First SoulCollage® Reading

Some things are better experienced than explained.  I was reminded of that yesterday at my first full SoulCollage® workshop

I have been on the fringes of SoulCollage® for a few years now, hearing Linda and others talk about this artistic self-exploration program.  I even built a card and came close to witnessing a reading, but was too busy and had to step away.

At yesterday's workshop, I was caught off guard by how revealing it was.

So let me back up.  SoulCollage® is an on-going program where participants create collages on big cards, using pictures from magazines or personal photos. Participating artists create cards that have a uniting theme that is sometime apparent to anyone, and sometimes more ambiguous.  As with the images in a tarot card deck, the interpretation of each card is in the eye of the beholder and is unique to the present circumstances.  The cards eventually sort themselves into four suits. (For more on the suits, read here.)

I had fun creating cards, letting my creativity have a chance to come out and play.  I admired the cards of the collagers who had built sizeable decks.  I was soothed in the meditation portion of the afternoon.  But the time came to read the cards and I was skeptical since I had to use someone else's cards.  How personal could it be using cards created for personal use by another person?

My skepticism was squelched by a reading that was almost too authentic to discuss, my emotions welling up to make speaking a bit tricky.  But the artists around the table were patient, allowing me to collect myself and share what I saw.  They were familiar with these encounters and how emotionally revealing they could be.

Here is a picture of my reading, although I can't convey the intensity of the moment with my words.  But I invite you to experience it yourself.  You will learn more about yourself than you thought you could. 

And I will never look at a magazine the same way again!

Practice makes Peaceful

Last night at yoga I was the student while Ann was the teacher.  This is the absolute best thing about having a partner.  The snow was softly falling, when we laid down in relaxation we could see it through the tops of the big windows.  It felt like it was gently shimmering right down on us. It was hard to close my eyes and go within with such beauty all around.

We are on our second week of this new adventure.  In many ways, it feels as if it has always been.  A Reiki/Yogi friend of mine told me yesterday that she is so thrilled that we have accomplished our dreams without making our students uncomfortable with the thought of change. Change is scary.  Necessary, but scary.  Finding solutions to accommodate the need for change while minimizing fear is a great goal.  It's hard to accomplish great things while you are terrified. Not impossible, but it's easier when you can take a deep breath or two now and then. And speaking of breath...

As much as I love teaching yoga, I have to admit that doing yoga is better.  Or perhaps a better statement would be that finding a balance between teaching and doing is sublime.  I get to feed my need to share... and my need to breathe.  Ahhh, the breathing! When you teach, you sort of have to talk through the breath so the class understands, "Inhale.... Exhale".  When you are quietly holding a pose, focusing on the breath, riding the wave between expansion and relaxing... ahhh.  I love watching a student experiencing the beauty of a pose combined with a deep breath, seeing their shoulders suddenly melt and their feet spreading out on the ground as they sink deeper and deeper into the comfort of the pose.  There is nothing like total focus on the task at hand.

We are thrilled with the turnout for the classes.  I am so happy to see so many of my "old" yogis returning and reaffirming their commitment to their practice, and by doing so, their health.  I am delighted to meet so many new folk-- it's astonishing how many live right around the church, and hence, right in my neighborhood.  I've lived in my home for 27 years and rarely have met the people on my block... and yet here they are, enjoying Yoga... trying out Reiki... what an unexpected gift.  We are blessed with the opportunity to form a community.  A community based on seeking wellness, seeking kindness and laughter, what a joy!

See you soon :)

Stillness

When was the last time you took a moment to be still? Not sleep, and not vegging in front of the tv - which has its merits from time to time, but intentional stillness that is both physical and mental, even spiritual.

 If you're anything like me, it doesn't happen very often. This morning we began a study of stillness and what inhibits us from achieving it: our responsibilities, our relationships, pressure to achieve, to be movers and shakers.

 We looked at the verse Psalm 46:10 that says, "Be still and know that I am God."  There is a connection between stillness and connecting with the divine.

One of the books on my nightstand is 365 Tao Daily Meditations by Deng Ming-Dao.  This meditation on stillness reads

Wind stirs the bamboo,
But once the wind passes,
The bamboo is silent.
Geese land on the chill pond,
But once the geese fly away,
There are no reflections.
In the same way,
Once the red dust passes,
The mind is still.


Is your mind full of red dust? What will it take for the red dust to settle?

Although many people are initially drawn to yoga for the fitness benefits, one of the primary goals of yoga is to still the mind.  In this stillness, a yogi can connect to that kingdom that is both within us and everywhere.

Next week, Linda is going to lead the class in a retreat into this stillness and silence, creating an opportunity for you to let your red dust pass from your mind.  Like yoga, we will practice.  We invite you to come join us as we still our bodies, our hearts, and that pesky red dust in our minds.

Happy New Year!

We had such a wonderful time today in our new center, filling both our "wondrous blue" yoga studio and "amazing violet" workshop room with beautiful yogis.  Linda and I are so grateful to have had our center blessed with such positive yoga energy. Many thanks to so many of you who contributed your efforts, energy, time and prayers into making this dream a reality.

In January we hear much talk about New Year's Resolutions, which often feel like unattainable goals.  I prefer to think them as my best intentions. The beginning of a new year is a great time to think about what has been working for us, what hasn't, and what we are willing to do about that.

I have recently been meditating on the Reiki Creed:
Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will not anger.
I will do my work honestly and diligently.
I will show kindness to all living things, and
I will be grateful.

I think it's the Just For Today part of of the creed makes it feel more possible - although sometimes I think "just for this moment" is a big enough commitment.  The whole year seems too big.  I know I will worry. I know I'll get angry, but maybe I can lay those aside just for today, just for right now.

 And "doing my work honestly and diligently" isn't the same as doing my work perfectly.  What a relief that is to realize.

Barry reminded me about showing kindness to all living things today when he was ushering a fly out of the yoga studio before our big opening today. Sometimes flies are easier to be kind to than people, but just for today, I will show kindness. 

And I have so much to be thankful for, so many people, so much love. Today I am deeply grateful.

Christmas Night

In the quiet aftermath of Christmas, after the family has gone, the wrapping paper gathered in the recycle bin, with the delicious smells of turkey and apple pie still wafting through our nostrils, we find the silence.  It was there under the hub bub all day, but we didn't really have a chance to listen. Listening now... the space between the breath.. the beating of the heart.

We begin to remember what the day was about, what it was for, who it was for, why we rushed around all month preparing for this one day.  So many stories have passed my way in the last few days, tales of remarkable joy and unbearable sadness. A 7 year old girl losing her battle with cancer.. a family surprised by the gift of a son returning home from the military for Christmas... an unexpected heart attack claiming the life of a loved one... the highs and lows surrounding us make me feel humbled and grateful for my many, many blessings.  My daughter home from college, our new yoga studio, a lovely Christmas Eve worship, the promise of things to come.

In our practices: Yoga, Reiki, SoulCollage, we learn to become present, we learn to accept what is, without trying to control it, to feel, to watch, to allow. We feel the joy, we feel the sorrow, but we realize that none of it is lasting, all things shall pass. We can't hold on to the joy any more than we can eliminate sorrow, they are both parts of life that teach us many things that we couldn't learn any other way. This is the paradox. We learn through adversity, many times the same adversity we seek so desperately to avoid.

Yoga teaches us to treasure the moment, to feel the stretch, feel the calmness that comes when you bring those shoulders down and release the hips.  It shows that us that when things are uncomfortable, sometimes a small adjustment can bring relief.  Reiki gives us a chance to connect to something greater than we, lets us open to Spirit, releasing long held blocks and stagnation.  SoulCollage teaches us to put the monkey mind aside and let images speak the words we need to hear to let our subconscious talk, helping point us in the right direction.  All of these tools bring us to the same place... silence. The quiet within.  Christmas night.

It is our fondest hope that you get a chance to find this quiet.  Today and everyday.
Peace be with you.
Namaste'

Everyday Yoga

Do you find yourself in yoga poses in your daily activity? Or do you ever turn your task at hand into yoga?

I recently had a relatively minor basement flooding problem that required some creative rescue plumbing (thanks Mark!), some fans and my wet-vac.  I don't know if you've ever tried to suck water out of a carpet, but my carpet vac works best if more pressure is applied.  So there I was on Saturday afternoon, on my knees in my basement, pressing my vacuum into my spongy carpet, wishing I was wrapping presents or editing my business plan or organizing my upcoming Sunday school class.  Basement flood-sucking was not my plan.

So I decided to connect the movement to my breath in a type of soggy sun salutation.  In a moment, my irritation evaporated and I was doing yoga instead of bailing my basement.

Have you ever had this happen?

Yoga is about connecting the body and the mind, the breath and the spirit. In the hustle leading up to the holidays, it is easy for us to let our practice slip, busy as we are putting everyone else first.  But whenever you take a moment for even one intentional breath, you have taken your yoga practice off the mat in class and into your life. 

I hope you are able to maintain your practice during the holidays.  We are still having class this week, at 4:30 & 7 on Monday and Thursday.  And if your family holiday plans prevent you from attending class, I hope you make some time to go to a quiet place and practice - even if it is only one intentional breath with your eyes closed in a check-out line.  

Reiki Healing

The last 2 weeks have been very busy with Reiki appointments.  Reiki is great for stress reduction and try as we may, we do get caught up in holiday frenzy; my regular clients know that Reiki will chill them out, help them relax and remind them of what is really important.  Spending an hour resting on a massage table, with soothing music playing, an aromatherapy pillow over your eyes, having someone hold your hand, can make all the difference in how you approach the nuttiness of the season.  Sometimes it can even make the difference between life and death, sadly. It doesn't matter whether you believe in the Reiki or not, whether you meditate or sleep, or whether you talk and laugh or even cry through the whole hour.  It seems to work no matter how much we try and get in the way!

The blessing of Reiki is that it works for both the Healer and the client.  I've been REALLY stressed lately, Ann & I have had some big decisions to make with our new partnership, I really think the Reiki has saved us!  When we pray for our client, we pray to be a conduit or a channel, allowing the energy to flow through us into wherever the client needs it.  Since it's not our energy, we can't help but be healed in the process as well.  Many times I will come into an appointment feeling depleted... and come out rejuvenated and energized, what a gift!  The prayer is for the highest intention of the highest good, that we may both be blessed and blessed we are.

While I LOVE getting a massage, sometimes it feels like work, especially if I am drained or feeling fragile.  Let's face it, when you are already feeling pounded by the world sometimes it's hard to take one more thing.. even a beautiful massage.  Reiki feels more gentle, you are hardly touched, and when you are, it is soothing, loving and kind, which is what most of us hunger for.  Many people are stunned that they are brought to tears, they ask why, they can't figure it out, "what am I crying about?".  It's that deep need to be touched, to be held, to be comforted, unconditionally, without reciprocation, to just receive.  It's my deepest pleasure to see a client finally let go, take a deep breath, and allow themselves to relax and be comforted, it never ceases to bring a smile to my face when I see them release all those years of tension into Reiki bliss.

You really should try it yourself sometime :)

Just for today, I will not worry.
Just for today, I will not be angry.
I will be kind to all living creatures.
I will do my work honestly and diligently.
And I will show gratitude for everything.

Reiki Creed~Dr. Usui Sensei