Aligning with Grace

I wake up to a blanket of virgin snow wrapping up in its embrace, everything that is in sight. It is beautiful beyond words - clean and pure - untouched and new, like the year that is about to arrive... I sit down to meditate and I light large votive candles, deeply moved by the energies of this day - a New Year's Eve, that is also a Blue Moon, and the day of an eclipse. It also signifies the end of a decade, and heralds the entrance of a new one... I begin this day, the same way I hope to end it, with thoughts of Gratitude... During the course of my meditation, I set my intentions to chart the course for the New Year. But I also reflect on the many things that I am grateful for. They come flooding into my soul and they are felt in the deepest recesses of my heart... I am grateful for my community of treasured friends, for the opportunities I have been given, for the gift of practice, for the daily signs that I am given, for those who unknowingly touch and inspire my life, for the ...

I have been very quiet these last few days after Christmas, fully enjoying the stillness of the season, sleeping in, reading, nesting, guarding my time, meditating, and journeying inward... Tomorrow is New Year's Eve - it is the end of one year - and the beginning of another... Tomorrow is also a Blue Moon - the second Full Moon in a month, and there will also be partial eclipse, visible in parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Eclipses are metaphysically about change and letting go, and inviting into your life what you really want to be and to reflect in deeds and words. This interesting moment, created by the confluence of a Full Moon, eclipse, and a year's end, also invites us to more deeply examine our lives, and set intentions for what we would like to manifest in the coming year. Everything I have been reading of late, or hearing from intuitives is pointing the way towards a year exhorting greater transformation of hearts, and souls, and minds... I wrote to a dear friend abo...

The day begins slowly, quietly, with meditation, while the rest of my household is asleep. I send blessings, healing energy, and love to several persons, some in need, and others that I am simply grateful for... I delight in the thoughts of a wonderful Christmas Eve, spent with family, full of laughter and good cheer, and the beauty of Midnight Mass, hymns sung heartily by a full choir and packed congregation, accompanied by an organ, and full brass ensemble. I revel in this sacred time, inviting the best in all of us. I am touched by the words of a dear soul friend who has stepped into her sacred mission, clothed in her own power, and who shared this message this morning: "Open to all the Love and all the Joy. It's all for the asking." Such breathtaking beauty in such simplicity of words... I reflect on this Christmas message from Yogananda: "May the Christmas spirit you feel not end with today; rather may it be with you every night as you meditate. Then in the sile...

The day is busier than I had anticipated. I had hoped for a more extended meditation period this morning, but I will carve some space out this afternoon... Despite it all - Christmas Eve blessings come to me in so many ways. In the gift of a book written by a wonderful soul I met on Twitter, that arrives today with a touching inscription... Christmas Eve blessings also arrives in the wise words of a dear soul companion who gives me this message full of challenges, yet I know that it is really offered as a sacred task: "Today, keep your thoughts on forgiveness and love. Relentless love. Love the unloveable. That's what Christ did." I think of the Christmas Blessing I posted yesterday, and how it is an invitation to be lived every day, not just at this time of the year. I leave you with this poem, written by Kathleen Hanagan, a gifted soul and therapist, which she sent in her Christmas letter this year... One Heart One heart A single bird Sits on a branch And sings So devou...

On this day - or eve - before Christmas Eve, I take a moment to go down to the river. I longed to visit it while it was snowing, but I knew that it would be impossible, for the park would be closed... I walk down to the boat launch where snow had been shoveled along the water's edge. It is a bit windy and as bitterly cold as it gets in this area. I breathe in the crispness of the air, and something deep within me stirs, almost gasping for life. I reflect on sacred messages received from a dear soul, and ponder how we are given what we need, in every moment. On the day of the Solstice she shared with me, "Christ's love is so present, in my heart and and soul." She spoke of spending more time in meditation and prayer. The sun is going down now, and I will go out and take a long walk in the snow at Twilight. I did so yesterday, listening to sacred choral music, and felt myself held in the palm of God's Hand. I leave you with another beautiful message received, almost...

Yesterday, I went to my friend Bob O'Mara's blog, and he had this beautiful prayer he offered for the Solstice which I want to share here. This is truly a wonderful prayer, for every season: A Midwinter Prayer "From the rising of the midwinter sun to its setting, Scatter the darkness with the light of your love, O Shining One. Make me short on mean thoughts, long on offers of words of comfort. Make me short on being driven, long on paying attention. Make me short on focusing only on my own, long on looking beyond. Make me short on obsessive thoughts, long on spontaneous acts of kindness. Make me short on mindless activity, long on time to reflect. Make me short on tradition as a habit, long on rediscovery and re-owning. Make me short on rushing or tiring, long on walking and wondering. Make me short on false, festive jollity, long on stilling and rooted joy. Make me short on guilt, long on being merciful to myself. Make me short on being overwhelmed, long on peaceableness ...

On this day of the Winter Solstice, I cannot help but think of where I was two years ago and how far I've come... On this day of the Winter Solstice, I cannot help but revel in the many blessings received, so much sweeter because of all that was endured to give birth to them... On that day of the Winter Solstice two years ago, I went down to the river for the first time with a life that was as open ended as I could have ever imagined it would be. It begged to be re-made, and at 52, I did not think I would be starting over in more ways than one... And on that day of the Winter Solstice, I took off my watch. I no longer had appointments or a schedule to keep. I did not put it on again until this year's Summer Solstice, when I found myself increasingly busy once again, and needing to get to various places on time. I was told by so many dear intuitive friends, that the landscape of my life, while irrevocably altered, still had more shifting and changing, and emerging to do... Today...

On this Eve of the Winter Solstice, I reflect on many things. Two years ago, my life changed in ways I could never have imagined or planned. As I process the many blessings that have come my way, especially in the last couple of weeks, I am amazed at how good God is, and how many are his gifts. The blanketing of snow we received was a beautiful gift, and an invitation to be still, and silent, and to enter more deeply into the present moment. Someone posted this on Twitter this morning, and I found it so appropriate: “Kindness is like snow - it beautifies everything it covers.” ~ Unknown I leave you with this beautiful poem by Paramahansa Yogananda that I came across this afternoon: The Star That Leads to the Christ Child O Lord, I have long been engrossed in material things. Enthralled by their outward forms, I failed to perceive within them Thy creative Spirit. The starry single eye of my soul insight is now being opened. Through it may I behold creation ashine with Thy glory. Bless ...

For the first time in years, we receive significant snowfall - nearly two feet - or perhaps more - and the sight is beautiful indeed! For the first time in years, we will have a white Christmas! For the first time in years, I am snowbound - all the classes I was teach are canceled - so I have no where to go - and no where to be... I sit in meditation peacefully, with snow falling all around... I read these words by Paramahansa Yogananda about Christ and this Blessed Season... "Christ is born in the cradle of tenderness. Love is a greater power than hate. Whatever you say, say it with love. Harm no one. Judge not others. Hate none, love all; behold Christ in all. Think of everything in terms of universality... Will Christ come again? Metaphysically, he is already omnipresent. He smiles at you through every flower. He feels his cosmic body in every speck of space. Every movement of the wind breathes the breath of Jesus. Through his oneness with the divine Christ Consciousness he is ...

I arrived last night from The Woodlands, Texas, and meeting with the Anusara Yoga Curriculum Committee, over the period of several days. Today, I take it easy by slowing down and tackling domestic chores. I sleep in a little, not as much as I had hoped, and then I head out to McDonald's for coffee and a brief chat with the wonderfully radiant soul who takes my order. Then I make my way down to the river... Snow is in the air - anywhere from a foot - to a foot and half of precipitation is predicted. I cannot remember the last time I was down at this river and I wonder what it would like in heavy snow. I walk down to the boat launch area, and find the edges frozen, and the water very still and gray. Nearby, some ducks are making quite a racket... I am filled to the brim from my three days of meeting. I have come home with a sense of the sacredness of the tasks that we have been entrusted with - as we chart the future and the direction of Anusara Yoga - not only in terms of its cur...

I will be off to the airport in a few hours to head out for the Woodlands, Texas, to meet with John Friend and members of the Anusara Yoga Curriculum Committee as we seek to standardize our educational materials at a time when Anusara Yoga is experiencing explosive growth all over the world. I am not a great traveler, and get really nervous about flying and all its unexpected permutations... Last night, I went to the site, "Following the Star," which I religiously visited during Advent last year. But here I am, a year later, finding myself very busy and frazzled as I consider all the activities on my dance card, and the entry I read is very appropriately titled, "Be Still and Know..." This is one of my most favorite scripture verses - from Psalm 46:10 to be more precise - "Be still and know that I am God." I have written about this verse before in many ways. And now it comes to me, as a gentle reminder of the season, calling me to stillness, to silence, ...

I received this today from one of my Twitter friends, and thought it so beautiful I will share it here with all of you: Biblebell's Aloha May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the rain wash away your sorrows. May the breeze blow new strength Into your being. May you walk gently through the world And know its beauty all the days of your life. As you celebrate this season sacred to so many, may this blessing fill your soul and touch your heart!

For metaphysical numerologists, 12-12 bears a lot of significance. It is understood to imply a level of completion - a graduation of sorts - and also denotes the experience of a Cosmic Connection. The number 12-12 also signifies a bridge to the future... On this day of 12-12, I spent the morning subbing a friend's yoga classes at the studio that is my spiritual home and community. Willow Street Yoga Center in Maryland, is currently the largest Anusara Yoga studio in the country. It counts among its gifted teachers, the largest contingent of teachers in both the certified and Inspired categories - making it a virtual "mecca" for serious students of Anusara Yoga . I came to study here almost 4 years ago, at the inspired suggestion of a very dear soul companion, after having studied at the studio I taught at for 9 years. At the time, I was working on my Anusara Yoga certification and sensed I needed more direction and modeling in this process. It almost seems like yesterd...

Yesterday, I received Todd Norian's newsletter via email. Todd is an Anusara Yoga Certified Teacher, and a very gifted one at that. But then, I think that of everyone! I have often quoted his newsletter in this blog, because his thoughts are often very inspirational, and this issue was no exception. Todd spoke of the various ways in which we can "align with Divine" and he drew his inspirational insights after teaching the Bhagavad Gita - a work I have often taught myself, and which is near and dear to my heart. For those of you familiar with this work, you will find a richer meaning in Todd's suggestions - but his insights are helpful to all us of us on the path who are seeking to align more closely with the Divine. In this excerpt from his newsletter, Todd creatively draws upon the wisdom of Anusara Yoga's Universal Principles of Alignment and deftly weaves them into the teachings of the Gita . "This [teaching] inspired me to reflect more deeply on how I ...

I arise in the darkness and am drawn to meditation after a deep, and nourishing sleep... I sit in the stillness, the gentle rain, and the quiet - and give thanks for so many things... I marvel at the beauty of the last few days - sweet time spent with soul friends - and with a community of kindred souls... I am grateful for so many messages given and received... I revel in the opportunities to share with like-minded souls the blessings we have received and the incredible work God is doing in our lives... I sit and I pray - and ask to be shown the way through some situations I must navigate - buoyed by the dearest soul companion who shared her own story and encouraged me to ask every day, to be shown the way - and be willing to discover that the path was always there in front of me - waiting for my recognition... I share with a lovely friend and student - that despite whatever may be - or not be in my life - God's love and the network of supportive vibrant souls in my life - is enou...

I arise on a day that will be filled with training in anatomy specifically geared for Anusara Yoga teachers, and feel joyous at the fact that the first snow fall of the season is softly coming down... I rush down to the river, and walk down to where the water meets the pavement on the boat launch so wishing I could come inside this river that has so sustained me. It is gray and beautiful, and my yearning for communion with the river is almost overwhelming. It has been too long since I have paddled in these waters, but today, I must work my way to the other side of the river and meet many friends for the first of a two day intensive in anatomy training and how it specifically relates to Anusara Yoga and the Universal Principles of Alignment ... Still, it is peaceful here, and I wish I could stay a little longer, but with the weather being what it is, I expect the traffic to be slow... Last night, Martin Kirk, an Anusara Yoga Certified Teacher, and a very enthusiastic one at that, ini...

I continued to teach my asana detox sequence of twisting poses to my beautiful Wednesday morning class. This was the third day of teaching this class, and some of my students were repeating it for the second time... We had an incredible time, full of laughter and good cheer, and I was amazed at the very challenging poses that my students welcomed and embraced. I continued working with my theme of of unwrapping the ordinary, in order to disclose the extraordinary - which is at the essence of all things and all souls... My students reported all kinds of results from the class - from actual physical detoxing experiences, to releasing deep seated emotions - to feeling nauseous, buzzed, or stoned! It is amazing to note the incredible effects that the practice of yoga can have on our bodies, minds, and spirits... One friend and budding yoga teacher who dropped in for class last night and honored me with her presence, shared this with me this morning: "Ah...the exquisite soreness of righ...

On this day, we begin the last month of this year... On this day, we experience the last Full Moon of the year and the special energies it brings... On this day, filled with teaching, and some quiet moments in between, I receive this message by Michael Beckwith, sent to me by a dear and loyal friend: "Today as you sit to meditate, make a commitment to fling open the portals of your consciousness and the doors of your heart as you ask how you may breathe each breath and walk each step as a free agent of conscious co-creativity. Affirmation: Today I commit myself to my divine destiny as a creative being. I know every path is open before me as I consciously co-create with Spirit. Enjoy your magnificent day. Michael Beckwith" And I would add these words by Thomas Merton: "This day will never come again." So live it to the fullest!