You were born with potential.
You were born with goodness and trust.
You were born with ideals and dreams.
You were born with greatness.
You were born with wings.
You are not meant for crawling, so don't.
You have wings.
Learn to use them and fly.

~ Rumi

Let It Flow.

The yogic key to freedom in action is in the Bhagavad Gita: "Your right is to the performance of actions, but not to its fruit." One interpretation of this mysterious and significant phrase is that using your gift is its own satisfaction, so you can do what you do for its own sake.

This sentence reminds me of the rice fields of Bali, where they get this statement's meaning. Deeply.The rice fields are hard work. Feet sucking into the mud all day, the sun beating down on you. And yet. There are smiles on the faces of nearly everyone working in these fields when you stop and look. 

They create these fields the way that they do for many reasons. Number one, they obviously need to make a living. But the fields are manicured and hedged in such a beautiful way. Made (pronounced Mah-day) told me that this is for their art. They are proud to present their rice field as a thing of beauty. They are proud that people come from other countries and see their art laid out in beautiful rows of life sustaining rice.

One of the most beautiful things about the rice fields in Bali is that they do not operate from a source of lack and fear. They do not create dams, but little drainage areas so that when their fields have been watered, the water flows on down to the next person. And so on. And so on. They do not hold and clutch and grab, but let go and let flow. Taking care of each other, they take care of themselves. I was so inspired by the simplicity and faith and community in Bali. Just sharing these thoughts and photos with you in this new year.

Whispers in the Night.

Last night I heard a whisper. But really, it was just an imprint of words upon my mind, "this will be in your book. Write it down." I had just had a dream and after awakening, was thinking back upon it as I have done many times before. So often my dreams are about something that needs to be dealt with or done in my life and this time was no different.

As I lay there, remembering it, I started to think about God being with me and within me. I recently read Marianne Williamson's A Return to Love and am currently reading Wayne Dyer's Wishes Fulfilled. The ideas in these books are something that have resonated with me for a long time. Some of them are new but many of them I have felt for ages.

I remember having broken down in an old car of mine once and I was sitting on the side of the road waiting for someone to come and get me and there was this sunlight coming through the clouds. It was so heartbreakingly beautiful that I just needed to write about it right then. Not caring one bit about sitting in my broken down car, I felt like I was wealthy beyond measure at that moment. This is the connection that I'm starting to feel again. 

I need to share this feeling with as many people as possible. I need to write about it. This is what I am passionate about. So much. So much.

Magical Sedona Arizona.

2014

Okay, we are well on our way now in 2014. So, what was 2013 for me?

Learning. Such a huge part of 2013 was my beginning,  journey through and completion of my 500 hour yoga education. It was about keeping my yoga studio on track while I did that. And thanks to my two beautiful teachers...we sailed through with no real issues.

Some of my peeps from AYC.

2013 for me was also about being able to get still and listen. I have been a runner by nature since I was able to run. This is my pattern that I am working on breaking. What happens when we settle into the discomfort, or stillness, or whatever it is that you're running from? That's a question that we all must face on our own.

It's about starting to move slowly, deliberately. Not worrying, rushing, making things be that just aren't. At a Ray Long workshop I just went to he spoke about the fact that where we get our injuries is the point where we move too fast. He talked about easing in and easing out of poses. That is true for life too. When we make quick movements, we get hurt. That's why we can get hurt when we work out mindlessly, when we cross the street without looking, when we make snap decisions based on wrong motives, when we show off (as when I broke my ribs the year prior by running and jumping over a chain), when we fall in love, when we fall out of love. Moving slowly, or maybe just on my own clock is a new goal for me.

I just broke my ribs...and I am in pain selfie.

2013 was about finally listening to my voice. It can be sometimes hard to find because it's so easy for me to hear what others are saying. But I feel my voice as a physical presence now, I don't just hear it and ignore it anymore.

Is that a coffee cup and a wine bottle on the table? Seriously? p.s. not a cigar...but a marker in my mouth.

2013 was about growing and watering my friendships. My family of friends. Who I love so much. It was about healing. It was about getting real and being honest. It was so much in one year and I am grateful for all of it.

I am now firmly in my seat. God is with me and has been, but I feel that presence strongly now. I have been going through a transformation for the last few years and I feel like I'm ready to fully be me. Whatever that is and whatever that turns into. I intend to check in with myself every day about it through meditation and yoga and my writing.

I wish everyone an amazing and authentic 2014.

Much love~ Always~

Erin