Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone exerting their will to cultivate friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
This “missing” compilation post for Sunday, October 5th, features “remixed” excerpts. 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.
“See the moon roll across the stars See the seasons turn like a heart Your father’s days are lost to you This is your time here to do what you will do
Your life is now, your life is now, your life is now In this undiscovered moment Lift your head up above the crowd”
— quoted from the song “Your Life Is Now” by John Mellencamp (written by John Mellencamp, George Michael Green)
Time. It is such an arbitrary concept. I mean, we are passing the time every time we inhale; measuring time every time we exhale. However, our experience of time is often based on our perspective. For instance, how long a road trip — or a flight to the other side of the planet — is versus how long it feels can be different and how long it feels can be different if you are by a window, enjoying the view, versus if you really have to go to the bathroom when there’s no place to go. Similarly, if you are having a good time, that time feels different than if you are having a challenging time; just like time seems to move at a different pace when you are looking forward to something versus when you are dreading something — keeping in mind that the “something” in either case may never happen.
Now, you may be thinking that one’s subjective experience of time does not make the concept of time arbitrary. Well, yes and no. Yes, it is true that, as a society, we have agreed on ways we will measure time so that we all show up at the same time and/or do certain things at certain times. However, the systems established were, initially, based on one person’s (or one group of people’s) whims. In other words, arbitrary.
For example, nothing happened today in 1582 — at least not in Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, and places like the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. These Papal-governed nations were the first to switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar and, in order to make the timing work, they skipped 10 days (October 5 — 14). One of the motivating factors for the switch was to use a system of time named for a pope (in this case, Pope Gregory XIII) rather than a Roman emperor (i.e., Julius Caesar). Another factor was that the church wanted more consistency and control over when Easter (and other religious holidays) were celebrated as Catholicism spread beyond Rome.
Where there other factors? Sure. However, the idea for a standardized date for Easter dates back to the First Council of Nicaea (in 325 AD); the need for calendar reform — to produce a more astrologically accurate calendar — dates back to the 8th century; and calendar reform — to produce a more liturgically consistent calendar — was proposed as early as 1475 AD.
Because it is in such common use as a civil calendar (and, therefore, used by people who are not Christian), we don’t typically think of the Gregorian calendar as a religious calendar. However, it is not the only religious calendar used in modern times. Some Christians (and non-Christians) still use the Julian calendar. Others use solar, lunar, lunisolar (sometimes called solilunar) and/or seasonal calendars. All these different calendars can overlap and coincide in different ways in any given year — meaning that holidays overlap and coincide in different ways every year.
“Before you were formed in the womb, your days were numbered and set in place. They are the chapters of the lessons you came here to learn, the faces of the wisdom this world has to teach you, the gateways to the treasures this lifetime alone can bestow.”
— quoted from Hayom Yom, 17 Cheshvan; Naso 5837:6 (From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory, words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman)
When it comes to this time that (quote-unquote) “didn’t exist” as some people were switching over to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, the days that were skipped didn’t actually disappear. In reality, they were still there; just renamed / renumbered. This “deletion of days” would occur at different times throughout the year and over the years — even as recently as 2016. As the drift continued for countries still using the Julian calendar, sometimes as many as 14 days needed to be skipped.
We can think of these dates as liminal days, threshold days, or transitional days — especially when they pop up during the High Holidays or (as they do this year) in between holidays. However, whenever these dates pop up on our current calendar, I like to think of them as “extra days”, like a little bit of lagniappe that we’ve been given. And, of course, I ask the question, “How could I spend this extra bit of time?”
“Through the years I’ve written and taught extensively about ‘liminal time,’ that pregnant pause between what is no longer and what is not yet. Although liminal time is a known stage in all rites of passage, most people have never heard of it. Whether we’re talking about a pandemic, a war, a refugee crisis, or even a man or womanhood ritual, a graduation, or a new job far away from family and friends, the stages (though not the intensity) of a rite of passage are the same.”
— quoted from “Running the Gauntlet of the Unknown” by Joan Borysenko, PhD (posted at joanborysenko.com, April 1, 2020)
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “10052021 A Matter of Time”]
“A day enters, opens its doors, tells its story, and then returns above, never to visit again. Never—for no two days of your life will share the same wisdom.”
— quoted from Hayom Yom, 17 Cheshvan; Naso 5837:6 (From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory, words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman)
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.
Please join me today (Sunday, October 5th) at 2:30 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules”calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra(at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Sunday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “10052021 A Matter of Time”]
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es).
Donations are tax deductible; class purchases are not necessarily deductible.
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
This “missing” invitation for the “First Friday Night Special” on October 3rdincludes some extra (related) excerpts. You can request an audio recording of this Restorative Yoga 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.
“Man is composed of such elements as vital breath, deeds, thought, and the senses—all of them deriving their being from the Self. They have come out of the Self, and in the Self they ultimately disappear—even as the waters of a river disappear in the sea.”
— quoted from “IV Prasna” in The Upanishads — Breath of the Eternal: The Principal Texts Selected and Translated from the Original Sanskrit by Swami Prabhavananda and Frederick Manchester
The Upanishads (“sitting near devotedly”) are a collection of sacred texts conveying teachings from teachers to students. Although the original number of texts is unknown, there are 108 that have been preserved and studied. Adi Shankaracharya (or Adi Shankara), the 8th century Vedic scholar, philosopher, and teacher, recognized 16 of the texts as authentic and 10 (of those 16) are usually what people mean when they speak of the Upanishads. Prasna, the fourth text, is exactly what the title indicates: a “task, lesson [and] short section or paragraph” in the form of a “question, query, inquiry“. (NOTE: The italicized definition is the modern translation.)
Prasna Upanishad features six (6) sets of questions. The second set of questions are “Holy sir, how many several powers1 hold together this body? Which of them are most manifest in it? And which is the greatest?” These questions lead to a story and direct the focus of our practice.
“‘Prana, to justify himself, made as if he intended to leave the body. But as he rose and appeared to be going, all the rest realized that if he went they also would have to depart with him; and as Prana again seated himself, the rest found their respective places. As bees go out when their queen goes out, and return when she returns, so was it with speech, mind, vision, hearing, and the rest.’”
— quoted from “IV Prasna” in The Upanishads — Breath of the Eternal: The Principal Texts Selected and Translated from the Original Sanskrit by Swami Prabhavananda and Frederick Manchester
The story referenced above highlights a moment when all the powers or forces in the known universe, recognize the power of Prana. In the commentary for Yoga Sūtras 2.49-2.50, Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood (in How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali) pointed out that while we may translate the Sanskrit word prana as breath, it has a much broader meaning. This is why I sometimes reference breath as a symbol of our spirit and a symbol of our life force. It is the vital energy that fuels everything we do and, if we pay attention, it can inform everything we do.
Prāṇāyāma, the awareness of breath and the extension of breath, is the fourth limb of the Yoga Philosophy and one of the cornerstones of the physical practice of yoga (regardless of the style or tradition). It is the way we pay attention (and the way we get in the habit of paying attention) to the thing that is essential to our very existence.
Focusing on the breath is also a way to “cultivate a clear, calm, tranquil, and one-pointed mind.”
— “Prāṇāyāma, which is expanding the life force by controlling the movement of the inhalation and exhalation, can be practiced after completely mastering [the seat or pose].”
The excerpt below is from a 2020/2021 post:
Think for a moment, about all the things you want in your life and all the things you need. Make sure you are clear about what is a desire versus what is a necessity. Now, slowly, start thinking about your life without some of the things you desire. If you are honest with yourself and clear-minded, you know you can live your whole life without those things you desire. You may even live a happy life without those things.
Notice how you feel about that.
Now, slowly, go through the list of things you need. How long can you live without some form of protection from the elements? (It depends on your environment, climate, and other external factors.) How long can you go without some form of food? (On average, a relatively healthy and well hydrated adult can survive up to two months without food – although extreme symptoms of starvation kick in about 30 days.) How long can you live without water? (A typical adult could survive about 100 hours, or 3 – 4 days without any kind of hydration; but, again, this can be time line is dependent on temperature.) How long can you go without sleep? (I don’t have a definitive answer for this one. While people have been recorded as going without sleep for almost 2 weeks, the nervous system will drop a person into “microsleep” states. Microsleep may only last a few seconds, but those few seconds keep the body functioning.) Finally, how long can you go without breathing? (Again, there are some variables, but if the average person holds their breath, their body is going to force them to breathe within 3 minutes. If external circumstances cut off breathing, irreversible brain damage occurs after 5 – 10 minutes – unless there are other variables, like temperature.)
Notice how you feel about that.
Click on the excerpt title below for more of the post excerpted above.
— “The breath may be stopped externally, internally, or checked in mid-motion, and regulated according to place, time and a fixed number of moments, so that the [pause] is either protracted or brief.”
Click on the excerpt title below for more about prāṇāyāma practices.
“As a student of raja yoga, our goal is to cultivate a clear, calm, tranquil, and one-pointed mind. We then turn this calm and one-pointed mind inward and allow it to bathe in the luminosity of our core being. The longer our mind is infused with the luminosity of our core being, the less change we have of being affected by our deep-seated habits. We recapture our innate power of discernment and gain the strength to face and conquer our most dreaded samskara—avidya [ignorance].”
— quoted from the commentary on Yoga Sūtra 2.50 from The Practice of the Yoga Sutra: Sadhana Pada by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD
This Restorative Yoga practice is accessible and open to all.
(NOTE: There will be a little bit of quiet space in this practice.)
Friday’s playlist is available onYouTube and Spotify. [Look for “10042024 A Liminal & Auspicious Friday Night”] Start with Track 1; Track 11; Track 12; or Track 13]
Prop wise, we will start with a chair, sofa, or coffee table and this is a kitchen sink practice. You can practice without props or you can use “studio” and/or “householder” props. Example of “Studio” props: 1 – 2 blankets, 2 – 3 blocks, a bolster, a strap, and an eye pillow. Example of “Householder” props: 1 – 2 blankets or bath towels, 2 – 3 books (similar in size), 2 standard pillows (or 1 body pillow), a belt/tie/sash, and a face towel.
You may want extra layers (as your body may cool down during this practice). Having a wall, chair, sofa, or coffee table will also be handy.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
NOTE: 1In the context of the questions in the Prasna Upanishad, Deva can be translated as “gods, deities, or powers” — with the underlying understanding being that there is something Divine inside all human beings.
“Chag sameach!” (“Happy Festival!”) to everyone observing the High Holidays. “Nine days and nine nights of blessings and happiness if you are celebrating Sharada Navaratri!” Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone cultivating friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom during International Week of Deaf People.
Stay safe! Live well! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
This is the “missing” compilation post for Wednesday, September 24th, features new and previously posted content.As noted, some links will take you to sites outside of WordPress.
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.
“Alison Gopnik, Ph.D.: Learning begins literally from the time babies are born and there’s even some evidence there’s learning inside of the womb. So when babies are born, for instance, they discriminate between the sounds of the language that they’ve heard and sounds of another language. So they’re already seeing, hearing, making sense of what’s going on around them.”
— quoted from the “Transcript of ‘When do babies begin to learn? — What you can do to support your child’s development.’” in the “Parenting” section of the UNICEF website
Think back to when you first started to learn. Or, since some research indicates that we start learning in the womb, take a moment to remember the first learning situation you remember. Maybe it was in a school setting or maybe you remember learning something at home or on a playground. Just take a moment to remember everything you remember about that moment.
My guess is that, even if you remember great details — or pick a memory you remember in great detail, there is a “little” detail you might not mention if you were asked to recount the moment. My guess is that you wouldn’t mention the language. Unless the memory you picked was related to learning a language other than your first known language, you probably take the language itself for granted. It was a “little”, easily over-looked detail.
If, however, you were forced or required to learn in a language other than your first language, that “little” thing can become a big deal. Being in an environment where you have a hard time understanding and/or struggle to understand the words — even before you get to the subject matter — can limit your ability to learn and limit your possibilities. As an adult, you may be able to find some work-arounds, especially if there are other people around to give you context clues.
But, what if those people are also using a different language? What if you are a child who doesn’t have the life experience to figure out context clues?
This would be frustrating (and infuriating) — especially if people treated you like you were dumb and/or not worth the energy it would take to teach you.
Now, I know, given what’s happening in the United States (and other places in the world), that someone may think I’m talking about an immigration (or even a colonization) issue here. Or, since I included an embedded link to a post about literacy, that I’m talking about that issue. But, no. This time, I’m talking about that fact that millions of people around the world communicate with one of at least 300 sign languages and, for many of them, a sign language is their first language.
“1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning….”
“3. States Parties shall enable persons with disabilities to learn life and social development skills to facilitate their full and equal participation in education and as members of the community. To this end, States Parties shall take appropriate measures, including:
a) Facilitating the learning of Braille, alternative script, augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication and orientation and mobility skills, and facilitating peer support and mentoring;
b) Facilitating the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community;
c) Ensuring that the education of persons, and in particular children, who are blind, deaf or deafblind, is delivered in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication for the individual, and in environments which maximize academic and social development.”
— quoted from “Article 24 – Education” of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
As I previously mentioned, this week is International Week of Deaf People (IWDP) and the 2025 theme is “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights”. The Wednesday focus was “Multilingual education for deaf learners”, which “advocates for the implementation of Article 24 of the CRPD, which requires that deaf learners receive education in environments that are both linguistically and culturally appropriate: quality inclusive multilingual settings alongside other deaf peers.”
As I highlighted in a 2024 post (and as explained in the video below), the Declaration on the Rights of Deaf Children consists of ten articles. Those ten articles are not only valid with regard to Deaf Children, they are also valid (and important) with regard to children from all over the world — and especially those who are dealing with trauma, loss, and disabilities, while also navigating a new language (or two).
“4. In order to help ensure the realization of this right, States Parties shall take appropriate measures to employ teachers, including teachers with disabilities, who are qualified in sign language and/or Braille, and to train professionals and staff who work at all levels of education. Such training shall incorporate disability awareness and the use of appropriate augmentative and alternative modes, means and formats of communication, educational techniques and materials to support persons with disabilities.
5. States Parties shall ensure that persons with disabilities are able to access general tertiary education, vocational training, adult education and lifelong learning without discrimination and on an equal basis with others. To this end, States Parties shall ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with disabilities.”
— quoted from “Article 24 – Education” of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
“Little” things are like little kids: They can become really big problems when we’re not paying attention or they can become really big deals, who make big, positive impacts on the world, when we pay the correct amount of attention. “Little” are transformative! Since this is true on and off the mat, I dedicate at least one practice during the High Holidays to the “little” things that can come together to make a big deal. These are things we do all the time. They come together to make our practice and to take us deeper into our practice and deeper into our lives. They can also take us come together to help us reach our goals.
The following revised excerpt is from a 2023 post (with a slightly different context). Due to the sequences, the order of the “little things” is different each year.The order in the this linked post is the 2021 order.The order below is from this year. Some embedded links connect outside of this blog.
“And then we spoke about Rosh Hashana… finally.
People always talk about making big changes – New Year resolutions.
‘I want to lose 50 pounds.’
‘I want to finish the entire Talmud.’
‘I’m going to spend 90 minutes of quality time with my daughter every night.’
It doesn’t work. It never does. And if it does, it peters out. You have no choice. You must start small.”
— quoted from “Preparing for Rosh Hashana: The secret to an inspiring new year” by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon
If you are anything like me, there’s a good chance that when you decide you want to do something (or stop doing something), you want one of those handy-dandy “time slips” — not because you don’t want to do the work, but because once you make up your mind you’re ready for the change. However, we can’t snap our fingers and “skip to the good part”. We do not have a magical, fantastical (theoretically possibly) way of skipping ahead. Even if we did, it wouldn’t be advisable, because we wouldn’t (necessarily) be ready on every level. Just because some part of our mind is ready, doesn’t mean our whole being is ready. We get ready during the time that we’re taking the steps to make something happen (or to make something stop happening).
Those steps — even when they are little baby steps — make a big difference.
“The key to getting the most out of any experience is preparation before the event. You cannot expect to leap from the shower to the shul and instantly feel holy. It just doesn’t work that way.”
— quoted from “Preparing for Rosh Hashana: The secret to an inspiring new year” by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon
Just as you can’t jump up off the coach and run a marathon, without some training, Rabbi Yaakov Salomon once pointed out that the desire for a deep spiritual connection requires some preparation. The means he mentioned included introspection, meditation, and prayer — all methods also mentioned in other traditions, including in Indian philosophies like yoga. A lot of people, however, aren’t familiar with all 8-limbs of the Yoga Philosophy; they just know about the two limbs that form the postural practice: āsana and prāņāyāma. But, just practicing those two little things can take you deeper into the overall practice and help cultivate big connections.
In many ways, hatha yoga (the physical practice of yoga, regardless of the style or tradition) is all about little things and about bringing awareness to the little things. The way we sit or stand determines how we breathe; the way we breathe in different positions determines how we feel. When we bring our awareness to how we feel we can go deeper into the pose as well as into ourselves. It all starts with little things. Little things, like how we place our hands or engage our core, can make the difference between going deeper into a pose and deeper into ourselves versus getting injured.
Although, sometimes we learn a lot about ourselves from getting injured; but that’s another story for another day.
Using the practice to notice little things can give us insight into why we think the way we think and do (and say) the things we do (and say) — on and off the mat. It can also help us bring awareness to how little things get us ready for the big things. For instance, next time you’re on the mat, give yourself the opportunity to notice these “little things” — one at a time and then all together:
Āsana (“seat” or pose): Notice what’s touching the mat, touching the floor, touching a prop — even a chair — and how does everything else stack up from there.
Prāņāyāma: Notice your breath. Can you breathe deeply in and breathe deeply? (If not, adjust your āsana.)
Notice what you notice; bring your awareness to your awareness. (Where is your focus?)
Notice the the sensation/information that informs your practice. (Is your mind-body ready for what you’re doing or do you need to do less? Could you, safely and mindfully, do more?)
Notice the “L” of your hands, especially when you have weight in your hands and arms. (In grade school you might have learned that one “L” on your forehead means loser, but if you put two “L”s together you have a shot at a goal; if you tip the ends out, you have a “W” — which means winner.)
Find the balance within the imbalance, because the practice is all about balance: balancing effort and relaxation; balancing strength and flexibility; and there is also balancing on one limb (and balancing both sides).
Dance Break! (Every once in a while, everybody needs to loosen up and wiggle.)
Remember your intention and your dedication. We set these early in the practice and then remember them as we go so that we stay focused on our goals. On or off the mat, you can think of this as your “WHY”.
Practice vinyāsa krama (“place things in a special way, for a step-by-step progression”). As Dr. Beau Lotto said, “…your brain can only ever make small steps in its ideas.” So, what is the next logical step from where you are to where you want to be?
Express gratitude for what you’ve done and what you’re about to do.
Lifting the corners of your mouth up towards your ears, is usually one of the little things we do.
This practice featured the personal story of Rabbi Yaakov Salomon (from the Aish website). It’s a story about little things and is a great reminder that while we may not always notice the little things until they become the big things, the little things matter. In fact, every little thing we feel, think, say, and do is the possibility of a big thing we’re in the habit of feeling, thinking, saying, or doing.
“Transformation is not something that accidentally happens to us. Like every part of the Navaratri cycle. It is something we initiate and experience again and again during our lives. For myself, day 3 of this cyclical practice (or week 3 or month 3, depending on how you structure your own Navaratri practice) is an opportunity to do something outside my comfort zone.”
— quoted from the “Cultivating Transformation” section of “Chapter 3 — Igniting the Fire of Transformation” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals to Awaken Your Inner Warrior and Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera
EXCERPT: The following slightly revised excerpt was originally posted in a slightly different context.
In addition to being the second day of the High Holidays and the third day of the International Week of Deaf People (IWDP), Wednesday was also the third day and night of Sharada Navaratri, the “nine nights” celebrating Divine feminine energy in various manifestations. Some people see the manifestations as nine different women; however, they are also seen by some as the same woman at different points in her story. For instance, her third form is Chandraghanta, whose name “one who has a half-moon shaped like a bell” comes from the image of the newly-wed Parvati. She is depicted as a combination of beauty, grace, and courage, with her third eye open — the result of all the (yoga) preparation performed by Her previous manifestation. That open third eye means that she is always ready to fight evil and demons. In fact, she is sometimes known as the “Goddess Who Fights Demons”.
Here, “demons” can be a metaphor for anything that ails you physically, mentally, emotionally — even energetically, spiritually, and religiously. They can be challenges and hurdles that need to be over come. They can even be mistakes… sins… or vows (as I refer to them during the High Holidays) that can be absolved or forgiven. In fact, the faithful of all the different religions believe that there are ways (and even special times) when mistakes, sins, and broken vows are turned away… or washed away.
“I find a lot of similarity between Goddess Kalaratri, who symbolizes the spiritual power of transcendence, and Goddess Chandraghanta, who represents the power of transformation (in chapter 3). While transformation happens from taking strong, consistent action to overcome our fears, transcendence results from applying spiritual knowledge to see traumas we have experienced through the eyes of wisdom. This ensures we never see ourselves as helpless victims at the mercy of a cruel world but rather as powerful manifesters of our own destinies.”
— quoted from the “Cultivating Transcendence” section of “Chapter 7 — Transcending Trauma with Wisdom” in The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals to Awaken Your Inner Warrior and Discover Your True Self by Ananta Ripa Ajmera
Wednesday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “High Holidays: Little Things”]
(My apologies for not posting the music before the 4:30 practice.)
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone curious about how we can have friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom (on Constitution Day in the U. S.).
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“And so we must be careful, when focusing on the events which took place in Philadelphia two centuries ago, that we not overlook the momentous events which followed, and thereby lose our proper sense of perspective. Otherwise, the odds are that for many Americans the bicentennial celebration will be little more than a blind pilgrimage to the shrine of the original document now stored in a vault in the National Archives. If we seek, instead, a sensitive understanding of the Constitution’s inherent defects, and its promising evolution through 200 years of history, the celebration of the “Miracle at Philadelphia” Bowen, Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May to September 1787 (Boston 1966), will, in my view, be a far more meaningful and humbling experience. We will see that the true miracle was not the birth of the Constitution, but its life, a life nurtured through two turbulent centuries of our own making, and a life embodying much good fortune that was not.
Thus, in this bicentennial year, we may not all participate in the festivities with flag-waving fervor. Some may more quietly commemorate the suffering, struggle, and sacrifice that has triumphed over much of what was wrong with the original document, and observe the anniversary with hopes not realized and promises not fulfilled. I plan to celebrate the bicentennial of the Constitution as a living document, including the Bill of Rights and the other amendments protecting individual freedoms and human rights.”
— quoted from the conclusion to the speech given by Supreme Court Justice (and former NAACP chief counsel) Thurgood Marshall at The Annual Seminar of the San Francisco Patent and Trademark Law Association, Maui, Hawaii May 6, 1987
Please join me today (Wednesday, September 17th) 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 “07012020 Caesar Rodney’s Ride”]
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.
“…. For the Truth lies hidden everywhere, within every experience and in every object of the universe. Everything that happens to us, no matter how seemingly trivial, throughout the day, offers some tiny clue which could lead us toward wider spiritual knowledge and eventual liberation.”
— quoted from the commentary for Yoga Sūtra 2.18, in How to Know God: The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali, translated and with commentary by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Hans Augusto Reyersbach (better known as H. A. Rey) (b. 1898).
CLICK ON THE EXCERPT TITLE ABOVE IF YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THE PRACTICE.
“After the day is gone we shall go out, breathe deeply, and look up – and there the stars will be, unchanged, unchangeable.”
— quoted from The Stars: A New Way to See Them by H. A. Rey
Please join me today (Tuesday, September 16th) 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 “07112020 An Introduction”]
NOTE: This is an instrumental playlist. Click on the excerpt title above for a puppy-related playlist (with lyrics & ~45 dogs)
If you are struggling, thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
Happy Church New Year, to those who are celebrating. Many blessings to everyone and especially to anyone responding with friendship, peace, freedom, understanding, and wisdom.
Stay safe! Hydrate and nourish your heart, body, and mind.
“If a certain stimulus has lost its influence, it can recover the latter only after a long resting that has to last several hours.
The lost action, however, can also be restored with certainty at any time by special measures.”
— quoted from the Dec. 12, 1904 Nobel Lecture “Physiology of Digestion” by Dr. Ivan Pavlov, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
A “Habit Loop” — the connection between a trigger, behavior, and reward — can also be considered “the Pavlovian response”, which was named after Dr. Ivan Pavlov (b. 1849).
Click on the excerpt title below to discover why Dr. Pavlov might have been in the habit of celebrating his birthday today (rather than on September 26th).
Please join me today (Sunday, September 14th) at 2:30 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules”calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra(at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Sunday’s playlist available on YouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09042021 Experiencing the Mind”]
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.
“Get yourself out of whatever cage you find yourself.”
— John Cage
Most people do not fit into a single box. As Walt Whitman said, “[We] contain multitudes.” And, yet, our minds like categories and boxes. We use them to make sense of the world; to feel a sense of control and safety; and we are constantly — and sometimes unconsciously or subconsciously — judging, categorizing, and putting others (and ourselves) in boxes. These boxes can easily become cages; but they are still just metaphors. They are nothing. Of course, the artist and composer John Cage said, “Every moment is an echo of nothing.”
Born today in 1912, John Cage said, was a student of Buddhism, which (like Yoga) considers our boxes and cages as maya (“illusion”). Yoga highlights the fact that, although we may find ourselves trapped in habitual behaviors, we forget (or never learned) that we can change our habits. We just have to do the new thing again and again… and again.
“If something is boring after 2 minutes, try it for 4. If still boring, then 8. Then 16. Then 38. Eventually one discovers that it is not boring at all.”
Please join me tonight, Friday, September 5, 2025, 7:15 PM – 8:20 PM (CST) for “How to Get Out of Your Cage”. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules”calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra(at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
This Yin Yoga practice is accessible and open to all.
(NOTE: There will be a little bit of quiet space in this practice.)
Friday’s playlist is available onYouTube and Spotify. [Look for “09052025 How to Get Out of Your Cage”]
(FAIR WARNING: The volume on these tracks is not as jarring as the regular one, but still a little dynamic. I love this music, however, I know some folks hate it; so, feel free to start with Track #7; “randomly” pick another list; or…practice in “silence.”)
Prop wise,this is a kitchen sink practice. You can practice without props or you can use “studio” and/or “householder” props. Example of “Studio” props: 1 – 2 blankets, 2 – 3 blocks, a bolster, a strap, and an eye pillow. Example of “Householder” props: 1 – 2 blankets or bath towels, 2 – 3 books (similar in size), 2 standard pillows (or 1 body pillow), a belt/tie/sash, and a face towel.
You may want extra layers (as your body may cool down during this practice). Having a wall, chair, sofa, or coffee table will also be handy.
Extreme heat (and a lot of changes) can not only make people lethargic and unmotivated, they 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 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 (Sunday, August 24th) at 2:30 PM for a yoga practice on Zoom. You can use the link from the “Class Schedules”calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or (for a slightly faster reply) you can email myra(at) ajoyfulpractice.com.
Sunday’s playlist 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 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 observing the Dormition (Theotokos) Fast, and/or exploring friendship, peace, freedom, and wisdom — especially when it gets hot (inside and outside).
Stay hydrated & be kind, y’all!
The 2-for-1 post practice post contains excerpts related to Monday, August 11th and Monday, August 18th.The August 11, 2025, prompt question was, “How many generations back can you trace your family and have you shared any stories of the previous generations with younger family members?”
The August 18, 2025, prompt question was, “If you have had the chance to travel, do you like to travel (and if so, why)?”
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.
“Healing stories guide us through good times and bad times; they can be constructive and destructive, and are often in need of change. They come together to create our own personal mythology, the system of beliefs that guide how we interpret our experience. Quite often, they bridge the silence that we carry within us and are essential to how we live.”
— from Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence by Matthew Sanford
Every person, every group of people, and everything in the universe, has a story. Actually, we all have multiple stories — and some of those stories overlap and/or run parallel to each other in oddly specific ways.
Telling one of your stories can be just as important as listening (or reading) someone else’s story; because the telling — as well as the listening — takes us all a little deeper into ourselves and into the world.
“When you start talking about family, about lineage and ancestry, you are talking about every person on earth.”
— Alex Haley
Click on the excerpt title below to discover the stories of two storytellers born on August 11th: Alex Haley (b. 1921) and Andre Julian Dubus II (b. 1936).
“I love short stories because I believe they are the way we live. They are what our friends tell us, in their pain and joy, their passion and rage, their yearning and their cry against injustice. We can sit all night with our friend while he talks about the end of his marriage, and what we finally get is a collection of stories about passion, tenderness, misunderstanding, sorrow, money….”
— quoted from the essay “Marketing” in Part III of Broken Vessels: Essays by Andre Dubus
The more you travel, the more you explore, the more stories you will discover.
Click on the excerpt title below to explore a story about how (some) women were able to tell their stories and the stories of explorers born on August 18th: Captain Meriwether Lewis (b. 1774) and Margaret “Mardy” Murie (b. 1902).
“If we allow ourselves to be discouraged, we lose our power and momentum. That’s what I would say to you of these difficult times. If you are going to that place of intent to preserve the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or the wild lands in Utah, you have to know how to dance.”
— quoted from Two In the Far North by Margaret “Mardy” Murie
There are no playlist for the Common Ground Meditation Center practices.
NOTE: If you are interested, you can click on the excerpts above for the playlists related to each date.
If you are thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, you can dial 988 (in the US) or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call this TALK line if you are struggling with addiction or involved in an abusive relationship. The Lifeline network is free, confidential, and available to all 24/7. YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.
White Flag is an app, which I have not yet researched, but which may be helpful if you need peer-to-peer (non-professional) support.
###
A Joyful Practice 