This beautiful rose is the real deal, it looks real, it smells real, and it reliably buds, blooms and dies back with the rhythm of the seasons. It is both strong and delicate, thorny and soft. It’s subtle, but radiant colours symbolising for me, the radiant energy of summer (yellow solar energy) and a true heart connection (pink and green). This rose is pretty, but importantly it hasn't been altered, tamed or modified, it is real and authentic.
This rose reminds me to be true and authentic, to be all that I am, in all my seasons, to be tough and gentle, to bloom and to rest, to embrace the energy of summer but to also practice love and self-care.
Why the delay in this blog?
I've had time to realise that it's a fine line knowing what and how much to share! Writing authentically from the heart but only sharing what is useful for those of you reading this.
I have also recognised that writing these blogs are as much a part of planning and theming our yoga classes as they are about processing my personal experiences through reconnection to nature, self enquiry or self study. As with any experience, there is the flower so to speak, the leaves, the stem…and the roots. What I hope to share with you, to inspire your practice this month, is enough of each so that you enjoy the scent of the flower without getting caught on the thorns.
The thorns incidentally could represent the very real sufferring of disappointment which can occur in the moments we fall away from authenticity.
The roots of this month's topic have been my beautiful garden rose, summer socialising and some niggly alignment issues.
Interestingly as I write I can see that those roots have asked me to reflect on authenticity or disappointment within my physical body, emotional/mental body and spiritual* body (*connection to source - pick whatever resonates with you).
A reminder that whatever we do, on and off the mat, it is always connected to every aspect of our lives.
Authenticity is the quality of being real or true, what is the authentic you?
From the moment we are born, we are shaped by so many external influences. The more time we have to explore our own interests and experiences without too much influence of how we ‘should’ be or what we ‘should’ be doing the more accessible our authentic nature is. The more we have been encouraged to find our own path and to make our own mistakes, the more likely we are to trust ourselves and our instincts.
For many of us however, we may have been steered towards conforming to societal expectations, towards certain careers or life choices. We are generally steered towards sitting in cars, at desks, inside, under artificial light, in front of screens, more time working than living - all disconnecting us from our true natures and natural instincts.
This lifestyle is not true to our mental and emotional needs, our physical body’s needs or our natural circadian rhythms.
Going against our natural authentic needs causes suffering in subtle and dramatic ways, which is always a little disappointing! Unfortunately we have become conditioned to experience suffering, it has become normalised and we are bombarded daily with ways to ‘fix’ that suffering. Most of these ways to ‘fix’ our suffering however are externally driven and simply there to distract us rather than addressing the root cause.
Yoga is often seen as one of the external 'fixes'.
The trouble with looking outside of ourselves for answers is that there may be a range of different opinions from these external sources which can leave us totally confused and wishing we had learnt to trust our own intuition a long time ago! By the time an ache has became a pain, it becomes hard to know what feels, or should feel right, as most things cause pain. The same can be said for our thoughts, actions and emotions. Being shaped and molded by other’s expectations prevents us from authenticity and from the sweetness that this experience of life offers us.
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Over time our yoga practice can blossom. We may initally have been drawn to it as an external fix, or perhaps we were drawn to the beautiful aesthetics and teachings of it. Once we have put down roots in our practice, allowing its stems and leaves to grow, it is only when it blossoms that we know whether our practice has been authentic. If we experience moments of true sweetness, an experience that is hard to describe with words, or that once experienced it disappears if chased or held onto. Then we know we have honoured the authentic nature of ourselves and the practice of yoga.
Is there a chasm between who you truly are and how you are actually living your life or practicing your yoga?
For me the occasions when I feel I am in authenticity are most often when I am carried away in the moment. (Although I realise I have been conditioned to think this is not productive.) The phrase ‘getting carried away’ in the moment is in fact a ‘returning’, returning to our authentic self. Carried away from our over thinking mind and from our ego that is so preoccupied with how we should be or what we should be doing.
Consider allowing ourselves to get carried away in the moment to the extent that we don’t think, we feel.
Returning and remembering who we are and how to ‘be authentic’ doesn’t have to be dramatic or crazy, it can be little subtle experiences of being lost in the moment; of a beautiful song, a lingering embrace, a beautiful flower, the smell of good coffee. Whatever brings you to the moment long enough to remember that we’re not actually lost, we are fully present, to remember what is important, what makes you feel alive and connected to life.
The modern woman (or man) is a blur of activity. Pressured to be all things to all people. The old knowing is long overdue. - Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Introspection and discernment can clear the way for understanding the truth of who you are and what makes you tick. Yet it can be difficult to get to this place of authenticity simply by introspection and discernment especially if we are prone to over-thinking. Exploring childlike qualities of playfulness, curiosity, awe and wonder can anchor us back into our state of authenticity. This dips into the yoga philosophy of Lila (divine play.)
"Lila emphasizes the fact that the world is born in freedom and playful creativity, rather than necessity. In this way, the whole world can be seen as a stage for this lila, or divine play. It is an illusion to see the actions on the stage as real, and those who see them in this way are said to be under the spell of maya (illusion)" - Yogapedia
As well as lila we'll also be exploring the philosophy of viveka.
"Coming from the Sanskrit root word vich, meaning “to sift”, “separate”, “discern, or judge”, viveka can be translated to the faculty of discernment.
Considered one of the first requirements on the path to spiritual enlightenment, viveka describes the ability to distinguish between truths and untruths, the eternal and temporary, the real and unreal, the indulgence and bliss." - Yogajala
There may be doubt, shame or embarrassment when we move into authenticity. Perhaps feeling self-conscious, judged or awkward, because those around us are being molded to some degree too, and may therefore see our authenticity as naive, childlike or ‘less than’ their perceived successful, socially normal and acceptable ways!
Say what you have to say, not what you ought. Any truth is better than make believe. (Illusion) - Henry David Thoreau
In the moment of connection to our authentic self, there will be a moment ,however brief, that feels indescribably beautiful and sweet, just like my rose, and you’ll want to return!
It is a step into true livingness and a step away from perpetual anxiety. - Rachel Corby
In Ayurveda, Summer is recognized as Pitta season when the elements of Fire and Water are more dominant. Summer can be a wonderful but often exhausting time.
We can easily get caught up in the high energy of summer, BBQ’s, holidays, days out and it can be tempting to try and do it all, especially if we see others doing it all.
If we become too outwardly focused or driven our authentic nature becomes concealed, seemingly lost yet it’s literally within us, at all times, just waiting for us to remember.
Remember, at least for an instant, what substance we are truly made from, and where is our true home. - Clarissa Pinkola Estes
This month's practice will ask us to playfully flow, to spiral away and back, always returning to our centre, back to the breath, to the intelligence of the body and to our authentic self.
A practice that reminds us to be true and authentic, to be all that we are, in all our seasons, to be tough and gentle, to bloom and to rest, to embrace the energy of summer but to also practice love and self-care.
The telling is crucial. We must own our true stories. In doing so, we begin again to belong to the world in the way only we can. The door to soul opens. - Bill Plotkin
See you on the mat.
🙏
Om shanti
Sophia
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