
Winter Solstice Practice
Practice 108 Sun-Salutes
Thursday December 21st 5:45-8:30 pm
Cost $25 - Register by December 15th ( $30 to drop in)
We invite you to join us for our annual 108 Sun-Salute practice. This practice can be somewhat demanding so we recommend you have some yoga experience. After the practice we will take some time to nourish our bodies with a light meal. If you can stay for some sangha time please bring a healthful bite of food to share.
In yoga, the sun symbolizes the soul and the word "solstice," in Latin, means sun standing still. The invitation... to catch a glimpse of your soul as it stands still.
The longest night contains the most hours of darkness. This is a magical time of year. A time to tap into your intentions and to bring forward what it is that you want to plant.
Some questions to ask yourself looking back on your journey from the Summer Solstice...
What have been my successes?
What have I learned?
What is it that I have been nurturing?
Now look at how you can clear space, to open to the return of the light...
What do I need to let go of?
What do I need to clear out to make way for the new?
What is my resistance?
Now we look forward to the return of the light (following the Winter Solstice)...
What is important to me?
What do I value?
What do I want to bring out in to the light and let shine?
What do I want to give?
What do I want to realize?
What are the projects that I want to come to fruition?
Today is about crossing that river, and paying attention. Most often we associate the word attention with a state of alertness or someone or thing that we direct our energy toward. The Toltecs believe that we are constantly bombarded by people and things that grab our attention. Our work is to have dominion over our own attention. In order to move forward and pass the point of no return we have to convince this human body and mind that we have dominion over our attention. We have let go of our fear and attachments to what we mistakenly believe has kept us safe. Now, we are at the river's edge, we must decide. "Do I dare to cross to the other side?" To evolve, to transform, to grow, you simply must cross the river. Pay attention to the guides that surround you and are within you as they lead you to the other bank of the river. You carry with you everything you think you know, your masks, identities, stories, knowledge, all of your accomplishments and times you've failed. You don't cross this river clean, the cleaning process begins immediately after crossing. This is about coming to a greater place of commitment. You give your word that you are going forward and you set your powerful energy in motion. Here is where you begin to gain awareness...and your life will never be the same.