More that thirty years ago I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting Swami Durgananda, who after many decades renounced her vows of sannyas - monkhood, and reverted to her own name - Sally Kempton.
Her dedication to her spiritual path was exemplary. Her ability to pass on her knowledge of the path with brevity and clarity a gift to all her students and those who read here books.
Her book, Meditation for the Love of It, is so valuable because it gives, not only information about meditation, drawn from ancient text, but also specific directives on how to go about practising specific techniques.
I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone - long time meditator or beginner, who wishes to deepen their understanding of what it means to undertake a spiritual journey and have signpost and guidance along the way.

Twice in the last 2 weeks I have been contacted by former clients. One had kept this cutting from the Sunday Paper in Sydney. She tracked me down and we spoke for a while on the phone.
She wrote:
"I’ve attached the paper clipping that I’ve kept for 20 years. You can see the date  on the bottom of the page , and it is a wonderful article. You made such an impression on me , I still remember that day."
It is so heart warming to be told such a thing.

And then another client, from my time in Hong Kong in the early '90's wrote:
Hi Ann, well I just meditated to your Relaxation recording for something like the millionth time since we first met in Hong Kong many years ago. I know I have told you in the past how much this breathwork recording has helped me through stressful times in my life.  And it did again just now. So just wanted to say again, Thank You !

He was a stressed business executive flying around Asia and carried my cassette with him! The form changed to CD and now digits which you can either buy https://www.breathandinspiration.com/store/c2/Guided_Meditations.html or listen to on Insighttimer https://insighttimer.com/breathandinspiration/guided-meditations/relaxation-breathing-through-the-body

Feedback like this is always so encouraging. My gratitude to Joanne and Steve for taking the time to contact me

THE NURSING HOME
 
Slowly and quietly a room becomes a world,
scene for the rituals and patterns of each day;
bells echo down corridors, other phone-bells ring
- people remembering.
 
Sometimes the sunlight plays upon the walls
with shafts of life - glowing and gilding
all the close-held things that still say 'you',
(not just the patient in room twenty-two).
Sometimes the nearness of essential things
speaks eloquently of how very few
one needs, to keep one's small world rolling on,
and how much time was spent safeguarding more.
 
One holds one's wealth only within one's mind,
where all the filtered hopes and joys and fears
of all past years, live on, condensed to photos on the wall,
and thoughts still safely stored in silent books –
the essence of that company of friends
discovered on the journey, always there
speaking from other times, thoughts quietly told,
whose hearts you heard, and hold.
 
And sometimes one small treasure, like a shell
caught by the passing sunlight, opens doors
and speaks with coolest clarity of outside things –
of all the hours spent wandering through sand,
and foam, and sea wind, and sea worlds –
the mystery of science and beauty fused
in everything, as in that tiny shell
lit in a flash of sun within my room,
leading me through the doors
To vast unchartered shores
 
V Geach 1992

"Layering traditional kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Krishna Das has been called yoga’s “rock star.” With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das” known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD” has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling western chant artist of all time. His album ‘Live Ananda’ (released January 2012) was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age album category. KD spent the late ’60’s traveling across the country as a student of Ram Dass, and in August 1970, he finally made the journey to India, which led him to Ram Dass’ own beloved guru, Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-ji. Given the name Krishna Das, KD began to chant as part of following the path of Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion.

In this episode, we discuss:
    1    Spiritual awakening and the need for a deeper connection.
    2    The potency of chanting the divine names.
    3    Chanting divine names as a way to wake up.
    4    The real meaning of divine names.
    5    The role of a teacher in the life of a contemporary seeker.
    6    The purpose of the spiritual path.
    7    Finding freedom by learning to trust ourselves."

I recommend that you listen to this podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/chitheads-from-embodied-philosophy/id1046733414?i=1000536414336 It will be time well spent.

Like all myths and stories that are told and retold, the details always vary somewhat, but the sight and the story of 'heart's ease' always fills me with a quiet joy and contentment.

I'd like to share it with you today because a little clump self-seeded outside my back door and each time I go in and out I am welcomed and reminded of its message:

It is said, that a long long time ago in Europe, there was a wise and benevolent king. He governed justly and was loved by his subjects. But one day, he was called upon by other kings to go on a great crusade to a far off land; and so, with great sadness, he and his entourage readied themselves and set off. He thought he would only be away for a short time but weeks turned into months and months turned into years. Finally the day came when his purpose had been achieved and his home sickness could at last be relieved as he turned towards home.

During the long journey back, he had much time to think of his kingdom, his loyal subjects, his family, his beautiful wife and his very special walled garden. That was a place of peace, where he used to go to enjoy and be soothed by the beauty of nature. There were all sorts of trees, plants and flower - a vast array showing the wonderful creativity of nature.

When his subject heard of his return they travelled out to meet him. Joy, love and laughter along the final part of his route home, and the tightness around his heart began to lessen.

There were many people to be greeted and acknowledge, there was the warmth of his family as they celebrated his return with a banquet. Finally, he could slip away to his beloved walled garden. As the garden gate creaked open, he could scarcely believe his eyes. It was a wasteland. It looked as if everything was dead or dying.

He went over the the pine tree and asked, "what's wrong"?... and the pine tree answered, "I wish I was willowy like the willow tree"; he then turned to the willow tree, seeing it was struggling, ask the same question. "I want to be big and strong like an oak tree, and I'm not".

The king was dismayed as he went from tree to tree, plant to plant and saw them all suffering. Suddenly he caught a glimpse of colour, a tiny flow was growing  again a rock. She was bright and cheery - in such contrast to all the plants around. The king asked, "how is it that you are so bright and healthy?" "Well, said Heart's Ease, if the good Lord had meant me to be a pine tree, a willow tree, an oak tree or anything else, he would have made me like that. I am made to be me, just as I am. I am happy with that".

“I didn’t know I was tense until after we finished meditating, and I felt relaxed”
“I didn’t realise it had affected me this much”.

Those two comments give some indication of why I love offering my monthly programmes at the Millthorpe Meditation Centre.

The Chanting and Meditation programme I offer freely as a way for people to give themselves some time out, to stop and become aware of how they are feeling and what they feel about themselves and life at the moment. Unless we stop and give ourselves time to develop greater self awareness we will not realise how stressed and tense we are. When we are stressed we are not functioning as well as we could. This past weekend one of the meditators said: “it didn’t know I was tense until after we finished meditating, and I felt relaxed”

Chanting, in the form of call and response, is a wonderful meditation technique: it requires presence and focus. One has to focus on the words to be sung and when to join it and the breath is a natural part of that process. It flows, oxygenates the system and flushes away tension. It also prepares us for silent meditation. It is as if the chanting short circuits our mind chatter and allows us to sink more easily into deep, restful silence.

The Conscious Breathing Circle is especially for those who want to continue their deep inner journey and have already experience that power of Conscious Connected Breathing. It is a deeper inner work that links the physical, mental, emotion and spiritual aspects of ourselves. “I didn’t realise it had affected me this much” is the sort of thing that we would say. The tears flowed in the best of ways and the participants found a safe space to feel, acknowledge and let go of emotions that they had swallowed down. The result is a lightness and expansion

Awareness of the breath, Self Awareness, in both meditation and Breathwork is the path to freedom.

Nature calms us. Beauty inspires. Would you like to connect on line and experience that?

Contemplation and meditation came together November 2019 in Millthorpe when Ann Harrison guided "Meditate in the Garden" at the Millthorpe Garden Nursery. Seated in the garden under a shady trees we experienced that calm contemplation and insight.

From that event grew a joint venture between Ann and Sue - the Millthorpe Meditation Centre and the Millthorpe Garden Nursery.

On our new website - www.essenceofplants.com.au - you will find a plant or flower feature regularly. There will be information about it and a guided meditation to help you gain insight.

Today is Valentine's Day - so this month we have chosen the rose. On the website your will find:

• information on the rose
• a connection to the nursery so that you can get help in purchasing the rose that is right for you
• a short 2 minutes contemplation - free
• link to a 6 minute meditation that you can buy for $1.99

Our wish is to help you keep that connection to nature and life through contemplation, meditation and simply encouragine you to be in the midst of a garden - even if it is just in your mind's eye.

Come and experience Millthorpe - wander through the Garden Nursery or participate in a programme at the Meditation Centre.

Meditation techniques are simple and various.  To master one of these techniques and meditate successfully is much more challenging.

Jack Kornfield's book: Bringing Home the Dharma - Awakening Right Where You Are is a wonderful handbook for meditators. He describes so candidly his own journey as he encountered challenges along the way, teachers who contradicted each other and teachers who masterfully guided his way and deepened his understand in this human spiritual journey.

I am so glad that there is a book out there that explain the chaotic mind states that can be encountered as the meditator learn to journey through and find the still deep place inside.

A couple of years ago of years ago I offered an on line introductory Meditation for You course. My personal journey and meditation practice of course informs my teaching. At the same time I recognised there are categories of meditation techniques - sight, sound, movement, breath - that beginners find easier when they first start; and there are traditions - Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist etc that appeal to different personalities.

Find the teacher, and the tradition with which you resonate and just practice.

If you would like one of my guided meditation you can perhaps find something you like here - www.breathandinspiration.com  Or feel free to contact me with your questions

When you need a both a rest and an energy boost,  taking time out to work consciously with the breath is easy and cost effective. These two short workshops at the Millthorpe Meditation Centre offer you just such an opportunity.

The Chanting and Meditation evening is a short pause in your month. Helf an hour of chanting followed by silent meditation. Chanting is a particular way of being aware of your breathing. You become the instrument and your chanting is a preparation for entering that deep refreshing stillness within you. If you are a long time meditator or beginner, this hour is both a reminder and support

The Breathing Circle is a longer experience of meditation on the chakra centres and an exploration of the power of conscious connected breathing to take the internal pressure off, gaining insight and feeling refreshed. A recent participant said: " it was like I've been totally rewire. I feel great".

"I have been working consciously with the breath for more than 30 years now. It simplicity and power of Breath Awareness continues to astound and humble me"  Ann Harrison

Meditation and awareness practice has been a part of my life now for more than 30 years. It is my foundation and  always a joy it is to be able to share that practice with others.

I had the privilege a couple of weekends ago of running a workshop for a group of friends who had come to Millthorpe to celebrate a 40th birthday. So much love in the group before we even started, and the energies of the old church on the hill helped deepen all our experience.

We - including me - lost our sense of time and place, as we connected deeply to ourSelves. Group members discovered meditation techniques that worked for them, some felt blocks that they had been carrying in their hearts dissolve. We found that the two hours disappeared in the blink of an eye.

It would be my delight to connect with you

• through an individual consultation in Millthorpe or on Skype [ including a personal guided meditation]

or

• work with you and a group of your friends

or

• you may buy my guided meditations on line http://breathandinspiration.com/shop-front/

Contact me here if you would like to discuss possibilities