Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone expressing friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind. BREATHE!
This (short) “missing” compilation post, for Wednesday, November 12th, features previously posted content with a little something extra at the end (i.e., the coda). My apologies for not posting the music before the practices.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.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
SUFFRAGE, noun [Latin, French > Late Middle English] — the right to vote in political elections.
“late Middle English (in the sense ‘“intercessory prayers”’, also ‘“assistance”’): from Latin suffragium, reinforced by French suffrage. The modern sense of ‘“right to vote”’ was originally US (dating from the late 18th century).”
— quoted from Oxford Languages
Who do you imagine when you imagine a suffragist? What do they look like to you? Who immediately comes up in your mind?
While the word “suffragist” literally means “a person advocating that the right to vote be extended to more people”, many people automatically associate the idea with the women’s suffrage movement. Odds are that, even though men can be — and, historically, have been — suffragists, the person you envisioned was a woman.
Normally (as noted in the excerpt below), this is where I start a practice on November 12th — with the question, “What is a woman”? Today, however, I want to jump forward (and back) to the question of how you imagine a suffragist. Because, while there were American suffragists — even in leadership roles — who looked like me and were interested in ensuring the suffrage (and citizenship) of people of various identities, the person you envisioned probably looked like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was born today in 1815, in Johnstown, New York.
“If I were to draw up a set of rules for the guidance of reformers, such as Franklin and other celebrities tell us they did for their own use, I should put at the head of the list: Do all you can, no matter what, to get people to think on your reform, and then, if your reform is good, it will come about in due season.”
— quoted from a diary entry dated “Cleveland, August 20 [1888]” by Elizabeth Cady Stanton (as published in Elizabeth Cady Stanton As Revealed in Her Letterz, Diary and Reminiscences, Edited by Theodore Stanton and Harriot Stanton Blatch, Volume Two])
𝄌
“When a white member of the delegation said in ignorance, ‘If I were a colored woman, I should be willing to march with the other women of my race,’ it provoked a pointed response from [Ida B.] Wells-Barnett. ‘There is a difference… which you probably do not see. I shall not march with the colored women. Either I go with you or not at all. I am not taking this stand because I personally wish for recognition. I am doing it for the future benefit of my whole race.’
— quoted from the American Heritage (September 2020, Volume 65, Issue 5) essay, “Ida B. Wells Marches for Justice: The ex-slave and investigative journalist spent a lifetime fighting against lynching and segregation — but also for voting rights for African-American women.” by Susan Ware [adapted from Why They Marched: Untold Stories of the Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote (Harvard University Press) by Susan Ware]
Just as Elizabeth Cady Stanton referenced in her diary, the suffragists did “draw up a set of rules for the guidance of reformers….” Unfortunately, they did so in a very similar manner as the “celebrities” she mentioned: they advocated for “all women” while simultaneously leaving people out. Some of those people, were part of the movement. Some were even in leadership positions.
African-American suffragists like Mary Ann Shadd Cary (b. 10/09/1823), Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (b. 09/24/1825), Ida B. Wells (b. 07/16/1862), Mary Church Terrell (09/23/1863), and Nannie Helen Burroughs (b. 05/02/1879); as well as Native suffragists like Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin (b. 12/14/1863), Mexican-American suffragists like Nina Otero-Warren (b. 10/23/1881), and Chinese-American suffragists like Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee (b. 10/07/1896) had to battle racism, as well as misogyny — inside and outside of the movement. To add insult to injury, they were not able to vote when the 19th Amendment was ratified and adopted. In fact, the American suffragists movement as it directly affected women of color, continued well into the 20th century, when it was advanced by people like Viola Jackson (b. ~1915), Debra Barnes Wilson, Juanita Craft (b. 02/09/1902), Amelia Boynton Robinson (b. 08/18/1905), Rosa Parks (b. 02/04/1913), Marie Foster (10/24/1913), Fannie Lou Hamer (b. 10/06/1917), and Viola Liuzzo (b. 04/11/1925) — whose race and ethnicity allowed her to vote in the 1960s. Even minors1 — like Julia Barnes, Rachel West Nelson and Sheyann Webb-Christburg — attended meetings and participated in marches during the Civil Rights Movement.
Grace Trout seemed swayed by these sentiments, and she agreed to take the matter up again with the national leaders, but to no avail. Although Trout personally disagreed, she said she would abide by their wishes. Wells-Barnett would have none of it. ‘When I was asked to come down here, I was asked to march with the other women of our state, and I intend to do so or not take part in the parade at all.’”
— quoted from the American Heritage (September 2020, Volume 65, Issue 5) essay, “Ida B. Wells Marches for Justice: The ex-slave and investigative journalist spent a lifetime fighting against lynching and segregation — but also for voting rights for African-American women.” by Susan Ware [adapted from Why They Marched: Untold Stories of the Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote (Harvard University Press) by Susan Ware]
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “11122025 Having A Say, redux III”]
NOTE: Since some Spotify tracks are shorter (than the YouTube videos), I have add (silent) filler tracks. YouTube features several extra videos that are not available on Spotify. Some are speeches worth hearing. Some are music videos worth seeing. To make up the difference, the Spotify playlist has its own Easter egg.
“We come now to the rescue…. Will you as a pastor and friend of missions help by not hindering these women when they come among you to speak and to enlist the women of your church?”
— quoted from the speech “How the Sisters Are Hindered from Helping” by Nannie Helen Burroughs (delivered at the National Baptist Convention, in Richmond, Virginia, on September 13, 1900)
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.
NOTE: 1Julia Barnes was eight years old (and with her maternal grandmother), while Rachel West Nelson and Sheyann Webb-Christburg were both nine years old, during the “Sunday Bloody Sunday” march in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965. Ms. Nelson and Ms. Christburg became involved in the Civil Rights Movement after meeting Martin Luther King, Jr. During the attack on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Ms. Christburg was carried to safety by Reverend Hosea Williams (one of the march leaders).
Many blessings to everyone and especially to looking for friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind. CONTINUE TO BREATHE!
For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted on November 10, 2024. Date-specific items have been revised. The 2025 prompt question was, “What is on your heart and mind?”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.
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.”
— Martin Luther (b. 1483)
There is often a contradiction between what someone thinks they will do in a situation and what they actually do in that situation. Sometimes this is because our ideals don’t line up with our actual actions (i.e., thoughts, words, and deeds). Sometimes it is because the situation is much messier than what we imagined. That messiness can come from our own hearts and minds — and it can also come from the hearts and minds of others.
For a lot of people, things are messy right now. You might find — even if things are [quote-unquote] going your way — that your sympathetic nervous system is kicking in and that you want to fight, flee, or freeze (collapse). Take a moment to breathe and come back to (a variation of) the “formula” I mentioned [this week in 2024]:
What are you seeing/hearing?
What are you thinking?
What are you feeling?
What do you want?
What can you do?
It is in this moment, this liminal or threshold moment, that we choose how we untangle this double bind of Catch-22 situation.
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR A RELATED POST.
“‘The enemy,’ retorted Yossarian with weighted precision, ‘is anybody who’s going to get you killed, no matter which side he’s on, and that includes Colonel Cathcart. And don’t you forget that, because the longer you remember it, the longer you might live.’”
— quoted from Catch-22 (Chapter 12) by Joseph Heller (pub. 1961)
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
NOTE: In previous years, we have used different pratyahara playlists. In 2024, we used a playlist available on YouTube and Spotify [Look for “05252022 Pratyahara II”]. Click on the excerpt title above for the previous playlist.
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.
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Peace in / Peace out. Grace in / Grace out.
For Those Who Missed It: The followingwas originally posted in 2023 (and revised in 2024).Class details and links have been updated.
“If this symphony is misunderstood, and torn to shreds, I shall think it quite normal, and not at all surprising. It will not be the first time. But I myself absolutely believe it to be the best and especially the most sincere of all my works. I love it as I have never loved any single one of my other musical creations.”
— quoted from an 1893 letter from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to his nephew Vladimir “Bob” Davydov as posted in “Music History Monday: His Own Requiem?” by Robert Greenberg
How are you feeling today?
Perhaps you are feeling a lot. Perhaps you are feeling one emotion strongly — or a combination of strong emotions. Perhaps you are feeling so much that you are overwhelmed and feeling numb… as if you are feeling nothing.
No matter what you are feeling, take a moment to breathe into what you are feeling.
There is grace in that breath and the ability to breathe into what you are feeling.
Note, that I have not indicated or suggested that what you are feeling is positive, negative, or neutral; good, bad, or neutral. However, there’s a pretty good chance that you assigned a value to the idea of strong feelings, emotions. That’s what we do as humans. That’s one (really three… or six) of the reasons why sensations can be experienced in 108 different ways according to some Eastern philosophies.
PRACTICE NOTE: The 2024 practice focused more on breath and sensations/feelings/vibrations. Previous practices on this date have highlighted musicians born on this date (in 1969 and 1962) who really moved people and/or musical events that emotionally “shook” people. For example, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, known as “The Passionate Symphony,” premiered today in 1893 (according to the Gregorian calendar) and Elvis Presley performed the first of two shows at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, today in 1957.
Click on the excerpt title below to learn about some of the conspiracy theories related to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and his music.
“‘What’s your emotional power over women?’ demanded one obviously influenced female reporter.
‘Gosh…’ replied Elvis, whispering something inaudible into a mike provided for the occasion.”
— quoted from the 1957 article “Elvis Wiggles, Fans Scream at Pan-Pacific” by Wally George
Please join me today (Tuesday, October 28th) 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 in 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 “10282020 Feeling Pathétique?”]
NOTE: The playlist primarily focuses on Tchaikovsky; but, I finally added some before/after music related to Elvis and some musicians born on this date.
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.
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.
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
May everyone be healthy and strong; may everyone be peaceful and happy; and may everyone recognize their whole self.
For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted on October 27, 2024. One embedded link and a quote have been updated/added. The 2025 prompt question was, “What is giving you hope (even if it’s just a little bit of hope)?”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.
— quoted from the poem “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas (b. 1914)
There are a lot of noteworthy things related to this date in history — including the fact that Laura Inter founded Brújula Intersexual (Intersex Compass), “a Mexican organization that works with intersex people, activists, and communities in Mexico, Latin America, and Spain”, today in 2013. All of the things, even the ones not mentioned in the practice and/or the excerpt below, are related to how we live our lives (i.e., how we spend our time) and how we interact with each other during the limited time that we have together.
The hope is that we can respect each other, be kind, and hold space for what each of us experiences on any given day.
“I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart: I am, I am, I am.”
or
“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart: I am, I am, I am.”
— quoted from two different editions of The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (b. 1932)
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
NOTE: Over the last few years, we have used four (4) different playlists on this date. The playlist we used in 2024 is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “10272021 Another Appointment”]
“You and I are told increasingly we have to choose between a left or right. Well I’d like to suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There’s only an up or down: [up] man’s old – old-aged dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order, or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. And regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.”
— quoted from the 1964 “A Time for Choosing” speech by Ronald Reagan
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.
“And further, monks, as if a monk sees a body dead…, he then applies this perception to his own body thus: ‘Verily, also my own body is of the same nature; such it will become and will not escape it.’
Thus he lives contemplating the body in the body internally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body externally, or he lives contemplating the body in the body internally and externally. He lives contemplating origination-factors in the body, or he lives contemplating dissolution factors in the body, or he lives contemplating origination-and-dissolution-factors in the body. Or his mindfulness is established with the thought: ‘The body exists,’ to the extent necessary just for knowledge and mindfulness, and he lives detached, and clings to nothing in the world. Thus also, monks, a monk lives contemplating the body in the body.”
— quoted from Satipatthana Sutta (The Foundations of Mindfulness) translated by Nyanasatta Thera
Peace. wisdom, and knowledge to all, every day and especially on Saint Crispin’s Day!
This compilation of excerpts is the “missing” post for Saturday, October 25th.Note: I did not reference Anne Tyler’s biography (or other books) this year as I have in previous years. 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.
“This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispine Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembred;”
— quoted from Act IV, Scene iii, of Henry V by William Shakespeare
Today, October 25th, is Saint Crispin’s Day, also known as the Feast Day of Saint Crispin — although, technically, it is the feast day of Saint Crispin and his twin brother1 Saint Crispinian. It is also the birthday of the the novelist, short story writer, and literary critic Anne Tyler (b. 1941).
Click on the excerpt title below for more about why we remember Saint Crispin Day.
“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;”
— quoted from Act IV, Scene iii, of Henry V by William Shakespeare
The post excerpted above highlights the fact that we are all connected through breath and the act of breathing. One of the things highlighted in Anne Tyler’s Breathing Lessons is the fact that many people are not taught the importance of breathing… or even how to breathe.
Click on the excerpt title below for more about Anne Tyler, Breathing Lessons, and the practice of prāṇāyāma (the awareness and extension of breath).
“‘Breathing lessons – really,’ [Fiona] said, dropping to the floor with a thud. ‘Don’t they reckon I must know how to breathe by now?’”
— quoted from Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
“‘Oh honey, you’re just lucky they offer such things,’ Maggie told her…. ‘I mean you’re given all these lessons for the unimportant things–piano-playing, typing. You’re given years and years of lessons in how to balance equations, which Lord knows you will never have to do in normal life. But how about parenthood? Or marriage, either, come to think of it. Before you can drive a car you need a state-approved course of instruction, but driving a car is nothing, nothing, compared to living day in and day out with a husband and raising up a new human being.’”
— quoted from Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
Click on the excerpt title below for more about the the practice of prāṇāyāma (and commentary on the video below).
“Mindfulness of breathing takes the highest place among the various subjects of Buddhist meditation. It has been recommended and praised by the Enlightened One thus: ‘This concentration through mindfulness of breathing, when developed and practiced much, is both peaceful and sublime, it is an unadulterated blissful abiding, and it banishes at once and stills evil unprofitable thoughts as soon as they arise.’ Though of such a high order, the initial stages of this meditation are well within the reach of a beginner though he be only a lay student of the Buddha-Dhamma.”
— quoted from the commentary on the Satipatthana Sutta (The Foundations of Mindfulness) by Nyanasatta Thera
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “10272020 Pranayama II”]
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.
1NOTE: Some scholars describe Saint Crispin and Saint Crispinian as twins; some simply as brothers; and some indicate that they were brothers in Spirit.
Happy Diwali and Kali Puja! Blessings, light, love, and peace to everyone, everywhere on World Osteoporosis Day!
This post-practice post for Monday, October 20th, is a compilation post featuring some quick notes and excerpts. Please note that linked excerpts direct you to posts that will include content related to a specific year and, therefore, may include references to different holidays/events. The 2025 prompt question was, “How do you let your little light shine?”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.
“The light of the eyes makes the heart happy; good news fattens the bone.”
— Mishlei — Proverbs (15:30)
Monday, October 20, 2025 was the the third day — and, for some, the biggest day — of Diwali. In some areas, this celebration is also known as Kali Puja. Since the five-day celebration of Diwali is based on a lunar calendar, it falls at a slightly different on the Gregorian calendar each year. This year, the biggest celebrations fell on the same day as World Osteoporosis Day!
Click on the excerpt title below for more about the first three days of Diwali.
According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, “osteoporosis remains severely underdiagnosed and undertreated—especially among those who have already sustained fragility fractures. Shockingly, up to 80% of patients with osteoporotic fractures receive no follow-up diagnosis or treatment. The consequences are devastating: chronic pain, disability, loss of independence, increased risk of future fractures, and premature death. Families, healthcare systems, and economies also shoulder the heavy burden of this neglect.” The 2025 theme highlights the fact that it is unacceptable for over 500 million people, worldwide, to live with a condition that is underdiagnosed, undertreated, and preventable.
Click on the excerpt title below for more about World Osteoporosis Day and how our practice helps our bones.
“Those who practice yoga say it is life changing. Those of us who are as flexible as a piece of lumbar are not so sure. I admire yoga’s rich history, more than five thousand years old, but I run into a few mental roadblocks in understanding concepts like grounding and spinal energy. In fact, I was sitting in my slumped-over and crooked version of the lotus position during a special yoga class taught by Bruce’s mentor Matthew Sanford, when Matthew said to a student, ‘Breathe into your spine for God’s sake!’ I had no idea what that meant. The student understood though, and he made proper adjustments. What was remarkable was that both teacher and student were in wheelchairs.”
— quoted from “24. Dis Ease Yoga” in When Know How This Ends: Living while Dying by Bruce H. Kramer with Cathy Wurzer
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
NOTE: I reference the Gāyatrī Mantra and Atharva Veda (6.8) during this practice, both of which are on the playlist available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Diwali (Day 3-4) 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 (non-professional) support.
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone celebrating Diwali / Dhanteras and/or grateful for friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom/knowledge.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“somebody/anybody sing a black girl’s song bring her out to know herself to know you but sing her rhythms carin/struggle/hard times”
— The Lady in Brown with all the other Ladies from for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf by Ntozake Shange (b. 1948)
The we tell our stories changed because of the first commercial transistor radio, introduced today in 1954, and Ntozake Shange, the award-winning playwright and novelist who was born today in 1948.
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR THEIR STORIES!
Please join me today (Saturday, October 18th) 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.
NOTE: The before/after music is slightly different on each platform as there are videos on YouTube and an extra song on Spotify.
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.
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 found god in myself and i loved her i loved her fiercely” (NS) ###
“Chag sameach!” (“Happy Festival!”) to everyone observing 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 seeking friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom on Canada’s National Truth and Reconciliation Day.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This “missing” compilation post for Tuesday, September 30th, features new and previously posted content.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.
“You know how important that is. That’s the whole, that’s the whole, meaning of life, isn’t it? Trying to find a place for your stuff….”
“Have you noticed that their stuff is [ __ ] and your [ __ ] is stuff?”
— George Carlin, quoted from the standup routine about “A Place for… Stuff” (from his Comic Relief appearance, March 29, 1986)
We all come to the practice with “stuff”. As George Carlin so hilariously pointed out, we all go through life with “stuff”. Even though he was (mostly) talking about material things, I am talking more metaphorically… and energetically. We all have stuff. We all have the things that keeps us moving, the things that keep us stuck, and “the things that keep us here”(centered and grounded).
One thing can fit in more than one category and — because things change — something can move from one category to another. When the latter happens, we may find ourselves holding on to “[ __ ]” that no longer serves us.
The following excerpts are from a 2021 & 2023 versions of a 2020 post.
NOTE: Randomly, coincidentally, or not, two people named Buckley created pieces entitled “The Things That Keep Us Here”. I’ve never read Carla Buckley’s novel, but I’ve used Scott Buckley’s haunting composition on more than one occasion. It is part of his Monomyth album and includes a description that also seems to fit the synopsis of the novel, “Family. Duty. The things that keep us grounded, what keep us from giving up on our hopes, but what also holds us back from stepping across the precipice into the unknown.”
As the High Holidays come to an end, I always find myself thinking about the things to which I cling even though they are no longer serving me — or never served me. I think about how the very “things that keep us grounded” and keep us from stepping into danger can also be the things that keep us from freely moving into our future.
— “A person firmly established in the non-possessiveness gains complete understanding of the “why-ness” (or essence of why) of birth.”
Like everyone else, I have my favorite stories for each season; but, I don’t get the chance to tell every story every year…. There is, however, a story I make sure to tell every year, right at the end of the High Holidays. It’s a Charlie Harary story with a timeless message.
Some people may believe that I save today’s story for the one of the final days of the High Holidays because it is sometimes an intense physical practice. But, in reality, there is a bit of symbolism that plays out in the story and in the timing of the story. You see, even though I don’t talk about the significance of Rosh Hashanah, the Ten Days of Awe / Ten Days of Atonement, and Yom Kippur until people are observing them; many people within the Jewish community start planning and observing (a time of contemplation and preparation) 49 days before Rosh Hashanah and some people start fasting forty days before Yom Kippur. They listen for the call of the shofar and recite Psalm 27 twice a day. Some communities even begin a tradition of communal prayers for forgiveness (Selichot). For others, observation begins with Rosh Hashanah and the Ten Days of Repentance — even though, if they plan to go home and/or attend services, they have to make arrangements beforehand. Finally, there are people who may only fast and attend services on Yom Kippur.
There is merit toeach person’s timetable. And I see this kind of timetable in other communities — including in the yoga community….
Click on the excerpt titles below for the related 2021 and 2023 posts.
The High Holidays happen at the same time every year on the Hebrew calendar, but at different times on the Gregorian calendar. Similarly, they overlap with different holidays observed by people using other (religious) calendars. This year, the High Holidays (almost) directly overlap Navaratri, the Hindu festival of “nine nights” celebrating divine feminine energy in various manifestations.
Each of manifestation of Durga/Parvati manifestation is a symbolic milestone (and a reminder that women “contain multitudes”). The final day1 is devoted to Siddhidhatri, whose name literally means “land/earth of achievements”. Her name can also be translated as “Giver of Perfection”, as She is believed to be endowed with all the siddhis (“abilities” or “powers”) in the Universe and, also, to be able to bestow all of them. Typically, however, She only gives nine of the multitudes — some of which are referenced in the Yoga Sūtras.
In art and literature, she is sometimes depicted as being half of Shiva (with Him being half of Her), meaning that they are the embodiment the yin/yang symbol. When they are shown together in this way, they are each known as Ardhanarishvara, Ardhanaranari, or similar names that all highlight the fact that They are partially a woman.
When we look at the hero(ine)’s journey — as told through each day’s story, we are reminded that Durga/Parvati is a warrior or, if you will, a hero friend.
1NOTE: During the big celebrations of Navaratri (in the Spring and Fall) the final day is a double celebration — which may mean more feasting in some regions and more fasting in others. For example, some celebrations on the ninth day of Navaratri will also be Ayudha Puja (“worship of tools”), when people celebrate peace and knowledge and give thanks for the tools of their occupation. This means that some will give thanks for musical instruments and others will give thanks for their farming machinery. At the same time, some will make their puja (“offering”) to Saraswati — who is associated with knowledge, the arts, and culture, etc. — and others will direct their attention to Lakshmi — who is associated with prosperity, wealth, and fertility, etc.
These fall celebrations also include a tenth day, Dussehra or Vijayadashami, which commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over a 10-headed demon.
The Part About Truth:
“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must—at that moment—become the center of the universe.”
— quoted from the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech by Elie Wiesel
As I mentioned in the 2023 post excerpted above, there are people — myself included — who can get impatient when we decide we are ready for change and when we see that change needs to happen. However, there are times when stopping bad behavior is not the only change that needs to happen. There are times when the end of something horrible is just the beginning of the work that needs to be done in order for there to be healing. This is true of individual insults and injuries (where we individually ask or offer forgiveness). This is also true when it comes to really big things that we must never forget.
Born today (Tuesday) in 1928, in Sighet, Kingdom of Romania, Elie Wiesel was a writer, professor, political activist, polyglot (who spoke at least six languages), and Nobel laureate. He was also a Holocaust survivor who, along with his family and Sighet’s entire Jewish population, was moved into confinement ghettos in March 1944. In May of that same year, the officials within German-occupied Hungary started deporting people to Auschwitz. Elie Wiesel’s mother (Sarah Feig) and younger sister (Tzipora) were murdered upon arrival, as were 90% of the people deported to Auschwitz. Mr. Wiesel and his father (Shlomo Wiesel) would eventually be moved to Buchenwald, where the elder Wiesel was murdered shortly before the camp was liberated.
Elie Wiesel and his two older sisters (Beatrice and Hilda) were the only survivors in their immediate family. The siblings were reunited in a French orphanage and eventually immigrated to North America — with Elie and Hilda settling in the United States and Beatrice moving to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In April 1969, he married Marion Erster Rose, who survived the Holocaust after she and her family were sent to Gurs internment camp (in France).
For 10 years, Elie Wiesel did not speak or write about his experiences during the war. Eventually, a discussion with a close friend prompted him to write a 900-page memoir Un di velt hot geshvign (And the World Remained Silent) in Yiddish. An abridged version of the book was published in Buenos Aires and then, in 1955, her wrote a shorter version in French and called it La Nuit, which was published in English as Night. While not many copies of Night were initially sold, the book garnered a lot of attention and was eventually translated into 30 languages. To date, over ten million copies of Night have been sold in the US alone. Elie Wiesel wrote over 40 books, including two collections of memoirs and some novels. He also wrote The Trial of God, which he turned into a play of the same name.
Elie Wiesel and Marion Rose Wiesel, who translated 14 of her husband’s books, won numerous awards and honors for their humanitarian efforts. When Mr. Wiesel won the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize, the couple used the Nobel prize money to start the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee referred to Elie Wiesel as “messenger to mankind” and “one of the most important spiritual leaders and guides in an age when violence, repression, and racism continue to characterize the world”. The committee also pointed out that while his activism started with his own trauma, his compassion and desire for peace extended to the whole world.
The Part About Truth & Reconciliation:
“To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.”
— quoted from “Preface to the New Translation” in Night by Elie Wiesel (a new translation by Marion Wiesel)
September 30th is National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada. It is a day of remembrance and also a day of activism. According to an Indian Country Today article by Mary Annette Pember, Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation commission estimated “that up to 6,000 children died at the schools from disease, abuse, starvation, and other ills.” As I mentioned in a 2021 post, those Canadian numbers become even more appalling when added to the unheard stories of children who suffered similar traumas and tragedies in the United States (which had over 2.5 times as many schools).
Unlike the United States, Canada has made an effort to grapple with the horrors of their past, uncover the truths, and is (officially) “dedicated to moving forward, together in solidarity, across every part of these lands, united in truth, healing and respect.”
“On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we pause to remember the children taken from their families, those who never returned home, and the individuals, families and communities still living with the lasting impacts and trauma caused by the residential school system in Canada. Orange Shirt Day, founded by residential school Survivor Phyllis Webstad, has long been a grassroots movement led by Indigenous Peoples to honour the legacy of Survivors, who have shared their experiences to bring national attention to these truths. This day marks a solemn national commitment to truth, accountability and reconciliation.”
— quoted from the “Statement by Ministers Guilbeault, Alty, Chartrand and Gull-Masty on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation” (English version)
NOTE: The Statement is also (officially) available in Algonquin, Cree (Eastern), Denesuline, Inuktituk, Innu-Aimun, Mi’kmaq, Michif, Oji-Cree, Ojibway (Western), and Plains Cree
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “High Holidays: Drop Your Bags”]
NOTE: The YouTube playlist includes the Charlie Harary story that originally inspired this practice.
The residential school system is a topic that can cause trauma from memories of past abuse. Messages around the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation can be an unwelcome reminder to those who suffered hardships through generations of government policies that were harmful to Indigenous Peoples. A 24-hour support line (1-866-925-4419) provides crisis referral services to survivors and their families and explains how to access further health support from the Government of Canada. The Hope for Wellness Helpline provides immediate, culturally safe, crisis intervention support for First Nations, Inuit and Métis, 24 hours a day, seven days a week through its hotline, 1-855-242-3310, or its online chat at hopeforwellness.ca. The service is available in English, French and, upon request, in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut.
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.
“Chag sameach!” (“Happy Festival!”) to everyone observing 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.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
Please join me today (Sunday, September 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 “High Holidays: Good or Perfect”]
NOTE: One track is in a different place for continuity between platforms.
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.
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.
“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
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.)
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.
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A Joyful Practice 