My Book Event at the Andover Bookstore!

Please join me at the Andover Bookstore for a reading and signing event on November 23rd! Books are currently available at the store, or bring your already-purchased copy and I will sign it for you! 

Synchronicity, Hope, and Kindness

I want to tell you what happened with my meditation class this morning. It's an example of synchronicity, which always gives me hope and faith that we really do connect to and with a power greater than ourselves. That our hearts are being listened to.

I knew I wanted to use the Metta or Lovingkindness meditation, in which we send sincere wishes for happiness to ourselves and others. Today, I felt it was important to focus on sending those intentions to OURSELVES. There are many variations of the phrases, but I use:

𝑀𝑎𝑦 𝐼 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒

𝑀𝑎𝑦 𝐼 𝑏𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑦

𝑀𝑎𝑦 𝐼 𝑏𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ𝑦

𝑀𝑎𝑦 𝐼 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 (or at peace)

I also felt drawn to finding a Mary Oliver poem as the opening seed for the class - something that would connect nicely to the Metta practice. Originally, I thought of the poem, 𝑰 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒅, and went to find it in a book of Oliver poems called 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕.

I opened the book randomly and landed on page 62, where I found the poem, 𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎.

And when I read it, I smiled, because I knew the universe had sent me to the right poem. I want to share it with you here.

May we be the ducks when we are able.

And may there be ducks to shelter US when we need it

And, kindness IS a miracle. 

The Fifth Yama: Aparigraha or Non-attachment

September is coming to a close, and so we wrap up our Yoga Month exploration of the Yamas in my Monday Morning Meditation class with the fifth yama, Aparigraha (a-par-ee-gra-ha), which means non-accumulation and non-attachment. Aparigraha is often described as freedom from materialism, greed, and possessiveness, as well as freedom from fixation on and attachment to particular outcomes.

When we flip this to an affirmative way of thinking, we talk about acceptance, generosity, openness, and equanimity. A key practice in support of this yama is the cultivation of 

In our Monday Morning Meditation class on September 20th, we'll be invited to reflect on this practice in our own lives. Class is 7:30 to 8:00am ET, online, and free.

I ask you to keep our beloved studio, owners Jennifer and Gary French, and all our teachers and students in your hearts and send them loving thoughts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The first floor studio had damage from storm surge flooding, but repairs will be underway quickly. All classes will continue online, so make sure to sign up for the online class link. 

Link for class registration: The Yoga Sanctuary