Plateaus

One thing you can say about plateaus- if you're on one, you can take time and enjoy the view.

Say what?

Say what you mean? Mean what you say? For reals?

Easier said than done. That's kind of wack since in this case saying is doing.

Why don't we say what we mean? Probably because we often times don't even have a clue as to what we want to say. We just know we want to say or express something and instead of waiting, we blurt out whatever to whomever, whenever, in whatever format happens to be available: text, blog, facebook, email, voicemail, middle finger hand gesture.

I dont believe on sitting on unspoken words or stuffing feelings and all that. But I do believe in responding instead of reacting. So perhaps allow a "cooling off" period before we start slinging the blame, pointing the finger (middle or otherwise).

On the other hand, when it comes to saying Yes to things that speak to our heart, or complimenting someone, or appreciating something, we can get a bit stingy. That's when we "exercise discernment" and say things like "let me get back to you on that." Believe me, I get it.

One thing that I've been practicing for quite some time now, is saying yes to those things I know I really want to do. For example, if I know I want to go to a workshop, I sign up and pay my money. Even if it's months in advance. Yes, things may come up, but since I've been doing this practice, they really don't because I've made the space in my life for it to happen, and the Universe schedules the rest accordingly. It feels good to say yes to that type of thing.

And I pay attention when I feel like I want to be stingy with my praise or positive comments. Why would I hold back? Am I afraid that the person will be better than me or have more power over me? Ridiculous! When has complimenting someone ever hurt me? And how did that nasty rumor get out in the first place?

So say what you mean. Mean what you say. Tell the truth, but remember, in order to tell the truth, you need to find the truth, which may not be the "truth" in the moment of reaction, fear, or pain when our "survival" is at stake. It may take some time to find the words to express what we really want to say, but I know from experience, it is well worth it.

Baseball

If you or someone on your team catches your own fly ball- are you out?

And what is so great about being in?

Kidz

Kids. 

Billy the kid.

Kid gloves.

Are u kidding?

And then--- 

Children. 

Nothing like subbing a kids yoga class to keep it real. My high points-

There is such a thing as a jumping tree

Blankets are amazing props. Tell a kid it's dirt. Pretend you are rain and sun. Watch it grow. And sometimes you get dolphins.

And then the power of chanting. Putting them back under their blankets. Chanting. Then leading a savasana.

I am strong.

I am truthful.

I am kind.

I can do anything.

Rinse and repeat.

Step by

Step. Are my decisions based on present moment or past attachments? When to let go? When to move on? When to step? Every moment is a step. Are we stepping to the beat of our own drummer, our own heart, or the beat of someone else's? Which is louder? Clearer? 

Guru Purnima

Today is the day we honor our teachers. Yes, we are all teachers, and we have all been taught. So yes, we honor everyone. Including ourselves.

So why is this day different from any other day?

Because we want it to be. Because sometimes a little ceremony moves us out of our everyday thought pattern, and perhaps gives us a moment to pause, reflect, change the momentum of our life.

So, my teachers. Of course my family. And teacherly teachers of different but same: Dennis, Bonnie, Panditji, Swamiji, Rod, Bert, Hannah, Susan.

And my friends and sangha who helped me stay true to the light inside when all seemed dark and done.

And to those who can still push my buttons. You help me see what is crawling underneath all those rocks of goodness, illusion, attachment.

and to those I don't even remember. who planted a seed that either grew or burned. You are all part of my garden. And without All, this flame of consciousness would not be aware of itself.

Deep bows and gratitude.

Much ado

About nothing.

Willy  the Shake sure got that right. All that energy spent trying to look busy. That is just us trying to hide our light.

When you move at the speed of light, things get done faster. Les stop punishing ourselves for that.

Squash buckled

yatha brahmande, tatha pindande

That means as above, so below/macro-micro/what you see around you is what's inside you. 

What does that have to do with squash? Apparently everything. 

We bought two yellow squash plants for our garden this year. Last year, no luck with squash of any kind. This year, it's like an alien invasion of the squash people. These two plants started surprising us by popping out not only yellow summer squash, but also dark green zucchini. Yummy! But wait- there's more! Now we are getting something that looks like a weird zucchini, but has a tough shell type skin, and tastes like a cross between a butternut and a crookneck. 3 kinds of squash. 2 plants. My squash is multitasking. Just like we all do. 

Got me thinking about frogs being born with many legs. How many times have we wished we had more arms or legs, could clone ourselves, be more than one person? Well, it seems like the frogs are picking up on it. 

So as above so below. Once again, internal and external are reflected in each other. Once again, we see ourselves in the world around us.

Are we co-creating? Or who/what is running the show?

Triangles

Triads. Things in 3s. 

Clearing space

If there is stuff in your space, do you really have space? Or is it just stuff?

Homework

Drink more water.

Stop judging.

That's the nutshell version.

Mt Shasta

Land that I love. No hiking this time, but I can still drink the magic and beauty. 

pudding

Well, I haven't made vanilla pudding and put it in a mayo jar yet. but you know I will be doing that in this lifetime. In fact, I might just eat the mayo! even weirder/grosser. who knows?

i am so blessed that i have amazing teachers and in the time frame of one month, have had the honor of hosting both. I hope that you all have the opportunity to love so much.

My mom was sad when it became evident that i wasn't on the having babies track. She expressed how much she wanted me to have the experience of loving so unconditionally. I can't compare having a baby to having a teacher, but I can say that i know what it feels like to love unconditionally. And for all you parents out there, I'm not comparing or trying to steal your thunder. Having children is an animal, or beast, or path that for whatever reason was not mine to have this go round. And yes, there was a moment where i made a choice. And I continue. With passion. With commitment. Knowing that i, too, love unconditionally, even though I didn't go through 9 months of growing a human inside of me, nor did I go through X number of hours of labor. And then all that follows. But I know when to follow my heart, my soul, telling me what is "right" for me. Telling me, "just do it, don't judge it." And those gifts and moments are priceless.

So lets go eat our vanilla pudding or mayo or whatever else it is that we do. Shock whoever we want, but live in the integrity of our Selves. And remember that unconditional love starts at home. Can we look at ourselves with the same acceptance as we would a newborn? When we say "yes!" then we are in the land of unconditional love.

Welcome. and bring on the pudding. Vanilla, choc, butterscotch, coconut cream... all good with me. with or without  mayonnaise jar.

Start at the beginning

Full hearts

A very good weekend indeed. Big thanks to Dennis Adams for coming to the Bay Area. Many were touched, inspired, healed. 

Independence Day

Was yesterday. And today. And every day. Yep. Choose freedom. Choose Self. 

Cups

Cup half full or cup half empty. We see things the way we decide to see them. We hear things the way we decide to hear them.

Period.

Spin it the way you like.

Freedom

Some days ya just gotta ride, Sally. Ride.

Just say no

Or not.

When we think about being disciplined, we think about being able to say no to stuff. And that's about right. Why not say yes to the new behaviors instead of no to the old? Because its easier to not do what is familiar as opposed to doing something not as familiar.

So there's a positive spin on the negative"no."

Negative has positives. And vice versa.