Next time I do something that means everything to me, someone please tell me to take a picture. 🙏🏽
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This weekend I taught my first chanting workshop that was open to the public. My intention going into it was to allow myself to just be present for the experience. To be fully there, so that I could receive and take everything in.
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Sometimes when I show up to do things I really care about, I’m so attached to everything going perfectly that I don’t give myself the space to take in the beauty of what’s happening.
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This time it was different. From the moment people started arriving, I could feel that I was really with everyone. Really connected.
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I opened with an invitation to share our names and what inspired us to come. I had actually earlier decided specifically not to start this way, reasoning that there was so much to do that we wouldn’t have time.
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But there in the moment, I knew that this space needed to be opened. We were all there to use our voices after all. Singing, speaking, crying, yelling — they are all just different expressions of the same truth. Beginning the afternoon with an exercise in speaking openly and freely, seemed the right place to start.
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What I wasn’t expecting in this exercise however, was that as we went around the circle and shared our intentions for being there, every single person also looked me right in the eyes and shared that I had somehow and someway made an impact on their lives, and have helped them on their journey. That I was part of the reason that they wanted to come that day.
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Right from the start, I was hit with an overwhelming amount of love and validation — something that in the past I might have brushed off or somehow discredited. But that day, I allowed it all in. .
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This moment, allowed me to forget perfection, to forget the agenda, and just be present for the experience and do exactly what I was asking everyone else to do — be open with my true and authentic expression. .
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(A little bit more to go in the comments.....)
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#singingthesoul
#embodyingthespirit
#chanting
#mantra
#workshop
#devotion
#bhakti
#allow
#receive
#grateful
#jai
#ॐ
Throwback to that time I played my guitar and sang my guts out in front of a crowd full of people.... while my guitar was completely out of tune.... and I nervously stumbled over the lyrics.
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But you want to know what? No one cared. I don’t think anyone even noticed. In fact, afterwards @ddayepoetry asked when I plan to release my first album!
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That’s one of the amazing things about singing, making music, and sharing it — people are just so thrilled to be in the presence of it, that perfection is not required. .
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In fact, to me, part of the beauty of organically created music, is the imperfection. This is where everything that’s interesting and compelling lies. It’s like the little crack that reveals the inner-most soul of the creator. 👁
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This weekend I am teaching my very first chanting workshop, and I am so so excited to share this wonderful gift of singing. My hope is to empower people to embrace imperfection, to love imperfection, and to sing anyway. 💓🌬🎶
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I hope that you can join me Saturday 3/30 from 1:00-3:30pm at the lovely @metta_yoga for Singing the Soul: Embodying the Spirit.
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We will discuss the history, science, and spirituality of using singing as a healing modality and spiritual practice... and of course SING! ✨
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Get your ticket in advance for a discounted price. I so so appreciate your support! 🙏🏽
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Link in bio for more information and to register. ✨
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#embraceimperfection
#singanyway
#comesingwithme
#singingisourbirthright
#singingheals
#sacredsongs
#devotionalsinging
#chanting
#sanskrit
#jai
#ॐ
Photo by Winona Grey Photography @winonagrey
Lately I haven’t had much to say. Or maybe it’s that I have so much to say that I don’t even know how to begin.
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When I try, words start flowing, and then I get lost in them. They seem to bring more questions. More confusion.
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You might say that I’m feeling lost. Uncertain about what’ next, what to focus on.
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It feels like my body has been thrown up in pieces into the air, and I am in free fall, not knowing where all my pieces will land.
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But this upheaval, I know too, is Divine. It has been orchestrated perfectly, to push me, to shake me, to break me open to force me to become something new.
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I recently learned a new concept in astrology that each year of your life is ruled by a house. First year, first house. Second year, second house. So on and so on.
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For me, this means that this year, my 31st, is ruled by the 8th house — house of the underworld, house of shadows and taboos, house of the deep & dark waters of the subconscious.
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Learning this has helped me make sense of why I feel the way the I do, and why the words to express it have been so hard to find. In the watery depths of he subconscious, words don’t work the same way. .
Here, everything is more symbolic, more abstract, and intuitive... and also more confusing. Especially in the beginning of our decent.
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Here, it is like walking into a house of mirrors, where every reflection is a part of of you that you’ve tucked away so deep you can pretend it isn’t there.
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And there in the dark, forgotten and neglected, these aspects of self become pale, sickly, mangled, and completely starved of our nourishment and love.
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They need to be resurrected, to be brought back into the wholeness of our being. But to do this, the decent is necessary.
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I think I speak for many of us when I say that no matter what zodiacal year you are in, these times are intense. We are all ascending and growing and changing so rapidly. .
So while this energy might rock us in sometimes turbulent fashion, let us remember that this process is also buffing us clean so that we can rise shiny and new. 🔥
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Equinox blessings to us all. ✨
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#equinox
#shift
#breakup
#shakeup
#shadow
#rise
#divine
#surrender
#ॐ
On this path, the powers you will gain will be plenty,
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And your ability to wield them will be great,
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But the powers, dear one, are not the point.
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In fact, they are child’s play, fool’s gold.
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Rather, the room with no walls,
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The door with no frame,
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This is the True.
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Keep the powers.
Give me Freedom in their place.
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🔱 Featured Class 🔱
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Sound Healing Meditation
6:00-7:00pm
@davesastangayoga *donation based* 💚
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🔱 Featured Event 🔱
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Singing the Soul: Embodying the Spirit
A devotional chanting workshop
Saturday 3/30, 1:00-3:30pm
@metta_yoga 🎶
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For more information about my current offerings, visit kariannlevine.com. Link in bio. 🙏🏽
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#liberation #nirvana #kaivalya #moksa #yoga #yogini #sound #mantra #wholeness #phoenixaz #jai #ॐ
Close your eyes. .
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Can you see it? .
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Blackness and specks of dancing light. .
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Expanding. Contracting. Expanding. Contracting.
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Breathing. Birthing. Dying. .
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It’s easy to miss, but not hard to see. .
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If only you’d suspend your disbelief. .
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And open to the mystery. .
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Behind my eyes, a galaxy.
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#mysticalvision #poetry #👁
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✨Yoga & Sound Offerings✨
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Monday 7:30pm
Candlelit Flow to Zen
@urbanyogaphx .
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Tuesday 6:00pm
NEW CLASS FORMAT
Sound Healing Meditation
@davesastangayoga *donation based class*.
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Thursday 6:30am
Aṣṭāṅga Mysore
@urbanyogaphx .
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Thursday 6:00pm
Aṣṭāṅga Vinyasa
@urbanyogaphx .
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Thursday 7:30pm
Candlelit Flow to Zen
@urbanyogaphx .
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Saturday 8:30am
Aṣṭāṅga Half Primary Series
@urbanyogaphx .
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Sunday 8:30am
Karma Flow ($5 Class!)
@urbanyogaphx .
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Sunday 10:00am
Urban Flow
@urbanyogaphx .
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Sunday 4:00pm
All Levels Flow
@urbanyogaphx.
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SPECIAL EVENTS
Saturday 3/9, 7:15-8:30pm
Sacred Sound Meditation
@metta_yoga .
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Saturday 3/30, 1:00-3:30pm
Singing the Soul: Embodying the Spirit
A Devotional Chanting Workshop
@metta_yoga .
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For more info about these classes and events, visit kariannlevine.com. Link in bio. ✨🙏🏽
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#soundhealing #soundmeditation #crystalbowls #nature #trance #soundjourney #yoga #yogini #yogateacher #love #jai #ॐ @yoga.phx
One of the ways that I recognize depression settling in, is by a very particular voice I hear. .
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It’s my voice. It’s not some demon or some shadow. It’s me. .
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But there is another part of me, that desperately wants to say that this is not true. .
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This part of me, actually cringes at the thought of using this word — depression. But I also think that this means I need to say it. And I have a feeling that this is also means it needs to be read. .
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I remember hearing @krishnadasmusic say once that it was his karma to be depressed. At first I didn’t get it. How could this person — who is likely much more enlightened than I — resign himself to being depressed? Would this not keep him stuck in his well worn and melancholy mental grooves? .
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But I think actually there is something to this. Number one... all of our experiences are karmic. If we’re going through it, it is the effect of some cause. From this life or another, I have my theories, but I don’t really think it matters. The experience is real and it is valid. .
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Number two... a statement like this does not show weakness. It shows strength. And the person who states it isn’t someone stuck in their story, it is someone owning their story. Every part of it. Not just the good stuff, or the stuff that society is comfortable with. .
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(Because society at large is NOT comfortable with open expressions of sadness, and this is saddening.) .
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It is a statement of integration. A statement that invites every part of oneself to come home. .
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I’ve tried pushing these feelings away. I’ve tried trying to change my mind and reprogram my thoughts. But all of that is just resistance. .
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A subtle and sneaky way for me to communicate to myself that what I feel is not okay and that it should change. .
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So I’m trying a new approach. .
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.... continued in comments.
Sometimes the spiritual road feels like walking through mud.
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Each step labored and exhausting. Heavy footed, dredging through the muck of all our stuff.
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But there is a trick with mud.
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Don’t resist. Walk slowly. Let it hold you back, even.
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And when you get frustrated, because we all do....
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Love it. Thank it. Kneel down and touch it in reverence and honor for its wisdom.
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Then, simply walk on. Head up, eyes open, and heart unshielded for whatever terrain our path greets us with next.
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Our legs might be tired. But they are also stronger and fueled with an energy that only wading through mud can cultivate.
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So, like a small but mighty engine take one, slow, weighted step at a time.
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Until eventually, you realize how far you’ve come. Mud and all. .
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✨Yoga & Sound Offerings✨
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Monday 6:00pm
Restorative
@urbanyogaphx .
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Monday 7:30pm
Candlelit Flow to Zen
@urbanyogaphx .
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Tuesday 6:00pm
Yoga Nidra & Sound Meditation
@davesastangayoga *donation based class*.
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Thursday 6:30am
Aṣṭāṅga Mysore
@urbanyogaphx .
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Thursday 6:00pm
Aṣṭāṅga Vinyasa
@urbanyogaphx .
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Saturday 8:30am
Aṣṭāṅga Half Primary Series
@urbanyogaphx .
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Saturday 7:00pm
Yin-Ki | Yin Yoga, Reiki, Essential Oils, & Sound Healing
With @sarabrookewolf
@space.phx .
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Sunday 9:00am
Master Flow
@metta_yoga .
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Sunday 4:00pm
All Levels Flow
@urbanyogaphx.
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Saturday 3/9, 7:15-8:30pm
Sacred Sound Meditation
@metta_yoga .
.
Saturday 3/30, 1:00-3:30pm
Singing the Soul: Embodying the Spirit
A Devotional Chanting Workshop
@metta_yoga .
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For more info about these classes and events, visit kariannlevine.com. Link in bio. ✨🙏🏽
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#mud #spiritualpath #spiritualjourney #awakening #consciousness #healing #love #gratitude #yoga #yogini #soundhealing #soundmeditation #soundbath #crystalbowls #jai #ॐ
