Only light can drive out darkness

I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Something to think about in this very difficult situation of keeping our world safe and establishing peace. I send my love and prayers to all of you, and hope that time will heal all hearts.

Originally posted by Charlotte Bruun, a fellow yogini and firekeeper.

A place by the water called Blue

The sound of the ocean, that rhythmic sound of ebb and flow, drawing in and out. This is what I have been listening to at Blue these past few days. It is the earth breathing. Sometimes it is soft and gentle, and other times it is stronger and deeper.The water feels like  the pulse of the earth. The sun rises over the water and peeks into my room, gently waking me.

This morning, when I opened the french doors to the deck I was greeted by an ocean breeze directly off the water and the suns warmth on my face. The light is gentle and creates colors in the sky-pinks and purples and yellows. There are sounds of all kinds of birds, because this Inn is nestled right next to the bird sanctuary on Plum Island. There are the seagulls catching the wind under their wings, but the other birds are small sparrows and birds with beaks suited for fishing. I want to sit in this comfortable chair and just be for awhile-especially with this delightful breeze, watching the people and every imaginable breed of happy dogs walking by.

My room is white. The floors, the walls, the bed, the plump, comfortable furniture.There are splashes of Blue everywhere. The woolly throw, the shells on the beach,the sapphire candles . I lit them last night as I sat by my fire. I love that the days are warm and the nights are pleasantly cool.

Blue’s yoga room is perched at Penthouse level with a panoramic view of the island. The polished wood floors, windows on three sides and a deck for outdoor yoga make it one of the most unique places to practice on the east coast. The ocean is right outside your door! You can walk on the beach in the morning and create meditations by the water, practice yoga in the bright studio, and  gather for restorative yoga and evening yoga nidra on the deck right by the water! It is our own private sanctuary.

During this visit we had a wonderful day exploring the island and making sure all the activities we want to do with you on our retreat are perfect.

The day began with  a food tasting at the Carryout Cafe and Catering, a fairly ordinary looking storefront, but inside, all kinds of aromas and fabulous food! Yum!  We sat with Paula, the owner, and sampled fresh, beautifully prepared food. There was a gazpacho soup hinting at the warm summer days to come. Among the seemingly endless dishes of food that came out of the kitchen were a unique chicken peanut soup and  strawberry and spinach salad with pralined pecans. The chef, Jessica,  is a master at blending flavors and ingredients that made our taste buds actually smile! The food was creatively prepared and the flavors extraordinary-grilled vegetable napoleons and sweet potato and kale curry. There was a delicious concoction called morning glory bread with carrots, coconut and raisins .We finished with a melon salad perfectly drizzled with mint and honey, and bite size  whoopie pies from a local bakery, Chococoa Baking Company, that melted in your mouth!

Everyone seems to be connected in this small town. I love to meet people who are living their dreams, making a living at what they love to do the most.

Last night we took a wonderful tour with Plum Islands resident birdwatcher, Sue McGrath. Her reverence for the land and the wildlife was evident. It was almost sunset as we made our way through the Parker River Wildlife Refuge. We passed middens, piles of what looked like large sand dunes but were actually the discarded shells from Native Americans dinners from hundreds of years ago. She pointed out an amazing variety of ducks with bills and legs of all lengths. We saw an  America Kestrel, a falcon, perched high in a tree, and a small bird called a Killdeer that makes it’s nest on the ground and chose a spot right next to the road. She said someone would keep a vigil as the hatching time came closer to make sure all went well. As the sun set and we made our way out of the preserve we saw deer and even a coyote!

I hope you can join us on our first retreat at this special place called Blue. The owner and manager, David,has endless energy and enthusiasm. You can find him walking the beach with his Jack Russell, Dom, or driving  a custom 5 seater electric golf cart that can take you anywhere you need to go on this tiny gem of an island. His love of the Inn, a legacy lovingly created  by his mom, Jeanne, shines through. He has made sure everything we need to relax and have an elegant and private retreat is in place. I’m going to walk on the beach now, gathering driftwood and those pearly blue and white shells. I will stand in the water and imagine you with me!

A spring surprise!

Each year during the winter season, when the trees are bare and the weather cold,  we take a walk around the property to see what tree may need rescuing from vines or brambles. One year we found a young cherry tree, pulled almost to the ground by tenacious vines. We removed what seemed like miles of the gnarly, prickly vines out of this little tree until it sprung up again, finally able to breathe. It seemed rather spindly and unhealthy, but we felt satisfied that we had given it a chance to thrive and reach for the sun once again.

As the seasons passed, we walked by, we rejoiced in knowing that by allowing this little tree to have some space to spread it’s branches, it had grown to a healthy, balanced tree. This morning, as we took our walk, enjoying this beautiful gift of a day, we walked by this tree and saw a new vine trying to once again grab the tree and  drag down the branches.

As we began to pull it out,  to our surprise we saw nestled snugly in the crook of its branches a beautiful nest, expertly woven and lined with soft grasses. Even better, as we looked closer, we saw three precious eggs! We left quietly, so to not alarm the mother, delighted that by saving this scrawny tree one cold, winter’s day, we were able to see this amazing gift of life a few springs later. No matter how dragged down we get, it is never too late to pull out those vines, and see all the blessings hidden underneath. Start pulling!

Bake Sale for Japan

What a wonderful yoga community we have! We just sent a check off to Bake Sale  for Japan for $1280 !! What a surprise this was, our little studio with a virtual army of bakers bringing beautiful cakes and cookies, delightfully packaged crumb cakes and apple cakes, brownies and cookies. We even had doggie treats for sale! Students were carrying out groaning bags of baked goods after classes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your eagerness to help, from baking, to manning the stand, to making paper cranes, which you will see around the studio. Your open hearts, your kindness and the way you care about our world has deeply touched me.

May many blessings greet you on your path.

Happy Birthday Larry!

When I was little girl, I had a dream of spending my life with a man with dark curly hair, a mustache and green  eyes. He would be tall, dark and handsome. A kind heart and a sense of humor would be some of his most important attributes. He would be an expert at building a fire, cooking a great meal, and have a cute butt that could stand the test of time. No dream I could dream would be too big or unattainable.

He would also have to have many other qualities that you could not necessarily see on the surface though, so this was a tall order. (no pun intended!) This man would be able to build anything I could possibly imagine, at a moments notice. This could range from a two level rabbit hutch with Victorian trim to a whole house renovation. He would have to be able to wire outlets, install new faucets and  paint rooms in record time, without making a mess. Since I am terrible at numbers, he would have to be able to measure properly. (Many men qualified for this small part but not the rest).In addition to these common sense qualities, he would also have to be a good writer (I’m not good with grammar) to edit the numerous books I would produce one day. He would be able to put up with my temper which can appear in great force but then is gone in a moment, like a strong gust of wind. Animals and children (not necessarily in that order, but that’s how it worked out) would be high on his list of priorities. He would be able to change diapers, dry tears, coach soccer and baseball teams,make midnight fish filet sandwich pregnancy craving runs, and endure the natural deliveries I would  insist on, known by the scars on his hand from my fingernails. Singing lullabies would be a top priority and he would need to connect with his feminine and masculine sides at any time. He would be able to discuss baseball, football and hockey in agonizing detail and also be able to arrange flowers. He would be required to be the one to get up in the middle of the night for bad dreams,weird noises, dispose of centipedes and spiders in a humane manner, remove snapping turtles from the property while keeping all his fingers and be okay with wading waist deep in mud to clear drainage pipes. ( usually in the dead of winter).  He would never  follow through on  threats such as,”It’s either me or the next cat you bring in here” or “I am not taking that wall down until you decide if you really want me to take it down this time.” His motto would be” I takes ‘em down and I puts ‘em up” ( in a cheery and affable manner) .He would also nurse animals back to health, bury the animals with full funerals that didn’t make it, again in the dead of winter when the ground is rock hard with the aid of a pick axe. He would be in charge of shoveling poop, lots of it, figuratively and literally, tolerate the goats when they eat the fence, (the one he just put up) (the indestructible one  this time)and round up guinea hens, peacocks and roosters when they wander. (In a suit or the muddy jeans. Time waits for no chickens) (And a fox lives here).

He would not mind if his wife was a pack rat , he would realize that it is not normal for your sock drawer to be so clean and all the socks to match, and that she was more mainstream. He would have a sense of urgency when needed to get things done, but just as easily steal away to watch a sunset, or take an impromptu road trip.

This man, a corporate telecommunications guru by day in a suit, would be able to save companies millions of dollars, solve routing issues and delight secretaries with impromptu gifts of cinnamon buns.  At the same time, he would need to be gracious and  not mind when ,when, covered in mud and sweat from cutting a tree down on the property, answering questions any little  neighbor girls from the adjoining development ask him such as  if he is the farmer that works here. (The answer is yes, of course I am). When things get tough, he would be able to find a solution almost immediately.

He would age gracefully, and never give into to getting rid of his silver hair. As the years go on, he would continue to have a great butt. He would love me when I got old and wrinkly and grumpy. Although I would never get silver hair, he would love me even if I decided to.He would love me in the morning with my hair standing straight up, as well as when I look darn good. He would keep track of sunset times so we would never miss one. He would make all my dreams come true, and we would grow old together, surrounded by children, grandchildren, dogs, cats and chickens and maybe a pot-bellied pig.

Here’s to the man of my dreams.I love you Larry! Happy Birthday!

Welcome to your practice

Unroll your mat. Notice how each time it feels like you are unrolling possibilities, new beginnings. Each time folding the blanket, smoothing out the wrinkles, creating a smooth starting place making sure the fringes are on the inside. Sitting right on the edge of that blanket and easing your legs into lotus, feeling your spine straight and your heart opening a little wider. Your body gets the signal that the practice is beginning.

Close your eyes as the sweet breeze wraps around you, and settle in. Inhaling deeply through your nose and letting the breath go out your mouth, a deep letting go of residual stuff that is deep inside.

Now beginning to focus on the deep inhale and exhale, the belly rising and falling, the oxygen reaching beyond the lungs and into the legs and through your arms, into the head and through the crown. This is deep connection with all that is beneath you and around you. You begin to settle in and ease into your practice. This space between just living and consciously, mindfully living. Becoming aware of how your body is feeling again, beginning to quiet your mind and moving into stillness and ease.

As you start to come into this place of quiet, your body yearns to move with this breath- so you circle your head, gently moving out the stiffness of the nights sleep, and that movement slides down to your hips and lower back, beginning to create small circles with your hips, smaller pelvic tilts and then wider circles. You begin to create a rhythm with your breath, and this practice begins to take on a life of its own, pulsating with prana and the inhale and exhale, something bigger than you are, something led without trying. It is almost as though your body moves and then your mind follows through with the thought of moving. This practice is intuitive.

Making your way to hands and knees, and then stretching your hips back into Childs pose, this safe haven of protected space, your arms first stretched out in front of you, and then easing the shoulder around your knees, like wings, angel wings- those nice substantial ones that real angels have, not the ones from the party store. You can feel the structure of these wings, their softness and beauty, and yet their foundation, their ability to repel the elements and at the same time blend with the elements, allowing you to soar with the wind. As you start to rise, bring those wings with you, knowing they are always there, wrapped around you, nurturing, or spread wide, empowering.

Following the breath you begin to make your way up to the top of the mat and straighten the spine again. Hands move toward your heart space, palms touching in this ancient mudra, Anjali mudra, connecting mind body and spirit. Feeling the strength of the earth beneath you, and then feel the crown of your head reaching upward, your pelvis and heart in between the sky and the core of the earth, perfectly grounded.

Welcome to your practice.

Light as a feather

This morning I opened my eyes to bright sunshine and 8 inches of snow! It was spectacular. I stole out of the house without the dogs. They have little or no regard for preserving the pristine beauty of the snow and run in zigzag madness when they come out! As I made my way to the barn, I notice a lone feather in the snow. The guinea hens had flown from their roost in the tree when they saw me, anxious for corn, and one feather came floating down. It landed with grace and an incredible lightness.It is the same lightness we strive to achieve when practicing, from jumping to chaturanga or back to our hands in one light movement. It is the feeling of the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali: sthira-sukham asanam. Sutra 2.46, usually translated, “posture (asana) [should be] stable (sthira) and comfortable (sukha)” . It can also mean to abide in good space.
As you move through this week, allow yourself to be in a good space- to move with steadiness and ease, light as a feather.

Letting go of the old, creating space for the new-Happy Winter Solstice!

Today we put the paddle boat away in the barn, reluctantly letting go of the warmer weather, and beginning to prepare the property for the winter. Each year, this ritual of letting go of the old season, and creating space for the new to settle in is bittersweet, yet expectant. When we created the space for the paddle boat, we discovered where our hens have been laying- 101 eggs were nestled up in the loft! The hens had been hoarding their sweet fresh eggs, and as we cleared the space and filled our baskets, I could not help thinking that the resilient hens, discovering their nest disturbed would find a new space to lay the perfect eggs they give to us.
As we move through the Winter Solstice today, think of what spaces, internal and external, you can clear out to create room for the new things that are just waiting to delight and fill your life. You may have to find that space in an entirely new area- do not be afraid to do it!
I offer you this poem by Rumi-

If you pass your night
and merge it with dawn
for the sake of heart
what do you think will happen

if the entire world
is covered with the blossoms
you have labored to plant
what do you think will happen

if the elixir of life
that has been hidden in the dark
fills the desert and towns
what do you think will happen

if because of
your generosity and love
a few humans find their lives
what do you think will happen

if you pour an entire jar
filled with joyous wine
on the head of those already drunk
what do you think will happen

go my friend
bestow your love
even on your enemies
if you touch their hearts
what do you think will happen

Rumi
Translated by Nader Khalili

auspicious new moon beginnings

This morning I set my alarm to rise with the sun. I am on the last day of a three day juice cleanse that has been a wonderful experience. I joined Nathan, the white cat, on the deep windowsill of my daughters bedroom so I could see the sun rise. It was a slow opening of pink clouds and slowly brightening skies.This was in honor of the two week sadhana I started yesterday with the guidance of my teacher Shiva.

A sadhana is a special practice or awareness of ones internal rhythms and can incorporate anything from a yoga practice to chanting to just honoring ones self. This particular sadhana time is very auspicious. It began with the new moon on Dec 5( a new moon is a wonderful time to start a new project), and will end on the winter solstice. The winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year, and signifies the moving into the light. This year the solstice will be particularly powerful as it is the same day as the full moon and a lunar eclipse! This eclipse is part of a family of lunar eclipses that began in 1541.

The sushumna nadi, the main nadi that runs up the spine, and allows kundalini energy to rise, opens in the lunar eclipse.

Beginning to align oneself with the lunar and solar flow can make a huge difference in our lives. Connecting to our own divine spark, our breath, our intuition.
I invite you to join me! As householders I know this is a busy time, and this sadhana can be as simple as any or all of the following and more:
- being aware of the sunrise and sunset, (this week the sun rises 7:09 am-7:12 am and sets at 4:35 pm)
(there is a window of three hours around these events to connect to them.)
-chanting a simple sunrise and sunset chant a minimum of three times (see below)
- actually watching the sun rise and set
Below are the Agni Hotra mantras for sunrise and sunset. You can just chant the first line, if the whole mantra is too intimidating!
I hope you take this auspicious journey , and stay connected with me and create a dialogue on your experiences.
Om Shanti! Many Blessings to you!

Sunrise
Om Suryaye Swaha
Suryaye Idam Na Mama
Prajapataye Swaha
Prajapataye Idam Na Mama

Sunset
Om Agniye Swaha
Agniye Idam Na Mama
Prajapataye Swaha
Prajapayate Swaha
Prajapayate Idam Na Mama

Let the juice begin!

So, after eating all that deep fried, delicious, buttery rich southern food in the Chesapeake Bay, I noticed I felt a little , you know, full! After having gotten my eating habits into shape with Dr. Kathleen Petrucci’s 8 weeks to wellness program this summer, I decided that a nutritional reorganization was necessary to get back to that good feeling. Should one start a juice fast the week of Thanksgiving? Probably not, but I wanted to at least try the pre-fast menu, so I could then enjoy the benefits of my children’s amazing culinary talents on Thursday. Yes, they cook Thanksgiving dinner too! (Sometimes, I am not allowed in the kitchen.)

So I am making juices and vegetable soups this week. This morning, armed with all of the required veggies from a late night run to the market, I made my first green juice! It looked very green, but tasted absolutely delicious! Kale, spinach, lemons, apples, cucumbers and parsley all juiced together. I always love drinking something that is so good for me. It sustained me through a rather peppy Sunday morning flow class, and I feel good! Bon Appetit!