Awakened Conscious Conversations
Healing the world one episode at a time by offering realistic solutions to the journey of life. Both self hosted ( By The Gentle Yoga Warrior) and guest episodes.
Many of our guests have overcome significant obstacles and transformed their lives.
Rich with deep talks and solo endeavours, often offering tips on living a more conscious life.
Many episodes include a bonus optional meditation!
Awakened Conscious Conversations
India And Change: Being Present Through Life's Challenges And Learning The Deeper Meaning
Embark on a spiritually enlightening journey with me, the Gentle Yoga Warrior, as I recount my transformative pilgrimage through the vibrant landscapes of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.Ever faced a day where everything seems to go wrong? Listen as I share a personal narrative brimming with unexpected discomfort and introspection, from an unpleasant town to missing a loved one’s funeral. Through this, I learned the importance of embracing the broader journey beyond immediate frustrations. In the midst of adversities, I discovered profound personal growth that can inspire anyone facing similar trials.
Explore practical solutions for navigating the pressures of modern life, especially the financial strain of gift-giving during holidays and birthdays. I suggest alternative approaches that nurture deeper connections with loved ones, while sharing personal experiences on the power of spiritual practices, like the mantra dedicated to Lord Ganesh. This mantra, known for removing obstacles and bringing prosperity, profoundly impacted my life, and guided meditation tips for beginners aim to cultivate mindfulness, helping you navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity and ease.
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Hello everybody. This is Awaken Conscious Conversations podcast. I'm your host, the Gentle Yoga Warrior, and this podcast is about life, life and learning and various self-hosted podcasts which I've been doing for a while due to circumstances, but I have got some guests lined up, I've booked them in and they're going to be on the show very soon, but not this week. This week is a self-hosted show. I am fresh back from Tamil Nadu and Kerala and I had a bit of an adventure. I don't know if you heard last week's podcast episode, but I went into a bit detail about that but it was all the emotion. So there was happiness, sadness, joy, there was reluctance, there was flow, there was life and there was death, unfortunately, in the, in the, in the seeing like dead animals on the road, and also kind of death in the sense of the way of being. And there was very much, a lot of devotion, um, having the grace to go into the temples and respect the traditions and have the blessings from the various priests and and looking at the deities and getting the energy from that which, before I embarked on this particular pilgrimage, I didn't have so much understanding about. Like I've led a fairly yogic lifestyle for at least 20 years and I have been to India before a long while ago. But and devotion has always been something that's very close to me. I had a period of time when I was very devoted to Krishna and I kind of got it in that way. But this is like next level, going in and seeing all the things that were kind of difficult for me. It's kind of standing out in a country that is it can be a bit of a culture shock if you're not used to it a very beautiful and warm country, but also a very real country and kind of everything is appears as it is, which is which is one of the beauties of the place. And I've come back and it's quite cold here and the cold weather I kind of like. I like jumpers and warmth and things like that. But it's also been, it's been a bit of a rough transition, especially now because the emergence of spring is trying to make its first um signs here against the backlog of winter.
Speaker 1:And again, I always talk about the weather on every podcast. But it has a big significance and and and to what we're doing and where we're at and stuff. So it is of great importance, hence why I always mention it. Um, so, believe it or not, today is a full moon and it's a full moon in Virgo, and Virgo is all about practicalities and really detail-orientated. One of my favorites, favorite signs um, my child, if they had made it for you to birth, would have been a Virgo, and some of my best friends are Virgos and I I think Virgos are such a lovely, lovely sign. So it's a full moon in Virgos, it's a full moon and getting down to practical things and and stuff like that and something again, that is a good thing to kind of um take into consideration as we navigate through these full moons.
Speaker 1:And it's not always easy. And I'm trying to kind of dissect my mind as I came not literally, like philosophically, since I came back from the trip, because whenever I've done these big life-changing trips, one thing is for sure life has never stayed the same Because I've changed. So life changes and it's like the stuff that we build our foundations on from our past and how it kind of erupts. You know, we can have these triggers that set us off and erupt us and unsettle us, and that is part of being human in many aspects, definitely. But then there's kind of like these really frustrating stuck things and there's all these theories of like why certain people thrive and other people don't, and certain families thrive and other families find it hard, and who knows why that is. But I say there's some things we can't control. We can control our reactions to things and how, how life is, and that's the only thing, the grace, really, that we have.
Speaker 1:And everyone I'm speaking to at the moment is struggling. They're struggling because life in so many ways is so expensive. In the UK, since the year 2020, the cost of living has gone up by 20 percent, so there's been a 20 percent increase in the cost of living and it's been. The thing is companies are struggling so much that they have not been able to give their staff unless you're really lucky a 20 percent rise, and it's made it very, very hard. Everyone is kind of living like like paycheck to paycheck and people, even people in really successful careers, are having or unsuccessful careers. It just seems from my experience and the conversations I've had with people, it seems to be like everyone, regardless of your financial um status and the taxation laws, and there seems to be just like more and more laws coming all the time that make it even harder for people.
Speaker 1:So it's very easy to get disheartened when we're all working so hard and yet we feel, on a material level, perhaps we may not have as much to show as what we wish to show. Um, and that can be very triggering indeed because, like, like, who wants to work the whole life and kind of be a slave to this system, that doesn't really support us and then perhaps, when we get old, doesn't support us either, by either taking the money, sticking us in homes, etc. So it's very easy. The reason I'm saying these worst case scenarios is it's very easy to see everything from that really negative lens. And I'm not saying that these things aren't true. What my job is to kind of help reframe our lens, and it's not to say that we should put it of all these things that are so very wrong in this world. Equally, there's only so much that we can change. We can try and change things and perhaps one day things will change, but the only thing that we can change we can try and change things and perhaps one day things will change, but the only thing that we can truly train to right this moment is our attitude and mindset towards things. And I'm going to sidestep back to India, because there is a link between these two.
Speaker 1:So when I was doing this nighttime pilgrimage and my feet were so cut because I like to have my feet covered, like I've tried walking barefoot I've always ended up with either splinters, glass and ticks, other foreign bodies in my feet. So generally I tend to keep my shoes on the lesser notes of surface that I know what's there. But even then when I've managed to get stuff in my feet, but that's just something going on with me and my feet which I kind of need to deal with. But anyway, we're doing this night time pilgrimage and my feet were so badly cut I was covered in mosquito bites. I had forgot to take malaria stuff with me. I think I touched on this on last week's episode, but I really felt like each step felt quite difficult and then, um, as the journey of of the time away went on, I picked up some food poisoning as well.
Speaker 1:Um, and then we're eating in really remote places and when I'm kind of doing a bit of a change, I kind of feel like I need kind of like comfort food which sounds really kind of delicate, but it is the truth. So I was kind of skipping a few meals, which probably wasn't the best, the best thing to do, but I was just feeling so ill. And then you know, when you, when you cook and eating other people's, you don't know what's necessarily gone into it and, um, so what is me? I was feeling so kind of like fed up at one point because, like the clothes it was hard to get to the laundry, so I was having to like try and wash things and it was. I just found it really kind of difficult. And there was one point where I just kind of burst into tears.
Speaker 1:It was the day when there was a funeral of a loved one which I couldn't be there because I was away. The town we were staying in was very unfriendly. All other towns were lovely, but this town just felt so difficult. And then, like I was walking along and I was getting way more attention than what I wanted to get, and then, like I was trying to cross the road, so I was just as you he hear my voice, I'm just describing things and I'm just going like on this negative spiral. I was like this is wrong, this is wrong, this is wrong.
Speaker 1:Trying to see it from this lens of perfection of how I wanted to be, specifically this day when it was the funeral of a loved one, I had this idea of going out into nature and having time to kind of like, be and reflect, and instead we were in this really hectic, hectic, hectic, hectic city where it just felt like I was going to die every time I was crossing the road and, um, there was a lot more rubbish on the sides of the street in this particular city than other ones. My I was going through this really down spiral because I really wanted to be with my family, and then we're trying to cross the road and then there's like this giant pig fighting with this big cow over some food, and they were like fighting over it and I was just seeing everything was half empty. And then we went to the hotel and the hotel all the other hotels had been clean, even if they were basic, they had been clean, but this one was not clean, like the. The room was fine, but the hallways were full of like dirt and just like left food trays that were there for hours. You went up to the? Um, to the restaurant, and the place where you washed the hands was filthy. So I made this conscious decision I didn't want to eat anything in this particular place because my stomach was upset. So again, I'm building this backstory. You can see how negative I'm speaking. Of course it was really hot, but what?
Speaker 1:The moment that I kind of managed to switch that day when I spoke to my family and it was very moving. My partner went to this particular pilgrimage outside and he came back with the guide and then we went to this exhibition before some food and then this woman pushed me on the stairs. I don't know if she pushed me on purpose, it might have been accident but then it just made me feel really unsafe and I was just seeing again. Everything was half empty. But then I went to this restaurant and I felt so okay, it didn't bother me that everyone was staring and the owner of the restaurant or the manager was so nice that I really enjoyed my food.
Speaker 1:But I've kind of gone on a bit sorry about that, but I was just trying to really build up how I was feeling this particular day and I was just seeing the world as this difficult place. And, yes, that particular day was one of the most difficult days on the trip and my least favorite where, but it had a lot of learning in it because I was getting so fixed of how I wanted this day to be, as I remembered this relative and I had this vision of like kind of just wandering through countryside etc. And it just wasn't the reality. I was stuck in this hotel that I really didn't like and in the town where it didn't feel particularly warm to me and it was. It was kind of really tough. So I couldn't just let that dictate the rest of the holiday.
Speaker 1:But when, as we left the next day, I just suddenly felt a bit lighter because I realized the lesson in this is that because this place was a completely new place, this town like I, you get a general feel of all the different towns and all the towns are very different. I had it fixed in my mind that it had to be a set way. But the good thing was is because it was because I had to stay present all the time, even though I found that day, those well, it was two days actually in that town very uncomfortable, I was able. I was able to fully be in the moment and, in the end, able to process what was happening and also on the fact that I was upset. It wasn't where I wanted to be, I wasn't enjoying it and um, but that image of seeing the pig fight with the cow over the food, it kind of really is quite a daunting but powerful symbology.
Speaker 1:Um, because the reality was that the pig was being reared by someone for food, obviously, and the cow for milk or maybe meat as well um, who knows and but they were fighting over these scraps of food. But, in the great scheme of things, um, they both probably had a very kind of short and sad life ahead of them in many ways, and they were too bothered in the moment of arguing over this food to kind of see the big picture and instead they could just wander off. This is a bit romanticized, but bear with me. They could wander off, maybe into the countryside and and kind of live a bit more of a freer life possibly. And and I just thought that is like my ego in many ways it's like it's kind of got fixed and set on how it worked. I wanted to be, as I remembered, this loved one in this town, which, the thing is right.
Speaker 1:Wherever you go in the world, there's going to be some places that aren't compatible with your energy. Some places are A lot of the time. In India, the, the energies were really beautiful, even in places that were challenging. Right. Someone could come to some town in the UK and think it was kind of miserable if it's not the right energy or perhaps they went to the wrong area and it wasn't the right thing. So it's kind of no judgment on Tamil Nadu. It was a very beautiful state and a lot of it's to do with how my mind was feeling and thinking on this particular day.
Speaker 1:So has there been instances and cases in your life where you've had like one of these really bad days and everything just seems to be stacked against you? Have you been able to allow the emotions you're feeling but then step back. What the lesson is? Even if it was an uncomfortable day and free, how can you use that lesson in the future? So my lesson learned was kind of to not get fixed and not judge and and also, if something isn't to my liking, then just try and find the things that like that one does like.
Speaker 1:So I enjoyed speaking to my family that day. The smile from the manager, who made me and my partner feel very welcome and in the restaurant, made a massive difference. It was so nice because they would talk to me like I was a human being in a really kind way and that sounds. Not that people hadn't been talked to be a human being, but generally people hadn't really spoken too much in this town but then understandably so hadn't really spoken much to them. Um, it felt a bit awkward. And I felt awkward and that's fine. You know, some days you're going to feel awkward and stuff like that.
Speaker 1:So there's, there's all kinds of different ways in which life can bring us lessons, and quite often the trend in self-help is to be like oh yes, everything has to be positive, everything has to be magical, I have to be great, good all the time. I have to feel optimistic all the time. All this isn't wrong with me, but I think that's denying one's feelings. I was not feeling optimistic that day, but did I find an optimistic lesson from it? Yes, of course. Am I likely to go there again? Probably not, but never say never was. Was this a lesson in life? For me, for sure, and it was to find the sanctuary within. We can't always control external forces. So, getting back to the money side and how much the cost of living has gone up by 20% and how difficult it is for people that my thing is things never last forever and things I'm optimistic things are going to change. But in the meantime we can't all sit around being miserable until that happens and instead we can boldly go through life and find ways to find joy and fulfillment.
Speaker 1:And sometimes I think the world is quite arranged to bring us short-term fixes because we think that will help us. The most obvious one is and again I get takeaway decaf sometimes is the coffee industry. Sometimes we think, oh, yes, yes, I really want to have a cup of coffee. That's going to save my day and perhaps that really does help you. If you have a cup of coffee and it lifts your day, fine. But if you're having a cup of coffee every day and you're trying to save up to do something that's better for you in your life, is that really going to help you in the long run? Could you have coffee once a week out and the rest of time have your your own hot drinks at home? And it's just by doing these micro habits that we can learn to change things. I totally get it.
Speaker 1:Some days, you know, you just feel so disheartened and, like you, just think, oh, I just want this and want that, but is there a cheaper alternative that you can find, and I'm really open to hear from you, dear listener, what are your solutions when you're trying to save up for things or kind of economize on things, and could you bring a more entrepreneurial spirit into your life? Could you set up a small business on the side, but something that doesn't have a lot of output like upfront costs? Is there some sort of skill set that you can build on? And again, it can be a bit of a minefield out there these days. I know the wellness industry feels so saturated and hard these days to kind of. The main reason is, again, people don't have very much disposable income at the moment. But is there something that you can offer to people that doesn't cost the earth? Maybe you could do a community thing. That way people pay a small amount and then collectively, then you're helping them and they are helping you, and it's a two-way. It's a two-way situation. And how much do you value yourself? And the value yourself is by saying no to things.
Speaker 1:There's quite often a lot of pressure, like from families. You know, when you've got so many birthdays, so many Christmases to get gifts from and, um, people, people we love always having children, and then the cost seems to kind of go up, of finding this, these things which can make a massive difference, because, like some people say, oh it's only like 20 pounds, but 20 pounds can make a big difference to yourself. So is there ways that you can find to maybe make some gifts for these people? Or, if the kids are getting older, just limit, limit the gift to either just getting for Christmas or for birthdays. And you know, people might be offended to start with, but I do feel like this massive gift giving thing is a thing just to help the people at the top right big industry to kind of make a profit out of.
Speaker 1:It's like valentine's day, like the cost of the roses, the cards, the dinner, and then for people may who may have lost their partner through death or through divorce or through separation, or may have chosen to be on their own, but then feel kind of inadequate. Or, and then there's always that thing in the office where one girl gets flowers, or one boy, or they or whoever gets flowers. Um, there's always that thing in the office where someone gets flowers and then everyone else may think, oh, why didn't I get flowers in the office? And again, do you really need those flowers like it, or, by all means, if you get them and you love them. I'm not like a screw driver thinking, oh no, don't send flowers or don't receive flowers. What I'm saying is the things that are really, really important. If it was, if it's your end of your days now, would it be how many bunches of flowers I've got, or would it be, rather, how much of a deeper connection was I able to make in a realistically loving and kind and real way with my loved ones, and I feel that that would be of much more importance.
Speaker 1:Another thing that can really help one navigate through this difficult terrain at the moment is routines, and there's all different routines from different cultures and different ways of being. When I've been through times of great difficulty, I've found like a mantra is something that has really helped me, and I can't really verbalize how, but it's kind of just by doing that same thing every day and, especially for those of you who struggle with kind of a silent meditation, by doing a mantra instead. It kind of helps to build that foundation of kind of distracting the mind, or rather feeling the energy and the devotion of that particular mantra and as you sound that mantra and you're in that mantra and you be with that mantra. Some of these mantras have the power to change our world and I know that because there was a time, many years ago, that I was going through such a difficult time. It's very personal to me so I don't need to share the details, but I was having like a really rough six months and then I did this beautiful mantra and it's quite a complex mantra. It was lines and lines long um, and I learned it and I did it every single day and it did change my world and just having the devotion and the trust in that mantra can can move mountains. So maybe mantra is not the thing for you, maybe it's a prayer. By repeating that prayer every single day, but in a way that you feel devoted, loving and true to that, that is going to have a massive, massive impact upon your world. So I'm going to share with you right now a mantra that's going to help.
Speaker 1:One of the first deities that I ever connected with was um lord ganesh. Um he if, for those of you don't know and if you already know, you don't have to listen but he's he's the god with the elephant head and helps us get through our obstacles. It's associated with wealth, prosperity and helps us to remove our obstacles, and it also brings a lot of luck. And I have this beautiful painting of Ganesh, which I bought many decades ago from India, and I always feel it brings me kind of a sense of peace, joy and prosperity. So for today's meditation we're going to chant this together.
Speaker 1:Top tips for the meditation is either sit nice and cross-legged on the floor with a nice, straight back always nice to sit on a block or a cushion or that's not available for you you sit in a chair with the back nice and straight. The important thing is you're not slouching and if you're doing something that requires a little concentration, all you need to do is just pause this and you can reconvene the meditation at a time that is good for you. If you're doing the meditation, let's begin. So take a nice, calm, deep breath as you inhale, a nice, calm, deep breath as you exhale. Om Gam Ganapati Namaha, om Gam Ganapati Namaha, om Gam Ganapati Namaha, om Gam Ganapati Namaha, om Gam Ganapati Namaha, om Gam Ganapati Namaha, om Gam Ganapati Namaha, om Gam Ganapati Namaha, om Gam Ganapati Namaha, om Gam Ganapati Namaha.
Speaker 1:So, slowly, take a nice, calm, deep inhalation, a nice, calm, deep exhalation, and repeat that mantra as often as you would like 108 times is always ideal. If you can slip it in, you can do it. You can do it in your head if you're not like traveling and you obviously don't want to say it out loud, but as much as possible, and hopefully that will help you navigate through this difficult terrain. Lovely to hear from you, remember. I can do online energy healing sessions which may help kick start your meditation practice, so do reach out to us if you're interested in that.
