Getting Strong - but Not to Move Forward

Grounding Down

Fall is a season where we strengthen our grounding muscles.  We put our feet into parks and onto hiking paths to enjoy the leaves and the cooler weather.  We breathe in the scent of the earth.  We take a mental break from thinking about ourselves, and put our thoughts on the beauty of nature.  We find a rejuvenated yet relaxed energy.  Grounded. 

It’s tempting to return from these fall walks and use our newly strengthened grounding muscles to charge forward into new goals and plans.  But the Yoga Sutra reaches out a gentle, wise old (like 2,000 years old) hand that asks us to hold.  Yoga Sutra 1.32 asks us to stand still for a moment and reflect on the choice between branching out and rooting down.  

Yes, there are times in our lives for charging forward and branching out. But sometimes we are being called to root down instead. It’s possible that those shiny new paths ahead are distractors.  Maybe those new places are not more important than where you are right now.  Perhaps we shouldn’t dismiss this moment (and the thousands of tiny fated choices that built this moment). 

Rooting down is often much tougher than branching out.  It involves taking a close look - an honest look - at our life in this moment.  Tougher yet, it involves taking a close look - an honest look - at our self in this moment. And the toughest thing of all, it involves finding a way to accept both - to love and honor both.  

As is.

Yikes, that really is going to take strength.  So let’s be strong.

Until next time,

Laura