First Friday Night Special #63 — Invitation & EXCERPTS: “The Purpose of Naming [the Business]” & “Nom de Destiné” January 2, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 7-Day Challenge, Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Mantra, Meditation, Mysticism, New Year, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 12 Days of Christmas, 988, Art, Books, Cornelius Eady, James Baldwin, Jhumpa Lahiri, Johannes Mercurius, mantra, New Year, Oscar Hammerstein II, Pope John II, Richard Rodgers, sankalpa, shabda, Swami Vivekananda, travel, Twelvetide, William Shakespeare, Yoga Sutra 3.17, Yoga Sutra 4.1
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Happy 2026 to Everyone!
May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong!
“The power of words. There are certain sacred words called Mantras, which have power, when repeated under proper conditions, produce these extraordinary powers. We are living in the midst of such a mass of miracles, day and night, that we do not think anything of them. There is no limit to man’s power, the power of words and the power of mind.”
— commentary on Yoga Sūtra 4.1 from Raja Yoga by Swami Vivekananda
Shabda (“Word”) is one of the six siddhis (“powers” or “abilities”) described in Yoga and Sankhya as “unique to being human”. According to the Yoga Sūtras, our words have an external vibration and an internal vibration that leads to internal/external reaction — meaning their power is layered. They are also described as one of the things that can lead to someone attaining great powers. For instance, we can focus/concentrate/meditate on a word to gain insight and a deeper understanding of words and language in general. In fact, there is a practice — and a sūtra (YS 3.17) — for that. However, when we talk about the power of words, we don’t always recognize or appreciate that a name is a word that has power.
Oh, sure, we may consider a (surface level) meaning of a name if we are naming a child or a pet and/or a business. People who choose a new name or nickname for themselves may, naturally, choose something that sends a message. However, most of us don’t deliberately and intentionally choose a name to send a message. Most of us are not like Johannes Mercurius — even though we are living in a time that is as interesting as his time.
Today in 533 AD, Johannes Mercurius quite literally made a name for himself. He changed his name to John II and, in doing so, became the first pope to change his name at the beginning of his papacy. Pope John II was very deliberate in his decision to change his name and in the name he chose. He understood the power of words and was sending a message about how he was planning to move forward as a leader. He was also sending a message about what he would not tolerate.
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE FOR MORE.
Nom de Destiné (the “missing” Sunday post *with and update*)
“Me, a name I call myself”
— quoted from the song “Do-Re-Mi” by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Today is a day when I usually suggest you contemplate a name you would use to indicate how you plan to show up in this new year. Normally, the suggestion focuses on a personal name. This year, however, I want you to (also) consider a business name. As you go about your business this year — the business of living your life, what is a name that reflects the alignment of your deepest desires, beliefs, and actions? What is a name that sends the message, as Pope John II sent, about what no longer serves a purpose?
Just imagine the name that is proof of what you will do this year.
“You have to imagine it.
Who said you must keep quiet?
Who heard your story, then rolled their eyes?
Who tried to change your name to invisible?
You’ve got to imagine.
Who heard your name and refused to pronounce it?
Who checked their watch and said, ‘Not now’?
James Baldwin wrote,
‘The place in which I’ll fit will not exist until I make it.’”
— quoted from the poem “Proof” by Cornelius Eady, recited at the New York mayoral inauguration of Zohran Mamdani (01/01/2026) and dedicated to the poet’s “…trans, queer, foreign, students of color at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. So they have, so they can see this is possible.”
Please join me (tonight) Friday, January 2, 2025, 7:15 PM – 8:20 PM (CST) for “The Purpose of Naming [the Business]” for a (virtual or in-person) yoga practice. 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 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.
This practice is scheduled as a Yin Yoga practice. If the room is heated (as it was last night), it will be a Restorative Yoga practice. Either is accessible and open to all.
Friday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify.
Music Note: You can start with Track #1, #2, or #3 (which will include #4). Track #24 is also an option.
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 may be handy.
“In Bengali the word for pet name is daknam, meaning, literally, the name by which one is called , by friends, family, and other intimates, at home and in other private, unguarded moments. Pet names are a persistent remnant of childhood, a reminder that life is not always so serious, so formal, so complicated. They are a reminder, too, that one is not all things to all people.”
— quoted from The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
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.
### Trusting, Aligning, Releasing ###
HAPPY New Year 2026! ** UPDATED** January 1, 2026
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Bhakti, Changing Perspectives, Donate, Faith, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Japa, Japa-Ajapa, Karma Yoga, Life, Love, Mala, Mantra, Meditation, Mysticism, New Year, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Vipassana, Wisdom, Writing, Yin Yoga, Yoga.Tags: 108 Sun Salutations, Anthony Shumate, Kwanzaa, New Year's Day, Nguzo Saba, Nia, Sun Salutations, Surya Namaskar
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“Happy New Year!” “Kwanzaa, yenu iwe na heri!” – “May your Kwanzaa be happy!” to everyone who is celebrating!
Many blessings to all!
Part of the 6-piece “Monumental Moments” series
by Anthony Shumate, 2015
(located in Buffalo Bayou Park, along the Kinder Footpaths)
TRANSFORM • RENEW • HEAL • ENERGIZE
Celebrate the New Year with 108 Sun Salutations 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM CST!
AND/OR
RELAX • RELEASE • REST • RENEW • HEAL
Celebrate the New Year with Restorative Yoga+Meditation
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM CST!
The New Year is a beginning and an ending… and it is also a middle. On New Year’s Day we honor and celebrate transition with 108 Sun Salutations in the morning (10 AM – 1 PM, CST) and/or a Restorative* Yoga plus Meditation practice in the evening (5 – 7 PM, CST). We also put things in perspective.
These practices are open and accessible to all, regardless of experience.
*NOTE: In previous years, the evening practice has been Yin Yoga.
Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and make sure you are well hydrated before the practice. It is best to practice on an empty stomach (especially for the 108 ajapa-japa mala), but if you must eat less than 1 hour before the practice, make sure to keep it light. Make sure to have a towel (at the very least) for the 108 practice. For Restorative Yoga, a pillow/cushion or two, blocks or (hardcover) books, and a blanket or towel will be useful. I always recommend having something handy (pen and paper) that you can use to note any reflections (and will have some supplies handy).
IN-PERSON IS FULL! Use the link above for login information (or click here for more details about these practices and other practice opportunities related to the New Year).
The 108 playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “New Year’s Day 108 Ajapa-Japa Mala.”] NOTE: This playlist was revised for 2024, but should still sync up with the 2021 — 2023 recordings.
The Restorative playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “01072022 A Reflective Moment”]
Both practices are available in-person (if you are registered) and online. They are also donation based. If you don’t mind me knowing your donation amount you can donate to me directly. You can also email me to request my Venmo or Ca$hApp ID. If you want your donation to be anonymous (to me) and/or tax deductible, please donate through Common Ground Meditation Center (type my name under “Teacher”).
Please note that there is still no late admittance and you must log in before the beginning of the practice (so, by 9:45 AM for the 108 or by 4:45 PM for the Restorative Yoga+Meditation). You will be re-admittance if you get dumped from the call.)
Part of the 6-piece “Monumental Moments” series
by Anthony Shumate, 2015
(located in Buffalo Bayou Park, along the Kinder Footpaths)
Part of the 6-piece “Monumental Moments” series
by Anthony Shumate, 2015
(located in Buffalo Bayou Park, along the Kinder Footpaths)
*Anthony Shumate’s “Monumental Moments” sculptures are located in Buffalo Bayou Park, along the Kinder Footpaths in Houston, Texas. They are unexpected reminders to “Explore,” “Pause,” “Reflect,” “Listen,” “Emerge,” and “Observe” – all things we do in our practice!
### NAMASTE ###
A Quick Note & EXCERPT: “Purpose Driven” (a Tuesday post, that’s also for Wednesday and Thursday!) December 30, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 7-Day Challenge, Changing Perspectives, Christmas, Faith, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Japa, Japa-Ajapa, Life, Loss, Meditation, Mysticism, New Year, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 12 Days of Christmas, 988, catechism, Christmas, Dr. Nick Hobson, holidays, Imani, Kuumba, Kwanzaa, New Year's, Nguzo Saba, Nia, Sita (Joan Weiner) Bordow, Surya Namaskar, Swami Satchidananda, Twelvetide, Yoga Sutras 1.12-1.14
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“Kwanzaa, yenu iwe na heri!” – “May your Kwanzaa be happy!” to everyone who is celebrating!
“My research over the last decade has helped understand why rituals in particular (and not any other behaviors like habits, for instance) are effective at battling negative emotions. Be it anxiety, stress, fear, doubt, sadness, grief – you name it. Rituals are there to save the day. The dread we feel after experiencing a loss happens because it feels like the situation is outside our control (and it usually is). Rituals reinstate that control.”
— quoted from “The emerging science of ritual – a new look on an ancient behavior: And how you can use it to live life to the fullest” by Dr. Nick Hobson (contributing to the ThriveGlobal.com, Dec. 7, 2017)
There is something to be said for a good ritual. I don’t just mean a habit, something you do repeatedly — even if it’s something you are in the habit of doing at a particular time. Neither am I just referring to a tradition — which could be a group habit and/or a ritual that has been passed down through generations, but has lost some of it’s deeper meaning. No, I am referring to something that is more like a ceremony; something infused with purpose and meaning.
Consider your exercise routine. You may be in the habit of doing a certain kind of physical activity at a certain time on certain day(s). Changes in your routine (and the resulting cancellations during the holidays) may leave you feeling off kilter. However, you know you will return to that routine (or something similar) because it serves a purpose and you value the experience. It may even connect you to a community.
No matter what you do, if you have that regular routine, you probably experience something more than physical well-being. You may notice mental and emotional benefits that serve you on multiple levels of your life. You may even do the thing you do for those specific benefits. In this way, what you do could be considered abhyasa (“[continuous and deliberate] practice, [engaged with sincere devotion]”) (YS. 1.12-1.14) However, those extra benefits are just that — lagniappe (“a little (something) extra”). They are gifts that are not intentionally part of the exercise.
Now, consider the physical practice of yoga, which you could consider a ritual within a ritual. It is part of a larger practice, and that larger practice intentional includes benefits beyond the physical. If you go to a different class; use one of my videos or recordings; and/or practice on your own, the ritual of the practice — i.e., the order in which we do the practice and the meaning behind the order and what we do within the sequences — still includes the deeper meaning and serves a deeper purpose, one that is beyond the physical-mental. One of my teachers once argued that this is true even if/when the meaning and purpose are not explicitly stated.
The meaning and purpose are baked in; they were part of the creation process.
Click on the excerpt title below for more about these holidays and our New Year’s Day tradition that is also a ritual!
Updated & Revised! Purpose Driven (a Friday post, that’s also for Saturday and Sunday!)
“Nia (purpose) — To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.”
— The fifth of the Nguzo Saba (or “Seven Essential Pillars”) of Kwanzaa
For people celebrating Kwanzaa, “Nia (Purpose)” is the focus for the fifth day (today, Tuesday); “Kuumba (creativity)” is the focus for the sixth day; and “Imani (faith)” is the focus for the sixth day. These final three days of Kwanzaa coincide with the fifth, sixth, seventh (or eighth) days of the “12 Days of Christmas” (depending on when you start counting).
If you are following along with the symbolic meaning of the gifts in the song, you will notice that the 5th, 6th, and 7th gifts are infused with purpose, meaning, creativity, and (of course) faith: “five gold rings” are the first Five Books of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament (which provide the back story for the three Abrahamic religions); “six geese a-laying” for the six days of creation; and “seven swans a-swimming”, the consistently most expensive gift, stand for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord) or the seven sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Six, Marriage, and Ordination). As for the eighth day, those could be considered extra (spiritual) gifts: “eight maids a-milking” for the eight beatitudes (or blessings).
“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 sixth and seventh of the Nguzo Saba (or “Seven Essential Pillars”) of Kwanzaa
Online (Zoom) classes are cancelled today through Wednesday, December 31st.
People on the recording email list(s) receive backup recordings. There are also some practice videos on my YouTube channel. You can check the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes. You can also 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.
The playlist for the fifth day of Kwanzaa is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “12302020 Purpose Driven”]
“Consider, for instance, in moments of grief, rituals help ease our pain and suffering. But, again I ask, how do they do this, and why rituals in particular? As my collaborators Mike Norton and Francesca Gino have shown, rituals alleviate feeling of grief and loss by increasing a feelings of control.”
— quoted from “The emerging science of ritual – a new look on an ancient behavior: And how you can use it to live life to the fullest” by Dr. Nick Hobson (contributing to the ThriveGlobal.com, Dec. 7, 2017)
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.
“You can perform japa, repetition of a mantra or Sacred Word, in the midst of your day-to-day work. Then, when it becomes a habit, even when you are working intensely a portion of the mind will keep repeating the mantra always. That means you have locked one end of your chain to a holy place, while the rest of the chain remains still in the outside world.”
— a note written by Swami Satchidananda, quoted in Sri Swami Satchidananda: Apostle of Peace by Sita (Joan Weiner) Bordow
I am offering in-person classes during January 2026. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2026 together!
### OM AUM ###
A Quick Note & UPDATED EXCERPTS Regarding Social Economics (the post-practice Monday post, revised for 2026) December 29, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Bhakti, Changing Perspectives, Christmas, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Loss, Love, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Religion, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 12 Days of Christmas, 988, Bobby Ray Simmons Jr., Christmas, Claude Kelly, faith, family, Feast of Saint Thomas of Canterbury, holidays, Jessica Cornish, Jessie J, Kwanzaa, Lukasz Gottwald, Mishlei, New Year's, Nguzo Saba, Proverbs, Twelvetide, Ujamaa, Wisdom
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“Kwanzaa, yenu iwe na heri!” – “May your Kwanzaa be happy!” to everyone who is celebrating! May you have a meaningful observation no matter if your focus is on the Nativity Fast / St. Philip’s Fast or the Feast Day of Saint Thomas of Canterbury (and London). Many blessings to everyone!
This is the post-practice post for Monday, December 29th. It includes new and re-posted content. The 2025 prompt question was, “What is your love language?” You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous 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.
I am offering in-person classes at the beginning of January 2026. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2026 together!
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes (and holiday cancellations).
“We’re paying with love tonight
It’s not about the money, money, money
We don’t need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance
Forget about the price tag
Ain’t about the, uh, cha-ching, cha-ching
Ain’t about the, yeah, ba-bling, ba-bling”
— quoted from the song “Price Tag” by Jessie J (written by Lukasz Gottwald / Claude Kelly / Jessica Cornish / Bobby Ray Simmons Jr.)
Some things (like people) are priceless. Yet, even when we know that, it is so easy to get distracted by the price tag. It is especially easy to get distracted this time of year, because of all the gift giving and receiving (and, for some, the possibility of a Christmas bonus).
On the fourth day of Kwanzaa — which is also the the fourth or fifth day of the “12 Days of Christmas” (depending on when you start counting) — we focus on “Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)” and go a little deeper into how we value and appreciate people and things. We also touch on the struggles that arise in a society that has never found a good balance between the material and the spiritual.
Even though “it’s not about the money,” I do talk about the money.
The following (revised) excerpt, from the 2022 “Social Economics” post, includes a 2025 update:
“The actual cost of ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ varies, depending on if you are giving a single set of each gift (i.e. only one set of five gold rings) or if you are going the cumulative route. According to PNC Financial Services Group’s annual ‘Christmas Price Index’ (which they have issued for
4142 years), the cost for one set of each gift in 2019 was $38,993.59; with a cumulative price tag of $170, 298.03, which was just barely more than the 2018 cost. In 2020, however, the cost was $16,168.10 – $105, 561.80. In 2021, the cost for a single set of gifts was $41,205.58; with a cumulative total of $179,454.19. In 2022, the overall cost went up 10.5%, putting the single set of gifts at $45,523.27 and the cumulative total at $197,071.09.”2025 UPDATE: This year, the overall costs for a single set of gifts went up (4.5%, from 2024, which was already up 5.4%, from 2023) to $51,476.12 and the cumulative total went up (4.4%) to $218,542.98. Last year, the highest percentage increase was for the partridge in a pear tree — because the cost of the tree (in particular the fertilizer for the tree) has steadily increased over the last few years. This year, however, the highest percentage increase — by far, at 32.5% — was the gift of the Five Gold Rings. (Unfortunately, the increase in the price of gold is a sign of not so good things to come as far as the U. S. economy is concerned.) NOTE: The Lords-A-Leaping also went up (again) and remains the most expensive gift (even more than the swans)!
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
Ujamaa (cooperative economics)—To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
— The fourth of the Nguzo Saba (or “Seven Essential Pillars”) of Kwanzaa
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
A playlist inspired by the 4th day of Kwanzaa is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “12292021 Social Economics”]
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).
I am offering in-person classes during January 2026. Click here for more details and to reserve your spots now. Let’s start the 2026 together!
### MISHLEI / PROVERBS 3:13 – 3:15 ###
A (revised) Note & Excerpt RE: Children, Heroes, Responsibility, & Power *UPDATED* December 28, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, 7-Day Challenge, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Christmas, Dharma, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Karma, Life, Movies, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Super Heroes, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 12 Days of Christmas, 988, Art, Childermas, Christmas, Feast Day of the Holy Family, Feast of the Holy Innocents, Innocents Day, Kwanzaa, Nativity Fast, Neil Ellis Orts, New Year's, Nguzo Saba, siddhis, St. Philip's Fast, Stan Lee, Twelvetide, Ujima
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“Kwanzaa, yenu iwe na heri!” – “May your Kwanzaa be happy!” to everyone who is celebrating! May you have a meaningful observation if you are observing the Nativity / St. Philip’s Fast and/or your focus is on the Innocents and/or Family. Many blessings to everyone!
“All six of these stories – nearly half the stories in the book – speak to me of a longing in our human condition, a desire for more life (either here or in the hereafter) or a desire to turn regrets around to something joyous….
None of the characters in this collection are more powerful than a locomotive, none are faster than a speeding bullet, but what they are able to do, I believe, reveals something of our desires, something of our humanity – the best and worst in us.”
— quoted from the introduction to able to…: a literary look at super powers by…, edited by Neil Ellis Orts
There is a lot going on. Today is the third day of Kwanzaa, which always corresponds with the third or fourth day of the “12 Days of Christmas” (depending on when you start counting). For some it is also the Feast of the Holy Innocents, also known as Childermas or Innocents Day. There are also people who spend the first Sunday after Christmas observing the Feast Day of the Holy Family. Finally, there are some Christians observing the Nativity (or St. Philip’s) Fast in preparation for Christmas. Each of these observations comes with a story and each story comes with a message.
The stories and messages associated with this day are all about children (i.e., future generations), heroes, responsibility, and power. More importantly, these stories and messages are for and about regular people. Fortunately, today is also the anniversary of the birth of a person who told stories with these same messages… and with these same types of heroes.
“…aware at last that in this world, with great power there must also come — great responsibility!”
— quoted from Amazing Fantasy #15 by Stan Lee (b. 1922), et al (August 1962)
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLES BELOW FOR MORE.
“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.”
— the third of the Nguzo Saba (or “Seven Essential Pillars”) of Kwanzaa
Please join me today (Sunday, December 28th) at 2:30 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.
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “12282021 Power, Responsibility, & Children”]
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.
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.
12/29/2025 Update: I neglected to mention the Feast Day of the Holy Family (mostly because I forgot that it is a “moveable feast”).
### FOCUS ON WHAT YOU’RE ABLE TO… ###
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.Tags: 12 Days of Christmas, 988, Charles Darwin, Christmas, holidays, Kujichagulia, Kwanzaa, Nativity Fast, Nguzo Saba, psychology, Saint John the Apostle, Saint Stephen, Sammy Davis Jr., social science, St. Philip's Fast
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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
-
prop, pillar (an object placed against or under another, to support it)
-
column, supporting pole
-
pillar (an essential supporting part of something)
-
(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 (in some Orthodox traditions) are 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.
“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.
Updated for clarity. 12/28/2025
### You Are Supported! ###
A Quick Note & EXCERPT: “Cèlèbrer Une Vie & FTWMI: Recuerda Todas Almas” November 2, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Books, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Loss, Love, Mysticism, One Hoop, Religion, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 2 Maccabees, 988, All Souls' Day, Allhallowtide, Art, Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, culture, Death, Dia de los Muertos, Dia de Muertos, e e cummings, grief, history, Kevin Brockmeier, Poetry, Writing
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing All Saints y Día de (los) Muertos!
“No two reports were ever the same. And yet always there was the drumlike thumping noise.
Some people insisted that it never went away, that if you concentrated and did not turn your ear from the sound, you could hear it faintly behind everything in the city….”
— quoted from The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
Today, November 2nd, is All Souls’ Day, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed — the last day of Allhallowtide in the Western Christian tradition and the final Día de (los) Muertos in Mexico and the Mexican diaspora.
It can simultaneously be a day of remembrance, a day of celebration, and a day when people pray for the souls of the dearly departed.
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR A LITTLE MEMORY & A LITTLE HISTORY.
“If he had not believed that the dead would be raised, it would have been foolish and useless to pray for them. In his firm and devout conviction that all of God’s faithful people would receive a wonderful reward, Judas made provision for a sin offering to set free from their sin those who had died. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.”
— 2 Maccabees (12:44 – 46)
Please join me today (Sunday, November 2nd) at 2:30 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.
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “11022021 All Souls / Dia de los”]
“i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)“
— quoted from “[i carry your heart with me(I carry it in)]” by e e cummings
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.
### “BA-DUM. BA-DUM. BA-DUM.” ###
EXCERPT: “Recuerda a las inocentes (UPDATED)” November 1, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Faith, Healing Stories, Life, Loss, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Religion, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, All Hallows' Day, All Saints Day, Allhallowtide, Day of the Holy Innocents, Dia de los Muertos, Dia de Muertos, Dina Kaur, Hanal Pixan, Kevin Brockmeier, Mathew Sandoval, Mexico, Nicole Greason, Yucatan
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Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing All Saints, Demetrius (Parental) Saturday / Remembrance of the dead, y Día de (los) Muertos!
“‘It’s an occasion for us to intentionally activate our grief and transform it into something beautiful, vibrant and joyous through dance, music, feasting, telling stories, masquerading and celebration. By transforming grief in these ways, Day of the Dead becomes a deep form of healing. Día de los Muertos is also a lively and joyous occasion because it’s a reminder that we are alive,’ [Mathew Sandoval, associate teaching professor at Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University] said.
— quoted from the ASU News article entitled, “ASU teaching professor brings Día de los Muertos to life through research, ritual” by Nicole Greason (dated October 31, 2023)
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
“Sandoval is open to others celebrating Día de los Muertos respectfully because he knows how meaningful the observance is.
‘This holiday is medicine. It really is a way to heal,’ he said. ‘If you ever had to deal with the loss of a loved one, you know that that is a significant loss and there aren’t neat and easy ways to heal from that loss. Because often it leaves a wound in the heart and in the soul that is quite jagged and takes a lot of time to heal from.
‘Day of the Dead is medicine in the sense that if you really honor it, if you make time to honor the person who’s passed, it is a way of healing.’”
— quoted from the Arizona Republic article entitled, “Dia de los Muertos: Why ‘“this holiday is medicine”’ and how you can celebrate respectfully” by Dina Kaur (posted on azcentral.com on October 31, 2023)
Please join me today (Saturday, November 1st) at 12:00 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.
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “11012020 All Saints / Día de los”]
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 (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.)
### “BA-DUM. BA-DUM. BA-DUM.” ###
FTWMI: “Have Light, Let It Shine” October 19, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Bhakti, Books, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Food, Healing Stories, Hope, Japa, Japa-Ajapa, Kirtan, Life, Mantra, Meditation, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Wisdom, Women, Yoga.Tags: 988, Babul Sharma, Choti Diwali, Diwali, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Garth Brooks, Gayatri Mantra, Gāyatrī Mantra, Kali Puja, light, Mahābhārata, mantra, puja, Rig Veda, Rāmāyaņa, The Ramayana, Tom Walker, Yoga Sutra 1.36, Yoga Sutras 2.46-2.53
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Happy Choti Diwali, Diwali, and Kali Puja! Blessings, light, love, and peace to everyone, everywhere!
For Those Who Missed It: The following is the 2024 version of a 2023 post. Date related details and links have been updated/revised.
“oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ
bhargo devasya dhīmahi
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt”
[Conscious, subconscious, unconscious mind, and every plane of existence, we meditate on the (adorable) Light, that it may inspire us, enlighten us, and remove our obstacles.]
— “Gāyatrī Mantra” from the Rig Veda (from Mandala 3.62.10)
During the darkest times of the year, people all over the world celebrate light. In each culture’s stories and traditions, light overcoming darkness is a metaphor for good overcoming evil; life overcoming death, wisdom overcoming fear; love overcoming hate; hope overcoming despair, and knowledge overcoming ignorance. Once again, the celebrations kick off with Diwali, the Indian festival of lights.
Diwali is a five-day celebration which takes its name from Deepavali, which are rows and rows of lamps. It is a lunar calendar based holiday observed throughout India, parts of Southeast Asia, and the diaspora by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Newar Buddhists. Each day has different rituals and customs, which may vary between religious, cultural, and regional traditions. But, the common threads are the (clay) lamps and other great displays of light; pujas (“offerings”); feasts and sweets; epic tales of heroes and heroines prevailing; and a focus on relationships and also on wealth.
While some communities start earlier, most people’s Diwali celebrations begin with Dhanteras (October 18, 2025), a day that the Indian ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy designated as “National Ayurveda Day” (in 2016). Many pujans (“offering ceremonies”) are dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, fertility and abundant crops, and overall good fortunate. People also create decorations, including rangolas, which are associated with Lakshmi; clean their homes; and buy something new — usually gold, silver, clothes, and gadgets.
The second day of Diwali (which is today in 2025) is known as Choti (“little”) Diwali and, also, as Naraka Chaturdasi. Naraka is a Sanskrit word for “hell” and the day is associated with the story of Krishna defeating the asura (“demon”) Narakasura. Again, the elements of the story — as well as the rituals and traditions of the day — have symbolic significance related to the ways people live their lives and the ways their souls can be liberated from suffering (i.e., hell). Some people spend the day praying to the souls of their ancestors, sending light for their afterlife journey. In some regions (e.g., Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Karnataka), Choti Diwali is the main Diwali day. People get oil massages and take ritual baths. Some people also spend part of the day visiting their temple. For people celebrating the “little” Diwali, the second day is a day to visit friends and family and share sweets and gifts.
“Fiery-eyed Durga astride a golden lion; Saraswati resplendent in white along with her swan; a glowing Lakshmi seated on a lotus in bloom; and Kali with her frightening garland of skulls. The legends that surround them are told over and over again and soon the children know them by heart. For them, as it is for me, these beautiful lotus-eyed goddesses are not just religious icons but part of one’s family. They laugh and cry, quarrel with each other over petty things, they have fragile natures despite their powerful forms. They are often jealous, angry, greedy and plot deviously against their enemies but still they need to be loved by their devotees, Then they appear, splendid, glorious and benevolent, to dazzle us with their all-pervading light.”
— quoted from the “Introduction” to The Book of Devi by Bubul Sharma
The third day (tomorrow, October 20, 2025) is the biggest day for most: Diwali! It coincides with the darkest night of the festival and is normally marked by people getting together, feasting and celebrating. In fact, this is a time when the youngest members of the family visit their elders; businesses owners give gifts to their employees; and, instead of the fasts that are commonly associated with some Indian religious rituals, there are great feasts. Pujas are again made to Lakshmi. For some people, however, pujans are dedicated to Kali, the goddess of time and change, creation, power, war, destruction, and death. In many ways, making an offering to Kali highlights the fact that Diwali is a day of renewal, new beginnings, and starting over.
The stories in the Rāmāyaņa highlight all of the themes associated with Diwali — and the end is particularly pertinent to the third day. In the epic poem (which is part of the Mahābhārata), Rāma, his wife Sītā, and his brother Lakshmana are exiled by the brothers’ father. Their great adventure includes Sītā being kidnapped by the demon king Ravana (and rescued with help from Hanuman, the monkey king); a great battle where an entire army gets sick (and ultimately healed, thanks to Hanuman); the defeat of Ravana; and the revelation that Hanuman overcame his doubts, insecurities, and fears by focusing on the love and devotion for Lord Rama that shined (like a bright light) in his heart. Finally, after 14 years of exile, Rāma, Sītā, and Lakshmana returned home to Ayodhya — on the day that is now celebrated as Diwali. According to the legends, people lit up the city in order to guide the travelers home and also to celebrate their return. So, every year, people from all of the different religions light up their homes, businesses, and temples to commemorate this auspicious homecoming.
SIDE NOTE: As they travelled home, Sītā requested a pit stop in Kishkindha, because she wanted to enter Ayodhya with a company of women as her escorts. The request and fulfillment are conveyed in just a few lines, making up a minuscule portion of the epic poem. Normally, I would not mention this tiny passage — even though, if you think about it, it is a powerful moment when a woman who has suffered trauma and drama asks for (and receives) what she needs before facing what could be more trauma, drama, and judgement.
It also highlights the power of a group of women standing up for each other — which I highlighted in 2023, because Diwali fell on the anniversary of the birth of the birth of Elizabeth Cady Stanton (the social activist, abolitionist, and suffragist who was born on November 12, 1815, in Johnstown, New York). I’m mentioning here it again, in 2025, just in case someone needs the subliminal message.
“The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow in our souls. Every truth we see is ours to give the world, not to keep to ourselves alone, for in so doing we cheat humanity out of their rights and check our own development.”
— quoted from Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s speech at the National American Woman Suffrage Association convention (and birthday celebration for Susan B. Anthony), February 18, 1890
Please join me today (Sunday, October 19th) at 2:30 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.
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Diwali (2-3) 2022”]
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.
### “I will leave a light on” ~ TW/GB ###
A Quick Note & Excerpts for These Auspicious Times September 23, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, 7-Day Challenge, 9-Day Challenge, Art, Bhakti, Books, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, Mysticism, New Year, One Hoop, Peace, Philosophy, Poetry, Religion, Rosh Hashanah, Wisdom, Women, Yoga.Tags: 988, Ananta Ripa Ajmera, Bramacharini, Bramcharya, Dorothy Miles, High Holidays, International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL), International Week of Deaf People (IWDP), Lori Palatnik, Navaratri, Norman Fischer, Rabbi Alan Lew, Rosh Hashanah, Sharada Navaratri, sign languages, Ten Days of Atonement, Ten Days of Awe, World Federation of the Deaf, Yogini
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“L’Shana Tovah U’Metukah!” to everyone celebrating Rosh Hashanah and the High Holidays. “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 during International Week of Deaf People and on International Day of Sign Languages.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“How do you get ready for something big, for something momentous, for something auspicious?”
— The prompt question from Monday’s Common Ground Meditation Center practice (on 9/22/2025)
In response to last night’s prompt question, one of my yoga buddies talked about getting ready for a wedding and, over the weekend, another yoga buddy talked about going to a wedding anniversary party. These were big, momentous, auspicious occasions. They required people to get ready and, also, to RSVP!
But, how do you RSVP for another year of life?
RSVP
— Acronym for Répondez s’il vous plaît [French for “Respond if you please”]
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW TO FIND OUT HOW YOUR RSVP FOR ANOTHER YEAR OF LIFE!
“FOR TEN DAYS, THE GARES ARE OPEN AND THE WORLD is fluid. We are finally awake, if only in fits and starts, if only to toss and turn. For ten days, transformation is within our grasp. For ten days, we can imagine ourselves not as fixed and immutable beings, but rather as a limitless field upon which qualities and impulses rise up and fall away again like waves on the sea. Some of these impulses rise up with particular intensity. We may even experience them as afflictions, but they can be the keys to our transformation. Their intensity points to the disequilibrium and dysfunction in us that is in need of transformation.”
— quoted from “Chapter 7, What The Soul Does While The Gates Are Still Open: The Ten Days of Teshuvah” in This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation by Rabbi Alan Lew (with a forward by Norman Fischer)
After last night’s practice, I virtually attended a Temple Ner Tamid service that featured Cantor Meredith Greenberg leading the synagogue in a song with the refrain, “Ten Days / You Have Ten Days”. The song refers to the High Holidays (or High Holy Days) known as the “Ten Days of Atonement” and the “Ten Days of Awe” — which begin with Rosh Hashana ( “the Head of the Year”) and culminate with Yom Kippur, “The Day of Atonement”. Of course, some people spend more than ten days preparing their hearts and minds for a new year. Some people actually begin their reflection process 7 weeks (49 days) before the new year, on Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning which commemorates the destruction of the first Temple in Jerusalem.
Over the weekend, I had a very rich conversation with a dear friend (who was also a dear friend of my mom) and she told me about This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation by Rabbi Alan Lew. I haven’t read it yet, but I am always struck by how people spend their time and how much time they need to get their hearts and minds in the right place for a special occasion (which, in this case, is the rest of their lives).
For some it is 10 days, for some it is 40, for some it is 49, for some it is 9.
The following (slightly revised) excerpt was originally posted in October 2024.
“While this may sound like an extreme–and even scary–story, I don’t see it as the tale of a goddess who gave up everything to marry a god. Instead, I understand it as the story of a Truth seeker who gave up all distractions to merge with the ultimate Truth.”
— quoted from the “Knowing BRAHMACHARINI” section of “Chapter 2: Channeling Your Energy — Channeling Your Energy (when you’re feeling excited) with Goddess Brahmacharini, the one who follows brahmacharya (the path of self-control)” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals To Awaken Your Inner Warrior And Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera
Yesterday was also the beginning of Sharada Navaratri, the most celebrated of the four Navaratri festivals. Navaratri literally means “nine nights” and is a Hindu celebration of God / the Divine as a woman. Each day is dedicated to a different manifestation of Durga/Parvati and each manifestation marks a different point in Her journey. Today, the second day, is dedicated to the Goddess Brahmacharini (“Unmarried One”), who is also Yogini. Both of her names highlight her path.
A yogini is a woman who practices yoga. Brahmacharini shares a root with the fourth yama (external “restraint” or universal commandment), brahmacharya, which can be translated as following in the steps of God or “chasing God” — or even that the devotee is riding in God’s “chariot”. All of these translations are associated with the life of someone who is deeply invested in their religious and spiritual life. In art, Brahmacharini has all the symbols of an ascetic: bare feet, a mala (rosary) and a kamandalu (water pot). Since people consider her a symbol of bliss and calmness, some pray to her for moksha (“liberation” from suffering), peace, and prosperity.
People also believe Brahmacharini can endow them with strong concentration and self-control. In fact, her story is full of the great challenges associated with the austerity she practices in order to achieve her goal of marriage. To me, she, herself, is liminal in that she is the embodiment of the auspicious moment between the goddess being identified as a daughter and the goddess being identified as a wife.
“The story of Brahmacharini and Shiva is not meant to be the story of a romantic relationship; Shiva is merely symbolic of the true Self. He is pure consciousness, the eternal soul, which we strive to merge with vis–à–vis the power of spiritual practice.”
— quoted from the “Knowing BRAHMACHARINI” section of “Chapter 2: Channeling Your Energy — Channeling Your Energy (when you’re feeling excited) with Goddess Brahmacharini, the one who follows brahmacharya (the path of self-control)” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals To Awaken Your Inner Warrior And Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera
Each and every person on the planet (or a space station) “contain[s] multitudes” and experiences different seasons of life. At different stages in our lives, we are recognized in different ways. At different times in our lives we fulfill different roles. Each season and each role comes with different responsibilities and expectations, as well as with different skills, abilities, experiences, and powers.
Take a moment to recognize the path you are on; the journey that is your life; the season you are in; the roles you play; and the way you serve the world.
Take a moment to acknowledge that you can simultaneously experience excitement, anticipation, doubt, fear, hesitation, and joy every time you experience change.
Take a moment to do what you need to do to grieve and appreciate what is no longer and, also, to appreciate what is not yet — knowing that what is not yet is a possibility that could be or might never be.
Take a moment to remember that you and the things you do have meaning and are valuable.
Now, take a breath, exhale, and begin.
“You hold the word in hand
and offer the palm of friendship;
of frontiers where men of speech lend lip-
service to brotherhood, you pass, unhampered
by sounds that drown the meaning, or by fear
of the foreign-word-locked fetter;
oh, better
the word in hand than a thousand
spilled from the mouth upon the hearless ear.”
— quoted from the poem “To A Deaf Child” by Dorothy Miles
Variations of the following have been previously posted.
In addition to the religious/cultural holidays referenced above, September 23rd, is the International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL). This year, it is the second day of International Week of Deaf People (IWDP). While IWDP is celebrated during the last full week of September (and therefore the dates shift a little), IDSL is held annually on the anniversary of the day, in 1951, when the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established in Rome, Italy, during the first World Deaf Conference. That first conference was organized by Ente Nazionale Sordomuti (ENS), the Italian Deaf Association, and attended by representatives from 25 countries. Now, WFD is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization of deaf associations from 133 countries. It promotes the human rights of deaf people worldwide and works with the United Nations (UN) General Assembly and UN agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO).
Each day of IWDP has a different focus. As I mentioned in the the post excerpted below, The 2025 theme for the entire week is “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights”, which is also the Tuesday focus.
“All people have an inherent right to human rights from birth. For deaf people, sign language rights are fundamental for the full enjoyment of their human rights. As we look at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we recognise progress made and the challenges that remain in ensuring equality for all. We recognise that our achievements are leading us towards our goal: a world where deaf people everywhere can sign anywhere.”
— quoted from the “International Week of Deaf People 2025 — Daily Themes: A Week of Celebration, Awareness, and Action” (Monday) section of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) website
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF DEAF PEOPLE & MEET SOME OF THE PEOPLE I HIGHLIGHTED LAST YEAR!
NOTE: In 2025, this will be the first post and yesterday’s post will be the second post.
Please join me today (Tuesday, September 23rd) at 12:00 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 by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Rosh Hashanah 2021”]
(My apologizes for not posting before the noon practice.)
Click here (or below) for the Dorothy Miles poem “To A Deaf Child.”
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 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).
Errata: The Tuesday focus for the International Week of Deaf People was originally misidentified as the Monday focus.
A Joyful Practice 