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What is Home for the Yogini? |
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Safe Space. |
Create space for peace. Let there be music. Let there be space for safety. The safety to be ourselves. For our children’s hearts to always open to us and to themselves. Let the food be nourishing. The sounds be soothing. The elements of nature connecting and rocking us. Let there be plants and pets. Birdsong, a cats purr, the sound of a wagging tail and romping paws. The sounds of home. The sound of ohm.
Ohm Begins at Home
We are at the very end of the astrological age of Pisces. Soon, in the year 2012, the age of Aquarius begins. I am not an expert astrologer nor was I always much of a believer in astrology until my deepening yoga practice drew my connection to not only one another and earthly nature but soon enough to cosmic nature as well. I have experienced from on the mat yoga practice, that with all change comes struggle. Struggle to let go of our attachment to what is known and familiar even if those things no longer serve our growth. If we find ourselves struggling to breath fully and calmly in a pose, we can never fully form this new pose--or shape--with our body. This is what is happening now in the world. These years in between the Piscean age, and the Aquarian age are a struggle. An often violent struggle, bringing us all the restriction in breath, and the pain and suffering that accompanies change during a period of shifting and adjusting from one reality to another. As we become present and aware, we will surely find ourselves in a higher place of light, ease and peace: in the whole world just as on our little yoga mats.
Can you relate to any of these?
- moving from the safety of your parents home to the insecurity of life on your own
- from a marriage to a life of independence
- from a job to entrepreneurship or even just from one home to a new home?
The same is happening at this time cosmically. The shadow side of times of change is the fear of the unknown, the attachment to what is known even if what is known is negative (familiar examples would be an abused child's wish to stay with an abusive parent, or battered wife who chooses to stay with an abusive spouse or when cigarettes continue to be an addiction).
As we know from on the mat practice, fear brings resistance (drop back to backbend anyone?) So our present state of fear also brings resistance making our world a violent place just now. Peace and safety are found on the other side of the shift, as we make our way from point A to point B.
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Our homes are a starting place. The place we can create peace for ourselves, our families and our friends. |
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Want to bring home the ohm?
Tips from the Yogini
*TV can fill your space with negative mantra: sounds of violence, news of violence, visions of violence. Try replacing TV occasionally, or always with positive mantra in the form of music or DVD's that will help you and your family leave fear behind while in the safe space of home.
- Buy some extremely comfy house shoes and create a welcoming area near your door where street shoes can come off and house shoes can slip on. You will be symbolically leaving troubles outside.
- Light a candle. A simple little fire can become a trigger to just relax and slow down. Just staring and watching a flame can be instantly calming if you can slow down just enough to watch for even a few seconds.
- Try incense. In addition to signaling your sensory system to relax and feel safe, this is a non-toxic alternative to many air fragrances and fresheners. Toxic air fresheners can cause much harm to you and to the environment. The smoke that rises can be a point of focus for meditation too. Just watch it rise and meditate on your divinity. Nothing more to it.
- In a location where you find yourself walking past often, gather objects that remind you of previous happy times together with photos of people, places or pets who make you smile. This doesn’t have to be a person or pet you know personally. Sometimes a clipping from a magazine or book will bring a smile to your face. Put it in a frame, and surround it with memorabilia of only happy times. Smile whenever you walk past it. Notice how you will breath whenever you reconnect with a smile.
- Can you change the ring on your phone? Consider purchasing a chime ringer. Imagine a phone call actually not filling you with an anxiety or hysteria response, but one that is peaceful.
Remember that when you create safety, peace and beauty at home you are giving yourself and your family exactly what's needed to offer your best possible selves to work, school and friends. Work and school associates will also benefit because what is best for you is best for all, and what is best for all is what's best for you.
Your questions, comments and experiences are so very welcome. Please E-mail us anytime at contribute@americanyogini.com
Shanti (peace)
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