First Friday Night Special #57 — Invitation for “A Little More Rest for Those Riding/Working for Freedom” (the “missing” invitation, w/excerpts) July 4, 2025

Happy 4th, for those who are celebrating! Many blessings to all!!

This is the “missing” invitation for the “First Friday Night Special” on July 4^th. It includes excerpts, embedded links to related posts, and videos which are not on either playlist.

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.

“I arrived in Congress (tho detained by thunder and rain) time enough to give my voice in the matter of independence… We have now got through the whole of the declaration and ordered it to be printed so that you will soon have the pleasure of seeing it.”

— quoted from Caesar Rodney’s letter to his younger brother Thomas, dated July 4, 1776

When we start talking about Independence, Liberty, Freedom, we have to talk about the effort it takes to declare it, secure it, and preserve it. It takes a lot of effort, A LOT of work! This week seems like a great time to remember not only the ideals, but also the effort/work that it took — and continues to take — to declare independence (even when we’re united), secure freedom (from tyranny), and preserve freedom (for all). When we look at all the effort/work, we will find people with one role as well as people like Caesar Rodney, a Delaware delegate of the American Continental Congress and Brigadier General of Delaware Militia (just to name a few of his many, many roles).

On July 1, 1776, in the middle of everything else he was doing — for freedom, liberty, and independence — Caesar Rodney started a two day journey, from Delaware to Pennsylvania, just to cast his vote on July 2, 1776.

And then, just for a moment, he rested.

As did many of the other Framer’s of the United States of America.

John Dunlap, an Irish printer, was not resting however. He was printing the first copies of the United States Declaration of Independence.

“WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.”

— quoted from the (first) John Dunlap version of the United States Declaration of Independence, printed on the evening of July 4, 1776

Click on the excerpt titles below to discover what else happened on the 4^th of July — in 1776 and in other years.

NOTE: If you click on the embedded links above or the excerpt titles below, you will notice other ways the fight for freedom continued beyond 1776.

FTWMI: Free to Be You (and Me?) What About Them?

Wait…what exactly are we celebrating? (blink and you’ll miss it)

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

— quoted from a letter John Adams wrote to Abigail Adams, with the heading “Philadelphia July 3d, 1776”

This (encore) Restorative Yoga practice is accessible and open to all.

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

Friday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “07012020 Caesar Rodney’s Ride”]

NOTE: At the beginning of the practice, you will be prompted to pause and select a track. [Start with Track #1 or, for a less dynamic option, start with Track #9, 10, or 11.] The playlist tracks are slightly different in length and duration; however, the overall content is the same. I have added two (2) tracks related to the Declaration of Independence (in the before/after class music).

A playlist inspired by the 4th of July is also available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “4th of July 2020”]

NOTE: The playlists are slightly different, but mostly with regard to the before/after class music. The biggest difference is that there are some contextual videos that do not appear on Spotify.

Prop wise, this is a kitchen sink practice. You can practice without props or you  can use “studio” and/or “householder” props. Example of “Studio” 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.

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

“Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favor; a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.”

— quoted from the “Introduction” to Common Sense, signed by the “Author” (Thomas Paine, known as “The Father of the American Revolution”) and dated “Philadelphia, February 14, 1776

When was the last time you read (or had someone read to you) the Declaration of Independence?

The version I recently added to the playlists is read by Orson Welles.

The first video (below) is just a reading. The second video includes a little historical context. The third video features some commentary you may find interesting (after watching one of the other videos).

“…. I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn….”

— from the “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” speech by Frederick Douglass (July 5, 1852)

For Perspective….

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 an 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).

### “ … all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed.” ~ Declaration of Independence (also, Yoga Sūtras 1.5 & 2.3-2.9) ###