Let your light shine

"At times our light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us - Albert Schweitzer"

To say that I was having a rough day would be a bit of an understatement, homesickness had set in big time, I had an aching and a craving for all those things and people that were known and dear to me, I was tired and cranky as insomnia had set in once again, add to that the fact that I was having a messy disagreement with the agency that I work for here in Thailand where everything was conveniently being "lost in translation" and my complaints misconstrued as things that they were not... Yes rough day would be a understatement.

Most of my classes had been cancelled for the day and I found myself with way too much time on my hands for those sneaky self defeating thoughts to set in. Giving in to the lure of the social media I was trying to avoid for a whole set of other self defeating reasons, I happened to connect with one of my old students who I had not had the opportunity to say goodbye to before leaving SA.

After hearing that I was away she shared with me that she missed me and told the story of how she had found my classes in a very dark time in her life, and how the way I taught a more spiritual personal based class touched her and helped her to move through some of the things she was going through.

This sharing of the immense personal power that yoga has and how being a teacher I am able to facilitate and create a space for people where they are have access to these transformational experiences on their mats literally brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me that there are always larger things at play in this life, things that are bigger than us and often beyond our human level of understanding. It reminded me that the tough times pass and the show of our character is how we deal with them until they do.

We often forget the power that our words and deeds have to influence the lives of others in whatever way, how the smile or the kind word, surprise hello, hug or reminder of love, may just make that persons day.

Before we can have global transformation there needs to be transformation and growth at a personal level, a reconnection and honesty within human relationships, a reminder of the importance of integrity and respect.


We are all walking our own unique path and fighting our own inner battles, lets be reminded each day to let our inner light shine, no matter how wrapped up we are in our own dramas, to extend kindness and love wherever and whenever possible. And to give thanks either silently but preferably out loud to those who have touched our lives, who shone their lights or extended their hands or hearts in times when we found ourselves lost, in places of darkness or just needing a little reassurance, and to pass this kindness on to others.

dance our hearts on fire

Take my hand, and I take yours

Let’s dance these hearts on fire

Feel the beating heart of the great mother beneath bare feet

Pulsing up through you, filling your emptiness with her embrace

Slowly she awakens the dormant spirit within

Feel your spirit being lit up as your ancestral roots are awakened once again

Feel your heart beat as it matches the beating of all creation

As it opens to the love and light filling your being

And let the beat slowly start to fill the hollowness of your bones and light up all those dark and empty spaces within

Feel yourself being moved by the tribal force of the great mothers dance

Stomp your feet, move your hips, throw your arms out to the wind and the sun

Let the rhythm move you into this cosmic dance

Where you and I are one, one with each other and one with all of creation

All separation melts away as you merge with the universal rhythm and beat of all creation

Dancing and stomping, tumbling and twirling all thoughts are flying into the wind

Finding again the true rhythm of your unique beating heart and let it merge with the beating of the world

Dancing our hearts on fire

Feel the sacredness of this dance

Be engulfed by divinity

Let the beat of the mother hold you always in her sacred embrace

As you allow the music and the melody to move you

Let all the barriers and the masks fall away

Let the beat stomp out all separation,

Fears and worries to move down through your feet

To be absorbed and absolved by the healing powers of the earth

Let my light and your light merge into a spiralling of hearts

As we dance our hearts on fire

We think we have time

  

"The trouble is you think you have time"

The moments of silence and solitude I find myself in these days have afforded me insight into all the things and people we take for granted in our every day lives. Noses to the grindstone, all stuck in our routines, our busyness, our thoughts and all the distractions we find to keep the call of our hearts and souls at bay..

Our mantras now all start with one day, one day my life will be perfect, when I get this I will be happy, when I achieve this I will be happy, when I see this or that I will be happy, when the circumstances are right we will be happy… All these restrictions and conditions we put on our happiness.

We walk around with closed hearts and closed minds, never lifting our heads to see smile extended in friendship, the hand held out to steady or catch us, or welcoming the love that is given freely and with no expectation.

We hold ourselves in an eternal state of limbo, waiting for better moments, for the timing to be right, the conditions to be better. We live in a world of what ifs or maybe’s and all the while life passes us by. We miss what is right in front of us, never heeding the calls or lifting our heads to see the signs.

Nothing in life is promised to us, we are here for a breath of an inhalation and a final exhale, and then we return to join the eternal breath of the cosmos. It is the time of awakening, to let go of the old ways of being, the hurts and pains of the past, the restrictions we place on ourselves and our dreams, the playing small and playing games.

 Love with all of your being, every moment of your life, walk around with your heart wide open, wear it on your sleeve, let it touch all those you come into contact with and in turn allow it to be touched by the beauty and the light of this world.

Tell the ones you love every chance that you get how much they mean to you, give of yourself freely and open your arms to receive. In an ever changing cosmos there is no guarantee of tomorrow or next time. We really only have now, this moment, to love and to be loved, to give and to receive, to create and to inspire.

I will never again be the same person I was yesterday, she will never smile the same adoring smile she has just given you, he will never hold you the way he does right now in this moment. 

Let life sing a joyful and blissful song through you, let the tune be inspiring, uplifting and filled with love. Give thanks to those who have touched your life. Go to the places that make you happy, fill your being with joy, let life sing a beautiful song through you and dance your joy through eternity.