7 Self-Healing Tools that are Free!

I read a few days ago on TaoistPath.com that as we approach the Winter Solstice, we are in the most Yin time of the year - the time of the most darkness, the time of cold weather. So for us in northern climates, we find ourselves inside most of the time, waiting for the return of the Sun - the Yang energy. This winter I have definitely dedicated myself to my inner work and hermitage, and that has included forcing myself to sit in meditation every day, cultivating a QiGong practice, doing Yin Yoga, being creative (that's why all these youtube videos are getting pumped out!) and eating healthy home-made food & even doing a blessed herbs colon cleanse. I really do think that this is the time of year for all of us to really go within, spend more time in our inner hibernation creative space, and give ourselves the self-love & self-nurturing that we all desire. Who else is going to love us for us if we can't commit to loving ourselves first?Given that there is so much stress, over-consumption and people freaking out about what's going on in our planet & culture - there is a lot of negative energy to combat to stay sane & healthy. We are living in energetically frazzled times, with the news & facebook feeds serving to support freaking out over everything. Coupled with that, there's financial losses that are popping up on the radar and I am seeing desperation both locally, close to home, as well as in the distance - on the news. My heart goes out to everybody that is going through it, and I pray that everybody find their inner peace and gratitude for what is, in the process.Personally, I am grateful that I live in an extremely safe community, in a safe home, living very simply & frugally, and have very little stress in my life. I have no partner / boyfriend, no children, no real job (I freelance) and thus it has gratefully given me a lot of freedom to commit to my own inner work & self-love-healing-cultivation. I know that it's difficult to commit to yourself and cultivating your tools for self-nurturing when there is so much stress, obligations and overwhelm in your life, but that is when it is even MORE CRUCIAL to have tools to move & clear stressful / negative energy in your field. And instead of actually dealing with the energy by using tools to clear the energetic field and arriving at balance, they instead numb themselves so they don't have to fully feel or deal with how overwhelmed they feel - this is called addiction. And it does not work to clear or heal underlying issues, it creates less clarity & is a tool of disintegrating the psyche rather than integrating back into wholeness.Thus it is so important that we all cultivate self-love & self-nurturing, and do our inner work of energetic re-balancing so that we may stay sane & balanced during these transformational times. So, in the name of frugality and economy, I offer you a list of 7 Self-Healing Tools that will always be free. Perhaps you can find 10 minutes in your day to commit to arriving back into stillness. It's easier than you think; you probably spend 10 minutes a day (or more) on Facebook, reading the news, watching TV or youtube videos, drinking & other distractions from yourself. But it takes commitment to love yourself and bring your attention back within yourself, especially with so much clamboring for our attention from externals.[divider]So here's my list of 7 (FREE) Self-Healing Tools: 

1) Meditation

Meditation really is the most important tool that any of us have; we can use it anywhere, under any circumstance, and it will always be free. Stillness. Dropping into silence. Allowing external stimuli to quiet. Bringing our attention into our bodies. There are different teachings on how to meditate, but I've been really inspired by the teachings of QiGong and Dantien Breathing recently - check out Deborah Davis's book Women's Qigong. It's helping me focus and notice when I'm distracted versus when I have total focus to go deep within. The essence of Dantien Breathing is to sit comfortably upright in a quiet, relaxing environment, keep your tongue attached to the roof of your mouth as you breathe. As you inhale, you let your lower abdominal belly expand, fill and relax. As you exhale, you squeeze your perineum (your kegels), and contract / pull your lower abdominal belly in. Keep your mouth closed and breathe through the nose. I usually put my hands over my lower belly and allow myself to enjoy the warmth from my hands to fill my lower belly, and focus on bringing life force / Qi into my lower belly energy center - the Dantien. I use a singing bowl album by Karma Moffett (Golden Bowls of Compassion) to help me meditate, and the luminous singing bowl vibrations perfectly compliment the work of stillness.

2) Breath

I think of Breathwork as the foundational bedrock of all meditation, self-cultivation, energy work practices. There are seemingly endless teachings, ranging from Fire Breath in Kundalini Yoga to the Vipassana breath practice. What I usually do is just focus on the sensations of the body as the breath moves in and out, rises and falls. Bring the attention into the sensations of the breath, the expansion and relaxation of the lungs, the rising and falling of the abdomen.

3) Mantra

I went to a concert with Deva Premal a few months ago, and was inspired to get into doing a mantra practice based on her album "Mantras for Precarious Times" - Click Here for Album. Over the last few months, I've been breaking out my mala beads, sitting in front of my altar (or even out in nature), and reciting mantras 108 times. My favorite is "Om Shree Mahalakshmiyei Namaha". Once you get used to sitting and chanting a mantra for 10 minutes, the repetitiveness becomes an opportunity for you to totally relax and melt, until you suddenly you have come to the final mala bead.

4) Creative Writing / Poetry

I've been writing poetry since I was a child. Writing has been a very important part of my life as long as I can remember. Journals are like time capsules of the Soul. I encourage everyone to spend time alone and let the mind explore itself in its creativity; play with words, no matter how trite or deep.. Just give yourself to the outpouring of your inner expression. My journal is an important part of life and my creative process.

5) Exercise

I'll be honest, exercise is where I struggle the most. However, it's obviously one of the most important tools we have for self-healing & transformation. I primarily do QiGong and Yin Yoga right now, and have spent time with Pilates and Yoga over the years. Right now, I've decided to focus on not straining the body, and to pay attention to strain in the body when it happens, and focus consciously on relaxing habitual patterns that cause strain. But really, exercise - it's obvious we all need to do it to feel our best and most vitalized.

6) Chanting / Singing

Chanting & Singing is for the Soul what food is for the body. To me, singing is the highest pleasure, the deepest joy, the ultimate purpose in life. It's the only thing I want to forever devote myself to, and I know that other vocalists feel the same way. Singing has always been used in every culture around the planet for practices related to spirituality, religion and mysticism. It is the universal expression of the heart and the soul. Open up and tap in to the creative energy of your soul; let your songs be a way to carry your prayers and invocations to the highest.

7) Creating Sacred Space - Altars / Shrines

Clear away funky / stagnant energy in your home, make your house a temple! But begin by creating an altar, use the things that you love and bring you inspiration; whether they are crystals, photographs of beloveds, plants, feathers, animal totems, vases filled with flowers or deities. My altar is my power station; it is the source of my daily practice. I meditate and do all my inner work in front of my Altar every day. I light a candle first thing every morning, light incense, and activate the life force every day. It is the source of creative energy from which emanates the rest of my life and work.[divider]Blessings to you all and I hope that everyone out there feels at peace, centered & relaxed, connected to to their community, and Safe. May these transformational times and winter hibernation months provide the necessary space for everyone's self-nourishment.Gratitude to All & Thank you for sharing my offerings & expressions with your friends!!!!