Posted by ajoyfulpractice in 9-Day Challenge, Art, Bhakti, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Loss, Mantra, Meditation, Mysticism, New Year, One Hoop, Pain, Peace, Philosophy, Religion, Rosh Hashanah, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Yoga, Yom Kippur.
Tags: 988, Gregorian calendar, High Holidays, Julian calendar, Los Lobos, loving-kindness, lovingkindness, mantra, Monette Chilson, October 7, peace, Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, Richard W. Siebels, Skandamata, Skandamātā, Ten Days of Atonement, Ten Days of Awe
“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 coming together with friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This is post-practice post related to the practice on Monday, October 7th. The 2024 prompt question was, “What is on your mind? This post contains passing references to terrorism. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Check out the “Class Schedules” calendar for upcoming classes.
“Believe in what you’re doing”
— quoted from the song “A Matter of Time” by Los Lobos
Sometimes, when I talk about calendar reform and jokingly say, “Nothing happened today in 1582,” I imply — and sometimes explicitly state (jokingly) that no one was born, no one invented anything, and no did anything for the first time. Normally, I don’t say, although it is implied, that nothing tragic happened on this day in 1582. But, something horrific and tragic did happen a year ago today — and, in some ways, it continues to happen.
Unfortunately, there does not seem to be an end in sight. Nor, does it look like the hostages — or the people who have been displaced — are closer to being home. But, we can pray, we can hope, we can wish — and some people can even do the work — for peace; for homecomings; for relief; for healing. We can pray, hope, wish — and even do the work — to end terrorism.
“Restless hearts seek comfort in a wide variety of ways. They may seek it through eating, drugs or alcohol, shopping, unhealthy relationships, money, or power. But in the end, none of these things bring that peace—there is still a restlessness. Hearts that are not at peace are not sensitive to the sacredness of all life, to the horrible destruction of our beautiful Earth. They are not truly compassionate to the great needs of so many fellow human beings, not appalled by the cavernous gap between the haves and the have-nots.”
— quoted from the September 1, 2002, Friends Journal article “Mystical or Not at All” by Richard W. Siebels
My suggestions may seem like little things and may leave you feeling restless. But, sometimes, all we can do are the little things — and we should not take those things for granted. That is true when we are observing something from a distance and, also, when we are in the middle of it.
While I have not experienced the level of terror that people over there (and in other places around the world) are currently experiencing, I have been physically and verbally pushed around because of the color of my skin and the perception that I did not belong somewhere. In those moments, and in subsequent moments of fear, I focused on little things: What can I do, right here, right now, that makes a difference, that creates some modicum of peace? What can I do in this moment that makes a difference in future moments, that brings peace in some future moment?
Sometimes, the little thing that makes a difference is breathing “peace in” and breathing “peace out” — or breathing “love” in and “kindness” out. Sometimes, the little thing that makes a big difference is remembering your humanity and the humanity of the person who is perceived as different from you… even when someone similar to that person has attacked you.
I have had the luxury of doing these things, (in part) because I already had these little things in my practice. In fact, one of the times I focus on “little things” during the practice, is during the High Holidays.*
“The Jewish term for prayer, tefillah, does not denote the beseeching we often associate with prayer, rather it was a way of life, a means of communing—not communicating—with God. The spiritual aim of tefillah is to discern what is within oneself, to help us see who we are in God’s eyes.”
— quoted from the “Centering Prayer: Christian Meditation” section of “Chapter 3: Recovering Yoga” in Sophia Rising: Awakening Your Sacred Wisdom Through Yoga by Monette Chilson
I don’t mention every horrific and tragic thing that happens here or abroad; but, there are times when not mentioning something makes it the elephant in the room. For instance, this 1-year anniversary of the war/conflict over there, coincides with the the fifth day and night of Navaratri and the fifth day of the High Holidays. This particular day and night of Navaratri is dedicated to Skandamātā, a fierce mother as protector — who simultaneously holds her baby and a lotus flower, rides a lion, and keeps her eyes (especially her third eye) open for any and all danger. Also known as “The Goddess of Fire,” Skandamātā is believed to bless people with salvation, power, prosperity, and wisdom. Those people are actually doubly blessed, because in worshipping her, they also worship her son.
Parents (not just mothers), guardians, and other adults in the room — like teachers — have to simultaneously nurture and protect. There are times we also have to do that for ourselves. Finally, there are times when we need people in authority (i.e., elected officials) to simultaneously nurture and protect. These are big things, sometimes overwhelming things. Just as Skandamātā holds the beautiful lotus flower that grows out of the muck, we hold the world (and our own fates). Unlike Skandamātā; however, we do not have four arms, three eyes, and a lion. Sometimes we focus so much on doing one thing that we forget about doing the other; we lose perspective and fail to do the most important things.
“The key to getting the most out of any experience is preparation before the event. You cannot expect to leap from the shower to the shul and instantly feel holy. It just doesn’t work that way.”
— quoted from “Preparing for Rosh Hashana: The secret to an inspiring new year” by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon
*2024 Practice Notes — The “Little Things”:
- Make sure your legs are in a position that’s comfortable for low back and arms in a position that’s comfortable for neck and shoulders.
- Make sure you have a stable or steady; easy, comfortable, or joyful seat (or pose). (YS 2.46 – 2.48)
- Breathe deeply in and breathe deeply out.
- Remember your intention/purpose (or the intention/purpose of what you’re doing).
- Keep your spine long with a little baby back bend.
- Practice ahimsā (“non-violence” / “non-harming”). (YS 2.35)
- For a vinyāsa practice, match the movement to the breath. For all practices, notice the natural internal movement that happens as you breathe.
- Notice how stability in your lower body allows you to extend your upper body, which stretches out your lower body.
- Notice the “L” of your hands, especially when you have weight in your hands and arms. (In grade school you might have learned that one “L” on your forehead means loser, but if you put two “L”s together you have a shot at a goal; if you tip the ends out, you have a “W” – which means winner.)
Lifting the corners of your mouth up towards your ears, is usually one of the little things.
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
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 a new 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).
### MAY YOUR NAME BE WRITTEN & SEALED IN THE BOOK OF LIFE (and May You Be Doubly Blessed) ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Life, Music, One Hoop, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: 988, equilux, Equinox, Los Lobos
Happy Autumn or Spring (depending on where you find yourself)! Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone spending their time with friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This post contains some previously posted information.
“Because there’s a lot of work out there
Everything will be fine
And I’ll send for you baby
Just a matter of time”
— quoted from the song “A Matter of Time” by Los Lobos
Do you ever wish for a little more time?
Or, for similar reasons, do you ever wish certain things didn’t take up so much of your daylight hours?
There are certain times of year — like at the beginning of a new year and/or the beginning of a new season — when I think about this quite a bit. As different communities around the world celebrate new years at different times, a change in the astronomical seasons often overlaps or happens around the same time as a cultural and/or religious new year. So, I often do more than think about how I actually spend my time. I also start considering what I could do with more time — even if the actual time is only a little more.
Today is the Autumnal Equinox here in the Northern Hemisphere (and the Vernal or Spring Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere). In theory, the angle of the Earth combines with its rotation around the sun to produce four noteworthy (and marked) dates: Autumnal Equinox, Winter Solstice, Vernal (or Spring) Equinox, and Summer Solstice. I say, “in theory,” because the terms solstice and equinox refer to phenomena that don’t happen exactly as they are described.
While most people know that the sun does not, literally, “stand still” on the solstices, we still like to think that everyone around the world has equal amounts of day and night on the equinoxes — and that these appreciable moments in time are actually that: appreciable and notable. The truth, however, is that there is no sudden/automatic change in how much light and how much darkness we get. It’s not a dimmer switch. Additionally, we can notice changes much earlier than indicated by the celestial calendar. Furthermore, no one is really getting 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night on the actual equinox.
We perceive daylight long after the sun has moved below the horizon and, therefore, daytime is longer at latitudes above the equator than below. Here in Houston, I’ll get 12 hours and 7 minutes (as will people in Guatemala City, Guatemala). Meanwhile, people in Shanghai, China will get 12 hours and 6 minutes and people in Cairo, Egypt will get 12 hours and 8 minutes. On the flip side, someone in Anchorage, Alaska will get 12 hours and 11 minutes (while people in Helsinki, Finland will get 12 hours and 14 minutes). As for the countries marking the beginning of Spring, people in Lesotho (Free State), South Africa will get 12 hours and 7 minutes (as will people in São Paulo, Brazil); while people in Auckland, Aotearoa / New Zealand will get 12 hours and 9 minutes.
Even as we approach the equator, a true 12-hour split doesn’t happen on the equinox: It happens on the equilux (“equal light”), which — depending on your latitude and season — can fall a few days before or after the equinox. In the Northern hemisphere, equilux falls after the Autumnal Equinox. The closer you are to the equator, the later the date. However, if you are on (or near) the equator, you may never really get a 12-hour split. Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, which sits on the equator, has the same amount of daylight today as Shanghai, China (12 hours and six minutes).
So, for a few more days (or weeks) we all have more daylight than usual.
How could you spend your time?
More importantly: How will you spend your time?
“Believe in what you’re doing”
— quoted from the song “A Matter of Time” by Los Lobos
Please join me for a 65-minute virtual yoga practice on Zoom today (Sunday, September 22nd) at 2:30 PM. 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.
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “10062021 More Time]
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 a new 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.
### MAKE A + DIFFERENCE! ###
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Life, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Rosh Hashanah, Science, Wisdom, Yoga.
Tags: Ganesh Chaturthi, High Holidays, Los Lobos, Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, Ten Days of Atonement, Ten Days of Awe
Happy Equinox and many blessings, to everyone and especially those celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi!! “Chag sameach!” to those observing the High Holidays.
This is a “missing” post for Saturday, September 23rd. NOTE: Some information has previously been posted in a (slightly) different context. You can request an audio recording of either 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.)
“Because there’s a lot of work out there
Everything will be fine
And I’ll send for you baby
Just a matter of time”
— quoted from the song “A Matter of Time” by Los Lobos
Do you ever wish for a little more time?
Or, for similar reasons, do you ever wish certain things didn’t take up so much of your daylight hours?
There are certain times of year — like at the beginning of a new year and/or the beginning of a new season — when I think about this quite a bit. When observations related to a new year overlap with a change in the astronomical seasons, I do more than think about how I actually spend my time. I also start considering what I could do with more time — even if the actual time is only a little more.
This year, the eighth day of the High Holidays (and the fifth day of Ganesh Chaturthi) overlapped the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere on Saturday, September 23rd. Along with Winter Solstice, Vernal (or Spring) Equinox, and Summer Solstice, the Autumnal Equinox is one of four noteworthy (and marked) dates that are, theoretically, produced because of the angle of the Earth as it rotates around the sun. I say, “theoretically,” because the terms solstice and equinox refer to phenomena that don’t happen exactly as they are described.
While most people know that the sun does not, literally, “stand still” on the solstices, we still like to think that everyone around the world has equal amounts of day and night on the equinoxes — and that these appreciable moments in time are actually that: appreciable and notable. The truth, however, is that there is no sudden/automatic change in how much light and how much darkness we get. It’s not a dimmer switch. Additionally, we can notice changes much earlier than indicated by the celestial calendar. Furthermore, no one is really getting 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night on the actual equinox.
We perceive daylight long after the sun has moved below the horizon and, therefore, daytime is longer at latitudes above the equator than below. Here in Houston, I got 12 hours and 7 minutes (as did people in the Twin Cities; Cairo, Egypt; and Shanghai, China). On the flip side, someone in Anchorage, Alaska got 12 hours and 10 minutes (as did people in Helsinki, Finland). Even at the equator, a true 12-hour split doesn’t happen on the equinox: It happens on the equilux (“equal light”), which this year falls between September 25th and October 17th, depending on how close you are to the equator. The closer you are to the equator, the later the date.
So, for a few more days (or weeks) we all have more daylight than usual.
How could you spend your time?
“And then we spoke about Rosh Hashana… finally.
People always talk about making big changes – New Year resolutions.
‘I want to lose 50 pounds.’
‘I want to finish the entire Talmud.’
‘I’m going to spend 90 minutes of quality time with my daughter every night.’
It doesn’t work. It never does. And if it does, it peters out. You have no choice. You must start small.”
— quoted from “Preparing for Rosh Hashana: The secret to an inspiring new year” by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon
If you are anything like me, there’s a good chance that when you decide you want to do something (or stop doing something), you want one of those handy-dandy “time slips” — not because you don’t want to do the work, but because once you make up your mind you’re ready for the change. However, we can’t snap our fingers and “skip to the good part.” We do not have a magical, fantastical (theoretically possibly) way of skipping ahead. Even if we did, it wouldn’t be advisable, because we wouldn’t (necessarily) be ready on every level. Just because some part of our mind is ready, doesn’t mean our whole being is ready. We get ready during the time that we’re taking the steps to make something happen (or to make something stop happening).
Those steps — even when they are little baby steps — make a big difference.
The following excerpt was originally posted in 2021. Due to the sequences, the order of the “little things” is different each year. The order below is the 2021 order. Some embedded links connect outside of this blog.
“The key to getting the most out of any experience is preparation before the event. You cannot expect to leap from the shower to the shul and instantly feel holy. It just doesn’t work that way.”
— quoted from “Preparing for Rosh Hashana: The secret to an inspiring new year” by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon
Just as you can’t jump up off the coach and run a marathon, without some training, Rabbi Yaakov Salomon once pointed out that the desire for a deep spiritual connection requires some preparation. The means he mentioned included introspection, meditation, and prayer — all methods also mentioned in other traditions, including in Indian philosophies like yoga. A lot of people, however, aren’t familiar with all 8-limbs of the Yoga Philosophy; they just know about the two limbs that form the postural practice: āsana and prāņāyāma. But, just practicing those two little things can take you deeper into the overall practice and help cultivate big connections.
In many ways, hatha yoga (the physical practice of yoga, regardless of the style or tradition) is all about little things and about bringing awareness to the little things. The way we sit or stand determines how we breathe; the way we breathe in different positions determines how we feel. When we bring our awareness to how we feel we can go deeper into the pose as well as into ourselves. It all starts with little things. Little things, like how we place our hands or engage our core, can make the difference between going deeper into a pose and deeper into ourselves versus getting injured.
Although, sometimes we learn a lot about ourselves from getting injured; but that’s another story for another day.
Using the practice to notice little things can give us insight into why we think the way we think and do (and say) the things we do (and say) — on and off the mat. It can also help us bring awareness to how little things get us ready for the big things. For instance, next time you’re on the mat, give yourself the opportunity to notice these “little things” – one at a time and then all together:
- Make sure your legs are in a position that’s comfortable for your low back and that your arms are in a position that’s comfortable for neck and shoulders.
- Breathe deeply in and breathe deeply out.
- Notice the “L” of your hands, especially when you have weight in your hands and arms. (In grade school you might have learned that one “L” on your forehead means loser, but if you put two “L”s together you have a shot at a goal; if you tip the ends out, you have a “W” — which means winner.)
- For a vinyāsa practice, match the movement to the breath. For all practices, notice the natural internal movement that happens as you breathe.
- Press your shoulders down and squeeze the tips of your shoulder blades together. Notice how the engagement in the back body affects the front of the body.
- Engage the inside (starting at your feet and engage your core by squeezing into your midline).
- Focus on something that’s not moving so that your mind-body stays present. Remember, where your eyes go, your mind goes; where your mind goes, your body goes — especially in a balancing pose.
- SMILE!
- Notice what happens when you put it all together.
- Change your perspective and look at things in a slightly different way. (If you are working on a peak and/or advanced pose, practice a pose that looks and feels similar and, therefore, may require similar engagement.)
- Don’t panic! Be present and trust your practice in this moment.
This practice also featured the personal story from Rabbi Yaakov Salomon. It’s a story about little things and is a great reminder that while we may not always notice the little things until they become the big things, the little things matter. In fact, every little thing we feel, think, say, and do is the possibility of a big thing we’re in the habit of feeling, thinking, saying, or doing.
“Believe in what you’re doing”
— quoted from the song “A Matter of Time” by Los Lobos
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “High Holidays: Little Things”]
### MAY YOUR NAME BE WRITTEN AND SEALED IN THE BOOK OF LIFE & MAY YOU HAVE FEW OBSTACLES ###
A Joyful Practice 