Samhain Moon Meditation: A Light in the Dark
As I type, an autumn wind causes the leaves outside my window to fall silently through golden sunlight. The invisible moon has entered Scorpio at zero degrees marking a traditional period of depth, tending and remembering. Personally, I get more than a little excited about this, because I have a nocturnal astrological chart illuminated by the moon in Scorpio, so I’ve learned to honor this transit as a particularly important time for solitude, stillness, a vigil in darkness, dream interpretation and intuition. All of which I recommend.
A goddess of earth + sky
Have you met Amber Monson? She’s an elite aerialist, who happens to be a personal friend of mine, a Pilates instructor and yoga teacher with a passion for adventure. Amber knows that movement is a gateway to deeper connection with ourselves, so I’m happy she’ll be returning to Amorgos, Greece, May 9 - 16 to lead the “sky” portion of our Earth + Sky retreat. Meanwhile, I’ll anchor our days with grounded yoga, mythology and meditation appropriate for both beginners and experienced practitioners, women and men. All are welcome.
How Yoga Works
I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed that most people who start a yoga practice believe it will bring them benefits like stress relief; flexibility and well-being. All that is true. But in the decade or more that I’ve been teaching, no practitioner ever has said to me, “I started yoga in order to bring up my demons; my unseen patterns and unresolved fears.
Well friends, here’s a best kept secret: Yoga does both. It will revitalize your body, mind and spirit almost immediately, and if you stay dedicated to practicing, it also will agitate the toxic feelings you’ve buried or been conditioned to hide, and bring them to the surface for you, and probably all those around you, to see. THIS is how transformation actually works. And guess what; yogis have known this little secret forever. And because it’s Scorpio season, I think it’s a good time to unpack the story of how poison is powerful.
From Myth to Mat: How The Odyssey Teaches yoga
When I realized our MYTHOS retreat site, Lefkada Island, is believed to have once been Ithaca, the fabled home of Odysseus in The Odyssey, I knew this retreat would be a modern Journey of Self-Discovery. Homer’s epic poem easily can be seen through a yogic perspective, because so many of its themes restate yogic philosophy and practice.
Add a few mythic characters like Circe, Calypso, Penelope and Athena to our list of teachers, and away we go.
Hero's Journey
The Odyssey is a metaphor for the spiritual journey of the individual, much like the hero's journey in yoga where one seeks self-realization and inner transformation, as exemplified by Arjuna in the Bagavhad Gita. Odysseus' quest to return home can be likened to the yogi's journey toward personal understanding and connection with the true self.
Obstacles and Challenges
Throughout his story, Odysseus faces numerous challenges and obstacles on his 10-year quest for home. Similarly, the practice of yoga often involves overcoming physical, mental, and emotional obstacles to reach a state of inner peace and balance.
Dharma and Duty
In the epic, Odysseus is portrayed as a hero who upholds his dharma (duty) despite the challenges he faces. In yoga, practitioners are encouraged to live in alignment with their dharma and fulfill their responsibilities while staying connected to their inner wisdom.
Mindfulness and Presence
The concept of mindfulness and presence is central to both yoga and The Odyssey. Odysseus' ability to stay focused, present, and aware in the face of trials reflects the importance of being mindful and present in the practice of yoga.
Symbolism and Allegory
The characters, settings, and events in The Odyssey can be interpreted symbolically and allegorically, much like the rich symbolism found in yogic texts and teachings. Exploring these deeper layers can offer insights into the human experience and spiritual growth.
Union and Harmony
The ultimate goal of yoga is union – union of the individual self with the universal self, and union of mind, body, and spirit. In The Odyssey, Odysseus' reunion with his family and homeland can be seen as a metaphor for the attainment of union and harmony within oneself.
I’m so excited to create an embodied retelling of this story to help participants uncover deeper meanings, insights, and parallels with their own spiritual journey and inner transformation. This is the essence of the timeless poem and the enduring practice of yoga on and off the mat.
South Asia: Take Aways and Leave Behinds
