Wells

"Fill what's empty, empty what is full..."

What speaks to your soul?  What speaks to the places in you that cannot be articulated in words, but are there nonetheless, perhaps feeling empty or overflowing like a well? Is it a sunrise over the ocean?  Or maybe working in your garden, smelling the earth and feeling the sun on your skin?  Chances are many, many different things touch your soul depending on what it is trying to tell you.  

Late last night as I was finishing up some work I was listening to one of my favorite singers, Ray LaMontagne. His voice is soulful and full of some unnamable longing or sadness.  The message in his songs is genuine, from his soul, and full of fervency. So as I listened, his voice and music reached out and touched a part of my soul that needed tending to on a deep, visceral level and it released something that I hadn't even realized was there.  Although the song was melancholy, it released a feeling of love and connection. I somehow felt lighter.

We all have deep wells inside of us; sometimes empty and in need of filling, and sometimes overflowing and in need of emptying.  In our practice, we use the breath and the energy of the breath to fill and empty the physical body and the mind in order connect more completely with the soul.  As we do this, we become more sensitive to the needs of the soul. We're aware when it's in need of filling (with more love, compassion, time, space), or when it needs to release something (judgment, anger, fear, worry).  With each inhale, we simply fill what's empty.  With each exhale, we empty what is full.

Take the time to listen to the song that tugs at your heartstrings, or let your soul be touched by the bright blue sky, or heavy rain.

What speaks to your soul?  What speaks to the places in you that cannot be articulated in words, but are there nonetheless?

Until next time...listen :) 

“There are different wells within your heart. 
Some fill with each good rain, 
Others are far too deep for that. 

In one well 
You have just a few precious cups of water, 
That "love" is literally something of yourself, 
It can grow as slow as a diamond 
If it is lost. 

Your love 
Should never be offered to the mouth of a 
Stranger, 
Only to someone 
Who has the valor and daring 
To cut pieces of their soul off with a knife 
Then weave them into a blanket 
To protect you. 

There are different wells within us. 
Some fill with each good rain, 
Others are far, far too deep 
For that.” 
― Hafiz 





Friday's Playlist:


"Empty"-Ray Lamontagne
"My Sweet Lord"-Yim Yames
"Jolene"-Ray Lamontagne
"Champagne Supernova"-Scala & Kolacny Brothers
"I and Love And You"-The Avett Brothers
"Let It Be"-Joan Baez
"Helplessly Hoping"-Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
"Let It Be Me"-Ray Lamontagne
"Nothing Else Matters"-Scala & Kolacny Brothers
"The Sound of Silence (Live)-Simon and Garfunkle
"Sleep Dog Lullaby"-The Be Good Tanyas
"Use Somebody"-Scala & Kolacny Brothers
"All The Wild Horses"-Ray Lamontagne
"New Morning"-My Morning Jacket
"Die"-Iron and Wine
"The Wind"-Cat Stevens
"Find The Cost Of Freedom"-Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

We Have Not Come To Take Prisoners

"For we have not come to take prisoners or to confine our wondrous spirits, but to experience ever and ever more deeply our divine courage, freedom, and light!"

 (Hafiz-The Great Sufi Master)

I am often baffled by our ability as modern humans to live our lives as if there were a great war being waged against us.  So many of us often seem defensive and out to protect what's ours (our beliefs, ideas, possessions, our politics).  Perhaps most perplexing of all, we often treat ourselves or our bodies as if they were the enemy-something to be punished.  We punish ourselves for the weekend's overindulgence, for not being tall enough, thin enough, for our past mistakes or current insecurities, or _______(fill in the blank).   We may become obsessive over our style/method of yoga, have "killer" workouts or "punishing classes" all in an attempt to desperately sweat away our problems or our demons.  We may walk away from such grueling pursuits or obsessions with a sense of "high and mightiness"; stunning arm balances, kick ass abs, or buns of steel.  But are we happy?  Are we at peace?

 I have spent more years than I care to recall at war with myself via my body.  In reality I was punishing my body for the lack of clarity in my mind.  In hindsight, I believed that  if I could trick my mind into focusing on something completely innocent, it would forget what the REAL issue was and perhaps that issue would magically go away if I ignored it long enough.  The result was usually an unhealthy and unsustainable way of life and a mind that was weary from trying to outrun itself.

Enter: the practice of yoga!  As our yoga and meditation practice matures and deepens it leads us away from the combative and competitive notions that mislead us.  It opens us to approach not only our practice, ourselves, and the world, but life in general from a place of peace, compassion, and acceptance.  Breath by breath we begin to sort through the muck and mire of the psyche and the reasons for our inner combat become clearer and clearer.  We begin to see WHY we're punishing ourselves with "killer" classes that leave us wobbly, running or walking obsessively, eating too many Cheetos, drinking too much wine, smoking too many cigarettes, _____(fill in the blank).  Once the "why" becomes clear, the unraveling can begin and a truce can be called.  The inner skirmish is resolved and peace presides (at least until the next battle cry is heard).

It is not our purpose to punish, beat-up or belittle ourselves or others, but rather to experience our time with courage, light and freedom.

Try this:
The next time you come to your mat, take a few moments before you begin to investigate what you've brought with you to your practice.  Take a seat or lie on your back, settle into the rhythm of your breath and the sensations in your body.  Sit with what is present without labeling it as "good" or "bad".  Get quietly centered on the breath.  Listen.  Then set an intention to practice-to move and breathe with mindful awareness of what your body, your heart, and your soul needs.  Practice from a place of clarity, stability, and mindfulness, rather than with the intent to fuel the ego or slavishly burn calories to punish yourself over the fact that you ate an extra donut in the break room this morning.

We Have Not Come To Take Prisoners

by Hafiz

We have not come here to take prisoners,

But to surrender ever more deeply

To freedom and joy.

We have not come into this exquisite world

To hold ourselves hostage from love.

Run my dear,

From anything

That may not strengthen your wings.

Run like hell my dear,

From anyone likely

To put a sharp knife

Into the sacred, tender vision

Of your beautiful heart.

We have a duty to befriend

Those aspects of obedience

That stand outside of our house

And shout to our reason

"O please, O please,

Come out and play."

For we have not come here to take prisoners

Or to confine our wondrous spirits,

But to experience ever and ever more deeply

Our divine courage, freedom, and 

Light!