March Madness

I have an interesting and challenging relationship with the month of March. I thought it was just me, but recently there was a post on one of my homeschooling e-lists about this very thing. I guess I'm not the only one who finds it difficult to make it through that last little bit of winter, until it's time to plant gardens, go for hikes, and do other warm-weather activities.

The transition from summer to fall is much easier for me. I was born in September, and love the harvest months and the slow progression toward winter. But for some reason, the crawl from winter to spring leaves me feeling tired and dull. I came up with a metaphor for it: I'm a night owl. I love to be up at night, doing creative things, and sleep in the next morning. Spring is like the morning part of the year. I feel groggy and disoriented at first. Can't I just sleep until June?

This March, at least, it seems a bit easier to get outside, as there's less snow and cold (at least thus far). I've been out for walks for the past few days in row, which has helped lift my spirits, both from the exercise and the connection with Nature. And I do have some good books to keep me company as I snuggle in and wait for my own energies to pick up on the feeling of spring.

Yoga for the Earth Element

The following is a slightly-modified article I wrote for presentation to my Elements Study Group this past weekend. We've been exploring the Earth element, and to me the body-mind connection of yoga fit in well. I presented the article, then led them through a half-hour of gentle yoga. Most everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Yoga, a Sanskrit word, translates as “to yoke” or “to unite.” It has been practiced for at least 4,000 years, maybe longer, and originated in what is now India. Yoga is a philosophy, not a religion. I find it fits well with my Pagan spirituality. The purpose of yoga is to unite opposites – first body and mind, then individual and universal consciousness – and thus bring us into balance.

The philosophy of yoga was described in “The Yoga Sutra” of Patanjali in approximately 200 A.D. He detailed an 8-limbed path that is the basic framework of the practice of yoga.

These are the 8 limbs of the path to yoga:

“1. Yama : Universal morality
2. Niyama : Personal observances
3. Asanas : Body postures
4. Pranayama : Breathing exercises, and control of prana [or energy]
5. Pratyahara : Control of the senses
6. Dharana : Concentration and cultivating inner perceptual awareness
7. Dhyana : Devotion, Meditation on the Divine
8. Samadhi : Union with the Divine”

(the above list is excerpted from the article “The Eight Limbs, The Core of Yoga” by William J.D. Doran, found here)

In our gentle yoga session for the Earth element we focused on some basic asanas, or postures, and some pranayama, or breathing exercises.

Asanas were originally created as a series of physical exercises to build endurance, flexibility and strength for yogis who spent many long hours in seated meditation. They also help calm the mind’s chatter and enable us to focus within. I find that asanas enable me to move from being “head-centered,” or looking at the world through Talking Self, into a deeper connection with my body. Thus I move into a more direct experience of being part of Mother Earth. That’s why I associate it with the Earth element.

Pranayama teaches us to use the breath to move energy, which is also a common practice in Pagan traditions. In the use of breath, it would seem to be closely related to Air, yet I also find it very grounding and Earthy. Pranayama helps us to connect our personal energy to where we are right now, in space and time. It helps us to be present in this spot on the Earth.

Here are a few resources for further exploration:

Books:
“The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice” by T. K. V. Desikachar
“Living Yoga: A Comprehensive Guide for Daily Life” by George Feuerstein
“The Secret of the Yamas : A Spiritual Guide to Yoga” by John McAfee

Magazine:
Yoga Journal. A great magazine, and their website also has lots of terrific information. http://www.yogajournal.com

Websites:
“The Eight Limbs, The Core of Yoga” by William J.D. Doran, http://www.expressionsofspirit.com/yoga/eight-limbs.htm
Yoga Basics, http://www.yogabasics.com
Treeleaf Zendo has a useful interactive meditation timer,
http://www.treeleaf.org

Social Butterflies

On one of the homeschooling e-mail lists I read, this one based in my local community, a parent whose family is new to homeschooling was asking about "the big S" - socialization. It's well known among homeschoolers that this is the most common concern that non-homeschoolers have about your kids' well-being: “How will they get enough social time?”

As those of us who went to public school can remember if we think about it, there really isn't much time for socializing there. Sure, there's lunch time and recess. But beyond that, you're supposed to be quiet, sitting in your seat and focusing on the work at hand. The social time comes during after-school activities or when visiting friends at their houses. Perhaps those who wonder about socialization are really asking: “How will your kids make friends?”

For our family, this hasn't been a problem. When the kids were quite young, we joined a homeschool group that meets every week. The primary goal during that time is for the kids to hang out and play with each other, and they've made some strong and lasting friendships. A few families have been in the group for years, and others come and go, providing the opportunity to meet new kids. Also, our kids are friends with people of a wide variety of ages. In “real life,” most people have friends who aren't the same age, despite being “socialized” in school to only hang out with people born during the same year.

Dryst and ElvenTiger have also made friends by being on sports teams. My kids are very into sports, but other homeschoolers meet friends at dance or gymnastic classes, dojos, theater productions, art studios, or scouting groups. Homeschoolers often meet other families with kids through attending gatherings as part of their religion. Some families do this by joining a church - we are Pagan so we attend (and host) community gatherings celebrating the Solstices, Equinoxes, and other holidays.

And we make friends and acquaintances of all ages just by being out and about in the community throughout the week. At the chiropractor, the dentist, the supermarket, the library, our local farm stand, restaurants, the mechanic - everywhere they go, the kids are talking to people and learning to be social.

My kids are at the age now where being in regular contact with friends is very important. They often have sleepovers, attend birthday parties, and plan get-togethers. Dryst plays online video games with his buddies, and ElvenTiger likes to do Skype calls with a couple of her best girl friends. They both keep in touch (and play games) with their friends on Facebook. Our homeschool group has branched out over the years, as all the kids have grown, and now, beyond the regular weekly gathering, we have classes, field trips, a skiing/snowboarding club, a 4-H club, and more.

So don't worry about homeschooled kids and socialization - most of the ones I know are quite the social butterflies!

Typical Dinner Conversation

Dryst: "Do you think the gods pee?"

A moment of quiet as family members ponder the question.

Mom: "What do *you* think?"

Dryst: "I think they don't *have* to pee, but they probably want to sometimes."

Competition Addiction

First the Superbowl, and then the Olympic games, got me thinking again about competition. Games, to my mind at least, are all about having fun. It doesn't matter whether you're viewing a big national or international match, playing video games, watching your kid's sports team, or playing a board game - it seems to me that hanging out with friends, enjoying some laughs, and perhaps learning something new are the objectives. I'm talking mainly about those of us who enjoy games for free, not those who've made a career out of it, like professional football players.

Yet some people get so attached to winning (or having "their" team win) that they make themselves absolutely miserable. If they are "losing," they yell and swear and stomp around. Not jokingly, but in actual angst! And all this for something they chose to do voluntarily, with their leisure time, presumably to have fun. So who cares if you win or not? You're hanging out with your friends, so relax and enjoy the experience.

I can't begin to comprehend why people would value winning more than having fun. I think there are probably reasons for reacting so negatively to a game, but I just don't get it. Seeing that behavior makes me wonder why they would even choose to put themselves in a win-lose situation to begin with if they know it's going to potentially be upsetting. I guess I'm just not that interested in feeling bad.

Perhaps competition is like an addiction. I just wonder if the high they get from winning is worth the low when it's someone else's turn to play the victor.

Explore, Teach, Volunteer

There hasn't been as much blogging this week, as I've been busy, well, doing stuff. So I thought, as promised in my post about this year's goals, that I'd give you an update. In particular, lately I've been combining my goals regarding exploring spirituality and giving back.

I really enjoy volunteering in the Pagan community. The people are fun to work with, the projects are inspiring, and I always learn a lot. If you're not familiar with Paganism, it is an earth-based spirituality that focuses on personal empowerment, environmentalism, and seeing the Divine in everything. I've been able to contribute my writing, organizing, and time to several different Pagan organizations over the years.

This coming week, I'll begin student-teaching an Elements of Magic class. The two teachers I'm working with are wonderful people who teach in the Reclaiming tradition. We met to do our planning for the first couple of sessions, and I'm so much looking forward to the classes! As I drove away from the meeting, I found myself doubting whether my teaching abilities are up to the task. I gave myself a little pep talk, and hopefully my contributions as a teacher will be worthwhile.

Many members of the Maine Pagan community have been involved with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland's interfaith home-building projects. I recently found out that Habitat is looking to involve youth in their volunteer projects, so perhaps our homeschool group will want to get involved this year. At the very least, I plan to walk (as a fundraiser) again this spring.

So far, so good. I'm sure other opportunities will present themselves as time goes by. Maybe even some where I can focus more on goal number 3, connecting with nature. I've taken some walks lately, but I must confess that I still don't like the cold. This cat likes to curl up in a warm indoor place until the warmer weather reappears. Does looking at seed catalogues count?!

Let's Build It

“The theory is simple. What we create with our thoughts is what we can expect. If we focus on disaster, this increases that possibility. If, on the other hand, we focus on positive matters, we have a chance to build a better world.” – Shirley Andrews

Manifesting

Earth is the element most closely associated with manifesting. Manifesting could also be called creating, or fulfilling your goals. When you want something in your life, whether it is a material thing such as a house or a new iPod, or perhaps a love relationship, or your Master's degree, or something more abstract such as inner peace or mindfulness, you work toward bringing what you desire into your experience. You do that by bringing your thoughts and feelings into harmony with what you want.

Sometimes the work of manifesting is slow and deliberate. You might do a bunch of research, choose a college, save money for tuition, apply for a Master's degree program, and look for financial aid. Only then do you sign up for classes and purchase books...and that's just the beginning. You still have two or three years of academic work before the sought-after degree is yours. The element of Earth is the foundation of the physical-realm work that you are doing. Earth sustains you over the long haul, helping you see the ultimate goal that you've set out to attain.

Other times we seem to manifest our desires almost overnight. After I lost my Subaru in an accident a couple of years ago, I visualized the replacement car I wanted. The check from the insurance company arrived promptly, I did a very short search, and then found the exact car I had pictured, with all the features I wanted. It seemed like I didn't need to put that much work into manifesting the new vehicle (granted, that same car's engine decided to quit less than a year after I got it, but that's another story...or perhaps a lesson for me about trusting my creations).

Either way, slowly or quickly, we are using the energies of our mind, body and spirit to influence what happens to us. Whether we do this consciously and intentionally or not is up to us. Having goals and aspirations is helpful, as it gives us something to work toward. Yet we also need to avoid clinging too strongly to particular outcomes, because that can keep us from moving forward. If we get too invested in what we wish to manifest, we can get stuck, which is part of the shadow side of Earth energy.

Ultimately, matter is still energy, at its root. Everything is moving, even huge boulders that appear to have been sleeping in the same place for eons. Protons and electrons are in constant motion, and the space between them leaves plenty of room for mystery. Our own moving energies affect what shows up in our lives, and by working in concert with the Earth element, we can achieve our heart's desires.

Inspired Business

A couple of years ago, BlackLion and I decided we wanted to start a business. We named it Feline Dreamers, put up a simple website, and brainstormed a bunch of ideas. We got started on some of them, but then life interfered. My yearbook quote in high school was "Life is what happens when you're making other plans," from John Lennon, and that's indeed what happened.

I left my longtime career in public radio to be at home. Over the past year-and-a-half I've been adjusting to my new freedom and the concept of creating my own schedule. I've been doing and being a lot: homeschooling with two kids, teaching homeschool classes for the Maine Wholeschoolers, volunteering a lot, gardening, homemaking, learning new things, doing a bit of traveling, renewing my Pagan spirituality, writing, making art, exploring my inner landscape, and more. I've journeyed with my family through my Dad's heart attack and surgery last year, grieved the loss of two feline members of our family, adjusted to changing finances, gone on an intense yoga retreat, and created change within myself.

Now, after going through the 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse early this year, BlackLion and I have both discovered that we are ready to focus on our business once again. We got really inspired by a tele-seminar from Christine Kane. She's an amazing person, a singer-songwriter who likes to show how you can be creative and also succeed in the business world. We are using some of the tips she gave, incorporating them with our own ideas as we move forward. It's very exciting and fun! I have often thought of "business" as dry and boring, but not anymore. We're setting up Feline Dreamers such that we can follow our callings, offer our services and ideas to others, and also pay the bills. Stay tuned. :)

Reflection and Rediscovery

I've been going back through some of my old journals, looking for inspiring quotes. BlackLion and I are going to start a weekly Feline Dreamers e-zine (a newsletter sent via e-mail) and we plan to include a quote in each issue. We now have over eleven pages of quotes typed up, and the file continues to grow!

Besides finding tons of relevant quotes, I've also rediscovered several interesting and useful tools. The poem featured in my last blog post, for example, is a good reminder for me about how easy it can be to find my bliss. I found an idea for a guided meditation, which BlackLion and I can use in our Core Belief Kit. My notes on the "dropped and open" state of awareness from Vermont Witch Camp will come in handy when I lead a session at one of my Pagan study groups. And I also found a technique for releasing worry, which has worked well for me in the past - not only can I use it again myself, but I also plan on incorporating it into a book or article at some point.

In the process of skimming through these old journals, I've also been able to reflect on my spiritual journey and see how far I've come. And also where I'm still working on some of the same lessons that have been with me for years - though I do continue to slowly uncover new aspects of them. It's revealing to see how my concept of myself has changed over time.

I had no idea I have such a treasure chest of ideas and tools sitting on the shelf! The journal I'm writing in now is number 22, and I have no intention of stopping. Maybe I can create a book from them at some point. "Autobiography of a Modern Witch?" Or I'll just leave them for those who come after me to puzzle over at their leisure.

Invoking My Bliss

When I dive inside
To seek my bliss,
I'm pleased to find it
Coming easily to my seeking hand.
A familiar feel,
Like a smooth stone,
A cat rubbing his face against mine
Purring in joyous greeting.
My joy is vast, bubbling up,
Overflowing with laughter,
Wild dancing,
Delicious stretch,
Deep inhalation.
A round red apple,
Tart and juicy
As I pierce the skin.
The scent of lavender and spice
Lingering on the air.
The feel of pen on paper.
Released, my bliss
Relaxes into the space
Around me, soft and cozy
Like my favorite shawl.

I wrote this poem in the fall of 2008, when I was on a yoga retreat which focused on exploring bliss. Just found it today in a journal and thought it was a nice reminder. What's your bliss like?

The Elements, Part 1: Earth

The element of Earth reveals our connection with the land. Earth’s direction is North, and its time is winter and midnight. The colors of Earth are dark and restful: chocolate brown, forest green, deep black like the night sky. Giant mountains, mighty trees, and burrowing creatures sing to us the slow, patient song of Earth.

We live in our physical bodies here on the Earth plane. We are rooted to the Earth through our cells, our ancestors, the land we inhabit. As we observe the land where we live, watching as the seasons change, we connect ourselves deeply to the energies of our sacred spaces. We notice the slow changes, the dance of time. When we are more nomadic, traveling across the surface of this vast planet, we can see the changes of the Earth’s terrain as we move through space.

Earth is what we are made of, the matter of our cells and bones and muscles. Our bodies long to experience nature: to stand barefoot on the ground, to walk through the woods and feel the sun and wind, to look up in awe at the stars. We nourish our bodies with Earth’s bounty, the fruits and vegetables and grains that grow from the soil. When we lie down to rest and fall asleep, we allow our bodies to be held in Earth’s embrace.

The instruments of the Earth element are drums. A slow, steady rhythm reflects the deep heartbeat of our living planet. It connects us with our own heartbeat, the personal rhythm that we dance to from the womb to the moment of our death. As we hear the beating drums, we touch the rhythms of our ancestors, those who came before us and whose bodies now sleep in the Earth. We are a part of all who have come before us. We arise from the Earth and to the Earth we will return.

Change Can Be Good...Really!

In the past week, I've had no less than three people, all from my close community, tell me that my blog posts seem sad, or worrying, or stressed. Don't worry, faithful readers! I'm doing just fine. I'm continuing to learn and grow, and enjoying the process most of the time.

I mean, yes, I have been going through some stress, but I think it's really about change. As an Earth sign, I've noticed that when I start making changes, it kind of freaks me out a bit until I get used to the new positive habits I'm establishing. Going through the 21-Day Consciousness Cleanse helped me release a lot of old habits and thoughts. I paused for a while to let them pass, and maybe even mourned them a bit. Now I'm getting moving in my new direction.

The other thing I've been trying to do is to be more "real" in my posts. I like to share positive thoughts and feelings, but at the same time, life does have its challenges. When I think about the books and movies I enjoy, the plot most often includes some kind of problem or challenge that the main characters then try to overcome. So I've opened up a bit more, in order to share some of the less-than-perfect days (we all have them) and how I deal with them.

Anyway, here's a taste of some of the positive things I've been focused on recently: Quester's new job (he starts training this week), doing more Reiki sessions, learning new things with the kids, celebrating two friends' birthdays this week, an awesome teleseminar with Christine Kane, watching the cats play crazily indoors since it's too cold for them outside, hanging out with the family, reading good books, taking walks in the snow, and watching episodes of Legend of the Seeker. What's new with you?

For All of You Who Love Gaming...

...and you know who you are...here's a quote I found interesting. It's from a fun novel I'm reading, and the quoted part is a bit long, but I wanted to be sure to include the whole concept. The first speaker is a game designer:

"'My feeling about it - history goes through different stages. Right? From the eighteenth century the world's dominant paradigm went from a religion thing to a science thing. Right? And now in the twenty-first century I think it's shifting to a game thing.'

"'Okay.'

"'Games are kind of a third category. They're between art and science. But they're not just a mixture of them either.'

"'That sounds right,' I said. 'I mean, I'm big on games myself-'

"'Sure. But what I'm getting at is, there're all these people out there now, and they're playing games all the time. To the exclusion of almost anything else.'

"'Yeah, that's true. That's good for you guys, though, isn't it?'

"'Oh, sure. But the thing is, I kind of think there's a reason for that.'

"'Like what?'

"'Like - well, maybe this sounds kind of girlie and spiritual...'

"'No, no-'

"'Just that, doesn't it seem to you that a lot of these people are playing these games almost, I don't know, desperately?'

"'Like how?'

"'Just, really intensely and with a big sense of urgency.'

"'I don't know. But I've always played a lot of games, so I may not be the right person to ask-'

"'Just that they're all kind of looking for something,' she said. 'Or another way of putting it is that a lot of other things, other media or activities or jobs or whatever, they're all starting to seem obsolete. People intuitively know that the games are the future. In fact, maybe they're going to be the whole future. The whole social future, anyway. The whole human future.'"

from the novel "In the Courts of the Sun" by Brian D'Amato (page 155-156)