What is it like to step into your authenticity? Immensely rewarding.  Everyone says that, right?

We see the super-coaches, the Oprah Winfreys, Brene Browns and all the Tony Robbins people – we see them out there being wicked abundant and telling us to just go for it.

I love those people.  They inspire me every day to look forward at the impact I want to have.

But . . . sometimes . . . that seems really far away.

Lately, more than one person has told me that they struggle with affirmations.  An 11-year old girl I am mentoring said to me today,

“Did you know that sometimes positive thinking actually does more harm than good? Like, everyone always says, ‘think positive thoughts!’ But not everyone can do that.  Sometimes it hurts to try.

“It’s like the whole ‘glass is half full’ thing.  There are three ways to look at it,” she said,

“First, even if the glass is half water, the other half is full of air particles – so not empty at all.  Then, lets say the glass was full of water and you drank half of it; in that case, sure, it might be half empty.  But lets say the glass was empty and you filled it halfway up with water.  Now, it’s half full.”

Indeed.

So I told her a story.  I said, “I have had trouble with mantras and affirmations, too; especially around abundance.  I just couldn’t see myself going from wondering how I was going to pay my bills or buy food to affirming, ‘I am so abundant.’

“It sounded like a lie.  And I think that happens to people all the time in different ways.  We come up against our own edges and suddenly it seems like a huge stretch to ‘affirm’ something we cannot imagine being true in our own lives.

“So, instead of ‘lying to myself,’ I did something else.  I decided to move into acknowledgement, into appreciation.  I drove around nice neighborhoods and I would say, ‘Whoa! Look at that abundant house! Look at that abundant view!'”

At this point, my mentee pointed out, “You know, probably a lot of those people in fancy houses or whatever probably are in debt or don’t even have stuff inside their huge house, right?” (she’s very astute)

So I continued, “and then, later, I would notice it everywhere.  ‘Look at how abundant the trees are today; the grass is abundantly green!

“Eventually, I was able to identify abundance in areas of my own life.  ‘I have an abundance of friends,’ I might say, and I would FEEL abundant in certain ways that I just knew were special – were, rather, more important to me than the fancy house or whatever.”

And, just like when my young friend recognized there was an alternate way of looking at that very-divisive glass of water analogy, I found a new way to see around the Manifest-What-You-Desire Rule.

I leveled-up from thoughts to emotions – from hope to recognition.  Imagination is a powerful tool; emotion-driven thoughts are exponentially more potent.

Oh, and yes – I do realize this is just what Oprah, Brene, and Tony would say.  But I’m over here, like, just a regular small business owner/ budding Intuitive Facilitator, still living in my bright & humble home and saving for vacations like the rest of us.  My glass was an empty cracked and dirty thing I found on the street and I’m filling it up my goddessdamned self drop by drop – and half of it is still full of air!

So, if you haven’t made your first million yet, either, you can take it from me.  Cleaning off the cup is so worth it.  Step into your authenticity.  Find a way to change the narrative, to recognize that which you want to attract – and then get reeeeeeeally appreciative about it.

Intuition.  The third-eye, or Ajna Chakra, also known as second sight or a sixth sense – whatever we call it, it has an important place in our practice and our lives. 

Ajna Chakra is also called the 6th Chakra in the 7-Chakra model, or the Third-Eye, and is associated with the color indigo (which I describe as the dusk sky just after sunset).

Physically located in the forehead between the eyebrows, this energy center corresponds with the physical pineal gland, which is part of the endocrine system in the brain.  Interestingly enough, this gland is also famous for creating DMT – aka the Spirit Mollecule.

Imbalances in the third eye may manifest as headaches, sinus issues, or vision problems.  An overactive third eye could be associated with mental dis-eases such as paranoia and hallucinations.  Finding an active balance is key! 

I could talk about the importance of activating and maintaining intuition all day – in fact, I just taught two yoga classes specifically geared at this very thing!

Today, though, I am writing to share a simple exercise anyone can do to bring awareness, balance, and activation to this vital energetic point. 

Third-Eye Activating Visualization 

Find a comfortable seated position somewhere you will be undisturbed.

Bring fingers into Vijna Energizing Mudra by touching tip of first finger to tip of thumb. Bring tip of middle finger underneath, into the thumb knuckle crease. Extend and relax last two fingers. Place mudra hands onto thighs.

Sitting comfortably, close the physical eyes, and begin to observe the breath. Allow shoulders to relax with each exhalation. Deepen breath.

With an inhale, bring right hand’s mudra fingers to forehead, between eyebrows. Breathe deeply.

Visualize a dusky night sky, deeply indigo. Immerse yourself in the experience of sitting under the dusk sky, after sunset.  

Breathe.

Now, see a blue flame flickering in the distance. Invite the flame, burning with cool, calm energy, to approach you. 

Watch the blue flame emerge from the sky and come to rest at your forehead. Inhale the flame into your third eye, where your fingertips rest.

Breathe, watching the flame flicker with your breath, inside of your forehead.

Breathe and enjoy the sensation of the cool, mysterious blue flame.

When you’re ready, release fingers and bring hands into the heart. 

Know that you have access – now and always – to the dusky blue flame of intuition. Flutter open the eyes.

Namaste. 

Not everyone is having the same experience. I get it.  

But we do all have the same access.

(Whoa – “check your privilege!” right?) 

Yes. We do. We all have the same access to power that is truly greater than anything exerted upon us.

I’ve spent some time in front of kids, and I always tell them the same thing:

“Your greatest gift is your imagination. No one can take that away from you. No one but you can control it, and no matter what happens to or around you – your imagination is yours.”

The power of imagination is far from imaginary! Through visualization, intention, and creativity, we literally manipulate reality. Literally, literally. Science says so. See: quantum physics, Dr. Masaru Emoto, and positive psychology.

Even, say, a girl born into poverty & abuse, to a single mother who happens to be a drug addict and prostitute – even a girl living in the ghetto, barely attending school, without money, regular food, or a family – a girl who is surrounded by people who don’t look like her, who is abused, objectified, neglected, and often homeless … yeah, even *that* girl has access to this power.  

I know, because I was that girl.

When we learn to turn inward and create our reactions, to use our imagination as a vehicle, and to find solace inside our own hearts – that’s when we change the world. We change ourSELF, which changes our circumstances, which changes our collective reality.

I’m not saying I had it the hardest. I didn’t. But I do understand how important it is to free ourselves from the limiting and prevailing myth that we are powerless.  

Some people have more privilege than others. That’s not what I’m taking about here. Privilege is something that is given and can be taken away.

Power comes from within.  

Those who we perceive to be more powerful or in power are only there because we not only *allow* them to be, but continue to fuel the divide with our own imagination. We not only accept their vision of the world, but we also adopt that vision into our minds, bodies, and lives.

The only way to gain freedom is to turn inward and create it. Don’t worry about “them.” In fact, don’t worry at all.

Instead, imagine. Nobody can take that away from you – it’s yours to wield as you will.

What will you do with your power? 

On Saturday, April 1^st, the downtown Wolfeboro yoga studio will be changing hands.  Magical Yoga, a new yoga – healing – flow studio owned by Brittany Boles Dube, will be taking the place of the current Moondala Yoga Studio overlooking Back Bay in the historic Durgin Stables building.

Along with offering a full schedule of yoga classes for all ages, abilities, and styles, Magical Yoga will focus on special events and workshops that relate not only to yoga, but also to the philosophy of flow.

“Flow can mean the flow arts, like fire dancing or hoola hooping, or it might mean getting absorbed in an art project or losing ourselves in dance or music.  That’s the beauty of combining yoga and flow! Bringing together movement, breath, and creativity – whether on the mat or off of it – heals people, heals communities, and elevates our consciousness,” Brittany explains.

Guest teachers will be invited to host special classes, workshops, and events at Magical Yoga, too.  The community can expect to see some faces from studios past as well as meeting others brand new to the area.  Interested teachers, artists, and healers can reach out through the studio website to inquire.

“My vision and intention for the studio is to build bridges and cultivate a thriving yoga – healing – flow community.  My heart is firmly rooted in creating connections in an open, welcoming, and inclusive space,” said Brittany.

In a social media post about the transition, former studio owner Michelle Kimball said, “I am looking forward to see how the studio transforms under the direction of another beautiful yogi in our community. The lineage in the space is strong. Passing the torch is going to feel very good.”

Saturday morning, April 1^st, at 9am is Brittany’s first class teaching as the Magical Yoga studio owner.  After that all-levels flow class, the studio will close for aesthetic updates and re-open on Tuesday, April 11^th at 9:00am for Michelle’s Ashtanga Vinyassa class.  Schedule and pricing updates will be posted online.

A grand opening “Flowstravaganza” is being planned for late spring or early summer.