Archive for October, 2008

The Power of Solar Gazing

Published
by
Joe
on October 26, 2008
in awareness
. 0 Comments

Recently I have been made aware of a practiced known as solar gazing, sun gazing, or solar healing. It involves staring at the sun during sunrise and sunset to gain sustainable nourishment from the rays to replace or complement food intake (eating solid food) and as a facilitator of spiritual development. Taken as is, this notion seems far-fetched and physically harmful. However, while researching this topic I learned there is more to sungazing than meets the eye. In fact, I have been apparently solarhealing for five years now. Let me explain…

After gaining a cursory knowledge of solargazing, I learned it is not as far-fetched to me as it originally seemed. When I was a young boy at age 13 I found an old, small, and red Raja Yoga in my mothers bookshelf. It was printed in 1954 I believe. Inside the book, the Yogis instructed the student to meditate twice daily at sunrise and sunset for up to an hour. I engaged in this practice for two weeks. Towards the end of the two week mark I found playing with my neighborhood friends during the evening and sleeping in an extra hour more in the morning more enjoyable than sitting alone outside, cross-legged in inclement, New York weather - especially during puberty. So I gave it up.

Then I moved to Las Vegas five years ago. Here in the desert the sunsets and sunrises are simply breathtaking. And that - what I feel inside - is the power of solargazing.

At least once per week I have found myself outside in the desert away from the housing developments. Situated near the mountains that surround Las Vegas I sit, lay or stand watching the Sun drop behind the mountains on the other side of the Vegas Valley. Sometimes, I drive out to the next valley - the Eldorado Valley that is uninhabited desert wilderness and sit on the roof of my truck watching the colors of the world change from white to yellow, pink, orange, red, lavender, purple and midnight blue. It’s quite extra an ordinary event, romantic and awe-inspiring as well. Sunsets here will solely be the greatest thing outside of human relationships that I’ll miss when I move away.

Over the last five years I have wondered to myself why it is that sunsets and sunrises move me so. I attributed that it is caused by the color changes in the sky and surrounding terrain. Just as a color change in the face and cheeks emotionally charge and move a viewer, so to do color shifts in the sky caused from the sun setting or rising emotionally charge me. While that cause is speculation and unknown, the effect which is the feeling inside me is real. For myself watching the sunset is moving, warming, calming, and empowering. Move over, I feel a greater connectedness to the land and millions of people I overlook from the edge of the vast Vegas Valley. I am left with a feeling of serenity and oneness with my environment. Viewing the sun set is single the most empowering experience I have partaken in the last ten years or so. That is the power of solar gazing.

Recently I found preforming sit ups and stretching while watching the sunset is even more internally charging, uplifting and empowering. I really do not know why, but there is something about physical exercise and body movement that for me facilitates the already powerful benefits of solargazing.

People who practice solar gazing do so during the safe hours of sunset and sunrise. They stare at the sun during these times due to the limited amount of solar radiation, such as UV light that is received through the sky from the sun. They experience various spiritual and physical benefits as a result of sungazing. Some of the experiences sungazers have reported are feelings of well-being or spiritual enlightenment, a connection with nature and a sense that sungazing is the beneficial to their physical, mental and spiritual health.

Interestingly, I experienced the same - alone - without any prior knowledge of sungazing and solar healing.

Lastly, authorities on Sungazing reported that one can ultimately transcend the need for food through sungazing. That suggested one “feeds” off solar radiation in the way a plant “feeds” off the sun. However, I am willing to bet that the reduced food intake is caused by mental, perceptual and emotional changes (aka spiritual enlightenment) by witnessing the beauty and power of the sun setting and rising. Many people have found themselves healthier by reducing caloric food intake. Perhaps solar gazing and healing is one way to develop into a more conscious, healthier and aware human being.

Note: Studies have shown that sunshine reduces the risk of breast and colon cancer as well as develping myopia, also known as farsightedness.

Musing on Moving

Published
by
Joe
on October 21, 2008
in blog
. 0 Comments

Relocating back to the land of my birth is a deeply moving proposition. Is this act a step backwards akin to falling down ? Or is this path forward merely a circle which my soul walks? As I consider my parents thoughts that going back to Buffalo as a sign of weakness or failure, I am reminded of a quote Kelly told me fifteen years ago that goes something like this: “we all go back to our family eventually.”

At the time that line sounded preposterous to me. I couldn’t fathom moving back into my families home or neighborhood.  All I could think about is moving away, exploring new lands and people. Walking the same sidewalk and streets used as a child most certainly was not growth as I understood it. Where would I learn tales of foreign lands and strange people? Certainly not by crafting them in the backyard of my upbringing.

Moving back I will face my past. I will see the face of the mother who bore me many moons ago, now aged and wrinkled. I have seen her once in five or six years. Before that only a handful of times since I moved out. I will see my older sister, too. Her teenage daughter I am sure will have no interest in me, typical of the age. This older sister has a son aged two whom I have yet to meet. My youngest sister has moved to Buffalo to obtain a graduate degree at University at Buffalo. Although her and I were never close due to an eight year age difference, she is an awesome girl whom I have barely interacted with after she turned ten. So I am looking forward to hanging out with her at least once to see how it goes. I am not expecting much in the way of hugging and excitement, but if that happens that will be great.

I have one other sister close to my age who lives in Rochester. Our relationship has proven to be rather complicated. Perhaps another day I will speak of her.

Then there will be my last remaining grandparent - Adel - living in Flushing, Queens near Brooklyn. After her husband Leo dies in a September or August she is living alone as the last standing member of her generation in our family. Although her son and daughter live nearby and visit often, possibly daily, I wouldn’t expect her to live for many more years statistically speaking. Once a life partner dies the other will soon follow. Once she is gone a huge amount of historical information will be lost. Therefore, I wish to record as much of her voice as possible. When my children want to know what she was like I can let them hear themselves.

*

Many years ago, perhaps seven or eight years ago I was at my mothers fathers house in West Seneca, NY along with several out of state family members. A cousin excused himself from a conversation we were having to go talk to our grandfather who was sitting in another room watching TV alone if I recall. I asked my cousin why he needs to leave me to talk with John. He replied that our grandfather won’t be around much longer and he wants to hear his stories before they are gone for good. That shocked me because at the time my grandfathers stories were largely irrelevant to me and of no importance. Sitting down with him explicitly to hear his stories was not something I had ever considered. Now older, there are some days I wish I can redo. Oh, how growing up changes perspective.

I must get to my grandmother in New York City. Once she is gone I can’t get her back again.

*

I am not really sure if i want to get reacquainted in person with anyone I previously knew anyways. I mean, we are all different now. We are not the same people. We have all changed. What was once a friendship may now be nothing more than a shallow reminder of days past. I am really nervous about doing this, about moving back to Buffalo. With some of these people, errr friends… I don’t know what to expect if I run into them. Should I face these people I once knew and accept a new reality? Or should I say no to those whom wish to meet so that I may preserve what was once childhood bliss? There will be plenty of new people to meet, anyways. Why revisit old fields, homes and shops when life is about moving forward, growing and learning? Perhaps, if it happens, coming face to face with a past world will reinforce my visions of my future. Or perhaps these faces will teach me more about myself than I ever knew possible. It is my past that my future grows from after all.

A Signal Fire, 1

Published
by
Joe
on October 12, 2008
in blog
. 0 Comments

Selected Passage 1 From Demian by Herman Hesse

Love must not entreat,”she added, “or demand. Love must have the strength to become certain within itself. Then it ceases merely to be attracted and begins to attract. Sinclair, your love is attracted to me. Once it begins to attract me, I will come. I will not make a gift of myself, I must be won.”

13 years ago…

The book arrived in the mail today. As I walked up the stairs to my room on the third floor I opened the package I waited nearly a week for. The curiosity was great. I couldn’t wait to know how I will “understand” after reading this material as she so enthusiastically put it. I was curious to how this book will “explain it” and that I’ll “see” after reading this novel. It will all make sense she told me. My visions, my phone call, my awkward first steps on destiny’s road.. our paths crossed… she said it will all become clear in this book. What could a novel written forty years past (at that time) have any relevance to what was happening to us this past month? Indeed, these events are unique and surely not ordinary, but they are written in a book that has become the focal of our connection? Whatever. I do keep an open mind and I will take the pleasure to read this book, but I hold no expectations for prophetic visions or otherwise. Luckily, up here in this small college town I have nothing but time. Heck, I’ll finish the book in two days.

All that was inside the unassuming package was a small paper back. The used, yellowed pages emanated a faint musty order typical of a used book store. As I leafed through it I saw several passages highlighted in yellow marker. Noting that these are obviously important sections of the book I waited till I sat in my chair upstairs to read the first one. It appeared nearly half-way through the book I believe. Curious, I wrote that section on loose leaf to save it for another day when the meaning may come clear because presently all it seemed was just a random passage highlighted from a novel.

The meaning came clear two months later. While deep in sleep dreaming of her I awoke from a knock on my door. I was not controlling my thoughts and they manifested right outside my door. I set a signal fire in my heart shining towards our sky. In the darkness of each night, in the depths of each dream and with the passing of each day my signal fire flared more. I understand now I must be careful of what I wish. My beacon was seen by another pair of eyes. The pair I wished for.

There she stood outside my door. With long blond hair flowing and her smile inviting, her eyes contained a flame I recognized. In her warm breath she sweetly said “I’ve come to take you back home.” I looked around. The 11am late morning sun shown brightly on the black asphalt street behind. The wind rustled leaves of the tall trees on either side of us. Squinting, I led her inside. There is much we need to talk about.

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