Giving Thanks with a Grateful Heart

Wake up

I love the early morning quiet, the magical stillness of the dark. In this space of dawn's awakening I am slowly roused with an inner desire to connect to something more as the muse of passion once again pushes me out of bed. It is at the cusp of this sacred time that the Soul begs to be heard and I at once go inward and listen.

Passion is the muse of authenticity. She is the primordial, pulsating energy that infuses all of life, the numinous presence made known with every beating heart. It is what the Sun feels for the Earth, it is what Spirit feels for you, the inner Self, the light within.

Without hearing the spark of passion we continue in our blind habits - rushing through our daily lives, moving through the mundane. Until one day we wake up and realize how exhausted, depleted, and saddened we are. We wonder where our passions have gone and why we no longer feel grateful for the bounty of life. In this time of darkness, we need to awaken the fire within and recognize our responsibility to something Greater that lives in all of us - our Soul.

Watch the sun rise

We are witness to the auspicious season of sacred darkness and gratitude as we moves ever closer to the Winter Solstice. As we prepare for the season of light, it is important that we nourish ourselves in this space and reflect on the wonders and blessings of being alive - alive in the mystery of living a full and passion-filled life. This does not mean a life devoid of struggles, sorrows or challenges. I am speaking of a life filled with gratitude and lived fully, rooted in the inner strength of your own authentic love for being - in essence, a life lived with passion for life itself.

Easier said than done, right? To live authentically and in gratitude means that you have a willingness to let go of the mind's fear and resistance with a readiness to receive assistance as you move forward through your heart. All of life's actions move through the heart - it is only our head that shouts "NO". This is the voice that clings to the "could've, should've, would've" sentiments. The fearless action to live in passion is love. And living through love takes a courage that only your inner voice can offer - when you listen you can hear the sweet "YES" of living authentically and in gratitude.

Even in this season or darkness we have so much to be grateful for. Take the time to create space within and reveal your inner light. Remove the cloud of darkness as you revel in your inner Joy at being alive to all of life. Breathe into the flames of your desire as you light the fires of your true belonging. Remember that practice of Yoga is so much more than just being on a mat. It is the gateway to reveal the Source within.

Let the light shine

The light is always within. Don't be fooled by harsh outer weather, it is only there to remind us, that there must be darkness for the light to be seen. Oh the sun is coming up!! Blessings for a Joyous season of gratitude and continue to shine!!

Namaste,

Laura Jane

Gratitude

We are what we think. All that arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Buddha (c. 563-483 b.c.)

During this month of thanks, be in the conscious awareness that our thoughts feed the actions of our soul. In honor of Thanksgiving, we are dedicating our practice to gratitude - in celebration of our aliveness and the bounty of blessings life has to offer. Throughout the month, witness yourself letting go of outcome and returning to your breath and heart - where your True Self rests. As you awaken this space of love and gratitude you may just find yourself experiencing the huge gift that is life in a whole new way.

Happy November—our month of conscious gratitude. Every day let your practice begin with your truth.

Reaffirming the Commitment - Falling into your practice

"This is your time. This is your movie. Live out your dreams and fantasies. Whisper quotations to the Sphinx at night. Sit for hours at sidewalk cafes and drink with your heroes. Make pilgrimages. Look up and down. Believe in the unknown for it is there. Live in many places. Live with flowers and music and books and paintings and sculpture. Keep a record of your time. Learn to read well. Learn to listen and speak well. Know your country, know your world, know your history, know yourself. Take care of yourself physically and mentally and spiritually. You owe it to your soul. Be good to those around you. And do all these things with passion. Give all that you can. Life is short, death is long."

Fritz Scholder (1937-2005)

Sometimes I find the daily struggles of life confusing and exhausting. My mind starts complaining about the future, getting caught in the fear of "what if..." - and then, I take a moment to shift and to remind myself how blessed I am to be alive. In this moment I take a reflective pause to witness all that is outside myself. I recognize that this "aliveness" needs to be nourished at all times, so I find it within myself to commit to begin again. I begin each day with a renewed sense of what is important and seek to live in a sense of wonder, awe, and appreciation for the miracle of life itself.

This summer, my family and I went on a pilgrimage to Vietnam where 13 years ago Patrick and I adopted our beautiful daughter Colby. This journey allowed Colby to touch her roots and come to feel a sense of belonging as she met the woman who gave her life, her birth mother. I often wonder if this was ordained from the beginning - that one day, this moment of reunion was destined to happen, and that I was just following my "marching orders." Patrick and I followed Colby's soul desire; her longing to know her own story. At her request and with her permission I started the search for Colby's story. And every step in this process has been a miracle.

At the end of this story, my daughter met the one person who could fill in the hole of doubt that was lingering in her heart, "why was I given up for adoption"? At the same time, this amazing woman, who at 17 was unwed and indescribably poor, did not have any choice but to give her own flesh and blood away in hopes of a better life, learned that there is only love from her birth daughter. Two souls were given the chance to touch and hug and feel that in love we can move forward and heal. Patrick and I were blessed enough to be the witness. Throughout all of this I followed my heart and listened, knowing that I could not control the outcome, but that I had to trust that Truth was moving us forward.

Life is always bigger than my small mind and my fears. Letting go of the outcome of this story was bigger, better, and richer than I could have every imagined. By listening to my daughter's heart I was fearless.

It seems that this year nearly all of the roles I serve - losing the role of daughter and shifting to share my beautiful daughter with her birth mother - have braved huge life experiences that have challenged my very core. Through all of this I have learned to listen. By listening I realize that I get to come home, return to my role as teacher, mentor, and director of Yoga Among Friends. These experiences have fed and nourished my soul in such a deep way that only through daily commitment of practice can I maintain a centered, focused, and healthy sense of living.

My wish for you is to live large and keep your heart open with passion and risk. We may not be able to control the outcome, but we can make the choices that will lead our lives into joy and empower us to let go of fear and doubt. There is so much fear and sadness in the world right now and all that we see and hear allows the mind to focus on the reasons to stay small. But, the more we slow our rushing thoughts and learn to meditate on the stillness, we can listen and respond to the pulse of vibration that says "seize the day" - then, our right action will be clear and we just have to LIVE IT.

We are so excited for the fall season at Yoga Among Friends. We look forward to helping you listen and start (or renew) a commitment to your daily practice. As your community we are here to inspire, nourish, and help you say YES to LIFE!

Namaste,

Laura Jane