The Beginning
Sādhanā is dedication in aiming for something, an action undertaken in the pursuit of a goal.
Its bija, or seed, is sadh which is referring the concept ‘to bring about’. Dhana relates to the sanskrit word dharma, which is knowing one’s true nature and purpose for this lifetime.
The work of sādhanā is the daily effort to remember our true nature, the gentle work of a regular practice of contemplative exercises that balance our inner landscape.
The more we can practice remembering our essence, the easier it is to recall - and default to - in difficult, challenging and uncertain circumstances.
How does this work?
Over 40 Days, beginning with the new moon, we will gently build a small dedicated space into each day. A space that fine-tunes our inward listening, allows devotion to infiltrate our every day actions and as we tend to ourselves, we remember that the body is a mirror of the cosmic body.
With intention and a specified period of time, we draw from a different, more focused place in ourselves.
In the background we have the movement of the lunar cycle, reminding us that the process of working on our deeper, more subtle impressions from past actions and experiences, is not linear.
The membership will provide daily guidance in building that dedicated space and attention, nourishing the deeper yearnings of our hearts and dissolving the distractions and darkness that get in the way.
It is a commitment of approximately 20 minutes per day. There will be optional extras if you have more time.
Included is
Sankalpa practice
Guidance in building the daily habit of practice
An introduction to, and guidance through specific practices, including breath, breath awareness, concentration on various centers in the body, non-dual awareness, mantra practice, visualizations and contemplations which make use of the senses.
Daily meditation
A community to share the experience with
Optional seasonal asana practices
Optional added ayurvedic practices including recipes and recommended dinacharya (daily routine)
The body mirrors the cosmic body
A fundamental teaching that informs this sādhanā is; there is nothing in you that isn’t in the universe, and nothing in the universe that isn’t in you. We each are able to access the infinite by diving into the infinite potential within ourselves. And the work is then to bridge the subtle and the gross with our ability to bring that awareness and knowledge out into our everyday.
The work of tending to our spirit is not practical or reasonable, it feeds a place in us that doesn’t live in that realm, however a healthy spirit reflects back into our ability to make the every-day work. To care for our bodies, our homes, our relationships and our communities.
In the Hatha yoga system (ha - sun, tha - moon), which is not uncommon to many other ancient practices, systems and philosophies from around the world, the sun and moon represent the constant balancing act between the aspects of ourselves that require action and contemplation.
The moon refers to the ideal reflective quality of the mind.
The sun refers to the light of the soul, that reflects off the surface of the mind.
The challenge is that the mind wants to claim the light. When we get stuck living very cerebrally, we get caught up in the maya, the illusion that it is the mind that is shining as it makes decisions based on ego, judgement, emotion, external expectations and conditioning, rather than the most essential informant that is your true essence.
The work of yoga is to remember the moon is reflecting the light of the soul.
To have time in the day to let the mind become reflective, like the clear surface of the lake so we get a chance to see what is really beneath the surface noise of loops of thought, bad habits, instant gratification and reactivity.
What you may notice is that as we go, the way your perception can reflect your essential self will change. Our work is to create the habit of putting the mind in its place and then allowing that essence to inform our actions, decisions and the way we move through each day.
