Where the Stars and the Moon Play

Because I can't get this song out of my head since I've heard it.  It makes me happy and my heart open.  I hope it can do the same for you! Namate.

~ Writer Yogi 

Equal Parts Science and Magic - Anis Mojgani

Anis Mojgani has a way with words that is absolutely heart expanding and mind blowing.  His words really touch me when he speaks.  I hope it does the same for you.


xoxo,


~Writer Yogi 

NAMASTE

As of now, my blog which I started April 24, 2012 has 507  Views and 1 comment! I believe this to be amazing since it's only the beginning.  Thank you for all of those reading and supporting! I hope you continue to follow my journey and express yours as well!


I honor the light in you, and bow to you. Namaste my Friends. 


~ Writer Yogi 

Coloring Outside the Lines

The poem  below "Tall Grass", came from my thoughts on having a "real" job. Doing what you your "supposed" to do to live life.  The jobs to get by, to pay rent.  Thinking inside of societies construct of success and what it would be like to think outside of it. To Live outside of it. 

You want to know why kids start off coloring outside the lines?  Because they know no boundaries! Their freedom and imagination are nearly endless and too big for the black lines, or (even the paper if they go beyond that).  Staying neatly inside the lines, doesn't make it art.  Just because you can hold a money making job, doesn't mean thats the right way to live.  If that does happen to be your path, I hope it makes you happy. For those like me... Here's to living a life of art, poetry, community and creativity! 

Tall Grass

Let us step forward into the nappy forest.

More episodic with every step.

You call this land unsightly

I call it independent.

You call dandelions weeds

I call them yellow flowers.

You call the coastal redwood old and its towering height unnatural

I call it wise and the size of my dreams.

“Look at the tall grass.  Wild and unmanageable.”

“Yes the grass is long and tangled,

It’s determined to one day reach the sun. Can you think as big?”

Your solid path is hard and unforgiving.

The grass gives way underneath my feet.

Your realities pavement is stiff, pushing back.

The grass lifts me on its back like a kid sister.

The grey road soaks up water, pretending it wasn’t there.

The grass shares its tears openly in the rain.

You’re ready go to your concrete reality.

“You still haven’t seen the forest yet.” I plead,

“Won’t you color outside the lines with me?” 

A Simple Thought

Image from dopodomani.me/festival-of-dolls-day/

If I can, You can.

Hold my hand and 

We Can Together. 

Just For Fun

Two Words... "Om Shanti".  lol

Namaste my friend,

Writer Yogi 

Your Line of Sight

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Who are you?  Take a moment to think about your answer.  Now, think about where your answer came from.  Is all of it from you?  A quick response may be "Yes!"  Let's think about it.


A friend of mine called me "The Writer Yogi". (XOXO Sherry) Is that who I was when she said so?  For her, yes.  For myself, it wasn't...yet.  Just because someone else says you're something, doesn't mean it's true.  No matter if it's positive or negative.  Sherry could say all day long I'm the Writer Yogi but that is her perspective and not mine until I go with it.  We discussed this and agreed I should take claim over this identity since it's what I wanted to be so badly.  Now look at me :-) !  Writing inspiration to others and myself about the yoga journey and its connection to life.  By claiming something, making it yours and believing it's true, makes it so! 

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It reminds me of the first time I attempted Crow Pose.  I never imagined myself being able to support my body on my arms and balancing.  I haven't gotten it yet. It will come!  My first shots at attempting, I remember the thoughts that ran through my brain.  I was afraid thinking, "I can't! I'll break my wrists, then I won't be able to work, then won't be able to pay rent..." And so on.  Yeaaaaaah... Not very positive and full of fear!


Less than 30 seconds later I thought, "Do it.  Even if you fall on your face.  Fall down Rachelle.  You'll be fine."  I did just that. My feet went into the air for a split second! Woot!  I was (and still am) so proud!  I even fell over which is awesome because I was fine as I thought I would be!


What made this experience so uplifting and exciting was I perceived a situation as impossible.  So it was, I didn't move.  Didn't even try.  As soon as I saw it as possible, something happened!  Though not a full crow pose, the best part was being unafraid to try, getting results, falling down and laughing as I got up.


Unfortunately, it goes for negative thoughts as well.  If I believe there is a pose I can't do or achieve, there is a slim to none chance I will.  You see, your perception is your reality.  It is true that if you perceive something, it will become real.  If not you and the others around, at the very least yourself.  Which is enough since you live in your own world/mind.


Letting your point of view be warped by another is hazardous, too.  If a family member says, "You can't be happy and make any living being an artist" and you take it to heart, beginning to see as they do, that life won't happen.  You won't be happy or successful as an artist.  We have to remember, sometimes when others are speaking to us, they can be speaking from their perspective and view of themselves.  Maybe that family member says you can't succeed as an artist because they can't.  Maybe that person says you can live as a bank teller living the average 9 to 5 because they could.  Take to heart only what goes with your vision of yourself!  If a complete stranger says, "Your art will rock the socks of the creative world!" and that's what you want, add it to how you see yourself.  If someone says, "Your art stinks and you should stick to your day job" take that as nonconstructive criticism, give them deuces and go on your way.  

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Ah yes friend, you may be thinking, "How do I change my perspective from negative to positive?"  A reasonable question.  One way that I embrace from time to time is "Fake it 'till you make it".  Ever hear this phrase? It's honestly what has to happen in times of insecurity.  If you pretend standing on one foot in Tree Pose is cake when you're a person with and exceptional lack of balance, though not instantly, it will become easy.  Acting like you've already won gives you the starting place to actually winning.  How?  If you've already won, you don't have to focus so much on the challenges because they're already vanquished.  When the difficulties do arise, you just snap your fingers in a "Z" formation and say, "I already got this" and go get it.


Another ways is to actively alter your perspective of life and how you're living. I've read if you think or write about at least 3 positive events, people, whatever, just 3 positive things in your life or day, everyday, life will begin to look pretty peachy.  Even if you don't do it every day, from time to time (more often than not) take a moment to think a thought along the lines of "Hey, today I had a great breakfast, read an awesome book and saw the stars before I walked into the house tonight." that brief moment will brighten everything.


Don Quixote had it right all along!  I LOVE the movie "Man of La Mancha" with Peter O'Toole and Sophia Loren.  Everyone thought Quixote was crazy for believing life to be something out of a fairy tale.  In the end, it turned out he was the smartest one!  (There is So much I can say about this movie.  I was extremely moved.  I might have to post about it.) If you can, please watch it.  It's a really great movie in terms of message and craft.  "Don Juan DeMarco" with Marlon Brando and my man Johnny Depp is another great example.  If you see the world as wondrous, though not always, it will be most of the time! 


When was a time you changed your perspective from one way to another and saw change?


See with your HEART and not with your head.


Namaste my friend,


~Writer Yogi 

Keeping connected

(image from google search/haitham.info)

I am moving up in the technological world!  Trying to expand my audience and be available in all the different networks incase some people prefer one over the other.


My FACEBOOK page is... http://www.facebook.com/UjjayiLife


My TWITTER page is... @WriterYogi2  The page... https://twitter.com/#!/WriterYogi2


Keep an eye on them if you use any of those networks. I appreciate the support!


Stay Inspired xoxo


~Writer Yogi 

Inside Out

(image from newfbcovers)
Be everything, especially Victorious.

This is a poem I wrote a couple years ago for my capstone.  It is in a collection of poems that I want to be a book some day. Well, we will see on that. My inspiration has changed but it is still a great poem.  It came into my mind because when I wrote this, I was not practicing yoga.  Now that I am, it seems to relate to a yogi's life also.  Finding what is inside and letting it all out. Letting it out creatively, beautifully, strongly, passionately. Thinking about things differently.  

What is inside of you, don't hold it back, do not be afraid of it! (I am preacher, choir, and congregation to myself as well right now). That's your Greatness going through Fear and Doubt's gauntlet. As Greatness walks through, Doubt taunts with negative "what if's" and downplays budding potential as nothing but silly dreams.  Fear strikes pushing thoughts of failure and rejection.  Doubt beats your Greatness over the head with "reality" and thinking "rationally" and "realistically".  Fear goes to your Greatness's knees with "You can't you can't YOU CAN'T!".  

As as you Greatness is on hands and knees, bruised and beaten.  What does it do?  Cow Pose, Cat Pose, Upward Facing Dog, Downward facing Dog, Steps Forward to a fold, stands up reaching to the sky, and with hands to heart, Walks forward.  Amongst the taunts, the beatings, bruises, Fear, Doubt, Worries, Greatness walks on until it reaches the End and.....Smiles. Without looking back, Your Greatness continues on to what it was meant to be. Raising you to a higher level by doing what you LOVE to do and living a HAPPY life. 

Inside Out

What is inside a minds synaptic jungle

Must come out of the mouth like a breeze.

Unseen to human eyes

Felt like a heart flutter

Jumpstarting thoughts on its meaning.

What is inside the fist shaped muscle

Must come out to the purpleorange sky.

Pumping imaginations reality through blood

In order to bring rain

Or contained in God’s eyes.

What is inside the throats harp strings

Must come out like reverberating rhythms.

Making opinions dance on light bulbs

Awaking a statement

With a harmonizing song.

What is inside a palm lined with constellations

Must come out as a spilled bottle of bubbles.

Flowing like the fountain of life

In a soft infants eyes

Before a  feather-like sleep. 

What is inside the warped reflection behind an eye

What is inside an ear hearing a planet pause

What is inside a dew drop of passion on a tongue

Must come out. 

Namaste my friend,

~Writer Yogi~ 

Yoga and Hair

Not too long after I began my yoga journey, I began a hair journey as well.  Going from relaxed (chemically treated) and unhealthy hair to natural (naturally growing without chemicals) and healthy hair.  Both of them have their lessons to learn.  The three ways I  connect Yoga and going to Natural Hair are Patience, Peace, and Growth.


Patience
Yoga takes patience in many ways.  Letting your body begin to get used to the poses, acquiring a more focused mind, and not rushing anything.  Just to name a few. Going natural takes tons of patience as well.  It takes months (at least 6) of growth to get out all of the chemically treated hair.  Then if you are like me with zero hair skills, learning how to take care of and style this "new" type of hair all by yourself. (Yes it is a big deal for me when I get one decent looking braid on the side of my head! lol) There are many techniques and products to try for your hair and for practicing yoga.  Sorting them all out is going to take time.  What I find is that, the more patient you are, the more time you seem to have because you are focusing in and getting it done right.  


Rushing usually means trying to do something the fast and easy way, incorrectly, or by cutting corners.  Which in the long run makes everything slower due to the fact you are guaranteed to have to go back and begin again properly, or scrapping what you were working on in the first place. My example is the first time I tried to go natural.  I didn't have the patience to work with my hair and gain the knowledge to do it correctly, so I went back to relaxed. I shall not turn 'round again! 


Peace
Yoga helps you gain peace with your own body.  Learning to be okay with how it does and doesn't move.  Pacing applies as well due to the fact you have to be okay with, for example, everyone else having a pose you do not at the moment. *cough*downwardfacingdog*cough* Ahem, excuse me. Mental peace is a benefit from all the breathing and sweat, too.  Learning to let go of certain things allows you to gain clarity and harmony in exchange.  


You may be thinking, "Hair and peace? Are you talking about some Afro or long haired hippy stuff?" No, but feel free if those modes of expression move you.  When it comes to going natural, you must make peace with how your hair is.  Accepting your hair is kinky, curly or coily and may need more maintenance and time you are used to putting in. 


Not forcing your hair to do what you want it to do (being straight or what have you) and accommodating the hair, not making the hair accommodate you.  This point goes back to yoga.  You must go along with where your yoga practice is taking you and not the other way around. Forcing your practice can be detrimental to your body and forcing your hair to work a certain way can damage your hair.  By using Patience, we will eventually gain peace.  A lesson that I must always be taught.  I'm slowly getting there, and will get there.  As will you. 


Growth
At least for me, yoga is one way I am growing as a person.  Completing four days a week at the studio last month was a big deal.  Showing myself I can stay consistent with something if I plan and work hard at it. There is also the renewed purpose in my writing, confidence and other things that are slowly developing. Like what I have listed and what will come along later.  


Growth comes from yoga opening your mind when a teacher says something that strikes you or from a question you ask.  Also, your limbs grow flexibility, as your mind, while your spirit gets stronger.  There is the obvious growing in length with hair.  I have seen a woman's hair go from her shoulders to her hip in about a year and a half if I am remembering correctly.  Keep in mind the skills and knowledge you develop from styling your own hair and looking and experimenting with different products.

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Practicing Patience and going along with how things are developing in yoga, your hair, or life, and not forcing anything, will allow a Peace to come from seeing what is happening, accepting how and the rate it is happening, and knowing everything is going in the right direction.  The end result is Growth from the knowledge, skills and experiences gained along the way.  


Yoga and Hair...Who knew?




Namaste my friend,
~Writer Yogi