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On February 2nd, midway between winter solstice and spring equi-nox, a groundhog emerges from its hole, and if it sees its shadow, itreturns to the burrow and winter continues for six more weeks. Asan un er-earner, ve never een n a nanc a pos t on to un er-take continued Jungian analysis, but from my time in program, I

believe I've learned a lot both about burrowing and the Jungianshadow.

Artists use shadows to delineate the shape of an object. Blind peo-ple use the shadows cast by sounds to perceive the objects aroundthem. Our perception of shadows allows us to perceive objectscasting them. Just as the shadow is not the object, we are not ourfinances, but what we do with our finances helps define our livesand selves. In twelve step programs, we identify ourselves with themanifestation our shadow behaviors have taken in our lives. Ima debtor, underearner, compulsive spender, deprivation addict,time debtor, clutterer, etc... Its said that religions and spiritualpursuits are paths to integrate our shadow selves so that we may

become whole. Steps 4 through 9 help us to identify the shadows ofourselves, our character defects and the actions that manifest them,offering us the opportunity to mend the shadows they have left be-hind in our lives, and giving us the opportunity to participate morefully in the world, fully radiating the inner light we possess.

If we retreat into our hole until were ready for a metaphorical

spring, what do we do there? The groundhog hibernates, and insleep dreams present shadows again. Dreams reveal aspects ofourselves, and are often used as tools towards self-realization andactualization. Every character defect is said to be an instinctualneed out-of-balance, and can become a character strength withmoderation. As such, something like envy can be an indicatorthat we have a capability within us; if we own it and commit topursuing it, we can use envy as a motivator for growth instead of

ecom ng cr pp e y t.

Meditation is a tool to help us allow clearer perception of ourselvesand our interactions in the world. Heres an extremely simple mov-ing meditation I learned in a Tai Chi class. It brought me impercep-tibly into an unexpectedly deep state of calm, something I realizedwhen a school secretary interrupted the class to ask me a question.

Jarred into reality, the shadow of the meditation revealed thedeep meditative state I had achieved.

Begin by flexing muscles throughout the body; lift each foot androtate the ankles in both directions, put hands on your knees andgently guide them in circles over your ankles, clock-wise andcounter-clockwise. Let your hands hang limp by your sides andmake circles with your hips in both directions. Roll your shouldersforward and back, and sink into slightly bent knees, dangling yourarms by your sides, and look out over your nose as you guide thetip of it in horizontal circles around your neck. Shake yourself out ifyou like. Then begin the meditation:

Point the toes slightly towards each other, sink slightly into bentknees with your elbows near your torso, palms up. As you inhale,lift the palms up and out, palms up, as you straighten the knees,drawing a circle with your wrists. Bring the palms together nearyour upper chest, and flip the palms facing down, one above theother but not touching. Exhaling, push the hands down a centerline in front of you towards your pelvis, sinking into bent kneesagain. Continue making these circles with your hands synchro-nized with your breath, sinking into the earth as you exhale andrising up from it as you inhale. See how long you can continue, andnotice how your state of mind changes. Thats all there is to it. Verys mp e, ut e ect ve.

There is also a positive shadow in Jungian thought. This represenour suppressed talents and desires, our light hidden under a busel. Bringing this into the light could be thought of as identifyingour vision. In the Platonic cave parable, the unfamiliar light of thivision could frighten us to return to our cave. Maybe GroundhogDay is a Platonic Holiday.

I was recently reading a book which claimed that there are pushand pull motivators in life. When we try to suppress a behaviorwe push it out of our lives, and these are difficult motivations toma nta n. we move towar s a es re goa n our e, we putowards it, and pull motivators often help us change more ef-fectively. A vision is a pull motivator. Visions give us a reason tocontinue with the program when the memory of the pain that gotus here recedes. If we havent owned our visions yet, others arounus may offer us hope that we have something to move forwardtowards in our lives.

Recently I was in a meeting listening to the DA Visions pamphletbeing read, preoccupied with the challenges I faced with my cli-ents. Suddenly it dawned on me that the career I was embroiled inwas once mere y a v s on or me. c o prov ng computertech support, I longed to be doing creative design work. Throughsteps that I couldnt yet imagine, with the support of others inthe program, I walked down a path that has turned into a source

of income. Ive been told that any time we commit to pursuingsomething in life, theres a spiritual law that we will encounterresistance. This is a reminder that God never gives us more than wcan handle, and helps us discover the strength to persevere. Oftenthe best approach is rather than to meet challenges head-on, we catack our sail into the head-wind and navigate around and throughthe resistance. This realization of my evolving vision made my client problems seem less daunting.

February also delivers Valentines Day. Pujya Swamiji, or Muniji,recently suggested that if you make God your Valentine, your lifewill be taken care of. Applying principles over personalities in theprogram, we can offer a form of unconditional love to those arounus. The heart center regulates the interaction between our animaldesires and spiritual nature. When we speak from the heart, it is

said that we cannot lie, that others will understand us completely,and we will communicate more effectively. Love is the antidote tofear.

Heres a meditation to open your heart and participate in the flowof love in the world. Sit cross-legged, bringing your hands into aprayer position at your heart and sternum. Inhale, extending your

arms directly in front of you, palms foward and fingers up. Thenexhale as you swing your fully extended arms out to your sides,pushing out to your sides with the palms. Inhale as you bring the

back together in front of you, and exhale as you bring them back a prayer position at your heart and chest. When you inhale silentlsay to yourself, I am willing to receive love. As you exhale, si-lently say, I am willing to give love. Continue for 3 to 11 minuteHappy Valentines Day.

Note: Checks and Balances would like to hear from you.Share with the fellowship! Send to publications@socalda.org.

Meditation Corner: Emerging From Our Burrows For Valentines DayBy Arthur K.

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When you talk to God, thats prayer. When you listen to God, thatsmeditation. When God talks to you, thats schizophrenia.

Meditation and prayer are an integral part of a spiritual lifestyle; at thevery least they can help you feel less like youre losing your mind whenlifes demands become overwhelming. Obviously, Im a strong propo-nent of this practice in its various formssilent meditation, meditationthat involves chanting, andmy favoritemeditation in motion (e.g.,Tai Chi, which Ill address in a future article). But here are a few tips toget you started, and take you past the rough patches. My most impor-tant piece of advice: Keep trying. Approach the project from differentangles. Peace is worth pursuing.

One of the toughest issues in any spiritual practice is fighting ones emo-

tions. I find this gets more pronounced the longer its been since I lastmade time to reach out. The emotional centers of our lives and relatedcharacter defects/sins (sins are things that cut us off from God) causeus to re-act o these feelings. For instance, at the end of last month mylease renewal came up, and fear of financial insecurity made me squirmand simmer throughout my morning meditation. But sticking with ithelped me to cope.

And then, there is the issue of internal chatter: many of us, when we firstsit down to meditate, suddenly become aware of the monkey mindthat restless, crazy beast that bounces around between our ears whenwe try to focus. An initial step to help calm and quiet this creature is us-ing a word with spiritual significance to you. It could simply be God,repeated over and over. This helps give that monkey mind somethingto focus on, and eventually it begins to work with you instead of againstyou. You can do this out loud, or silently.

Its said that extroverted people often have a more rewarding experi-ence during meditation because they reach out to God during the pro-cess and have an encounter with Him/Her, whereas more introvertedtypes may find themselves caught up in the monkey mind and unableto make that connection. The solution? Try to make an inward effort toconnect with God during meditation, whatever form that encountermay take. Sometimes my outreach is hostile; Ive come to understandthat God can take it. Later on, our relationship is such that we kiss andmake up. (Im beginning to like this idea of God as a woman.)

Sometimes the connection with the Higher Power feels like its absent,despite our attempts to reach out. Its like we pick up the phone, andno one is there. This might be a mental trick, or it could be a dry day,spiritually speaking. In case its the latter, remember that prayer andmeditation are like dealing with Ma Bell: the silence we hear on the line

always indicates a problem with ourown equipment; we arent ready tolisten yet. Tomorrow, it will be different.

Quiet your mind. Reach out. Pick up the cosmic phone, and make thatig Outreach Call.

Me itation As MediationBy Arthur K.

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any people claim that theyve tried medita-ionbut it doesnt work. This is like a babyrying to walk and deciding it doesnt work.eep on trying. Those who have the most

rouble meditating are often the ones wholater find they gain the most from it.

heard one person say that when life is goingreally well, they need to meditate at least 30minutes a day. When it gets really hectic and

hey have absolutely no time for anything, theyeed to meditate for at least 45 minutes. Yet for

he beginner, this may seem incomprehen-sible: Where can you start when three minutesseems unbearable and restlessness pulseshrough every cell?

Start by working on your breathing for a fewminutes a day. The breath controls the mind,and the body follows the mind; when youbreathe consciously you utilize yourprana(incoming life force) more effectively, and gaincontrol of your emotions rather than be theirslave. Pay attention to your breath; consciouslyry to slow it down. Breathe more deeply

This breathing exercise is good for gettingcentered and dealing with stress; it balanceshe hemispheres of the brain. Close your eyes,

and sit cross-legged with relaxed arms andshoulders and a straight spine. Wrists are onhe knees, palms up; index fingers touch thehumbs. Other fingers are extended. Known

as Gyan Mudra, this classic (and often-stereo-yped) meditation position helps calm andcenter you. Its said that you cant stay in abad mood in this posture. Inhale through yourongue curled like a straw; exhale through the

nose. Inhale faith, exhale fear. Then reverse;inhale through the nose and exhale throughhe curled tongue. low down your breathnd your mind. I do this breath to calm down

when people cut me off in traffic (eyes openand without the posture and hand position, ofcourse).

As you begin to meditate, try to keep in mindhat abundance is the natural state of the

universe. This may sound a bit New Age-y, butry it anyway. Abundance is not just about ac-

cumulating things; its also about experiencinghe gifts youve been blessed with, and real-

izing how they contribute to the world aroundyou. We feel deprived when our fear blocks ourcontributions and our reception of reciprocalgifts. Theres nothing spiritually wrong withbeing prosperous and experiencing abun-

dance. When were living prosperously weuplift everyone we come into contact with, andhe whole world benefits.

The eleventh step mentions that the variety ofprayer and meditation techniques availableo us are vast. Ill be sharing a few techniquesrom Kundalini Yoga and other disciplines overhe next couple of months. I have come to lovehese meditations, and there are many moreo choose from. If youd like more suggestions,

email me and Ill send you a few. (Of courseDA does not endorse or support any religious ormeditative practice, and I share these based onmy own positive experiences.)

Karani Kriya is an exercise for clarity andprosperity. This helps balance the negativeand positive minds, creating a neutral statewherein you can more effectively visualize thethings that will support your life and spiritualgrowth. It works on the throat chakra, seat ofcreativity and expression. This is one of the bestexercises for helping to focus your mind onthe career and financial objectives that will bemost supportive to your life, helping you move

toward your lifes destiny. Its said that thisbreath meditation helps you find the sourceof creativity that is in your heart, solving theproblem of how to make a lucrative livelihoodand satisfy your soul.

Again sitting cross-legged, place your elbowsat shoulder level with your palms down andyour hands in fists with index and middlefingers extended, tips touching each other infront of your throat.

Control your breath; inhale 3 counts; hold for5; exhale 10-15 counts through your nose. Fo-cus eyes on the tip of your nose, with your eyes1/10th open. Start with 3 minutes, then buildup to 11, then 31.

Karma Yoga

The basic idea behind Karma Yoga is thatall thework you do is done for God. Page 63 ofAlcohol-ics Anonymous tells us,

When we sincerely took such a position,all sorts of remarkable things followed.We had a new Employer. Being all pow-erful, He provided what we needed, ifwe kept close to Him and performed Hiswork well. Established on such a footingwe became less and less interested inourselves, our little plans and designs.More and more we became interestedin seeing what we could contribute tolife. As we felt new power flow in, as we

enjoyed peace of mind, as we discov-ered we could face life successfully, aswe became conscious of His presence,we began to lose our fear of today,tomorrow or the hereafter. We werereborn.

If you take this idea very seriously, the ThirdStep Prayer adds a whole different dimensionto your work life: Your boss or client may thinkhes in charge, ut you know that God is; theboss is simply one of His agents. You show up,do your best, offer your efforts, and God takescare of the rest.

In the meantime: breathe

Meditation, the Eleventh Step, and Karma Yoga: 1By Arthur K. (librlart@gmail.com)