Taking in the view. Our ever-changing waters and the love that rests beneath.
4/29/2024
How is the water? How is the view?
Today I invite you to relax into your seat, soften your shoulders and your focus as you take in a bit of writing, and a bit of listening from within. Perhaps close your eyes and receive 5 intentional rounds of breath.
Then. Deeper to sense your breathing as you occupy the witness space, the kind observer self that gazes at these words, and toward your inner experience. Staying kind, without judgment, and invoking a sense of truthfulness- of Satya toward the self. If you were to imagine your experience as a lake in a valley, how is the surface of your water at present? Is it still or reflective? Perhaps a bit muddied, or various activity of insects, birds, or life along the water and around? Is this causing ripples or waves, or can you see the trees, the sky reflected from the water? How even is the water? No need to rush.
For me, a period of meeting the morning with some fatigue, some going through the motions, of responsibility, routine, a bit less enthusiasm but steady and not arguing with the dullness. Taking in from my teachers of the morning, the weekend, all that has brought me to this moment, Now the Yoga Begins- The first Yoga Sutra.
Atha yoga anushasanam
I reflect on my relationship with the view. As I gaze out my window, a gray and subtle Monday expresses aptly the tone. Light gray skies, not too dark, not too heavy, damp and light offer a permeable hug to what’s being supported by earth, each life and structure being in it’s nature. There's a moisture, and nourishing way about the water today. It’s brisk, the air is supporting the trees to dance and sway, and a coolness to alert the senses gives a brightening, a brisk aliveness so as not to be to heavied by the quality of light. This tone feels in Ayurvedic terms as vata meeting kapha in a balanced way. Vata, comprised of air and space, mobility and adaptability and Kapha for water and earth, supportive and unctuous.
With the beautiful qualities of these doshas reflect the nourishing nature of being held by the elements, and also the impermanence and ability to shift, nature and weather moving through seemed primed for whatever is next while also steady. An evenness of temperament toward what is there. There is a sense of trust that healthy fire, a spark will come when its meant to. This reflects my nature too at present.
Resting in the evenness, the steadiness toward what is there is a sense of equanimity. In yoga we say upeksha. An evenness. No sense of resisting, not needing things to be different. No sense of grasping, not needing things to stay the same.
Welcome a cleansing breath in. And a cleansing breath out.
Next, invite your breathing to become a bit more full, more focused and more complete. Direct more of your inward fire, your pitta dosha that is fire and water to hone your awareness, intentional in-breath that welcomes more life, and fully used out-breath to hug your center. An attitude of kindness, curiosity, an intention toward more clarity and vitality.
Intentional, kind, curious & clear.
For your week, with inspiration reference below, can you bring intention, attention, and attitude from that loving witness within you, meeting with an evenness of heart? Just as the weather, just as the yoga practice and wisdom teachings extend toward stilling the fluctuations of the mind, to see your water with more clarity.
Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah
That loving witness rests deep within you, is ever-present. Even when our lenses are deeply colored, our histories and life circumstance ripples and waves our waters. Even when our skies are masked in gray today, or in the dark of night, the sun is always there. That loving witness of light rests within you, to shine a light, to take in the view.
How is the water? How is the view?
Here with you in practice and in love & light.
-Maya
Inspirations: Shauna Shapiro and my yoga teachers.
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