The path forward starts within. From darkness toward light is the journey of practice.
Today, I have a choice.
I can shift my attitude and choose to see what is beautiful and abundant in the world.
I may not be able to change what is happening in the outer world, but I have the freedom to create a more sustainable reality within my thoughts. I am choosing to be joyous and to love life with all my heart.
This is not always easy. My intellect wants to remind me of everything that is wrong with the world. However, through my ardent efforts to sustain my intention in practice, I can begin to feel a shift.
There is an opening—a little more spaciousness within my awareness. In this moment, I can return to the right thought, right words, and the next right action.
I may not be able to change what is happening in the outer world, but I can choose how I meet this moment.
Returning to an Ancient Practice
I recently returned from a 12-day intensive commitment to the practice of the Sri Suktam mantras.
Laura Jane with fellow practitioners outside the Sri Vidya Shrine at the Himalayan Institute.
I joined other practitioners in a community devoted to sharing a higher consciousness of love rather than following the easier path of fear. Together, we participated in the Sri Suktam Yaga.
The Sri Suktam is an ancient collection of mantras honoring Sri, the Divine Mother, and the creative life force of Shakti.
Individually, I chanted the 15 verses 47 times. Together, through the power of our group effort, we completed 20 recitations in the shrine.
Each day, I also participated in a two-hour fire ceremony while my teacher, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, chanted the mantras.
I had experienced this practice in India in January and knew that I wanted to return to it again six months later.
We were offering our individual efforts to the ultimate Source of all life.
The offering was made in the spirit of the Divine—something far greater than my individual existence and far greater than words can define.
Offering What No Longer Serves Us
The intention of the ceremony is to transform the darkest parts of our thoughts and the negative tendencies held within our samskaras.
We offer these patterns into the fire with the intention of renewing ourselves and returning to the world with a lighter, more expansive quality of awareness.
[Place an image of the fire ceremony}
Life is impermanent, and yet there is an unchanging essence within each of us that is pure, vibrant, and radiant light.
This practice is thousands of years old. Being connected to this beautiful commitment has restored in me the value of humanity and the continuous flow of something greater than my words can express.
I often say, “To name it is to lose it.”
There are experiences we cannot fully define. We can only allow ourselves to receive them.
There is an unchanging essence within each of us that
is pure, vibrant, and radiant light.
Receiving a Glimmer of Awe
To receive a glimmer of this AWE, simply walk out into nature.
Appreciate each breath of air meeting your skin. Feel the immense wonder of the earth underneath your feet. Stand in the space where the sky meets you, and be present to the nourishment of being alive in this moment.
Life is precious.
We can be grateful for every moment, even while recognizing the suffering and uncertainty that exist around us. We can choose the thoughts we nourish and the energy we bring into the world.
When the Outer World Feels Uncertain
I could not make it home on Monday, July 27, because horrific storms were churning and creating havoc in the airways.
Trees were falling. Electrical grids were crashing. Once again, we were all reminded of our powerlessness before the immense strength of Mother Nature.
The intensity of these storms is another reminder of the uncertainty we are learning to navigate.
I was fortunate to find another flight early Tuesday morning and to spend the night in an airport hotel. I was grateful to have the resources to care for my well-being.
At the same time, I was aware that millions of souls throughout the world struggle simply to find shelter each day.
The vulnerable state of our world is a constant reminder that we must keep possibility and hope alive.
Tending the Inner Pilot Light
Despair can lead us toward inertia—a heaviness of lethargy and apathy. The energy for living becomes dull, and the mind can lose interest in moving forward.
When depression or ongoing despair becomes part of our experience, compassionate professional support can be an important part of healing. Yoga does not replace that care, but our practice may help us remain connected to the light within.
In these turbulent times, the mind easily feeds on fear.
We must be willing to tend our inner “pilot light” and keep the fire of passion and possibility alive.
Just as a flower pushes through the earth, it seeks the light. The earth is rich, and water is needed to help the sweetness of life continue moving forward.
The flower does not deny the darkness. It moves through it.
The flower does not deny the darkness.
It moves through it toward the light.
There is so much stagnation happening in the outer world. The conflict we experience within the fluctuating mind can make the wars and chaos of the outer world feel even more overwhelming.
The value of my practice is that it has offered me renewed energy and a renewed passion to inspire and serve.
There is an inner desire within all beings to move toward the light.
From darkness to light is the journey of a steady yoga practice.
Turning Up the Light Together
I am committed to sharing my heart and shining whatever light I can into a world in need of service.
Yoga Among Friends is a community where, together, we can turn up the light.
Our studio can be a safe harbor where souls may rest and feel the support of loving attention.
We are not helpless.
Humanity is amazing, and there is a profound shift happening as we begin to accept that the path forward starts within.
Our inner practice shapes how we meet one another. It shapes the words we speak, the choices we make, and the quality of attention we offer to the world.
We can choose love instead of fear.
We can choose possibility instead of despair.
We can continue moving from darkness toward light.
A Question for Reflection
What helps you tend your inner light when the outer world feels uncertain?
I would love to hear what helps you return to hope, possibility, and the sweetness of being alive.
With love,
Laura Jane
Frequently Asked Questions
-
The Sri Suktam is an ancient collection of Sanskrit mantras honoring Sri, the Divine Mother, and the qualities of beauty, abundance, nourishment, and inner prosperity. It may be practiced through chanting, meditation, and sacred ceremony.
-
Yoga does not remove the challenges of the outer world. It helps us become more aware of the fluctuations of the mind and creates space for a more conscious response. Through steady practice, we may feel more grounded, compassionate, and connected to the light within us.
-
Practicing together reminds us that we are not alone. A caring community offers shared intention, loving attention, and a safe place to rest, renew, and reconnect with what matters most.
An Invitation
Whether you are new to yoga, returning to your practice, or simply longing for a quiet place to reconnect, you are welcome at Yoga Among Friends.
