From Darkness An Awakening of the Light of Love

The interconnectedness of the Universe is the integrity of wholeness. Wholeness is in itself a participatory act both in the function of becoming internally connected to our inner soul and the collective soul of the world’s humanity. This is the constant journey in the art of living. To exclude is to separate our oneness with the Universe.

This week we are moving into the light of the solstice, a profound time as our gentle Earth tilts and we arrive at the beginning. A new dawn returns, and a small crack of light creeps into the dark night.

For many of us this past year as been a collective dark night of the soul. We have been forced to go inward and seek refuge within our separated homes. We have been asked to go deep into the well of our inner landscape and shine the light on our deepest fears. For many, this was not a pleasant experience and the pain brought us to our knees. For many, anger and rebellion is the norm of resistance.

The blame game is so easy to use when the mind refuses to take the gift that is being presented. I have asked myself everyday, “What is good about this”? I have had to dig deep into my own samskaras that keep me a prisoner to my mind’s doubts and fears.

Instead of sitting in the muck, I choose to seek the beauty in what is being presented. I breathe into my physical body and bring my roaming mind back into my inner home, preparing myself to seek the magic which is being revealed. I ask the Universe for help and open myself up to the willingness to move forward.

It is a collective desire to be apart of the grand experience that all of humanity is living now. I have a choice how to respond each day. If I am firmly established in my true self and firmly linked to being gentle and truthful, I am the healing in the world. Each of us can choose to be the healing in the world. The healing is love.

This has been a year of learning to love more by being fearless in the journey presented. A collective shift of consciousness that for thousands of years has created ritual to honor the mystery, the wonder, and the awe of creation. This is an inner journey of our own creation of living, not just in survival, but to thrive in the miracle of the Sun.

We come to a practice to turn on our own inner light, and to nourish our system as a whole. To cultivate the awareness of beauty which includes moral beauty, the seed of our collective humanity. The effort, to clear our mind’s lens to actually experience the full grace of this beauty, is to bring forth the passion and love that we must all plant again in our hearts.

This new year will not erase the loss, but from ashes, the phoenix arises. Bring in the rituals of reverence to your practice as this auspicious day unfolds. Together, we are moving into a profound new landscape. Creativity is born into this space of the open heart that is the wholeness of the entire Universe. Be present, be here, and be in love.

Blessings in this birth of the light,

Laura Jane

Sutherland Family Fire Relief Fund

We are wrapping our arms around our dear friend and teacher, Jana Sutherland, and her family as they deal with the devastating loss of their beautiful home. They were awakened Sunday night, Nov 15 at 1am and were thankfully able to escape this house fire.

Please donate to help Jana and her family during this difficult time to obtain everything from basic necessities to providing shelter while their home is repaired. To donate: www.gofundme.com/f/sutherland-family-fire-relief-fund

It is in the Season of the Dark When We Plant the Seeds of Creativity

Welcome to the season of the dark, the sacred time of year where we hold vigil for the light as we enter into what I call the “dark night of the soul”. How can I see the brilliant galaxy of the night sky, my own North Star, when the sun is too bright?

I embrace this dark night as my sanctuary for going into my own depth of darkness and offer a graceful acceptance to fall into the unknown. How sweet the stillness of night, the intimacy of the quiet, as I willing reflect on what is being presented.

Life during Covid has been nothing short of challenging. The obstacles being presented have given me the opportunity to go deeper inward and practice patience and acceptance. I let go the familiar and embrace the mystery of the dark season. We are being asked to go slow down and reflect on the wonder of life, not for what we do but for who we are. Our yoga practice is more important than ever to cultivate a healthy body and mind.

I love the rituals of my morning practice which allows me to live with an inner knowing of some deeper trust. YAF offers morning classes to begin the day with a community of support. The blessing of this time has been our zoom connection. Together, we maintain a community that can stabilize our fluctuating mental and emotional minds. I know it takes effort on these dark mornings to get out of bed, but this is the nourishment that our soul demands to get the light on.

We are being asked to be the light in the world, to shine out the kindness and compassion that is so needed. Our community together creates a collective healing; we need each other. We might not be able to physically hug, but energetically we can feel the connection of belonging. The effort made will inspire your day. Inspiration is to breathe life into the soul, to feel and to cultivate the magic of living from the heart.

Together, as we move towards the solstice on December 21, let us renew our commitment to bring in the beauty of the day by lighting our own pilot light! Let us be the calm and peace in the storm for others.

The ancient texts of yoga offer a deeper study of understanding the mind. The mind can be our best friend or our worst enemy. Please de-link from the habit of a detracted mind that leads into doubt. Doubt feeds fear; Fear feeds danger. When the world feeds fear and doubt, we lose our way in the dark.

However, the teachings share that we always have a choice. We can choose to bring the attention inward and cultivate a steady focused mind by linking to our breath. To bring together the body and breath, we can shift the autonomic nervous system and awaken an inner calm of knowing.

A peaceful presense of being must be felt in the body. We cannot control the outcome, but be present to the actual experience of what is being revealed, without judging whether it is pleasant or unpleasant. We can simply witness the mystery and awe of being fully alive. I want to inspire the inner knowing to awaken, and together we can shine our brilliant lights. The joy is to actually feel the calm and ease as the nervous system shifts as we unfold to possibility.

It is in the season of the dark when we plant the seeds of creativity. Listen to the inner knowing and be still. This is profound opportunity to nourish the unseen, the invisible. Take away the form and allow us to transform into something new.

I have grieved that the old has to fall away and I have accepted this season with the willingness to let go. There is no rebirth without the death. Transformation is the gift of living and let us be grateful that we can be the light in the stormy night.

The light in me honors the light in you,

Laura Jane

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Curious about the ancient teachings of yoga? Is something inside yearning to transform? Want to expand your relationships and further build community? You may be ready to explore our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training for yourself — a wonderous program that will change you deeply even if you have no desire to teach. Come attend a information meeting to learn more about the curriculum and ask questions.