The Yogabliss, Two Rivers/RiverTree Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation classes met this morning. We contemplated our younger selves.  Experienced receiving life.  Cherished the Life we hold in our hands and our hearts. Nature regenerates and nurtures new life.
It’s up to us to nurture human and more than human life.

We can teach our children appreciation, bonding and deep caring for the more than human world.

Our practice was informed by the fourth principle and practice of Rhonda Fabian’s article, Engaged Ecology: Seven Practices to Restore Our Harmony with Nature. The fourth principle: Nature regenerates and nurtures new life. The fourth practice is cherishing and nurturing the young.

We heard  Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s poem, Please Call Me by My True Names.  Thay recounts the waves of life arriving again and again into our inter-being.  His word portraits convey the joy and sorrow of our human condition.

We also drew from Darcia Narvaez’ Kosmos Journal essay, Reconnecting Children to Nature.  This excellent essay asks which culture we want to build:  “cooperative companionship or competitive detachment.”  Darcia is founder of Evolved Nest which offers scientific support and other resources for creating a culture of global flourishing.  This process starts with the way we nurture our children and the natural world around us.

We ended with poet Mary Oliver’s poem Sleeping in the Forest at Night.  Mary describes her experience of “nestedness” while sleeping on the forest floor.

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The Yogabliss, Two Rivers/RiverTree Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation classes met this morning.  Today we explored the experience of inter-being.  The magic and miracle of our senses develop in relationship to the world around us.  In slowing down our practice enables us to deeply appreciate this truth and our kinship with all life.  I am so deeply grateful.  The sharing after class affirmed the beauty of our inter-being.

Our practice was informed by the third principle and practice of Rhonda Fabian’s article, Engaged Ecology: Seven Practices to Restore Our Harmony with Nature. The third principle:  Nature expresses innate potential. The third practice is developing empathy for all forms of life.

We drew inspiration from Kim Stafford’s poem, All My Relations.  Kim Stafford is author of many books of poetry and prose.  He was named Oregon’s poet laureate in 2018. He “teaches and travels to raise the human spirit.”

We heard from eco-philosopher David Abram’s book, Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World,  David’s writings remind us that our very development depends on our relations with human and more than human life.  He urges us to reflect on the impact we have on the world and to care for all that we can.  David is Creative Director of the Alliance for Wild Ethics.  His work “engages the ecological depths of the imagination, exploring the ways in which sensory perception, poetics, and wonder inform the relation between the human body and the breathing earth.”

We ended with Daniel Landinsky’s translation of Sufi poet, Hafiz’ poem, Today.

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The Yogabliss, Two Rivers/RiverTree Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation classes met this morning.  We explored our willingness to change and learn.  We considered our inclination to learn about the natural world.  We imagined how Earth bears the weight of our activities and choices.  We considered our openness and ability to listen.  We reflected on how we are changed by what we hear and see.

Our practice was informed by the second principle and practice of Rhonda Fabian’s article, Engaged Ecology: Seven Practices to Restore Our Harmony with Nature.  The second principle: Nature adapts and self regulates.  The second practice is being open to learning and change.  In her editorial essay, Our Collective Journey, Rhonda laments the loss of migratory birds.  She affirms our inter-relatedness and encourages us to face the difficult truths of climate change.

We were inspired by Kathleen Raine’s poem:  Change. In Change, Kathleen gives voice to the sun and the moon and calls on us to care for the unknown and the unborn.

Poet philosopher, John O’Donohue’s essay, Rediscovering the Art of Reverence, describes the transformational possibilities of approaching our encounters with reverence.  In bringing our complete presence to who and what we meet we experience our own heart’s light.

We ended with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s poem, Breathing.  Thay evokes the qualities of flowers, mountains, water and space to express our inter-being with the natural world. Continue reading →

The Yogabliss, Two Rivers/RiverTree Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation classes met this morning.  The fires, floods and the beings in their paths have been heavy in my heart this week.  I am deeply grateful for the circles of caring friends who are willing to open their hearts and minds in these difficult times.

Our practice was informed by Rhonda Fabian’s article, Engaged Ecology: Seven Practices to Restore Our Harmony with Nature.  Rhonda is Editor of Kosmos, a journal for transformation.  She is an ordained student in the Order of Inter-being, an international Buddhist community founded by her teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh. Rhonda’s article synthesizes the work of her teacher, Thay, and several Deep Ecology thought leaders. The article is well worth reading I hope to return to her principles and practices in future classes.

We also heard Powow River Poet, Rhina Espaillat’s poem Guidelines. “The Powow River Poets began in Newburyport in the early 1990s as a company of like-minded poets brought together by founder Rhina P. Espaillat. The group derives its name from a local tributary of the Merrimack River.”  Rhina’s Guidelines urge us to love who and what we can while we still have time.

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The Yogabliss, Two Rivers/RiverTree Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation classes met this morning.  We explored time and space, movement and stillness.  We became aware of how we related to sensory, emotional and mental experience. We created an inner environment in which we could watch experience change. Embodied awareness, conscious breathing and slow movement helped us to open our minds and hearts.

Our practice was inspired by Rhonda Magee,a law professor, meditation instructor and racial justice advocate. She is author of The Inner Work of Racial Justice.   Stopping and knowing we are stopping; Taking a conscious breath; Observing and staying Present (STOP) are tools Rhonda uses to facilitate trauma-sensitive, restorative mindfulness.

We heard John Fox’s poem, When Someone Deeply Listens to You, from his collection:  Finding What You Didn’t Lose. John is founder and Practitioner of Poetic Medicine.  “The Institute for Poetic Medicine offers tools and support to heal body, mind and spirit through the creative and therapeutic process of hearing, speaking and writing poetry.”

We drew from the book, The Five Invitations, written by hospice carer, teacher and author Frank Ostaseski.  Frank believes that being with our fears is a transformational experience that can be a “doorway to compassion.”

Finally we heard poet Pat Schneider’s poem, Instructions for the Journey, from her collection, Olive Street Transfer.  Pat was a beloved and passionate teacher of writing.  Discover more about her in A Profile of Pat Schneider.

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The Yogabliss, Two Rivers/RiverTree Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation classes met this morning.  Our kinship has been a constant support through the troubled times we are living through.  Watching the many fires that are burning is heart breaking.  The time and tenderness of our practice encourages me to keep my heart open.

We drew more encouragement from the words and poetry of Gregory Orr.  His prose was drawn from his On Being interview with Krista Tippett, Shaping Grief With Language.   You can find the poem, What Was Bequeathed Us and other resources in the transcript section of this link.

We heard Mary Oliver’s heart breaking poem, Lead.  Her poem about the dying loons urges us to keep our broken hearts open.  Mary’s poem was drawn from Parker Palmer’s On Being blogpost, An Invitation to Heartbreak.  Parker’s poem-inspired prose presents a lingering question: “What can I do day-by-day to make my heart more supple?”

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The Yogabliss, Two Rivers/RiverTree Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation classes met this morning.  So much life is streaming in as we experience more freedom to gather together “in real life.”  My hunger for this togetherness is really big.  Each day has been a new adventure with friends.  It felt good to slow things down and really savor these moments of being alive.  This is also what makes our circles so magic.

We drew on inspiration from meditation teacher and writer Tara Brach and her book, Radical Compassion.  You can find many of Tara’s guided meditations and talks at her web-site.

We reflected on poet David Whyte’s poignant description of embodiment from his latest book,    Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words. David reminds us of the fleeting nature of our embodiment.

We heard poet, Marilyn Peretti’s poem, Still Living.  Marilyn reminds us of the enduring nature of our aliveness.  We are born of Earth, we return to her and new life emerges.

We ended with Nancy Wood’s Earth Teach Me Stillness from her book, War Cry on a Prayer Feather.  Nancy’s humbling words remind us of how much Earth can teach us. Continue reading →

The Yogabliss, Two Rivers/RiverTree Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation classes met this morning of the longest day of light and warmth:  the Solstice!   The Sun’s light and our heart’s light come together in practice.  Today we explored the many ways humility can bring us closer to our Earth.  

Poet, theologian Alla Renee Bozarth’s poem Understanding reveals the deeper knowing that happens when we are willing to move under what we think we know.  Her Eco-Prayer describes Earth’s humus as our bone. Our Earth Bodies grow and heal when we honor and preserve Earth’s growing and healing.  You can find more of Alla’s inspirational writings at her web-site.

In his book, Touching the Earth, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us that in bowing to Earth we restore our balance and wholeness.

Indigenous activist and writer, Tiokasin Ghosthorse, encourages us to return to the humility of a newborn.  In so doing we can deepen our ability to truly relate to other beings.  He invites us to learn how to apply the mystery to everything. Tiokasin Ghosthorse is a member of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation.  He is the Founder, Host, and Executive Producer of “First Voices Radio” for the last 28 years. In 2016 he received a Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.  You can hear a fascinating discussion on For the Wild’s recent podcast, Tiokasin Ghosthorse on the Power of Humility.

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The Yogabliss, Two Rivers/RiverTree Yoga on-line Moving into Meditation classes met this morning.  We are adapting to new ways of living in response to the many changes we are living through.  Many of us are emerging from the isolation of pandemic restrictions.  Some of us have been caring for young ones and/or elders, partners and friends.  Our practice gives us an opportunity to pause, relax, open and trust what is emerging.  These are powerful healing skills that enable us to tune into to what matters most.  These skills also help us to “resource” and befriend ourselves so that we can stay engaged with Life.

Once again, we drew guidance from Insight Dialogue co-creator and Insight Dialogue: The Interpersonal Path to Freedom author and meditation teacher, Gregory Kramer.  Insight Dialogue involves mindful sharing within qualities of attention, contemplation and intimate inquiry.  Gregory encourages us to be with the mystery as it unfolds much like the unfolding flight patterns of birds.  For a rapturous experience of mystery and unfolding you can listening to a human and nightingale singing together at Emergence Magazine’s interview with Sam Lee, The Nightingale’s Song.

We drew inspiration from Jane Hirshfield’s magical poem, Rebus, included in her collection Given Salt, Given Sugar.  Jane is a long-time Zen practitioner whose meditation practice informs her work.  You can listen to Jane read seven of her poems on this YouTube recording filmed by Pamela Robertson-Pearce.

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