Action, (In)Action, & Doing It Differently (the “missing” Saturday compilation) October 17, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 9-Day Challenge, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Mala, Meditation, Music, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Ananta Ripa Ajmera, Bhagavad Gita, Donna Garrett, Gospel According to St. John, Hero's Journey, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, John O'Donohue, Joseph Campbell, Joseph Wresinski, Kalaratri, Kali, Lal Dĕd, Lalla, Lalleshwari, monomyth, Navaratri, Oregon, Sharada Navaratri, Yoga Sutra 1.5, Yoga Sutra 2.3-2.9
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“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 on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This “missing” compilation post for Saturday, October 17th, (and the seventh day of Navaratri) includes new content and excerpts. This post and the related practice include passing references to current events and violence. However, this post does not include any explicit details. 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.
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.
“The sun beneath the navel was made to burn.
When the breath, rising there, flows through the throat,
It comes out long and burns.
But when it meets the moon river flowing from the crown,
It comes out short and cools.”
— Poem 54, as printed in I, Lalla: The Poems of Lal Dĕd by Lal Dĕd (Translated from the Kashmiri with an Introduction and Notes by Ranjit Hoskote)
There are times when it seems hard to know what to do and what to say. There are times when there are just no words… and nothing you do seems to have an immediate effect. And, I’m not going to lie: Sometimes the best thing — and the only thing — you can do is show up, be still, and be quiet.
Sit and breathe. Breathe and sit, with the awareness that you are sitting and breathing. Notice how the inhale is cooler than the exhale. Notice how the exhale is warmer than the inhale. Notice how your body extends and expands as you inhale; how it settles back into itself and into your support as you exhale.
This is the practice. It is a simple practice and, also, a powerful practice.
It is a practice that begins with the breath: that symbol of our life force, that symbol of our spirt.
“What the books taught me, I’ve practised.
What they didn’t teach me, I’ve taught myself.
I’ve gone into the forest and wrestled with the lion.
I didn’t get this far by teaching one thing and doing another.”
— Poem 111, as printed in I, Lalla: The Poems of Lal Dĕd by Lal Dĕd (Translated from the Kashmiri with an Introduction and Notes by Ranjit Hoskote)
At any given time, on any given day, people all over the world are at the beginning, the middle, or the end of this same practice. They may sit in a different way and/or move in and out of different poses; but, all over the world — including in Bend, Oregon, as we did a few weeks ago (in some of the same spaces and with some of the teachers), people will turn to a mindfulness-based practice as a way to cope with tragedy, find clarity, and (eventually) as a way to heal.
A mindfulness-based practice can be powerful and healing when you do it for yourself and, also, when you physically (and/or emotionally and energetically) sit with people who have experienced a great and horrific tragedy. Sometimes people just need to know that you are present, holding space for and sitting with their suffering. That is one way to practice with compassion and lovingkindness.
There is a time and a place when this is what is needed.
The thing to remember is that, no matter how you do it, this is a practice of action and inaction. It is also a practice “in action”. As powerful as the practice is, on the mat and on the cushion, the real power comes from what we do (and/or don’t do) when we move off the mat and off the cushion.
“It is far more creative to work with the idea of mindfulness rather than the idea of will. Too often people try to change their lives by using the will as a kind of hammer to beat their lives into proper shape. This way of approaching the sacredness of one’s own presence is externalist and violent. It brings you falsely outside yourself, and you can spend years lost in the wilderness of your own mechanical, spiritual programs. You can perish in a famine of your own making. If you work with a different rhythm, you will come easily and naturally home to yourself. Your soul knows the geography of your destiny. Your soul alone has the map of your future, therefore you can trust this indirect, oblique side of yourself. If you do, it will take you where you need to go, but more important it will teach you a kindness of rhythm in your journey. There are no general principles for this art of being. Yet the signature of this unique journey is inscribed deeply in each soul. If you attend to yourself and seek to come into your presence, you will find exactly the right rhythm for your life.”
— quoted from Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom by John O’Donohue
This practice begins with the breath and our breath establishes our rhythm. Sometimes, however, we need to change things up. We can change things up by changing our breath pattern and/or by changing the shapes in which we breathe (i.e., the poses). Doing the same sequence again and again and again, gives us the opportunity to see changes happening in real time, over time. It can also be comforting, especially in times of uncertainty. On the flip side, changing the sequence up sometimes allows us to gain new insight and/or break old habits.
Either way of practicing can help us break up stagnate energy and push us out of (either kind of) inertia. In other words, either way of practicing can be healing and can create opportunities for us to do things differently — even when it seems impossible.
“Do it differently
So it won’t come out the same
Step up, be strong,
Get yourself out of pain.
So you don’t have a clue
Damned if you don’t
Damned if you do
Make yourself happy by checking with you
Before you make a move
To do what someone else wants you to do.
Take your time
Don’t be pressured
Know your mind
This is behavior you have never practiced before”
— quoted from the poem “DIFFERENTLY” by Donna Garrett
Click on the excerpt title below for a date-related 2021 post.
“We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.”
— quoted from A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of Living by Joseph Campbell
This is the practice. It is a simple practice and, also, a powerful practice.
Every practice is also a journey.
This past Sunday, we started a special 9-day journey inspired by Navaratri. Additionally, the Saturday practices are their own independent journey. The Saturday journeys are driven by philosophy, specific sequencing, and an intention. The 2026 intention includes a focus on aligning action and, also, on releasing what no longer serves us. Sometimes, that release is automatic; like an exhale or the natural shedding of hair. Other times, however, we have to be very deliberate, very intentional, and very honest about what is not working.
The process of letting go of what no longer serves us is the seventh step in our journey. It requires being honest with ourselves. It is also a little scary; because change, in general, can be scary. Remember, fear of loss or death is the final afflicted or dysfunctional thought pattern that leads to suffering. (YS 1.5, 2.3, and 2.9) Even knowing that, we can find comfort in the familiar and fear the unknown.
Thankfully, we have reached the point in our 9-day journey that is connected to fearlessness.
A version of the following (revised) excerpt was previously posted. Some links and date-related information has been updated/added.
“I find a lot of similarity between Goddess Kalaratri, who symbolizes the spiritual power of transcendence, and Goddess Chandraghanta, who represents the power of transformation (in chapter 3). While transformation happens from taking strong, consistent action to overcome our fears, transcendence results from applying spiritual knowledge to see traumas we have experienced through the eyes of wisdom. This ensures we never see ourselves as helpless victims at the mercy of a cruel world but rather as powerful manifesters of our own destinies.”
— quoted from the “Cultivating Transcendence” section of “Chapter 7 — Transcending Trauma with Wisdom” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals to Awaken Your Inner Warrior and Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera
Today (Saturday) was also the seventh day of Navaratri, the Hindu festival of “nine nights” celebrating divine feminine energy in various manifestations. This seventh day of Navaratri is dedicated to Kalaratri, the most ferocious form of Durga/Parvati. I will admit that I sometimes have a hard time with elements of the Divine that show up as ferocious. However, I appreciate that sometimes strong, fierce energy/medicine is needed to eliminate negative energy — and this is why Kalaratri is so strong: She eliminates negativity.
Some believe that Kalaratri destroys all demons, ghosts, evil spirits just be showing up. She is associated with nighttime (which is when plants grow) and the crown chakra (which is this present moment). Her name is sometimes used interchangeably with Kali, who is the dark-skinned Goddess associated with destruction, time, and change. In one story, she sheds her skin in order to win a battle.
Because people believe she can give her devotees siddhis (“abilities”) like knowledge, power, and wealth, she is also known as Shubankari (“Auspicious”). People also believe Kalaratri can make someone fearless.
Of course, being fearless comes in handy if you want to bring about some “good” changes in the world — especially when you are committed to non-violence.
“Despite Goddess Kalaratri’s frightening appearance, I find her to be the most loving form of Goddess Durga because she removes everything that is not us: the illusions, lies, and myths we have subscribed to (without even knowing we have done so!). Because only when we are free from illusions are we truly free. This goddess brings the Gospel of John to life: ‘And you shall know the Truth, and that Truth shall set you free.’
Vedanta spiritual philosophy describes Truth, to be true, must be so at all times: past, present, and future.”
— quoted from the “Cultivating Transcendence” section of “Chapter 7 — Transcending Trauma with Wisdom” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals to Awaken Your Inner Warrior and Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “10172021 Do It, But Differently”]
NOTE: This playlist contains Easter eggs! Did you find them. The three birthday ones are stacked together — and one is actually a double. But there’s one I don’t always mention in the practice. (They are all related to the date, and the theme, but don’t be surprised if you notice there’s one or two that are obviously missing.)
If you are struggling, 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 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 need 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).
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