Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast (and the Second “Feast of the Saviour” in August) and/or exploring friendship, peace, freedom, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside).
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
For Those Who Missed It: The following was originally posted in 2024. Class details, theme-related details, and some links have been updated/added. This post contains spoilers (in the last paragraph before the excerpts) related to a 1989 television show.
“Captain’s log, supplemental. We are holding position pending the arrival of Admiral Haftel from Starfleet Research. Commander Data is completing his final neural transfers to the android he has named Lal which I have learned, in the language Hindi, means beloved.”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “The Offspring” – (season 3, episode 16, aired March 12, 1990), voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart (OBE) as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
As noted in the posts excerpted at the end of this post, August 19th is the anniversary of the birth of birth Philo T. Farnsworth (b. 1906) and Gene Roddenberry (b. 1901). The former was an American inventor who revolutionized television; the latter revolutionized what we watch on television. In previous years, a couple of obvious thematic elements from the August 18th practice extended into the August 19th practice: the idea of exploring space(s) and the benefits of exploring and encountering different cultures. However, there was an underlying element that I never really emphasized (in either class): languages.
Sure, I often reference the fact that our minds and bodies communicate in the language of sensation and I have been known to joke that, in the absence of a universal translator, we have to study that language of sensation. But, I never really got into the fact that people can’t really “have their say” if they are speaking in a language that is not understood. Nor did I really get into the fact that television exposed more people to more languages and that certain television shows and movies (like those in the Star Trek franchise) exposed more people to the importance of speaking other languages — specifically, the respect that is communicated when we literally and figuratively/physically “Holchaj yIjatlh. (Speak in their language).”
This oversight is super ironic when you consider how much I love languages and how often I talk about shabda (“word”), which is the power “to give a form to sound, assign meaning to each segment of sound, and to store both sound and meaning in memory….[and] the capacity to communicate both sound and its meaning to others. We also have the capacity to give a visual form to each segment of sound and the meaning associated with it.” Furthermore, I often point out that shabda is also the power related to visual words, i. e., written words, symbols, and sign language. However, it wasn’t until I saw the Google Doodle dedicated to Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire) that I started to think about the limitations of universal translators in the Star Trek franchise… and, since we’re being real, in their current day iterations.1
“Her sister Gwenda (Wendy) wrote about her birth…, ‘I remember the day Dorothy was born and I knew exactly how she got there! The Irwin’s van brought her along with the groceries….’”
— quoted from “A Word from the Miles Estate” – provided to the Google site by the Dorothy Miles Estate, written by Liz Deverill (Dorothy’s niece)
Born in Holywell, Flintshire, Wales on August 19, 1931, Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire) was a Welsh poet and activist in the Deaf community. She contracted meningococcal (also known as cerebrospinal) meningitis and lost her hearing when she was 8 years old. Even though she was the youngest of five (surviving children), born in a small market town in Wales, she was able to attend the Royal School for the Deaf (now known as Seashell Trust) in Stockport, Greater Manchester, North West England, and the Mary Hare School in Newbury, Berkshire, England. When she was 25, a British non-profit’s scholarship enabled her to attend Gallaudet College in Washington, D. C. — and it was there that her early love of music, theatre, and words really shined.
In addition to being a member of the Gallaudet’s honor society (as a junior) and being listed in the 1961 edition of “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities,” Dot Miles edited student magazines, wrote prize-winning poetry and prose, won prizes for her acting, and got married (and separated). She also wrote Gallaudet’s “Bison Song” and a poem called “Language for the Eye” — which inspired the 2024 Google Doodle illustrated by Korean American storyteller Youmee Lee (who is also deaf). After graduating with her bachelor’s degree and working as a teacher and counselor for deaf adults, Ms. Miles joined the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD), in 1967, where she worked in wardrobe and as a script translator. She also wrote poetry (for deaf and hearing audiences) and worked with NTD’s Little Theatre of the Deaf, which produced shows for children and teenagers. She eventually attended Connecticut College — where she wrote her Master’s thesis about deaf theatre in the United States — and then (briefly) moved to Los Angeles.
When she returned to the UK, in 1977, Dot Miles started working in television. She worked with Open Door, which was produced by the BBC’s Community Programme Unit, and performed her poem “Language for the Eye” on the May 10, 1979, episode presented by National Union of the Deaf. She also helped develop the BBC’s See Hear series and, along with Terry Ruane (who also lost his hearing due to a childhood bout of some form of meningitis) wrote specials for the series. In addition to her work in the arts, Dot Miles worked with the British Deaf Association (BDA), helped establish the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) and compiled teaching manuals and a BDA dictionary.
After her death, people near and dear to her formed the Dorothy Miles Cultural Centre, now known as Dot Sign Language, which “continues to bridge the gap between the Deaf and the hearing world…. [and] is dedicated to raising both Deaf awareness and the profile of BSL as a language in its own right.” In honor of Dot Miles and her work, the seaside resort town of Rhyl (in Flintshire) placed a Purple Plaque (Welsh: Placiau Porffor) on the poet’s childhood home (in April 2024), declaring her one of the “Menywod Nodedig Yng Nghymru / Remarkable Women of Wales.”
“…people meet and part. The word becomes the action in this language of the heart.”
— quoted from the English translation of the poem “Language for the Eye” by Dorothy Miles
As far as I can tell, Dot Miles was a polyglot who knew four languages: Welsh, English, British Sign Language (BSL), and American Sign Language (ASL). Since she was interested in languages and theatre — and in sharing her poetry with people who used different languages — it would not surprise me to learn that she knew about the hundreds of other sign languages and dialects (even if she didn’t know them). There are, in fact, about 300 sign languages used around the world. This includes some (but not all) language families, like the French Sign Language Family, and the languages therein — like French Sign Language, Italian Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language, American Sign Language, Irish Sign Language, Russian Sign Language, Dutch Sign Language (NGT), Spanish Sign Language, Mexican Sign Language, Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS), Catalan Sign Language, Ukrainian Sign Language, Austrian Sign Language (along with its twin Hungarian Sign Language and its offspring Czech Sign Language) and others. That estimate also includes some (but not all) dialects and some village languages, as well as some Deaf-community and school languages. I am not sure if that estimate includes any speech-taboo languages2; but, suffice to say, there are a lot of sign languages. And, knowing one does not mean that you can use the other; any more than knowing one romance language means you can completely understand another.
And, getting back to my earlier point, the universal translators in Star Trek do not translate sign language.
“WOMAN: Precisely. Our way of communicating has developed over the centuries and its one that I find quite harmonious.
PICARD: Then Riva the mediator —
WOMAN: Is deaf.
PICARD: Deaf?
WOMAN: Born, and hope to die.
PICARD: And the three of you speak for him?
CHORUS: Yes.
SCHOLAR: We serve as translators. We convey not only his thoughts, but his emotional intent as well. I am the Scholar. I represent the intellect, and speak in matters of judgement, philosophy, logic. Also, I am the dreamer, the part that longs to see the beauty beyond the truth which is always the first duty of art. I am the poet who —
ADONIS: Artists, they tend to ramble, neglect the moment. I am passion, the libido. I am the anarchy of lust, the romantic and the lover. I am also the warrior, the perfect line which never wavers.
WOMAN: I am that which binds all the others together. I am harmony, wisdom, balance.
PICARD: Remarkable. And so these —
(Riva steps forward, angry)
SCHOLAR: Speak to me!
PICARD: What?
SCHOLAR: Speak directly to me.
PICARD: The uniqueness of this presentation provoked this inadvertent breach in protocol. No insult was intended.
SCHOLAR: Then none is perceived.”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “Loud as a Whisper” – (season 2, episode 5, aired January 9, 1989), conversation between Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Sir Patrick Stewart, OBE), Riva (played by Howie Seago), and the Chorus (played by Marnie Mosiman as Woman/That Which Binds Them, Thomas Oglesby as Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, and Leo Damian as Passion/Warrior)
While the universal translators in Star Trek only translate spoken languages — and, even then, only “known” languages — a sign language is a very important plot element in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode entitled, “Loud as a Whisper.” The episode features Riva, a peace negotiator/ambassador who is deaf and so good at his job that (prior to this episode) the Klingons added a new word to their vocabulary: peacemaker. Riva knows a sign language, however, he travels with his own personal Greek chorus who are connected to him telepathically. They are known as “the scholar, the warrior, and that which binds them [woman].”SPOILER ALERT: When something happens to the Riva’s chorus, someone has to step in to learn the sign language — because, again, the universal translators only work with spoken words.
More importantly, communication needs to be as seamless as possible in order to negotiate peace.
Click on the excerpt titles below for the 2020 post and the 2023 note related to Philo T. Farnsworth and Gene Roddenberry.
“RIKER: So none of the background which we have provided would be helpful in understanding why they continue to fight?
SCHOLAR: The portfolio will indicate that the conflict is over a piece of land, or wealth, or some other tangible asset. But we both know that is not the case.
RIKER: They’ve been at war for so long, it has become personal.
SCHOLAR: Exactly. The basis for peace must also be personal….”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “Loud as a Whisper” – (season 2, episode 5, aired January 9, 1989), conversation between First Officer William T. Riker (played by Jonathan Frakes), Riva (played by Howie Seago), and the Chorus (played by Thomas Oglesby as Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, Marnie Mosiman as Woman/That Which Binds Them, and Leo Damian as Passion/Warrior)
Please join me today (Tuesday, August 19th) 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 “Courage filled” playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08192020 To Boldly Go with Courage”]
1 Google Translate and related apps are the closest things we (currently) have to a universal translator. Obviously, they do not allow us to hear someone else’s words as if they are speaking in the language of our choice; however, they can be voice activated and can play a recording of words typed (or pasted) into the app. There are apps that translate (into and out of) a variety of sign languages — however, they are not standard to (i.e., built into) cell phones like Google Translate and the iPhone’s Translate.
2 According to Wikipedia, speech-taboo languages “are developed by the hearing community and only used secondarily by the deaf.”
Dorothy Miles struggled with her mental health. Sadly, she was not able to receive help when she needed it most. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
2024 CORRECTION & 2025 UPDATE: There are currently twelve Star Trek television series, thirteen feature films (with additional ones already in development or production), a made-for-television film, an extensive collection of books, games, and toys — not to mention college curriculum and language courses.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone preparing for the Dormition Fast and/or cultivating communication that leads to peace — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside).
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
Please join me today (Tuesday, August 12th) 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.
Extreme heat can not only make people lethargic and unmotivated, it can also lead to extreme agitation and anxiety-based fear. We may find it hard to think, hard to feel (or process our feelings), and/or hard to control our impulses. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone celebrating Pride and/or the Day of the Holy Spirit.
For Those Who Missed It: This post-practice post and excerpt for Monday, June 9th, was originally posted in 2024.The 2025 prompt question was, “How would you describe your attitude today?”
You can request an audio recording of this practice or a previous practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra(at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
“‘You can never give up because quitting is not an option,’ [Wayman] Tisdale says. ‘No matter how dark it is or how weak you get, until you take that last breath, you must fight.’”
— quoted from the Dec. 3, 2008 ESPN article “Tisdale reaches for his biggest rebound” by Anna K. Clemmons
The first question I asked in a 2020 blog post (see below) was, “Have you ever experienced trauma, loss, and disability?”
During yesterday’s practice, I mentioned how the trajectory of Robert Schumann’s life and career changed when he lost sensation in his right pinky finger. Eventually, he loss the use and dexterity of his whole right hand. The physical trauma, loss, and disability took an emotional toll that eventually landed him in sanatorium. Coincidentally, today is the anniversary of the birth of Cole Porter (b. 1891) and Wayman Tisdale (b. 1964) — two people who shared a lot in common with Robert Schumann, including music, love, and trauma, loss, and disability… again on the right side. However, they dealt with their circumstances in very different ways.
Click on the title of the excerpt below for the entire 2020 post about Cole Porter and Wayman Tisdale.
“Sad times, may follow your tracks Bad times, may bar you from Sak’s At times, when Satan in slacks Breaks down your self control
Maybe, as often it goes Your Abe-y, may tire of his rose So baby, this rule I propose Always have an ace in the hole.”
— quoted from the song “Ace in the Hole” by Cole Porter
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
NOTE: If you are interested in the music referenced in the excerpted post (and practice), a playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “06092020 Not So De-Lovely Circumstance(s)”]
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.
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone Counting the Omer, and/or observing the fifth week of Pascha.
“‘The most important thing I know I learned from Woody Guthrie,’ says Dylan, ‘I’m my own person. I’ve got basic common rights-whether I’m here in this country or any other place. I’ll never finish saying everything I feel, but I’ll be doing my part to make some sense out of the way we’re living, and not living, now. All I’m doing is saying what’s on my mind the best way I know how. And whatever else you say about me, everything I do and sing and write comes out of me.’”
— quoted from the liner notes by Nat Hentoff (from Bob Dylan’s album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan)
Today is the birthday of Bob Dylan (b. 1941) and the death anniversary of Tina Turner (d. 2023).
Please join me today (Saturday, May 24th) at 12:00 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules”calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra(at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Saturday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “05242022 Bob’s Poems”]
NOTE: I chose not to create a new playlist this year, inspired by both Bob and Tina; however, the first embedded link (above) includes a special message from Tina Turner and I have added the following chant towards the end of both playlists.
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.
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.)
Thank you to everyone who Kiss[ed] MyAsana!
While you helped me surpass my fundraising goal, the overall fundraiser raised over half of its goal!!
Whether you showed up in a (Zoom) class, used a recording, shared a post or video, liked and/or commented on a post or video, and/or made a donation — you and your efforts are appreciated! Thank you!!!
“Ramaḍān Mubarak, Blessed Ramaḍān!” to anyone observing the holy month of Ramaḍān. Many blessings also to all, and especially to those who were celebrating and/or observing the Baháʼí 19-Day Fast, Great Lent, and/or Lent!
“Nowruz Mubarak!” Happy New Year to those who are celebrating and Happy Vernal (Spring) Equinox to those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Peace, ease, dialogue, and compassion to all, throughout this “Season for Nonviolence” and all other seasons!
Pardon me while I catch up. The following is a 2-for-1 post-practice post for Monday, March 10th and Monday, March 17th.It includes some new content, excerpts, and a repost (For Those Who Missed It). There is also a bonus link to a music-related post for March 21st.
The 2025 prompt question for 3/10 was, “Who is someone to whom you can talk (about anything) and who is someone to whom you can listen?” (NOTE: It can be the same person/people.)
The 2025 prompt question for 3/17 was, “Conas a tá tu? (How are you doing?)”
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.
“There are answers in the music And there are answers in the words And if we stopped talking in circles We might get closer to the earth”
— quoted from the song “Be Good” by Hothouse Flowers (written by Liam Tadg O’maonlai, Fiachna Seosamh O’braonain, Peter Mary O’toole, Jeremiah Michael August Fehily, Leo Barnes)
There are some people who believe music has no place in (their) yoga practice. Others practice Nāda (“sound” or “voiced”) yoga, which involves silent, internal vibrations as well as mantra and music. Then there’s kirtan (“narrating, reciting, telling, describing”), which is a form of Bhakti yoga (“union [through] devotion or love”) that incorporates chanting with music. If we pay attention to what it says in the Bhagavad Gita (which I do), then all these paths are valid and valued.
Personally, I like to practice in a lot of different ways and often find myself somewhere in the middle of these different ways to practice. In other words, I like silence… and I like a good playlist.
When I am teaching, more often than not, I am using music. Sometimes, in fact, I will build a whole practice around music — or, more specifically, the messages/answers in the music. Sometimes, I will even be inspired by the messenger(s). When I teach practices without music — for instance, if we are outside or I am teaching the Monday night class affiliated with Common Ground Meditation Center — I have to ask an important question: Does this practice (or theme) work without the music?
If the answer is no; then, I need a different focus. When the answer is yes, as it was for the last two Mondays, we just go a little deeper.
3/10 — ADVENTURES AND MUSIC
“Some ideas may resonate, others may not. A few may awaken an inner knowing you forgot you had. Use what’s helpful. Let go of the rest.
Each of these moments is an invitation to further inquiry: looking deeper, zooming out, or in. Opening possibilities for a new way of being.”
— quoted from the prelude to The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
In 2024, I wondered, “What would happen if every practice — and, really, everything we did — started with the reminder above (which comes courtesy of a person who has been meditating for almost fifty years)?”
In 2025, when the “Season for Nonviolence” principle of the day (for March 10th) was “dialogue”, I focused on how different conversations would be if we all followed the aforementioned advice of Rick Rubin, who was born March 10, 1963.
For Those Who Missed It: “Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig. (Happy Saint Patrick’s Day.)”The following was originally posted in 2024.
Take a moment to notice how you feel on the inside, knowing that how you feel on the inside affects how you move on the outside. Of course, how you move on the outside is going to affect how you feel on the inside. This is especially true today, especially in the United States, when a lot of people celebrate feeling “Irish on the inside.” Like Valentine’s Day — and, even Saint Stephen’s Day, on a certain level — Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated more as a cultural holiday than it is celebrated as a feast day.
The way Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated is particularly interesting when you consider three coincidences about that the fifth century (or late fourth century) priest. First, when he was sent to Ireland to minister to Christians who were there and to convert those still practicing the Celtic religions, he chose to co-opt — um, I mean, incorporate — the Irish culture into Catholicism. So, he was all about the heritage… but in a problematic way. Second, Saint Patrick was never canonized — which means that one of the most famous saints was (technically speaking) a saint in name only. While he has a feast day in several traditions, including in the Roman Catholic tradition, I find it fitting that he is remembered as a Saint because people felt like was a saint.
Finally, most of what we know about Saint Patrick comes from exaggerated stories, legends, like the one about how he ran all the snakes out of Ireland — and what would Saint Patrick’s Day be without “me good yarn?”
If you read the title of this post correctly, you know that I think Saint Patrick’s Day is a good time to have “a good time.” In keeping with the feeling, there will be music, dancing, and a story. The Irish tale I like to tell today isn’t about Saint Patrick (in fact it is most often associated with a different saint); but, it can be seen as an allegory. It is also fun to tell with the poses — because, y’all, there are a lot of bird poses in yoga!
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT BELOW FOR MORE ABOUT THOSE BIRD POSES.
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.
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast; and/or working to cultivate friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside) — on the International Day Against Intolerance, Discrimination, & Violence Based on Musical Preference.
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
“. . . the great aim of every human being is to understand the meaning of total love. Love is not to be found in someone else, but in ourselves; we simply awaken it. But in order to do that, we need the other person.”
— quoted from Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho (b. 1947)
Click on the first excerpt title below to “meet” Sophie Lancaster and the second excerpt title for a mini-post about Paulo Coelho.
“During the long hours at hospital, Sylvia decided that when Sophie was better, they would go into schools and talk to young people about difference, and how it is ok to be who you are and express yourself in your own way. Sadly, Sylvia never got a chance to do this with Sophie.”
— quoted from the “Welcome” page for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation
Please join me today (Saturday, August 17th) at 12:00 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules”calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra(at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Saturday’s playlist available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08242021 A Day for SOPHIE”]
Extreme heat can not only make people lethargic and unmotivated, it can also lead to extreme agitation and anxiety-based fear. We may find it hard to think, hard to feel (or process our feelings), and/or hard to control our impulses. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.
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.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast (and the Second “Feast of the Saviour” in August) and/or exploring friendship, peace, freedom, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside).
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
This is a post-practice post related to the practice on Monday, August 19th.The 2024 prompt question was, “What is a television show that you previously and/or currently watch that informs (or informed) your world view?” This post contains spoilers (in the last paragraph before the excerpts) related to a 1989 television show.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.
“Captain’s log, supplemental. We are holding position pending the arrival of Admiral Haftel from Starfleet Research. Commander Data is completing his final neural transfers to the android he has named Lal which I have learned, in the language Hindi, means beloved.”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “The Offspring” – (season 3, episode 16, aired March 12, 1990), voiced by Sir Patrick Stewart (OBE) as Captain Jean-Luc Picard
As noted in the posts excerpted at the end of this post, August 19th is the anniversary of the birth of birth Philo T. Farnsworth (b. 1906) and Gene Roddenberry (b. 1901). The former was an American inventor who revolutionized television; the latter revolutionized what we watch on television. In previous years, a couple of obvious thematic elements from the August 18th practice extended into the August 19th practice: the idea of exploring space(s) and the benefits of exploring and encountering different cultures. However, there was an underlying element that I never really emphasized (in either class): languages.
Sure, I often reference the fact that our minds and bodies communicate in the language of sensation and I have been known to joke that, in the absence of a universal translator, we have to study that language of sensation. But, I never really got into the fact that people can’t really “have their say” if they are speaking in a language that is not understood. Nor did I really get into the fact that television exposed more people to more languages and that certain television shows and movies (like those in the Star Trek franchise) exposed more people to the importance of speaking other languages — specifically, the respect that is communicated when we literally and figuratively/physically “Holchaj yIjatlh. (Speak in their language).”
This oversight is super ironic when you consider how much I love languages and how often I talk about shabda (“word”), which is the power “to give a form to sound, assign meaning to each segment of sound, and to store both sound and meaning in memory….[and] the capacity to communicate both sound and its meaning to others. We also have the capacity to give a visual form to each segment of sound and the meaning associated with it.” Furthermore, I often point out that shabda is also the power related to visual words, i. e., written words, symbols, and sign language. However, it wasn’t until I saw the Google Doodle dedicated to Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire) that I started to think about the limitations of universal translators in the Star Trek franchise… and, since we’re being real, in their current day iterations.1
“Her sister Gwenda (Wendy) wrote about her birth…, ‘I remember the day Dorothy was born and I knew exactly how she got there! The Irwin’s van brought her along with the groceries….’”
— quoted from “A Word from the Miles Estate” – provided to the Google site by the Dorothy Miles Estate, written by Liz Deverill (Dorothy’s niece)
Born in Holywell, Flintshire, Wales on August 19, 1931, Dorothy “Dot” Miles (née Squire) was a Welsh poet and activist in the Deaf community. She contracted meningococcal (also known as cerebrospinal) meningitis and lost her hearing when she was 8 years old. Even though she was the youngest of five (surviving children), born in a small market town in Wales, she was able to attend the Royal School for the Deaf (now known as Seashell Trust) in Stockport, Greater Manchester, North West England, and the Mary Hare School in Newbury, Berkshire, England. When she was 25, a British non-profit’s scholarship enabled her to attend Gallaudet College in Washington, D. C. — and it was there that her early love of music, theatre, and words really shined.
In addition to being a member of the Gallaudet’s honor society (as a junior) and being listed in the 1961 edition of “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities,” Dot Miles edited student magazines, wrote prize-winning poetry and prose, won prizes for her acting, and got married (and separated). She also wrote Gallaudet’s “Bison Song” and a poem called “Language for the Eye” — which inspired the 2024 Google Doodle illustrated by Korean American storyteller Youmee Lee (who is also deaf). After graduating with her bachelor’s degree and working as a teacher and counselor for deaf adults, Ms. Miles joined the National Theatre of the Deaf (NTD), in 1967, where she worked in wardrobe and as a script translator. She also wrote poetry (for deaf and hearing audiences) and worked with NTD’s Little Theatre of the Deaf, which produced shows for children and teenagers. She eventually attended Connecticut College — where she wrote her Master’s thesis about deaf theatre in the United States — and then (briefly) moved to Los Angeles.
When she returned to the UK, in 1977, Dot Miles started working in television. She worked with Open Door, which was produced by the BBC’s Community Programme Unit, and performed her poem “Language for the Eye” on the May 10, 1979, episode presented by National Union of the Deaf. She also helped develop the BBC’s See Hear series and, along with Terry Ruane (who also lost his hearing due to a childhood bout of some form of meningitis) wrote specials for the series. In addition to her work in the arts, Dot Miles worked with the British Deaf Association (BDA), helped establish the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People (CACDP) and compiled teaching manuals and a BDA dictionary.
After her death, people near and dear to her formed the Dorothy Miles Cultural Centre, now known as Dot Sign Language, which “continues to bridge the gap between the Deaf and the hearing world…. [and] is dedicated to raising both Deaf awareness and the profile of BSL as a language in its own right.” In honor of Dot Miles and her work, the seaside resort town of Rhyl (in Flintshire) placed a Purple Plaque (Welsh: Placiau Porffor) on the poet’s childhood home (in April 2024), declaring her one of the “Menywod Nodedig Yng Nghymru / Remarkable Women of Wales.”
“…people meet and part. The word becomes the action in this language of the heart.”
— quoted from the English translation of the poem “Language for the Eye” by Dorothy Miles
As far as I can tell, Dot Miles was a polyglot who knew four languages: Welsh, English, British Sign Language (BSL), and American Sign Language (ASL). Since she was interested in languages and theatre — and in sharing her poetry with people who used different languages — it would not surprise me to learn that she knew about the hundreds of other sign languages and dialects (even if she didn’t know them). There are, in fact, about 300 sign languages used around the world. This includes some (but not all) language families, like the French Sign Language Family, and the languages therein — like French Sign Language, Italian Sign Language, Quebec Sign Language, American Sign Language, Irish Sign Language, Russian Sign Language, Dutch Sign Language (NGT), Spanish Sign Language, Mexican Sign Language, Brazilian Sign Language (LIBRAS), Catalan Sign Language, Ukrainian Sign Language, Austrian Sign Language (along with its twin Hungarian Sign Language and its offspring Czech Sign Language) and others. That estimate also includes some (but not all) dialects and some village languages, as well as some Deaf-community and school languages. I am not sure if that estimate includes any speech-taboo languages2; but, suffice to say, there are a lot of sign languages. And, knowing one does not mean that you can use the other; any more than knowing one romance language means you can completely understand another.
And, getting back to my earlier point, the universal translators in Star Trek do not translate sign language.
“WOMAN: Precisely. Our way of communicating has developed over the centuries and its one that I find quite harmonious.
PICARD: Then Riva the mediator —
WOMAN: Is deaf.
PICARD: Deaf?
WOMAN: Born, and hope to die.
PICARD: And the three of you speak for him?
CHORUS: Yes.
SCHOLAR: We serve as translators. We convey not only his thoughts, but his emotional intent as well. I am the Scholar. I represent the intellect, and speak in matters of judgement, philosophy, logic. Also, I am the dreamer, the part that longs to see the beauty beyond the truth which is always the first duty of art. I am the poet who —
ADONIS: Artists, they tend to ramble, neglect the moment. I am passion, the libido. I am the anarchy of lust, the romantic and the lover. I am also the warrior, the perfect line which never wavers.
WOMAN: I am that which binds all the others together. I am harmony, wisdom, balance.
PICARD: Remarkable. And so these —
(Riva steps forward, angry)
SCHOLAR: Speak to me!
PICARD: What?
SCHOLAR: Speak directly to me.
PICARD: The uniqueness of this presentation provoked this inadvertent breach in protocol. No insult was intended.
SCHOLAR: Then none is perceived.”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “Loud as a Whisper” – (season 2, episode 5, aired January 9, 1989), conversation between Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Sir Patrick Stewart, OBE), Riva (played by Howie Seago), and the Chorus (played by Marnie Mosiman as Woman/That Which Binds Them, Thomas Oglesby as Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, and Leo Damian as Passion/Warrior)
While the universal translators in Star Trek only translate spoken languages — and, even then, only “known” languages — a sign language is a very important plot element in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode entitled, “Loud as a Whisper.” The episode features Riva, a peace negotiator/ambassador who is deaf and so good at his job that (prior to this episode) the Klingons added a new word to their vocabulary: peacemaker. Riva knows a sign language, however, he travels with his own personal Greek chorus who are connected to him telepathically. They are known as “the scholar, the warrior, and that which binds them [woman].”SPOILER ALERT: When something happens to the Riva’s chorus, someone has to step in to learn the sign language — because, again, the universal translators only work with spoken words.
More importantly, communication needs to be as seamless as possible in order to negotiate peace.
Click on the excerpt titles below for the 2020 post and the 2023 note related to Philo T. Farnsworth and Gene Roddenberry.
“RIKER: So none of the background which we have provided would be helpful in understanding why they continue to fight?
SCHOLAR: The portfolio will indicate that the conflict is over a piece of land, or wealth, or some other tangible asset. But we both know that is not the case.
RIKER: They’ve been at war for so long, it has become personal.
SCHOLAR: Exactly. The basis for peace must also be personal….”
— quoted from Star Trek Deep: Next Generation, “Loud as a Whisper” – (season 2, episode 5, aired January 9, 1989), conversation between First Officer William T. Riker (played by Jonathan Frakes), Riva (played by Howie Seago), and the Chorus (played by Thomas Oglesby as Scholar/Dreamer/Artist, Marnie Mosiman as Woman/That Which Binds Them, and Leo Damian as Passion/Warrior)
There is no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
The “Courage filled” playlist used in previous years is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08192020 To Boldly Go with Courage”]
1 Google Translate and related apps are the closest things we (currently) have to a universal translator. Obviously, they do not allow us to hear someone else’s words as if they are speaking in the language of our choice; however, they can be voice activated and can play a recording of words typed (or pasted) into the app. There are apps that translate (into and out of) a variety of sign languages — however, they are not standard to (i.e., built into) cell phones like Google Translate and the iPhone’s Translate.
2 According to Wikipedia, speech-taboo languages “are developed by the hearing community and only used secondarily by the deaf.”
Dorothy Miles struggled with her mental health. Sadly, she was not able to receive help when she needed it most. If you are struggling in the US, help is available just by dialing 988.
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.
CORRECTION & 2024 UPDATE: There are currently twelve Star Trek television series, thirteen feature films (with additional ones already in development or production), an extensive collection of books, games, and toys – not to mention college curriculum and language courses.
Happy Pride! Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone observing the Sunday of the Blind Man and Eastertide; Counting the Omer, and/or working to “misbehaving” in the name of peace, freedom, and fulfillment (inside and outside).
“‘You can never give up because quitting is not an option,’ [Wayman] Tisdale says. ‘No matter how dark it is or how weak you get, until you take that last breath, you must fight.’”
— quoted from the Dec. 3, 2008 ESPN article “Tisdale reaches for his biggest rebound” by Anna K. Clemmons
The first question I asked in a 2020 blog post (see below) was, “Have you ever experienced trauma, loss, and disability?”
During yesterday’s practice, I mentioned how the trajectory of Robert Schumann’s life and career changed when he lost sensation in his right pinky finger. Eventually, he loss the use and dexterity of his whole right hand. The physical trauma, loss, and disability took an emotional toll that eventually landed him in sanatorium. Coincidentally, today is the anniversary of the birth of Cole Porter (b. 1891) and Wayman Tisdale (b. 1964) — two people who shared a lot in common with Robert Schumann, including music, love, and trauma, loss, and disability… again on the right side. However, they dealt with their circumstances in very different ways.
Click on the title of the excerpt below for the entire 2020 post about Cole Porter and Wayman Tisdale.
“Sad times, may follow your tracks Bad times, may bar you from Sak’s At times, when Satan in slacks Breaks down your self control
Maybe, as often it goes Your Abe-y, may tire of his rose So baby, this rule I propose Always have an ace in the hole.”
— quoted from the song “Ace in the Hole” by Cole Porter
Please join me for a 65-minute virtual yoga practice on Zoom today (Sunday, June 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 “06092020 Not So De-Lovely Circumstance(s)”]
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.
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.
Peace and ease to all during this “Season for Non-violence” and all other seasons! You have to take care of yourself (before you can take care of others)!!
“Everyone deserves music, sweet music”
— quoted from the song “Everyone Deserves Music” by Michael Franti & Spearhead
Yes, everyone deserves music… and friendship. Friendship is one of the six siddhis described as “the powers and privileges unique to humans” in the Yoga and Sankhya (or Sāṁkhya). It is the power to “[cultivate] a good heart; finding friends;” i.e., the power of making connections with others. This is an ability we start learning about as soon as we are aware that there are “other” people and things. Initially, however, geography and general location plays a big part in who becomes our friends. Our proximity to someone, combined with things we have in common — like shared experiences and hobbies — strengths that bond.
For better or for worse, modern modes of travel, media, and the internet have created opportunities for people who are geographically far apart to make really intense connections. However, technology doesn’t change the ties that bind: ties like music, sports, art, and shared history.
“On October 17, 1903, [Branch] Rickey felt the ‘Black Cyclone’s’ full power when he ran their ends dizzy for 20, 25, 35 and 70 yard gains, the last being a touchdown. After that game Rickey praised Follis, calling him ‘a wonder.’ It was the power of his example, his character, and his grace that convinced Rickey, that color could not belie his greatness. The rest is history….”
— quoted from the “Background” section of the Charles Follis Foundation website
Please join me today (Saturday, February 3rd) at 12:00 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules”calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra(at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Saturday playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “02032021 The Day the Music Died”]
NOTE: The YouTube playlist has the Tommy Dee version of “Three Stars” during the practice and the Eddie Cochran version in the before/after music. The Spotify playlist has Cochran’s version during the practice and Charlie Gracie’s song “I’m Alright,” a tribute to Eddie Cochran, in the before/after music.
“For years, [Dr. Mike Miller], a research cardiologist, has been studying the effects of happiness — or things that make people happy — on our hearts. He began his research with laughter, and found watching funny movies and laughing at them could actually open up blood vessels, allowing blood to circulate more freely.
Miller thought, if laughter can do that, why not music? So, he tested the effects of music on the cardiovascular system. ‘Turns out music may be one of the best de-stressors — either by playing or even listening to music,’ said Miller.”
— quoted from a 2009 CNN Health segment entitled, “The power of music: It’s a real heart opener” by Val Willingham, CNN Medical Producer
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.)
For Those Who Missed It: This is an expanded version of a post from August 24, 2020. It was originally posted in 2021. Class details and links, as well as some details related to current events, have been added or updated.
Take a moment to imagine an angel.
What’s the first image or idea that comes to mind? What gender do you imagine? What color is their skin and hair – if they even have hair? Does the picture that springs to mind fit the archetype as portrayed in movies or religious art? Do you think of an actual angel here on earth or a do you first think of a guardian angel (or, again, a religious angel)?
Is someone an angel because of what’s on the inside or is your idea of an angel based (largely or in part) on the outside?
If your first thought wasn’t a dark angel, what comes to mind when I bring your awareness to a dark angel? What are your feelings about someone described as a “dark angel” and are they a preconceived notion or based on someone specific?
Meet Sophie Lancaster. She was a dark angel, a goth, a 20-year old who enjoyed heavy metal music and dressed in a way that reflected her love of the genre. She died today in 2007, after a brutal attack left her and her boyfriend, Robert Maltby in comas. They were brutally attacked by a mob on August 11th, in Stubbeylee Park in Bacup, Rossendale, Lancashire because of the way they were dressed. At some point during the attack, Sophie wrapped her body around Robert’s head to protect him. He would eventually wake up from the attack. She would not.
“When I was out on the streets with Sophie, I would hear people’s comments. I would hear them say ‘look at the state of that –’ or ‘what does she look like.’
I remember going into one shop and the look they gave her. After they had spoken to her for five minutes, that went as they realized she was actually quite a lovely little thing, but it was funny to see that. I would always think, how dare you judge somebody on the way they look.”
– Sylvia Lancaster, OBE
Sophie’s family and friends, including her mother, Sylvia, started the Sophie Lancaster Foundation and funds and tributes in Sophie’s name continue to this day. There are Sophie Lancaster stages at goth and heavy metal music festivals (many of which were canceled in 2020, because of the pandemic) and theaters. There are songs, albums, films, documentaries, awards, and books that have been dedicated to her and, in 2010, Sophie’s boyfriend, Robert Maltby, held an exhibition of his own art, which included 15 original paintings inspired by Sophie. The money from the exhibition, like the money raised from other events and the proceeds from t-shirts and wrist bands featuring the S.O.P.H.I.E. stamp, went to the Sophie Lancaster Foundation.
S.O.P.H.I.E. stands for Stamp Out Prejudice, Hatred, and Intolerance Everywhere. The foundation and the fund started by her family and friends aims to “provide an appropriate memorial a lasting legacy to raise awareness of the injustice perpetrated against Sophie Lancaster and to work towards a more tolerant, less violent society.” One of the things the foundation funds is group sessions intended to cultivate respect and understanding by exposing young people to alternative cultures. Remember, as Imam Khalid Latif wrote in a 2013 “Ramadān Reflection,” “It’s harder to stereotype when you actually learn someone’s name.”
It’s also harder to stereotype when you find yourself enjoying and appreciating someone’s favorite food… or music.
“The importance to us is that the awareness is permanent. It still happens in our community. They face violence in the streets, and we hear about it from our fans. It is something we can never stop campaigning about and we will make sure Sophie is never forgotten.”
– Vicky Hungerford, one of the 2017 organizers of the annual Bloodstock Open Air festival
Over the years, I have witnessed a variety of reactions to my observation of today, the “International Day Against Intolerance, Discrimination, & Violence Based on Musical Preference” – also known as Sophie Lancaster Day. In one case, several years ago, someone asked me why I would mention something that happened in England “over a decade ago” – especially since I wasn’t a goth. I explained as best as I could. Then, unfortunately, Elijah Al-Amin was killed in Peoria, Arizona in July 2019. Elijah was a 17-year old black man who enjoyed rap music and, according to the man who killed him, he was attacked because his music made his killer (a 27-year old white man) feel “unsafe.”
In the beginning of the Yoga Sūtras (1.5-11), Patanjali breaks the activity of our minds down into five categories, which can fall under two umbrellas; klişțāklişțāh, which means “afflicted and not afflicted.” You can also think of these two umbrellas as dysfunctional and functional. He goes on to explain that afflicted/dysfunctional cause suffering, pain, and the other obstacles and related hindrances. These afflicted/dysfunctional mental activities sap the power of the mind-body and prevent us from exploring – let alone reaching – our full potential. In the second section of the sūtras (2.3-9), Patanjali describes five types of afflicted/dysfunctional thinking; explains how avidyā (“ignorance”) is the bedrock of (or fertile ground for) the other four patterns, which are a false sense of self-identity, attachment, aversion, and fear of loss/death. He further breaks down avidyā as follows:
Mistaking something temporary as eternal
Believing something is impure is pure
Believing that something that causes suffering causes happiness
Misunderstanding someone’s true nature and essence
You can think of that last one as judging a book by its cover and – as indicated by the second “affliction,” which is a false sense of our own identity/Self – it can be applied to how we see others as well as how we see ourselves.
“I’m not pointing any fingers here at anybody but myself, and I’m asking something very hard of myself. I’m challenging myself to listen without prejudice, to love without limits, and to reverse the hate. So that’s my challenge to me and hopefully you’ll accept this challenge too.”
– Orlando Jones, August 2014
Back in 2014, it seemed like everyone and the sister was doing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. People were filming themselves as they dumped ice water over their heads and then challenging someone else to do the same. In a relatively short period of time, the challenge went viral, generated over $115 million in donations, and raised awareness about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease). The actor and comedian Orlando Jones took note and co-opted the challenge – but rather than pouring ice water on his head, he dumped a bunch of bullets on his head.
Take note, that while I always describe Mr. Jones as an “actor and comedian,” he described himself as “lifetime member of the NRA” and “active member of the great state of Louisiana’s police force.” The difference in perception, as it relates to identity, makes a difference; because, for some, it changes the message. The so-called Bullet Bucket Challenge was intended to raise awareness about the escalating gun violence in the world and, in particular, to highlight what had just happened in Ferguson, Missouri: the shooting of Michael Brown – and, on a certain level, Orlando Jones represented every person (and every side) involved.
For the record, Orlando Jones wasn’t the only celebrity to co-opt the original challenge as a call to action about a crisis that was important to them. But, just like I don’t know anyone else who dumped bullets on their head, I don’t know anyone else – other than Matt Damon – who dumped toilet water on their head to raise awareness about safe drinking water and sanitation.
Still, I think the calls to action are important. Because, at the end of the day,
it doesn’t matter where, how, or why our ignorance exists – only that it does. If, however, we want peace and ease for ourselves and those we love, we have to “stamp out prejudice, hate, and intolerance everywhere.” To do that, we have to acknowledge where the ignorance begins – even when it begins inside of our own minds – and we have to cultivate the opposites. Replace ignorance with knowledge, with understanding, and with respect. We have to remember that Sophie’s name literally means wisdom.
Maybe we also take a page from the Sophie’s family and friends. As a result of the efforts of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation, Greater Manchester Police became the first (but not the last) police department to track and record hate crimes against people from “Alternative Subcultures.” For her personal efforts to reduce hate crimes and promote a more tolerant world, Sylvia Lancaster was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 2014. And, today, if you’re practicing with the music, you’ll have the opportunity to “open [your] mind for a different view / And nothing else matters.”
“Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people….”
– quoted from King Solomon’s request in 2 Chronicles 1:10 (NIV)
Please join me today (Wednesday, August 24th) at 4:30 PM or 7:15 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. Use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You will need to register for the 7:15 PM class if you have not already done so. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “08242021 A Day for SOPHIE”]
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, playlists, 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 to Common Ground are tax deductible; class purchases and donations directly to me are not necessarily deductible.)
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the U.S.) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can also call the 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.
###
A Joyful Practice 