Embodiment

May all beings be happy and free

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. June 30th, 2019 The Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu Mantra Watch: or Listen: or Read: Prayer offers us a way to respond when awful things happen. Telling someone you’ll pray for them can be a way of offering comfort and support. In the public sphere we often hear our leaders say that their thoughts and prayers are with people in their communities dealing with traumatic events. But not too long ago there was a backlash against this sentiment. And while I love the practice of prayer, I understand why. ... (Continue Reading)

By |2019-06-28T08:20:48-07:00June 30th, 2019|Creativity, Embodiment, Mantra, Meditation, Nature, Practice, Prayer, Relationships, Religion, Scripture, Spirituality, Yoga, Yoga Church Sunday Sermons|2 Comments

The Purnamadah Mantra

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. June 23rd, 2019 The Purnamadah Mantra Watch: or Listen: or Read: At the center of the Isha Upanishad, which is an ancient Hindu scripture, are 6 verses that describe two aspects of reality—Unity and Multiplicity. In a commentary on this Upanishad Sri Aurobindo wrote: Unity is the eternal and fundamental fact. … Multiplicity is the…varied self-expression of the One. … Without [multiplicity] the Unity would be … a void of non-existence. But the consciousness of multiplicity separated from the true knowledge…of their own essential oneness … is a ... (Continue Reading)

By |2019-06-22T22:21:36-07:00June 23rd, 2019|Books, Embodiment, Mantra, Meditation, Nature, Practice, Prayer, Relationships, Religion, Scripture, Spirituality, Yoga, Yoga Church Sunday Sermons|0 Comments

The Gayatri Mantra

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. June 16th, 2019 The Gayatri Mantra Watch: or Listen: or Read: I’ve spent the better part of my adult life searching for a spiritual home that could feel completely and authentically mine. But I’m coming to accept the fact that I’m not going to find one. I’m coming to realize that I’m destined to be a wanderer. And I want to encourage those of you who find yourself feeling spiritually homeless to take heart. Spiritual depth can be found in a multitude of ways. But there’s a catch. ... (Continue Reading)

By |2019-06-15T21:34:31-07:00June 16th, 2019|Embodiment, Mantra, Meditation, Nature, Practice, Prayer, Relationships, Religion, Scripture, Spirituality, Yoga, Yoga Church Sunday Sermons|0 Comments

Spiritual Practice: The Art of Uncovering & Remembering

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons May 12, 2019 Life is hard. And then it isn't. And then it is. And then it isn't. Right? Sometimes it just feels like the emotional roller coaster will never stop. Or at least that's how if felt for me the last few days. But then I reread this week's sermon and remembered that the ever changing emotions passing through me (often rooted in ego, attachment, and fear) have nothing to do with the Light of God Always, Already present within. I know this is true. But I forget. And I ... (Continue Reading)

By |2022-07-18T14:58:52-07:00May 12th, 2019|Books, Embodiment, Practice, Spirituality, Yoga, Yoga Church Sunday Sermons|0 Comments

A Beltane Celebration of Fertility and Union

When I was a little girl my grandmother would take me and my sister to the Peaceful Valley Community Center on May Day to make flower crowns and dance around the maypole. It's one of my favorite childhood memories! I've come to learn that another name for May Day is Beltane, which is the Celtic festival of fertility and union celebrated in mid-spring. I've been celebrating the changing seasons for a long time now, but I'm just beginning to deepen my study of the Celtic Wheel of the Year and its mid-season festivals. This week—which marks the moment ... (Continue Reading)

By |2022-04-29T15:36:12-07:00May 5th, 2019|Art, Beltane, Books, Creativity, Embodiment, Meditation, Nature, Practice, Pranayama, Relationships, Religion, Spirituality, Yoga, Yoga Church Sunday Sermons|0 Comments

Easter in two parts: Jesus and Salvation

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons Easter (originally posted in 2019) Happy Easter! Easter is a holiday that helps us welcome spring and renew our sense of hope in the world. This Easter I decided to dedicate my sermon to my beloved niece Julianna. (photo credit: Holland Rhodes Photography) She recently asked her mama: "Who's Jesus?" What a good question little one! But a question without a simple answer. Here's one answer. The answer of an auntie, wanting her niece to learn about this important figure from the perspective of love. Part 1: ... (Continue Reading)

By |2022-04-15T15:53:58-07:00April 21st, 2019|Books, Embodiment, Holidays, Practice, Relationships, Religion, Scripture, Spirituality, Yoga, Yoga Church Sunday Sermons|5 Comments

Cultivate, Bring About, Dwell Upon

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. April 7, 2019 Can I offer you a bit of love this morning? I know that all the love we need already exists. It's real. It's in each of us. But sometimes it feels far away. Or hard to gather up, tap into, and send in the right direction. A long-time beloved student, in a one-on-one support session this week, shared the idea that we're all just stumbling through the dark looking for light... I don't have the quote quite right and I don't remember the original source. But I deeply understand ... (Continue Reading)

By |2019-10-08T13:19:05-07:00April 7th, 2019|About this Blog, Art, Books, Creativity, Embodiment, Meditation, Nature, Practice, Pranayama, Relationships, Religion, Scripture, Spirituality, Spring, Yoga, Yoga Church Sunday Sermons|0 Comments

Balancing our Multi Layered Lives (Spring Equinox 2019)

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. March 24th, 2019 The spring equinox always feels like an ignition key to me... This is an amazing time of year to ponder big dreams and articulate fresh intentions. This is always true in the springtime, but if felt especially auspicious this year with the equinox full moon. On Wednesday evening I did some moon bathing on our deck and caught this picture. The moonlight lit up our entire field. It was a wonder to see! Balancing our Multi-Layered Lives | Spring Equinox Watch: or Listen: or Read: It’s ... (Continue Reading)

By |2019-10-08T13:09:55-07:00March 24th, 2019|Embodiment, Meditation, Nature, Practice, Pranayama, Relationships, Scripture, Spirituality, Spring, Yoga, Yoga Church Sunday Sermons|2 Comments

Intentional Experiments with Change (Lent & Kriya Yoga)

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons. March 10th, 2019 Change is constant. Everything about life is changing every moment of every day. And yet, making an intentional change is hard. How are both of these things true?? I don't know. But they are. Right? So I've got some resources to help you work within this reality... (Please note, this is an especially jam packed post! After you've watched the sermon, make sure you scroll all the way to the bottom!) Intentional Experiments with Change (Lent & Kriya Yoga) Watch: or Listen: ... (Continue Reading)

By |2019-10-08T14:43:39-07:00March 10th, 2019|Art, Creativity, Embodiment, Holidays, Meditation, Nature, Practice, Pranayama, Relationships, Religion, Scripture, Spirituality, Yoga, Yoga Church Sunday Sermons|1 Comment

A Ritual of Ash and Dust

Welcome to the Yoga Church Sunday Sermons March 3rd, 2019 How often do you pause to remember how short life is? I've been taught that yoga practice prepares us for the moment of death. In some ways, I think all philosophical and religious traditions are trying to do this. Because death is a difficult reality. Taking a moment to remember our finitude helps us to stay connected with the reality that every moment we're able to experience Being is utter gift. In this morning's sermon I wrote: "We were made of dust. And we’ll return to dust. But ... (Continue Reading)

By |2022-07-18T14:59:38-07:00March 3rd, 2019|Art, Books, Creativity, Embodiment, Holidays, Meditation, Nature, Practice, Relationships, Religion, Scripture, Spirituality, Yoga Church Sunday Sermons|3 Comments
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