The Mary Christopher Podcast

Winter Solstice and Deep Peace Meditation December 22, 2023

The Winter Solstice in the Northern usually happens within 24 hours of December 21.  It is the shortest day and the longest night of the year.  And, it signals the beginning of Winter.
There were Winter Solstice celebrations and rituals that we know about in Great Britain before 3200 BC.  We know about these events because there are "stone monuments" in New Grange, in the Orkney Islands, as well as in Brittany that were constructed to align with Sunrise or Sunset on the Winter Solstice.
The largest one is in Newgrange and has been completely reconstructed.  It is shaped as an ellipse and is 279 feet at its widest point.  It is made of stone and is 39 feet tall.  At Sunrise on the Winter Solstice, Sunlight travels through a window box on the roof and down a stone corridor for 17 minutes.  Amazing !!!
For centuries in the past, before the Industrial Revolution, Winter has always been a time of rest and repair for humans and farm animals.  It was a time for family, story-telling, dream-time, and planning for Spring.  During Winter, we can use this time to rest and repair, to dream, to plan, and to find that Deep Peace that lives within us.
Many Winter Solstice Blessings to you and to all your Family and Friends.
Mary Christopher

ArchAngel Meditation for Advent ~ Friday December 15 2023

Another beautiful Fall Day here in the Atlanta area ...
I am doing this podcast in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area which encompasses over 400 million years of natural and human history in the Georgia Piedmont.  This park covers about 40,000 acres of trails, historic areas, preserved natural habitats as well as rivers and streams.  This is a beautiful area.
I am sitting among the trees, just up the hill from the trail, breathing fresh air and soaking up the Sunshine.  I can hear a Woodpecker over by the river and probably a squirrel or two running through the leaves behind me.  A gorgeous day to be out ...
Our ArchAngel Advent meditation is in this podcast.  Any Angel meditations are an equal opportunity for followers of any religion or tradition as well as anyone who does not follow any religion at all.  
I have included the link for our ArchAngels for Advent Zoom meditation, Tuesday evening at 6 pm CST.  
Click here for the last Tuesday evening ArchAngel Meditation ...
Tuesday Evening ArchAngels for Advent Meditation
We are also having a special Winter Solstice meditation on Thursday, December 21 at 8 pm EST, 7 pm CST.  Click the link below to join this very special meditation welcoming the beginning of the actual New Year.
Special Winter Solstice Meditation ~ Welcoming the New Year !!!
Have a Wonderful Week !!!
Many Blessings to You and all your Family and Friends during this Global Holiday season !!!
Mary Christopher

ArchAngel Meditations for the Holidays ~ December 8 2023

All around the World, during December, we celebrate Advent, Chanukah or Hanukkah, and Shab-e-Urs which celebrates Rumi's passing from this life.  Shab-e-Urs means "The wedding night".  Rumi counted the day of his death as a "reunion with the Creator". A verse recited by Muslims upon hearing the news of Rumi's death, says: "From God, we come and to Him we return."
Angels and Arch Angels are shared by each of these traditions.  In the late 1990's I discovered "GOD Is a Verb", an excellent book about Jewish mystical traditions by Rabbi David Cooper.  I found a wonderful ArchAngel bedtime meditation that is a family tradition in some Jewish families.
Several years ago I started using this meditation in my advanced meditation class.  Everyone loved it and that began our tradition of doing ArchAngel Meditations every year during Advent.  I have included that meditation in this podcast.  This year I have included a new breathing practice that works well for meditation.  That practice is included.
Happy Holidays and Many, Many Blessings to You and all your Family, Friends and Neighbors !!!

Meditation Can Be Challenging ! ~ Summer Meditations September 9 2023

Do you meditate ???  Did you try to meditate, found it was difficult, and gave up ???  
During my many years of teaching "meditation", I have seen that too many people make an honest effort to meditate, find it challenging and give up !!!
That is too bad because there are so many wonderful emotional, physical, and spiritual benefits available.
Yes, having a spiritual practice like meditation can be and often is challenging.  Developing your ability to meditate is similar to practicing the plank pose in yoga or the tree pose in Qigong.  Definitely challenging and very much worth the effort !!!  An important thing to remember is these "practices" always require patience and persistence!!!
Do let me know what you think and how your practice is going ...
Have a Wonderful Week and Remember to Breathe,
Mary

Summer Meditation Podcast ~ August 22 2023 Dealing with Disasters

We seem to have several weather-related disasters all at once, including the ongoing heat wave in the Southwest, Hurricane Hilary reaching Mexico and Southern California, and the tragic fire on Maui.  We are now in the "blame and finger-pointing stages" following the fires and the tragic loss of life.  This often only increases the hurt and the damage without solving very much.
So, what can we do?  Many of us are thousands of miles away from Maui, and Mexico or Southern California.   We may know people in these areas or we may have lived there and have special memories.  And, we can get stuck in sorrow or sadness and begin to feel powerless.  Not a good situation !!!  We often discuss this in meditation class and have several ways of "Dealing with Disasters".
Our primary response is "Remember the Helpers" !!!  When I lived in Texas, I worked as the Facilities Manager for our District Fire Department.  I was also an EMT.  I can promise you that your prayers and good intentions for all the people who show up to help in any "disaster" are deeply appreciated and very helpful.  
Getting stuck in sorrow or grief doesn't help us or others when we are not able to jump in the car and show up in person.  However, thanks to our high-tech culture, we can find many ways to contribute and help.  Turn your sorrow or sadness into compassion and find a way to contribute !!!
So, Remember the Helpers and Remember to Breathe !!!
Have a Great Week, Mary Christopher
 

Summer Meditation for August 12 2023

Still plenty warm and humid in so many areas around the World !!!  As we know, this can be very stressful,  The result may be that we are irritable or anxious, not sleeping as well, grumpy or grouchy, or just plain ol miserable !!!
So, what can we do to shift ourselves out of our own personal misery?  How about using a specific breathing practice like a 4:6 breath, or ladder breath?  Or, how about doing a gratitude practice to shift our perception of the world?  Or, how about chanting?
Tina Turner, one of the great vocalists of our era, used chanting to completely rebuild her life following a very challenging early life and early career.  As you probably know, Tina Turner, considered the Queen of "rock 'n roll" became a Buddhist.  She was introduced to Nichiren Buddhism and began chanting in 1973.  During interviews, Tina said that Buddhism and chanting helped her rebuild her life and have greater clarity. 
Tina passed on from Earth on May 24, 2023 from her home in Switzerland.  God Bless Tina Turner !!!

Summer Meditations for Mystics ~ Saturday July 29 2023

Noticing good things happening in the world.  Using Conscious Breathing for reducing stress and emotional tension as well as maintaining focus during your meditation.  And, helpful for improving your perspective on Life !!!

Summer Meditations for Mystics ~ July 22 2023

We are definitely having a Warm Summer.  So, I am getting up early and heading outside with my water and iced coffee to do my meditation.  This morning I did my breath work and a walking meditation before I did this podcast.  
Fortunately, the temperature was moderate and there was a lovely breeze so I was very comfortable doing my meditation and recording my podcast.  It was a little "breezy" this morning so you may hear some wind noise on the recording. 
I have found that I do much better during the day if I get outside early in the morning.  I feel more alert and definitely have more energy throughout the day.
I can highly recommend getting outside early, especially when it gets Super Hot during the day.  In my experience, Human Beings are not designed to be inside all the time.
Have a Wonderful Week.  Be sure to look for the Beauty and Wonder in Nature.
And, Remember to Breathe,
Mary Christopher