Butterflies and Ripples
OFF THE MAT
Weekly Thought Offering:
If you want it to grow- give it away.
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“For the want of a nail the shoe was lost,
For the want of a shoe the horse was lost,
For the want of a horse the rider was lost,
For the want of a rider the battle was lost,
For the want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
And all for the want of a horseshoe-nail.”
- B Franklin
Weekly Journal Prompts:
Something I don’t think I have enough of right now is….
If I gave that thing away it would look like…
When I imagine the impact that would have on the other person, I feel….
Something I want for the people of the Ukraine is…
I can send it to them from my own corner of the world by….
Weekly Mantra:
Every. Thing. Matters.
When I give it away, it grows.
JUMP TO THE FLOW BELOW OR READ ON!
Hello Sadhakas,
The unjust war on The Ukraine has many of us thinking about what we can do and how we can help. It likely also has us feeling guilty and like there is nothing we can do in our little lives with our little scope of reach. I know I have been struggling with those thoughts. Who am I to be enjoying this hot cup of coffee, safe while my children sleep in their beds? These thoughts bring me back to my tests, to my teachers, to my practice, to my angels seeking guidance.
Here are the two big messages I keep getting from all of them
1. If you want something to grow, give it away.
2. Remember that one person, one grain of sand, one drop of water, when we put them together add up to huge things.
So this week both ON and OFF THE MAT, I am asking you to practice these things. ON THE MAT in our second week of half moon, we will look at the lifted leg and can we tap into the strength we need to light her higher, to let her sore. We find the strength deep in our side body core to connect the torso to the lifted leg and find neutral in that lifted leg rather that a sagging or hanging back behind you leg. You find strength and you give it away. We will also find one small move in the beginning of class and we will watch her grow into the fullness of the pose by the end of the class.
OFF THE MAT, I ask you to remember that you are a grain of sand, and a drop of water, and one single cell in the collective that is humanity on this planet right now. That might make you feel small but remember the power that one cell can have. Just one cell misbehaving can allow a cancer to begin to grow. Just as one person has the ability to spark destruction, so can one person spark light and peace that will overturn the darkness. Do not hide you light or cover it and keep it. Give all that you would keep away and watch it grow. Watch your simple act of kindness change another person’s day, which changes the day of all those they touch, and so on and so on.
I also ask you to pass this email onto someone. Or to share an aspect of your mindfulness journey. The more we spread this practice the more our world will brighten.
With great respect and love,
Nicole
