Author: Ki McGraw

Bob successfully taught his first full class after a month of recovery from his stroke. I demonstrated the postures he is uncomfortable with as I will until he’s comfortable again. We have a new system in place, adapting to the new year on the new moon with new needs.

We celebrated by watching the movie, Don’t Look Up. In yoga postures, we regularly encourage practitioners to do just the opposite. After seeing the movie, I will continue to encourage us to look.

Have you checked out Bob’s return to teaching yet? Do you have your new systems in place? Ki to Happiness says ”things are looking up when you are.”

Our new year is now graced by a new moon in Capricorn. This year will end similarly. As such, the time in between is best spent renewing old systems.

Bob Smith resumes teaching today. His renewal includes a new system of having me demonstrate postures as he continues to heal from his stroke 4 weeks ago. My system of practicing yoga adjusts easily to this need.

What systems would you like to renew? How can you adjust? Ki to Happiness looks forward to new systems, adjusting to the demands of this new year.

I opened my windows to let out the old year like my Irish Grandmother taught me. I tossed out glasses of water to rid our field of emotional stagnation from the past. Deep house cleaning prepared the stage for these rituals.

Now fresh candles, incense, and new flower arrangements replace the old. My “new husband” slumbers as his body heals from last months stroke. Each moment crackles in possibilities. H

How did you release 2021? What is your best welcome for 2022? Ki to Happiness gives preference to those things that have worked before, as Mirabai encourages in her poem from the 1500s entitled Preference:

Stuck with another day (or year), how should we pass it?

If anything works for you before — I’d give that preference.

On this last day of 2021 it’s easy to look back on all the problems. Challenges, limitations and loss occupy much of the newsprint and digital reports thru the year. Inside each issue is another potential for next year.

I am choosing to look upon the potential. I see we have all been needing to learn new skills, and adjust our attitude and actions in alignment with the ever changing demands. We have been tested repeatedly, and have passed the tests. There are those who say we’ve all graduated with honors as witnessed from a higher perspective.

In retrospect, how does 2021 look to you? Can you see what a good job you’ve done, as well as those around you? Ki to Happiness sees your pure heart and appreciates every effort toward raising your perspective.

I got ahead of myself. In shuffling my schedule and activities to respond to the issues at hand I had to let go. Part of me kept going while another stopped. Yesterday I had a chance to catch up with me.

Now I begin to stitch myself together, reflecting on 2021. It’s important to take this time to examine systems we’ve valued so we can upgrade them or discard them in favor of evolution. The fresh snow on top our frozen world and a cup of hot chocolate companion me in this process.

Did some part of you keep going while another part stopped? Can you take the time to catch up with yourself? Ki to Happiness companions you in the process.

My warm home and Hatha Yoga Center are delightfully peaceful and quiet. The outer realm is frozen. Cars have stopped trying to get up our small hill. Homeless shelters have opened so our doorways are free from being occupied.

Gentle conscious movements in the name of yoga keep me fluid. Tending to my cats, my students and clients, as well as my family keeps me connected to others. Expressing my emotions here, in song, and in writing keeps me from frozen feelings.

What needs to thaw in you? How gently can you warm those places? Ki to Happiness talks, trusts and feels the holy thaw with each practice, connection and expression.

We’ve entered the liminal world in these days between one holiday and the next. In our area, much has closed down due to the weather. The most recent viral variant results in many cancellations and schedule changes.

My practices open me to consistent stability. I feel like a mountain. Grounded in the Good Mother Earth, with so many paths well tread to my top, I view all others similarly. Their mountains may not be mapped out yet as they climb the pilgrim’s path, or maybe they’ve gotten all they need from their peaks as they head back down once again.

How are you navigating these days between holidays? What helps you stay grounded and uplifted? Ki to Happiness waves from her mountain top to yours.

I started teaching yoga on a regular basis to cover someone else’s classes as she was as on leave for two months. She never returned, so I continued. Bob also first taught as a sub for his teacher when she would take leave of her studio.

In the snowstorm, at the holidays, with the next variant raging, Hatha Yoga Center was without a teacher. So Bob taught. 3 weeks after his stroke, again he was drafted into the service of teaching yoga. I was drafted alongside him to demonstrate his verbal instructions.

How did you start doing whatever you do? Would you do it again, given the chance? Ki to Happiness quotes Rumi who says “ stop trying to get off work.“

This is boxing day. Canadians started the tradition of boxing up all of their excess and unwanted items to gift to those who perhaps would appreciate them, like their staff members or servants. We all have so much!

My parents had their nuptials blessed on this day 16 years ago. I gifted them with the best Everlasting boxing wear I could find. Now perhaps those items are on their way off to someone else who needs them even more.

What do you have so much of that you can give some away today? How aware are you of your abundant blessings? Ki to Happiness overflows from the invisible supply that which can never be boxed.

Merry is the Christ Light within. I love washing my eyes with my practices so I can see it. Then when I look through these windows to my soul into the outer realm, I see that Christ Light in everyone.

On this day, others similarly honor their practices and traditions. When we all do this independently, collectively there is a mass shift in consciousness. Now the earth can be surrounded by the glow of consciousness interconnecting us to the One, in silent stillness.

Which practices and traditions will you honor today? With your eyes refreshed, what do you look upon? Ki to Happiness sees a brand new day of Christ Consciousness being birthed on this planet again and again.