Shine (Episode #33)

This past week following the tragic death of George Floyd I found myself in a really dark place. The struggle to keep anger from turning into hatred and rage is real, and we are seeing it played out in the media across the world as outrage against racism is unleashed. I finally had to stop looking at social media and the news as they were just fanning the flames. I had to get quiet with my feelings, and find a way to be a light in the midst of all of this darkness. My yoga session today was on a spiritual plain. More so than usual. Because the emotions of the past week have drained me, I am approaching my mat completely empty, and wow, with each breathe I could feel the light of the universe coursing through me. I've been pretty obsessed with the universe over the past few years, and according to astronomer Carl Sagan, we are made of 'star-stuff.' His statement sums up the fact that the carbon, nitrogen and oxygen atoms in our bodies, as well as atoms of all other heavy elements, were created in previous generations of stars over 4.5 billion years ago. Moby sang about it in his popular 2002 song "We Are All Made of Stars." Light is at the very core of our being, and we can't let anything steal our shine. One of my mother's favourite songs was 'This Little Light of Mine,' and at the end of my Yoga session today, that song was blaring in my Spirit ... 'this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine ...' At the end of my session as I was lying in resting pose, I could feel energy coursing through my entire being. Then I turned on my right side and curled up in the fetal position and an image of myself shining as bright as the sun flashed before me. When I left my mat, I was determined to shine bright, no matter how dark the world seems around me. So, in the midst of social injustice and racism, Covid 19, unemployment, economic uncertainty or whatever the darkness is that seems to be closing in around you, I say to you ... stand your ground and let your light shine! Because in your light, you will find peace and strength!