MARK NEPO Surviving Storms, Finding the Strength to Meet Adversity,
An Interview by Sandra Sedgbeer
– @reallygreatsite
September 2022
Mark Nepo is a poet and a philosopher who has taught poetry and spirituality for over 40 years. A New York Times bestselling author, his numerous award-winning books, including the ""Book of Awakening," ""More Together Than Alone,"" and ""Drinking From the River of Light," have been translated into over 20 languages. He was several times a guest on Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul Sunday program and the recipient of a lifetime achievement award from Age Nation. In addition, he was named one of 2016's 100 most spiritually influential living people by Watkin's mind, body spirit Magazine. He was also chosen as one of the Own networks, Super Soul 100, a group of inspired leaders using their gifts and voices to elevate humanity.
Mark Nepo spoke with Sandie Sedgbeer about his latest and undoubtedly most timely book, "Surviving Storms, Finding the Strength to Meet Adversity," in which he covers where we are, how we got here, and, more importantly, how we can meet these challenges by deepening our roots and solidifying our connection to all spirit and life. Sandie Sedgbeer: Mark, in "Surviving Storms," you state that every generation has faced times of turbulence and chaos, and all the traditions offer practices and resources to help us meet the challenges of our day. Still, the storms we face today and "the fault lines we endure as a society," as you term it, are not the same as what previous generations have faced. Today we've got many more storms converging together at once.
OMTIMES MAGAZINE
Dealing with Change: The Transition Every Woman Must Make
O
ur lives are filled with
out in our minds or better understand
transitions. For example,
our transitions and how to approach
women undergo a major
them. For women, the seventh cycle
transition cycle every
in their life is related to menopause.
seven years from birth to death. With
Menopause is the progression and
men, it is every eight years. So looking
natural change a women's body goes
at our lives in cycles helps us to map
through when she is reaching the end
OM TIMES | September 2022
of her child-bearing cycle. This change
include situations that occur during
signals a decrease in the production
our lifetime based on choices, such
of estrogen and progesterone in the
as smoking, chemical dependency,
ovaries. Often, women are aware that
obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dietary
they are nearing menopause once
choices. Of course, it is never just
their menstrual periods start changing.
one factor that is an indicator of this change, but a host of factors
The cessation of the menstrual
accumulating over a lifetime.
cycle for one full year is considered the medical diagnosis of menopause.
The severity of problems or
There is menopause that occurs
symptoms, which can occur during
naturally and menopause that may
perimenopause or menopause, is
be induced by surgery. This medical
the culmination of several factors
"diagnosis" is not considered a
brought together over time. For
disease but simply an upgrade from
example, for some women, no
reproductive to non-reproductive
outward physiological symptoms
years. It is simply a name given to this
are experienced. But on the other
passing phase. This reduction in ovary
hand, many women will experience
function, follicles, hormonal changes,
one or several such symptoms as hot
and blood circulation does not happen
flashes, sweating, vaginal dryness,
overnight. This process or change
headaches, irritability, insomnia,
often takes place over 3-6 years before
anxiety, depression, fatigue, or lack of
a diagnosis of menopause. This is
concentration.
considered perimenopause. The endocrine system is the least Although the median age for women
understood of the body's physiological
reaching menopause is age 50
processes. The brain is called the
worldwide, remaining unchanged for
greatest sex organ in the body for a
centuries, variations in this process
good reason. The master controller
occur based on constitutional factors
of all processes is the pituitary-
and lifestyle. Constitutional factors
hypothalamus-axis. This is the
are considered situations we are
crossroads of a complex series of
born out of based on family traits,
feedback interactions and influences
genes, and heredity. Lifestyle factors
within the hypothalamus, the pituitary
OM TIMES | September 2022
3 Ways Mindfulness Can Reduce Chronic Pain by Maryjane Osa
How Does Mindfulness Possibly
on. But few realize mindfulness
Reduce Chronic Pain?
meditation as an effective medical
I
intervention was established with
n the two years since Time
research on chronic pain sufferers.
Magazine proclaimed the "Mindfulness Revolution" on its
Back pain, neck pain, and shoulder
cover, meditation has caught
pain are challenging conditions
OM TIMES | September 2022
for conventional medicine to treat.
the pain cycle. For example, a
Treatment of chronic pain with drugs
person's thoughts about the pain,
or surgery comes with substantial
such as "this is unbearable," added
negatives. Drugs are expensive,
a cognitive dimension. This added
often ineffective, and have side
an affective dimension when angry
effects. Surgery risks infection or
or helpless feelings were generated
complications and may not alleviate
by such thoughts. These added
the pain. The problem is that pain is a
effects could heighten and sustain
complex phenomenon, and medical
the experience of pain. This complex
science has only recently developed
mind-body interaction explains why
models to explain this complexity.
pain persists, even after the initial stimulus is removed.
Normal pain is an adaptive response. If someone touches a hot iron and
University of Massachusetts Medical
burns a finger, the resulting pain
School Professor Jon Kabat-Zinn
signals to the brain that skin cells are
realized that chronic pain sufferers
damaged. The neurological process
had something in common with
triggers a motor response: the person
serious meditators: the experience of
immediately removes her hand from
extreme pain. Although meditation
the hot iron. Chronic pain, on the
is often relaxing, when a meditator
other hand, is pathological. The pain
sits motionless for hours, for example,
of a long duration causes stress and is
when on retreat, muscles, and joints
of no physical benefit.
ache intensely. However, traditional meditation instruction offers a coping
In the 1970s, medical researchers
mechanism. Meditators learn a habit
began understanding the difference
of non-judgmental observation
between normal and chronic pain.
that allows them to detach the
Ronald Melzack and his colleagues
physical sensation of pain from the
developed a psycho-physiological
cognitive and emotional reactions
model that explained why chronic
to it. Recognizing that this process
pain tended to intensify over time.
fits with the scientific theory of pain
They discovered additional second-
complexity, Kabat-Zinn reasoned that
order cognitive and affective-
meditation might be an effective
motivational effects that prolonged
medical intervention.
OM TIMES | September 2022
Decoding the Meaning of Mystical Experiences
T
By Judi Lynch
he Universe always sends
a journey of discovery, seeking out
us assistance through
clues and important information,
signs, synchronicities,
ever evolving our knowledge. When
and messages meant
we begin to have these mystical
to enhance our life experience on
experiences, we strive to keep the
Earth. We are mystical travelers on
spiritual channels alive within us.
OM TIMES | September 2022
We begin to understand the ‘glow’
of spontaneous movements, the
and seek to enhance its power in our
dancer feels the same sense of
lives and those around us.
expanded consciousness—a beautiful connection with the higher self.
Metaphysical assistance can be found in a myriad of ways. As we walk down
In our prayer and meditation
a wooded path, it speaks to us in
practices, we have the ability to reach
nature, listening to the trees rustle
higher levels of the frequency with
and the bird’s song. It lives in the
just our thoughts. We experience
soothing sound of a flowing creek
inner transformation by speaking,
over ancient rocks. We can learn to
visualizing, and focusing on what
attune ourselves to hearing, seeing,
we are asking, seeing, and meant
and feeling these special frequencies
to know. We can ask for help and
to know the energy's power.
guidance on our life path, then receive those answers telepathically
Mystical experiences have long been
through our intuitive receiver. Prayer
felt in sacred places all over the
helps to clear the mind, reduce the
world. From ancient forests to grand
noise to enable us to hear, intuit and
pyramids, some places heighten our
process our messages correctly.
energy fields. We can feel their power physically through every chakra
Just being aware brings
and cell in our bodies. Some sites
synchronicities to the forefront of
contain the love and knowledge of
our existence. We notice the things
our ancestors. They contain important
that are out of the ordinary way of
information meant to be found,
thinking. The shape of the clouds
known, and understood.
floating, by or the butterfly that lands on your shoulder and stays with you
When athletes are in the zone,
during a hike. The thought of an old
they feel a vitality of connection
friend who calls ten minutes later
running through them as adrenalin
or knowing when a loved one needs
and higher frequency take over.
help. Our awareness of the mystical
A rush of energy and confidence
helps strengthens our skills in
helps to achieve success. However,
interpreting its assistance in our lives.
when they are lost in the rhythm
Every day that we are aware of our
OM TIMES | September 2022
The "Memento Mori" On Facing our own Mortality By Humanity Healing
OM TIMES | September 2022
W
hen we live
If there was no tomorrow, what
something
would you do right now? So
perfect, amid that
why aren't you doing it if there's
pleasant feeling
no certainty that there will be
of happiness, there is sometimes
tomorrow?
anguish: one day it will end. Yeah, everything comes to an end,
Traditionally, thinking about death,
even if the future is our death. So
in our culture, is a scary thing. It is
thinking about it can be sad, but it
often associated with pain, grief, and
doesn't need to be.
suffering, so we avoid even saying the word death. But when we think
This is what the Latin expression
a lot about it, not about how we're
"memento mori" proposes, which
going to die, but about the fact that
invites us to think about death in
we're going to die, that idea breaks
another way, in another context,
down.
and with another objective. Think about this: This day will never come
It's like when we were at school,
back again.
the teacher warned us about a challenging test with all the
"The fear of death follows
semester's content. When we heard
from the fear of life. A man
that, despair hit, didn't it?
who lives is fully prepared to die at any time."
But day after day, when we saw that
— Mark Twain
we could take the test, it became less scary.
Memento mori, in Latin, can be translated as "remember that you
And this is life: as we mature and
are going to die." But, although it
realize that we have everything we
seems something sad, it is not quite
need so that we can go in search
like that: it is a reflection to remind
of our dreams and desires, we
us that everything will soon be
naturalize the idea that things will
over, so that we live today intensely,
come to an end because we focus
doing everything we want without
only on enjoying today and the
wasting any more time.
present moment. OM TIMES | September 2022
Can Quality of Life Influence Longevity?
I
by Ginger McBride
n this day and age, we are
strong community that leans on each
continuously looking for ways to
other, increasing longer life spans.
increase our longevity and quality
Life is constantly changing, growing,
of life. When we think about all the
and adapting. That is basic survival in
different ways we can do this, what
itself. That is part of what makes life so
may come to mind are the foods we
exciting. We don’t always know what
eat and our latest exercise regime.
the future holds, but we can use the
But, what can come as a surprise to
wisdom of those that came before us to
some is a long history related to a
enrich our futures!
OM TIMES | September 2022
While there isn’t any doubt that
The communities expected to have
genetics and lifestyle play a key role
longer life expectancies and longevity
in longevity, our community can be
also had a more relaxed lifestyle,
easily overlooked and forgotten when
exercising more with healthier diets.
it comes to increasing our lifespan.
Still, addition also had community
Recent studies have shown that our
members who would band together,
environments can directly affect our
lean on one another and help each
health. Environments with more
other out, which reduced much
fast-food restaurants, factory-related
stress in their lives. Of course,
jobs, and a higher population also
our independence is a beautiful
correlated with lower life expectancies.
commodity in this modern era, but
In addition, poor diet, lack of exercise,
we can’t forget that some love and
poor sleep, and excessive stress have
appreciate us and are willing to help us
made it more difficult on our minds
in our time of need, just as we are more
and bodies than necessary.
than happy to help them in return. OM TIMES | September 2022
The Relationship Between the Application of Feng Shui and Life Energy By OMTimes
OM TIMES | September 2022
I
nvolving art and a pearl of deep
be subdivided into productive and
wisdom about energy flows,
destructive.
Feng Shui applies this knowledge in techniques that allow the
In Feng Shui, the Chi energy is
correct channeling of energies in the
expressed through colors and
environment.
shapes. Each of which is the expression of a specific element.
These techniques use architecture
Fire, for example, is represented
and interior decoration in a
by the color red and triangular
very specific way, involving the
shapes.
arrangement of furniture, colors, formats, materials, and objects in
After identifying which element is
each environment individually to
necessary to balance the energies
harmonize an energy flow.
of an environment, it is possible to decorate it following specific colors
CHI ENERGY NO FENG SHUI
and shapes, bringing a certain quality of Chi into the space.
As in Chinese Medicine, Chi is the term designated for Universal
All of this intends to improve our
Energy, the energy that permeates
well-being by controlling Chi's flow.
everything around us. It also applies
And as you can already see, this is
to energy within our bodies and
done through furniture placement,
energy residing inside and outside
specific architectural designs,
artificial structures (such as furniture,
and other material placements,
buildings), and objects.
allowing the Chi to be redirected freely, positively, and correctly.
According to the Five Element Theory, Chi, or Feng Shui energy,
UNDERSTANDING ENERGY FLOW
manifests in Yin and Yang characteristics and a variety of other
In Feng Shui, Chi is a force of
forms. For example, in Feng Shui, the
energy that can affect us physically
elements Fire, Earth, Metal, Water,
and mentally. It is not superstition
and Wood have different means of
or spirituality. However, as we
interaction, called cycles, which can
humans rely heavily on our visual
OM TIMES | September 2022
A
What is Creative Writing? s a writer or an author,
hit puberty, they take the crayons
you must have heard
away and replace them with dry,
the expression "creative
uninspiring books on algebra, history,
writing" a thousand
etc. So being suddenly hit years later
times. But after all, what is this?
with the 'creative bug' is just a wee voice telling you, 'I'd like my crayons
"Everyone is born creative;
back, please."
everyone is given a box of crayons
— Hugh MacLeod (Ignore Everybody:
in kindergarten. Then when you
and 39 Other Keys to Creativity)
OM TIMES | September 2022
As a rule of thumb, "everything is
3. It Works on critical and analytical skills
written in a creative way, that is, neither technical nor copied."
4. It Brings more focus and attention to activities, etc.
But did you know that it doesn't just apply to literature
We would also like to remind the
or communication? Even an
reader that, contrary to popular
administrator, a doctor, a chef, and
belief, writing does not depend
any other professional can use it.
only on a natural gift. Through
Creative writing is learning to tell
training and study, it can be
stories differently, think outside the
improved more and more. We
box, and bring the reader (whether
always say around here: Writing is
it's a book, a report, an email, a
discipline and daily learning.
portfolio) closer to you. "First, forget inspiration. Habit The idea is to get away from
is more dependable. Habit will
plastered formulas and create
sustain you whether you're
something different and captivating.
inspired or not. Habit will help you finish and polish your
"Learn the rules like a pro to break
stories. Inspiration won't. Habit is
them like an artist."
persistence in practice."
— Pablo Picasso
— Octavia E. Butler (Bloodchild and Other Stories)
And why is it essential to a career – We offer you three tips to unlock
whatever it may be?
your writing side – and they are These are elements of creative
valid for both writing professionals
writing:
and other areas of activity:
1. It Improves articulation
"1 – Read. read a lot
of reasoning for work There is no writing without
presentations 2. It Provides new perspectives on the world
reading. The writer needs to read. Very.
OM TIMES | September 2022
Cat Spirituality and Body Language By Ministry Earth
OM TIMES | September 2022
I
t is often difficult to understand
WHEN THEY SLEEP TOO MUCH
what our cats want to tell us. They are mysterious animals; however,
Cats have different sleep needs than
they have a powerful spirituality
humans. They need more sleep than
and heightened sensitivity. Therefore,
we do. However, if you notice that your
it is important to understand what
cat is sleeping more than usual, it is a
they want to tell us. We have listed
sign that he is overloaded with many
the cats' spiritual powers to help
negative energies in the environment
us understand their language and
and people. He absorbs this energy
spirituality.
and can only rebalance it by sleeping.
THE LANGUAGE OF CATS
SLEEP NEAR YOUR BED
The very sensitive animals, our cats
Does your cat insist on sleeping near
or felines, have healing power and
your bed (or even on top of it)? Don't
protect us from negative energies
fight with kitty over this. They only do
present in the environment and
this to protect you. As much as you
people.
don't like having them on the bed, they want to be there as guards so
Learn how to interpret the signs of cats
that if something or someone with
that show their spirituality:
bad energies approaches, they'll be there to protect us.
LYING ON PARTS OF OUR BODY ATTITUDES WHEN VISITORS ARRIVE With heightened sensitivity, cats sense when some internal organ is not
Most cats don't come straight to meet
functioning normally or will get sick
visitors once they get home, as dogs
shortly, so they insist on lying on top
do. Suspicious, cats want to "read"
of it. As energy transmuters, they can
people before going to their laps or
transmit positive energies to a place
letting them cuddle. It is common
loaded with low vibration energies. So
for them to hide and only appear in
when he comes close to you, sits down
the room at the owners' call. It is also
on the spot, and then leaves, he feels
common for your cat to hang around
that he has already healed that energy.
you while "strange" people are at
OM TIMES | September 2022
Nine Ways to Heal Family Rifts & Become More Functional
T
he larger-than-life bond
between its members. Family
of family shines through
relationships are complex, intense,
sorrows and joys alike. The
and powerful at best. They require not
divine connection within
only patience but an understanding
a family is a light that cannot be
of both their psychological and karmic
dimmed, no matter the distance
components.
OM TIMES | September 2022
As a soul on the other side, you agreed
families in ugly ways. It can devastate
to reincarnate into a certain family
a family because the members begin
to further your spiritual evolution.
to see themselves as individuals
Of course, the family you would be
disassociated from the whole. Pride
born into wouldn’t be “perfect” by
causes us to lose the sense of unity
any means: there would be family
and only look out for ourselves. Many
members you can’t stand and others
of my clients say they haven’t spoken
you would have nothing in common
to their parents or sibling in years.
with. But your family would be perfect
When I ask them why I usually receive
for working on your karma. These
a “proud” answer: “They hurt me . . .”
details were etched into your karmic
or “They did this to me. . ..” The answer
contract, which outlined who would be
always implies a “me” factor—that’s
your family members, what challenges
pride showing its ugly head. In a
you would have to face with each of
family, it’s easy to find reasons not
them, and what you would have to do
to get along—after all, just because
to solve the problems between you.
you’re family doesn’t mean you’re not completely different. But you can
Because you have free will, you can
remain close by letting go of pride
choose to heal family rifts or allow
and having a sense of humor about
them to grow wider—to help your
conflicting ideas and preferences.
family become more functional or
Pride makes us do foolish things we
dysfunctional. Even if your family
regret, but it should never cause us
members don’t always cooperate, the
to ostracize someone we care about.
choice to encourage healthy dynamics
Don’t be so proud that you allow a
is yours. Here are nine actions you can
resolvable matter to become a karmic
take every day to fortify deeper and
rift in your clan.
happier bonds with your loved ones: Set limits for others and yourself. Put your pride aside. Pride is the
Setting boundaries means protecting
number one cause of familial grief.
yourself from egos that have been
That’s because our ego, the generator
triggered by old issues and karma
of our pride, makes us stubbornly hold
that is probably carried over from past
on to the notion that we and only we
lifetimes. It means making choices
can be right. Pride comes between
like not drinking to the point of doing
OM TIMES | September 2022
Coincidences: Are They a Sign from Your Soul?
H
By John Holland
ave you heard the same
Did someone happen to mention the
saying or phrase from
same person you were just thinking
several different people
about.
in one day? Do the same
numbers keep showing up over and
You may chalk all this up as just
over again during your daily routine?
coincidences, but these are clear signs
OM TIMES | September 2022
that your soul is knocking at your
I once heard a story about a man who
door! Sometimes it could be a soft
was struggling on whether to change
tap, or when you're not really paying
his career. He'd been offered a new
attention, it could be a much louder
job but wasn't sure if he wanted
bang!
to leave the security of his existing position where he'd worked for years.
Your soul often uses synchronicity as
The decision was really stressing him
a method of communicating with
out to a point where he was doubting
you, so don't pass these off as just
himself and his talents.
coincidences. However, when you get these clear signs, remember to pause,
One day while this man was driving
be open and pay attention to what
to work, he decided to look within
your soul is trying to tell you.
for the answer. He asked himself the
OM TIMES | September 2022
No Greater Teacher By Mark Nepo
OM TIMES | September 2022
T
here has been no greater
my mother to imprinting my deeper
teacher in my life than the
senses on the Whole of Life. And this
heart. It has guided me
became my primary inheritance.
through every storm. When
facing death, it steadied me despite
As I was held and tended by nurses
my fear. When stumbling in need of
who I will never be able to thank, I
love, it opened me like a flower waiting
quietly continued to form into a full
for rain. When freefalling in search of
human being. During this slow arrival
meaning, it picked me up like a hawk
into the world, I began to inhabit a
gliding on the wind of Mystery. And
deep and early sense of Oneness.
when in need of strength to keep
Being completely alone in that
believing in life, my heart insisted that
incubator enabled me to experience
I keep giving as an act of mitosis in
the solitude and silence of an inner
growing the tissue of humanity. And
unfolding that was my first home. And
so, I'm compelled to explore the heart
though I felt myriad volatile emotions
as our teacher and how we are led to
from growing up in an unpredictable
discover and inhabit our need to love,
and emotionally charged family, that
learn, and be.
turbulence didn't define me. I could always enter the silence and return to
This steadfast belief in the properties
my larger, first home.
of the heart goes back to my first hours on Earth. I was born prematurely
Looking back, I feel certain that this
in late February of 1951, three weeks
unexpected cocoon between worlds
early. I was placed in an incubator,
secured my bond with Eternity. That
so I entered a transitional period of
chance to be fully alone, suspended
solitude before entering the world.
between pre-life and life itself, allowed
This incubation period prevented my
me to emerge with an irrevocable
mother and father from holding me
bond to all that remains unseen.
and bringing me home. I'm sure that
It allowed me to know all that is
was difficult for them. But during this
unseeable as my foundation. And so,
crucial time, I was held and nurtured
from the outset, the allegiance of my
by the Mystical Unity of Life. For those
heart has always been to serve as a
three weeks, I was in a liminal womb,
conduit between all that is inner and
where I went from forming inside
all that is outer, between the life of
OM TIMES | September 2022
Finishing Your Yoga Teacher Training? How to Find Students for Your Classes by Rachelle Wilber OM TIMES | September 2022
O
ne of the most critical
and others at a discounted price.
questions yoga teachers
For example, many people have
ask is how to attract
had success by offering free yoga
students. It is possible for
classes at a park. Others have taught
a yoga teacher to do everything right
discount classes at a local community
and not have a sufficient number of
center. Some have even teamed up
students. It can be frustrating. People
with a local brewery to teach yoga
who want to take yoga classes can
during happy hour. Free classes can
usually choose from many different
draw in many people, and if they like
studios. The key to yoga marketing
your teaching style, they will sign up
success is often not working
for your studio.
harder but being more creative in developing strategies to obtain new
LOCAL EVENTS
students. A good way to reach a large audience
CHALLENGES
quickly is to teach yoga at local events. A quick google search will
In-person or online challenges are
reveal if any wellness festivals are
excellent ways to create excitement
happening near you. These festivals
for yoga. A challenge can be big or
often have teachers who volunteer
small. They can be done online, or
their time to teach various classes.
they can be run in person. Some
It is an excellent way to promote
instructors have had success with a
yourself and connect with others in
daily pose challenge and more. It's
the yoga community in your city.
important to have a reward for those who complete the challenge. Also,
LOCAL MEDIA
provide a way for students to share Many people have had success by
their success.
getting a feature article written
FREE CLASSES
about them in local media. Contact editors of local newspapers to see
Those who teach in-person classes
if there is a section that focuses on
can get known in a community
local businesses. It's also possible for
by offering some classes for free
a community to have a social media
OM TIMES | September 2022
Exercise with Enjoyment by Ginger McBride
OM TIMES | September 2022
L
earn how to use enjoyment
of success, perfectionism, confusion,
to exercise that benefits
short-term gratification versus long-
both mind and body, and
term gratification, and the list goes on.
begin a fulfilling journey to Exercising is an essential aspect for
better health!
both the mind and the body. Exercise We always make time for the things
helps our body build muscle, improve
that are most enjoyable to us. It's
strength and endurance, and enhance
not that the important things aren't
our heart health. Exercise can also do
a priority, but it is easier to motivate
wonders for the mind, such as relieving
ourselves when we know joy is on
stress and releasing endorphins, which
the way. So much of our lives are
aid in a boosted mood.
riddled with responsibilities. It's easy to understand how it can be difficult
The key, however, is getting ourselves
to prioritize more work in little free
to participate in something that
time. This is why working out and
requires energy but benefits us in
exercising can be difficult for some.
multiple ways. A great way to do this
We procrastinate for a multitude of
is by incorporating an exercise that we
reasons, such as fear of failure, fear
like and enjoy.
OM TIMES | September 2022
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