'Out beyond wrong-doing and right-doing there is a field.
I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase 'each other'
doesn't make any sense."
~ Rumi ~
 |
'At times our own light goes out and is rekindled
by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude
of those who have lighted
the flame within us.' |
Over the past few weeks, I've been reflecting on the concept and experience of compassion...I've been reflecting on this idea of sheltering others with an emotion or 'vibe' of an all-encompassing sanctuary of forgiveness, empathy and upliftment (not the actual definition but the aspect that I've been reflecting on).
Today, especially, I was moved by a friend sharing that they had an 'AHA' moment based on considering (for the first time) that compassion could be directed towards themselves versus and/or in addition to being directed externally towards others.
Compassion is often defined as 'the feeling of empathy for others... the emotion that we feel in response to the suffering of others that motivates in us the desire to help.'
Some meditation practices do suggest that we start with offering this compassion externally and then to ourselves, while others suggest that we offer this compassion first to ourselves and then extending it out to another person, community, global community and ultimately the universe. A wise teacher once asked a group class that I was a part of to consider starting with the part of ourselves that was our body and identities in the world right now, and moving inwards (vs outwards) to extend that compassion to the many inner levels of our being (body parts, organs, systems, bones, muscles.. emotions, sensations, thoughts...moments in the past, choices, experiences... especially our childhoods) and to ultimately drench ourselves and wrap ourselves abundantly with the vibe of compassion towards our self as a radical practice.
And it IS a radical practice, especially if all of your life, for one reason or another, systems and people have tried to tell you that you aren't enough or that you are too much or that you aren't lovable as you are.
That teaching has stayed with me. I am grateful for it. I practice it often. Sometimes I do forget about it though and need to be reminded.
When I return to an active practice of self-compassion, I'm filled with new hope, new resilience and new strength.
Spread the word. Spread the teaching. That is what it is there for. It's important to note that the concept of a practice of compassion, including self-compassion has roots in Buddhism and Hinduism and is spoken of as a virtue in many world religions. Although there are those that claim to be the founders of the concept of 'self-compassion', the truth is that it comes from traditions and belief systems that mastered the tools and art of practicing compassion, both inwardly and externally focused, many years ago. These practices have been shared with global citizens in order for us to experience personal transformation and be play an active role in global transformation.
"It is possible to travel the whole world in search of one who is more worthy of compassion than oneself. No such person can be found." Buddha
Be the spark. Share the message. Inspire, invoke and invite others to consider a different way. A gentler way. A simpler way. A way that doesn't require anything or anyone but YOU.
Self-love, self-forgiveness and self-directed empowerment are radical acts. Important and life-affirming gestures. These acts can be our saving grace, our life-lines. The fuel that sustains us. These acts are crucial practices, however they are practiced, that can sustain us and/or help us recover from the big and little traumas of our lives as well as prepare us for the journeys ahead.
These ancient and timeless practices infuse many of the classes - whether yoga, transformational dance or creativity sessions - that I offer at Turtle Toes Wellness. I seek to offer spaces in which we can love ourselves and each other, across the bridges of sameness and difference, across the bridges of hope and love, across the bridges of our histories, our nows and our futures.
There are so many ways to approach the practice of self-compassion. We can build and strengthen the muscles of our self-compassion (read: self-love) through guided meditations, subtle or dynamic movement, through daydreaming, through creativity or just by simply breathing. And we can practice using these muscles in our every day lives, as we move through the world interacting with others and even ourselves (sometimes we can be our harshest critic). There are endless ways to practice. However we do need to fill the well and make sure we have an ample supply stored up for the days where we need a whole lot of it. And when we forget that we have access to this incredible tool, may we be graced with someone who reminds us gently and kindly to return to our practice, to go gently, first and foremost with ourselves.
May these words spark and light you up and may you in turn spark and light others.
Go gently!
Please stay tuned for the Spring Schedule of Classes for 2014.
It will be posted by the end of March.
Love,
elisa
Meditation for March: FIREFLY Meditation
Find a comfortable place to sit or lay down. Close your eyes or allow them to be unfocused and soft. Begin to withdraw your awareness from the immediate environment and become focused and aware of all the parts of you that are being supported (by a chair, the ground, etc). Give your body permission to be supported. Allow your outer and inner being to give over to this moment, supported by whatever you are sitting or laying on. Begin long deep breathing. Bring your attention to the breath. Focus on the sensation of the inhale and the exhale. Begin to lengthen and deepen the breath (gradually to a count of 4). On the inhale, imagine yourself filled with golden light (or the colour of your choosing...one that fills you with feelings of empowerment and nourishment). On the exhale, imagine the light (the same colour that you chose for the inhale) pouring out of all of your pores. Continue with this breathing pattern and imagery for as long as you like (3-10 minutes suggested). To come out of this meditation, allow your breathing to return to its regular pattern. Before you open your eyes, wiggle your toes, fingers and nose. Let your eyes gently open and/or your perception return to the present moment before you continue through your day.
Fireflies by Owl City ~ A Musical Moment for Your Day
