Down the Rainbow Steps

Chill out in tough times? The Waterfall Meditation proved so popular I've added another, Down the Rainbow Steps, a favourite of mine for over thirty-seven years! Its a nice easy way into a pleasant, relaxed state, and from there to access the deeper levels. Let me know how it works for you.


Imagine a rainbow arching the sky......look at the colours, and then, breathe all the way out, let your lungs empty, then as they relax let the new air flow in like a tide, and as it flows in, then think of the number Seven and see the colour Red…
I prepare to relax body and mind
See something Red…a red world
I am more relaxed than ever before…
Let your breath come and go as you count seven breaths of red.

Then breathe out all the way, let your lungs empty, then as they relax let the new air flow in like a tide, and as it flows, think of the number Six and see the colour Orange…
The present is Orange…
This is your physical relaxation colour…with your mind's eye look inwards and upwards to a point at the top of your head, between your skull and your scalp,
and imagine it relax and grow warm,
and let that warm relaxing feeling spread down,
relaxing your temples, your forehead and the tiny muscles around your eyes.
Relax your cheeks and your jaw, your neck and shoulders, your chest, back and belly.
Feel your legs heavy and all the tension flow out of your feet, out of your toes, into the earth.
Let your breath come and go as you count six orange breaths.

Then breathe all the way out, let your lungs empty, then as they relax and let the new air flow in like a tide, and as it flows in, think of the number Five and see the colour Yellow…
Look in front of you and with your mind's eye see the sun,
breathe in the golden light between your eyebrows,
and let that light fill your whole being...
I breathe in the sunshine
Let the your breath come and go as you count five golden breaths.

Then breathe out all the way, let your lungs empty, then as they relax let the new air flow in like a tide, and as it flows, think of Four and Green…
and the ancient healing forest
Green is the colour of health…
And I am healthy…
Let the your breath come and go as you count four breaths of cleansing green.

Exhale, relax, let the new air flow in like a tide, see the number Three, and think of Blue…
Blue is the colour of Love…
I love, and I am loved…
See a flash of blue sky…
Let breath flow blue as you count to three

Flow breath slow as you count to Two, Purple…

All disappears into One, Violet…

I am now at the deepest and most inward level of my being, deeper and more inward than ever before…now go into a waking dream, remembering or imagining a pleasant experience, or any other meditation ... until time to return to the mundane dimension with:

And now, in a few moments I will count from 1 to 7…
LITTLE PAUSE
Focus on the back of your eyelids

On the count of 7, I'll open my eyes,
1 – 2 – 3

Refreshed, relaxed, revitalised,
My head comfortable relaxed and at ease upon my shoulders
My vision perfect, my eyes so clear and bright
4 – 5

Coming up slowly
On the count of 7 I'll open my eyes

in perfect health and in tune with life
6 – 7 (SNAP FINGERS)

Open your eyes

and Smile…

Down the Rainbow Steps © Kris Deva North May 1972

October in the Tao

I thought to give you a little more information on Taoist events in October, in particular the Couples 1 training weekend, and Mantak Chia's teachings for Individuals and Couples at the end of the month.

Tantric Secrets of Love 1 If you are in a partnership and interested in ways to deepen and enhance your relationship, perhaps add a spiritual dimension without giving up any of the pleasures of the physical - in fact increasing them - and learning new techniques to spice up your encounters then why not join us? With so many opportunities for tantric practice in our New Age few seem to be taught by a Couple. I recently saw a listing for a festival of tantra with over 30 speakers, of which only 3 were teaching in partnership. Please understand, I have absolutely nothing against single individuals teaching tantra, as I did myself for many years before entering a committed relationship with my beloved Anamarta. My point here is I believe it is reassuring for couples to be taught by a couple coming from a background and with experience of practice together: living and loving in the Tao.

The basic Couples Training is a great opportunity for you and your partner to learn more about this aspect of Taoist practice. You don't need any knowledge or experience and the only pre-requisites are to come as a couple - and with an open mind. We practise only with our own partners. Anamarta and I guide you through the first steps of Taoist tantra from an overview of the different traditions (the Tao honours all ways) through the beautiful Nine Flowers massage to the Dance of Dragon and Tiger.

Many who have taken a little time to learn the Tantric Secrets of Love have discovered a pleasurable sensual practice, wonderful for enhancing relationship. You may have in mind a special person to surprise and delight, a new partner to impress, or to refresh your relationship with a long-loved friend or lover.

The weekend is from Saturday through Monday, 10th to 12th October, 10am to 5pm at our Universal Healing Tao Centre, 68 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3JT. You can sign up on-line here or Learn more with a click here and the cost of the 3-day training is just £397 per couple.

Of course, not everyone is a couple! Mantak Chia's Talk and Slideshow on the evening of Friday 30th October is on his specialist subject "Supreme Inner Sexual Alchemy - Healing Love for Individuals and Couples". I love the clarity of his explanations - I've been seeing them for nigh on 20 years now and never tire of hearing those rich tones guiding us through the images of ancient practice that can do so much to enliven our modern world.

On the Saturday and Sunday he teaches "Supreme Inner Alchemy - Basic practice", transmitting the Primordial Force to help you open the Microcosmic Orbit, learn to master emotions, master your chi. My first memory of training with him is of how he takes us from fits of giggles to deep meditation- this was a pleasant surprise as I had gone with the expectation that everything would be very sombre and serious. And this year Master - now Grandmaster! - Mantak Chia is teaching throughout his visit at our London Universal Healing Tao Centre, our beautiful permanent home in the heart of London. Learn more here

The last three days of his visit is a Practitioner Certification course in Level 1 of Cosmic Healing. This I believe is a must for anyone on the energy-healing path. You learn new and different things very quickly and effectively and what you take away is a way of helping others and looking after your own self: guarding against energy-depletion or contamination. I have used the techniques on their own, to enhance my Shiatsu and Chi Nei Tsang, and as a sound introduction to Shamanic Healing.

Beginners are welcome both to the Couples Training and Mantak Chia's visit: no pre-requisites, so don't delay! You can sign up on-line for Mantak Chia here.

I should mention also, for those who have completed the first three Steps of the Taoist training, we have a Step 4 Introduction to Taoist Shamanism coming up over the four days 23rd to 26th October, Friday through Monday, 10am to 5pm.

I look forward to seeing you this month!

What's new in my world

At last, CNHC opens the Shiatsu Register
CNHC opens National Shiatsu Register to Practitioners and Teachers who comply with National Occupational Standard for Shiatsu listing as a Shiatsu Practitioner/Teacher member of the Zen Shiatsu Society in compliance with the NOS for Shiatsu: CNH13.
Ten years of committees, distilling what we do with hearts and hands, love compassion and skill, into writing and getting it agreed!
Come on, now, let's get ourselves registered! Read all about it - click here!

Zen School wins UKBA Licence
Congratulations to us at the Zen School of Shiatsu on attaining the UK Border Agency Licence to sponsor Tier 4 (non-EU) students to study in the United Kingdom. This achievement is appropriate recognition for the, literally, years of preparatory work to comply with stringent regulations and requirements to satisfy the UK Home Office in these times.

Learn more with a click here.

Well done, the first Shiatsu School to be accredited by the British Accreditation Council and the first, and at the time of writing the only, UKBA-licensed Shiatsu School. Thanks to the teaching and admin staff, students and everyone involved.

May we flourish in the Year of the Ox: prosperity through fortitude and hard work.

But its not all work even when it is - what a fantastic Tai Chi Camp we had at Rosewell!

Watch the movie here - great music, too.

New audio downloads for Taoist Meditation
We're starting to run low on the Taoist Meditation CD so I've added Inner Smile, Microcosmic Orbit and Six Healing Sounds to the Digital Download section in the catalog. You can download them separately for £2.97, pretty good value for 10 to 15 minutes guided meditation and no postage to pay! Check it out here

We enjoyed a really great Healing NLP Practitioner training in August and one of the new graduates, Miguel, started a Healing NLP Google group. Great idea - why didn't I think of that? See for yourself with a click here

And enfin, catch Mantak Chia on his London visit teaching at our Universal Healing Tao Centre. Tickets selling like ice-cream on a hot day so don't delay, sign today! Here

Bye now - ah, yes. this for couples! October 10th thru' 12th.

Healing NLP London free Talk and Demo

I demonstrated Visual Squash, at the first NLP free Talk and Demo, with a commentary on what I was doing. It was interesting because the subject was not at all bothered by my turning away to talk to the audience between-times.
Her major problem was "Everything", including panic at work, depression, moodiness, smoking, over-eating, inability to complete a training course, lack of money and relationship problems.
This was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate how to elicit 'Desired' and 'Problem' states from a mass of information and went down well with the good crowd who had turned up. We chunked down to a desire to manage her stress in the workplace when having to learn complex new processes in a very short time.
The technique was effective and I'm looking forward to hearing her report when she goes back to work. Meanwhile, here's her next-day feedback (short version!):
"Amazing healing NLP and it was so calming. I feel I can do anything from now on, deal with any situation well, express and allow love for me and for other people. Kris demonstrated the wonderful techniques of helping people find their strong and loving selves,while at the same time helping me be at peace and love the journey I am on."

I'm running a Practitioner Training 24th to 31st August at Healing NLP @ Zen School of Shiatsu, 1st Floor 68 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3JT. Learn all about it with a click here.

FIT FOR PURPOSE

You know how you look at people when they're fit. Probably how they look at you when you're fit! August is packed with new and exciting events to help YOU be a perfect fit for purpose member of the superhuman race. Special Summer Schools in Tao Yin (new), Zen Shiatsu, Jade Circle Beauty Tips (new) (from a L'Oreal former model now Tantric Dakini,) Tai Chi, Enlightenment Qigong (new), and Healing NLP Practitioner Certification training. Everything with recession-busting savings, too, plus a special 'heatwave meditation', "Under the Waterfall."©
So, for Summer Benefits, read on and click your pick.

LEARN ZEN SHIATSU: Summer School with Master of the Zen School Kris Deva North. No pre-requisites. August 3rd to 6th. New career-fit or helping hands fit for family and friends. Learn more about the Zen School including full course information See the new video Yin Yang Zen Shiatsu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elMdYoO4wkc

LET YOUR INNER BEAUTY OUT and get beauty-fit with L'Oreal former model now Tantric Dakini Anamarta of the Jade Circle. Saturday August 8th. Let your Inner Beauty out! Learn more about Let your Inner Beauty Out . See the video of Anamarta demonstrating Kuan Yin Chi Kung warm-up exercises including Chi Self-massage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCNQccG0MTU

Experience TAO YIN Yoga for the first time in the UK and get fit with Chi-Master Matt Lewis of the Universal Healing Tao Centre. Beginners to advanced, no pre-requisites. Sunday 9th August. Like Yoga? Love Tao Yin! Like Chi Kung? Love Tao Yin! Taster evening 29th July 6.30 to 8pm Learn more about Tao Yin including fees and booking info

Enjoy TAI CHI CAMP and get Tai Chi-Chi Kung-fit in the beautiful Lincolnshire countryside with Kris Deva North and Matt Lewis at the Rosewell Centre. Beginners to advanced, no pre-requisites. Learn Form, hands, weapons, demonstrations, practice. 11th to 16th August (free rough-camping) http://www.healing-tao.co.uk/Tai_Chi_training.htm Taster evening 27th July See the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4sqKt5T070

Enlighten your QIGONG and get fit with Andrew Fretwell, Taoist brother and Senior Instructor Universal Healing Tao, 22 and 23 August. Learn more

Enhance your Mindpower with HEALING NLP and get head-fit with Kris Deva North Licensed Trainer on Society of NLP Practitioner Certification Training 24th thru' 31st August. Free Evening Talk and Demo 7pm to 9pm Friday 31st July, no need to book, just come on by Healing NLP @ Zen School of Shiatsu, 68 Great Eastern Street London EC2A 3JT. No pressure, no obligation: in NLP you make your own choices, so start now. TASTER Day Saturday1st August. Learn more about NLP including fees and booking info

"Under the Waterfall"
People have told me this has been helpful to cool down and calm their energy on very hot days, in close conditions, or when feeling over-excited, dizzy or nauseous:
Imagine yourself sitting under a waterfall, your feet on cool wet grass
Close your eyes and lift your face to the water, imagine feeling it splash cool on your face
Spread your hands to the water, let it splash cool on your hands
Sit upright and let the water flow down, all over the crown of your head and cooling down, over all your skin, down to your feet on the cool wet grass,
and then
Imagine feeling the water pour down, into the crown of your head and cooling down, all under your skin, down to your feet on the cool wet grass,
and then
Let the water cascade down, through the crown of your head and cooling down, gushing down through the centre of your being, down to your feet on the cool wet grass,
and then
repeat three times
Under the Waterfall © Kris Deva North May 1972

Tune in with TAO YIN Taoist Yoga

Tao Yin, from Mantak Chia's book of the same name, is the Taoist form of Yoga

A GREAT ONE-DAY WORKSHOP 9th August 10am to 5 pm

NO PRE-REQUISITES, Ideal both for Beginners and for more experienced
The Tao Yin workshop includes Chi Self massage and the Warm-up exercises.
Like Yoga? Love Tao Yin! Like Chi Kung? Love Tao Yin! And here's why:

In the old days when people still lived close
to nature, the heat that was released by the body was absorbed by
the woods. These days, the artificial environments that we live
in don't provide us with this kind of release. Heat is more and
more trapped in the body, causing it to overheat and to damage the
internal organs. This may cause various diseases including heart
attacks.

Tao Yin lying and sitting positions for exercise
contain a set of postures, breathing exercises, and meditation that
are designed to move the excess heat out of the body. They stretch,
detoxify and revitalize the muscles and the tendons. While in the
relaxation period after the active phase of movement and stretching,
we guide the Chi with the breath to that particular part of the
body affected by the exercise. This yin phase of the practice expels
the heat and opens the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints that
are emphasized in the postures.

In general, the combination of active and passive
phases of the practice conditions the spine, tendons, ligaments,
muscles and diaphragm - and in ways that cannot be achieved in standing and moving positions. A balanced session of practice opens chi flow throughout all the meridians, removes toxins and tension throughout the body and engenders a deep sense of relaxed peace and calm - yet wonderfully energized at the same time.

In particular, Tao Yin focuses especially on the Psoas muscle
because of its central role in our body. The Psoas muscle connects
and moves the hips, spine and legs; all movements of Tai Chi Chi
Kung come from the Psoas muscle. The kidneys are connected to the
Psoas muscle, and the nerves move it from behind. While doing Tao
Yin, one also trains the Second Brain in the abdomen as the control
and coordination center of awareness for the body. Practicing Tao
Yin is very helpful for the practice of Iron Shirt and of Tai Chi
Chi Kung.

Come by the London Tao Centre, 68 Great Eastern Street London EC2A 3JT - Old St/Liverpool St Tubes/BR
Just £87 for the whole day workshop with Chi-Master Matt Lewis, Chief Instructor Universal Healing Tao UK

Click here to Register
All course calendar

Resource: Tao Yin, by Mantak Chia

Accreditation Congratulations to the Zen School of Shiatsu

Congratulations to the Zen School of Shiatsu on accreditation by the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education.

This success follows two years of preparation and a rigorous inspection by the BAC of all aspects of school life, from teaching qualifications to Health & Safety.

Master of the Zen School Kris Deva North thanks all who took part in readying the school for this validation of our commitment to excellence, in particular Michael Cullingworth, Bernadette Carelse, Elizabeth Butters and Marta Antunes.

In celebration of this the Zen School is offering a Shiatsu Summer School, with an extra special Intensive Immersion at the old rate, before the unfortunately necessary increase in fees for the next academic year. Register with a click here

We are also celebrating the 3rd London Shiatsuthon on 3rd July to raise money for Help a London Child in association with 95.8 Capital FM, London's No 1 Hit Music Station, furthering our partnership with Capital developed by Marta Antunes. Learn more with a click here.