Western culture in general does not acknowledge the presence and awareness of subtle energy. Yet when we pay attention, subtle energy and awareness are part of who we are. Just entering a certain home, sacred temple or special place in nature, we often sense a particular presence or feeling. When we see a stranger walking toward us on the street, we often have a sense of their demeanor before we are close enough to see the details of who they are. Flirting and emotional r

Spacious freedom can be yours when you learn to free your mind of thought. The further you are in your practice and development, the easier this becomes. Eventually the mind is open, wide, spacious. Through spacious awareness, you are less easily upset or thrown off balance because you see more clearly the arbitrary construction of meaning making. Here is a simple practice to begin developing this capacity for expanded awareness. Find a quiet place where you can sit quietly

Bring Your Attention to the Base of Your Spine. Let your attention rest there for a moment. Imagine breathing in and out of your tailbone or your perineum. Relax the muscles down through your legs as you rest your awareness on the base of your spine. Now imagine a hollow tube about 2 inches in diameter rising up through the middle of your body. And then imagine inhaling from the base of your spine, up through the middle of your body, through your abdomen, your diaphragm, you