Winter Solstice 2012

Today is the day for rebirth, a day to let go of the past, a day to get ready. It's not the end of the world. Summer is coming...

I love this picture. First of all because it's a beautiful reminder of offering; I took it on one of the holiest days of the year at a Jain ceremony in Shravanabelagola (about 158 kms from Bangalore, India). Secondly, for it's Real World rainbow of classic archetypes. The Doer (the guy with the pot), the Watcher (the guy to the left), the Judge (the gal in saffron), and the Boss Lady (the pointy-fingered one). Talk about trying to control something for no reason at all! What, she's going to change the direction the liquid flows?

It's good to remember, on this, the shortest day of the year, that we don't have control. The answer is acceptance. Even when we find ourselves snatching back control, or doing when being is enough, or judging when there is no need, or being too passive when action is required.

As an offering, we're doing 108 Sun Salutations here in Mastic. The Sun Salutation contains all the postures of the yoga practice, inversion, folding, balance and strength. That's the entire practice, you're not really trying to get anywhere. Try it in recognition of the fact that the days will be getting longer, despite that winter has just begun.

To paraphrase Buddha, it only takes one candle to light a thousand. Be that candle. Let go of things you don't need anymore, and remember, gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.

The pressure to become disconnects us from our ability to love If my neighbor would turn her music down, then I could meditate. If I could lose ten pounds, then I'd get a date. If I didn't have so much trouble with anger, then I'd have more friends. If I was younger... if if if, then then then. We've become so obsessed with self-improvement that we've forgotten how to love in the here and now. And what about those things that will never change?  “Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.”  ― Pema Chödrön What can keep us from changing is an inability to see ourselves clearly. The truth about ourselves is far less difficult to swallow than our fear of looking. Because what do we do if we finally see and then still don't get what we want?  “Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.”  ― W.P. Kinsella If we are constantly looking for more from this person, this moment, this object, we are not seeing anything clearly. We are seeing only what we believe we are lacking. The practice of yoga and meditation is what has enabled me to see myself, with all my outdated/outmoded survival tools, and keep seeing it until I can smile at my own folly.  Just for today, practice the art of being content.