This Night of Grace 2025 (mostly the music) February 26, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Bhakti, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Kirtan, Mantra, Meditation, Music, Mysticism, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Tantra, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: Ayyám-i-Há, Festival of Ayyám-i-Há, Generosity, intercalary days days, Maha Shivaratri, Mahashivratri, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā, Sadhguru, Shiva
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“Happy Mahashivratri,” to all who are celebrating! Many blessings to everyone, and especially those celebrating the Festival of Ayyám-i-Há, Carnival, and Maha Kumbh Mela!
Peace, ease, and generosity to all, throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!
“A genuine success will happen only when there is Grace. I want you to do a simple process as a part of this Mahashivratri. Three things…This night, let it not be just one night of exuberance. Let this, in some way, work as a turning point for you to move towards your own Awakening.”
“… every one of you can strive to become a wonderful human being and nobody can deny that to you. So, I want you to do a simple process as a part of this Mahashivratri: Write down three things. Write down three things when you go home, whatever you think makes a human being into a wonderful human being – just three things – and make it a reality in your life.”
— Sadhguru, founder of Isha Foundation
Please join me today (Wednesday, February 26th) at 4:30 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 (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Maha Shivaratri 2023”]
NOTE: The before/after music is slightly different on YouTube and Spotify.
I sometimes just loop this track and practice, but it does not appear to be available 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 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.)
### Shiva Shiva Shambhu ###
Traveling Music[ians] in a Liminal Time (just the music & blessings) February 25, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Music.Tags: 988, Carnival, Festival of Ayyám-i-Há, intercalary days days, Maha Kumbh Mela, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā
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Many blessings to everyone, and especially those celebrating the Festival of Ayyám-i-Há, Carnival, and Maha Kumbh Mela!
Peace, ease, and much respect to all, throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!
Please join me today (Tuesday, February 25th) 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 “02252024 Traveling Music”]
NOTE: One of the before/after practice songs is not available to everyone 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 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.)
### 
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Pepys, peeps, and a peep [of Harmony] (the “missing” Sunday post that is also a “long lost” post w/an excerpt) February 23, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Changing Perspectives, Healing Stories, Hope, Life, Music, One Hoop, Peace, Science, Suffering, Tragedy, Wisdom, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Anne Frank, Arooj Aftab, Black History Month, Booker T. Washington, Carnival, George Frideric Handel, George Handel, Harmony, HBCUs, Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A., Lord Braybrooke’s, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā, Rev. Mynors Bright M.A., Samuel Pepys, Sir Isaac Newton, W. E. B. Du Bois, W. E. Burghardt Du Bois
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Many blessings to everyone, and especially those celebrating Carnival and Maha Kumbh Mela!
Peace, ease, and harmony throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
This is the “missing” post for Sunday, February 23, 2025 (and also 2022). 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.
“Dear Kitty,
It’s lovely weather outside and I’ve perked up since yesterday. Nearly every morning I go to the attic where Peter works to blow the stuffy air out of my lungs. From my favorite spot on the floor I look up at the blue sky and the bare chestnut tree, on whose branches little raindrops shine, appearing like silver, and at the seagulls and other birds as they glide on the wind.
He stood with his head against a thick beam, and I sat down. We breathed the fresh air, looked outside, and both felt that the spell should not be broken by words…. I looked out, of the open window too, over a large area of Amsterdam, over all the roofs and on to the horizon, which was such a pale blue that it was hard to see the dividing line. ‘As long as this exists,’ I thought, ‘and I may live to see it, this sunshine, the cloudless skies, while this lasts I cannot be unhappy.’”
— Anne Frank, written in her diary (“Kitty”) on Wednesday, February 23, 1944
Do you keep a diary, a journal, or maybe write “morning pages”? If so, you probably write about things that are very personal to you; things you believe no one would be interested in reading — and, in most cases, you probably write for your eyes only. However, as you chronicle your daily minutia, you probably also reference things that are happening in the world around you. Just like famous diarists (whose private musings have made it into the public), you probably include references and maybe even details about current events — and how you take care of yourself during challenging (and horrifically tragic) times. In other words, like Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank, you provide an eye witness account of things that will one day be studied.
Born in London, today (February 23rd) in 1638, Samuel Pepys was a Tory politician who had no maritime experience, but somehow rose to the rank of Chief Secretary to the Admiralty (under two different kings). While he played a role in the reformation of what is now the Royal Navy, he is primarily remembered as a writer — and specifically as a prolific diarists. From 1660 until 1669, he wrote detailed daily entries about everything from his marriage, what he ate for any given meal, and the painful urinary tract and (urinary) bladder stone issues1 (which he experienced from a very young age) to the “good honest and painfull [i.e. painstakingly written] sermon” he heard on Sunday, March 17, 1661, and every else going on in the world around him. In fact, his diary entries give modern readers first-hand, eyewitness accounts of the Stuart Restoration (in May 1660), the Great Plague of London (1665-1666), the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667), and the Great Fire of London (in September 1666).
“17th (Lord’s day). At church in the morning, a stranger preached a good honest and painfull sermon. My wife and I dined upon a chine of beef at Sir W. Batten’s, so to church again. Then home, and put some papers in order. Then to supper at Sir W. Batten’s again, where my wife by chance fell down and hurt her knees exceedingly. So home and to bed.”
— quoted from a 1661 diary entry, as published in the “March 1660-1661” section of The Diary of Samuel Pepys M.A. F.R.S., Clerk of the Acts and Secretary to the Admiralty by Samuel Pepys
Transcribed from the Shorthand Manuscript in the Pepysian Library, Magdalene College Cambridge, by the Rev. Mynors Bright M.A., Late Fellow and President of the College (Unabridged), with Lord Braybrooke’s Notes / Edited with Additions by Henry B. Wheatley F.S.A.
Samuel Pepys wrote his diary entries in his own personal shorthand and also used a little code that mixed English profanities with French, Italian, and Spanish words. He often used the code when talking about illicit affairs — and interactions with women that are so clearly abusive that they can only be described as rape — and/or when he was describing his very frank opinions about people in power. There are, however, some indications that he wanted his diaries to be a historical record. For instance, he preserved them, catalogued them as part of his library, and even transcribed some pages (from his shorthand). In 1669, he stopped writing his daily dairy entries because he was losing his eyesight. He considered dictating his daily entries to a scribe — and did, in fact, briefly dictate some work-related journal entries in 1669–70 and 1683). However, he ultimately decided that he did not want to give up his privacy.
In 1665, Samuel Pepys was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society and was serving as the society’s president, in 1687, when Sir Isaac Newton published the first edition of Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy) in 1687. The treatise actually includes correspondence between the two men and a bit of a debate (about probability).
Just as the work of Samuel Pepys gives modern readers a glimpse of 17th century England, the work of W. E. B. Du Bois gives modern readers a glimpse of 19th and 20th century America.
“When the physical war ended, then the real practical problems presented themselves. How was slavery to be effectively abolished? And what was to be the status of the Negroes? What was the condition and power of the states which had rebelled? The legal solution of these questions was easy. The states that had attempted to rebel had failed. The must now resume their relations to the government. Slavery had been abolished as a war measure….
The difficulty with this legalistic formula was that it did not cling to facts. Slavery was not abolished even after the Thirteenth Amendment. There were four million freedmen and most of them on the same plantation, doing the same work they did before emancipation, except as their work had been interrupted and changed by the upheaval of war. Moreover, they were getting about the same wages and apparently were going to be subject to slave codes modified only in name. There were among them thousands of fugitives in the camps of the soldiers or on the streets of the cities, homeless, sick, and impoverished. They had been freed practically with no land nor money, and, save in exceptional cases, without legal status, and without protection.”
— quoted from Black Reconstruction in America (The Oxford W. E. B. Du Bois): An Essay Toward a History of the Part Which Black Folk Played in the Attempt to Reconstruct Democracy in America, 1860-1880 by W. E. B Du Bois
Born William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in 1868, Dr. Du Bois was an author, sociologist, socialist, historian, a Pan-Africanist civil rights activist, and one of the co-founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He was the editor of The Crisis, the official magazine of the NAACP, from 1910 to 1933, and the author of a plethora of articles and speeches, over 24 books, and three autobiographies, including: “The Study of the Negro Problems” (1898), The Souls of Black Folk: Essays and Sketches (1903), John Brown (1909), The Gift of Black Folk: The Negroes in the Making of America (1924), Black Reconstruction in America (1935), What the Negro Has Done for the United States and Texas (1936), and I Take My Stand for Peace (1951).
While his paternal great-grandfather was ethnically French-American (from a Huguenot family) and his maternal great-great-grandfather had been enslaved, W. E. B. Du Bois’s father (Alfred Du Bois) was of mixed ethnicity and his mother (Mary Silvina Burghard Du Bois), who was also mixed heritage, was part of a small, free Black population of land owners. Dr. Du Bois, himself, grew up in a mostly European American town. After graduating with honors from an integrated school in his hometown, he earned a Bachelor’s of Art (BA) from Fisk University. He then had to start over from scratch and earn a second Bachelor’s (AB) in history, cum laude, from Harvard University — which, at the time, did not recognize credits and degrees from HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Finally, he earned a PhD in sociology from Harvard. Part of his graduate school studies included a fellowship from the John F. Slater Fund for the Education of Freedman, which enabled him to attend Friedrich Wilhelm University (in Berlin) and to travel throughout Europe. Just as his upbringing shaped his perspective, his travels and studies further informed the way he saw the world, his place in the world, and what he had to offer the world.
“The return from your work must be the satisfaction which that work brings you and the world’s need of that work. With this, life is heaven, or as near heaven as you can get. Without this — with work which you despise, which bores you, and which the world does not need — this life is hell.”
— quoted from the National Guardian article entitled “To an American born last Christmas Day” by W. E. B. Du Bois, published on March 10, 1958, under the header “Dr. DuBois at 90 Offers a Piece of Advice [to his newborn great-grandson]”
Of course, all throughout his school years — even when he was on scholarship and even when he was studying abroad, he had to work and rely on extra income (in the form of loans and gifts) from friends and family. After he graduated, he started teaching at Wilberforce University (in Ohio). He eventually conducted research at the University of Pennsylvania and then accepted a position to teach history and economics at Atlanta University (in Georgia). During his tenure at Atlanta University, he started presenting articles based on his University of Pennsylvania field work, in which he described “the submerged tenth” and, later, “the talented tenth”. These two terms and the people referenced by those terms became the foundation of a late 19th century debate that continues to this day.
The following excerpt is from a post about Social Economics:
Most people associate the two sides of the debate with W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington. Both were educated and both were leaders in the Black community. To a certain degree, they even had the ear of the establishment. However, they had very different ideas about the best way for formerly enslaved people and their descendants to actively participate in and benefit from the US economy.
In a nutshell, Mr. Washington advocated sticking to what people knew (from slavery) and becoming (scholastically) educated in agriculture, crafts, and other trades they had done during slavery. He also encouraged people to purchase property and to be patient when faced with discrimination (even if that discrimination hindered them in pursuing education and the opportunity to purchase property). On the flip side, Mr. Du Bois was considered a radical who believed in an “intellectual” education that would create what he called the “Talented Tenth” – the best and the brightest college educated individuals who could instigate activism in the streets as well as in the courts and in the boardrooms. As I said, this debate continues, in part because the stigma, racism, and prejudice associated with slavery still exists.
“Thus in the far-away Southern village that would lay waiting, half consciously, the coming of two young men, and dreamed in an inarticulate way of new things that would be done and new thoughts that all would think. And yet it was a singular that few thought of two Johns, — for the black folk thought of one John, and he was black; and the white folk though of another John, and he was white. And neither thought the other world’s thought, save with a vague unrest.”
— quoted from “XIII. Of the Coming of John” in The Souls of Black Folk: Essays and Sketches by W. E. Burghardt Du Bois
The thirteen essay in The Souls of Black Folk: Essays and Sketches, called “Of the Coming of John”, is a study of contrasts. It is an essay/story of two popular, beloved men from the same hometown in Georgia. In some ways, they grow up together — although, like W. E. B. Du Bois and his childhood friends, one is Black and one is white. The latter is also, notably, from a wealthy family with a lot of power in the small town. The two Johns leave home (separately), but their paths awkwardly overlap in New York City, just before they return home, and then tragically overlap when they are back in Georgia.
The awkward meeting in New York happens during a performance of Lohengrin — which provides an odd bit of twisted foreshadowing. However, during today’s practice, I imagined that the music was something by George Frideric Handel, who was born today in 1685 (according to the Julian calendar) in Halle, Duchy of Magdeburg, Brandenburg-Prussia (which is now Germany) and whose music was the backdrop for the drama of it’s own time.
“All this John did not see, for he sat in a half-maze minding the scene about him; the delicate beauty of the hall, the faint perfume, the moving myriad of men, the rich clothing and low hum of talking seemed all a part of a world so different from his, so strangely more beautiful than anything he had known, that he sat in dreamland, and started when, after a hush, rose high and clear the music of Lohengrin’s swan. The infinite beauty of the wail lingered and swept through every muscle of his frame, and put it all a-tune. He closed his eyes and grasped the elbows of the chair, touching unwittingly the lady’s arm. And the lady drew away. A deep longing swelled in all his heart to rise with that clear music out of the dirt and dust of that low life that held him prisoned and befouled. If he could only live up in the free air where birds sang and setting suns had no touch of blood! Who had called him to be the slave and butt of all? And if he had called, what right had he to call when a world like this lay open before men?
Then the movement changed, and fuller, mightier harmony swelled away. He looked thoughtfully across the hall, and wondered why the beautiful gray-haired woman looked so listless, and what the little man could be whispering about. He would not like to be listless and idle, he thought, for he felt with the music the movement of power within him. If he but had some master-work, some life-service, hard, — aye, bitter hard, but without the cringing and sickening servility, without the cruel hurt that hardened his heart and soul.”
— quoted from “XIII. Of the Coming of John” in The Souls of Black Folk: Essays and Sketches by W. E. Burghardt Du Bois
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “022322 Pepys, peeps, and a peep”]
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature, and God…. As long as [the simple beauty of Nature] exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”
— Anne Frank, written in her diary (“Kitty”) on Wednesday, February 23, 1944
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 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).
12025 NOTE: During the practice, I said that I did not know/remember if Samuel Pepys had problems with his urinary bladder or his gall bladder, but that we would address both in the physical parts of the practice.
### “breathe / take a breath / saans lo” ~ Arooj Aftab ###
Creativity, Light, & Freedom (the “missing” Wednesday post) February 12, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Books, Buddhism, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Food, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Kumbh Mela, Life, Love, Men, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Pain, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Suffering, Tragedy, Vipassana, Wisdom, Women, Writing, Yoga.Tags: 988, Abraham Lincoln, Amrit Snan, Black History Month, Carnival, Charles Darwin, Contemplation, Creativity, Da Shuhua, dǎshùhuā, Diana Galloway, discernment, Dongfang Shuo, Dragon Boat Festival, emotions, First Officer Stephanie Grant, Frances Mayes, Fugitive Slave Act, Jade Emperor, Jan Swammerdam, Judy Blume, Lantern Festival, Lunar New Year, Maha Kumbh Mela, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā, riddles, Strait Times, tangyuan, Thích Nhất Hạnh, Thich Nhat Hanh, Tuskegee Airmen, Tuskegee Institute, Vipassanā, Wang De, Year of the Snake, Yuan Xiao
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Many blessings to everyone, and especially those celebrating Carnival, Maha Kumbh Mela, and the the Lantern Festival!
Peace, ease, and contemplation throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
This “missing” post for Wednesday, February 12th (which was also the 15th and final day of the Spring Festival) is a compilation post. It includes some new material, some revised material, and excerpts. 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.
“Always old, sometimes new…”
— a riddle* (read post for clues, see the end for the answer)
Philosophically speaking, part of our yoga practice is about bring awareness to what we know — or what we think we know — about ourselves and the world around us. Once we do that, we have begun the process of recognizing how what we know or think we know determines our actions, our thoughts, our words, our deeds. Our beliefs influence the we interact with ourselves, with others, and with our environment. Once we really get into it, we also start to notice when — or if — we incorporate new information into our belief system; thereby adjusting our actions as we grow and mature.
At some point, we may start to notice how our experiences shape our beliefs and how our experiences and beliefs determine what we chose to do on any given day. Hopefully, we also recognize that other people make other choices based on the their beliefs and experiences. If we can see that, be open to the reality of that, and maybe dig a little deeper into that reality, we gain better understanding of ourselves (and maybe of the world). In other words, we gain insight.
Vipassanā is a Buddhist meditation technique that has also become a tradition. It literally means “to see in a special way” and can also be translated as “special, super seeing”. In English, however, it is usually translated as “insight”. This insight is achieved by sitting, breathing, and watching the mind-body without judging the mind-body. Part of the practice is even to recognize when you are judging and, therefore, recognizing when you are getting in your own way. This can be seen as a (non-religious) form of discernment — which also requires observation — all of it is part of our yoga practice.
Of course, there are times when what we are feeling and/or the way we are feeling makes it hard to see clearly. In fact, the stronger we feel something, the harder it may be to focus on what is important.
“Anger is a mental, psychological phenomenon, yet it is closely linked to biological and biochemical elements. Anger makes you tense your muscles, but when you know how to smile, you begin to relax and your anger will decrease. Smiling allows the energy of mindfulness to be born in you, helping you to embrace your anger.”
— quoted from “Two – Putting Out the Fire of Anger: Tools for Cooling the Flames” in Anger: Wisdom for Cooling the Flames by Thich Nhat Hanh
Anger, fear, frustration, jealousy, worry, love, hate, anxiety, grief, and joy are some of the strong emotions that manifest in our bodies — e.g., in our expressions and gestures. Born February 12,1637, the Dutch biologist and microscopist Jan Swammerdam probably could have told us which muscles engage and which muscles relax when we smile versus when we frown. He studied muscle contractions; is recognized as the first person to observe and describe red blood cells; and also recognized as one of the first people (in Western science) to use a microscope in dissection.
Like Charles Darwin, who was February 12, 1809, Dr. Swammerdam had some controversial ideas about the origins of things — specifically about the origins of insects. Both men stirred up strong emotions in the peers and the populace, just like Abraham Lincoln (who was born on the exact same day as Charles Darwin — which also happens to be the anniversary of the day President George Washington signed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793).
February 12th is also the anniversary of two other notable moments in American history. First, it was the day (in 1930) when the executive committee of the Rosenwald Fund approved two grants (totaling $10,000) to the Alabama State Board of Health — which would be used to start a syphilis treatment pilot program in Macon County, at Tuskegee Institute. Later, in 2009, it was the day when then Captain Rachelle Jones Kerr, First Officer Stephanie Grant, and Flight Attendants Robin Rogers and Diana Galloway became the first all African American commercial flight crew. Their historic flights (on Atlantic Southeast Airlines flights #5202 and #5106, between Atlanta and Nashville) were not planned; they happened because someone called in sick. Still, the odds of everything falling into place as it did were pretty low considering there were less Black women licensed to fly then than there are now; and now, there are still less than 1%.
“When we got to the gate in Nashville, and all of the passengers were off, we asked the gate agent would she take our picture. So we stuffed ourselves in the galley and one by one, she took our cell phones and snapped our picture. She asked us, ‘Why do you want your pictures taken?’ Flight Attendant, Diana Galloway said, “Oh, it’s because we’re sisters!’ The gate agent’s response was priceless. She said, “Oh, your mother must be so proud!’”
— quoted from “12th Anniversary of the First All-Female African American Flight Crew” by First Officer Stephanie Grant, Director of Development for Sisters of the Skies, Inc.
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLES BELOW FOR MORE.
Golden Tigers Made of Steel (a Black History footnote)
En L’Air (a special Black History 2.5-for-1 note)
“Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it.”
— quoted from Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume (b. 02/12/1938)
Since strong emotions also manifest in our words, they show up in the stories of our lives and the stories we tell about our lives — and these stories, in turn, can elicit strong emotions. For example, consider the stories Judy Blume, who was born February 12, 1938. She has written books that often get banned and that have also changed people’s lives — in the best possible way. She writes about topics people often find hard for to discuss, including: racism, gender, menstruation, divorce, bullying, masturbation, sex and sexuality, and emotions like anger, fear, and grief. To some people, the worst part is not only that she has tackled these issues in her books; it’s that most of her books are intended for children and young adults. And, let’s be honest, nothing pushes people’s buttons like someone talking about things they are uncomfortable discussing. While we can say that there are some things better left unsaid, there are also things that need to be said — just in a skillful manner and… while treating ourselves and others with lovingkindness.
Just as we can look to modern fiction and nonfiction for skillful/wise, and kind ways to navigate strong emotions, we can also look to ancient and sacred stories. In fact, strong emotions show up in all the stories I’ve shared over the last few weeks in relation Black History Month, Navaratri, Maha Kumbh Mela, and the Lunar New Year / Spring Festival. “Creativity”, the “Season for Nonviolence” principle for Wednesday, February 12th, also plays a part in the stories and the traditions related to the Lantern Festival, which is the culmination of the Spring Festival.
Click on the excerpt title below for the full post related to Jan Swammerdam, Charles Darwin, and Judy Blume (on a different Lunar New Year day).
Anger and the Importance of Having “Treats” Before You Speak (a post-practice Monday post)
LANTERN FESTIVAL (LUNAR NEW YEAR DAY 15, excerpt):
“We buy blood oranges and tiny green lentils from a jar, chestnuts, winter pears, winy little apples, and broccoli, which I’ve never seen in Italy before. ‘Lentils for the New Year,’ she tells us.”
— quoted from “Green Oil” in Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
As I mentioned over the last two weeks, some people celebrate the Lunar New Year for a handful of days and then go back to their regular routines. For some, however, there’s the Spring Festival: a 15-day celebration that culminates with the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival takes place on the first full moon of the Lunar New Year (which was Wednesday night in 2025). One of the traditional customs turns the event into something similar to modern-day Valentine’s Day. Traditionally, women would write their contact information on oranges and then toss the oranges in the river where men would scoop them up. Then, the men would eat the oranges. A sweet orange meant the couple could potential have a good relationship, but a bitter orange meant the match was best avoided.
The oranges in the river make for a pretty sight, but that’s not the main focus of the Lantern Festival — nor is it the most spectacular. In fact, weather permitting, anyone observing areas celebrating the Lantern Festival would primarily notice cities, towns, and villages adorned in red lanterns and lit up… almost like everything is on fire.
There are several different legends associated with the Lantern Festival. In one story, the Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty wanted every person in every class to honor the Buddha as the monks would on the fifteenth day of the year. According to another story, Dongfang Shuo (a scholar and court jester) came upon a homesick maiden from the palace. To console her and lift her out of her despair, he told the young lady that he would reunite her with her family. Then he dressed up like a fortune teller and told everyone who came to his stall that they must beg the “red fairy” for mercy on the thirteenth day of the new year. If they didn’t ask for mercy, everything would burn down in a couple of days.
When the maiden, Yuan Xiao, appeared all dressed in red, people flocked to her. The only thing the surprised maiden could think to do was say that she would take a message to the emperor. Of course, Dongfang had already “tricked” the emperor and convinced him to tell Yuan Xiao to make her trademarked sweet-rice dumplings called tangyuan, because they were the favorite dessert of the God of Fire.
The whole town, and people from surrounding towns, came together to make the dumplings as a tribute to the God of Fire. As word spread, more people came — including Yuan Xiao’s family. And this is why Dongfang Shuo’s plan was so clever: In Chinese, the dumplings are 湯圓 or 汤圆 (pinyin: tāngyuán), which sounds like 團圓 or 团圆 (pinyin: tuányuán), which means “union”. While the round dumplings are enjoyed at a variety of events and festivals throughout the year, they are a staple during the Lantern Festival, which is actually 元宵節 or 元宵节 (pinyin: Yuánxiāo jié) — Yuan Xiao’s Festival.
“‘When you see it, it’ll affect you profoundly…’”
— Wang De quoted in the Feb. 19, 2019, The Strait Times article entitled “Blacksmiths keep alive the flame of China’s molten steel ‘fireworks’”
There are more variations on this theme, but the legend with which I am most familiar, and the one I share in the practice, is the story of the Jade Emperor and his favorite bird, a crane. This crane was beautiful and unlike any other bird or species. In some stories, the ruler of heaven and earth decided to treat people with a glimpse of the exotic bird. In other versions of the story, the crane got discombobulated and flew close to the earth. Either way, what happened next is why we can’t have nice things: Someone shot the exotic bird.
The Jade Emperor was furious and decided to send down fire breathing dragons to destroy the towns and villages. However, the Jade Emperor’s daughter warned the townsfolk and someone suggested that if they lit lanterns, started bonfires, and set off fireworks, the dragons — who are not very smart in these stories – would think everything was already on fire. The trick worked… on the dragons. The Jade Emperor was not tricked, but his anger had passed and he decided to offer a little compassion to the people on Earth.
To this day, people carry on the tradition of lighting up the skies. Traditionally, lanterns are made of paper, wooden, or jade. Some people will spend months designing and creating delicate lanterns that they will enter into competitions. Other people will make simple lanterns or purchase fancy store-bought lanterns. In addition to the plethora of basic red lanterns, there will also be animal-shaped lanterns — the most popular of which are in the shape of the animal of the year. Many of the lanterns will have riddles at the bottom — which adds to the fun, because if you know the answer to the riddle you can go find it’s owner and they will give you tangyuan (those sweet dumplings that sound like “union”) as a reward.
In addition to the lanterns, there are bonfires, fireworks, and a 300-plus years old tradition called Da Shuhua.
Da Shuhua is one of the English spellings for 打树花 (dǎshùhuā in pinyin), which is a 300-500 years old tradition handed down through families of blacksmiths in China´s northern Hebei province. It is sometimes referred to as the poor man’s fireworks, because it is produced from scrap metal that people in the remote village of Nuanquan give to the local blacksmiths. Dressed in straw hats, sheepskin jackets, and protective eyewear, the blacksmiths and their assistants melt down the scraps and then the blacksmiths throw the molten liquid up against a cold stone wall. When the liquid metal — which can reach up to 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit (1,600 degrees Celsius) — hits the cold wall, sparks fly.
The spectacular display looks like a blossoming tree and so the name of the art form translates into English as “beating tree flowers”. Although there are a few other places in China where this art form is showcased, it is traditional to Nuanquan. There is a square in the remote village (“Tree Flower Square”), which was specifically built to hold tourists who travel to the village to see the display. In addition to three days of performances at the end of the Spring Festival, the tradition is also performed during the Dragon Boat Festival. Also called Double Fifth Festival, this second event takes place on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Lunar New Year (May 31st in 2025).
Although UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) designated Da Shuhua as a prime example of China and Hebei province’s intangible cultural heritage, the tradition may be dying out. In 2019, there were only four blacksmiths trained in the art form and the youngest was 50 years old. Wang De, one of the four, had trained his youngest son; however, like so many of the younger generations, his son moved to the big city and started working in a different industry. His concerns, and hopes, for his legacy are not unlike those of his ancestors.
“‘It’s extremely dangerous and it doesn’t make much money,’ said Wang, who also farms corn to supplement his blacksmith’s income.
[…] Still, Wang De is hopeful he will return to keep the flame alive.
‘When we no longer can pull this off, people can learn from him. I have this confidence that (Da Shuhua) will be passed on.’”
— quoted from the Feb. 19, 2019, The Strait Times article entitled “Blacksmiths keep alive the flame of China’s molten steel ‘fireworks’”
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Lantern Festival 2023”]
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 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).
“But we can see the past, though we may not claim to have directed it; and seeing it, in this case, we feel more hopeful and confident for the future.
The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men’s labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name—liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names—liberty and tyranny.
The shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep’s throat, for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as a liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act as the destroyer of liberty, especially as the sheep was a black one. Plainly the sheep and the wolf are not agreed upon a definition of the word liberty; and precisely the same difference prevails to-day among us human creatures, even in the North, and all professing to love liberty. Hence we behold the processes by which thousands are daily passing from under the yoke of bondage, hailed by some as the advance of liberty, and bewailed by others as the destruction of all liberty.”
— from an address at a “Sanitary Fair” on April 18, 1864 in Baltimore, Maryland by President Abraham Lincoln (b. 02/12/1809)
*RIDDLE NOTE: The riddles at the bottom (or sometimes underneath) the lanterns, are literally called “riddles written on lanterns”, but are sometimes referred to as “tiger riddles”, because solving them (in Chinese) is akin to wrestling a tiger. They often have three parts: the riddle, a hint or suggestion (which is that the answer is in the post and in the practice), and the answer. In this case, I took a page from Dongfang Shuo’s book and only gave you part of an English riddle so that instead of having one definite answer, there are three possible answers. Highlight the space between the hashtags for the answers.
### The moon (which is the original answer), a bit of history you didn’t know, and a legend from a culture with which you are unfamiliar. A habit, was CS’s very clever suggestion in 2025! Let me know if you got the answer(s)! ###
Creativity, Light, & Freedom (just the music & blessings) *UPDATED w/link* February 12, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in Art, Hope, Music, One Hoop, Yoga.Tags: 988, Amrit Snan, Carnival, Lantern Festival, Maha Kumbh Mela, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā
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Many blessings to everyone, and especially those celebrating Carnival, Maha Kumbh Mela, and the the Lantern Festival!
Peace, ease, and contemplation throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
CLICK HERE FOR THE RELATED POST.
Please join me today (Wednesday, February 12th) at 4:30 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 (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “Lantern Festival 2023”]
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 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.)
### CREATIVITY ###
A Quick Note & Excerpts RE: The Power of Being Grounded (the “missing” Tuesday post) February 11, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Healing Stories, Hope, Kumbh Mela, Life, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Wisdom, Women, Yoga.Tags: 988, asana, Carnival, Groundedness, JET Magazine, Lunar New Year, Maha Kumbh Mela, Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā, Nelson Mandela, Ruth Carol Taylor, Spring Festival, Theodore Dreiser, Thomas Edison, Year of the Snake, Yoga Sutras 2.46-2.49
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Many blessings to everyone, and especially those celebrating Carnival, Maha Kumbh Mela, and the Spring Festival (and getting ready for the Lantern Festival).
Peace, ease, and contemplation throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
This is the “missing” post for Tuesday, February 11th. It contains a quick note and excerpts. 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.
“When you are grounded you are completely present, your mind is still, and you are totally focused. It is from this place of being grounded that you can operate most effectively….”
— quoted from the “Reflection” section of the “Day 12 ~ February 11 ~ Groundedness” page for the “Season for Nonviolence,” provided by the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace
While Patanjali said very little about asana (“seat” or pose) in the Yoga Sūtras, his initial instruction is literally (and figuratively) the beginning of every practice: “sthirasukham āsanam — cultivate a steady (or stable), easy (comfortable or joyful) seat (or pose).” (YS 2.46) There is a little bit more in the next few sūtras, which can help us deepen the experience, but everything else comes from that very first part: sthira — which is ultimately a sense of groundedness.
Being grounded allows us to relax, to release, to get a little bit more comfortable and breathe. Being grounded allows us to notice the different parts of your breath and to play with the breath. Being grounded allows us to move the body in certain ways; to notice how it feels to move and breathe; and, also to notice what we notice. We can extend and expand, contract and release, and even find our rhythm because we are supported, grounded.
There are different ways to be grounded and “groundedness”, the “Season for Nonviolence” principle for Tuesday, February 11th, is just as important off the mat as it is on the mat. For instance, if you were getting ready for the Lantern Festival (as many people were on the 14th day of the Lunar New Year), you would want a stable place to work. Similarly, if you were someone working with electricity and inventing something that allowed people to (more safely) see the light — like Thomas Alva Edison, who was born on February 11, 1847 — you would want be grounded. If you were someone bringing your country out of darkness and oppression, like Nelson Mandela — who was freed from prison on February 11, 1990, after 27 years in prison — you would want to be grounded in your values, heritage, and culture. You would also need to be grounded in your values and purpose if changing/making history required you to soar — as Ruth Carol Taylor did on this same date in 1958.
Of course, none of the stories referenced on Tuesday (or Wednesday) were all sunshine and light. They are, however, reminders that being grounded will help us get through challenging times.
“‘I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come indirectly through accident, except the phonograph. No, when I have, fully decided that a result is worth getting, I go about it, and make trial after trial, until it comes.’”
— Thomas Edison, as quoted in “A Photographic Talk with Edison” by Theodore Dreiser (printed in Success Magazine, Feb. 1898)
Click on the excerpt below for more about Thomas Alva Edison.
“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”
— Nelson Mandela
Click on the excerpts below for more about Nelson Mandela (including a note about Umqombothi a special beer).
More Than 46664 (the “missing” Sunday post, with a reference to Monday’s practice)
“…[Ruth Carol Taylor] didn’t take the job because she thought being a flight attendant would be so great. She says she did it to fight discrimination.
‘It wasn’t something that I had wanted to do all my life,’ she tells JET about being a flight attendant. ‘I knew better than to think it was all that glamourous. But it irked me that people were not allowing people of color to apply… Anything like that sets my teeth to grinding.’”
— quoted from the JET Magazine article entitled, “First Black Flight Attendant Is Still Fighting Racism” (printed in the “Labor” section of the May 12, 1997 issue)
Click on the excerpt below for more about some historic flights, including Ruth Carol Taylor’s 1958 flight.
Tuesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “02112023 Breath, Light, Freedom”]
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 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).
###FOUNDATION IS KEY ###
The Power of Being Grounded (mostly the music & blessings) *UPDATED w/link* February 11, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Healing Stories, Hope, Kumbh Mela, Life, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 988, Carnival, Lunar New Year, Maha Kumbh Mela, Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā, Nelson Mandela, Ruth Carol Taylor, Spring Festival, Thomas Edison, Year of the Snake
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Many blessings to everyone, and especially those celebrating Carnival, Maha Kumbh Mela, and the Spring Festival (and getting ready for the Lantern Festival).
Peace, ease, and contemplation throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
“When you are grounded you are completely present, your mind is still, and you are totally focused. It is from this place of being grounded that you can operate most effectively….”
— quoted from the “Reflection” section of the “Day 12 ~ February 11 ~ Groundedness” page for the “Season for Nonviolence,” provided by the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace
CLICK HERE FOR THE RELATED POST.
Please join me today (Tuesday, February 11th) 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 “02112023 Breath, Light, Freedom”]
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 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).
### ###
Contemplations on Cleanliness (the post practice Monday post) February 10, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Books, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Fitness, Food, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Health, Hope, Kumbh Mela, Life, Meditation, New Year, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Suffering, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wisdom, Yoga.Tags: 1 Epistle General of Peter, 988, Ayurveda, Black History Month, Boris Pasternak, Carnival, Contemplation, David Bowie, Edith Clarke, Efrem Korngold L.A.c. O.M.D., God of War, Harriet Beinfield L.Ac., James West, Jerry Goldsmith, Jim Whittaker, John Wesley, kriya yoga, kriyā yoga, Lou Whittaker, Lunar New Year, Luo Guanzhong, Luther Standing Bear, Maha Kumbh Mela, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā, niyamās, Roberta Flack, saucha, Season for Nonviolence, self-study, Spring Festival, svādhyāya, Year of the Snake
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Many blessings to everyone, and especially those observing Carnival, Maha Kumbh Mela, and the Spring Festival.
Peace, ease, and contemplation throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!!!
This post-practice compilation for Monday, February 10th features new and previously posted content, as well as excerpts. The 2025 prompt question was, “What is something you are consuming (food, beverage, media, etc.) that takes a while for you to digest?” 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.
“I am going to venture that the man who sat on the ground in his tipi meditating on life and its meaning, accepting the kinship of all creatures and acknowledging unity with the universe of things was infusing into his being the true essence of civilization.”
— quoted from the “What the Indian Means to America” in Land of the Spotted Eagle by Luther Standing Bear
“Contemplation”, which is the “Season for Nonviolence” principle for February 10th, comes in a variety of different flavors. It can be sitting with a concept (like contemplation, peace, ease, lovingkindness, etc.) and/or it can be the kind of contemplation Saint Ignatius of Loyola outlined in The Spiritual Exercises — which is similar to svādhyāya (“self-study”), the fourth niyama (internal “observation”) in the Yoga Philosophy, and involves putting yourself in another person’s shoes/circumstances.
For the Monday night practice in 2025, we did a little bit of both of these types of contemplation — starting with contemplations on cleanliness.
“But, before we enter on the subject, let it be observed, that slovenliness is no part of religion; that neither this, nor any text of Scripture, condemns neatness of apparel. Certainly this is a duty, not a sin. ‘Cleanliness is, indeed, next to godliness.’ Agreeably to this, good Mr. Herbert advises every one that fears God: —
Let thy mind’s sweetness have its operation Upon thy person, clothes, and habitation.
And surely every one should attend to this, if he would not have the good that is in him evil spoken of.”
— quoted from Sermon #88 (“On Dress”) by John Wesley, inspired by The First Epistle General of Peter (3:3–4)
Click on the excerpt title below for a 2021 post about cleansing rituals in different traditions.
What It Means To Be Clean on Day 13 (the “missing” Wednesday post, with a nod to Sunday)
For Those Who Missed It: “Coming Clean on Day 13” (original posted in 2023)
“If the cause of disease is understood as imbalance, then the goal of treatment is to recover balance. Problems are resolved through methods of complementarity.”
— quoted from “Problems in Search of a Solution: Treatment” in “Chapter Three – Philosopher in the East: The Doctor as Gardener” of Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine by Harriet Beinefield L.A.c. and Efrem Korngold L.A.c., O.M.D.
Many Eastern philosophies are tied to medical practices: e.g., Yoga and Ayurveda from India, Taoism and (Traditional) Chinese Medicine from China. In each pair of sciences, it is understood that too much or too little of something can create imbalance that leads to discomfort, dis-ease, and inefficiency. When the mind-body does not work optimally, these philosophies and medical sciences offer cleansing practices (and/or rituals) intended to improve overall health — physically, mentally, emotionally, and energetically/spiritually. These practices are ultimately about letting go of what no longer serves us and making room for what will serve us… or, for what we will be served.
People spend a lot of time eating and celebrating during the Lunar New Year, in a way that can be excessive and, therefore, can lead to imbalance. By Day 13, people are ready to give their bodies a break from all the rich and heavy food — especially if they are celebrating the Spring Festival. While there may not be ritual cleansing, people who celebrate the 15-day Spring Festival traditionally eat “clean” on Day 13. A lighter, often vegetarian, meal that can help the body cleanse itself after the heavy feasting of the previous two weeks also prepares the mind-body for one more round of feasting and celebrating during the Lantern Festival (on Day 15).
As referenced in the 2021 post excerpted above, day 13 of the Lunar New Year / Spring Festival is also the day when some people celebrate the birthday of the “God of War”. There are lots of different stories (and names) associated with the “God of War”. Some of the legends relate to a general who showed great loyalty; other stories relate to an acclaimed general who became a goddess who showed great empathy. While this is not seen as a good day to get married or have a big celebration, it is believed that offering prayers and gifts to the God of War on Day 13 will bring peace to a household and give businesses a winning edge. Regardless of the title that is used, the God of War is viewed as a protector of individuals, homes, and businesses; as well as the patron of “fraternities”, including the police (and other brotherhoods).
“‘We three—Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei—though of different families, swear brotherhood, and promise mutual help to one end. We will rescue each other in difficulty; we will aid each other in danger. We swear to serve the state and save the people. We ask not the same day of birth, but we seek to die together. May Heaven, the all-ruling, and Earth, the all-producing, read our hearts. If we turn aside from righteousness or forget kindliness, may Heaven and Human smite us!’”
— quoted from “Chapter 1. The Oath of the Peach Garden” in Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong (English translator unknown)
Contemplation as Self-Study: “The Space Between….”, & “Making Connections”
Since the (secular) Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar, the Lunar New Year falls at different times according to the Western schedule. This year (2025), the thirteenth day coincides with the birthday of several musicians, a mathematician, a couple of mountain-climbing twins, and someone whose work allows us to hear more clearly. Their backgrounds are different, but their stories (and work) are all ultimately about making connections.
While we could put ourselves in any of their shoes, I only referenced the 1972 “earthly debut” of “Ziggy Stardust”, because one of my yoga buddies mentioned needing time to “digest” the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show and I think there are some people who are still (similarly) digesting the symbols and messages of David Bowie.
More to the point, I suggested each person put themselves in the shoes of James Edward Maceo West, who was born today in 1931, Farmville, Prince Edward County, Virginia. The ever-curious child of one of NASA’s “Hidden Figures”, James West attended a HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) — as well as a segregated high school; served in the military during the Korean War (at which time he received two Purple Heart awards); and currently holds several hundred US and international patents.
Like all other creative and innovative people (and everybody, really), James West has had to rest and digest his experiences in order to create — while simultaneously working with people to needed more time to digest the things going on around them.
“In life, racism was my biggest obstacle. I always felt like if I was white, would I have had a better life? I don’t know because I really do have fun. But I had to pay attention to things that more directly affected me than others. For example, I got an email from a colleague a few days ago that said basically I wish I hadn’t accused you of conspiracy theory as much as I did. We used to have lunch together and talk about the disparities between the races, and now he finally understood why I was so upset by getting continuously stopped by police on my way to work through an all-white community.
Now more people understand why the fear is there.”
— quoted from the Acoustics Today interview conducted by Hilary Kates Varghese, entitled “Being a Black Scholar, James West as told to Hilary Kates Varghese” (Winter 2020, Volume 16, Issue 4)
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
The Space Between Need, Conceive, & Invention (a special Black History note)
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
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 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).
ERRATA: The content above is related to February 10th, however, the original posting and email contained the wrong date.
### REST & DIGEST ###
Faith on the Precipice of Change (the “missing” Sunday post w/excerpts) February 9, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Changing Perspectives, Dharma, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Kumbh Mela, Life, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Suffering, Super Heroes, Texas, Wisdom, Women, Yoga.Tags: 988, Bob DeRosa, brahmavihārāḥ, Carnival, Colonel "Tom" Parker, courage, Divine abodes, Dorothy R. Robinson, Ed Sullivan, Elvis, faith, Forest Whitaker, Forgiveness Sunday, Fred Kaps, Grace Chen, Hokkien, Jade Emperor, Jieho Lee, Juanita Jewel Craft, Kitchen God, Lunar New Year, Maha Khumb Mela, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā, R. S. Thomas, Season for Nonviolence, Shi Fa Zhuo, Spring Festival, The Beatles, Wisdom, Year of the Snake
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Many blessings to everyone, and especially those observing Carnival, Maha Kumbh Mela, and the Spring Festival.
May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong! May you keep the faith throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!
This “missing” post for Sunday, February 9th is a compilation post. It includes some new material, some revised material, and excerpts. 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.
“‘Although we may not have an image of this deity in our temple, as long as devotees have the Jade Emperor in their hearts, their prayers will be heard,’ said [the Kwan Imm Temple’s] principal Shi Fa Zhuo.”
— quoted from The Star article entitled “Legend Behind Hokkien New Year emphasizes unity and solidarity” by Grace Chen (2/24/2018)
Over the last few weeks and over the next couple of months, there is (and will continue to be) something underlying every theme: “Faith” (with is the “Season for Nonviolence” principle for Sunday). Take a moment to bring your awareness to your faith and how your faith changes. It doesn’t matter if you bring your awareness to your faith in something and/or your faith in someone; your faith changes. Many people who are recognized as being faithful have talked about their struggles with faith and the ways in which their faith changed — how it can be “here a moment, then / not here,” as the Welsh poet R. S. Thomas wrote in the poem “Moorland”.
To me, faith is a heart practice, which is also what I consider the divine abodes (brahmavihārāḥ in Sanskrit) — loving-kindness or benevolence (mettā); compassion (karuṇā); empathetic joy (muditā); and equanimity (upekkhā). In some Indian philosophies (like Yoga), the ability to cultivate a good heart/make friends (suhrit-prapati) and generosity (dana) are also considered heart practices. Same thing with wisdom. Same thing with courage. In fact, when I reference Hanuman, the monkey king in the Rāmāyaņa, I often mention that the source of his courage — what allows him to take giant leaps for others — is the love and devotion (for/to Rama) that is in his heart (i.e., his faith).
My question today is really about whether your faith strengthens (or weakens) when you are on the precipice of change. Which brings me to another set of questions, the questions that Forest Whitaker’s character, known as “Happiness”, asks in the Jieho Lee and Bob DeRosa movie The Air I Breathe:
“So where does change come from? And how do we recognize it when it happens?”
For people who celebrate the 15-day Spring Festival, the twelfth day of the Lunar New Year is a bit of a recovery day — a much needed break after so much feasting — that some people refer to as “The Diarrhea Day”. It is also a prep day for the Lantern Festival. Of course, for some people who celebrated the Jade Emperor’s birthday a couple of days ago, there might also be a few leftovers. In fact, I often have leftovers on this date that are related to the Kitchen God’s annual report to the Jade Emperor.
For Those Who Missed It: The following is a revised excerpt from a 2021 post.
I always imagine that some years the Kitchen God’s report is really, really, wild. Take last year’s report for instance — or the last few years — or the report from the Year of the (Water) Rabbit that coincided with January 25, 1963 – February 12, 1964 (on the solar calendar).
In 2014, the first time I led a practice associated with leftovers from the Jade Emperor’s birthday celebration, the tenth day of the Lunar New Year coincided with February 9th on the solar calendar — so, I decided to incorporate the idea of the Kitchen God’s report. Specifically, I mentioned the wild report from that (Water) Rabbit year… you know, that year when there was a bit of mania all over the world and an invasion that moved across the pond: by that I mean Beatlemania and the British Invasion.
“First of all I want to congratulate you: You’ve been a fine audience, despite severe provocation.”
— quoted from Ed Sullivan’s remarks at the conclusion of The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964
The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on two consecutive Sundays (February 9th and February 16th, 1964). Of course, they had already made an impression in the United Kingdom and, towards the end of 1963, there were some North American radio stations that had played their music and a couple of times when prerecorded footage appeared on television. Notably, Walter Cronkite and Jack Paar had both shared prerecorded footage with their audiences. But, it was Ed Sullivan that brought the lads to the United States and had them perform live, in front of a studio audience — a studio audience that, for all intensive purposes, was hysterical with excitement.
I say, as many people say, that the crowd was hysterical with excitement — one could even say that they were out of control. However, it’s important to note that before the first song, Ed Sullivan made the audience promise to reign in their enthusiasm when he was making introductions — and they did (even though he sometimes had to remind them of their promise). Mr. Sullivan soliciting that promise from the audience wasn’t random. Remember, he had some previous experience with this kind of audience; after all, he hosted Elvis three times, starting on September 9, 1956.
Before the first set in 1964, Ed Sullivan actually mentioned that Elvis and Colonel “Tom” Parker sent a telegram wishing the British group “a tremendous success in our country.” The Beatles started off by playing three songs: “All My Loving”; “Till There Was You” (a show tune written by Meredith Wilson in 1950 and then used in the 1957 musical The Music Man, which was made into a movie released in 1962); and “She Loves You”. During the performance of “Till There Was You”, Paul, Ringo, George, and John were each featured in a close up with their names underneath. Ringo can be seen mumbling a comment to George, who seemed to get the biggest display of excitement. Of course, that excitement was only rivaled by the audible sounds of disappointment when John’s picture and name included the words, “SORRY, GIRLS, HE’S MARRIED:”.
After the first set, Ed Sullivan said that the first three songs were dedicated to Johnny Carson, Randy Paar (who he mentioned with a directional gesture), and Earl Wilson. On the surface, it was an odd grouping of people. Randy Paar was Jack Paar’s 14-year old daughter. She attended the performance as Ed Sullivan’s guest and brought along then former Vice President Richard Nixon’s daughters, Tricia and Julie. (There were a couple of times throughout the show when the camera focused on what I believe was the excited trio.) Johnny Carson was Jack Paar’s successor as host of The Tonight Show and Earl Wilson was a journalist. Part of what made the dedication so odd was that Jack Paar and Ed Sullivan had a contentious rivalry that started when Mr. Paar was hosting The Tonight Show and continued into the premiere of The Jack Paar Program (in 1962). Some would say the animosity increased when Jack Paar insisted that his show was the first United States variety show to televise The Beatles (back in December 1963) — but, of course, that footage wasn’t live. When questioned about the dedication, 14-year old Randy said that it was essentially an olive branch on Ed Sullivan’s part** (a claim, I find highly suspect after watching the footage again).
“This is a magnificent building… but I think the roof is leaking.”
— FISM Grand Prix Champion Fred Kaps, when he worked up a sweat during a performance
Before the second set, there was an Anacin pain reliever commercial and a five minute act by a world class, prize-winning magician named Fred Kaps — the only magician in the world to win the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques (FISM) Grand Prix three times. He was also inducted into the Society of American Magicians (SAM) Hall of Fame. Even if you’re not a magic aficionado, you have probably seen people perform some of the tricks he created and/or made famous, including: color-changing silks, the “long-pour” salt trick, and the “Dancing and Floating Cork” (which you could only purchase after signing a contract promising not to reveal the mechanics of the trick). Mr. Kaps interspersed humor and exaggerated facial reactions and mannerisms with his tricks and, by all accounts, he was his usual amazing self on February 9, 1964. But, what people would remember (as the Kitchen God would have reported to the Jade Emperor) was The Beatles.
Ed Sullivan reminded the audience that The Beatles would be back the previous weekend, but his actually introduction of the band was “Once again….” The second set featured “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. That’s it. All in all the two segments, including introductions; the round of handshakes; and Ed Sullivan expressing gratitude to the New York Police Department — plus the newspapers and magazine writers and photographers — lasted a little under 15 minutes. But, based on the expressions on people’s faces and the way some of the men were wiping the sweat off of their brows, it was an overwhelmingly warm and visceral 15 minutes.
“Now, I’m delighted – all of us are delighted – and I know The Beatles on their first appearance here have been very deeply thrilled by their reception here. You’ve been fun. Now get home safely. Good night!”
— quoted from Ed Sullivan’s remarks at the conclusion of The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964
One thing I should point out is that my Day 10 playlist (in 2014) wasn’t The Beatles playlist from 1964. Instead, it was the “leftovers” — or, what one might call “B-sides”. Similarly, in 2016, the Year of the (Fire) Monkey, the tenth day of the Lunar New Year fell on February 17th, Ed Sheeran’s birthday, and so the playlist featured what might have been “B-sides” if, you know, musicians still released 45s. In 2018, we were back to The Beatles — sort of; since the 10th day of the Year of the (Earth) Dog fell on February 25th, George Harrison’s birthday. (Serendipitously, I came across Mike Love’s tribute to George, “Pisces Brothers”, just as I was putting together the appropriate tracks.)
**2021 NOTE: Some within the Eastern Christian communities refer to Shrove Sunday as “Forgiveness Sunday” and there is an extra emphasis on fasting, prayers, and letting go of past transgressions, sins, animosity, and rivalries. So, even though I’m not sure how observant he was, I might have to give Ed Sullivan a break. He was Roman Catholic of Irish descent and exposed to a lot of different cultures. More to the point, Sunday, February 9th was Shrove Sunday in 1964 — so maybe he really was asking for and offering forgiveness with his dedication.
“Now, I’m delighted – all of us are delighted – and I know The Beatles on their first appearance here have been very deeply thrilled by their reception here. You’ve been fun. Now get home safely. Good night!”
— quoted from Ed Sullivan’s remarks at the conclusion of The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964
Just as I wonder how much faith the original lads from Liverpool had in themselves (and how that faith waxed and waned) I wonder about the faith of the organizer, activist, lobbyist, and politician Juanita Jewel Craft (née Shanks), who was born in Round Rock, Texas on February 9, 1902. One thing I know, for sure, she had a stubborn faith in herself and a healthy amount of respectful faith in the Black youth around her. Mrs. Craft also had a decent amount of faith in the system of Democracy and citizens’ ability to make change through that system.
“The only thing that I could say, in defense of my being on the [City] Council, is an old stupid woman who wasn‘t satisfied with those persons that were running to fill the unexpired term left on the Council in this district. I think that that‘s a slogan that I‘ve carried with me – If I don’t like what the other fellow‘s doing, I get up and do it myself.”
— Mrs. Juanita Jewel Craft (b. 1902), quoted from The Black Women Oral History Project, Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University (interview conducted by Mrs. Dorothy R. Robinson (on 01/20/1977)
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE BELOW FOR MORE.
“In 1961, we started working on the theatres and the lunch counters. At which time, we picketed. We stood-in at the theatres. And you know, it got to be quite interesting. The way we performed. A youth would walk up to the window at the theatre and ask for an admission ticket. And when that youth was denied – without any further conversation – he would walk back to the end of the line, and go right through it again.
There was a complete circle. Students from SMU and other areas around Dallas joined us in our protest.
The thing that would worry me was that a lot of older people could not see our need, or did not join us. I‘ve had friends to say, ‘I came down to see the line.’ I would immediately ask them, ‘Did you bring a bottle of Coke? Or did you bring a sandwich to one of those kids?’
And I have seen those kids so dedicated to breaking the chain that was binding them. But they were, would [pause] – They would walk until their shoes became unbearable and they would continue to walk until they‘d worn out the feet of their hose.”
— Mrs. Juanita Jewel Craft (b. 1902), quoted from The Black Women Oral History Project, Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University (interview conducted by Mrs. Dorothy R. Robinson (on 01/20/1977)
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “02092021 The Invasion & Mania”]
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 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).
### “…a really big shew” ~ a bunch of Ed Sullivan impersonators (but never Mr. Sullivan, himself) ###
Faith on the Precipice of Change (mostly the music & blessings) **UPDATED w/link** February 9, 2025
Posted by ajoyfulpractice in "Impossible" People, Art, Changing Perspectives, Faith, Gratitude, Healing Stories, Hope, Kumbh Mela, Life, Music, New Year, One Hoop, Philosophy, Religion, Women, Yoga.Tags: 988, Carnival, Dorothy R. Robinson, Ed Sullivan, faith, Grace Chen, Juanita Jewel Craft, Lunar New Year, Maha Khumb Mela, Mahā Kumbha Mēlā, Season for Nonviolence, Shi Fa Zhuo, Spring Festival, The Beatles, Year of the Snake
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Many blessings to everyone, and especially those observing Carnival, Maha Kumbh Mela, and the Spring Festival.
May you be safe and protected / May you be peaceful and happy / May you be healthy and strong! May you keep the faith throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!
“The only thing that I could say, in defense of my being on the [City] Council, is an old stupid woman who wasn‘t satisfied with those persons that were running to fill the unexpired term left on the Council in this district. I think that that‘s a slogan that I‘ve carried with me – If I don’t like what the other fellow‘s doing, I get up and do it myself.”
— Mrs. Juanita Jewel Craft (b. 1902), quoted from The Black Women Oral History Project, Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America, at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University (interview conducted by Mrs. Dorothy R. Robinson (on 01/20/1977)
CLICK HERE FOR THE RELATED POST.
Please join me for a 65-minute for a virtual yoga practice on Zoom, today (Sunday, February 9th) 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 “02092021 The Invasion & Mania”]
“Now, I’m delighted – all of us are delighted – and I know The Beatles on their first appearance here have been very deeply thrilled by their reception here. You’ve been fun. Now get home safely. Good night!”
— quoted from Ed Sullivan’s remarks at the conclusion of The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964
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 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.
A Joyful Practice 