the precious pause
“Through the sacred art of pausing, we develop the capacity to stop hiding, to stop running away from our experience. We begin to trust in our natural intelligence, in our naturally wise heart, in our capacity to open to whatever arises.”
— Tara Brach
Yesterday, the internet went completely out. In the midst of my frustration was appreciation. And it was ironic because I was writing you this email about taking a much needed pause.
A pause rather than a break, because a break implies disconnection, an ending. A pause is about continuity. It creates possibility.
The Bhagavad Gita takes place in a pause. Time is suspended moments before battle. And in that precious pause, Krisna has an opportunity to teach Arjuna about Yoga, to anchor him in Dharma, and help him navigate Karma.
And Karma is complex. I think the best metaphor is ripples on a pond. Every thought, word, and action creates ripples. And everyone else's thoughts, words, and actions, creates ripples. And those ripples interact and intersect and spread throughout space and time. It's compounding and confounding.
In other words, Karma is like a big, tangled, cosmic ball of yarn. You practice yoga to develop awareness and make less of a mess. Maybe even clean up a bit. This is why you need aligned motives, skill in action, and DISCERNMENT.
Discernment is the "crown jewel" of spiritual practice. It's not a word used regularly in English. The dictionary will give you this definition: the ability to judge well.
My teacher Claudia explains it this way: The swan is a symbol of discernment because if you give a swan a mixture of milk and water, the swan will pull out the milk and leave the water. It only takes what's most nourishing because it has a high level of discernment.
Now, I have no idea if this is fact or fiction. I have yet to give a swan a mixture of milk and water. BUT this metaphor created a crisp clear image of discernment. And appreciation for the challenge of sorting out what's most nourishing in the mixture of a moment.
Do you considering what's most nourishing for you? It's a different line of inquiry than whats "right", what's socially acceptable, or how things have been done before...
To ask what's most nourishing is to practice discerning. It's not a talent, a gift, or a superpower. It's a skill that you develop. And in the beginning, while you’re learning and practicing, discerning will require space, a precious pause.
When in the go-go-go mode, discernment is difficult, if not impossible. Just like when you're moving fast, you're flying by the scenery and you barely notice anything. When you slooooooooow down and cut out the distractions, you notice many, many things.
This is why I'm so excited about the retreat at Haramara. It's an opportunity to slow down, turn inward, and recalibrate body, mind and spirit. For example, the location is truly off the grid - no wifi, very little phone service, at night your cabana is lit by candles and oil lamps. During the day, it’s open-air everything - living space, practice space, dining space.
Why? So you can see the stars. Watch the ocean. Listen to the wind. And after a few days, you'll see new possibilities, witness your creativity unfold, and hear your heart whisper.
I'll admit, when the internet went out yesterday there was a moment of yes, please ... there was longing... to disconnect from the screens, savor the precious pause, get quiet and go inward. If you feel it too…. if you're craving space and possibility… if you want an opportunity to reset, reconnect, and recalibrate… Learn more about the retreat here: https://www.kandayogaschool.com/recalibrationretreat
Heads up. Space is limited. There are just (2) single cabanas, (4) double rooms, and (2) triple rooms. For a lower-price point, there are (4) spaces in a female-only dorm.
When you register by June 24, there is a discount ($200 off).
