Month: December 2019

This day begins with a focus on New Year’s Eve. 2019 is about to end. And with that the entirety of the decade of the twenty-teens. In retrospect, we look back in order to be emboldened as we move forward.

What are you grateful for at the end of this year? How have you grown and changed and evolved in this decade? What continuity is present in the midst of these changing calendar pages?

Ki to Happiness is grateful for you, dear readers, and the blogosphere that has brought us together here. Gratitude is one continuing practice to bring with us into the twenty twenties!

This morning, at 10 AM I teach my final yoga class for the Hatha Yoga Center this year. The practices sustain me in a way that inspires me to continue teaching and training future teachers as well as working privately with clients on all levels. On a daily basis, it fills my empty cup, to overflowing.

I was first asked to teach in the mid-80s. 35 years have passed, with many changes on the planet, in myself, and in the awareness of the ancient practice globally. The practice itself, remains the same with its broad inclusion of the body, mind, emotions and spirit. Integrating these aspects of self into oneness and joining with the greater Oneness brings happiness, serenity, and peace.

How will you spend these last days of 2019? What has consistently sustained and inspired you? Ki to Happiness encourages you to give that preference…

As the calendar page is nearly ready to be turned, we have this Sunday upon us. How can we best spend it? Which practices will best assist you?

In your reflection through the fall, and the beginning introspection of winter, what has presented itself? Who do you wish to communicate with? What would you like to complete? What loose ends can you tie up?

Celebrating accomplishments and learning from our failures, both are appreciated as we look upon Life’s material with an eye toward spiritual growth. Ki to Happiness knows there’s great truth in the old adage “all is well that ends well”…

Time of great reflection is upon us. The end of the year, as well as the end of the decade, bring the opportunity for introspection.  Amidst the holiday busyness, festivities, and social obligations, it’s very important to find time and space for solitude.

Does the season of winter start for you in the same way as the beginning of fall? Does the year end finding you just as it began? Does this decade conclude with awareness of evolution? In your reflection, take time to appreciate your own efforts. Recognize that you are growing and changing, evermore consciously in the direction that you are choosing.

Ki to Happiness reflects daily on the slow steady process of manifesting the guidance Higher Power offers constantly.

As winter settles in, we are graced with the remnants from our holiday festivities. Gifts and leftovers fill our hearts and stomachs. Having boxed up our abundance and shared it with others, we experience greater spaciousness in our surroundings, as well as in our hearts.

What becomes visible is anything that has been neglected, so it also can be attended to before the new year is upon us. Hanukkah and Kwanzaa continue, bringing light and love through this whole time between National Holidays. May this light and love guide you during all of these holy days.

What continues to need attention? Who has been neglected? Ki to Happiness recognizance the Holy in every day.

Today we celebrate our abundance by offering items that are no longer useful, appreciated, or bringing joy to those who can make use of them. This ritual has begun in Canada, and is a great way to honor the new items perhaps you received yesterday, as well as to affirm the many blessings in your life.

This is occurring simultaneously with the new moon. As such, your generous offering to others will result in several benefits. A cleaner closet, more room in the pantry, as well as signaling the Lunar Cycle of energy to attract what we transmit. This will be affecting the next month, the new season of winter, the new year, which begins a new decade.

How do you foresee the future month, season, new year and decade? What of your abundance can you release, to offer generously to others who perhaps have less? Ki to Happiness knows that giving and receiving are the same.

I wish you all a merry Christmas.

On December 22, 2019, Ram Das exited his physical form. He , who was born Richard Alpert, inspired and uplifted a generation as he infused eastern spirituality into the western social revolution of the 70’s. His eloquence, sense of humor, and connection to human hearts continued to guide many on the spiritual path for generations to follow.

His early work, Be Here Now, awakened me as a young tween to the mantra “Tu Twam Asi,”. Sanscrit Sanskrit expressionloosely translates as “I am That, too.” His book entitled “How can I help?” informed me as a young psychotherapist, and guided my supervisor.He, in these ways will always be a part of my practices as well as my service.

When I was a child, my first best friend was my cousin. He lived down the street from my grandparents who often cared for us all. From time to time I would walk him home, and he would turn around and walk me home, so that I would turn around and walk him home, and then he would maybe walk me home halfway, so then maybe I’d walk him home half of the half way. This is love. Learning Ram Das’ expression “we are all just walking each other home” invoked for me the awareness of that innocent child like love. 

Who is walking you home? Who are you walking home? Where is that home?Ki to Happiness extends a hand to share this walk home with you here and now.

In this day before Christmas Eve, many final preparations are being attended to. Last minute gifts may be wrapped, and a few last items from the grocery store might need to be gathered, and no doubt the bathroom sink needs another scrub.

Preparing the inner realm for higher consciousness to be birthed similarly requires details. The body must be strong and flexible. The mind needs to be focused and steady. The emotions, calm and balanced. And the spirit, willing!

What preparations do you need to attend to on the outer? How do those reflect the preparation necessary on the inner? Ki to Happiness is ready for the inner and the outer to celebrate the Highest!

The upper left US has experienced the gloomiest winter solstice on record. While the sun may have returned, it certainly was not visible here with record-breaking rain. Still, I have faith that the sun is making it’s come back.

I am without gloom! In my sheltered home, with warmth and light, food and water, I enjoy my broad yoga practices which yoke me to my faith. Hibernating, introspection, and integrating the many lessons of the past cycle of light makes good use of this time others refer to as gloomy.

How dependent is your mood on the weather? What yokes you to your faith? Ki to Happiness has faith in your ability to choose to dispel the gloom.