Namaste Friends,
I hope this finds you and your loved ones well. It's been awhile since my last blog post. I have no good reason except just the busy-ness of life. However, these days I try to be more deliberate in taking what I call "sacred pauses" in the busy-ness and one way that I do that is my daily practice of reading A Course in Miracles (ACIM). So, I thought I would share one of the most influential thoughts that I have come across in ACIM with you, and it is this: "Every choice you make is either an expression of love or an expression of fear. There is no other choice." Now, I'm sure this is not a new concept for most of you; you've probably heard this or some variation of this at some point. But recently I've been asking myself what does it really mean to choose, consciously and consistently, to move through the world from a position of love? How does that work practically? What does that feel like? And, perhaps most importantly, who would I become? I think about what each entails: love is expansive, light, open, joyful, contented, trusting and spacious; fear is contracted, angry, heavy, anxious, depressed, protective and jealous. So, I think the first step is deciding what qualities you most value. Then, you have to be willing to let go of the defensiveness of the ego to make space for the intelligent responsiveness of the heart (see the brilliant work of the Heartmath Institute to learn more about this). And finally, you have to practice softening the sharp edges of the ego-self through breath, presence and stillness in any given moment where you have a choice between love and fear, and lean into the softness. This requires courage, but it is where our true strength lies. We discover not only that we can choose love, but that we are love and are rewarded with a freedom that surpasses all other freedoms. Ultimately, it is through our willingness to stop defending our idea of ourselves that we discover our true and indestructible Self. Love & Light, Shanti
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TAKING A SELF-CARE BREAK Namaste Friends,
I often begin my conversations with friends by asking one simple question: "how's your heart today?". You'd be surprised at the depth of responses that question receives which instantly serves to connect us on a deeper, more authentic level, than the generic "how are you?". It clears the path for real sharing to occur, for us both to be seen. So, I ask you, in this moment friend: "how's your heart today?". Have you checked in with yourself today or have you just launched into your to-do list? Have you paused, that beautiful "sacred pause" I invite you into sometimes during class, and taken a moment to breathe deeply and listen closely to the needs of your heart, mind, body and spirit today? My intention with this newsletter is just to connect with you for a moment and give you an update on me, my classes and my healing work practice @ Shambhala. I've had several inquiries about when my next yoga class, sound bath, or energy work sessions are happening, so I realised that not everyone received my email some weeks ago saying that I would be off island visiting family and taking a much needed break from the rock. I am still away spending time in nature, in the awe-inspiring forests and mountains of Asheville, NC (where I used to live many years ago). The healing and restoration I'm experiencing can't be fully articulated, but suffice to say it has been a blessing. So, please be patient with me as I attempt the old adage "physician, heal thy self", and my new motto, "teacher, study thy self", both of which will enable me to serve you better in the coming months. I am also cultivating some new ideas of offerings that I think you will enjoy. In the meantime, you can expect that we will resume yoga classes in the lead up to Christmas, and in-person / indoor classes beginning in January 2022. I will also resume sound baths and energy work at this time. Stay tuned for more details! Love, Shanti SOFTEN YOUR GAZE |
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