Spring Garden
I love the month of May. I am not sure why, exactly, but maybe it’s that May really means Spring is here, or at least, definitely on it’s way. In the Pacific Northwest, where I now live, the weather is very fickle; we cannot plan on having beautifully warm Spring temperatures. This year, though, Mother Nature seems to be smiling at us. I glance out the diningroom window again as I write! Blue sky and the new bright green leaves wave in the breeze. Forecast for the next few days is very warm and sunny; the colors of Spring abound!
I read a quote a student posted this morning. Ezra Bayda wrote, “Without cultivating love for ourselves, regardless of how much discipline we have, regardless of how serious we are about practice, we will stay stuck in the subtle mercilessness of the mind, listening to the voice that tells us we are basically and fundamentally unworthy. We should never undestimate the need for loving knidness on the long and sometimes daunting path of learning to awaken.”
The quote reminds me of an Alexander Technique workshop I expreienced a few weeks ago. The courageous participants all shared stories of their “unworthy voice”, the one that dwells within and is ready to sabotage us. It’s that voice that screams “NO, that is NOT possible”. In the room of about 15-16 people there was not one person who had nothing to share. We each listened intently, realizing we were not alone.
Ezra Bayda says we must cultivate self-love. I believe we must first acknowledge that this other voice exists. Maybe we even must listen to it. But next, in our self-care we must stop! We must recognize that this voice of unworthiness is only one part of us and we have other more important voices to hear as well. As we stop, of course, our divine breath, which allows the space for inspiration to arise within, comes flowing into our being. We realize that as much as this “unworthy voice” is a part of us, it does not and will not define who we are. It is a color in the rainbow of colors within. Our own authentic voice is many, many colors. We have a choice to believe and allow all the colors to shine in our daily lives. Self love starts with taking the time to access the beautiful colors of our authentic selves. Breath is one key to opening this paintbox of abundant colors within.