The Layers Of Being

Layers of Being

Layers of Yoga, layers of practice...  How deep do you want to go?  How fully do you want to experience, move, change, expand, inspire?  There are many layers. 
This month as life invites us into full expression, spring blossoming, the fire of Aries, spring cleaning, etc.. I invite you to choose, commit and follow through.
As has been oft said in yoga land.. The way we do one thing is the way we do everything.  So, ask yourself and be honest; 
-   Am I just getting by, doing only what is required of me by outside forces?
Did I come to Yoga hoping for great change and healing?
Do I expect great change to just happen?
Do I say one thing and then do another, or do nothing to follow up?
Do I leave my yoga in the classroom?
Am I bored, frustrated, disappointed, feeling like hopes and expectations are not being met?
These questions are not meant to judge yourself In a way that leaves you feeling bad.  We do want to notice where we can work harder but beating ourselves up is not the good work.  Let's go for the good work. 
In the physical practice we can ground more, strengthen more and relax more at some point in most every pose and or transition.  Seek these places.  The curiosity, the investigation, the sense of wonder and discovery are truly what yoga is all about.  It's not about more everything all the time, but if that's fun for you, then yes it can be!
We are often asked in the beginning of yoga class to set intention.  I've always appreciated this and I think that it works on some level no matter what.  Whatever we focus on grows, what we hold in our mind, we will see in our life.  So in really noticing this and applying strong intention in my own practice, I have seen and felt viscerally how much faster/ deeper the evolution is.  I've come to wonder even, wow, if I had been practicing with deep focused intention like this for the whole 20+ years I've been practicing so far,,, where would I be!?  Of course we find things when we really need them, in our own time.  And you have found me at this phase of your own evolution!  So I feel it is my job to relate to you what I have learned, encourage strong intention setting, patterning of these intentions in on every level of being, in every physical opening, every energy raising and gathering.
    I feel like the evolution of the whole world is speeding up!  There is so much information available to us now. Things that were once secret, that people gave their lives for are all readily available at the click of a button.  Ancient teachings are proven by science, etc... If we don't wake up now into our truth, fullness and oneness then I'm not sure what it will take!  It's a very exciting time to be alive.
So on that, the neuroscience and cellular biology that we have available to us now of what thought, emotion and intention do in the body and in the world around us even, is incredible.  If you are interested in learning more, some of the books that set me on this path are; "The Intention Experiment" by Lynn McTaggart, "Biology Of Belief" by Bruce Lipton, and "Everything You Need To Know To Feel Go(o)d" by Candace Pert.  All of their other books are great too.  These people were all scientists first who became spiritual or more deeply so due to their work.  Funny, actually as I write this, I realize that I was more spiritual first and actually resistant to science "proving" what "we" (yoga) has known for thousands of years.  But alas, it's absolutely fascinating and I am a synthesist, now devouring the science and weaving it in with my teaching. 

And attention to some of the layers of being;
do I accept my past as my strength, having given me the foundation to be who I am today, knowing that I did the best I knew how along the way and so did my parents and teachers
Do I accept my masculine aspects
Do I accept my feminine aspects
Do I acknowledge my sexual needs, health, and well being
Do I have a healthy relationship with money
Am I connected to myself as part of nature and get enough time in nature to connect and reflect?
Do I allow myself creative expression?
Self worth, time to nurture self, quiet time for the mind, physical self care?
Do I speak my truth, own my power?
Have I  addressed my feelings or thoughts around death?
    Of course there are thousands of other valuable self reflective questions, I've just found these ones healthful and helpful to look at and used my practice, both physical, breath,  meditation, & Lifeline to clear the samskaras, limiting beliefs, subconscious reactive patterns, etc..around these things so that I could pattern in the intentions that I choose to live from in these areas.. And the good work continues...  Shine on beautyfull expressions of life!

PS - if you are a Yogi reading this because its a Yoga blog, then i understand you might have expected some talk of the koshas!?  If so, or if yes but you dont know what im talking about .. Well, i thought i might talk about them too-

but this is what came out. I am very casual with my blog.. i just feel like since its called BLOG then i should be - what a plop of a name!  So, if you are interested or curious about Koshas (the Layers of being as described in Yogic texts, classical, Vedanta... then i HIGHLY recommend "Light On Life" by BKS Iyengar.  One of my favorite Yoga books of all time and laid out with the view of the koshas.  Enjoy!

ENTHUSIASM!!!

                                                               ENTHUSIASM!!!

"Enthusiasm dances in the bloodstream of the great saints, and sages and all the true leaders of the world.  Enthusiasm enables a person to reach (their) goal.  Enthusiasm makes you soar!..."
                                                                       Swami Chidvilasananda from her book "Enthusiasm"

en·thu·si·asm

inˈTH(y)o͞ozēˌazəm,enˈTH(y)o͞ozēˌazəm/

noun

1. 1.

   intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval.

   • a thing that arouses feelings of intense and eager enjoyment.
2. 2.

   archaicderogatory

   religious fervor supposedly resulting directly from divine inspiration, typically involving speaking in tongues and wild, uncoordinated movements of the body.
3. 
   
4. Origin

early 17th century (sense 2): from French enthousiasme, or via late Latin from Greek enthousiasmos, from enthous ‘possessed by a god, inspired’ (based on theos ‘god’).

    (Warning: exclamation points will be used in abundance)

YES! This season is bursting with warmth and PINK TREES! The blossoming of the flowering

trees always gets me giddy. Nature is moving into full expression of her joi de vivre! Let us join

her!

 So often we let dullness and the feeling of ordinariness prevail, whereas there are many

opportunities to be fascinated, to be in wonder, to be in enthusiasm! As noted above, the

etymology of enthusiasm is en;in & theos; god - to be in god, to have god within you (same

thing;) And so it is - whether you see God personified, as a man, woman or a force, as nature

itself, as Great Spirit, or source, creator, life itself.. flowing of life... So it is! Amazing! Life is

living its fullness through what we perceive as 'us/i/me'. It is the mind that tries to claim

everything, that gets in the way and tries to control things, albeit to keep us safe (thanks mind,

now, sshh!). It is the mind that dulls experience with habit and distraction, jumping around to

past and future. But we can live in the WOW! Now!, whenever we choose! So let there be

newness, wonder! Now more than ever it is needed in our jaded culture. Be fascinated by this

thing we call self! Let this cycle of nature call you into awakening! The birds and the bees and

the blooming of things calls us to celebration!

 So often we will be like, "yeah, that was cool" when something feel good happens. Thats it.

Or even counteract a good feeling with doubting or dismantling stories. Meanwhile when

something does not feel good, that reptilian brain, subconscious protector will jump in and

automatic defense and intensity comes up. We tell the story over and over and get madder or

sadder each time or we hold it inside and tell ourselves all of the reasons why this happened

and what 'never' to do again. Or why we deserved it and confirm patterns of belief around

inadequacy, unworthiness, etc...

 I have gratefully learned from my own experience and teachers like Candace Pert, Bruce

Lipton, & movies like, "What the Bleep Do We Know", even the teachings of the earliest Tantras

- that whatever we focus on grows. Literally. When we focus on the negative; stress hormones

are released, cells with 'sad chemicals', or receptors for them, are born which then perpetuate

themselves. So our feelings, if not released thru full expression via sound and movement, will

turn into a mood will turn into a way of being, may even turn into our state of life and/or a

doctors diagnosis of illness. OR we can choose to find the gold in each moment, in each

experience, we can remember our innate joy and enthusiasm for life. We can celebrate the

opportunity for beauty and connection in every experience. We can really sit with and wash our

bodyminds in love and gratitude. We can relish the flavor of yes, of satisfaction, of fullness of

life. I wish this for you and I vow to remember and practice this turning, this shift of focus, again

and again myself when anything gets mundane.

So as much as we let the drama, the pain, the sadness, loss story and build and perpetuate

itself, may we choose to let the wonder, the feelings of safety, celebration, the bliss, the

gratitude sink in!

Let the joy sink in! Let us live in enthusiasm!

HOW MUCH YOU PUT IN... Relationship.

   It is amazing the work that we can all do for and with each other;  the deep effects of intentional communication, commitment, reflection, shared world view, life path, love..dedication thru the fiercest weather.  This is where the strength and growth happens; in the wild winds of change, in the deep cuts of rushing flows, in the turbulent falling away of the ground beneath you...  its all about the center. 
    Yes, we lived the honeymoon period BIG and bright !  We went on adventures new to both of us, processed openly together, laughed and sweated in our vulnerability.  Then we got pregnant less than 4 months in, that was big.  Scary.  It was literally life shaking, but that is another story.  We were in love lust adoration crushing hard, feeling the magick.  That is all that mattered.  IT was there.  We listened to the call of nature and we followed thru.  16+ years later, still strong and happy.  HOW!?
   For years i was sure that the sky was gonna fall, that there was no way things could be good for so long.  I would suspect some creeping evil to be lurking under this mans steady veneer.  I would feel the antagonism between us in an argument and think, "Oh, this is it now, its the end for sure.  We are not meant to be together."  I would feel longing for someone more this or that...
    It has not always been easy.  So often the things that attract us are indeed the things that challenge or repel us and vice/versa.  You know those people you can't stand, they are around you for a reason.  This too the blessed reflection of relationship.  Well, with us there have been revelations upon revelations and much patience and persistence to ride the waves.  I have been the fierce weather.  He has been the rock.  Sometimes too cool a rock.  Sometimes my weather too fierce for his gentle sensibilities.  But alas, i need that cool and he knowingly chose me for my fiery nature.  And so it is, we seek out what we need.
    Many of my previous relationships were exactly what i needed at the time; a reflection of my father stuff, a feeling of safety, the thrill of instability...all in their own time, with their own challenges and gifts.  Thank you all, my friends, for your role in this play we all create together that we all may know ourselves more fully.
    May we recognize our demons and how we scorn them in those around us.  May we see what these 'demons' really need.  We all have the same needs.  It takes patience and practice to PAUSE ll.  Pause, and see the need underneath the behavior.  If we can connect to each others innate humanness and look beyond the constructs of ego, conditioning, personality, etc.. then we find the truth that connects us.  This goes for ALL relationships.  When someone feels fear or shame they will often act out in anger - is this because they want a fight, really?  No, of course not.  They want, as we all do, to feel safe, honored, loved. 
   I have been blessed with friends and this love that is honest AND honoring.  Each time we can give this love and honoring to ourselves, to each other we heal old wounds, we step into our power, our true power - the power of the heart.  It is this power of the heart that will heal the world.  Each time we push away what we see inside us or curse it in another we perpetuate the pain.  Each time we run away from a  familiar pattern in a relationship, we find it again in the next one.
    As i have managed to not jump out of the car during a fight and not abandon this deep work in our relationship, not run away when things were hard, so our toolbox has grown.  We have a strong foundation, strong holds to weather any storm. 
    Some of our best tools have been; NVC - Non-violent communication, Non-Dual Tantrik Philosophy (thank you Hareesh Wallis), Yoga overall - breathing, moving, meditation together and on our own. 
  Best teachings from his wise parents (thank you Ron and Barbara Wilbur) who were together for 66 years (until his passing last year).; 1. You Only Get 7 out of 10 (of your list of ideal mate qualities),  Have friends for the rest.  2. Sex is the glue.  3.  take time away from regular life for relationship maintenance. 
  And on the mention of sex.  It was pivotal for us to learn about tumescence (from Taoists sexual teachings).  Sometimes we will be hating on each other when we want/need each other the most - pent up sexual energy acting out as irritation.  Recognize this, if it has been a while and you are being mean to each other, take some small intimate action to warm back up - massage, bath, appreciations...  Or if you can muster it - just DO IT!  Stay present, breathe into it - feel the moment, connect!
    All of your efforts will be rewarded.  The more you put in, the more you get out.. and this does not mean giving and giving.  This means patience, courage, vulnerability.  Ask for what you need, see and address your friends needs.  Know your demons, see theirs.  This is not YOU or THEM, there is no blame or judgement.  This is conditioning, things the mind bore at some point to protect itself.  Feed these things in yourself and all the world the nectar of the thing they truly NEED.  Feed what serves LIFE.  Live fulfilled.  You are so worthy.  It is worth the work to be in service to your relationships.  Then we remember our connections, our innate wholeness.  We are vehicles for the highest good for ALL.  LOVE...

Causes - DO SOMETHING!                                                                                 January 7, 2015

    Sometimes I fell like I should get out into the world and do something big. There are so many

huge causes to tackle that I am often painfully impassioned about; cleaning up our oceans,

fracking, human trafficking, chemtrails, gender and racial equality, the situation in Gaza/ Israel,

the wars and hunger and disease in Africa and all over, saving elephants and monkeys and all

animals from cruelty... Oh my heart.. This list could go on and on...

    I wonder can't i do MORE?! I even have agonized over this question. But now, I know what my

work is. My work is the work of the heart. My work is interpersonal, emotional. My work is

small and simple. It is the work of helping people to feel good. We feel good by remembering

our wholeness, by having a sense of belonging and safety. We feel good knowing that we are

enough and that there is enough for everyone. Now, I am very clear that a sense of security

doesn't (directly) fill an individuals belly. I am also very clear that the problems that we have in

our world all come from human beings being disconnected from earth, from each other, from

spirit, from a sense of connectedness to all of life. This disconnect lends to feelings of lack and

unworthiness. If there were not so much fear and other-ing, we would know that there is

enough. We would be able to help each other out. We would know that we are actually helping

ourselves out by doing so. We are all in this together.

    It is so easy to get hopelessly overwhelmed by all that there is to do. It's so easy to become

numb and distracted and do nothing. It's easy to feel bad about yourself for doing nothing.

Well, this is doing something actually.. This is contributing to the pain in the world. Feeling bad

about yourself doesn't serve you or anyone. It denies your divine inherent nature. It's really so

easy to do something. One little thing. Get to know that you are worthy, that what you say and

do matters. It ripples out. We all have wounds to heal and wounds we have healed. Therefore,

work to do and inspiration to share that is beneficial for all. I am not suggesting complacency if

you are driven to go out into the big world and tackle a particular cause that is calling you. We

all have our part to play. I believe all of our parts start in the heart. Listen and heed the call!

If children were taught to hear their hearts, to feel the connection of their heartbeat to the earth,

to hear and see and love the differences and the sameness in one another and humans all

together then I think there could be peace. World peace, isn't that what we all really want? It

starts with peace within, I'm sure of it.

    Let's teach our children to love and respect themselves and the earth so that they can love and

respect each other and all of earths creatures. To do this with integrity is first to love and

respect all aspects of ourselves and the natural world. Then maybe it would be out of the

question to poison our waters or skies or bodies. It would be insane to process and plastic our

resources so much that we don't even know what is in the stuff we are being sold. It would be

unheard of to consciously seek anything that causes suffering, even indirectly.

    In every religion there is an ideal of peace in the texts. It is not unreal to create the thing that we

all want and have forever. It is real to vision and pray and join together in a myriad of ways that

synthesize old and new, east and west, north and south, science and spirit. We are stronger

together. We are rich with information and experience. Anything is possible when we

remember everything is everything. The earth and her waters, the skies and our bodies are all

made of the same stuffs. We are in this together. Let us hold ourselves and therefore each

other in the highest light and thrive!

    Blessed be this practice of yoga that brings us into communities of remembrance, going where

we have not gone before, led by courage and timeless wisdom! Thank you for being part of this

beautiful evolution... In union all things are possible. Hear the call of your cause and go forth at

all costs. Trust and flow.
All Love,
lucid dawn lee isbell