1. Meditation:Pathway to Well Being

2. Four aspects: Physical Mental Emotional Spiritual

3. Increases energy Relieves stress Reduces fatigue Relieves insomnia Reduces blood pressure and cholesterol Reduces anxiety Balances hormones Improves self-confidence

4. Emptying or concentration of the mind Focusing Mindfulness All spiritual traditions have some connection with the practice of meditation

5. Stress Management o Decrease in cortisols o Increase in endorphins Decreases Self-Judgment Diminishes Judgments of Others Increases Self-Esteem Creates Inner Peace Changes Your Environment

6. Doubt Joy Trust Fear Kindness Belief Self-loathing Love Criticism Rage Encouragement Serenity What are some of your own mental habits?

7. Body o Alert, erect o Relaxed Breath: connects the soul to Higher Consciousness Mind o Resists stillness o Natural state is peace o Ego wants us to think

8.  Body  Breath  Mind  Non-Judgment

9. One of the keys to happiness is to stop the habit of self-judgment and self-hatred. When we stop judging ourselves we will stop judging others. Where there is no judgment, there is peace.

10. We go into meditation with a commitment That the body will remain still That the breath will be calm That the mind will be at peace, in spite of its habits THAT WE WILL NOT JUDGE OURSELVES…NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.

11. Both sides of the brain are always active. The left brain is the language and analysis side. The right brain in the side of art and feeling… of euphoria and bliss. “Close the language door, Open the love window…” ~Rumi

12. The clear sky is always there. Clouds come and cover the sky. But wind can blow them away. Clear sky remains. Clear mind, the mind at peace, is always present. Thoughts come and obscure the peace of clear mind. Mindfulness practice can blow the thoughts away, gently, with ease, and without judgment. Peace remains.

13. To still the language side of the brain so that the right brain can be heard and felt. A mind at peace, filled with joy, is our natural state.

14. Beta – Normal state; multi-tasking Alpha - Focused mind; waking up Theta – Dream state of sleep; creative; deep meditation Delta – Dreamless sleep; unified consciousness; oneness; rest and rejuvenation

15. A worldwide 40-day spiritual practice period for all people January 15 – February 23 each year since 2008 Thousands of participants

16. “What nine months does for the embryo Forty early morning Will do for your growing awareness.” ~ Jelalludin Rumi

17. Guided meditations online: Christian Contemplative Prayer Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Sufi Universal Meditation Mindfulness/Vipassana Meditation Interdenominational Meditation Children (four minutes of stillness for world peace) Mindfulness Practice for Teens Meditations in non-English languages

18. for yourself for your family for the planet “The world will never be at peace until peace lives in the heart of each and every person on the planet.” ~Pope John XXIII (1963)

19. Contact Us: www.winterfeastforthesoul.com winterfeastforthesoul@gmail.com 281-485-4905