Paradox by Jeff Dickson The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less […]

For a New Beginning by John O’Donohue In out-of-the-way places of the heart, Where your thoughts never think to wander, This beginning has been quietly forming, Waiting until you were ready to emerge. For a long time it has watched your desire, Feeling the emptiness growing inside you, Noticing how you willed yourself on, Still unable […]

For a New Beginning by John O’Donohue

In out-of-the-way places of the heart,

Where your thoughts never think to wander,

This beginning has been quietly forming,

Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire,

Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,

Noticing how you willed yourself on,

Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety

And the gray promises that sameness whispered,

Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,

Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,

And out you stepped onto new ground,

Your eyes young again with energy and dream,

A path of plenitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not yet clear

You can trust the promise of this opening;

Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning

That is at one with your life’s desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure;

Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;

Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,

For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

~ John O’Donohue

From: To Bless the Space Between Us

We can always begin again. Each breath we take is an opportunity to start over. Each day we wake up to a fresh new start.

Inherent in John O’Donohue’s poem is that each beginning involves a willingness to let go of a part of ourselves that is not longer working for us. It takes courage to let go of the known. As the saying goes, better the devil you know than you don’t. No matter how painful it can be safer to deal with the familiar and known rather than risk unknown territory.

One of my favourite ways to deal with the fear of stepping into unknown territory, to gather courage and to step into new beginnings is through the Hindu God Ganesh. The reason I love the myth and symbolism of Ganesh, is that really it teaches us what we all have inside ourselves and the archetypal stories are a way to help us understand ourselves better. Ganesh is known as the remover of obstacles and Lord of new beginnings. As the remover of obstacles Ganesh can clear the way for us to move forward. Ironically, Ganesh is also known to place obstacles on our path that will teach us how to move forward as well.

Gaensh has 180 degree vision, both into the past and the future. He encourages us to stop and look at where we have come from and where we want to go. Ganesh has small eyes and big ears, encouraging us to turn our attention inwards and listen. When we listen deeply to our hearts longing, we will know the way forward to our new beginning.

Ganesh has a huge belly, this is not only for filling with sweets, it is said that Ganesh holds the whole universe in his belly and that is why it is so big and round

Mary Oliver Wild Geese

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

In our culture, especially in the context of social media, there is a tremendous amount of pressure to perform, please and be perfect. Social media puts the pressure on us to show that we can create the perfect meals, the perfect homes, have the perfect hairstyles, makeup, clothes and go on the perfect vacations. We crave the praise and approval of our followers, looking for likes and comments, believing that when we gain the approval and likes of others we ourselves will feel happy and light up from inside.

In this poem, Mary Oliver reminds us,

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

You do not have to be good, you do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles, you only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves, the world will go on.

As we remember from the Inner Critic series when it comes to perfectionism, there are no priorities, our inner perfectionist will require us to be perfect in all areas of our life. This poem reminds us that our self worth is not dependent on our productivity, accomplishments or outward appearances. We can become aware of negative internal dialogue and practice appreciation for ourselves as the wild geese do. This poem reminds us that the wild geese announce our place in the family of things. We all have our place in the natural world, our place of being, not doing, and our interdependent world is dependent on our being.

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

Props Needed: yoga blocks, yoga strap, meditation cushion or chair,

Yoga Postures/Asanas: Supported Fish Pose or Salamba Matsyasana, Knee Sways, Keyhole Stretch, Shoulder Release, Cat Pose or Marjaryasana, Crawling, Kneeling Sun Salutations, Tadasana or Mountain Pose, Tree Pose or Vrksasana, Sun Salutation with Cloud Salutation, Goddess Victory Squat or Utkata Konasana, Downward Facing Dog or Adho Mukha Svanasana, Gomukhasana or Cow’s Face Pose, Savasana or Corpse Pose

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Mary Oliver Wild Geese You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. […]

Gratitude

So Many Gifts by Hafiz

There are so many gifts

Still unopened from your birthday

there are so many hand-crafted presents

that have been sent to you by God.

The Beloved does not mind repeating,

“Everything I have is also yours.”

Please forgive Hafiz and the Friend

if we break into a sweet laughter

when your heart complains of being thirsty

when ages ago

every cell in your soul

capsized forever

into this infinite golden sea.

Indeed,

a lover’s pain is like holding one’s breath

too long

in the middle of a vital performance,

in the middle of one of Creation’s favorite songs.

Indeed, a lover’s pain is this sleeping,

this sleeping,

when God just rolled over and gave you

such a big good-morning kiss!

There are so many gifts, my dear,

still unopened from your birthday.

O, there are so many hand-crafted presents

that have been sent to your life

from God.

By Hafiz

This week we are inspired by Hafiz to open the doors of awareness to all the gifts that we have available to us in our lives. As we practice yoga we can bring awareness to all of its manifestations. Each breath we take is a gift. Bring your attention to your physical body. The very fact that you can get on a yoga mat and move your physical body is a miracle. Reflect on all the tasks that your body does for you automatically, your heart circulates blood through your body, your digestive system is working for you, your immune system, your hair is growing, your fingernails are growing, your eyebrows are keeping sweat out of your eyes and your eyelashes are keeping dust out of your eyes. Your body is a miracle.

Your mind is a miracle. You can bring awareness to all that you have been granted without any cost to you. You can set your intention. You can visualize. You have access to this video and the information in it. You can take the teachings from this class with you and off your mat and into your life.

You have energy that you can cultivate through your breath, your food and yoga. You have your emotions that can act as a barometer for your experience, that you can ride like a wave. You have your innate spirit which you can connect with awaken through your spiritual practices such as yoga and meditation.

So many gifts as Hafiz says. What gifts do you want to take a moment to reflect on right now. What are you grateful for in this moment?

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

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Today’s question to answer in the comments is: What gifts are you recognizing as a result of your yoga practice today?

If you would like an infographic of my top 3 benefits of engaging with poetry then scroll down to the opt in box and type in your email address. We will send you a beautiful infographic of my 3 benefits of engaging with poetry.

Promotion: If you would like another class like this one to support you in easing anxiety. Then I would highly recommend our brand new,

Gratitude So Many Gifts by Hafiz There are so many gifts Still unopened from your birthday there are so many hand-crafted presents that have been sent to you by God. The Beloved does not mind repeating, “Everything I have is also yours.” Please forgive Hafiz and the Friend if we break into a sweet laughter […]

Be Danced

We have come to be danced

not the pretty dance

not the pretty pretty, pick me, pick me dance

but the claw our way back into the belly

of the sacred, sensual animal dance

Jewel Mathieson

Weekly Yoga with Melissa West 339 Poetry in Motion: Be Danced

we have come to be danced. jewel mathieson.

We have come to be danced

not the pretty dance

not the pretty pretty, pick me, pick me dance

but the claw our way back into the belly

of the sacred, sensual animal dance

the unhinged, unplugged, cat is out of its box dance

the holding the precious moment in the palms

of our hands and feet dance

We have come to be danced

not the jiffy booby, shake your booty for him dance

but the wring the sadness from our skin dance

the blow the chip off our shoulder dance

the slap the apology from our posture dance

We have come to be danced

not the monkey see, monkey do dance

one, two dance like you

one two three, dance like me dance

but the grave robber, tomb stalker

tearing scabs & scars open dance

the rub the rhythm raw against our souls dance

WE have come to be danced

not the nice invisible, self conscious shuffle

but the matted hair flying, voodoo mama

shaman shakin’ ancient bones dance

the strip us from our casings, return our wings

sharpen our claws & tongues dance

the shed dead cells and slip into

the luminous skin of love dance

We have come to be danced

not the hold our breath and wallow in the shallow end of the floor dance

but the meeting of the trinity: the body, breath & beat dance

the shout hallelujah from the top of our thighs dance

the mother may I?

yes you may take 10 giant leaps dance

the Olly Olly Oxen Free Free Free dance

the everyone can come to our heaven dance

We have come to be danced

where the kingdom’s collide

in the cathedral of flesh

to burn back into the light

to unravel, to play, to fly, to pray

to root in skin sanctuary

We have come to be danced

WE HAVE COME

This gorgeous poem by Jewel Mathieson speaks to embracing the world as it is as Pema Chodron would say. With these teachings we agree to show up fully for all of life. We don’t run away from any experience, we refuse to accept anything. Pema Chodron describes it as a complete acceptance and surrender to every sight, sound, thought, experience, person, smell and taste we are experiencing and encountering in each moment.

The Poem, Be Danced speaks to a kind of openness to all of life, situations, experiences and emotions and a willingness to experience them fully with complete authenticity. There is a refusal to reject any part of the experience. With this dance you are turning toward your experience rather than away from it.

There is a willingness to seek the basic goodness and the intrinsic good in the world when you open yourself up to be danced. You may not like everything you encounter, but when you come back to the present moment and to exactly what you are experiencing your attitude may shift.

When I was writing the lesson plans for this class, I could feel myself getting agitated by the sound of power tools in the background. I took a breath and listened to the sound of the hedge trimmer. That moment of listening allowed my attention to shift from being annoyed...

Be Danced We have come to be danced not the pretty dance not the pretty pretty, pick me, pick me dance but the claw our way back into the belly of the sacred, sensual animal dance Jewel Mathieson Weekly Yoga with Melissa West 339 Poetry in Motion: Be Danced we have come to be danced. […]

Holding on and Letting Go

“Embracing, We Let Go”

by Yahia Lababidi

Perhaps, we are negotiating

not just with one, but always two

-who share the same soil, it is true-

one who lives, another who is dying

A shift in balance begins to take place

once a love of silence is confessed

its roots run deep, its shade a world

and her fruits impossible to forget

From the first, we surrender something

and, gradually, consent to be emptied

transfixed by so much soundless music

drunk and sated through lipless mouths

What use to name this silent master

preparing us for dying or the Divine

(I’m not sure there is a difference)

but know in embracing, we let go.

This week on Weekly Yoga with Melissa West we are focusing on letting go. I love this poem, because it points to the delicate process of letting go, the acceptance, the willingness to surrender and to be transfixed by the process.

What stands out to me about this beautiful poem is that there is a balance in letting go. All is not lost when we let go. We do not have to throw the baby out with the bathwater so to speak. We can choose to release and yet, as Yahia Lababidi says, there is one who lives, another who is dying. With any death comes a rebirth.

And even more than that, the most poignant and final line in the poem Yahia Lababidi says, “but know in embracing, we let go.” While there may always be some parts of us that are dying, some parts that we are releasing and letting go, we are also always choosing which parts with which we are connecting more deeply. When we choose to let go, we are also choosing what parts to take with us in our rebirth.

Through the practice of yoga, we are continually releasing all that no longer serves us, all the ego constructs, in order to come closer to our True Self. As I see it, any ending, any letting go, is also an embracing of our True Divine nature.

Props Needed: Bolster, 2 blocks, meditation cushion or chair

Yoga Postures/Asanas: Reclined Bound Angle Pose or Supta Baddha Konasana, Windshield wiper legs, Reclined Side Bend, Supta Matsyendrasana or Reclined Knee Bent Twist, Cat Pose or Marjaryasana, Pushan Mudra, Shoulder Shrugs – let go of shoulder tension, that which is not your own, Tree Pose or Vrksasana, Side Bending Tree Pose, Peaceful Warrior or Shanti Virabhadrasana, Humble Warrior, Downward Facing Dog or Adho Mukha Svanasana, Fish Pose or Matsyasana, Reclined Matsyendrasana, Bound angle or Supta Baddha Konasana, Lion´s Breath or Simhasana, Savasana or Corpse Pose

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

Did you like today’s show?

* Share it with a friend, family member or email it to a coworker.

* Like

* Subscribe to our channel. Subscribe to my Living Your Yoga Channel

* Please leave us a 5-star review on Itunes

* Leave your comment below.

Thank you for your donations: Diane, Donna, Carol

Thank you for your continued kindness and generous support. It helps us to produce this show and offer a free one hour yoga class every Friday.

Today’s question to answer in the comments is: What are you holding onto? What are you letting go of?

If you would like an infographic of my top 3 benefits of engaging with poetry then type in your email address in the box below and we will send you a beautiful infographic of my 3 benefits of engaging with poetry.

Today we focused on holding on and letting go. Right now in our membership community we are focusing on yoga for digestion. We have several yoga classes that will assist you in assimilating an...