The Joan Zone

  • Manipura Chakra: The seat of our internal fire

    by Joan Varini
    As I continue to try to carve out my new life here in North Carolina, I acknowledge that I am dealing with a lot of 3rd chakra oriented deliberatio...

  • Enraptured by a River, Mystical Moments on Retreat

    by Joan Varini
    On this particular evening, after an exhilarating zip lining adventure through the cloud bridge canopy, we concluded the day with a mental excursio...

  • Finding Our Way

    by Joan Varini
    Tonight the electric sky sings with fervor, as I smoke my tobacco prayers. I petition the sacred gate keepers of the medicine wheel for guidance. T...

  • Meditation; The Key to Conscious Living

    by Joan Varini
    Become less reactionary, gain mental clarity and focus, be more engaged and present in the moment; these are some of the benefits of meditation. ...

  • KNOW YOURSELF, KNOW PEACE

    by Joan Varini
    I lived in Miami for 22 years. When I told people that I was never able to really feel at home there, some people simply understood and others wer...

  • Finding Sanctuary Through Discipline

    by Joan Varini
    One of the oldest philosophical meanings and purposes of yoga is the practice of any discipline that can help one experience non-duality. Through ...

  • Seeking Simplicity

    by Joan Varini
    I used to think I needed to be someone, someone you’d know when they talked about me, a famous activists, artists, poet, teacher, medium. I used t...

  • The Four Keys to Happiness

    by Joan Varini
    maitri karuna muditopeksanam sukha duhkha punyapunya visayanam bhavanatas citta prasadanam -Sutra 1:33 from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. This Sutra la...

  • A Reminder to go with the Flow of Your Life's Natural Current

    by Joan Varini
    I feel drawn to the serenity of rivers and streams. I feel the most calm and connected when I am lulled into meditation by the soothing rhythmic r...

  • Developing Mindfulness; Being Present in the Moment

    by Joan Varini
    When it feels like the world is spinning out of control, slow down on the inside. Many of us are struggling to process the dramatic changes in our...

  • Restructuring Life After Trauma

    by Joan Varini
    Just because we’ve gone through most of the layers of healing from past pain or trauma, that doesn’t mean we’ve fully transformed beyond harmful b...

  • Your Life as a Recovery Program

    by Joan Varini
    I don’t have many friends, but the people I do have in my inner circle are real, no bullshit, solid confidantes. I feel like I have people that rea...