Savasana
When I first started teaching, one of the things I found most inspiring was seeing my students in savasana. It is such a rare and precious things to see a group of people deeply relaxed, especially for someone who came… (READ MORE)
Ready or Not Here It Comes (Summer Heat)
This morning when I stepped out into the back garden, I heard the sound of clippers on the other side of the fence. It was my back garden neighbor of over 15 years. “Is that you?” I asked. “Yes,” was… (READ MORE)
An Extra Benefit of Backbends
When I am just starting to get sick or fully symptomatic, I feel best doing a very gentle mix of restorative poses and hip openers. When I am starting to feel better, I find that a vigorous practice can help… (READ MORE)
Early Morning Rain
This morning I stayed in bed after the alarm sounded and listened to the rain. It was peaceful and pleasant, but it was not meditation. Listening to the rain made me extra glad to have spent so much of the… (READ MORE)
What I’ll Be Reading This Session
You may have noticed that I do not say what I will be teaching. In my blogs and classes, when referring to the philosophy that inspires me, I speak of what I will be reading, what I will be contemplating,… (READ MORE)
Parama Shiva Tattva (playlist from class)
Per Pam’s request, here’s the Shiva-themed (with a little Ganesha {son of Shiva} and Bhuvaneshwari {Adi Parashakti inseparable from Shiva} included) playlist from Saturday’s class: Om Shiva, Chloe Goodchild, from Sura Hey Shiva Shankara, Dave Stringer, from Japa Shiva Shambo,… (READ MORE)
Aphids (and limitations)
Even though we had real, hard frosts this winter, there are already aphids on my roses. I went out this morning and picked the aphids off of the new buds — yes, my roses are budding. It was too cold… (READ MORE)
Shiva-Shakti Tattvas
The shiva-shakti tattvas, the two highest tattvas, are completely subjective. The shiva tattva is, according to the philosophy, the ultimate reality, the pure “I,” undiminished and undifferentiated consciousness. As something purely subjective, it is both everywhere and nowhere, in every… (READ MORE)
Iccha, Jnana, Kriya
Above (or perhaps beyond, or maybe more elemental, or more universal — words inevitably tangle us in discussing essential philosophical constructs) the six kanchukas (cloakings or coverings) are the five universal elements. These are suddha vidya, ishvara, saddha shiva, and… (READ MORE)
One Person’s Weeds
Last year, some romaine lettuce must have bolted. I have baby romaine lettuce coming up everywhere. Having reverted to the wild, it is quite bitter. It is also taking up a fair amount of space, so to be able to… (READ MORE)