relaxed and in tune with nature." - pic and exercise from "The Relax Deck" by Chronicle Books.

Seven Days of a Calm Christmas Season: Day 2

Day 2: The Fruits of Awareness






"Sensation is too often experienced as a kaleidoscope: ever-chaning, each impression flashes elusively and is rarely fully absorbed.  Retrain your mind to heighten its sensual awareness: spend today focusing on sight; tomorrow, taste; the next day, smell; and so on.  In this way, begin to separate your sensual experiences and give each sense the appreciation it deserves." - from "The Relax Deck" by Chronicle Books.

Seven Days of a Calm Christmas Season: Day 1

We have all heard the song "The 12 Days of Christmas."  My personal favorite rendition is the 1979 John Denver and The Muppets version.  I remember listening to it on my 8 track stereo and then having to go through all 4 tracks before you could listen to it again.  Ah memories!

With all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, I thought it would be nice to find a few minutes each day leading up to Christmas to learn how to relax.  For each of the next 7 days, I will be providing you with an image and a meditative exercise.  These exercises and images come from "The Relax Deck" by Chronicle Books.  I picked the 7 exercises that I thought would be most appropriate to this time of year as we celebrate Christmas; saying good-bye to an old year, and welcoming a new year full of possibilities.

Enjoy!

Day 1: The Window to the Future

"We often dwell on the past because we are fearful of the future, but in order to progress we have to move on.  Imagine yourself looking out through the window of the present at a peaceful stretch of beautiful countryside.  This is the land of the future.  In your mind's eye, open the window and let in the gentle winds of change.  There is nothing to fear; you can embrace the future with confidence."