When we know how much of what we perceive is a trick of the light of our own perception, we are that much closer to witnessing from a more spacious, and thus more compassionate, consciousness.
I am deeply grateful that I can soothe myself with food. I made basil, garlic chive pesto last summer when the garden was at its height and froze some (before adding cheese). The sourdough starter needs to be used at least a couple of times a month. I made enough dough to have a personal pizza four or five times. Finally got the crust both crunchy and chewy.
I could mention that work is busy, I am continuing to refine and expand making reparations and seeking decency and justice, and I am participating in an on-line meditation retreat with an hour of practice at noon every day this week.
According to yesterday’s Washington Post, we are officially in a drought. We are short 7.3 inches of rain since October, 5 inches since January. The recent rain is merely returning to near normal rainfall and is not addressing the deficit. Please do what you can to conserve water. See previous post for some tips: https://rosegardenyoga.com/2009/02/rain-not-quite-enough/
Please comment to share your own water saving tips.
Dear Yogis–
Rain and unseasonable weather in the weekend forecast have you wondering where is Spring? Instead of longing for the missing Spring, dig deep into the seeds of relaxation with a bolster, seven blankets (give or take a few), and other body and heart warmers, this Saturday at the final “Relaxing into Optimal Alignment”:
Saturday, March 26th, 2:30-4:30p, Willow Street Yoga Center, Takoma Park, $30
After a little gentle stretching and self-massage to bring awareness to the breath and body, we will enjoy the exquisite application of Anusara’s® Universal Principles of Alignment to restful and supported restorative postures to release old patterns and invite in the new to find greater ease of body and mind.
Hope to see you Saturday for our own breath of Spring and do please invite your friends; experienced yogis and complete novices are all welcome.
ps I know I offered to sign a few people up for the blog. Alas, I cannot do that for you from my computer. If you want to get emails with the latest blog entries, please go to http://www.rosegardenyoga.com/follow-my-blog, and follow the simple instructions there. I’ve gotten great feedback on the email version as an easy way to be in touch, so please join us.
Peace and light,
Elizabeth
Crescent moon and Venus–utterly indifferent to the dramas on earth.
The other day I was doing a computer search on contact improv jams in the Bay Area to see if it was possible to fit one in during my upcoming vacation in San Francisco.
The website for one of the jams said for a class that preceded the weekly jam that beginners and advanced practitioners with a beginner’s mind were welcome. I loved that statement.
The idea of beginner’s mind is one that is mentioned often in the yoga world and was taught as an integral part of the principle of “opening to grace” in the Anusara system.
What I think is meant by practicing or bringing to the mat or to the dance a beginner’s mind is approaching each practice, every step, every pose, every aspect of alignment and technique with wonder, openness, and an ever-growing willingness to learn.
When we are new to a practice or a style, discovering our own capacity to express and experience the form is exciting, as is a growing mastery of body and mind in the language of the form.
Being advanced, though, is not just about physical or intellectual prowess. It is about developing a nuanced relationship between ourselves, the practices, and our fellow practitioners. Being freshly open to new insight and learning even from beginners helps us deepen our practice and experience ever greater enjoyment (bhoga).
Peace and light, E — Posted with WordPress for BlackBerry.
Sometimes when I am looking for inspiration, I take a book off of my shelf, let it fall open where it will, and see whether there is a sentence or phrase that resonates for my day. Here’s my random quote for the day:
“May we be without fear/ by night and day!/ Let all the world be my friend!” Atharva Veda, XIX, 19 (Raimundo Panikkar, The Vedic Experience Mantramanjari)