A Fighting Chance

 Maintaining a Practice, any Practice that supports the soul we hope to know, the person we wish to be, offers a fighting chance to fully embody life.  It holds the possibility to fulfill wide dreams.  It offers re-newed hope to create the world we wish to live in.  Otherwise, all bets are off.

As we rush and push to produce, meet deadlines and obligations, it is unbelievably easy to lose Self, to have visions grow befuddled, and dreams die because we think they have a shelf-life that expires. It is only by finding a Practice that returns us time and again to essential self that we do not lose soul- essence.  It is too easy to succumb to demands where a superficial self is ‘good enough.’  Soon we believe that is who we are.

 Nurturing Practices hone us within time and again.  They are talismans of faith, and beacons of good will. Whatever the Practice, be it meditation, time on the mat, chanting, breathing, singing, walking, knitting…it is whatever dedicates you, whatever offers space and time to simply re-engage essence.  A good Practice bears non-judgmental witness to our hodge-podge of desires, our flailings and failings, and half baked attempts.  It is the silent friend standing by our side.  No small gift.

Asana: Kapinjalasana/Bird Drinking Raindrops Pose, or a mundane Partridge, one that lives on raindrops and dew.  Nice.  Iyengar writes that it is a cross between Vasisthanasana and Padangustha Dhanurasana, an extreme Bow Pose.  Enter it from Vasisthanasana, with body turned sideways to R, balancing on outer edge of R foot and R hand. On exhale, bend L leg back and reach back with L hand, grabbing big toe, or ankle.  Now rotate L elbow and shoulder to bring arm up and over, pulling L leg higher toward the back of head.  To exit pose, release L foot, extend it over R and turn over into plank pose.  I recommend pulling back into Child’s Pose to rest between sides as this is an extreme effort.

Health Notes: This pose makes for strong wrists and arms.  It stretches shoulders and chest, along with thighs and back.  As in all arm balances, the abs are strengthened. This is not a superficial Pose, and with its practice, soul food is tasted.

Astrology Notes: Libra, as a sign of positive, cardinal air, promotes desires for good negotiation, fair play, companionship, and balance. Because Libra is air she offers a perspective, even a distance to make relationships safe.  Her ruling planet, Venus, hopes to offer a quid pro quo so everyone participates with her. She is a bird preferring to drink raindrops and dew and offer the same to you, after she has drunk hers. 

Ayurvedic Notes: Vata is primarily an air element as is prana, our vital energy, hence the need for oxygen.  Prana arises in space and remains closely connected to it.  Wherever we create space we can create energy, even mind or thought. They are links of the air element, which relates to the sense of touch, a subtle form of prana.  When we touch someone, on whatever level, we transmit our life force.

 

 

 

2 Comments

Jennifer Cooper

I find, when one doesn’t want to practice at all, that is when one needs their practice the most. Whenever we show up, we benefit. Whether we run, walk or crawl to our mats, we learn, we grow. we go within. Daily Breath offers the same benefits, read, think, reflect and search one’s soul. Yet, here is the opportunity to respond. Putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Commit one’s thought to the written word. Share it. Reveal what’s inside. A powerful challenge…Thank you Samantha.

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Samantha

I so agree, and so wrote this week again, and again of Practicing because I find myself lost when I don’t show up for me. Going at the speed we’re going it’s a huge effort to stop and and say, “halt! I need to Practice. So happy we can be ‘challenged’ together.

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