A Joyful Practice

First Friday Night Special #48: An Invitation to “Reflecting, Remembering, Repenting, & Planting” (the “missing” invitation w/excerpt & links) October 4, 2024

“L’Shana Tovah U’Metukah!” to everyone celebrating Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays. “Nine days and nine nights of blessings and happiness if you are celebrating Sharada Navaratri!” Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.

Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.

This is the “missing” invitation for the “First Friday Night Special” on October 4^th. It includes a related excerpt and some previously posted content. You can request an audio recording of this Restorative Yoga practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).

Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.

Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.

“Through the years I’ve written and taught extensively about ‘liminal time,’ that pregnant pause between what is no longer and what is not yet. Although liminal time is a known stage in all rites of passage, most people have never heard of it. Whether we’re talking about a pandemic, a war, a refugee crisis, or even a man or womanhood ritual, a graduation, or a new job far away from family and friends, the stages (though not the intensity) of a rite of passage are the same.”

— quoted from “Running the Gauntlet of the Unknown” by Joan Borysenko, PhD (posted at joanborysenko.com, April 1, 2020)

This is a liminal moment — a transitional or threshold moment, a doorway in between moments; like the pauses in between the inhale and the exhale. As I have mentioned before, we could say that about any moment in our lives; however, this is one of those Liminal moments that is being recognized as an auspicious time by several communities around the world. This is one of those moments full of ceremony, ritual, and tradition.

In addition to being a sacred time in several religious communities, this is also the anniversary of a liminal time. October 4, 1582, was the last day that Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, and places like the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth used the Julian calendar. In order to transition to the (new) Gregorian calendar, Papal-governed countries had to skip 10 days (October 5 — 14). It was almost as if they never existed and would never exist. Sure, they were just rebranded; but, this day, as well as those missing days (that pop up at different times in other countries), serve as a reminder that this present moment is the only one we are promised.

But, what if we were given the opportunity to “request” (or accept) and plan for more time?

“Who will be calm and who will be tormented?
Who will become poor and who will get rich?
Who will be made humble and who will be raised up?
But teshuvah and tefillah and tzedakah [repentance and prayer and righteous acts]
deflect the evil of the decree.”

— quoted from the poem “Unetaneh Tokef” (“Let Us Speak of the Awesomeness”)

For some, the opportunity to request (or accept) more time started at sunset on Wednesday, which marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah in Jewish communities around the world (and in communities where people observe the commanded holidays outlined in Deuteronomy). Literally “the Head of the Year,” the beginning of this New Year is also the beginning of the High Holidays — known as the “Ten Days of Atonement” and the “Ten Days of Awe” — which culminate with Yom Kippur, “The Day of Atonement.” It is one of the holiest times of the year for some and is celebrated by people who might not typically go to services. Unlike a secular new year, it is more than a celebration — it is an observation: a time for reflection, remembrance, and repentance.

It is also a time when people “request” (or accept) and plan for more time.

Click on the excerpt title below for more (including a preview of the Saturday practice).

FTWMI: You’re Invited To A Possibility Party!

“While this may sound like an extreme–and even scary–story, I don’t see it as the tale of a goddess who gave up everything to marry a god. Instead, I understand it as the story of a Truth seeker who gave up all distractions to merge with the ultimate Truth.”

— quoted from the “Knowing BRAHMACHARINI” section of “Chapter 2: Channeling Your Energy — Channeling Your Energy (when you’re feeling excited) with Goddess Brahmacharini, the one who follows brahmacharya (the path of self-control)” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals To Awaken Your Inner Warrior And Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera

Thursday was the beginning of Sharada Navaratri, the most celebrated of the four Navaratri festivals. Navaratri literally means “nine nights” and is a Hindu celebration of God / the Divine as a woman. Each day is dedicated to a different manifestation of Durga/Parvati and each manifestation marks a different point in Her journey. Friday, the second day, is dedicated to the Goddess Brahmacharini (“Unmarried One”), who is also Yogini. Both of her names highlight her path.

A yogini is a woman who practices yoga. Brahmacharini shares a root with the fourth yama (external “restraint” or universal commandment), brahmacharya, which can be translated as following in the steps of God or “chasing God” — or even that the devotee is riding in God’s “chariot.” All of these translations are associated with the life someone who is deeply invested in their religious and spiritual life. In art, Brahmacharini has all the symbols of an ascetic: bare feet, a mala (rosary) and a kamandalu (water pot). People consider her a symbol of bliss and calmness and pray to her for moksha (“liberation” from suffering), peace, and prosperity.

People also believe Brahmacharini can endow them with strong concentration and self-control. In fact, her story is full of the great challenges associated with the austerity she practices in order to achieve her goal of marriage. To me, she, herself, is liminal in that she is the embodiment of the auspicious moment between the goddess being identified as a daughter and the goddess being identified as a wife.

“The story of Brahmacharini and Shiva is not meant to be the story of a romantic relationship; Shiva is merely symbolic of the true Self. He is pure consciousness, the eternal soul, which we strive to merge with vis–à–vis the power of spiritual practice.”

— quoted from the “Knowing BRAHMACHARINI” section of “Chapter 2: Channeling Your Energy — Channeling Your Energy (when you’re feeling excited) with Goddess Brahmacharini, the one who follows brahmacharya (the path of self-control)” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals To Awaken Your Inner Warrior And Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera

Each and every person on the planet (or a space station) “contain[s] multitudes” and experiences different seasons of life. At different stages in our lives, we are recognized in different ways. At different times in our lives we fulfill different roles. Each season and each role comes with different responsibilities and expectations, as well as with different skills, abilities, experiences, and powers.

Take a moment to recognize the path you are on; the journey that is your life; the season you are in; the roles you play; and the way you serve the world.

Take a moment to acknowledge that you can simultaneously experience excitement, anticipation, doubt, fear, hesitation, and joy every time you experience change.

Take a moment to do what you need to do to grieve and appreciate what is no longer and, also, to appreciate what is not yet — knowing that what is not yet is a possibility that could be or might never be.

Take a moment to remember that you and the things you do have meaning and are valuable.

Now, take a breath, exhale, and begin.

“So I draw courage and stand face-to-face with my limitations, without shrinking or running. I allow for honest remorse. Here is my place of Now….

Of course, acceptance does not mean becoming complacent. I still need to honestly evaluate my life and reflect on how I want to act differently this coming year. It also doesn’t preclude trying my best.

But at this very moment my state of ‘now’ is my truth.”

— quoted from an article entitled “Perfectly Imperfect: The Secret of the Shofar” (09/12/2020) by Rabbi Binyomin Weisz

CLICK HERE FOR THE ROSH HASHANA POST FROM WEDNESDAY!

The October First Friday Night Special features Restorative Yoga (with some gentle movement). It is accessible and open to all.

(NOTE: There will be a little bit of quiet space in this practice.) 

Prop wise, this can be a kitchen sink practice. You can practice without props or use “studio” props and/or “householder” props. Example of Commercial props: 1 – 2 blankets, 2 – 3 blocks, a bolster, a strap, and an eye pillow. Example of Householder props: 1 – 2 blankets or bath towels, 2 – 3 books (similar in size), 2 standard pillows (or 1 body pillow), a belt/tie/sash, and a face towel. A water bottle can be used if a ball is not handy.

You may want extra layers (as your body may cool down during this practice). Having a wall, chair, sofa, or coffee table may be handy for this practice.

Friday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify.

NOTE: The playlist tracks are slightly different in length and duration.

If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

White Flag is a new app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.

If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgement-free place to talk, you can also click here to contact the TrevorLifeline (which is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors).

### MAY YOUR NAME BE WRITTEN & SEALED IN THE BOOK OF LIFE ###