Women Of The Wise - Rituals to Rise (Week 5)
Women of The Wise - Rituals to Rise Week 5.
What is our Sacred Sangha?
It is a circle where we will grow, learn and be raw and real together.
UNITE: Come or Bring Together for a common purpose to form a whole.
Agreeing to maintain full confidentiality, we create a space where we can attend in privacy and caring and collectively openly discuss our thoughts within the circle. We will all contribute positively and keep each other supported together integrating empathy and compassion and building our self-confidence, creating an alchemy in our Sangha.
Welcome Ladies,
I thank you for your time and space you hold in the unity of this Sacred Sangha
Affirmations:
Breathe in and close your eyes. One hand on your heart, One hand on your belly.
Inhale - "I am the peace that I seek"
Exhale - "I release what no longer serves me"
"I am truly and wildly abundant in all areas in my life!"
Mantra:
"I am willing"
"I am evolving"
"I am growing"
"I am worthy"
"The universe is helping me achieve all that I desire, I trust the process"
Prayer of Women Of The Wise:
"I bring honor to my radiant heart"
"Courage to my deep questions"
"Respect to my true nature"
"Compassion to the collective"
"Let my spirit be energized every step I take towards my soul's purpose"
"I thank you for all the gifts unfolding in this wisdom and beauty"
What is Yoga?
Yoga is a Sanskrit word translated as “yoke” or “union.” To yoke means to draw together, to bind together; or to unite. Its aim is to create a union of the body, mind, soul, and universal consciousness. This process of uniting is what allows yogis to experience deep states of freedom, peace and self-realization
The idea of a yoga practice is really not just to focus and be aware and mindful and calm for the time that we’re on the mat, but to carry this state of being with us when we leave class, so it can have a much deeper impact. Sure, we might initially come to class for the physical benefits, but the reason so many of us stay is because there’s a feeling that there’s some other sort of magic at work here….
15 Minute Morning Yoga Flow ; Cole Chance
The Yamas & Niyamas:
The Yamas & Niyamas are foundational to all yogic thought. Yoga is an in depth system that extends far beyond doing yoga postures; it is literally a way of living. Yoga is designed to bring you more and more awareness of not only your body but also your thoughts and a way of loving yourself.
The teachings are a practical, way of living that brings an understanding to your experiences, while taking ownership of your life and directing it towards the fulfillment that you seek. The Yamas & Niyamas may be thought of as guidelines, ethical disciplines, precepts, or restraints and observances. You might think of them as jewels, because they are the rare gems of wisdom that give direction to a well-lived and joyful life.
The first five jewels are referred to as Yamas, a Sanskrit word which translates literally into the word “restraints” and includes nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, non-excess, and non-possessiveness.
The last five jewels are referred to as the Niyamas, or “observances,” and include purity, contentment, self-discipline, self-study, and surrender. Yoga’s guidelines do not limit us from living life, but rather they begin to open life up to us more and more fully.
The following content is actual content from the "Yamas and the Niyamas" - by Deborah Adele , Pages 15-19 describing the 10 jewels.
Non-Violence, the first jewel, sits as the foundation to the other guidelines, which in turn enhance the meaning and flesh out the richness of nonviolence. Nonviolence is a stance of right relationship with others and with self that is neither self-sacrifice nor self-aggrandizement. This tenet guides us to live together, share the goods and do what we want – without causing harm to others or ourselves.
Truthfulness, the second jewel, is partnered with nonviolence. The marriage of these two guidelines creates a powerful dance between two seeming opposites. We can appreciate this statement when we begin to practice speaking our truth without causing harm to others. As partners, truthfulness keeps nonviolence from being a wimpy cop-out, while nonviolence keeps truthfulness from being a brutal weapon. When they are dancing perfectly together, they create a spectacular sight. Their union is nothing short of profound love in its fullest expression. And when there is cause for disharmony or confusion between the two, truthfulness bows to nonviolence. First and foremost, do no harm.
Non-stealing, the third jewel, guides our attempts and tendencies to look outward for satisfaction. Often, our dissatisfaction with ourselves and our lives leads us to this outward gaze, with a tendency to steal what is not rightfully ours. We steal from the earth, we steal from others, and we steal from ourselves. We steal from our own opportunity to grow ourselves into the person who has the right to have the life they want.
Non-excess, the fourth jewel, has been interpreted by many to mean celibacy or abstinence. Although this could certainly be one interpretation of nonexcess, its literal meaning is “walking with God.” Whatever your beliefs about the Divine, this tenet implies an awareness of sacredness in all our actions and an attentiveness to each moment that moves us into a stance of holiness. From this place of sacredness, the boundary is set to leave excess behind and live within the limits of enough. If we have been practicing non-stealing, we will automatically fi nd ourselves primed to practice this guideline.
Non-possessiveness, the fifth jewel and last of the guidelines known as the Yamas, liberates us from greed. It reminds us that clinging to people and material objects only weighs us down and makes life a heavy and disappointing experience. When we practice letting go, we move ourselves towards freedom and an enjoyment of life that is expansive and fresh. If we have begun to live the first five jewels well, we may notice that our time is freeing up and there is more breathing space in our lives. The days begin to feel a little lighter and easier. Work is more enjoyable and our relationships with others are a little smoother. We like ourselves a little more; there is a lighter gait to our step; we realize that we need less than we previously thought; we are having more fun. As we begin our study of the final five jewels or Niyamas, we move into a more subtle realm and into an interior resting place, a place that becomes like Sabbath for us.
Purity, the sixth jewel, is an invitation to cleanse our bodies, our attitudes, and our actions. It asks us to clean up our act so we can be more available to the qualities in life that we are seeking. This precept also invites us to purify how we relate to what is uppermost in the moment. It is the quality of being aligned in our relationship with others, with the task at hand, and with ourselves.
Contentment, the seventh jewel, cannot be sought. All the things we do to bring fulfillment to ourselves actually interfere with our own satisfaction and well-being. Contentment can only be found in acceptance and appreciation of what is in the moment. The more we learn to leave “what is” alone, the more contentment will quietly and steadily find us.
Self-discipline, the eighth jewel, literally means “heat” and can also be translated as catharsis or austerities. It is anything which impacts us to change. Change makes us spiritual heavyweights in the game of life; it is preparation for our own greatness. We all know how easy it is to be a person of high character when things are going our way, but what about those times life deals us a dark card? Who are you in those moments? This guideline is an invitation to purposefully seek out refining your own strength of character and it asks, “Can you trust the heat? Can you trust the path of change itself?”
Self-study, the ninth jewel, is a pursuit of knowing ourselves, studying what drives us and what shapes us because these things literally are the cause of the lives we are living. Self-study asks us to look at the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and realize that these stories create the reality of our lives. Ultimately, this tenet invites us to release the false and limiting self-perception our ego has imposed on us and know the truth of our Divine Self.
Surrender, the tenth jewel, reminds us that life knows what to do better than we do. Through devotion, trust, and active engagement, we can receive each moment with an open heart. Rather than paddling upstream, surrender is an invitation to go with the underlying current, enjoy the ride, and take in the view. In this book, each Yama & Niyama has been given its own chapter in which the philosophy of the guideline is woven with practical examples and stories. At the end of the chapter, I’ve included a list of questions as a guide for ref lection. I encourage you to journal and/or form a study group to help deepen your commitment to your learning and to yourself.
Cole Chance and Echo Flow Yoga Talk about the Niyamas; Cole Chance
Journal Prompt:
Non-Violence
- When do my actions or words create more harm than good?
- What becomes out of balance when I commit harmful behaviors or thoughts?
Truthfulleness
- Does my truth harm others?
- How does owning my story contribute to truthfulness?
Non-Stealing
- When did I last take something non-material?
- What are 2 ways in which I respect my own sexuality?
- What are 2 ways in which I respect my partner?
Non-Possessiveness
- What is out of balance when I am feeling greedy behaviors or thoughts?
Purity
- Where in my body or mind do I feel uncomfortable?
Contentment
- How am I grateful?
Self-Discipline
- When does my will power fail most often?
Self-study
- How can I overcome my weaknesses?
Surrender
- What is the best practice for facing my ego?
- What does selfish look like for me ?
Closing:
Breathe in and close your eyes. One hand on your heart, One hand on your belly.
Mantra:
"I am willing"
"I am evolving"
"I am growing"
"I am worthy"
"The universe is helping me achieve all that I desire, I trust the process"
Much Love, Crystal :)
"I choose to make the rest of my life, the best of my life" -Louise Hay