 I want to unfold. Let no place in me hold itself closed, for where I am closed, I am false. - Rainer Maria Rilke photo: Adelaide Shalhope
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 "If we stop all movement, our minds will become tranquil, and then this tranquility will bring movement once more." - Taisen Deshimaru photo: Adelaide Shalhope  Where do we think we are going when we try so hard?
What if we relaxed, rested our minds and our bodies for a little while and let the softness of our own hearts lead the way? photo: Adelaide Shalhope A gentle reminder from Rodney Yee about the ebb and flow of practice.......
"There is a natural ebb and flow to everyone's practice. Internal or external circumstances, such as being on a trip, having a houseguest, being overloaded with work, going through emotional difficulty, being sick, and so on, can cause your practice to ebb temporarily. Learn to accept this natural ebb without panicking. If you drop the practice for a few days or even a few weeks, that doesn't mean it's over forever. When you are ready, simply find your way back to it. Try giving yourself a break by starting again with the poses and sequences that you love. The more often you go through this cycle, the more you will be able to trust that your practice will eventually flow again." - Rodney Yee  Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving until the right action arises by itself? - Lao Tzu photo: Adelaide Shalhope
The phrase 'no mud no lotus' keeps appearing in my mind today. It's a lovely phrase to ponder every once in a while. It's a reminder that all the 'stuff' we deal with on a moment to moment basis - the frustrating thoughts and judgments, the challenging situations we encounter in our lives, are all part of our growth and awakening. Being awake doesn't mean that we'll never encounter a difficult situation, but it does mean that we can embrace those difficulties (without the need to label them as difficult, even!) as the rich soil that enables us to blossom.
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