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The Spiritual Warrior 
Thoughts and reflections   by denise
 
A New Years resolution of infinite possiblilities
 
"be yourself, everyone else is taken"  oscar wilde
 
 
My teacher Sheryl who constantly inspires me and continues to teach  many  that enter the studio  that a beginner with a beginners mind is vastly open.  I agree beginners are there truest essence without restrictions or judgements.   They are already beginning their yoga (union).
 
You can say they are probably more yogic than a seasoned
practictioner who has experiences  from previous classes in which to draw and judge from.  Like how to do a fantastic revolved triangle pose or fly into crow pose  like they did the last time.  Beginners are happy just to be there as they are and marvel at what may seem like the smallest accomplishment, like showing up and smiling and know they are exactly where they should be. 
 
I love that idea and many other teachers that inspire me (yes I am also proud to say I have 3 at this time) all have the same  beautiful message  but differently.  My favorite is,  that your are truly a spiritual being when you are childlike, the wonderment and the awe of every moment. 
A gift, a message a state of being... Being present and open, your truest essence and nature.
Children don't try to be anything else than who they are.
 
 
Please do not confuse this with childish, that we know pretty well, and may be what brought us to a yoga class to begin with, like a to do list of i need this and i need that , the " i" -.   Our practice allows us to grow from that space of "i"  and move to it or through it -- we experience a  realization of just how connected or disconneted we are.   We return to a simplier sense of ourselves  and  learn along the way that we truly receive when we serve others.
( just notice how often a child will ask to help you, and when an adult will offer help
i witness this every week in our kids karma class, when they notice i do not have a mat, and all 8 of they run to get me one)
 
 
This comes gradually in our yoga practice and life , when we finally make peace with ourselves.  Imagine that, no right or wrong, it just is. That is the grace of spirit and the basis of a spiritual practice.
 
So how does this all connect to our calender that reminds us it is now time plan for new beginnings.  It reminds us to open up, learn from our past , that all events deemed good, bad, accomplished, unresolved are  important.   Each and every event is purposeful, it also  reveal that we always have options, room for opportunity to grow, evolve, learn, love and be open to whatever arises.  
 
Thats a good thing, nature has order and order is the reverse of chaos.
 
Our new year  offers a point of reference from past to present, and an opportunity for reflection of our relationships, our milestones and our dreams.  They  now have a container in which to drawn from at a moments notice.   Our new year is respesented by the space element (akasha)
which surrounds this container it is all over like air (ether)  omnipresent .
 
Go ahead, make your  wish for a smaller waistline, less bills, more time for yourself, inner peace, outer peace, world peace...
 
but dont be childish or disappointed you did not recieve it , try the  childlike qualities,
taking each and everyday and each and every moment one simple breath at a time.
inhale, exhale, smile.
 
peace all ways
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
  
 
 
 
 

 
your comments, inspiration and stories are always welcome to our site please send them to peacedenise@gmail.com