“You are the sky. Everything else is just the weather.” –Pema Chodron
Weekly Focus: Sutra 1:3 — The Seer abides in its Own Nature.
The Full Moon this week + the darkness allow the space to turn on our mind’s eye. With more space for contemplation, we might find ourselves in the seat of the observer. By the light of the full moon, we might have more clarity of vision within the mind. Once the mind is crystal-clear, we may begin to perceive the objects of the world the way they are; our perception is no longer distorted. The world is rife with illusion — perceptions of who we should be, what we should need, how we should behave. When we can wipe this away and see through a clear looking glass, we may not feel the need be anything more than exactly who we are. This month has been all about self-reflection, stillness and contentment — it culminates here in a place where we can be removed from the illusion of life. A place where we can truly feel into our Self + see our divine nature, unobstructed, illuminated, liberated.
Passive Pose of the Week: Full Pranam
Bring your third eye to the ground + connect, clearing your inner vision + acknowledging the Self in this ultra chill posture. Lie down on your belly, extend the arms overhead and let them rest on the ground. Find as much space between the legs as you need of feel comfortable. If it is too much to feel your face on the floor, use a blanket as a pillow, or turn to one cheek. To relieve pressure in the low back, bring a rolled up towel or blanket beneath the ankles. Take many deep breaths here, drawing your awareness to the rolling sensation of the belly along the floor.
Active Pose of the Week: Salabhasana (locust pose)
As the pelvis roots you down, let your heart open + expand, freeing yourself from the tethers of illusion. Begin lying on your belly. Bring your arms alongside the body. As you inhale, begin to lift your chest, shoulders, chin, arms + legs from the floor for a back bend. Imagine squeezing a pencil between your shoulder blades, and a block between your legs. Think about lifting the head away from the feet rather than up towards the ceiling. If you feel any pinching in the low back, lower the upper body slightly, until it dissipates. Take 5 – 7 breaths before lowering down with ease. It might feel good to rock the hips lightly side to side to counter the pose.