G R O W T H

"Daisies are often associated with expansion and growth, symbolizing new beginnings, hope, and the cycle of life. Their ability to bloom in abundance, even in harsh conditions, makes them a symbol of resilience"

The word growth seems too simple. What I’m feeling into is expansion and contraction which facilitates growth; the old and the new, the movement, the pause, the spiral - the flow.

I have been drawn to plants that have bright green new growth appearing alongside dark green old growth. A reminder that when we think of growth, it’s not that we need to be fixed or changed, old growth shapes us and supports us as we evolve and expand. This is our story so far, it’s what gives us resilience, strength and wisdom as we continue to expand our awareness and experience.

“Life is not a problem to be solved, but an experience to be had.” - Alan Watts

I am fascinated by how the process of creating these Blogs has evolved for me. 

They start with a thought, a feeling, a connection or an image - something resonates within me guiding me to sit with it, to see what grows and where it leads me.

They are not written for anyone else, I have discovered they are simply an expression of my own expansion. They are not compulsory reading, nevertheless for those still here, my words will resonate with some of you and not so much with others and that is how it is. 

What I express here is not ‘truth’ or ‘facts’ it is simply an expression of what I am feeling at this time.

All expressions are a form of movement and vibration - resonance. 

Our sensory organs and cognitive minds process and categorize information for us to understand based on our previous experiences or knowledge. That in itself influences how we understand experiences, because to some degree the experience is categorized and processed only within the realm of our life experience up to this point. 

This month’s theme of Growth originated with this photo. I saw the jarring yellow sign stipulating the max height allowed with the chance position of the tree seemingly beneath it. A tree doesn’t limit its growth by such human defined boundaries, it would be ridiculous to imagine it would, but this absurd juxtaposition made me consider how socially imposed thoughts, rules or boundaries influence our self belief and limit our potential to expand.

Stepping back to view this from the other side of the road changed the photo completely. Reminding me that it’s our perceptions which will limit - or support - our growth.

Growth and expansion require us to be more open to not-understanding or categorising everything we experience.  We don’t need to understand it, we may choose to, but we can also just let it be expressed and felt. Acknowledging it’s happening and intuitively feeling whether it resonates for us or not. 

Nature expresses itself in a multitude of ways through all living beings. The different emergence of spring foliage, varying shapes and sizes of this new green growth, flowers that bloom at different times, variety of birdsong, the intense or delicate scents of blossom. 

The universe is made up of connections and relationships, pollinators will be drawn to certain flowers, hibernating mammals feel the change in temperature within the earth to know when to wake up and birds feel the wind to guide them when to migrate.

We will naturally be drawn to certain things, people or situations that resonate with us - and resist those that don’t - however along the way, we’ve become disconnected from our intuition, increasingly shaped by external influences. Often therefore, what we’re drawn to—or avoid—doesn’t authentically resonate with us. Instead, we follow the familiar, the convenient, or what offers short-term validation or pleasure.

We may not understand what is missing from these experiences or relationships, often leading us to keep searching for satisfaction or validation in other ways. But when we connect and experience a situation or relationship authentically and instinctively, the experience is one that is felt but cannot necessarily be explained, only known.

Grief and mourning can be as unifying and meaningful as joy, which in itself can be experienced in the seemingly insignificant moments; such as feeling the warmth of early Spring sunshine on our skin, the unexpected sweet scent of Cherry Laurel or watching lambs feed and frolic about in the fields. It is in the authenticity that we find meaning. 

"A growing body of research identifies meaning in life as a fundamental need that strongly influences both physiological and physical well-being," - Vail and Routledge, 2020

Humans have evolved to move and express ourselves, for survival and social connection. Humans as a species have always used movement, art, music and words to express themselves, to convey meaning and emotions. These forms of expression are categorized as ‘creative arts’. Sadly creative arts have become undervalued in society and marginalised within our current education system. This changes our perception of creative arts and therefore of these forms of expression which are part of our primal nature as human beings, thus limiting ways in which we move, create, express and connect. The ways in which we express ourselves is often based on how they will be received, whether we are accepted or judged, whether it provides material wealth or fits within social norms. 

When we chase validation or comfort over true resonance, we trade growth for illusion and ultimately limit our potential.

Growth is not linear, it is not in one finite direction.  We misunderstand growth and progress, thinking that it is towards one fixed goal somewhere in our future. Growth is here in the present moment, the only time that exists and progress is more cyclical and spiral-like in nature. 

“The spiral pattern, found in galaxies, seashells, and DNA, symbolizes the dynamic yet orderly nature of the universe. It reminds us that growth and evolution can be harmonious and balanced, expanding outward while remaining connected to the center. This cosmic pattern inspires a vision of progress that is both expansive and grounded, encouraging us to see our actions as part of a larger, interconnected whole.” Anas Mohammed

This rhythmic dance of contraction and expansion is the essence of Spanda. 

Spanda is a concept from ancient Tantric philosophy that is the divine vibration which animates the universe and each of us within it. Spanda is the ebb and flow of the seasons, the cycles of the moon and the waves of the ocean. It is within us as the sacred pulse of life, within each heartbeat and each breath. It is within all movement; physical, emotional and energetic within us and around us. There is no expansion without contraction, there is no light in the absence of dark, no up without down. It is all an expression of light, vibration and perception, and it’s in constant flux.

"You're under no obligation to be the same person you were 5 minutes ago." - Alan Watts 

We often forget to trust our intuition, our unique vibration and our place in the greater whole. We may be small and seem insignificant but our part in the universe and how we express ourselves is necessary for the harmonious existence of the greater whole.

“When we truly remember who we are, we find that we are simply nature’s attempt to express itself - uninhibited by human doubt, fear or shame. And right now, we stand at the beginning of an ever-widening path. One that is beginning to pull us closer to the truth of our own nature and the genuinity of our own character.” - Zach Bushund

This month's practice is one of growth in whatever direction and way feels right for you, re-evaluating that every time you arrive on your mat.

Taking time at the start of our practice to sit with ourselves, to drop in and feel what we feel in that moment - with no categorizing, no reasoning, just feeling what is happening in that moment. Feeling the subtle energies and movements within us and around us, to guide how and when we move.

As our movement practice begins to expand, we’ll feel each movement and breath like the bird feels the air currents beneath its wings. Feeling our connection to the space around us and our breath within us.

Giving ourselves permission to move or rest in any way that feels authentically supportive to our own personal expansion and growth. Our asanas will increase how we take up space physically whilst our pranayama and meditation will encourage us to take up space energetically and vibrationally.

As you read those words….how do they make you feel, how do they resonate?

Many of us have been conditioned not to grow too-much, not to take up too much space physically, emotionally or energetically - or our experiences of doing so have left us feeling uncomfortable about repeating it.

Taking up space doesn’t mean you have to be loud, opinionated or to drop all inhibitions, practicing gently and quietly on your mat, resting and observing your own feelings is also giving yourself permission to take up space. 

The tree doesn’t apologise for growing, it isn’t limited by others perception of how it should grow. It doesn’t make the smaller trees feel bad for not being as tall, it isn't jealous of the other trees that are bigger. It just grows and expands, connecting to the elements and to all life; around it, above it, below it, instinctively knowing when to produce leaves and when to drop them, knowing when to rest and when to begin again.

I believe the first step is a process of deconstructing and deconditioning our perceptions, taking a fresh look at who and what we surround ourselves with, who and what we listen to, watch and consume - through all of our senses. Stepping back from time to time to get a  fresh perspective, to feel what is happening in the moment - and what is an illusion.

In yoga classes, we use the instruction to notice or to pay attention a lot. This month however I have consciously replaced those words (and will attempt to whilst teaching in class!) with an invitation instead to feel - without the need to categorise or to describe what you feel.

In The Book by Alan Watts, he describes the narrowed kind of perception that comes with focused attention and awareness which he says fully hypnotises us into having a disjointed vision of the universe. When we narrow our attention it’s like looking through a small tube; we miss everything that’s happening outside of that small window of sight, unaware of the bigger picture, thus creating an illusion. The practice of taking a soft gaze, or an expansive feeling of an experience, can lead to a more relaxed and present state of mind - enhancing perception and potentially leading to a greater appreciation for the world around you. 

It’s a big ask, but we are, after all, part of the big bang and its ongoing processes! 

“If there was a big bang in the beginning-- you're not something that's a result of the big bang. You're not something that is a sort of puppet on the end of the process. You are still the process.” - Alan Watts

If you get a chance to visit London’s Canary Wharf before the 30th April, I can highly recommend the immersive exhibition: 'Breathscapes' https://www.illusionaries.com/

An Immersive Journey into Mindfulness Through Meditation, Bodywork, and Breathwork

Om shanti

🙏

Sophia