#12: The month of May and the theme: Connection
All around, it is clear to see, the natural world is blossoming.
Unfolding.
Synchronised like an orchestra, there is no doubt that everything is connected.
Just watch as the sunlight uncurls the leaf and teases the bud to bloom into petals.
Listen to the call of the birds as they sing over the whistle of the cool spring breeze.
Observe new life, in all its forms, and notice how the elements come to dance and play in the company of one another.
Pay attention in this way, and you will likely see - you will remember, and you will know - that we are a part of nature.
That we are an intrinsic part of the oneness of everything.
The theme for our practice this month is: Connection.
May is when we - if we haven’t done so already - begin to feel more open to connecting with others, because the increasing light encourages us to gather and celebrate.
And we can connect more deeply to ourselves, too, as now is the time to manifest and bring to fruition all that we’ve been dreaming of.
And, of course, yoga is the ultimate practice of connection: body, mind, spirit and breath.
So, here we are.
Many of you may also be aware that we are in the Celtic calendar phase of Bealtaine, which roughly translates as “bright fire”, correlating with the Ayurvedic understanding that we are now entering the more active (rajas) season.
The sun is currently climbing, making its ascent to the highest point in our sky, which it will reach in June at the Summer Solstice.
This is the time for getting out there.
It’s a time for doing.
It’s the best time of year for us to push forward, perhaps beyond our comfort zones, to make good on the plans we had for 2023, back at the start of the year.
This is it. The time is now.
So, let’s reach out to others and connect (perhaps by trying a new yoga class), and, while we are there, deepen our practice by cherishing the connection we have to ourSelves: the Self that is ever-present.
Remembering, though, that where this is action, there is also a possibility for burnout.
Therefore, staying grounded and connected to our own wants and needs (as opposed to getting swept up in all of the active energies of those around us) is the key to maintaining a sense of balance and using our energies in a way that helps us to stay focused on our own dreams and goals.
If, like me, you’re empathic and have a tendency to get carried away, and you’re already feeling a little bit caught up in other things (as lovely and worthwhile as they may be), take a moment today to reflect on your hopes and wishes, and just check that you are honouring and prioritising yourself enough in order to materialise what you most long for.
Make space for yourself.
In fact, before we move on, let’s all take a moment this week to reconnect with ourselves.
Let’s pause to check-in with our younger selves, too. To the childlike visions we all had to make this world a better place.
Recall the truest of your dreams. The ones that keep you awake at night and that you hold deep in your belly, in your bones, and in your heart.
Consider your plans and ambitions for this year and check that they are still relevant and worth your time and energy.
Is it really what you want? Or have you been distracted? Have you forgotten what matters most to you?
Reflect on how your unique gifts can be brought forward to benefit the world. Because, my goodness, those gifts are needed now, more than ever.
Then think about the ways that you can go about implementing these dreams. Balancing any actions with your unique set of responsibilities and constraints, with your own energy levels, and, of course, the essential time that you need to take to rest and recuperate in order to make your goals achievable and sustainable.
Take a moment to hold these thoughts in your mind and in you body. Perhaps spend some time following your breath, and ask yourself if these ideas feel right. Allow your body to tell you. It knows the answers.
And then, taking a blank sheet of paper, design a motivating piece of art for your month of May.
Something that will inspire you.
Allow your playfulness, creativity and dreams to come to light and imagine:
What it would it feel like for you to bloom into your full potential?
With love, peace and endless kindness,
Louisa
x