June 2022 week 4

Today, June 21 is summer solstice, the longest day of the year!
“Connect with the sun that keeps you bright and alive.
Accept the fire that burns away all you have outgrown, all that no longer serves you.
Release it by using your new power, and welcome the future into your present because TODAY is a TURNING POINT for you and for all.
Say yes to the light, YOUR light.” Healthruwords.com

As we close out our studies on Brachmacharya, non excess at the same time we start our summer lets look at our “excesses”! Are we carrying any burdens into the lightness of the summer? Excessive focus on worries, fears, regrets? Excessive eating or drinking that is not making us feel like our best selves? Excessive activities that take us out of our present selves? How about our yoga and meditation practices?
“Brachmacharya on our mat is suppleness of spirit, it is letting go of our rigidity that we have created on our mat. the root of all attachment is fear, and a fear driven practice gets us hurt or gets us nowhere at all. Brachmacarya on the mat is the sensitivity to these attachments. Where and in what manner am I out of balance. Do I practice to show up for life or to hide from it? Do I practice too often or not enough? Am I pushing myself too much or not enough?
On and off the mat, Brahmacarya is personal responsibility.” Rolf Gates

This of course is perfect for me to reflect on right now. First, I am nursing an inflamed elbow and have taken my excessive activity level to zero for a full week and its getting old lol!!! I am thankful for this practice as it allows me the inner fortitude to simply rest and say no when I need to - something even a few years ago was almost impossible for me. The next step for me is to question - why is that so hard for me? Why can’t I listen to my body when I need to curb my activities? Great food for thought me me!
How are you doing on the mat? Are you pushing yourself too hard or short changing yourself by not doing enough?
This also applies to my social life going forward as summer starts. This was our first year living full-time in our beach town and what an amazing year it was! Now as the town fills up with family and friends I need to maintain my daily sadhana (committed spiritual practice) first thing in the morning and connect with my inner self so I can move into my day in a peaceful, non excessive way in all I do. If I do this I know that - Today I am Meant to Live in Peace! And my summer will be amazing!!!!

“If you want to practice moderation - spend less, eat more slowly, cut your to do list in half, make a beginning. We will have the degree of grace in our lives that we permit ourselves to have.” RG