Water Flowing/Fountain Full

In winter’s reticence of frozen waters, lackluster oomph, and general orneriness on having to start over, there is truculence in being kind to self and others. The desire to hibernate overwhelms, and is only bear-able when home, sucking chocolate, with a pillow over the telephone. The heart lies empty, the body depleted, the mind a rag-tag nest of broken egg shells.

If you were Buddha, you’d say, “A great place to start.”

“But, dear Buddha, start-up cycles require plans, stamina and get go. I have none of those.”

“Do you have willingness?”

“Not so much. I can’t tell if I am parched, or frozen. Either way, life does not flow through me. I stand depleted from last year’s efforts, and ragged in sorrows many are going through now.”

“You can do nothing about either. One is past, the other is not you. Why do you deplete your reserves? Why not re-channel your life-waters?”

“Because staying present and preparing, feels overwhelming and scary.”

“Why?”

“Because much is being demanded.”

“Says who?”

“Well, you for one, me, everyone. We must do more, offer more, be better, produce more, be happier, more peaceful, make more money, give more away, be faster, stronger, more technically proficient, become more in lock-step with the young.”

“Wow. Really? Even as Buddha, I hadn’t heard that.”

“You don’t think lots is demanded at this time?”

“As you say, ‘lots’ is always asked for. The type of ‘lots’ may change, even its style, but every cycle, each life, through time asks primarily one thing of us.”

“Wow. Really? Is this a Buddha moment?”

“Yes, it is.”

“I’m ready.”

“Then sit with your cat. Visualize yourself as a flowing fountain. As easily as you breathe, water rises, burburling and clear from the earth. It overflows the beautiful curves of its bowl to splash on stone, and run down through the garden. The fountain and waterways have been built in exquisite tiles, with great love and attention to detail. You built them. You are the artisan of this free-flowing river of life. When parched, or frozen, your only job is to believe in its watery abundance. Your power lies in simply allowing the flow.”

Asana: If you do not have gumption and go to face the demands of this New Year, sit in Padmasana, legs crossed, hands resting on the knees with palms open in surrender. Allow the quiet to inhabit your body, then visualize the waters of your fountain, the flowing rivers you have created, and those you wish to create. Breathe joy into feeling life flows.

Health Notes: As Americans, we are good at pushing the river. We are not so good at allowing its flow. Our Yang energy is often out of balance to our feminine Yin, and that imbalance creates physical dis-ease.

Astrologic Notes: Though many think of Capricorn energy as masculine because it drives toward success and fulfillment, it is actually feminine, passive in its earth element. Through Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler, we can be guided within to wait for wisdom, for Saturn helps us bear our karma and life’s testing.

Ayurvedic Notes: Kapha Dosha, governing structure and fluid balances in the body, tends to be a dominant January energy, especially if the tendency is to put on weight, have poor circulation, and/or sinus congestion. To help balance Kapha, eat more fruits, veg., and legumes. Reduce oily, sweet, sour and salty tastes in favor of pungent, bitter, and light foods. Go to bed earlier, vary daily habits, and Yoga Practice. Bring up the heat to combat Kapha laziness, over-attachment, and congestion.