THE POWER OF THE MALE PRINCIPLE: Shine Your Light Into The World

Happy Father’s Day! Today I celebrate the inner male within all, whether you are a man or a woman, whether you have children or not.

As eternal, divine beings having a temporal, human experience, we ultimately are each a reflection of the divine, which is beyond the dual notion of male or female. So within each one of us is a sublime blend of male and female energies, to varying degrees. So today, I celebrate father’s day for everyone by sharing thoughts about the role of the father in our lives. I have shared some of this in past blogs, but also add new insights.

If our mothers are like the lunar presence in our lives, teaching us about our inner world of intuition and emotions and showing us how to feel safe and loved just as we are, fathers are like our personal solar force. They lead us out into the world, ensuring we have the confidence and ability to shine within society.

Our fathers show us how to equip ourselves with a strong sense of capability so that we are able build the lives we want. Their strength, support and guidance give us the tools and skills so that we can achieve what we put our minds to accomplish.

The feminine principle teaches us surrendered receptivity, learning how feel our own personal flow within the greater whole. Cradling us within the big picture and the spiritual presence of the cosmos, our mothers help us learn that our unique soul voice is a valuable and integral part of the whole. They help us to be receptive to and honour it, as a reflection of the divine.

The male principle teaches us surrendered action, showing us how to be aligned with the greater whole, as we follow our personal flow. Feeling rooted in a healthy sense self due to our maternal guidance, fathers teach us about the whole, inspiring us to fit into the universe. Helping us find and be aligned with our divine, spiritual purpose, fathers ensure that as we move out from the introverted, lunar and soulful female nest, we know how to let our soul shine and merge into spiritual light.

From a worldly perspective, the whole could be seen is institutions, organizations, religions, big business, government and corporations. But from a spiritual perspective, the whole is the notion that we are not temporal beings, but one with eternal consciousness, temporarily living within finite form.

We do not necessarily need to find the guidance from the male principle from our dad. Whether or not we had the parents we wanted, we learn to internalize the positive attributes of both the male and female energies as we live, grow and evolve, so that we may live in fulfilled balance.

So today, on father’s day, consider the way you are aligned and inspire by the male principle so that you may continue to shine your unique light into the world.

Blessings to you,

Parvati

The Gift in Adversity

THE GIFT IN ADVERSITY

I just returned from being in England over the past few weeks. On a professional level, it was an excellent, full on time performing and teaching, moving my projects forward, meeting great people and finding out more about the world and myself. But what I learned was beyond all of this.

The day after my first show at the Mind Body Spirit Festival in London, I developed severe laryngitis. This may seem like a tragedy for one who uses her voice to perform and teach. But for one who has made a promise to the spiritual path, I know that the universe has an amazing way of keeping us honest and on path. Adversity is nothing other than a gift in disguise.

As I allowed myself to soften into the physical and emotional discomfort I felt having absolutely no voice, I found myself inundated with memories from what seemed to be a past life memory in London dying of consumption (tuberculosis). At that time, my lungs were full of fluid. I could not breathe, and I felt silent in my ability to voice feelings of powerlessness. In the present, what lingered was resentment of having died in a state of sorrow. So I welcomed these feelings as part of healing my laryngitis.

However, my memories did not stop there. As we toured through England, I was also reminded of another time in the UK when water filled my lungs. I had stones tied to my feet and was being drowned for my beliefs, likely when I was a healer, accused of being a witch. In that lifetime, I also died with water-filled lungs, with unspoken beliefs.

As my laryngitis moved into bronchitis, I had every opportunity to meet these emotions and send myself love and understanding so that I could deeply heal. In the bustle of the full on 18 hour a day schedule I had there, there was little room for formal sitting meditation practice, which I believe if I had had, I would not have fallen ill. I needed the inner space to process what was arising. Release through my body was the only way it could be expressed, due to my busy-body schedule. 

Being in England with fever and illness was an opportunity for me to forgive and let go at a deep, soul level. In the present, my business meetings were fruitful, people supportive, shows and workshops excellent (one was even sold out) and products sold. Spiritually, I was being asked to come more fully into the present. The fears I carried from those past experiences were colouring the here and now.

As I walked through the British streets, rode the London tube, watched the people come and go, I consciously had to remind myself it was 2013 and I was physically free and breathing freely and had the freedom to say what and how I felt.

I understand time to be like Russian dolls, each moment inside the other, not linear like we think time to be. There is no past or future, but an eternal now in which all unfolds simultaneously.

Whatever arises for us in the moment, as we practice mindful awareness, is exactly where we need to be. For me, it was in healing the past to be fully present and allow myself to grieve and heal.

Who knows what my next trip to the UK will bring. For that matter, who knows what the next moment will bring. That does not matter. I feel grateful for the opportunities I did experience and am open to what unfolds.

May we each have the courage in each moment to meet it as it is, without reservation, without judgment so that we may shine the eternal light we truly are.

Enjoy each moment,

Parvati

Hello from York, UK

Dear friends,

Hello from England, where I have just given a YEM: Yoga as Energy Medicine workshop at York Yoga Studio. It was a beautiful space, beautiful people and a beautiful city. I look forward to returning in November!

While I'm busy in England, here is another excerpt from my new book Confessions of a Former Yoga Junkie. 

There is no true high without being grounded. High for the sake of high makes us into yoga junkies, where we chase the proverbial carrot in front of us like a distant, unattainable mirage, catapulting out of our bodies and out of this moment, just as we might with a drug. Such experiences do not bring us lasting happiness any more than would a new fancy sports car, a toke of pot, the feeling of being at the top of our class or career, or meeting the person we think is the answer to our sense of loneliness.

Siddhis, the manifestation of psychic skills along the path to enlightenment, are just as much a distraction to full realization as anything can be. It is easy to get caught up in thinking that their powers are the goal. Making us feel special, they can trick us into feeling spiritually enlightened and above it all. Like fool’s gold, shimmer does not make something valuable.

What matters along the spiritual path is not how bendy our body is, how loftily we speak, how “gifted” we are or how high we get, but the integrity in our actions and how relaxed, alert and integrated we are. Are we kind? Do we love well? Are we at peace? Are we happy? These are the questions that we must ask to ensure our spiritual quest is not driven by being an overt or covert yoga junkie. At the end of the day, true yogis want nothing, expect nothing and selflessly serve the highest good of all.

My intention in sharing the ups and downs of my path to wholeness is to support your courageous steps to live your deepest joy and your fullest potential. May you let go of hiding in the dark in whatever way you may be doing so. May you stop living for other people’s dreams and grab onto what makes your soul zing. May you freely shine your beautiful light into the world and call this moment home.