Prayer of revolutionary love

may overwhelming feelings of tenderness

transcend paralyzing fears of gun violence

let the true revolution be guided by

amazing feelings of love

let's keep breathing

let's keep hoping

let's keep going

may we demand action and rise up in love

Taking refuge

This past weekend, I attended my monthly day of mindfulness with my sangha. It is always a time for me to reboot from the month's madness. I used to fret that I could only make it to the Mindfulness Practice Center once a month and not on a weekly basis. The stillness itself carries an energy, and I take refuge in the sangha which reminds me that even the most challenging moments help me to refocus and reconnect to myself. 

The truth is, my sangha is the community of people who engage and support me in practicing mindfulness to bring about and maintain awareness. My sangha is also the lake and the woods, whose silence speak to me when I take my daily hikes and ground me in taking root. 

we are the leaves on the tree

we are the waves in the sea

we are the rays in the sun

we are the stars in the sky

we are one

Wishing you all kinds of love today and everyday. May you take refuge in wherever your community of the heart lies. 

Through the rain

Today is day 30. I did it. I have just completed my personal 30-day TRUE challenge Yoga with Adriene, my at home yoga practice. I actually made it to the mat not a couple of times a week as I've been doing for so many years, but every day for the past month. There were days or evenings when I thought, Oh, I'll just skip today and catch up tomorrow. But my partner would urge me, Go now. Get yourself to your mat. That's what discipline is. 

Some days, I struggled. Just like my hikes through the rain. But when finally on the path, I was fine, finding what felt good -- even if it didn't feel immediately great. Same goes with my at home yoga practice. Except it's not just doing poses in the privacy of my own space, unable to compare my body or ability to others positioned around me. It's about struggling through whatever storm's brewing in our community, in the world, in our personal lives. Some days, what has become commonplace news about school gun violence overwhelms me. Another day, it's about my ornery kindergartener . . . or how a few numbers are off on a blood test, and that health concern from a routine physical sends me spiraling into complete worry. And I have to tell myself, Absolutely do not read anything online. Yes, the struggle is real. 

But we have to find what feels good. Like a walk in the rain. Or 20 minutes on the mat. Breathing in love and breathing out hope.  

While I may not have an in-person yogi correcting my every alignment, there's something to be said for a friendly guiding voice that encourages me to find my own grace on and off the mat. Especially when it means venturing out of my comfort zone and being fearless. Because sometimes we just need to engage in a new experience and get to the heart of who we truly are.