Yogis,
Air, lunchtime, and
the full moon. Birth, water, and the
color white. The inhale and the
exhale. Life and death. All part of the circle…..all part of the
rhythm of the Universe.
Last night under a spectacular clear sky and a
brilliant half moon, about 30 of us gathered to christen and bless my new fire
circle. Earlier in the day however, I realized that I had never properly done the
same for my medicine wheel garden….my first sacred circle….so the ceremony I
led was for both. And if was the first time in a while that I talked
to invoking the 7 directions – a Native American tradition of inviting in the
presence of the spirits – and in doing so it brought everything full CIRCLE for
me.
The circle is a
spiritual shape. No true beginnings and
no end. No corners for anything to hide
in. All together. All one…each of us just in different sections
at different times.
The East. The sunrise.
The beginning of the new day and of the inhale. Bringing in light where there was none. This is our childhood. A time of innocence, learning everything for
the first time, play. Beginners
mind. Fresh. Seeing our lives stretched ahead of us. The element of air and the colors yellow and
orange. Morning. The early song of the birds. Awake and eager.
The South. Midday.
The top of the inhale. Heat. The element of fire. Here is where we make our babies, raise our children, pursue our careers, and do. Action.
Full. The color Red.
Vibrant. Ripe. Seeing clearly what it is that we want to
manifest in our lives and taking steps toward it. Allowing ourselves to be uncomfortable. The coyote lives here. Expansive and growing.
The West. Ahhhhh…….we begin to exhale. Letting go.
Slowing down. Beginning to switch
the direction of the journey from outward expansion and growth, to inner reflection. Middle age (which somehow has been given a
negative connotation in our eternal youth loving society – but I am finding it
blissful). Discovering who we really are
as we shed the many masks we have worn to suit those around us. The colors blue and purple. The element of water. Our subconscious. Our innermost desires for that which will
fulfill us. In the west we learn the art
of surrender. The bear lives here. Trust and faith.
The North. Our elders and wise women live here. We should listen much more closely to what
they have to teach us. Insight. A place of quiet and stillness. Meditation. The
night. The bottom of the exhale. Dreams.
Here we find the Owl and other animals of the night. Discovering our life’s purpose. Here we return to the Great Mystery in order
to be ignited once again with the new sun in the east. The color white. Knowing.
Below we find our
past and ancestors. Mother Earth. The womb and creation. The Goddess is found below. Above we find the energy of Father Sky and
its infinite unformed potential. Expanded
consciousness. The God is found above. But it is in the 7th direction
that we find “me”. Center. The gap between the breaths. A channel connecting the earth and sky. A hollow reed through which the Goddess can
spiral up to connect with the God.
Perfection.
The moon, the tides,
the seasons……. each day, our lives, and each and every breath all follow the
path of this circle. Spring, summer,
fall and winter. The rhythm of the Universe.
Our rhythm. Notice it.
Recognize the moment
in the afternoon where you feel the energetic shift from the intenseness of
summer action to the cooling receptive energy of fall. Become aware of the damp cool grass on your
bare feet when you first awaken and the south sun has not had its chance to
warm. Always know which phase the moon is in- taking
the weeks of the waxing/expanding moon to begin new projects, the waning moon to
slow down and visit the West, and the new moon to shed that which no longer
serves you…..in order to begin anew with the first glimpse of the sliver moon
in the east. Sleep when it is dark and
rise with the birds of the east.
I have always been a very early morning runner. Yogis always talk to the auspiciousness of
that time of day. The hours of 4 to 6
am. This week at the end of one of my
runs I realized that time is truly when the shift from night to day
begins. Still so incredibly still, yet
the hint of the rising sun and the song of the early birds provide glimpses into the
unlimited possibilities waiting. The void.
The pause. Empty yet incredibly
full. I like being there for that.
Live and move in these rhythms. They will lead you well.
I love to dance,
SARAH
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