We can choose our path in this world as well as our reactions to others. Find the freedom in savoring each moment and in letting it all be.

Namaste, Ghasso and Peace

Arlene

A bird in flight symbolizes transcendence as spirits of the air, ascent, communication and freedom. The sea gull has in particular come to represent freedom of the soul noting that gulls are at home in three elements: air, water and earth. Recall this the next time you see a bird in flight as so beautifully put by poet Pablo Neruda in his poem “The Flight”:

Hands shading eyes,
I follow the high flight:
honoring heaven, the bird
traverses
the transparency, without soiling the day.Winging westward, it climbs
each step up to the naked blue:
the entire sky is its tower,
and the world is cleansed by its movement.

Though the violent bird
seeks blood in the rose of space,
its structure is
arrow and flower in flight
and in the light its wings
are fused with air and purity.

O feathers destined
not to tree, meadow, or combat,
or to the atrocious ground
or sweatshop,
but to the conquest
of a transparent fruit!

I celebrate the sky dance
of gulls and petrels
attired in snow
as though I had
a standing invitation:
I participate
in their velocity and repose,
in the pause and haste of snow.

What flies in me is manifest
in the errant equation of those wings.

O wind aside the black condor’s
iron flight in the mist!
Whistling wind that transposed
the hero’s murderous scimitar:
you receive the harsh flight’s blow
like a coat of armor plate,
repeat its menace in the sky
until all becomes blue again.

The flight of a dart,
every swallow’s mission,
flight of the nightingale and its sonata,
the cockatoo and its showy crest.

Hummingbirds flying in a looking glass
stir sparkling emeralds,
and flying through the dew
the partridge shakes
the mint’s green soul.

I, who learned to fly with every flight
of pure professors
in the woods, at sea, in the ravines,
on my back in the sand,
or in dreams,
remained here, tied
to the roots,
to the magnetic mother, the earth,
lying to myself
and flying
only within,
alone and in the dark.

A plant dies and is buried again,
man’s feet return to the terrain,
only wings evade death.

The world is a crystal sphere,
if he does not fly man loses his way—
cannot understand transparency.
That is why I profess
unconfined clarity
and from the birds I learned
passionate hope,
the certainity and truth of flight.

Blessings to all on the path to freedom.

Om Shanti,

Arlene

“My inner smile widens. I am greeted by a roomful of people who choose to come together in yoga. To celebrate the body together in a feast of souls called “yoga class” gives shape and meaning to my days. An electrical charge runs through me brightly; Kundalini at work generates new and old approaches to poses, to breath, to life. Together we salute the sun daily, the moon too. We re-create the world of nature; the elements, animals, fish, moon and stars, plants and herbs, geometrical shapes, and poses of the great sages and children. Gratitude for this day of work, of play. Gratitude.”

My deepest gratitude on this day for all that I have received. I have been blessed beyond measure.

Om Shanti

Arlene

“Without exception,

 All suffering comes from wanting happiness for yourself.

 Perfect Buddhas are born from wishing to benefit others.”

-NGULCHU THOGME (14th Century, Tibet)

For us on a daily basis, this all boils down to:

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.

If you want to be happy, practice compassion”.

-THE DALI LAMA

May your generosity be visible on a daily basis and may your heart be full.

Om Shanti,

Arlene

          ”This powerful kriya can give you inner happiness and ecstasy, and works effectively to cut through negativity, long-standing neuroses and low self-esteem. With continued practice, Sodarschan Chakra Kriya can help you feel deeply relaxed and strong in even the most challenging situations. Sodarschan Chakra Kriya uses the mantra Wha-hay Guroo. This is the mantra of ecstasy. Generally translated it means “I am in the presence of wisdom that will bring me from darkness to light”. Sit in a comfortable meditation posture with a straight spine. Focus your eyes on the tip of your nose. Block off your right nostril with your right thumb and inhale slowly and deeply through your left nostril. Suspend your breath and mentally chant the mantra Wha-hay Guroo 16 times. Each time you chant a syllable of the mantra, pump your belly in and out.” “Unblock your right nostril and block your left nostril with your right index finger or little finger and exhale powerfully through your right nostril.” It is recommended that one practice 16 repetitions (~ 30 min) of this mantra, but the first-time practitioner should start slowly for approx. 7-11 minutes. To end the meditation one inhales and suspends the breath (5-10 seconds), exhales and shakes the body to help circulate energy and ground the body.

Let yourself experience the awakening of your own inner light through this meditation.

Om Shanti,

Arlene

“At a Native American gathering in Arizona for the 1999 summer solstice, a Hopi elder said: “There is a river flowing now, very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and suffer greatly. Know that the river has its destination. The elders say we must push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open and our heads above the water. See who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves, for the moment we do that, our spiritual growth comes to a halt. The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves; banish the word ‘struggle’ from your attitude and vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred way and in celebration. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

Now, go to your mat and push off from the shore.”

Let your practice flow and take you where it will. There is the greatest joy in the journey rather than in arriving at the destination. Stay open and hang on tightly to your beginner’s mind. Let your creativity come forth and your heart be opened.

Om Shanti,

Arlene

“As I wake this morning I begin to visualize my yoga practice. I make tea and gaze outside my window. All the while in the background I wonder what is holding me back from the mat or from meditation or from sound. I know that all the roads lead to my practice, no matter how many small tasks I put in front of me. I see these roadblocks and wonder why resistance crops up around something so worthwhile. My mind trips me up. The transition from sleep to practice is not always the way I intend. The judgement starts to creep in before I remind myself to let go and accept where I am. I remember that yoga practice is a joy and a privilege and something that I choose. So I plunge ahead and watch the resistance burn up in the warmth of my body moving through space and the sound of my breath before dawn.”

Let your spirit move you to your mat today and let your practice be like a prayer to your self, your inner light.

Om Shanti,

Arlene

“Many of us long to find a spiritual teacher or guru. We may feel unsure of how to practice our spirituality without one, or we may long for someone who has attained a higher level of insight to lead the way for us. Some of us have been looking for years to no avail and feel frustrated and even lost. The good news is that the greatest teacher we could ever want is always with us – our life.

The people and situations we encounter every day have much to teach us when we are open to receiving their wisdom. Often we do not recognize our instructors because they may not look or act like our idea of a guru…yet they may embody great wisdom. In addition, some people guide us by showing us what we don’t want to do. All the situations in our lives, from the insignificant to the major, conspire to teach us exactly what we need to learn at any given time.

Patience, compassion, perseverance, honesty, letting go – all these are covered in the classroom of the teacher that is your life. You can help yourself remember this perfect teacher every day with a few simple words. Each morning you might find a moment to say, ” I acknowledge and honor the teacher that is my life. May I be wise enough to recognize the teachers and lessons I encounter today, and may I be open to receiving their wisdom.”

You might also take some time each day to consider what your life is trying to tell you at this juncture. A difficult phase in your relationship with your child could be teaching you to let go. The homeless person you see every day may be showing you the boundaries of your compassion and generosity. A spate of lost items might be asking you to be more present to physical reality. Trust your intuition on the nature of the lesson at hand, work at your own pace, and ask as many questions as you want. Your life has all the answers.”

Have you listened to your inner guru today?

Be Well,

Namaste,

Arlene