Reading from Monday March 19, 2012 yoga class.
A couple of weekends ago I went to St. Louis with my friend, Sandy Brue. Among other things, we went to a yoga workshop with a lovely, kind, yoga teacher, Mary Paffard. I was only able to attend the Saturday afternoon session. Her theme for the workshop was how to live a more simple and elemental life. Here is her take on this:
"Being in nature/outdoors, gardening, a news/technology fast, 1x a week if possible... no cell phone, no email, no computer, regular silent retreats to clean the barnacles off my heart(don't you just LOVE that), the arts: music, poetry, visual arts, appreciation and wise reflection, family friends and community. Lastly... kindness simplifies EVERYTHING. Sometimes in my practice and my life when I am confused or need direction, I ask myself: What is the kindest thing I could do right now? There's always an answer... and it never makes things more complex."
The following poem by Mary Oliver was referenced on Kim Esteran's website. Talk about living a more simple elemental life... there is nothing better than trees to convey that message. Here's the poem:
When I am Among the Trees
When I am among the trees,
especially the willows and the honey locust,
equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,
they give off such hints of gladness,
I would almost say that they save me, and daily.
I am so distant from the hope of myself,
in which I have goodness, and discernment,
and never hurry through the world
but walk slowly, and bow often.
Around me the trees stire in their leaves
and call out, "Stay awhile."
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again, "It's simple," they say,
"and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine."
Gosh... we all have a light to shine, but we cover it up with too much stuff... let your light shine!!!
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