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I feel an astounded greatfulness that for the rest of my life I get to enjoy just the simple pleasures of being in a body, its breathing, its movements…  I get to enjoy the sounds of the rain, of the wind, of my cats breathing… because I can hear them more now.  I notice that […]

I have felt myself and have heard other humans express a sensation of not really being here on this earth, in this Life; feeling foggy or behind a veil. It is not an enjoyable sensation, especially as it includes a feeling of distance from ourselves and all other sentient and insentient creatures, including the humans […]

It’s kind of funny that over time modern humans have created retreats for something as natural as breathing. But come to think of it, even a newborn baby isn’t left to his/her own devices for its first breath. Think of your own breathing right now. How does your breath behave this moment? How does it […]

I attended a weekend IAM Breathing Retreat in July 2020 for the purpose of getting motivated to restart a daily practice after having a three week flu episode. I had been struggling to achieve a breath hold for longer than a minute. Other issues in my body were a chronic cough (20 years) and extreme […]

Okay, so you’ve stumbled across this term Mystery School and something has grabbed your attention. You’d like to understand what is a mystery school, is it worth investing time and energy into, or simply another woo-woo endeavor? Let’s keep it simple and start by outlining a few of the fundamental questions that are contemplated at […]

Each day, for 10 months, I have been practicing deep breathing (as taught on IAM Breathing Retreats at Tushita Mystery School) and having cold showers or plunging into the river. Here is what I have learnt so far in a nutshell: The practices expose a lack of wonder at existence. A lack that causes me […]

Are we addicted to trying?   Meditation is touted as a relaxation technique but for many of us, perhaps a less vocal majority, meditation isn’t a relieving hot cup of coffee or scroll through social media, it’s a chore on the to-do list to a better self.  Could it be that the typical experience of […]

Before we get to answering your questions about meditation, I’ve got one for you: Why do people have so many questions about meditation when meditating is simply sitting and observing? The simple answer is that the original purpose of meditation has largely been lost. Whilst answers may serve the mind’s thirst for knowledge and “need […]

It’s amazing what can come up and out when Life energy is given space to move. The simple act of journaling can take on all kinds of roles during a period of silent contemplation: an understanding friend willing to hear all your struggles, a blank canvas for doodles, a dreaded chore or an exciting new […]

Meditation doesn’t seem to do anything for us (unlike the quick pick-me-up of a coffee or flick through a news feed). Sitting in silence doesn’t get us ahead in any of our self-improvement projects (in fact it takes time away from the gym and our to-do lists). It doesn’t offer to make our lives easier […]