Warriors of Hope

WELL.

WE MADE IT THROUGH THIS WEEK, DIDN'T WE?

How are you? How are your feelings? Have you taken any deep breaths lately?

I was looking back at last week's words, and it feels like, who even was the person who wrote it, everything has changed, I've aged a thousand years since Tuesday, I refuse to look at my phone's weekly screen time report.

and also empathy, compassion, and truth have won.

We have some new pals around these parts, so if this is the first missive you've gotten from me:

OH HEEEEEY WHAT'S UP WE ARE ALL SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!!!

Usually, I just take a few minutes to write some thoughts. About yoga or about life but actually about both because they aren't separate.

Yoga is not just a thing we do.

It is not just stretching or downdog or handstands on cliffs (lol, never me, but cute for those people).

The practices of yoga bring us home to ourselves.

And when you know your deepest most true most honorable most good Self?

Then you're able to know your dharma.

The way you (the You that is your deepest You) are being called to show up in the world and serve.

We are all being called on to show up.

When one of us suffers, all of us suffer.

So we show up.

We show up on the mat, making and taking the time to move and breathe and study ourselves.

We show up for loved ones closest to us.

We show up for neighbors.

We show up for people we don't know.

We show up for people who challenge our belief in goodness.

We show up for all beings around the world, with wishes for their wellness.

Even when it's hard.

Especially when it's hard.

It's not an accident we practice warrior poses.

The Bhagavad Gita, a foundational ancient yoga text, tells the story of a warrior, Arjuna. He is poised on the brink of a (righteous) war, but does not want to fight. Krishna stands by his side and shows Arjuna that he cannot shy away from his dharma. That he must summon courage and faith, to fight for justice.

OH HEY. IT'S ALL A METAPHOR, YA KNOW? BUT ALSO NOT ALWAYS METAPHORICAL.

Sometimes it's about our internal battle between best intentions and most selfish instincts.

Sometimes it's about an external 'battle' to protect the most vulnerable and fight the most wicked.

May we be bold warriors for compassion.

And now.

NOW NOW NOW. SOON.

We can fight from a place of hope, rather than desperation.

((DANCE PARTY))