Amethyst

The beautiful violet stone, Amethyst, belongs to the quartz family. It is associated with the crown chakra for its color and connection on a spiritual level. This stone aids in achieving spiritual goals, becoming in tune with your inner self, and strengthens psychic abilities. It purifies the mind and can be used as a natural stress-reliever.

It is also a protective stone -- it is able to rid the body of unwanted feelings that may be caused by negative emotions. In order to observe its effects, it is best to place amethyst in a space that needs purification and the elimination of negative energy. It aids in good communication due to its sense of calming and confidence it provides. Amethyst also strengthens intuition, so placing this stone in an office or workspace will assist in tough decision-making and will relieve stress at work! When placed in a bedroom, insomnia can be resolved due to amethyst’s ability to calm and impose stillness.

In Greek, the word “amethyst” translates to “not drunken.” This is commonly used as evidence for its ability to break unhealthy addictions, like alcoholism and drug-abuse.  Amethyst’s nature is to dispel negative energy, mental and physical, and can be used in ways that promote physical health. For example, it has the ability to support the immune system in battles against sickness. By promoting a sense of tranquility and stillness, it is also a perfect meditation aid that assists in the calming of one’s thoughts.

If you need a stone that is going to assist in altering and balancing your spirituality, intuition, or state of consciousness, then amethyst is right for you! It is a spiritual helper that can be used to protect, heal, and aid in sleep and meditation. It brings a deeper sense of peace, wisdom, and heightened spirituality.

Life as Service

A beautiful blog from one of our ambassadors Peggy Beim

Service can feel like a huge production when we think it has to look a certain way. When it becomes a behavior that we do because we think we have to in order to be a good person, the essence of service is lost. 

Seva, or service, in Sanskrit refers to an act of selfless service which is performed with no expectation of gain or return. 

Read: you get nothing back! You simply give this energy to the collective. 

Seva doesn’t mean volunteering for 1 week a year, snapping a bunch of pictures for Facebook and putting this experience on a resume to get a certain job. 

Seva is a way of showing up each day, every moment. It is a frequency that you vibrate. And when you act from a vibration of seva, these behaviors no longer feel like service. They become an effortless way of moving through the world. 

Buy a friend coffee. Not so you can feel good about yourself but because you love your friend. Hold the door for a stranger. Not to brag about being a nice person but because it warms your heart. Pause for a moment of gratitude. Not to ask for more in your life but because you appreciate what you have. Wish everyday for all beings to experience freedom from suffering, “lokah samasta sukhino bhavantu”. Not because you don’t want to suffer but because you have the power to heal others with your thoughts. Say a prayer at night. Not because it’s an obligation but because you have a deep reverence for the power of prayer. Smile at the woman who serves your lunch. Not because you feel bad for her but because you see God (read: source, nature, consciousness) in her eyes. Go out of your way to return a lost credit card. Not because you believe it will better your karma but because you know what it feels like to lose a credit card and it brings you joy to heal the worry of another. 

True service comes from the heart, not the mind. 

Real service is being done when no one knows what you’re up to. There are no bragging rights, no rewards and no personal benefits.   

Beyond all these small acts of service, the biggest thing you can do to serve this world is doing the work. Your work! 

Devote yourself to yourself. Take the time to heal your wounds, dedicate yourself to a practice, break down your walls, invite in love and raise your deserving power. Never take credit for your own light, rather become so clear that divine light radiates through you. Healing yourself is the first step to healing the world. Self-care, and service to self, is the greatest service you can do for the world. 

When change happens on an individual level, we change the world. Align with your dharma. 

What are your unique gifts? What lights up your soul? 

What is your part in elevating the collective experience?

This is the most important thing for you discover and, from this place, your unique form of service will effortlessly emerge. 

Never lose sight of this in exchange for doing something that “feels” like service. Never step into a serving role just to say you “serve”. 

Align with your highest self- through asana, meditation, pranayama, chanting, and whatever other spiritual practices light up your soul- and invite seva to be your mode of operation.

Join us for an evolutionary yoga event!

The word Sattva means truth, balance, wholeness. It is at the core of who we truly are. As individuals we strive to return to that space of wholeness. We become so immersed in the “busy”ness of our lives that we oftentimes loose contact who we are, as we are constantly moving and doing.

Disconnecting from the normal “routine” and taking a journey to a new place provides a great opportunity for evolution. Also, Offering the body the opportunity to slow down and harmonize with nature and return to “Sattva” or come to stillness is quite healing. In the stillness the inspiration flows.

Choosing India as a place to visit has been one that I hold immense gratitude for. It is here that I discover a deeper understanding of my truth. I first journeyed here in 2014 and now call it home. One of the things I enjoy most about spending my time in Rishikesh at Sattva is meeting yogis from all over the world. Having a Sangha, or “community” is so important when you are on this path. When we are together with one common intention to evolve it creates a powerful energy that can be life changing. Choosing to attend an event or gathering provides a great opportunity to connect with people you wouldn’t otherwise meet. As one of the teachers at The Sattva Summit, I look forward to sharing the teachings, tapping into joy and time together as a Sangha in this sacred land!

www.sattvasummit.com