Authenticity is a theme that runs through Angeles Arrien's insight into truthfulness.
How challenging that is to allow our true self to shine through amid all the fears and insecurities we have. From Arrien's writing we see that avoiding conflict at all costs and exaggerating are examples of moving out of our authentic self. The paradox is that we all want to be seen and loved for who we are but we are often afraid that who we are is not enough. We abandon ourselves to be seen differently. Our truthfulness is lost. Ironically we are often most loved when we allow others to see us in all our imperfection.
Reference: The Four Fold Way by Angeles Arrien.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Three Cups of Tea- the book
I have just finished reading Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David O. Relin.
If you have not read it, I encourage you to. It is an example of a man, Greg Mortenson, identifying and committing to his life's purpose for the benefit of others. It is one man's humanitarian journey and vision to fight terrorism by building schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is a remarkable story.
"When your heart speaks, take good notes." -Judith Campbell
If you have not read it, I encourage you to. It is an example of a man, Greg Mortenson, identifying and committing to his life's purpose for the benefit of others. It is one man's humanitarian journey and vision to fight terrorism by building schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is a remarkable story.
"When your heart speaks, take good notes." -Judith Campbell
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Satya... Truthfulness
This session we are exploring the second yama, truthfulness.
I am reading from the book, The Four Fold Path by Angeles Arrien.
The visionary, she tells us, is the archetype of truth. The author says "when we remember who we are we bring our authentic selves forward."
One of my favorite quotes regarding living an authentic life come from Martha Graham:
"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost."
I am reading from the book, The Four Fold Path by Angeles Arrien.
The visionary, she tells us, is the archetype of truth. The author says "when we remember who we are we bring our authentic selves forward."
One of my favorite quotes regarding living an authentic life come from Martha Graham:
"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost."
My Sister's Website
In class this week I mentioned my sister as an example of living your truth, finding your life purpose through tragic circumstances. Some of you requested her website addresss.
www.elizabethsconcertofhope.com
www.elizabethsconcertofhope.com
Friday, April 10, 2009
Yoga Retreat in Montana
I will be going to Feathered Pipe Ranch in Montana the end of August for a yoga retreat.
I am wondering if any of you would like to join me there????
It is Cyndi Lee's retreat week. You can read about it at www.featheredpipe.com.
I have been to Feathered Pipe many times. It is a beautiful place, wonderful food, great accomodation, delightful people. It is structured and yet you are always free to do your own thing when you want to . There are body workers there for massage treatments that are exceptional.
Talk to me if you are interested.
Wouldn't it be fun if a bunch of us went together????
I am wondering if any of you would like to join me there????
It is Cyndi Lee's retreat week. You can read about it at www.featheredpipe.com.
I have been to Feathered Pipe many times. It is a beautiful place, wonderful food, great accomodation, delightful people. It is structured and yet you are always free to do your own thing when you want to . There are body workers there for massage treatments that are exceptional.
Talk to me if you are interested.
Wouldn't it be fun if a bunch of us went together????
Susan Hanson's blog...
For those of you following Susan's blog, there have been changes and you may need her password again. It is "zeldamarie".
Susan is in the Wednesday morning class and she is going through chemo treatment.
Susan is in the Wednesday morning class and she is going through chemo treatment.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Spring Classes Starting...
Yes, ...excited to be starting yoga classes this week! I have missed you all.
This quarter our sign up is the highest ever. Most of you are returning students, only a few new folks. Such dedication... I am impressed and grateful.
This quarter our sign up is the highest ever. Most of you are returning students, only a few new folks. Such dedication... I am impressed and grateful.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Blink- the book
Recently I saw Blink, The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, by Malcolm Gladwell on a booklist for Restorative Yoga teacher training. I had an idea of what the book was about, but had not read it. I decided to see what yogic insight it might have to offer. These are some of the insights that I found interesting. Firstly, we make choices with our conscious analytical mind and with our unconscious mind... deep from within. The latter I relate to as my inner knowing, but it can also be our prejudices and unconscious belief systems. (We have deep beliefs that often we are not aware of.)
The author guides us around the area of snap decisions. With experience we can make quick decisions that seem to just come from a gut feeling, a knowing. What I have found as I grow and change is that I have more of an intuitive sense in my decision making and find it easier to plan and problem solve. The author suggests that our decision making ideally comes from a balance of these two places, the analytical and the intuitive. What is particularly interesting is that he suggests that for the less significant choices in our lives we do better with the analytical mind and for the really big decisions, marriage, where to live, a career etc, we should trust our inner sense, our inner knowing... what we sometimes call a 'gut feeling'. He also says that often we are on information overload and therefore have too much information. Information does not equal knowledge.
I believe if our lives are less cluttered and we create more space in our days, our bodies and minds, the truth of our inner knowing bubbles up and is more accessible, to us. We can trust our snap decisions more easily, we can make more accurate assessments in any situation and use our analytical mind where it is appropriate.
The author guides us around the area of snap decisions. With experience we can make quick decisions that seem to just come from a gut feeling, a knowing. What I have found as I grow and change is that I have more of an intuitive sense in my decision making and find it easier to plan and problem solve. The author suggests that our decision making ideally comes from a balance of these two places, the analytical and the intuitive. What is particularly interesting is that he suggests that for the less significant choices in our lives we do better with the analytical mind and for the really big decisions, marriage, where to live, a career etc, we should trust our inner sense, our inner knowing... what we sometimes call a 'gut feeling'. He also says that often we are on information overload and therefore have too much information. Information does not equal knowledge.
I believe if our lives are less cluttered and we create more space in our days, our bodies and minds, the truth of our inner knowing bubbles up and is more accessible, to us. We can trust our snap decisions more easily, we can make more accurate assessments in any situation and use our analytical mind where it is appropriate.
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