Addendum to Self-Worth and the Art of Prosperity

Last Saturday, I taught the workshop entitled "Self-Worth and the Art of Prosperity" at Golden Bridge. In the 3 hours we had together, we did self-empowering navel centered exercises and a series of 6 meditations that did everything from allowing us to spit out all unwanted thoughts and negativity to bringing us into a deeper connection with our purity and grace.

"MAKE NO EXCUSES FOR YOUR DESIRE TO BE PROSPEROUS. IT IS A DIVINE DESIRE THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN DIVINE EXPRESSION." - Yogi Bhajan

Through the practice of Kundalini Yoga and Meditation, we can all affect the way we move through life and how the energy of the cosmos moves through us. When everything is flowing and we are open to receive God's grace, WE EXPERIENCE PROSPERITY IN ALL IT'S FORMS.

In the workshop, we specifically dealt with removing feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness and the anger that covers it up and pushes it deeper and deeper into our body and soul. We also meditated on the idea that we are afraid of shining our beauty, power and magnificence for fear that it would infringe on others....thereby making us guilty of a sort of false humility. I read a quote from Marianne Williamson's book "A Return to Love" (which I include here) and I promised those interested (and you know who you are!) print-outs of two of the meditations that closed out our workshop.

MEDITATION FOR SELF AFFIRMATION - powerfully affirms our purity, grace and mastery and our worthiness to receive. We can use this affirmation as a guideline for our lives.

Sit in Easy Pose with straight spine interlace the hands in Venus Lock in front of the Heart Center with elbows down and relaxed. Close the eyes and chant in a monotone: Me Within Me is the Purity. Me Within Me is the Reality. Me Within Me is the Grace. I am the Master of the Space. Listen carefully to yourself as you chant. Continue for 11 minutes. Then, inhale deeply...hold the breath and tighten every fibre of the body in alignment with that purity. Exhale. Repeat once more. Then inhale deeply...exhale...and relax.

THREE MINUTE MEDITATION FOR PROSPERITY AND SELF-ESTEEM - A short and sweet meditation that you can do several times a day.

Sit in Easy Pose with straight spine, look down towards the center of the chin with closed eyes, OR focus on the tip of the nose with eyes one-tenth open. No mudra specified. Inhale deeply, hold the breath and mentally recite: I am bountiful. I am blissful. I am beautiful. Then exhale completely and hold the breath out and mentally recite: Excel, excel, fearless. Continue for 3 minutes.

Marianne Williamson's quote is:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others".

Here are some of Yogi Bhajan's affirmations. It is effective to use silent inner mantras like these throughout your day.

I am the light of my soul. I am beautiful. I am bountiful. I am bliss. I am. I am.

Healthy am I. Happy am I. Holy am I.

I am success with my divine.

And lastly, try these four tips for stepping out of lack and into prosperity:

1. say "NO" to self-destructive behavior. BE POSITIVE. Listen to what you say to yourself and to others...and replace the negative with positive!

2. Set a win-win tone for your life. Letting go of negative patterns allows you to see more positive things in yourself and others.

3. RELAX. Negative tension keeps the blessings and opportunities at bay.

4. STOP WORRYING - what a waste of energy...and it just creates more negativity!

"Negative thoughts are the base of your misfortune and poverty - when you allow them, the loss is yours. Positive thoughts are the base of prosperity and contentment - when you allow them, the gain is yours" - Yogi Bhajan

Sat Nam,

Raghubir Kaur