Author: Ki McGraw

Through all the yogic tools and techniques I’ve learned over the many years, I still begin with the basics. Balanced breathing helps me stay balanced throughout my days, come what may. It’s easy, in formal seated practice, and also good no matter where we are.

I inhale through both nostrils for 10 heartbeats and exhale for the same length of time. I add to that several specific intentions, but what matters is simply timing the breath with the heartbeats. Staying balanced, we are more likely to respond to our world instead of being reactive.

What helps you find balance? When balanced, how would you like to respond to your circumstances? Ki to Happiness finds balance with the breath so to be able to respond with peace to all people, situations, and circumstances.

Sorry, but just had to blog that old cliche. It rained here all day until just before evening classes. As the sun broke, it shined on our deck which invited the hungry stray cats back to have some food.

Students arrived and brought their dogs, which scooted the cats away until later. New attendees and regulars appreciated the menagerie. We made sure to do both cat and dog postures, honoring the ferrel and domesticated parts of ourselves.

How domesticated are you? What part of yourself is still a bit wild? Ki to Happiness loves all creatures, great and small, wild and tame.

Our cats are doing well with the 4 legged visitors who arrive on our deck. Tending to one stray cat has resulted in several others coming by on a daily basis. The indoor and outdoor cats meet one another through our glass door and interact safely.

One of our students noticed that behavior and commented that they are communicating in the quantum field. Without ever touching, their eyes communicate, and their movements demonstrate that they are all getting more comfortable with the situation. Humans could learn a lot from observing such behavior, not feeling threatened over sharing resources, free from boundary disputes.

Where have you witnessed communication in the quantum field? Could you resolve boundary issues as you are aware of your abundance of resources? Ki to Happiness has plenty to offer from the safety of healthy boundaries within the benevolent quantum field.

The clouds obscured the lunar display this morning. Even so, my ritual included me in its magic. Cleaning off our deck, cutting browned fronds from our ferns, releasing the water, stone and candlelight from my altar materialize the release and invite renewal.

This full moon eclipse occurred in the sign of Virgo. Utilizing its energy, we are able to invite refinement into our daily habits. Staying current with guidance, all that we release offers a space to reset body-mind-spirit integration.

What cycle can you release today? What habits would benefit from renewal? Ki to Happiness releases fear and welcomes safety.

Overnight tonight, at 3:33 AM, we will experience the full moon and its lunar eclipse. I share this with you in advance, in case like me, you’d like to get up and see the spectacle. Weather permitting, we may see something quite rare.

Whether we see it or not, some of us will feel it. All of us are affected by it whether we know it or not. I choose to participate in it as consciously as possible, so it does not get the best of me.

How has this eclipse pattern been treating you? What unusual material has been stirred up for you in the past two weeks? Ki to Happiness is empowered by knowing the potential challenges astrological and astronomical phenomena may present.

As the moon grows towards fullness and it’s eclipse, we welcome March. The cats and I feel it with early awakening. Making use of this energy gives us a chance to surrender to the forces that influence us all.

Serenity grows as we learn to accept the things we cannot change, like the moon and her rhythms. Courageously changing ourselves, instead of reacting to forces beyond our control, we may be able to respond consciously. In doing so we grow wiser.

What is this eclipse pattern bringing up in you? How can you use it to grow wiser? Ki to Happiness surrenders to the process of serenity.

Lately I’ve had a chance to feel tremendous gratitude for all the guidance through my life. My grandparents prayed for me every day while they were alive. I started praying for myself on my grandmother‘s first birthday after she departed.

In my years of recovery from codependency, I’ve gotten better at listening to the answers to those prayers in meditation. Following through, I’ve manifested health in myself and facilitated it in others. Yoga encapsulates this process on and off the mat, with daily practices of prayer and meditation, together with all the physical postures and breath work.

Who has guided your path? How can you best honor them? Ki to Happiness is eternally grateful for all Guidance on my path. 

The poet Coleman Barks has passed away at age 88. May he rest in peace, as his legacy remains eternally. His efforts bringing Rumi and Shams works to light for our modern era awakened many to the ecstatic path of Sufism.

When I first attempted to penetrate those works, I was too young and immature to get their message. With Coleman’s translations and interpretations, I could receive it. As Coleman quoted Rumi, “where am I going on this journey? To your house, of course!” and so he’s with me now, and also, you!

 What is your experience of Rumi and Shams? Have you read Barks’ interpretations or his own poetry? Ki to Happiness is forever blessed by Coleman Barks.

This morning, I received photos of the cat we helped rehouse. She looks content in her new space and brings joy to her new home. Our cats have resumed their normal activities without her in our temporary foster care.

I made sure to wash anything that may have held onto her scent. The other two strays continue to visit. Altogether, we are satisfied with our efforts as they have resulted in happy cats, joyous community member, and a clean studio.

What makes your efforts worthwhile? How easily can you allow satisfaction to replace frustration? Ki to Happiness sees that every effort toward health, harmony and happiness is worth it.



We facilitated one cat’s rehousing with our community member. We fed another stray who looks just like the cat we rehoused, for about our 10th day in a row. At the end of the day, yet another cat with a beautiful black coat and white paws appeared on our deck, looking for food.

It seems the word has gotten out on the cat network that we are here for them. It’s true, as well as our willingness to feed what’s hungry. Cats, birds, squirrels, dogs, as even people, are all welcome to the buffet.

Who do you feed? Who feeds you? Ki to Happiness serves soul food for those who hunger—peanuts, seeds, tuna and treats, too.