Magic, Myth + Mantra Training Part 4: Hanuman

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MAGIC, MYTH + MANTRA TRAINING

PART 4: HANUMAN

1 MAGIC, MYTH + MANTRA TRAINING 2 MAGIC, MYTH + MANTRA TRAINING HANUMAN Step Into Your Highest

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Om Sri Hanumate Namah . Salutations to Hanuman the embodiment of devotion, humility and strength

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HUNAMAN 3 LORD OF STRENGTH, HUMILITY AND DEVOTION

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Lord Hanuman is the beloved Monkey God, hero of the Indian epic the Ramayana, who is known for his endless devotion to Lord Rama, Vishnu’s avatar.

He was born with innate gifts and powers by virtue of his lineage (the son of the Wind God Vayu) and through his mastery of the yogic arts and by blessings of the Gods his power grew, so that he is one of the most powerful of all gods, unable to be defeated in battle. He uses his strengths in service of Lord Rama and Sita and so devoted is he to their protection and service that he is considered the model bhakti.

He is incredibly learned, and represents the ideal student for his reverence to his teachers and dedication to his studies.

His mythology tells of the importance of remembering our divine nature in order to reach our fullest potential and he is invoked to help those on the yogic path to find the courage to step into their highest.

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HANUMAN SYMBOLISM ———— Strong, muscular body immense power

Mace to overcome obstacles (used by Bhima in the Mahabharata, another son of the wind god Vayu) Pearl necklace gift from Sita for his devotion Bow for determination and focus Loin cloth symbol of his celibacy Open heart devotion Abaya mudra or Anjali mudra no fear and gesture of reverence In the clouds relationship to prana and air Holding the mountain strength and protective powers

INVOKE HANUMAN FOR… ———— • Great strength and courage • Empower your yogic practices • Deepening humility • Strengthening devotion and faith • Encouragement on a path of service • Help solving difficult problems • Strengthening the body’s ability to heal • Strengthening your studentship • Aligning with our highest purpose, following our dharma

HUNAMAN 5 A hero is someone who has given his or her “life to something bigger than oneself. Joseph Campbell

6 MAGIC, MYTH + MANTRA TRAINING WAYS TO STEP INTO THE POWER OF HANUMAN

———— Japa

Om Sri Hanumate Namah .

Kirtan

Jaya Sita Ram Jai Jai Hanuman

(Dm) (F) (C)

Jaya Sita Ram Jai Jai Hanuman

Ram Ram Ram Sita Ram Ram Ram

Asana

Hanuman, the son of the Wind God Vayu, is said to be the embodiment of Prana, energetic life force, which can be seen in the way he moves - he is agile, energetic, powerful. Vinyasa yoga is a great way to get into the energy current of Hanuman as each posture is linked to the next and to the breath, creating rhythm and flow and building prana. This week work several rounds of Surya Namaskar A and B into your practice. In the spirit of hanuman and to strengthen your humility and faith, dedicate each breath and movement to a higher purpose - whatever that means for you. For a chance to embody Hanuman’s myth, incorporate hanumanasana (Hanuman’s pose) into your practice - representative of Hanuman’s leap of faith that saw him fly from India to Lanka in search of Sita. Anjaneyasana (son of Anjana’s Pose) is another of Hanuman’s poses. Feel the power of the legs and crack your heart to the sky, remembering Hanuman’s love for Rama and Sita. Hanuman lives in the Heart so awareness of Anahata Chakra and poses that encourage the space of the heart to open, such as backbends may help you to enliven Hanuman energy.

HUNAMAN 7

———— Pranayama

Pranayama practices help us cultivate and control the flow of Prana. Energy building practices to try: Kapalabhati - Pulsing belly breath with a passive inhale (3 - 5 mins) Vayu Mudras as follows:

APANA VAYU

Gyan mudra and chin mudra Connect your index finger and thumb (at the tip, or with index finger at the base of thumb to quiet ego) Gyan mudra – attitude of intuitive knowedge, palm down Chin mudra – attitude of wisdom or consciousness, palm up

SAMANA VAYU

Chin Maya Mudra Keep the thumb and index finger connect but curl other three fingers into center of palm Palms face down

PRANA VAYU

Aadi Mudra Bring the thumb into the palm and close the fingers around the thumb. Palms down.

UDANA VAYU

Aadi Mudra As above – fingers wrapped around thumb but turn palm up for Udana Vayu.

VYANA VAYU

Brahma Mudra Create Aadi mudra on two hands and then bring the knuckles to touch and place hands in lap. Your little fingers are closest to your body. If you are pregnant, use ujayi breath as your pranayama practice instead of kapalabhati and only aim for 5 minutes (and if it’s not feeling good in any way, don’t do it at all).

8 MAGIC, MYTH + MANTRA TRAINING ACTIVITIES ———— Strengthen Humility

What are you really good at and how can you offer that to the community out of love? Can you bake? Can you play music?

Choose one thing that you’d love to do for someone else. Do that thing. Notice how your heart feels.

CONTEMPLATION ———— When you forget your full potential who do you turn to? Who do you trust to remind you?

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What fuels your prana? What gives you a sense of vitality, of life?

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What does humility mean to you? Where in your life do you exhibit this quality?

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HUNAMAN 9 ————

What or who are you devoted to?

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What’s your higher purpose?

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10 MAGIC, MYTH + MANTRA TRAINING HUNAMAN 11 When we quit thinking primarily about “ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.

Joseph Campbell

12 MAGIC, MYTH + MANTRA TRAINING NOTES ———— ______

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