Category Archives: Darkness

“Young Women Striving To Keep Their Lives And Thoughts Present” At The Recovery House

Posted on January 16, 2013 | Leave a comment

By Jennifer Miller

Monday morning with “the girls” at the recovery home is a time where I arrive with a sense of total love, acceptance and peace. To stand in judgment is to bring negative energy, which these young, recovering addicts do not need more of. I stay present within myself, and strive to be an instrument of healing.

At the end of this week’s session, one of the doors suddenly opened and parole officers came storming in. It was clearly their intent to demonstrate an aggressive show of authority. I tried to remain centered to reassure the girls, but the look of fear in their faces shook me to my core. Young children watched as the women, and their mothers, were searched for drugs. All were clean but the negative effects would be felt long after the officers left. These women are constantly being haunted by their past, which prevents them from stabilizing in the present moment. As long as they can keep their thoughts present, they can change their thinking and not act on “a lower level”.

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“By aligning yourself with thoughts of infinite love for yourself and others, you gain dominion over the lower thought forms of the world.” From “The Law of Divine Compensation: On Work, Money, and Miracles” by Marianne Williamson

I left them with a lesson of love, where if we can unite and live as one, the world will be a great place where separation no longer exists.

Namaste

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Posted in Addiction, Asanas, Awareness, Darkness, Heart-Based Healing, Hope, Life, Recovery, Spirituality, Wisdom, Women, Yoga

Tagged Addicts, In The Moment, Jennifer Miller, Present, Recovery, Recovery House, Young Women

Staying In Love, Not Fear…What Is Happening To Our Young Men?

Posted on December 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

By Jennifer Miller

Staying in love, not fear.

Heart sinking.

Innocent children.

Brave, courageous adults.

How could this be?

Tears won’t stop, but

I must pick myself up.

Changing energy by

Sending love, strength, and healing.

What is happening to our young men?

Prayers, prayers, prayers.

Namaste, Jennifer

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Posted in Darkness, Forgiveness, Hope, Meditation, Men, Prayers, Reflections, Self, Soul, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Women

Tagged Energy, Jennifer Miller, Men, Prayers, Tragedy, Young Men

Sadness And Reflection On The Ravages Of Addiction At The Recovery House

Posted on November 30, 2012 | Leave a comment

By Jennifer Miller

I walked in and immediately noticed that there were several girls missing at the Recovery Home. When I was told that they had used and left the program, a wave of sadness and reality washed over me. One of them had been in the last trimester of her pregnancy, and was on bed rest due to early labor. She loved the meditation portion of our sessions and would lay on a couch and hold one of the newborn children. Everything about her convinced me she would be a nurturing mother.

Rational minds will never understand the impossible draw of the disease of addiction. This woman was excited about the future and the birth of her child while in recovery. I never saw signs that she would use. With some of the girls, I felt an increase in negative energy and knew that they were losing their battle to stay clean. Now she was on the street.

It is so difficult to remain detached and unemotionally involved. These girls have opened up their hearts and their world to me.

One of the new girls remarked that the last time she was in rehab, the yoga teacher didn’t allow talking. But healing can only come about by opening up. Meditation is the time to be silent.

yogagoddesslaguna@yahoo.com

From the first day of teaching and mentoring these young women, I came in with an open mind and heart. They felt accepted and were not judged by me. It is my Dharma to support these women and their families through these devastating times of addiction. I have been there and felt how alone you can feel as my ex-husband and two sons battled addictions.

If you need support through a time of transition and struggle, know that I can be on your team. You are not alone.

Namaste, Jennifer Miller

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Posted in Addiction, Darkness, Detachment, Knowledge, Life, Recovery, Reflections, Women, Yoga

Tagged Addictions, Addicts, Drug Addiction, Jennifer Miller, Pregnant Women, Recovery, Recovery House, Women

Feeling The Deep Sorrows Of Being Human Allows Us To Experience The True Joy Of Healing

Posted on October 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

By Jennifer Miller

Should we strive to be TAO (Transparent, Authentic and Open) at all times? I have always been open and honest with who I am as it has been an important part of my journey.

But are there times when we should refrain from opening our souls to others?

I have been reflecting on this and feel that so much of happiness in life is dependent on relationships that nourish our body and soul. We must seek out positive energy to maintain our life force and vitality. This is why we must spend as much time as possible with members our tribe, people who support us emotionally and give us love and comfort. The “emotional vampires” , selfish and self-absorbed people who can drain our happiness and vitality, must be avoided.

But there are events and situations, when we are a part of a group that is either unknown or possibly hostile to us, that we should make an exception. It was at one such event that I found myself this weekend. I was invited to attend a Bridal Shower for a friend that I have exercised with for many years, who was getting married for the first time. One of the women in the room mentioned to the group that I had gone through one of the worst divorces she had ever seen.

I naturally shared with the ladies many intimate details of the my married life and how traumatic my separation and divorce were. I have thoroughly processed my anger and grief and feel true forgiveness now. In keeping with TAO, I opened up hoping that my story might inspire and/or give hope to someone in the room.

But at the end of the event, my body was very stressed and I knew that my openness had taken a huge toll on me both emotionally and spiritually. The fact that many of these women might use what I had said as a source of gossip and not as a source of enlightenment represented the risk I took by being authentic.

This represents an inner struggle I have within me. Whether to live by TAO at all times or be guarded when meeting with others that I do not have either an immediate or established connection. When we live our lives in fear of the unfamiliar or unknown, we risk shutting down emotionally and spiritually.

I choose to remain dedicated to TAO, realizing that there are risks to being authentic and true to myself and journey, but the rewards are so much greater.

Contact Jennifer Miller at yogagoddesslaguna@yahoo.com

I have been through the dark night of the soul and have come back into the light of life. It is only through feeling the deep sorrows of being human that we can experience the true joy of healing, which leads to self-realization and ultimately inner peace.

If I could help just one woman in that room to better deal with the pain and suffering that can affect any one of us in life, then the stress of being truly authentic and open would have been worth it.

Namaste, Jennifer Miller

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Posted in Balance, Darkness, Heart-Based Healing, Life, Light, Pain, Soul, Spirituality, Suffering, Wisdom, Women