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A Quick Note & EXCERPT: “Celebrating What Supports the Practice” December 27, 2025

Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 7-Day Challenge, Art, Bhakti, Changing Perspectives, Christmas, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Love, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Suffering, Yoga.
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“Kwanzaa, yenu iwe na heri!” — “May your Kwanzaa be happy!” to everyone who is celebrating! May you have a good observation if your focus is the Feast Day of Saint Stephen or Saint John or the Nativity Fast / St. Philip’s Fast.

“nguzo (Swahili)

Noun

nguzo

  1. prop, pillar (an object placed against or under another, to support it)

  2. column, supporting pole

  3. pillar (an essential supporting part of something)

  4. (figuratively) a support or comfort”

— definition from WordSense.eu (and English dictionary based on Wiktionary)

Today is the second day of Kwanzaa and the second or third day of “The 12 Days of Christmas” (depending on when you start counting). While some (Orthodox) Christian traditions are still getting ready for Christmastide, some (Western) Christian traditions are celebrating the Feast Day of Saint John, while others are (still) focused on Saint Stephen.

Even though the rituals and traditions may seem different from the outside, they share similar practices (see excerpt below). They also have similar effects on the inside: They keep people focused on their foundations.

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT BELOW FOR MORE.

FTWMI: Celebrating What Supports the Practice

“I gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am

I want to live, not merely survive
And I won’t give up this dream
Of life that keeps me alive
I gotta be me, I gotta be me
The dream that I see makes me what I am”

— quoted from the song “I Gotta Be Me” by Sammy Davis, Jr. (written by Walter Marks)

Please join me for a virtual yoga practice on Zoom, today (Saturday, December 27th) at 12:00 PM. 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 me at myra     (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “12272020 Will, Determination, & John”]

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).

“Umoja (unity) — To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

Kujichagulia (self-determination) — To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

Ujima (collective work and responsibility) — To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.

Ujamaa (cooperative economics) — To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Nia (purpose) — To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Kuumba (creativity) — To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Imani (faith) — To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.”

— The Nguzo Saba (or “Seven Essential Pillars”) of Kwanzaa

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.

CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR! You can kick off New Year’s Day 2026 in two ways (and in two spaces): with the very active practice of 108 Sun Salutations at 10:00 AM or with the very “chill” practice of a Restorative Yoga+Meditation practice beginning at 5:00 PM. All times are Central Standard.

Register to practice in-person (or join us via Zoom). Details are posted on the “Class Schedules” calendar.

### You Are Supported! ###