A Beautiful Forgiveness

A beautiful Forgiveness: 

my formative years were steeped in Christian values, attending Catholic school from first grade up to my freshman year of high school before leaving for a public institution in my remaining three years. My family wasn't overly religious, only occasionally going to mass, but none the less I felt a strong connection to the church - or more truly said, to the deep mystery that it offered. 

and Easter was my favorite holiday.

resurrection. 

that Jesus rose from the dead and that my sins were to be forgiven. 

it's a beautiful message, and I felt deeply the suffering that was involved, Jesus being forced to carry his own cross, whipped and mocked before nailed and left to slowly perish in the heat of the sun. Except Jesus didn't wither, he forgave from the cross and bestowed the ultimate act of empathy, whispering to his father that his torturers did not know the true extend of their actions, they were ignorant of their most basic behavior. 

a beautiful forgiveness. 

years later and I discovered this same psychological truth in yoga, avidya, the root foundation of the kleshas that explains all of our suffering in life. Avidya is translated from Sanskrit to mean ignorance, explaining that we are unaware of being the cause of our own suffering. We know not what we do, quite literally so, blind to our aversions and attachments, colliding through life a deep fear of death driving our behavior, and oblivious of mistaken belief in an ego based reality. 

we're in need of a resurrection. 

a beautiful forgiveness. 

and that's what yoga offers us, a path for our salvation, not for the sake of souls and eternity in heaven, but for this life now, recognizing that we are reborn within each instant. An Easter for every moment we're alive. That's the lesson from the cross, we're ignorant of our action, and forgiving ourselves of this ignorance gives us an opportunity of rebirth to a new insight of going forward now into a greater light of true awareness. 

Jesus, from the cross, offers us this vision of a reality.

a clear seeing of our awareness. 

a beautiful forgiveness. 

~

Peace, Eric 

To read more from Headless Now, Please visit: Just Talking to Myself 

Also, please visit to buy: Ancient Yoga For Modern Practitioners 

Thank you. 

Just Talking to Myself

Just talking to myself:

so I've been talking a lot lately, twice daily actually on my YouTube channel, and surprisingly, I've grown to enjoy and appreciate the artfulness of these conversations. Very often I'm just talking to myself, no audience present, putting forth my thoughts and views on yoga and meditation, other related topics as well. I make it clear that I'm not a teacher, I'm not offering insights or pointers to anyone at all. I'm just talking to myself, even when people show up and join the conversation it's still only about the art of weaving words together in an energetic flow of ideas.

anyone watching,

participating, 

adding to this in their own artful way.

this started with sharing my workouts within a like minded community, a limited audience of those who mainly practiced calisthenics. This probably could have been enough, a few friends with a passion for fitness, working with the energy of the body, and encouraging each other to stay with their commitment. But somewhere along the way I found myself offering a bit more, discussing the ideas that were important to me, opening up the discussion to include the details of my life that I found were most meaningful. That's when I discovered that this is art, a stream of conscious process put on view for others to watch and join if they wished too, playing with silence and a dance of words spaced through. 

of course art is subjective. 

so really, 

I'm just talking to myself. 

the art of self-dialog...

and seeing where it goes. 

~

Peace, Eric 

To read more from Headless Now, please visit: So Many Years Ago 

Also, please visit to buy: Altruism 

Thank you. 

So Many Years

So many years: 

it's been many years to get here, this point now where I've come to embrace the empty space of page and and mind as I arrive to write each morning. There used to be long moments of dread if I approached the my writing task with no clear idea to inspire me, faced with a taunting screen that dared me for a single word to begin the creative process and so often nothing came to mind. 

my great realization was that nothing needed to be written. 

that I'm not really the author of any words.

and that I can be comfortable just sitting in silence.

until inspiration finds me on its own.

I don't know why it took me so many years to get here, or why this change of comfort has occurred - maybe it's the effect of decades of my meditation finally reaching me in patience. Or that I'm older and no longer in a rush to accomplish any morning tasks, allowing the day to unfold at its own pace and without my interference. Probably all of this as well as so many years of writing, my experience of waiting for words each morning and discovering a great comfort in simply letting go and allowing the page to remain empty for however long its meant to be, surrendering my own agenda for the joy of trust and patience. Inspiration will always reach me with an urge to write, words appear when they're ready to be given to the page. 

that's the truth of writing, that I'm not the author but merely a transcriber, an intermediary between the ultimate creative source and the finished product of this current inspiration. With that in mind it's an easy process of waiting until my role is called for, nothing for me to do but sip my coffee and enjoy the silence of the morning. 

after so many years...

it's nice to finally be here.

exactly where inspiration has always been found. 

~

Peace, Eric 

To read more from Headless Now, please visit: Just Enough 

Also, please visit to buy: Awareness 

Thank you. 

Just Enough

Just enough: 

sometimes, perhaps most often, having just enough is all we truly need, that any excess past the point of our basic needs being met might be detrimental to our best interest. Right now I'm thinking in terms of making a wish, or really, on the shadow aspect of wishing. In many indigenous cultures wishing is a form of subtle magic, the simplicity of planting a thought seed amidst energetic currents and then detaching from the outcome, allowing the universe to carry out the details. Hawaiian shamanism is noted for this use of magic, and those shamans versed in the art of wishing well offer us some insights on the dark side of getting what we ask for. 

sometimes it's better to wish for just enough.

an example would be a wish for a great deal money without the realization of the issues involved. Our we prepared for the drastic change in lifestyle, the higher tax bracket, or the thousands of minor details that could add up to more trouble than we could have imagined. For many, it might be worth the risk, but the shamans ask that we at least consider every possibility.

that maybe we should wish for just enough. 

being content with the smaller blessings received. 

and not always striving to have more. 

it's the art of well wishing. 

~

Peace, Eric 

To read more from Headless Now, please visit: Pain 

Also, please visit to buy: Wishing Well

Thank you. 

Pain

Pain: 

an old injury has revisited me the past few months, damage to my back occurring well over 30 years ago is still evident now and has been worse today than almost ever before. I've been extremely fortunate that after the initial healing, that took close to a year, my life was pretty much untouched by this injury, only showing itself in odd moments when I might tweak my back during training for a sport. A lifetime of yoga has kept me well and largely pain free. 

until now. 

and I've been unable to turn the corner with this present discomfort. 

I'm still extremely fortunate, being able to still train daily, walk, run, yoga, and even engage in a strenuous form of calisthenics - but through the day there's quite a bit of pain. These activities help me deal with this issue, easing the pain, allowing me to stay strong and fit. Yet I've been unable to put the re-occurrence of this injury behind me. 

and I'm no longer going to try.

by this I mean that all pain is accepted, that it's the present situation right now, and that's it not for me to chase away. It's here. That's the entirety of the story, not the past things that I could do pain free and certainly not a projection to an injury free future. That might happen, it has before, and what I do within this present moment might lead me there again. So my focus is on healing just this moment, a more gentle approach to yoga that calms my nervous system, brings my focus to the energetic centers of the body and allows prana to do the actual work of healing. 

it's not magic. 

but the nature of the body.

and it's what I have to work with. 

right now. 

~

Peace, Eric 

To read more from Eric McCarty and Headless Now, please visit: In The Subtle Body Now

Also, please visit to buy: Wishing Well - Thank you. 

In The Subtle Body Now

In the subtle body now; 

asanas, my physical point of yoga, seldom last over 20 minutes anymore. Gone are those hour long sessions, sometimes longer, when I would challenge myself to hold a posture longer or approach its most difficult aspects. Some of this is due to a back injury that has resulted in more measured approach, cautious, but mostly it's the injury that has caused me to reevaluate my practice and approach in a different light, more mindful and with less focus on the physicality of each pose. 

I'm more interested in the subtle body now.

the energy of my practice. 

with this everything shifts to breath and gaze, fewer postures and never for the length of time once held before. I'm no longer challenging mind or body, sinker deeper past the point of needing to do so - surrendering myself to the pranic energy that guides me through these asanas I've selected. This is where my practice turns into the fifth limb of yoga, pratyahara, withdrawing my senses from an outer focus to an ever apparent world within. 

I'm in the subtle body now, 

or at least that's where my practice takes me. 

~

Peace, Eric 

To read more from Eric McCarty and Headless Now, please visit: Garudasana 

Also, please visit to buy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0553380974?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Thank you. 

Garudasana

Garudasana: 

an inward pose, body pulled tight against itself, constricted in a sense and yet freeing just the same - this is Garudasana, eagle pose, and it's at once awkward and graceful in my performance. For sometime now this posture has been missing from my practice as I heal from a lingering back issue. But now, reintroduced, and I'm learning once again how demanding this pose is, requiring a high degree of strength and concentration, flexibility of body and mind, and no mall amount of grace to hold its finish for several flowing breaths. 

right now, it's my most energetic point of practice. 

a mindfulness through every aspect. 

and I'm happy for its return.

not really named for an eagle, Garudasana is actually a mythical bird in the yogic tradition, called the king of birds whose flight carried Lord Vishnu through the sky without the need to ever rest or land, knowing the deep secrets of the currents of the air. This makes it the perfect name for this pose, holding such mysteries in the intricate pattern that it offers, each position unlocked slowly through my concentration and willingness to repeat my effort through each mistake and fall. 

with this pose there is no failure.

just secrets of mind and body revealed. 

but only if I listen.

I'm doing my best not to rush into more advanced postures right now, taking as much time to heal as needed, yet still tentatively reaching for that edge of a challenge. Garudasana is perfect for this moment, offering a deep stretch through my upper body while building strength and poise in my legs. More so, it's that one-pointed focus that I adore, an energetic concentration that effect my spirit deeply. I need to be full present to this asana, repeated bringing my attention to every detail without ignoring the overall quality of the pose. 

for it's completion, everything most be perfect.

if only for an instant,

a breath

and that's just enough for my surrender...

coasting on the currents of air, grace, and mystery. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Sugar Maple Tree

Sugar maple tree: 

the term is hydraulic lift, how certain trees draws deep ground water up through their root system during the day and then by night, in place of storing this water to be passed along their branches the next day, will instead share this bounty to surrounding plant life. One tree nourishing an entire ecosystem through the soil and roots of its connection. It's an amazing act of care. I came across this while reading a book on wish making, the author, who studied with Hawaiian shamans, used the example of the sugar maple tree, which seems particularly adept at sharing its stored water. 

what does that have to do with wish making?

everything really.

that are wisest wishes are made for the sake of an ecosystem over a singular and immediate need, and through that wish we gain the entire support of the universe itself. Wishing as if we're a sugar maple tree, root deep in our connection, having a shared intent of thriving in an often troubled world. Science now sees trees as belonging to an intricate underground universe, trading information and nutrients through root systems, fungi, and soil. It's survival of the most sharing, seen less as competition and more of connection and mutual concern. Darwin's famous quote on the fittest being more apt to survive was actually implying that it's the life forms that are able to adapt the easiest and quickest that are the ones that gain an advantage. 

survival of the friendliest it just as often seems. 

and the sugar maple is our example, a spirit guide to lead the way through our own survival. It's time we learn of our root system through earth, of connection by air and water, that we belong as an ecosystem and not in isolation. We need to make wiser wishes, not just for our immediate benefit, and not always for more and more...

but maybe wishing for just enough,

and learning again

our connection to the world. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Walking in the Rain

Walking in the rain: 

it's just after 4:00 a.m, meditation and yoga behind me for the morning, coffee brewed and I'm taking halting sips as I begin to settle into my pattern of writing. What draws my attention right now is the steady rain against my office window, relentless since I woke well over an hour ago. Once I'm done writing, my coffee finished, I'll head outside for several miles of walking in the rain and still dark morning. It won't be pleasant, not even the least bit....

but it will be joyful.

in it's very own way. 

this might be a subtle distinction - as I think of pleasant as slight warmth against skin, an early peek of sun just on the horizon, and an easiness to my stride. That might be my most often request, asking for conditions to be near perfect for my taste. Yet nature seems to seldom respond to what I ask for, having no agenda other her own. So I take what each morning offers, grateful that I'm able to receive the contrasting gifts of steady rain and slight warmth of sun, each given as a mystery, and both so deeply appreciated for the joy that they invoke. 

here's the distinction: 

pleasant is the experience of all that pleases me, brings comfort, and I find myself smiling for these very reasons given  by the morning. But my joy runs deeper still, it's unprovoked by patterns of mood or weather, existing entirely without my preconceived conditions of the world. 

my joy simply is.

and doesn't need a reason. 

so I listen to the rain beating hard against the office window, smiling at the prospects of a most unpleasant morning excursion. 

walking in the rain.

with a deep joy existing in my heart.

~

peace, Eric 

Spring is Here

Spring is here: 

so far, it's been a rather cold, wet spring, not a season much different from the previous days of winter. Of course it's early, just a few days in, and there's no rush towards warmth and sunlight. Everything unfolds through a design intended by nature, not by my agenda, and it's always wise to be mindful of this pace, easing into each season according to its plan. 

it's enough that spring is here. 

and I do see it's rhythm, a slow growth of plants and some trees in early bud. Dogwoods are already offering their full bloom, one of the first signs that a true spring is here. I love their brilliant white. the optimism of their show, as if assuring me that winter's touch is far behind us now. As well, there's a greater stir of animals on my morning walks, there's a feel for what's on the way, an energy of new arrivals and the continuation of life. 

spring is here.

no mater what the weather shows. 

and even as I add an extra layer to keep warm on my earliest walk, rain gear on, barely managing to face the dark and gloom of another cold and wet morning...

that's enough for me to know. 

~

Peace, Eric 

A Swan's Death Song

A swan's death song: 

the beauty of a swan's death song, it's been a persistent myth, predating ancient Greece but gaining traction during this time. Scientifically there seems to be no evidence that a less than musically inclined swan during its living years, saves it's most beautiful voice for a deathbed song of great and delicate beauty. Yet I love this myth, how it gave rise to the common saying of a swan song, a final act of significance and grace that's left forever remembered in the minds of those fortunate enough to witness its performance. Of course the lesson so often offered with this is to offer our songs to the world right now, not to save it for our last moments when so few might be able to hear it. 

but maybe it's the finality that lends it such beauty. 

a swan certainly makes music during it's lifetime, even the European Mute swan often honks, grunts and gives an occasional hissing sound, perhaps not on possessing the most gifted voice, it's still a song unique to this most graceful bird. And that's the beauty of every song, that it's offered to the world from our own perspective, no matter a grunt from a swan or twill from the most gifted songbird - we are only asked to sing, not to be judged by the quality of our song. 

perhaps, myth aside, what would make a swans death song so beautiful is the poignancy of its call, that each note is given just that final moment and not to be heard in this world again. In this way, it's really about mindfulness, right now we're given an opportunity to sing a unique perspective that's final in its note, a swan's death song for each moment of our lives, 

it's all filled with beauty. 

every song. 

because it's ours, 

and this particular note...

will never by played exactly this way again. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Virabhadrasana

Virabhadrasana: 

certain asana have a way of recapturing my attention, sometimes after months or even years of being absent from my practice. Just as often there are poses that have once played a significant role in my routine but for various reasons have been given less focus as my concentration turns towards another posture that calls to me right now. It's not that they're neglected, just more a shift of priorities as my energy is concentrated on another task at hand. This is how is is with Virabhadrasana I and II, warrior series, powerful standing poses that build strength and stamina, activating the root chakra to ground me to the reality of my practice. 

these asanas are named after the ancient warrior Virabhadra, who was created by Lord Shiva from a lock of his hair after the tragic loss of his wife. Virabhadra was put through a series of trails in order to bring about a transformation before he was set lose to avenge Shiva's loss, and the series of warrior poses is said to represent how Virabhadra was transformed into a fierce avenger. For me, they were once a mainstay in my practice through my years in distance running, a perfect strength routine that also kept my hips loose and mobile, opening my spine in an upward stretch, and developed a high degree of concentration. They're important postures for any yogi, from warrior to distant runner. 

or even for simply healing.

and that's mainly what I hope for in any asana these days, a flow towards healing an injured back as well as an emotional balm through some troubled times. Warrior series, both one and two, offers me an energetic stance, a firm posture that roots me to the earth while also causing me to reach in a hopeful stretch towards the sky. I love the shift between Virabhadrasana I and II, seamless, a continuous flow of energy that shows me a deep connection through every pose, that my practice is meant to be a demonstration of my courage and commitment to everything that life delivers. 

that I'm a warrior too...

even as I'm healing. 

~

Peace, Eric 

A Long Season of Loss

A long season of loss: 

there comes a certain age for all of us when the balance begins to tip towards a long season of loss, sometimes just a bare notice at first as it seems no one is immune to misfortune. But through our middle years we begin to note more often the growing list of loved ones and friends now gone, our parents growing evermore frail, or maybe even our own health has become somewhat of a concern.

perhaps this becomes our first extended meditation on mortality.

it's a long season of loss. 

yet it's also a season of expansion and a deeper sense of love, gaining empathy through the means of continuously being broken open and our grief exposed. To know loss is to learn of genuine love, how each of us will face this season alone no matter how many people may surround us, and that the only thing we can truly offer another is our presence. 

it sometimes doesn't feel enough. 

but it is, as presence is the capacity to hold all things, silently, yet with full attention given. Our presence extends through time and distance, closing the gap of grief and sorrow between us. It's shared, more so, it's the very ground of our existence, our sure and true connection. 

it's what we have to offer. 

and in our long season of loss...

we walk this ground together. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Folly of Certainty

Folly of certainty:

recently, from several sources, I've been reminded on the folly of certainty, how we often cruise through life with the firm belief that we are think is most always correct and true. I came across a quote the other day, hearing it first from retired news correspondent and now author and meditation teacher Dan Harris, stating that we have a certainty epidemic, so many people completely sure that their view is the only one that really matters. Of course this often leads to clashes of the ego, no one else can be right if they don't align with how we're thinking. 

and that's the world we live in now.

everyone is certain.

even when they're wrong.

that seems to be the allure of conspiracy theories, that we've discerned a deeper truth that no one else is able to see. It makes us special, secure in our certainty that everyone else is blind and wrong in their own beliefs. Yet the true conspiracy always plays against us, that we're mostly caught in our emotional patterns that allow very little control for our choices or behavior. In yogic psychology this is advidya, ignorance of our compulsion, how we're driven by attachments and aversions, addicted to our own particular way of thinking. To break free of this they yogic, as well as Buddhist way, is to simply shine the light of awareness to our minds, observing these patterns of habits and behavior. 

one of the best means for this is in cultivating a sense of uncertainty. 

allowing ourselves the pleasure of now knowing. 

staying open and present to mystery. 

for me, I just continuously remind myself of the folly of certainty, that there is nothing that I truly know for sure and that I'm better served to allow others their point of view instead of offering a debate. The antidote for avidya is simply clear seeing, vidya, meaning true knowledge of the self.

 our truth is always a mystery, never something to be taken as certain and static in its hold, but being a continuous, fluid expression of what we are. 

aware...of the folly of certainty. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Of Sadhana

Of sadhana: 

the literal and classic definition of sadhana is in having a methodical, disciplined practice in order to attain specific results, usually of a spiritual nature such as transcending the ego or liberating ourselves from worldly things. detachment from the busyness of life. This has always held a certain appeal to me, committing myself fully to a spiritual pursuit and reaching the highest of all possible goals - a true and sure awakening, enlightenment itself. 

oddly, I've achieved the actual practice, 

a disciplined life that's largely dedicated to yoga and meditation. 

and yet now having no desired goal in mind. 

my practice is enough. 

it's not that my goal has changed, that I'm reaching no for something less demanding, believing that enlightenment ifs forever beyond my reach. No, it's that I'm truly happy with a practice that doesn't have to have an end result in mind, of a sadhana without any purpose other than the immediacy of the joy involved in its performance. I have no idea if there's anything to attain beyond this, a greater awakening at hand if I only practice just a bit harder, adding more difficult asanas and meditating longer. It's possible of course, many have reported such an achievement through their practice. 

for some, the goal is the entirety of their practice. 

but it seems that I lack that commitment, having long since given in to the laziness of my nature. If here's an awakening to be had, or enlightenment gained, they'll find me here, joyfully, easily, engaged in my practice without a single goal in mind. 

of my sadhana...

it's simply being alive. 

with no sense of goal or achievement.

this life is simply gifted. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Earliest Days of Yoga

Earliest days of yoga:

my earliest days of yoga were full of stories of manifestations and miracles, inspired by Paramahansa Yogananda and his autobiography and fully expecting to gain even the slightest siddhis through my effort of proper yoga as presented by his Kriya Yoga style. Of course dramatic miracles eluded me, I was never able to instantly showcase my yogic powers - but looking back on those earliest days of yoga, miracles certainly did occur, indeed, life altering in some pretty amazing ways. 

my turn towards yoga, from years of dabbling to full commitment was largely due to feeling that failure within the world, unable to gain the smallest hold on any kind of success I believed I needed. Drinking to excess everyday of the week didn't help matters, smoking, a poor diet even though I prided myself as an athlete in training. It was an odd time of contradictions that can be explained by being young, until it continued long past the time I should have let that behavior go. But that's the thing with addictions, there is no letting go without a large degree of grace involved. 

and yoga, meditation, cultivated that sense of grace. 

miracles occurred.

smoking first, I don't even recall my last cigarette other than waking one morning without the urge to smoke, the draw to damage my lungs even further had simply disappeared. My diet changed soon after, cleaning out a large degree of unhealthy choices, adding fruits and vegetables in return, and switching to a largely vegetarian diet as my empathy towards every life form overcame the appetite of cruelty and harm to animals, although I was still many years away from my eventual turn to being vegan. Most important of all - I quit drinking, a decade of self destruction placed behind me in a literal moment. It was a clear thought that presented itself to me, a grace of awareness, that if I never wanted another drink again, it would be granted in a very instant. 

25 years ago. 

and never a drink again. 

should all of this be attributed to those earliest days of yoga? 

or yoga at all? 

I don't know, and honestly care very little of it's cause. It's been well over 30 years of a truly committed practice, many changes to my approach, and with little concern of any miracles involved. Everyday flows with a sure and certain grace, manifestation happens on its own, life spontaneously presenting itself though each continuous moment. None of it is due to any effort on my end, but I am a direct participant in its happening, a miracle within an ever grander mystery. 

my yoga is simply part of this. 

and that's enough for me to know. 

~

Peace, Eric 

For My Needs

For my needs: 

through the course of a lifetime my yoga asana practice has been a constant, yet fluid, presence in my life, shifting to the needs of my body and emotions, but the commitment to practice has never once wavered. Even now in a year that's been difficult, with an injury keeping me from so many of my favorite poses, I find that I adapt to the circumstances at hand and perform with the body that I have each moment. It's been a much gentler practices for me over the past several months, 

and it's perfect for my needs. 

my back injury has allowed me to shift focus, giving me an opportunity to explore the fifth limb of yoga, pratyahara, withdrawing my senses from the outer world to an inner review of sensations of the body and ever changing flow of thoughts. The simplest asana now becomes a meditation of its own, diving deep into the motion of an inner world that somehow always seems to unfold to a greater stillness. I'm truly listening to my body, a silent communication of its sensations, and how they each having a message to share with me, even if it's only a whisper. 

and the message is almost always...

pay attention.

and it's the perfect message for my needs.

this isn't a sharp focus on every detail of my practice, it's much softer, a gentle awareness that just flows through my body, unencumbered by concerns, leading me towards an easy stillness that's carried through every pose. Amazingly, I am falling in love with the present restrictions of my practice, not at thinking of the asanas that I can no longer do, but giving myself completely to every pose that's now available. It all feels unlimited, unbound, a true flow of awareness through the course of my body. 

it's the perfect practice for my needs right now. 

~

Peace, Eric 

With the Absence of Words

With the absence of words: 

to not be afraid to wait in silence, or more truly, giving up the need to write at all and simply be comfortable with the absence of words. This is where inspiration finds me, sitting at my desk, patient, coffee at hand, content with the quiet of the morning. I have no doubt that words will appear, as they do everyday at just about the same time. But the difference now, vastly so from many years before, is that I no longer reach for them, there's no anxiety or concern that this will be the day that inspiration alludes me and there won't be a single meaningful sentence on the page.

I'm comfortable with the absence of words. 

yet confident that they'll appear. 

it's with this paradox that I became a writer.

art should never be a source of stress, anxiety inducing, nor bring about any concern or even slightest thought of failure. This occurs only through the demands an artist has with inspiration, that it must obey the whims of ego and be present at their beck and call. For decades I struggled with my writing, having a streak of words for a week or two and then nothing to write of for weeks on end. Or so I believed. But the truth is, there was no appreciation for the silence between words, that this is where the magic happens and my role is to prepare myself for its arrival. This is a holy time, a moment for rituals to be performed, cleansing myself of my own demands and surrendering completely to the whims of inspiration. And now, there is no struggle...

I write what's freely given.

abiding in the silence that's offered in between. 

happily so. 

~

Peace, Eric 

A Blessing of Bluebirds

A blessing of bluebirds: 

there's recently been a blessing of bluebirds in my neighbor after what seems a very long absence, years having gone by with only a rare appearance. I see them almost daily now, a joyful splash of blue against the still stark branches left by winter. At one point there was concern for the bluebird population, their range having been reduced by as much as 70% due to competition with house sparrows and starlings, both species having been introduced to the area and wrecking havoc on many native songbirds. It seems they have recovered nicely, once again offering their beautiful song and vibrant color. 

a blessing of bluebirds indeed. 

these songbirds have long been considered a symbol of happiness, their coloring inspiring song, poems and prose throughout the ages. Many indigenous tribes of the Eastern United States believed that the bluebird could ward off the worse of winter, the beauty of its song causing the spirit of cold weather to retreat and usher in the warmth of spring. Across the world they're a symbol of hope, that happier days will be returning soon and that this lovely bird inspires the courage to have faith. 

for so many of us the bluebird is a spirit animal, a guide that sees us through some darker days. Even more so now with their return from such a steep decline, showing us the rebound of nature if given the proper concern and care. Their absence from the world would truly be tragic, a symbol of hope forever gone, felt throughout the fabric of nature all the way to the essence of our soul. The message that bluebirds offer me is that hope comes with equal action, that it's not enough to care unless I offer my commitment to the world, to all who suffer and despair. 

that my heart contains a blessing of bluebirds as well...

and this is what I offer to the world. 

~

Peace, Eric 

 

Direct Experience

Direct experience:

I love the direct experience of yoga, the entirety of the path, from the ethical and personal suggestions all the way through breath and postures, withdrawal of the senses, to the three points of meditation that accumulate in samadhi as the final stage of practice. Of course there really is no endpoint here, direct experience itself is an an ongoing flow of existence. 

there is no final stage of practice. 

or so it seems to me.

and that's what I love about my practice, not just on the mat but in it overflows to every aspect of my life, an awakening in every instant through a deep appreciation of simply being alive and astonished by this gift. This has been the direct experience of yoga, nothing esoteric, just finding joy in the stretch of body and working with the breath, a growing sense of care and empathy towards others, and an immersion into the vibration of mantra until falling softly to the easy hold of silence. It's all carried with me now, not through stages, more of a seamless flow from first waking moment to the entirety of my day. I find myself in love with life, it's every challenge, and the means given for me to meet them. 

the direct experience of simply being alive. 

without need to change a single thing.

and that's the path of yoga.

or so it seems to me.

~

Peace, Eric 

Season of March

Season of March: 

all night the wind played a long and distressed howl against my bedroom window. It's early morning now, dark, and the wind still present, just as fervent, not inviting at all as I contemplate my walk of several miles. There will be branches strewn across the paths, maybe even trees down, and the wind will cut through every layer I have on and chill me straight to the bone. I'm warm in my small home office now, drinking coffee as I write these words, small heater next to me whispering warmth in contrast to the cold sound outside my window. March is often a bitter month, drastic in its change of weather, never quite settling into a single season, almost eager to keep a grasp on winter. 

in a way, it's like a season completely on its own - an entire month of erratic behavior, rain and sweeping winds that at any time can turn to ice or snow, offering blizzard conditions that shortly give way to the warmth of sun and gentlest breeze. I'm sure that I'll walk every morning of this month, well before dawn and in the thick of whatever weather is presented. My curiosity calls for me to explore the season of March, at once loving, dreading its drastic offer. This morning they'll be the bracing wind and dodge of flying branches, tomorrow calls for more pleasant skies, warmer, and both mornings are aspects of a continuously changing season - and entire month displayed through every possibility. 

it's the season of March...

and I'm eager to explore all that it might offer. 

even as I listen to the distressing howl of wind, dreading its cold touch that's sure to reach me no matter what barrier placed between us. 

to truly know the fullness of the season, these early, dark mornings are the surest opportunity, a solitary excursion into the midst of its display. It's that thought that draws me to my doorstep, a brief pause, checking to be sure I've remembered every layer, and I'm into the wind.

immersed with the season. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Busyness

Busyness: 

feeling slightly thrown off course this morning, daylight savings time has just begun and my internal clock hasn't yet adjusted. Mainly this is due to my phone not calibrating to the switch of hours, I woke up quiet a bit past my usual time of preference. Now there's an urge to hurry, to make the morning fir my schedule and rush to make each minute meet my demands. These are holdover feelings from my more hectic younger years, when I was on the go even if I had no specific place I really had to be. Internally, I was busier then, my mind and body racing to get somewhere that they considered special, much more important than wherever I found myself that moment. 

I've slowed down quite a bit since then. 

happily so. 

it's not that I don't have priorities or preferences still, I certainly do, and I love following a schedule for my day even if it's less important now. My day seems to flow better when it follows a laid out plan, my health, both emotional and physical respond with an ease and grace to the things I commit to daily. Yet to rush to get any of this accomplished would defeat the point of all I do, and I'm better served to keep relaxed and simply allow the day to unfold without making my demands. 

allowing the busyness of my mind to settle.

and just go about my day.

even as I feel a bit behind. 

the truth is, these days, everything feels quite spontaneous, events arriving on their own without the need for me to make anything happen, and leaving just as easily with little interference from my end. This is so even with my scheduled plan of action, there's a magical feel to it all, as if the very thing I've most desired has suddenly appeared and invited my participation. 

magical indeed.

I've mostly let go of my busyness, or maybe I should say that it's been surrendered on its own. None of this was planned, yet it's exactly as it is, and there's no need for me to hurry. 

the very nest thing, whatever it might be...

will simply happen. 

~

Peace, Eric 

As Soul

As Soul: 

as soul, not being in possession of one, or that it's my true identity disguised as human form - but that it's more the expression of life itself, everything, seamlessly so. When I'm out in nature  there are times when I seem to know that I belong here, exactly where I am, and that I am simply part of the scenery, as sure of this as every tree and rock that fits so easily into this belonging. It's the same assured knowing that birds must feel in flight, held be the sky in tight embrace without even the slightest sense of doubt that the air is home. Honestly, I think I'm mistaken to even write that there's a knowing involved with this, it's deeper by far, as if the very fabric of beingness is in vast display of itself in varied form.

as soul.

everything. 

infinite in display. 

home.

~

Peace, Eric 

Natural Silence

Natural Silence: 

it's a nosier world these days, now more than ever there's an undercurrent of sounds that keep our nervous system on edge. I live in a beautiful town with inviting green space spread throughout, and I take full advantage of this with an active lifestyle of walking and running, seeking quiet and solitude in the earliest of morning before most people even consider getting out of bed. But still there are cars and buses in commute, planes in almost constant flight overhead, the low hum of the busyness of life in all it's myriad forms. It's seems a great shame that we've lost our natural silence, especially the quiet of night and those early hours of predawn when the world should be at rest. 

yet there is still a deep quiet to be found.

just beneath the dim of everyday life. 

if we listen...

we'll hear our natural silence once again. 

in the tradition of my meditation practice it's said that the ancient Rishis heard 108 sacred sounds, vibrational patterns of the cosmos that they translated into Sanskrit mantras to be used in for chanting and meditation. To follow the vibration of a mantra is to dive into deep depths of consciousness, our natural silence that is the allowing place for every thought and sound to occur. It's not the absence of sound that is found here, but a nourishing stillness that remains present after their passing. 

it's that presence that I return to.

and it's nature that shows me how. 

what I've learned is that every sound of nature is a mantra, a vibrational pattern that serves to bring me back to an easy quiet There's no need for me to chant or spend hours in deep meditation, the chatter of a squirrel scolding another, geese in honking flight above me, a stream giving voice to the motion of water - theses sounds carry me back to a natural silence. With each walk I am taught the true yoga of living in a nosier world, learning to rest just beneath the busyness of everyday life. 

to be a yogi, a Rishi...in a suburban world. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Earlier Dawn

Earlier dawn: 

we are just a few days away from an earlier dawn, clocks springing forward by an hour and an extra hour of sunlight gained. This means that my long walk through winter's darkness soon ends, I'll catch the first hint of dawn as I begin my walk and end in the full display of sunrise. Physically, this will be much better for me, getting more direct sunlight to the eyes increases a valuable hormonal response that helps regulate our circadian rhythm as well as other healthful benefits. I'm also looking forward to the stir of more life, more wildlife on the move with light, some waking while other, more nocturnal creatures begin to retreat to their dens to wait out the long hours of the day. 

we're just a few hours from an earlier dawn.

and so much will change. 

more truly, this has been creeping up slowly for some time now, from a first increase of just a few unnoticed seconds, to three minutes of extra light each morning. There's been a soft glow of ambient light at the end of my walks for several days, and I hear the early call of song birds, dawn chorus, trading notes sparingly, as if in practice the full sunrise. When you walk through every season there comes a keen sense to these morning trends, developed through deep listening and being ever watchful. But of course daylight saving time is quite a leap forward, an entire hour gained that throws me slightly off my rhythm. With this I soon leave full darkness behind and will begin my walks with a first hint of sunlight as my guide. No longer wandering through the dark. 

I'll miss it though. 

walking through winter's darkness is a cold, but healing balm, an opportunity to retreat from the busier paths of spring and embrace a more solitary approach to life. At least for a season. In a way it's a much deeper circadian rhythm, an annual cycle of exploring the dark and all it offers and then emerging to the light with valuable secrets gained from these excursions. My preference would be without an hours leap forward, to go by nature's own time, slower, allowing the light to find me in just the right moment I'm ready to emerge.  Maybe one year, when I'm no longer bound by any sense of conventional time, I'll simply ignore the leap all together and set my course by nature's time. 

until then...

I enjoy my last few hours of the morning's darkness,

walking my towards an ever earlier dawn,

~

Peace, Eric 

In Early Spring Rain

In Early spring rain: 

it's been a rainy season so far,  being the first week of March and what's considered the meteorological start of spring. Tradition holds that this month comes in harsh and leaves winter in it's wake, leading us to the more pleasant days of April. But I find that I don't mind this cold rain, especially on my earliest morning walks, with so few daring to make it outside beyond a quick dash to their car for their commute to work - the world along the wooded paths of my neighborhood are completely mind. 

solitary excursions in early spring rain. 

it's a gift from nature.

this winter has been quiet different for me, there's been a lightness in regard to the weather that I've never experienced before, as if a long held mood since childhood has suddenly been lifted and I'm completely free of its hold. Of course my preference is still towards the warmer days of late spring and summer, but it seems that I've grown into some lighter nature, accepting just what the day brings without descending into darkness. Why and how this has happened I cannot truly say, perhaps a near lifetime of yoga and meditation practice has altered my response in some neurological way, by brain producing just the right hormones now to keep me even keeled. Or it could be age and a growing sense that everyday is, and has always been, a gift from nature, each one to be cherished in its own way. 

what I find is that I love my solitary excursions in early spring rain, drops that hold just a touch of an icy feel, gust of wind that chill past every layer of clothes and that it's these conditions that grant me this occasion. I think at a certain point in life, for some maybe sooner than my middle years, our appreciation deepens past the points of personal preference and we discover the gift of everyday, no matter what it offers. Or maybe more truly, for exactly what it's giving. 

perhaps the only thing that's really changed...

is my willingness to receive. 

~

Peace, Eric 

A Yogic Lifestyle

A yogic lifestyle: 

my days are mostly filled with meditation, breathwork and easy asana practice, writing, and walking in nature. It's a quiet life, simple, exactly what I wish for right now. I'm fortunate that I inherited a house and have just a little bit in savings and that I'm working hard to ensure that I can maintain this way of living through efforts of my own creative energy. I'm not sure if it's possible - but I'm trying. For me, this is an ideal path, it's a yogic lifestyle, and by that I simply mean it's full of curiosity and commitment to what life brings to me here, without need or desire to chase things without true value. 

a yogic lifestyle is a path of inner simplicity. 

by no means is this is prescription for others, I've no wish to tell others how to live their lives, nor direct them as to what their own values should be. But I do believe that many of these practices, meditation, breathwork, time in nature, as well as small commitment to a creative endeavor would add a great deal of joy and healthy benefits to people's lives. I'm often asked if I teach yoga, and while I am a meditation teacher, a certified breathwork coach, as well as a yoga instructor, my answer is no. I just write and talk about my life, sharing my own yogic lifestyle that would be very different than all others. 

it's what only works for me. 

my unique circumstances. 

and my strong desire for a path of inner simplicity. 

there's another path for each of you.

and my hope is that it provides you the same amount of joy that life is offering me right now. A yogic lifestyle is really living life within the perimeters of values yoga offers, again being a commitment to health, drawn towards an exploration of who we truly are, and living in a compassionate manner towards others. It doesn't really matter if we do a single asana or sit in meditation - 

but only that we find joy,

and that it overflows naturally and easily to the world. 

~

Peace, Eric 

A Purposeful Smile

A Purposeful smile: 

there are many benefits to a purposeful smile, not forced, but brought to the lips with an intent to heal both mind and body while nourishing the soul. Not only that, but offering a smile to others as a practice, a spiritual gift, could actually change the world. One of my yoga instructors would often to allude to the healing power of a smile, reminding us to gently curve our lips through the completion of the pose, a reminder to relax and place the emphasis less on effort and more on the grace of easy motion. And noted Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hahn based a series of mindfulness meditations on smiling, knowing how powerful this action truly is. 

in troubling times, maybe the best we could do for ourselves and others...

is simply smile. 

a purposeful smile doesn't mean that's it's not genuine, we bring it to our lips with a sincerity to feel better, only wishing ourselves and others an opportunity to heal. This is no small gift as our intent is rewarded with the release of serotonin and other natural mood altering hormones, almost instantly relieving stress and lowering our blood pressure. As well, our immune function improves with the relief of stress, we're inducing a deep healing ritual that begins in the immediacy of our smile.  

spiritually, a genuine smile is a gesture of love, as St.Teresa of Calcutta wrote "peace begins with a smile" and this is what we offer each other through this act of purposeful smiling. Again, this isn't a practice that requires any effort, our smiling is sincere a sincere gesture, a silent namaste given to a stranger, spontaneous in its kindness. It's considered a practice only because the stress of everyday life so often leaves us spiraling downward, with everything we hope for seeming so distant from where we find ourselves right now. A smile is what we can do in the present moment, an instant change in any situation that lights us from within, with even the slightest healing being continuous in its blessing. This is by no means an answer to our problem, it's only a small but sincere gesture. 

yet it's the simplest thing we can do right now. 

powerful.

and purposeful in its intent to heal. 

~

Peace, Eric. 

Bare Essence of an Art-Form

Bare essence of an art-form: 

it's what we give our attention to that becomes a new medium of art, gaining a new sense of creative energy just because it captures our imagination. This is how it is for me right now with YouTube shorts, video clips of less then a minutes length that can tell a complete story of their own. I love this haiku style format, a bare essence of an art-form that provides a structure, yet invites an artist to be free within the perimeters of its order. I've embraced this format by offering clips of nature, a glimpse of local flora and fauna shown through my own unique perspective. 

loving the bare essence of this art-form. 

my only goal here is to show and share my world, a reflection of an interior view that's mine alone and doesn't have to match anyone else's. In this way it also serves as encouragement for others to share their view as well, giving us all a rare and beautiful peek into how each of us views the world. This is the art of diversity and can never be done in a way that isn't uniquely personal, as well as perfect for us all. It's a self-created medium that allows us to showcase our individuality. 

our own bare essence,

shared with others, 

a brand new art-form. 

for me, it's with nature, however it is that I find and see it, and I give no attention to editing or arranging any subject matter. The world itself, through all of it's variety and infinite beauty, provides me everything I ever need to share its story. I absolutely love this opportunity of a visual haiku, the simplicity of its format and that it's entirely my own perspective that's now shared. I've embraced it completely, using simple tools of a phone camera and the natural light that nature provides. 

it's the bare essence of an art-form.

perfect for my own expression of the world. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Spinning

Spinning 

it seems that spinning in circles isn't just for children, a pastime of idle days put aside in older years - there were benefits of this playful practice in our developing years and even now as adults it offers us many helpful things to consider. Through the years of my yoga practice I've often incorporated Tibetan energy yoga, what's known as the Five Tibetans, a series of five movements done in a dynamic manner for anywhere to 3 to 21 repetitions depending on the level of my practice. The series begins with spinning clockwise while maintaining focus on the right middle finger. Oddly, I never questioned why spinning should be included in a routine meant for vitality of mind and body. 

I just did it. 

spinning through the years. 

for children it's playful, as well helping to improve hand eye coordination, focus, sense of balance, as well as enhances cognitive development. The many things we did as kids were important to our growth, from going barefoot and playing in the dirt to spinning in tight circles until we collapsed in dizzy delight, this playful behavior served us in so many important ways. Plus, we had fun, not a small thing to overlook through the course of years leading to adulthood. 

so now I'm spinning again, a practice of my yoga, being a whirling dervish for a few minutes every morning. There are moments during this movements where I feel myself disappear within the motion of the spin, a tight center of awareness remains to witness the world swing by. This alone is worth the practice, an additional meditation serving as a reminder that the world stays in motion without my effort involved, that I am not the doer, but simply a participant in it's whirl. Medically, studies have shown that there are many healthful benefits to this spin - easing depression, strengthening eyesight, improving complexion and cleansing the blood. There is also increased blood flow to the brain which enhances short term memory and spatial awareness which aids in easing high levels of stress. 

more so, perhaps most importantly, this is a practiced designed for the subtle body, an energy program for chakras and to awakening the course of kundalini traveling through our spine. It leads off the Five Tibetans for a reason, preparing both mind and body for the other moves ahead. To be honest, I have no idea how much of this is true, there's a great deal I take on faith, trusting the advice of ancient yogi's and modern practitioners who swear that is so. 

my own practice fills me with delight. 

and so every morning...I find myself spinning. 

as just part of the motion of the world. 

~

Peace, Eric 

Earlier Dawn

An ever earlier dawn:

there's an ever earlier dawn approaching, from February until somewhere in mid-spring we gain an average of 3 minutes of light per day, slowing down a bit in early summer until the trend is then reversed through fall and winter. Yesterday, with a leap year adding an extra day to February, there was the first hint of sunrise as I was finishing my earliest walk. In a weeks time I will be catching the rays of true dawn, mornings will be significantly warmer, plant life reaching a showing bloom, and animals stirring in care of their young.  

winter has come to an end, 

and even if it has a last grasp of snow and chill there's an ever earlier dawn that offers me it's warmth and light. This always feels like an emergence for me, that after long months of shorter days and bitter cold, not missing a single day of predawn walking, and now I've earned the grace of an earlier dawn, sunlight in a spectacular display of a new day's arrival. 

emerging from darkness into light. 

my life received in seasons. 

yet this was a winter where I fully embraced the dark, bundled against the cold in warm layers of clothing as well as an emotional resilience of curiosity and awe. I set out to explore my world through all it offered, accepting my own interior conditions as they match the seasonal landscape that I walked through every morning. I fell in love with the darkness and cold, no longer believing them to the absence of light and warmth, but harboring their secrets, revealing mysteries that can only be told though full acceptance of what a season offers. Cold and warmth are not true opposites, they are a seamless expression of the sun's touch - just as darkness is the waiting capacity for light to show. 

the secret, is that life is displayed through  the grace of seasons.

and right now, 

there's an ever earlier dawn. 

~

Peace, Eric