Signs Around Town


The trishula represents all the philosophical threesomes:
sat cit ananda (being, consciousness, bliss);
iccha, jnana, kriya (will, knowledge, action);
siva and shakti and the dance of relationship between the two.
The me and the you and the us–for where there are two ones there is also the third and all the play (lila) and pulsation (spanda) that is part of the dance cosmic and divine and personal.
I am working from home today. I looked out of my window and saw a flurry of birds going from one roof to another. There were the usual starlings, but among them were five robin redbreasts. They definitely do not belong here this time of year. Instead of getting the usual song in my heart from the first sighting of the robin redbreast of spring, I am filled with concern. What are they doing here? Will they survive? How can they get worms out of the frozen ground? Have they been confused by the warming pattern over the last several years?
I know that the robins are out of place here this time of year from a combination of learning and observing over the years what is supposed to be their season in this part of the world. So too with many things that at one time a place, a practice, a relationship will serve and another will take us away from what is optimal. As with yoga practice, we learn for ourselves and what is around us, what is optimal when and where, by a combination of study and practice.
There were also a few gulls. We see those around town sometimes because of the tidal basin, but not usually here in my back alley. Is there some kind of special bird conference going on that I was privileged to witness?
Dear Friends,
I hope those of you who are local were able to get out and enjoy the unseasonable warmth and the badly needed rain. After work, I took a most delightful walk in the rain on my way to get a massage. It was still pleasant after the session, but the wind had picked up, and the temperature was falling. I write this as I am getting ready to go into my yoga studio for a long, deep, full restorative practice.
And what better time could there be to relish restorative yoga than when we are seeking to remember the promise of spring while still enjoying the coziness of winter? There is still room tomorrow (Saturday, February 25th) in the workshop at Willow Street:
Finding the Warmth Inside: Relax Into Optimal Alignment with Anusara Restoratives: 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. A great workshop and practice for all levels.
Peace and light,
Elizabeth
How we collectively yearn for the light, though we seek it in different ways! For anyone who can tell me exactly where I took each of these photos, I will give a donation to charity in your name (total for all persons guessing correctly $250). Hint: All photos except the last, which was taken this morning, were taken on the solstice, and I did not go out of my way to take the photos.