Manifest: Light

Musing…

"People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within." ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Our light within is inborn; that divine spark shines through our earthly body. Our creative expression is colored by our individuality. Kindling our creative fire strengthens the manifestation of our true self.  Manifesting our light brings beauty to our world.

Kate’s Turn:

Winter’s light is so different than summer light. Without the intensity, it has more of a candle-like glow, a soft yellow against the slate-blue skies of winter.  It seems as though the contrast of predominant darkness in the winter season makes the filtered light even more beautiful, even though it is the same sun. I’m in the business of light – I help people kindle their spirit so that they shine in their true self.  And ironically, the challenges, the “darkness” of life’s journey, seem to bring out the essence, the beauty of their spirit – strengthening their inner light both guides their way, and adds their unique beauty to the world. This business of light has been with me throughout my life. I have always loved the stars, aurora borealis, prismatic light through crystals and snowflakes, sun diamonds on bodies of water, the changing light of the seasons, etc. It’s the light I try to capture in my watercolor paintings, and it is the light of one’s spirit that I love to see shine.

Get Fired Up:

Light some candles, sit in the sunlight, smile – kindle your light within and offer the beauty of your true colors!

One of my meditation teachers offers this closure to all her meditations: “Allow yourself to smile. And notice the sunshine that radiates from you when you smile. Allow your smile to send the sunshine of your being throughout your entire body and environment.” ~ Jeddah Mali

Manifest: Feedback

Musing…

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

Guidance goes a long way, sometimes goes full circle. Sometimes the message you get is what you need to hear; sometimes you are too close to your activity, your work, your art, your writing, your endeavor, to know if it’s reaching its desired effect.  

Charise’s Turn:

I’ve never been a proponent of holding yoga postures; my teacher taught from a perspective that in the age we are living in we are already under a lot of pressure. We need to unwind, flow, tap into the underlying energy principles that support physical exertion. Now that I’m teaching in workplace environments where people are mostly sedentary and besieged by email communication, my students want to exert themselves. They need to break through a certain numbing effect of our technological lifestyle. I was asked to bring more intensity to our yoga practice. I could have decided that this is not my way, or the best way, but I took it as a message to push the practice into a more co-creative direction with my students. I am now getting more specific requests to address their needs – “hip openers that don’t tax the knees”, “ something to help alleviate pain in the IT band”.  We’ve developed more variations, new combinations, taken a little more time to do or repeat a sequence, without compromising the integrity of the SynergyYoga approach. Feedback is bringing forward a coaching style of teaching where I’m teaching with them rather than to them; and it's more fun and fulfilling all the way around!

Get Fired Up:

Ask for feedback; find out what is working and what can be enhanced or tweaked about your creative work or endeavor.  Feedback feeds you!