A New Moon Reading by Molly Hall

It’s no time to be passive or checked out. The Libra New Moon on September 27th is a call to be actively engaged in visioning, re-imagining what’s possible. With your full engagement, you can move mountains, make epic changes or shift your attitude (which changes everything). You make the most of this by tuning out distractions, and finding your centre. (more…)

28-Day Programme for Real Happiness with Mollie: Day 26

Day 26 -

I am nearing the end of the 28-day programme (ok, so it has been a few more days than that).  I have done my meditation every day, and it has definitely deepened and shifted in that time.

This morning, my practice was filled with a sense of open heartedness – I have been noticing this energy of heart expression inside me that seeks expression in the world.  It comes out in my work, it comes out in my relations.  (more…)

28-Day Programme for Real Happiness with Mollie: Day 17-18

Day 17 -18

Some days bring great realizations.  Some do not.  That’s ok.  Some days evolve into great wisdom.  Some don’t.  Sometimes the meditation is just something you do, like brushing your teeth, or cooking your dinner. (more…)

28-Day Programme for Real Happiness with Mollie: Day 16

Day 16 –

Today’s experience is an extension of yesterday.  I did my morning sit.  Nothing remarkable to report.  But later, I went to teach my class, and was surprised to find that my usually full class had been moved to a smaller studio, where all the students would not easily fit.  It felt strange.  Then a teacher friend remarked to me that her class had been cancelled that morning, but she had not been told. She had come expecting to teach and get paid, and there was no one there.  She then said, “It’s ok, its cool.  I’m over it.”  (more…)

28-Day Programme for Real Happiness with Mollie: Day 15

Day 15 –

I woke up this morning with an immense feeling of excitement and joy.  What I have noticed in the last few days, partially through writing this blog, is that I am really taking ownership of the meditation practice.  I speak about it to meditators and non-meditators.  I feel a sense of “this is what I do” with it, that feels exciting, comforting and inspiring.  Having tried to create a daily practice for years and finally feeling it coming, that assurance in myself is deeply gratifying.  (more…)

28-Day Programme for Real Happiness with Mollie: Day 12/13

Day 12/13 –

I came back to my regular 30 minute practice these last 2 days.  It was the right thing to do, and gave me a deep feeling of security and knowingness.  I knew, not on a conscious level, but on a very deep level, how long I would sit for, what to expect and that was deeply relaxing.

The difficulty that I experienced on day 11, with the extended practice served as a teacher.  It is amazing how that experience stayed with me on a number of levels. (more…)

28-Day Programme for Real Happiness with Mollie: Day 11

Day 11 -

What struck me today is the value of a steady practice, an even practice and a maintainable practice.  I had the morning off, so thought I would sit for 45 minutes, 15 minutes longer than I normally do.  When I have a little extra time, I take it, so my meditation was not the first thing in the morning, as it often is.  I did a few little things first.  A few little things turn into a few big things, and soon I am thinking about projects and all of that.  Then I sit to meditate.  Oops. (more…)

28-Day Programme for Real Happiness with Mollie: Day 9/10

Day 9/10 -

I was away this weekend from home, which always provides a little extra challenge to the practice.  I practiced outside, in the mornings, and it was a really interesting opportunity to feel how the meditation has progressed.

Because of the landscape and environment, the Body Sensation Meditation was the perfect practice.  I love this one because it dovetails the concentration on the breath with awareness of sensations elsewhere in the body.  It feels to me to be a way to integrate the deep focus and presence with a kind of acceptance of what is arising and dissipating. (more…)

28-Day Programme for Real Happiness with Mollie: Day 8

Day 8 -

This week starts a new phase of the practice – turning the concentration to the sensations in the body: moving sequentially through the body and feeling deeply each area in succession.  The suggestion today is to do the practice lying down. It used to be that when I lay on my back, in savasana after the practice or otherwise, I would quickly drift off into a kind of semi-consciousness/semi-sleep.  Recently, that has not been the case, although I am aware that meditating lying down is definitely less alert and clear than seated meditation.  Today was not dreamy at all. (more…)

28-Day Programme for Real Happiness with Mollie: Day 6.

Day 6 -

Up until today, I had not used the audio guided meditation to guide the practice.  Today felt like the right time to try, even though I already feel clear and steady this morning.  What I appreciate most about the guidance, like the writing, is that it is very accepting, and very spacious.  Sometimes, in the deep concentration on the breath, an audio cue is not necessary.   (more…)