Elemental Awareness: As Above, So Below

My wife, son and I are preparing to relocate to an old country home outside of town in Sandford, Nova Scotia. We have been doing our research in an experiential sense. We have spent time in the woods outside the home, on the ancient rocky beach and in the fields (Yes, the local ticks have introduced themselves to us). Spending time outside as a family has been amazing, it really feels as though Spring has sprung. Getting close to nature may be the best reminder of the simplicity of life that escapes us in our busy days. Most ancient cultures tend to observe life as an interplay of fundamental elements: earth, water, fire, air and ether. In the yogic system we have centers for each element in the body. I have been considering the action or non-action of each of these elements:

EARTH is STABLE like the ROCK

WATER FLOWS DOWNWARD like the RIVER

FIRE RISES UPWARD like the CANDLE FLAME

AIR EXPANDS in all directions (like filling a jar)

ETHER PERVADES all and is the most subtle

As we go through our day today let's notice the interplay of the elements, the natural world is the greatest teacher offering tremendous insight into ourselves as individuals and our relatedness with others. Remember those potent words that come to us from a variety of sources but known as Hermetic Law, "As Above, So Below". By understanding the process of life that we witness in the natural world we will gain insight into our own interiority, into who we are.

Namaste,

Steve
Yogi Jayanta

Ether

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Hello All,

I hope you are each celebrating the healing, transformational, liberating, soothing, relaxing, energizing, vitalizing, simplifying, unifying experience of GRATITUDE on this special day. Gratitude is the antidote to the isolation and separation of the ego-mind. Spending some time everyday in silent gratitude will add years to your life and spaciousness to your day regardless of what is going on in your world. If gratitude is hard to find then dig deeper, get simple and come to yoga class!

We will wrap up our exploration of the 5 elements of the yogic system with the most subtle element of ETHER. The Sanskrit word for this element is Akasha and may also be interpreted as space. The throat center is the focal point of the ether element in the body. To activate this element begin by inhaling as you raise your shoulders to your ears and exhale as you lower them away from the ears with an audible sigh. Feel the vibration of your voice in the back of the throat. Do this three times. Next raise your chin towards the stars (they are still there in the day time), let the shoulders fall naturally away from the ears and look up. Try to see the space between here and there, soften your gaze and concentrate your attention...you may just perceive this most subtle building block of the universe...ETHER.

See you tonight as we explore the spaciousness within your own being, 7pm at the Milo Boathouse.

Namaste

Steve

Yogi Jayanta