A Joyful Practice

A Quick Note & EXCERPT: “Sailing Into New Beginnings” January 3, 2026

“Happy New Year!” to everyone. Many blessings to everyone, and especially to anyone observing the Nativity Fast / St/ Philip’s Fast and/or Twelvetide.

May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!

“‘Nobody else calls us hobbits; we call ourselves that,’ said Pippin….

‘I’ll call you Merry and Pippin, if you please – nice names. For I am not going to tell you my name, not yet at any rate.’ A queer half-knowing, half-humorous look came with a green flicker into his eyes. ‘For one thing it would take a long while: my name is growing all the time, and I’ve lived a very long, long time; so my name is like a story. Real names tell you the story of things they belong to in my language, in the Old Entish as you might say. It is a lovely language, but it takes a very long time saying anything in it, because we do not say anything in it, unless it is worth taking a long time to say, and to listen to.’”

— Pippin and Merry meeting “Treebeard” in “Book 4, Chapter 4: Treebeard” in The Two Towers (Volume 2 of the Lord of the Rings) by J. R. R. Tolkien

A new year means a new (and/or continuing adventure). Yesterday, I suggested that it could also mean a new name. Just as the name you choose for yourself, your business, and/or another person can tell a story, so too can the name chosen for a boat… and/or a book.

CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE ABOUT NEW ADVENTURES!

(Plus there’s a little nod to Herman Melville, who set sail today in 1841, and J. R. R. Tolkien, who was born today in 1892.)

FTWMI: Sailing Into New Beginnings

So, hoist your sails, bring your friends, and…

“Call me Ishmael”

— quoted from “Chapter I. Loomings” in Moby Dick, or The Whale by Herman Melville

Please join me for a (virtual or in-person) yoga practice, today (Saturday, January 3^rd) at 12:00 PM. You must be registered and confirmed to attend in person. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the Zoom 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 “01032021 Melville Sails Tolkien Beginnings”]

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).

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.

### ARE YOU LISTENING? (& TO WHAT or WHOM?) ###