Seattle Yogini

Seattle Heat & Going With It

In my imagination, this is what the contents of my head now look like.

After almost a week of 90+ degree heat outside (85+ degrees in our home), thoughts are fuzzy, digestion is poor, sleep is negligible, fuses are short, curiosity is dampened.

And yet...

Speed is slower, relaxation is necessary, compassion is abundant, patience is in practice, surrender is respected.

We chose to "go with it" rather than fight it.  We have no tools for such a fight, anyway.  Nor do we have the inclination.  And so, going with it, we arm ourselves with personal insight, our best effort, and surrender to the Divine.

Maybe this heat wave is like a cleanse for the whole region.  Maybe we're burning off excess, or some blockages...something.  Maybe we will be left with a greater sense of clarity, purpose, and presence. 

 

Maybe our hearts will be laid bare, strong and vibrant for all the world to feel.

This Shawl & Surrendering "The Plan"

This is a photo of the new lace shawl that I am working on...intended as an August 15 gift for my teacher, Mirra.  That yarn is just a teeny bit heftier than thread.  My plan is to knit at least two pattern repeats per day.  That's 6 rows per pattern repeat, and each row is progressively longer.  Right now it takes me about 30 minutes to do an entire 6 rows, but it will take progressively longer to meet my goal as the shawl grows.

This newest "knitting under deadline" project comes at an interesting time.  For the last two weeks or so I have been focused - in my meditation, my prayer, and in daily living - on surrendering attachment to my plans, time lines, goals and generally having things my way.

I harbor resentment for plans I laid many years ago that are not working out the way that I wanted.  This resentment is getting in the way.

When I can let go of the plan - and the residual resentment for what appears unfulfilled - I have clarity for the beautiful plan of the Divine.  I can see that there is a path for me that is much more beautiful than what I tried to create on my own.  I don't always understand the path or the plan, but I have faith that as I learn to surrender my plans, I will feel the inner guidance toward greater plans and loftier goals.

My plans were created by my mind, not by my heart.

I want to live from my heart.  In order to better do that, I must continually practice stilling and silencing my mind, my ego, those inner voices that lay out plans, goals and time lines that are self-serving rather than Self/God/Creation-serving.

I don't know if I will be able to complete this shawl in the amount of time I believe that I have.  I do know, however, that I will finish it.  It will be gifted in its time.  Along the way I will continue to practice letting go of that plan.  Each opportunity to practice helps in the bigger struggle of releasing bigger attachments.

And if it's late?  Well, I know that Mirra will understand.

Spiritual Lessons in the Kitchen

It is cooler today, only 69 degrees in the house so far.  We're thankful for the break...clouds coming in off the Sound.  The east end of the state is covered in smoke from B.C. fires, but so far Seattle - while dry - has not suffered that fate.  Still, the fire bans will start this week...just to be on the safe side.

Seattle summers are poorly understood.  For all the moisture we slowly but steadily accrue throughout the year, one drizzly day after another, we have equal amounts of drought in the short intense days of summer.  We knew it would be bad this year; our spring was unusually dry.  All that snow this winter didn't add up enough, or melted too quickly in the rains, or simply didn't cover enough of the mountains to fill our rivers and streams to the levels needed to last through till fall.

Hot, dry, breezy days are great for drying our laundry au naturel.  The line out back was full, so this load had to dry inside.

We had a heat wave a couple of weeks ago.  It was around 86 degrees in the house.  The timing was a challenge, as it was the day I had planned to pit and pie a bag of fresh local cherries that were gifted to us.  The pitting was fine - messy and sticky, but cool because I did it poised on the back stairs enjoying a breeze.  The pastry?  The pastry was a challenge.

Buttery flour warmed too quickly under my rolling pin.  Back into the fridge it went.  I pulled it out and tried again - knowing this would be my last chance with this batch.  It had to either work this time, or go into the composter and...did I even have enough butter for another batch of pastry?  I focused and let go, all at once.  Focus on the task at hand, give it your best, but let go of attachment to the outcome.  This is a lesson for my whole life.  This is my yoga practice at work in my daily activities, reminding me to be gracious, grateful, patient and resourceful.  Then to offer all of that, surrender it to the Divine and trust.

Yes, of course this was "just a pie", but the point is that we can learn such wonderful lessons in the seemingly mundane activities of everyday life.  We must want to learn!

The second time was a charm, just barely, as the pastry stuck to the counter in places.  Like the bits of myself that I have left here and there.  Next came the top crust, which had chilled longer and been handled less, but still warmed too quickly.  It molded itself to the fruit as soon as the pie plate hit the oven rack: 

 

It still tasted good.  We called it a "rustic look".

That baking day reminded me to be thankful.  Thankful for the cherries, butter, flour, sugar.  Thankful for the heat, and its lessons in focus, tolerance, patience and surrender.

Where do you find your daily lessons?

Pause for the Cause - Support for Midwifery

Sri Aurobindo wrote, "All Life is Yoga".  What he meant was that the work to bring harmony and union into our lives is done through every aspect of life, not just the time we spend doing our asana practice.  The bigger work of yoga - seeing, supporting and manifesting the Divine in all matter - must be done through every aspect of life, in each moment and with each breath.  This statement conveys the empowerment and responsibility that each person has to continually grow, inspire, and connect.

Today I am writing to beseech you to participate in a grassroots movement to persuade the federal government to support the Midwifery Model of Care in upcoming healthcare reforms.  Specifically, the intention is to mandate Medicaid coverage for CPM (Certified Professional Midwife/"Direct Entry Midwife") care...a step that would greatly increase the overall recognition of the outstanding level of care women and infants receive from Midwives.

We will need all the support we can get, as the AMA (American Medical Association) and ACOG (American College of Gynecologists), both large, vocal and well-funded industry associations/lobbyists are opposed to midwifery and homebirth (not all midwife-attended births are homebirths, but it is nearly impossible to have anyone but a midwife attend a homebirth).  Their position is not a fact-based position, but rather a $$$- and power-based one.  In contrast, it is notable that the World Health Organization's position is clearly for the midwifery model of care.

I strongly believe that the way we treat conception, pregnancy, labor, mamas and newborn babies has the potential to heal, or set us up for a great deal of hardship.  Gentle birthing practices that respect the mother and child individually and as a dyad are imperative.  With cesarian sections at 33% of births nationwide (an appalling statistic that merely represents the nation's average), the concept of "informed consent" questionable (to say the least), misinformation and mistreatment of women's (and babies') bodies rampant, we have reached a very low point in our method of welcoming new life.

The midwifery model of care must be secured as an option for those who seek safe, supportive, self-directed labor and delivery experiences.  Whether one personally chooses to use a midwife or not, the option must remain available for all families.

We have just about a week to make our voices heard.  Please review the statement below, from the Seattle Midwifery School.  Put your values of non-violence and compassion to good use and click through the link to voice your support.

Namaste,
Kelly

From the Seattle Midwifery School:

"We are at a moment in history that could affect the future of midwifery for decades.  We have the opportunity to positively influence health care legislation to ensure access to midwifery care or be left behind as details of a reformed system are established in law in the next few months.  

The M.A.M.A. campaign is a historic coalition of the key midwifery and consumer organizations in the U.S. unified behind the goal of achieving federal recognition of Certified Professional Midwives.  Our specific goal in the next weeks is inserting an amendment into the health care bills that are moving through congress right now to mandate Medicaid coverage for CPM services on the federal level.  

This multi-faceted campaign is being directed by a steering committee of dedicated volunteers, and paid staff: an experienced lobbyist in Washington D.C., campaign coordinator and a project consultant with national health care reform experience and connections.

This week Amber Ulvenes, lobbyist for the Midwives' Association of Washington State and a midwifery consumer, and I are participating in a country-wide "fly-in" of midwives and advocates to DC to work with the campaign's federal lobbyist to amend this language into the Senate Finance bill when it goes to committee mark-up the week of June 22nd.

In addition to mobilizing grass roots support, right now funds are urgently needed to sustain this work through the next few months when legislation is being drafted.

If you believe midwifery care represents a vital resource in a reformed U.S. health care system and support access to midwifery care for all women, please join us!

What you can do now:

1. Visit the new M.A.M.A. Campaign website at www.mamacampaign.org.   Sign up as an endorser, volunteer and donate!
   
   
2. Forward this message to everyone you think supports increased access to midwifery care and ask them to join the M.A.M.A. campaign also.

Numbers count.  Dollars count. This is a moment when we must mobilize all available resources!

Thank you,

Seattle Midwifery School Midwifery Education Chair
Board of Directors, National Association of Certified Professional Midwives"

What's Your Hurry? On slowing down and living better.

The speed of life is getting faster and faster.  Jobs require more hours, children are more "scheduled", physical fitness requires a "work out" to make up for hours of sitting.  We run, we talk on cell phones while driving, we eat "fast" food, we TIVO, we run to and fro.  The prevailing belief is that we might miss out on something were we to slow down.  "How can I fit more in?" seems to be the question that haunts people.

Here's the thing:  the faster you go, the more you miss out on.

Think of your life as a speeding car.  You're zooming through a landscape so quickly that, when you look out the window, all around you is a blur.  You can't see the trees, flowers, grazing deer.  You can't hear the birds' songs or feel the sweet, soft breeze on your face.  There's this idea that by going fast one can get more "done", live a more efficient life.  My question is...how well can you do it if it's done quickly? 

When did an "efficient" life become a "good" one?

I used to run around at breakneck speed.  All the better to distract myself from the disatisfaction that tainted much of my life.  I didn't want to miss out on anything, and believed that cramming lots of activities and people into each hour would protect me against that.  My pace also ensured that I would not take the time to sit down and get to know myself, connect with Spirit and learn to live in a way that would nurture me.  Essentially, the pace of my life kept my from my Self.

Now, having slowed down enough that I can feel the difference in my life, my body, my mind and spirit, I can speak from both perspectives.  Rushing through life didn't get me more life, more satisfaction or more happiness.  It got me stress, exhaustion, lethargy, poor health and lots of injuries.  Slowing down has allowed me to connect with the people, places, activities and feelings that make my life sweet.  By going through life more slowly, I am able to actually experience my life and its surroundings.  I live more by resisting the temptation to cram a lot into life.

Applying Yoga Philosophy in your life: Seva (Selfless Service)

"Applied Philosophy" is an important practice in Purna Yoga.  Knowledge that is not actually put to use is...well...pretty useless.  It just adds to the clutter of the mind.  Putting knowledge to use, however, is a practice that can enhance one's life through better understanding, healthier habits and more joyful attitudes.  I have found that learning to apply yogic philosophy in my daily life is an invaluable practice.

In new Maple Leaf Community Yoga Studio & Community Newsletter I wrote about Seva (selfless service):

"The principle of selfless service is common among all spiritual traditions.  Indeed, spiritual or not, a community functions more harmoniously when its members willingly give - of their time, energy, and other resources - in acknowledgment of the many gifts that being part of the community gives them.  In essence, Seva is a practice of non-attachment and of being in the present.  It offers us the opportunity to let go of the "what ifs" associated with the potential outcomes of giving.

An offering is selfless when the giver relinquishes concerns regarding reciprocation.  The giving is done without a sense of burden, but rather with a sense of joy and gratitude for having the opportunity to be of service...to share one's gifts and talents.  An act of Seva may be as simple as sending a card of appreciation to someone, sharing food or flowers from your garden, or donating time or money to organizations you wish to support.  We are each blessed with numerous ways in which we can serve our community, whether it is our neighborhood, our yoga community, our church family or another "tribe".

Take a moment to reflect on your day or week, noting the many ways in which you have engaged in Seva.  Appreciate the opportunities you have had to be of service.  Make a commitment to consciously practice Seva and...without getting hung up on the results...observe the way that giving selflessly enhances your life."

If you would like to receive the Maple Leaf Community Yoga Studio & Community Newsletter, please click on this link to view the first edition and sign up for future mailings!

Letting go...in order to grow

Growth requires a willingness to let go.  As we change, we learn that certain habits no longer serve our dharma (life's purpose), relationships must change or dissolve, the very definition by which we have lived our lives may need to be rewritten.  In the case of the latter I recommend invisible ink, that way you don't get too attached to the new definition!  In order for any of the above to happen, however, we must let go of the past, along with any attachments to outcomes or results in the future, and simply be here now...in as true a state of harmony as we can.  That state requires a lot of letting go, as well:  of stress, of the roller coaster ride of emotions, of the "monkey mind", etc.

In class last night, Aadil said something that really stuck with me:

"Let go of your willingness to accept stress."

My mind hiccuped at first in indignation (it cracks me up when my mind is indignant).  "'Willingness'?"  It scoffed, sounding oh-so pitiable and crossing its arms defensively.  "I beg your pardon!  I am not stressed because I am 'willing' to be."  Then my wiser part chuckled and smiled softly at my mind, shaking its head.  My mind uncrossed its arms as understanding dawned:  "Oh, well, waitaminute.  I just now got kind of stressed out about that, didn't I?  Hhhmmm.  I can see that there's something to this."

By the way, all of that happened in about .36829 seconds.  It wasn't a long scenario or anything.  Also - as a side note - I didn't really imagine my brain having arms at the time...it just makes for good reading.

One of the most beautiful (and potentially frustrating) aspects of yoga is that it empowers us to be fully accountable for our lives.  How we feel, live, think, act, speak, etc. at each moment is the result of all of our choices up to now.  We can, at any time, choose to change.  That is an amazing potential as well as responsibility.  The fact of the matter is, we do choose to allow stress by continuing to live fast-paced lives, over-scheduling ourselves, not sleeping enough, eating poorly for our constitution, denying our spiritual lives, exposing ourselves to harmful chemicals, etc., etc.  It's just that while we make those choices, we blame the results of them on other people or forces "outside of our control".

We have the power, however, to choose differently...at any moment.  I trust that, eventually, my mind will really understand.