wringing out the sponge

Yogis,

We finally got our January thaw……it just took its time and waited until January 31!  And with the groundhog not seeing his shadow this morning, we have 6 more weeks to work with our inner world. 

This week we again practiced opening the crown of the head.  Connecting with the infinite spacious energy of the sky and dissolving the illusion we carry that we are somehow separate.  Breathing out to the very edges of our skin…..and beyond.   Bringing in clarity.

And learning to empty………………… in order to receive.

During my Friday night “download” from the Universe, the message that blazed in neon lights was – The emptier I get…..the more amazing life gets. 

One of the images that I think helps to explain this is a sponge.

 

You have a brand new sponge and you have a coffee spill.  You wipe it and the sponge becomes soaked with coffee.   Now slightly brown the sponge can no longer bring in anything new.  It is heavy and full.

So you hold it under the faucet and squeeze it out, allowing it to get saturated with water again, and squeezing it out.  Again and again and again.  Letting the coffee go to fill with fresh clean water.  The sponge becomes alive as it inhales in the fresh water, life and energy.  But in order to move forward and be useful in helping with the next spill, it must also exhale as all of the water is squeezed back out.  Filling and emptying.  Inhaling and exhaling.   Bringing in and letting to.

How do we do this in our lives?  It’s easy to talk about emptying, but how can we actually do it?

First, like everything else, you must want it.  Then it’s all about letting go….letting go….letting go.   And the three tools that have caused dramatic changes in my life have been the yoga asana practice, meditation and the breath.   With yoga and meditation we slow down to become present and mindful.   Cleaning the slate each time.  And of course our incredible exhales.  Full and complete.  Holding nothing back.  Squeezing out the sponge to prepare to be filled again. 

The emptier I get….the more amazing life gets.  

It isn’t that things get easier or go away – they just appear easier.  Less worry.  No anxiety.  Not thinking ahead or looking back for very long…..just quick glimpses.  Then getting back to the beauty of this moment.  And of this moment.  Empty and ready for something amazing.

Meditation teaches us to catch ourselves when we get lost in thought.  Notice.  Allow.  ……and let it go.  Over and over and over.  Clarity.

Eventually your trust in the benevolent force of the Universe becomes so strong that you don’t want any clutter to be in its way.  You begin to move through life simply setting up the framework, seeing and feeling what you want, and trusting the guidance you receive to handle the details.  Empty in order to be filled. 

An old grudge….let it go.  A failed relationship….let it go.  Wanting things to be different….let it go.  Judgments of others…..let it go.  The need to control…..let it go.  Fear of heights…..let it go.  An attachment….let it go

Our yoga teacher on Friday night shared that when they were trained they were guided to use “essential speech”.  The definition they were given was – Be open and move forward.   Wow.  Simple, but what a strong energy that has.  I love it!

The emptier I get…..the more amazing life gets.

 

Bunny Rabbit came to me in my circle when I called to him late Friday evening.  Like a vision against the snow.  I love you Bunny Rabbit!

Empty and loving it,

SARAH