For the last Awareness Offerings episode of 2021, I light a candle. I light it in honor and acknowledgement of the pain we've been through, to light the way forward toward goodness in the days ahead, and to help us metabolize all the experiences of this year. We discuss all of these symbolic meanings then light the flame from within through a guided breath meditation.

4:23: yoga philosophy discussion

15:49: guided breath meditation

bell hooks, revolutionary Black feminist and author who left her body the week of this recording, defined love as being about critical awakening and transformation. This week, we explore these powerful ideas through the lens of yoga philosophy and embody them through a simple, silent mantra meditation.

4:04 yoga philosophy discussion

27:05: silent mantra meditation

We typically don't judge our Mother Earth for her seasons and cycles, and I'm actively trying to reject the idea that we must judge ourselves for moving through those same cycles. As winter approaches, there is a natural turning inward and a downturn of energy. We use up more of our precious energy by judging ourselves for slowing down this time of year, and there is a lot of power in embracing the natural cycles and the lessons of "Being" that this season has to offer instead. We explore these lessons in discussion and embody them together in meditation.

4:04: yoga philosophy discussion

27:56 guided meditation

When we make mistakes, get uncomfortable and respond with the desire to over-apologize, we're working with unworthiness and unwillingness. This week, we explore what happens when we allow the discomfort of our mistakes, complete with a breath meditation for embodying a willingness to be uncomfortable so we can show more grace.

4:10: yoga philosophy discussion

23:54: guided breath meditation

This week, and in my life, I'm working with the question: what is meditation, really? When we uncomplicate the language and explore meditation at its essence, I think it is simply feeling what we feel. I share what I've learned and experienced to make the case for this definition, then we practice a breath meditation to facilitate the embodied experience of feeling what we feel.

8:28: yoga philosophy discussion

28:59: guided breath meditation

This week, in honor of Diwali and spaciousness, I'm offering a short and loving Diwali blessing and mini meditation for embracing the light of true illumination... that which helps us to be lovingly present to reality, no matter how beautiful or uncomfortable. I'll be back with a full, regular-format episode next week! Happy Diwali!

This week I examine a familiar pattern: trying to put myself in others' line of sight, especially if I have some attachment to them and don't feel that it's being reciprocated. We explore how this pattern relates to the path, practices and limbs of yoga, then sit with the question: what if we put ourselves in God's line of sight instead? What if we did sacred practice as a mechanism of deep trust? We then go into a guided breath meditation to do that very sacred practice together.

3:37: yoga philosophy discussion

24:41: guided breath meditation

In this week's episode, I explore my relationship to and understanding of The Mother, one name for God or the Sacred. Together, we examine the various qualities and iconography associated with The Mother, the ways she is accessible far beyond the gender binary, and different methods of connecting with Her. Then, we connect to Her through a guided mantra and meditation practice.

3:51: yoga philosophy discussion

26:30: guided mantra meditation

My teacher says that love is the only material in the universe that we have more of when we give it away. This week, we're talking about how that applies to cultural conversations around marginalized people, how we can practice embodied love in our own lives, how that shifts our hearts and ultimately benefits the world. This week's meditation is based on the Buddhist "Metta" practice of offering the energy of love as a tool for feeling love, right in the moment and no matter what.

3:56 Yoga Philosophy Discussion

22:19 Guided Love Meditation

This week, I'm making the bold statement that awareness is not enough, bold because I've based my life, my work and my podcast on the concept of awareness. With real-world examples, I'm explaining why it's not enough to just be aware of our patterns, and how we can go beyond just awareness to embody transformation for ourselves, our relationships and our world. Then, we practice a guided meditation for looking inward and outward at the same time, cultivating awareness then taking it with us into action.

4:14: yoga philosophy discussion

32:26: guided meditation