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Quick Shanti

by Ellie Eckerle

Social Sciences Philosophy

Season 2

Life Expands in Proportion to One's Courage: the wisdom of Anaïs Nin

In this episode, we’re diving into the world of Anaïs Nin and one of her most striking quotes: “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” Spoiler: Courage isn’t always some epic, movie moment. Sometimes, it's as simple as awkwardly telling the barista they messed up your coffee. But those little acts of courage? They add up to something bigger. Anaïs Nin didn’t wait around for life to happen. She took risks, lived unconventionally, and wrote about all of it—sometimes in ways that would’ve made her contemporaries clutch their pearls. If your life feels like it’s stuck on the shrink setting, maybe it’s time to explore how to stretch it back out again, one small act at a time.

Season 1

Let your belly be round

Breath, the essential function that keeps us alive, serves as a continuous reminder of our very existence. It's our lifeline to this world.But how have societal ideals severed our connection to the depths of breath? What are some of the limitations we impose on our capacity to take in a deep, gratifying breath?Today's episode is spoken through poem, "Let your belly be round." 📧 Drop a line at ellie@shanti-meditations.com.🌞 Sign up for your weekly dose of Shanti: http://bit.ly/3nXt0gC

Hildegard of Bingen: life and music of the great female mystic

Hildegard of Bingen was a remarkable woman whose life’s work is almost unbelievable. Hildegard is a woman known to be many things: a visionary, composer, writer, herbalist, scholar, poet; a polymath in the truest sense. In this episode, we unfold the life, music, philosophy, and absolute genius of Hildegard von Bingen, a woman whose life is still dripping in mystique and marvel, centuries after she graced this earth with her presence.Hildegard is a badass, a rockstar, a symbol of female authority in a time when women rarely - if ever - had a podium. Tune in to learn from the life of Hildegard von Bingen.🎵 LISTEN TO HILDEGARDDrop a line at ellie@shanti-meditations.com.🌞 SHANTI NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/3nXt0gC

Guided Contemplation: Growing Gratitude

In this practice, we’ll cultivate the experience of gratitude. Through the lens of gratitude, we recognize the inherent abundance in our lives, no matter how big or small. Gratitude is not just a fleeting emotion; it is a practice that can enrich your life and the lives of those around you. Like tending to a garden, take time to cultivate gratitude regularly. Return to this meditation or simply come back to the things that put you in a state of gratitude.As you move through your day, let gratitude be a guiding force, reminding you to find value and meaning in each moment. Feel this warmth grow inside you and send it back out into the world. [528 HZ]---Drop a line at ellie@shanti-meditations.com.🌞 SHANTI NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/3nXt0gC

Tat Tvam Asi: teachings on oneness

Today's topic revolves around a profound phrase originating from the Upanishads, urging us to transcend the barriers that often separate us. The phrase is "Tat Twam Asi" - which translates to "You are that." In essence, it signifies that what we perceive in others is a reflection of ourselves."Tat Twam Asi" encapsulates a simple yet powerful message, encouraging us to shift our perception in the way we connect with the external world. By embracing this notion, we recognize that we are not fundamentally distinct from the world around us; rather, we are interconnected with everything we see. This realization dismantles the illusion of separateness and enables us to find peace in the shared essence of universal consciousness.--Drop a line at ellie@shanti-meditations.com.🌞 SHANTI NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/3nXt0gC

Guided Contemplation: Be here now

This practice is focused on being here now: in this moment, finding a state of present-moment awareness. Using a body scan, we’ll let go of tension, connect with the body, and become fully aware of our thoughts, emotions, and sensations without getting entangled in them or attaching stories to them.By noticing the body, you understand that you are more than just the body. By noticing the senses, you understand you are more than just the senses. By noticing the emotions, you understand you are more than just the emotions. Through this noticing, this higher seat of observation, you see that are beyond these things. You are the consciousness that witnesses the body’s functions and experiences; vast and limitless.Join to rest in this stillness, and find a part of yourself that is beyond the transient world of forms and stories.---If you have any questions, comments, or thoughts related to today's topic, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to hear your perspectives.Drop a line at ellie@shanti-meditations.com.🌞 SHANTI NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/3nXt0gC

Let it be

Sometimes the most important thing to do is to let things be as they are and not try to force or rush them into a different state. Mindfulness as a gentle exploration - a way to cultivate presence. It’s not something that we can force our way into. In fact, putting too much effort or force into mindfulness can actually hinder our experience. When we strive, or rather struggle, to control our state of mindfulness or achieve something within it - this is an attempt to manufacture an experience. But that’s quite contradictory to mindfulness. The practice of mindfulness is a surrender - it’s more of a peeling away and simply being present with what is.This practice of letting it be and being still, helps us create space for reflection, observation, and understanding. It's in this space that we can employ wise discernment to navigate through life and the complexities of being human.---If you have any questions, comments, or thoughts related to today's topic, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to hear your perspectives.Drop a line at ellie@shanti-meditations.com.🌞 SHANTI NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/3nXt0gC

When is the last time you felt awe?

Awe is like a thread that connects us to something bigger. It connects the extraordinary, the mysteries of life’s essence.Experiences of awe are what psychologists call self-transcendent: they shift our attention away from ourselves, but histoircally, this is what the mystics pointed to. In ancient Greece they called it ekstasis, meaning “to be or stand outside oneself.” Awe dissolves the sense of separation and invites us to stand outside of ourselves in unity with the world around us.In this episode, we explore the experiences of awe, its significance, and practical ways to cultivate it in your daily life - along with some examples thanks to the wisdom of Dr. Jane Goodall. ---If you have any questions, comments, or thoughts related to today's topic, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to hear your perspectives.Drop a line at ellie@shanti-meditations.com.🌞 SHANTI NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/3nXt0gC

Cultivating Concentration and Clarity with Anapanasati

The Anapanasati practice is a foundational aspect of Vipassana (or Insight) meditation where it serves as the first step in developing concentration and mindfulness. This guided Anapanasati meditation session offers a peaceful space where you can learn to anchor your attention to the breath, allowing the mind to settle and bring a sense of clarity within. Immerse yourself in this meditation experience and discover the power of Anapanasati Meditation for a calmer, more focused present moment.---If you have any questions, comments, or thoughts related to today's topic, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to hear your perspectives.Drop a line at ellie@shanti-meditations.com.🌞 SHANTI NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/3nXt0gC📹 Follow meditations on YouTube

Guided Contemplation: Finding the space of "no mind"

Drawing inspiration from the teachings of Eckhart Tolle, this session invites you to experience a state of no-mind—a state of heightened awareness free from the constant stream of thoughts and mental activity.Just as physical space allows objects to exist within it, there is a space within your consciousness that allows your thoughts, emotions, and sensory perceptions to arise and be experienced.As you become aware of the empty space within you, you simultaneously become aware of the space of no-mind—the pure consciousness, the stillness, that lies within you. Tune in to rest in the vastness and tranquility of this vast space within you. ---If you have any questions, comments, or thoughts related to today's topic, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd love to hear your perspectives.Drop a line at ellie@shanti-meditations.com.🌞 SHANTI NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/3nXt0gC📹 Follow meditations on YouTube

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