What wonderful weather we’re having in the San Francisco Bay Area! Wherever you are, I hope you’re having a wonderful day.
How was your sadhana today? As we move into the week ahead, I may not be blogging every day, but I am continuing the Challenge. I would really love to hear your stories of your sadhana, or how you move through difficult times in life, what connects you and grounds you, helps you speak difficult truths with compassion, love and respect.
This morning, as every morning, I enjoyed connecting with those who were doing the Challenge, and felt such deep love and gratitude for the opportunity to connect in this way. Thank you all for making that possible.
Jai Maa.
Jai Maa! Thanks for posting your story, Kamalam. I’m so glad you’ve joined the Sadhana Challenge, and am inspired by your effort.
Yes, there is a reason I called it a “challenge” – and that’s because it’s challenging! For me, anyway. Every morning I have to make a choice to do my practice, rather than sleep a little longer. Tamasic tendencies – the deeply human bodily needs and desires, such as sleep – can be useful and powerful and necessary (Maa Kali’s black skin reminds me of that continually), but in the context of balance. This is why I chose the morning for the Sadhana Challenge – because for me, it brings that balance, and facilitates acknowledgement of choice in awareness and practice.
Thanks again for your comment!
Thanks for continuing to open space for conversation/integration of my sadhana practice. I am now really seeing the challenge part for continuity and self-reference. I am feeling the inspiration of starting the day with the mantra as a dedication of self and setting intentionality. The tension to get swallowed up in externally- focussed, tamasic-tendancies is immense. And then one quick switch of focus and I am there, lighting the sage and starting.
Feeling the sense of group commitment is the strongest magnet for my new behaviour – What helps flip the switch is that ‘we’ are doing this, not just me.
The other morning: blueberry pancakes are cooking, David Bowie is playing, house guest in the shower and there I am for my few minutes – quietly determined and surrendering at the same time, to integrate my opening to the subtle realms into my life as it is unfolding around me. And I feel that I am unconditionally welcomed at any time and in any state.
Happy International Women’s Day!
(belated)
In solidarity,
Kamalam