Story Time

What stories will we tell ourselves on dying? Will we look back in wonder & awe at our asinine adventuring? Or, will we be dazzled by the lists of good intention constructed each morning? Will we be enthralled by a vigorous growth of spirit, or shamed by lingering cowardice? All things, I suspect, though the assumption of seeing the bigger picture at death is specious at best.

It’s difficult to imagine even constructing a story when going at this speed, impossible to create the plot line. Perhaps it’s time to p r a c t I c e? What story do we have to tell ourselves at the end of the day? Mine runs something like this… “Egad, didn’t get the report done, the books put away, can’t check daily-pages off, or meditation. When am I getting car to the mechanic? And I still can’t get into that size six. Fewer fats tomorrow.” Now there is a story I can’t wait to read! What a bloody cock-up of a beautiful life.

Perhaps it is time to Practice. Instead of collapsing into wine, whining, and TV at the end of the day, what if we told ourselves a story of that day, and all day long we saw ourselves as the hero/heroine of this fairy tale. Would we change the day? Fewer lists, more costumes? Less dishes, more black stallions, and swords? What if we grew enough awareness to realize this could be the last day, the ultimate story we have a chance to create and tell? What if this is my day for a ‘Once upon a time histoire, and I bollux it by checking it off as an item on my list? A moment never to return, be cherished, or re-told.

Asana/Pose: Is there a pose that gives you a sense of story when you enter it? An odd question, but there might be such a thing…there could be such a thing. Often when I stand in Vrksasana/Tree Pose, I imagine myself as a particular tree, in a specific season, and I enter into that energy as my imagination creates it. Always the pose feels more satisfactory, more elegant and powerful in my body.
If you would like to borrow this, then stand on L leg, drawing R foot up, high into L thigh, toes pointing down. Press foot against L thigh, & press thigh to R foot. Imagine your tap root growing down from L foot, deep into the earth. Open both arms to sides, or press palms together and stretch up, begin growing. If you feel a wind blowing, tilt torso over toward lifted knee. Do both sides.

Health Notes: Increases leg strength and balance. Offers a calm moment to grow and feel beautiful.

Ayurvedic Notes: As days grows warmer pay attention to creating your own shade, not just growing your own tree: In spring’s changes, and Vata energies, let your Yoga Practice become milder, adding more chest openers such as Camel, Boat, Cow, Fish and Cobra. Dress in flowing, lighter colors, especially white. Use Coconut oil for dry feet and hands, even hair. Avoid heavy alcoholic drinks, and a diet with lots of salt, sour or hot tastes.

Astrology Notes: We are coming to the change-over time of  Taurus to Gemini, (May 21-June 21) changing from the earthy, sensual and artistic pleasures of touch and color, to the airy, mutability of ‘The Twins.’ Gemini is diversified action, the sine qua non of multi-taskers….a tree with many branches to explore and learn.