I share this as a student of yantra, not a teacher. I’ve been working on this yantra of Kamala or Lakshmi, the goddess of abundance, for some time – but just now I am finding the time to nurture her. It’s a work in progress and I am drawn to keep refining her details. The yantras always blossom in my life in interesting ways and Kamala/Lakshmi is no exception. Today in Marin the smell of the flowers is extraordinary and the time to clean the kitchen properly after a meal (like my mother used to do) shows up as a luxury I’ve overlooked for decades. Honest reckoning of my budget, once a scary task, is now an opportunity to embrace the precious wisdom of discernment – even though the numbers might appear to be dismal to some eyes. I’ve cycled through times of restriction before, I’ve learned to appreciate the power of making choices about what to keep and what to let go of. The clarity to refine well is sometimes absent until the moment our backs are at the wall. Many times in life I’ve had the painful experience of having things events or people torn away from me. Now, looking back on it, I can see how my relationship with what was removed was obstructing my growth and the fulfillment of my potential. I’m enjoying that sifting process, that exercise in discernment, and loving releasing that which has served me well and is not part of this new beginning. It amazes me, always, that sometimes we can have everything and feel like we have nothing, and then sometimes we have nothing and it feels like we have everything . I believe this is what Lakshmi is teaching me. I recognize her in the luxury of cleaning the kitchen, for a Goddess who governs caring for our material well-being will always guide us to care well for what we have. Our kitchens, our monies, our bodies and the planet we all share.
On Saturday we will complete our introduction to the triad of foundational practices, Svadyaya (Self-reflection), Ishwara Pranidnani (willingness in relationship with our higher power) and Tapah (the process of choosing to give up something for love). I can think of no better reflection to cultivate in these days of pandemic than to embrace these three powerful practices of discernment,
My schedule is changing! This week is the last, 90 minute, Saturday evening class. Starting Sunday, April 26, 2020, all my YogaWorks classes will be one hour. Starting Monday May 4, 2020 at 4 PM PDT I will be teaching an independent, 80 minute, by donation Zoom class.
Schedule as follows, further info on this week’s class to come…
Saturday April 25th, 6:15 PM PDT 90 minutes YogaWorks Live…Tapah
Sunday April 26th, 1:30 -2:30 PDT, 60 minutes, YogaWorks Live
Tuesday April 28th 7:30-8:30 PM PDT, 60 minutes YogaWorks Live
Saturday May 2, 6:00-7:00: PDT 60 minutes YogaWorks Live
Sunday May 3, 1:30-2:30 PDT, 60 minutes, YogaWorks Live
Monday May 4, 4 PM PDT, 80 minutes, on Zoom, link to follow. By donation. .
Natalie Ullmann 