The Winds of Wisdom: Embracing Stillness, Shadow and Light
"As I move through the landscape of life, I carry onward with a steady heart. As I move through the familiar and unknown, I breathe deeply and pace myself."
—Morgan Harper Nichols
12/18/24
Breathe deeply.
Hello, my friends.
Here we are, midweek—meeting in this space as I too navigate the winds of vata, the seasonal bustle, with less time to dive in deeply. Jury duty had taken center stage this week, with the in-betweens filled by teaching, class prep, subbing, supporting clients and students, and tending to non-routine priorities. It’s the rajasic energy of the gunas—moving from one thing to the next.
Some parts of me yearn for a slower pace, and yet I trust that a little bustle now and then can be enlivening. It’s okay to push, as long as we weave in rest, nourishment, and understanding. It’s a practice—a struggle for many of us—to meet life's demands with grace. And to trust others who receive from us to also extend that grace.
And in times of overwhelm, I remember: the breath is always here. We are allowed to pause, to witness, to pace ourselves.
I invite you to take a moment of respite. Follow your breath—watch it first. Let it inform you of your nervous system’s experience. Let it guide you back to your body. Steady breath in, steady breath out.
Place one hand on your heart, offering warmth and reassurance to all the parts of you. You’ve got this. Perhaps a soft inward smile, as Thich Nhat Han might say.
Life is happening for you—even when it’s messy or undesirable. The rains. The rainbows.
"It is the power of the heart to encounter any difficult circumstance and turn it into gold and opportunity."
—Jack Kornfield
As we approach the year’s end, the cusp of Solstice, I remain steadfast in my practice, with offerings to meet the season. I welcome the grounding element of earth—a return home to self, to inner light, to the heart.
Sagittarius season draws to a close, and the airy spaciousness of vata brings requests from us more stillness. In that stillness, the spaciousness, we can hear glimpses of our inner wisdom—the Guru within.
My teacher once shared that Gu is the darkness, and Ru is the light. Together, they reflect the richness of wisdom that comes from both shadow and light.
I offer you the intention to channel the luminous quality of air this winter, grounding yourself in your wisdom. Choose practices that cleanse, nourish, and sustain—supporting your immune system, your lymph, and your digestion as we move through the holiday season. Let your inner teacher light the path ahead.
I offer you the mantra:
Wahe Guru. Wahe Guru.
Roughly translated, it means: I am in ecstasy when I experience the indescribable wisdom.
As you meet worry, anticipation, sadness, disappointment, or joy—lean into your inner Guru. The light will return, and your wisdom will shine.
I release worry as I ground.
I explore my inner strength.
I am the light I seek.
I trust the wisdom within to emerge as needed.
"Wisdom springs from the universal source that is always working with us and pulsating through us—available when we need it. It teaches us grace, patience, ease, and contentment. Here, there is acknowledgment of self and its unlimited potential."
—Yoga Almanac
I hope you’ll join me in embodying these practices. Details are below.
I’ll be pausing my newsletter for the rest of the year but invite you to connect with me on social, book a session, or send me a message. I’ll also share a few seasonal photos from our home to yours.
Breathe in what nourishes you. Trust your inner Guru. Solstice Blessings.
Here with you in practice.
In Love & Light,
Maya
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