Expanding my Heart

It poured - Thursday, Friday, Friday night into Saturday morning. And then it stopped. At 5:30 a.m. GingerMama and I stepped outside and had a walk/run sniffing the air and talking to frogs.  It was wet and humid - we jumped into puddles and were so glad to be out without a downpour.  We walked in the door at 6:45 a.m. and it began to rain again.

Beautiful, lovely rain - feels like a monsoon type of rain - easy to sleep to as it slaps onto the roof and beats out a rhytmic patterns that lulls you back to sleep. Great for the earth and the plants and for raising the levels of water of Lake Okeechobee so that water restrictions are not necessary.   That's the way I see things.  The lady on the TV said it would be a miserable day. Maybe that's why I got rid of our television.

Went to yoga this morning and it was packed - I guess the rain limits our outdoor activity choices. And WSM Steve's theme in yoga was PERSPECTIVE - how we view things. The class was intense as he led us through downward dogs and hip openers and backbends.  Time to expand our hearts  - opening our chests wide and allowing our hearts to shine.

Today, I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone.  I had great focus and felt my body shift in all these peculiar ways.   And the Universe rewarded me.  Dr. Steve picked me for an assisted dolphin pose - placing his feet in my lower back and helping me push even further into the pose. It was so wonderful - I moaned. And came out of the asana, face glowing in bliss and contentment.

And then some handstands and more backbends and then into vrschikasana using a chair against the wall and assisted (thank Goddess). Supposed to look like this. Tickled pink that I could get myself up onto my forearms and get my body to bend that way. Tee hee!!

I sweat and I released and I felt great.  And the rain on the ceiling of the yoga studio was so relaxing during Shivasana (where we lay on our backs and let our bodies relax and absorb the experience).

I drove home singing along with the radio.  And the sun was peeking out beyond the rain clouds.  GingerMama and I went for another walk as it started to drizzle.  And as we were walking in the rain, I found myself singing.

Joy to the World. 

All the boys and girls. 

Joy to the fishes and the deep blue Sea.

Joy to you and me. 

Tee hee!!!  It's back.  That lightness in my heart.  That feel good energy.  That anything is possible sensation.  That I love this life feeling.  It feels so good.  The heavy clouds have lifted. And I am at peace with what is and what I don't know and whatever is about to come.

Life is good!!!

Sunday Scribblings - #121 - SOLACE

"When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me speaking words of wisdom, Let it Be"
- Beatles

For me, music is my solace. SOLACE - Merriam Webster defines it as alleviation of grief and anxiety. And a source of relief or consolation.

I can always lose myself in music - no matter what mood I am or what I am thinking or feeling - a good melody can get my heart singing and help quiet my mind and take me to another dimension. It's like a meditation. I let the sound enter my ears and vibrate into my cells and fill my bones. I am transported by the sound and sometimes, the words, to a different place and space where peace and stillness are easy to find.

Some of my favorite music has no words. Or if I listen to foreign music, I let the tune and beat transcend the words so I can understand the feelings conveyed.

Mozart relaxes and soothes. Beethoven excites and stimluates. Karen Drucker's music fills me with positive thoughts and affirmations and helps me heal my heart and soul - Deva Premal - helps me focus on being still and connecting with the Divine. Alabina gets my body moving and shaking. And ABBA - well, their music always seems to bring me back to a very happy time in my life.

I have learned to incorporate the music within. And when I need solace, I turn on the music player in my heart and fill up my soul, from the inside out with melodies of love and bliss and peace and joy.

" I have a dream, a song to sing,
To help me cope with anything"
- Abba

The Ocean

Today was my first day back.  Actually my first time in 2008.  I'd forgotten what it felt like, the joy and pleasure of immersing myself and letting the water permeate my skin and change my constitution.

I set a sacred date with myself today.  After cleaning the house and doing some laundry, I knew I needed to detox and cleanse and be one with nature.  I hopped into the car and 10 minutes later, I am sitting in the sand.  I create and close my circle of shells, sponges and feather.  I soak up the sun and warm up my bones.  I meditate and quiet my mind as I listen to the waves lap the shore.  I ask for permission to enter.  And then I run down to the water.

The water is so cold.  Freezing to my warm blooded organism.  And yet, I keep on approaching, preparing to dive in to the next wave, knowing that head on approach makes it easier in the long run.  Submersed in the water I become and out I jump, shivering and breathing in deep, acknowledging the cold.  And tasting the salt.  And then I leap into the next wave.  I open my eyes underwater, marveling at the motion of the sand on the ocean floor.  Feeling saltiness and a little sting, my eyes adjust.  I jump up again and feel my body warming up as I acclimate to the water's temperature.

So crisp and invigorating.  So cleansing and pure.  So much fun!!!  When had I forgotten how much joy the ocean brings me? 

I feel the molecules of ocean water penetrate my skin and start exchanging and squeezing out the old water cells filled with toxins of sadness and fear.  The process of osmosis is taking hold and shifting my energy.  From my head down to my toes, I embrace her sandy, salty waters and open myself to the healing process, feeling the balancing of my body's water content and the ocean's liquid.  I become one with the ocean and I surrender.  I fall back.  And the ocean embraces me and holds me.  I float.  

As I lay there in the water and look up at the clear skies I remember the sensation of going with the flow.  Letting the waves caress me and take me up and down as I release any muscle tension and let go; accepting the gentle and loving rhythm of the ocean, flowing under me, through me and within me.