Containers

New year, new roads, new intentions, old containers. When we can, we all turn happily from the weight of regret and misshapen dreams. Why can’t we create hoped for happiness all the time? What stalls aspiration and love? What imprisons us in poverty?

Perhaps growing greater consciousness is the gift that sets us free, that gives muscle to pull anchor, set sail. Growing more conscious containers gives space for transformation of the old. Whatever is unknown requires this transformation, as well as bravery. A necessary skill is deepening our relationships….not only of self with self, and other, but self to ideas and events. Moving into the matrix of the many layers of relationship connecting us to our lives, we expand our containers.

We need our loved ones for courage in unknown waters. We need expanded mind/body connections to support and comprehend the new. And we desperately require familiar, daily practices to provide a solid framework. Opening these many lines of communication, we move toward universal precepts. It is less about me-me-me and more about us. The powers of life –for the most part—live unconsciously. It is our demand for individuality, even for mortality, that creates conscious responsibility, and it is that choiceful, conscious spirit begging us to weigh anchor for uncharted seas, hand in hand, each captain of their own ship, as well as disciplined sailors working the rigging as a single body.

Numerically, this new year of 2009, is an ‘11,’ a master number. It also becomes a ‘2’ …you and me, babeee. We are the ONE dedicating ourselves to wrapping our containers as gorgeous gift boxes for the world…. expanding containers of greater consciousness, wrapped round with ribbons of profound relationships, and luminous papers of love.

Asana: Natarajasana/King Dancer, is a lovely, fulfilling pose. This time you are going to expand it, turn it on its head to come out the other side stronger, more balanced and certainly more beautiful than before.
Standing tall in Tadasana, lift the R foot and reach back with the R hand to clasp outside of the foot. Activate the hamstrings in strongly extending the foot toward the back wall, while lifting chest, and L arm up and forward. Once balanced, head down for the floor, keeping R leg extended back. You are now upside down in Dancer. Breathe and enjoy. When ready to return right side up, press even more strongly down into L foot & leg.

Health Notes: Aside from building physical muscle and balance in the legs and back, you have taken an old ‘container’ and expanded your understanding of it. You have turned topsey-turvey and come out the other side, becoming a dancer on high seas.