In this week’s blog, you’ll return from your journey to Know Yourself Through Seeking and Returning. These exercises, created by Mme Colette Aboulker Muscat, offer the opportunity to cross divides within ourselves and to seek liberation. We now conclude this chapter with exercises called The Heavenly Pole and The Return.
Let’s begin…
Click Below for Audio of Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning, The Heavenly Pole Imagery Exercise 15A
Click Below for Audio of Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning, The Heavenly Pole Imagery Exercise 16A
Click Below for Audio of Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning, The Heavenly Pole Imagery Exercise 17
Click Below for Audio of Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning, The Heavenly Pole Imagery Exercise 18
Click Below for Audio of Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning, The Heavenly Pole Imagery Exercise 19
Click Below for Audio of Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning, The Heavenly Pole Imagery Exercise 20
Click Below for Audio of Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning, The Heavenly Pole Imagery Exercise 21
Click Below for Audio of Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning, The Heavenly Pole Imagery Exercise 22
Click Below for Audio of Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning, The Return Imagery Exercise 23
Click Below for Audio of Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning, The Return Imagery Exercise 24
Click Below for Audio of Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning, The Return Imagery Exercise 25
When I did this series of Imagery, I struggled with trusting that the guides would keep the Rainbow Bridge steady. At first I couldn’t see who the guides were, but I was asked if I wanted to reverse the image. During the reversing process I discovered that someone who spoke encouraging words, was taking actions that were sabotaging a project I managed. The signs were there for some time. I just didn’t want to see them. I confronted the person and we worked it out temporarily. Eventually they moved on to another job, where I heard they played the same game. They found another person who needed the lesson I did: Pay attention to the signs, even when they’re difficult to accept.
Do you have a story to tell about reversing that may help someone else? Tell me about it in the Comment section, which is confidential. And if you’re willing to share it in the blog, let me know that, too. Your name won’t be used unless you give me permission when you comment.
Now, let’s continue Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning.
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Exile From India Exercise 1
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Exile From Africa Exercise 2
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Exile From Native America Exercise 3
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Exile From Japan Exercise 4
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Crossings Exercise 5
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Crossings Exercise 6
There are times when we resist initiating change in our lives. It’s not unusual to see the need for that change come up in our Imagery. Sometimes it appears as a symbol for a negative behavior pattern. Other times, the image is a clear picture of the behavior being acted out in a relationship, at our job, among family or even among strangers. The possibilities are as wide as are human behaviors.
Unpleasant feelings and body sensations may accompany this imagery and you may even want to pretend it didn’t occur. But these images are gifts for change and by reversing the image, you can clear the old and rejuvenate your life.
For example: Your aim is to make new friends but you’re shy. You have an image of yourself sitting on the sidelines at a party. You’re feeling anxious and you remain sitting alone. You may even see an image of a symbol that represents loneliness or shyness to you. By eliminating this image and replacing it with an image of a desired behavior, you become the change-agent of your life. This technique is called Reversing.
How To Reverse An Image
(1) Allow the undesirable image to complete itself. Be aware of your surroundings, emotions and any physical sensations you’re experiencing while in this image. Then breathe out one time and open your eyes.
(2) Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See this image again andusing your left hand, imaginally sweep it from thelower right corner of your “imageryscreen” up to the top left corner and off the screen until it’s no longer visible. Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
(3) Now see a new image that’s the opposite of the one you eliminated or that represents a more desirable alternative. Don’t get caught up in creating the image, but do see the image clearly. Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See your new image. Note any feelings (emotions) and physical sensations Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
Do this new Imagery for three days.
Note: The undesirable image may disappear quickly; however, if the image is stubborn know that all things are possible in Imagery and use whatever means your can to imaginally push the image up from the lower right corner and out the upper left corner of your imagery screen. If it remains after a few tries, don’t be discouraged. Try again in a while.
Today we continue with the exercises from the Encyclopedia of Mental Imagery by Colette Aboulker Muscat. This chapter, which we began last week, is called Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning.
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Exercise 10
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Exercise 11
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Exercise 12
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Exercise 13
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Exercise 14
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Exercise 15
Click Below For Audio of Knowing Ourselves Exercise 16
Today, I also posted a blog for reversing images. You may find it helpful in changing old patterns revealed in your Imagery.
Happy Imaging!
Barbarah
Imagery from The Encyclopedia of Mental Imagery is posted here with the permission of the American Institute for Mental Imagery, founded and directed by Dr. Gerald Epstein, MD.
This season’s Imagery focuses on a journey of self-realization–one that is challenging and productive.
The exercises presented here have been created by Twentieth Century Spiritual Master Colette Aboulker-Muscat and are published in The Encyclopedia of Mental Imagery. The book is co-edited by Dr. Gerald Epstein, today’s leading proponent of Mental Imagery and me I have had the privilege of studying with Dr. Epstein for fifteen years and am certified in Mental Imagery, Phenomenology and Imagination by the American Institute for Mental Imagery, founded and directed by Dr. Epstein. I am also an Interfaith Minister, ordained by The New Seminary at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City.
To help you get your best benefit from Imagery, you’ll find instructions below. For new Imagers, it will introduce you to the breathing technique required for Imagery and familiarize you with the instructions you’ll hear in the audio presentation.
Instructions for Audio Imagery
Using a recording feature, this blog aims to bring you an Imagery class such as I experienced with a group of Imagers doing the exercises as they were read by Dr. Epstein and for ten days, by Colette. The breathing for Imagery uses a different cycle than your automatic breathing. It includes an outbreath, for which you take a long, slow, gentle exhalation through your mouth, followed by a regular inhalation through your nose. The instruction simply says “breathe out three times.” There are times when the instruction will be to breathe out fewer and or more times than three. In all cases, the specified number of outbreaths are followed by a regular inhalation. There are ten seconds of silence on the tape for your breathing, followed by the Imagery exercises.
The purpose of the Imagery breathing is to relax your body while maintaining mental alertness so images can emerge from your higher mind. If you slip into a breathing pattern used in meditation, your mental alertness will slow down, moving you away from the state the supports a genuine Imagery experience. For the same reason of alertness, it’s suggested that you sit in an upright position in a chair with arm rests, your feet flat on the floor or on a foot stool or cushion, if necessary. Use the arm rests during Imagery, or if that’s not comfortable, rest your arms in your lap with your hands unfolded.
For best results, do not eat or drink within an hour or so before Imagery, if at all possible.
About the Audio Imagery Instructions
Many of the Imagery instructions focus on a single exercise. Others may contain two or more exercises. The first instruction is usually to breathe out three times, and is followed by breathe out one time for each of the exercises in the group. Unless otherwise instructed, do not open your eyes between the exercises within the group, unless instructed on the audio.
You’ll notice silences on the audio after the breathing instructions, typically ten seconds for breathe out three times and fewer seconds for fewer breaths. At the conclusion of the Imagery instruction, there are ten-twelve seconds for your Imagery to emerge, followed by “breathe out one time and open your eyes.”
Listen to the audio below before you begin. You’ll find it’s easier than it seems in words.
Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking And Returning
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF KNOWING OURSELVES THROUGH SEEKING AND RETURNING IMAGERY EXERCISE 1
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF KNOWING OURSELVES THROUGH SEEKING AND RETURNING IMAGERY EXERCISE 2
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF KNOWING OURSELVES THROUGH SEEKING AND RETURNING IMAGERY EXERCISE 3
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF KNOWING OURSELVES THROUGH SEEKING AND RETURNING IMAGERY EXERCISE 4 (Two Parts)
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF KNOWING OURSELVES THROUGH SEEKING AND RETURNING IMAGERY EXERCISE 5 (Three Parts)
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF KNOWING OURSELVES THROUGH SEEKING AND RETURNING IMAGERY EXERCISE 6
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF KNOWING OURSELVES THROUGH SEEKING AND RETURNING IMAGERY EXERCISE 7 (Five Parts)
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF KNOWING OURSELVES THROUGH SEEKING AND RETURNING IMAGERY EXERCISE 8 (Three Parts)
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF KNOWING OURSELVES THROUGH SEEKING AND RETURNING IMAGERY EXERCISE 9 (Two Parts)
Blessings, Barbarah
These Imagery exercises are posted with the permission of the American Institute of Mental Imagery.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR – SEPTEMBER 12TH STARTS A NEW SEASON OF COLETTE’S IMAGERY EXERCISES
Schools have opened. Beaches and pools are closing. And it’s a brisk 50 degrees this morning. Hope you all had a joyful summer and are ready to begin a new season with Colette’s Imagery from the Encyclopedia of Mental Imagery. Our first series is called
Knowing Ourselves Through Seeking and Returning
Give some thought during the week to what your intention is for this year by doing this Imagery exercise.
Click below for audio of 2013’s Aim For Your Imagery
Close your eyes, and breathe out three times. See yourself alone on a journey to discover who you are. Notice where you go, how it is to be there alone, and what you’d like to learn about yourself this year. Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
To enhance the experience do the exercise for three days. Each day write down what you discover, and next to your notes, draw the experience with colored pencils. This will help you define your intention for the series.
Today we continue with the chapter Wisdom of the Body, Healing By Breathing. In previewing these exercises, I came to an awakening that when I’m eager to complete a task, I neither breathe evenly, nor yawn when I’m tired. Focusing on breathing was calming, reducing the anxiety to complete a project. How are the exercises for you?
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF WISDOM OF THE BODY, HEALING BY BREATHING EX 9
Today we begin a new chapter in The Encyclopedia of Mental Imagery called Wisdom of the Body. To lead off this chapter we have chosen a line from Colette’s poem Essence ofReality, which reads:
“Now my left and right, top and bottom, feel connected.”-Colette Aboulker Muscat
May you feel this centering as you move through this three-part chapter. We begin with a section called Healing By Breathing.
CLICK BELOW FOR AUDIO OF WISDOM OF THE BODY, HEALING BY BREATHING EX 1
“…Choose a color for every day. Create in joy and purity and stay happy.” from Colette’s poem “The Light of Lights”
This week’s chapter, Search for Identity, literally sheds light on many facets of our being, giving us opportunities to change those things ready for change. We know this, because it is through our readiness that the images emerge.
Take every opportunity to embrace these changes. If you feel there are still qualities calling for change after you complete your first session with these exercises, it’s appropriate to repeat them for three days–or even for three weeks (21 days). During that time, write down the results of your Imagery and draw them in color, including what you see, feel, sense and know from your imaginal experience. ( More than 21 days is not recommended because the Imagery loses its spontaneity and effectiveness.)
By making changes in our Imagery, we make changes in our lives. The quote from Colette’s poem The Light of Lights speaks to this. In burning away with the laser what is no longer beneficial and replacing it with a positive emotional color, we energize our intention to change our lives for the better.
Give yourself an extra boost by following the suggestion in Colette’s quote above. Close your eyes, breathe out three times and see a color surrounding you, choosing that color “in joy and purity and staying happy.” Do this as you begin each day.
CLICK BELOW FOR THE AUDIO OF SEARCH FOR IDENTITY IMAGERY, TOOMUCH, TOO LITTLE, EXERCISE 1
journey to Know Yourself Through Seeking and Returning. These exercises, created by Mme Colette Aboulker Muscat, offer the opportunity to cross divides within ourselves and to seek liberation. We now conclude this chapter with exercises called The Heavenly Pole and The Return.
Barbara Fedoroff
Tools for Spiritual Living: Barbarah's Blog 