A Joyful Practice

EXCERPT: “The Fools and the Angels [‘Came out by the same door…’]” May 21, 2025

Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone celebrating World Meditation Day, Counting the Omer, and/or observing the fifth week of Pascha and/or Apodosis of Prepolovenie.

“Be not the first by whom the new are tried,
Not yet the last to lay the old aside.”

— quoted from “Part 2” of An Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope

In addition to being World Meditation Day and the anniversary of the birth of Alexander Pope (born 1688, according to the Old Style / Julian calendar, today is the day Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881.

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.

The Fools and the Angels [“Came out by the same door…”] (the “missing” Tuesday post)

“Clara promptly wrote to her Boston friend of the Franco-Prussian War days, Edmund Dwight:

There seems to be such a muddle of ideas growing out of the mishaps in Congress that it was very apparent that somebody must say something and that, you know, is the place where I always come in; the door that nobody else will go in at, seems always to swing open widely for me.”

— quoted from “PART TWO – XIV. Johnstown Flood” in Angel of the Battlefield: The Life of Clara Barton by Ishbel Ross

Please join me today (Wednesday, May 21^st) at 4:30 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “05212025 More Fools & More Angels”]

The post excerpted above includes this musical meditation, which could absolutely be used for a practice.

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).

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.)

Thank you to everyone who Kiss[ed] MyAsana!

While you helped me surpass my fundraising goal, the overall fundraiser raised over half of its goal!!

Whether you showed up in a (Zoom) class, used a recording, shared a post or video, liked and/or commented on a post or video, and/or made a donation — you and your efforts are appreciated! Thank you!!!

### Understand Yourself / Learn Compassion / Learn Love: “Just open your heart and that’s a start” ~ The Moody Blues (KB / BTT) ###