Author: Ki McGraw

We didn’t smell the smoke or see the blaze. We heard the sirens and looked out the window. We saw the fire truck coming our way. It didn’t divert its path.

We put on jackets to go see what the problem was so we could safeguard our cats and our possessions if necessary. Three firemen ran with their equipment to the back of our building. They put out the fire and secured the building. We thanked them and the neighbors who called 911. They said there’d been 4 other dumpster fires arsonists set in the past hour one block away.

How is the social unrest manifesting in your area? How safe are your pets and possessions? Ki to Happiness is safe and grateful with healthy cats.

We went out yesterday into the bustling University District. Husky’s fans were partying pregame and dense traffic clogged the streets. Parking in an old lot we once regularly used resulted in a $55 ticket.

Instead of lashing out at my partner for having directed me to his chosen spot, I took responsibility for my following his lead. Once back home we sat together, computing the payment we split.

How are you responding to the greater activity in your area? Can you overcome your reactions better after so much time homing your skills? Ki to Happiness breathes into the heart’s response.

Today is my dear friend’s birthday. I mentioned him in July as he exited his body due to COVID. Just as I journaled about him this morning, my altar candle extinguished itself. I sat in darkness, feeling his presence.

His energy continues. My love for him does too. I am forever blessed to have known him, and to have opened to receive his sweet simple innocent companionship.

Have you lost someone due to Covid? Can you feel their energy continuing? Ki to Happiness reMembers what Continues.

Thank you dear readers! I so appreciate your eyes on my daily efforts to let you know that I’m out here, practicing yoga, writing. These activities affirm my life.

I share with you the little things I do. I encourage you to reflect on the little things you can do to help yourself feel whole. Sometimes when I have challenges with technology surrounding these offerings, I drop back into the awareness that it’s all worth it, so you may find non-technological ways do you love your life.

What have you done this morning that is life affirming? What might you do later on today to help you feel alive and whole? Ki to Happiness writes and practices yoga.

I was nine years old when I got my first 5 year diary for Christmas. I could barely wait until January 1, 1970 to write my first entry. Privacy and a pen were all I needed.

It’s been over 50 years now affirming my personhood each day I journal. I’ve missed a few day, to be sure. Each time I resumed the practice, I felt more human, connected, and present.

What practices affirm your life? How readily can you resume them? Ki to Happiness journals, often about yoga.

When listening for the spirit of guidance, we tune into radio station KYOU. Sometimes it’s hard to get the signal from our higher selves. We have three choices. Either turn down all background noise or turn up the volume. A combined approach also may work.

In my 20s, I needed lots of activity to meet my level of sensory overload in meditation. Sufi 9 Ways of Dzikr gave all my senses something to do, busying me so I could enter stillness. Now in my 60s, I prefer the silence of early morning to awaken my inner signal. Along the way, a combined approach was also helpful.

Can you hear Your signal? Do you need to turn up the volume or reduce background interference? Ki to Happiness will do whatever it takes to hear KYOU.

I used to have all kinds of ideas about what I was willing to do. I had a need for a firm boundaries as correction to my earlier years of being what I self termed “a boundariless wonder”.

That correction served me well. Developing healthy boundaries, I have learned to allow feelings to pass through me like the wind through the trees, blowing them away.

How are your boundaries? Semipermeable? Ki to Happiness is blown away.

Our building is from the turn of the last century. No insulation. The landlords don’t turn on the heat until November. So I awaken into 61°.

I practice with lots of layers on and plenty of warm water to drink as I start. Then I shift into my strengthening physical practices, all of which warm me from the inside. I arrive at this moment of blogging, heated from my efforts and happy to simply Be!

Are you warm enough? Can you find heat inside yourself? Ki to Happiness sends you warmth and joy.

We are all indigenous to the earth. We came from somewhere on this planet. We have been moving about from that point of origination ever since. Recently I learned that the Spanish language was the first official adopted language of these Americas.

When my Mexican neighbor arrived this morning, I greeted him. I told him what I had learned about the language. He casually pushed it aside saying “who knows?“ We went on to pet the cats.

How will you observe this day? Can you honor the part of you that is from here as well as the part of you that has moved about? Ki to Happiness embraces the good Mother Earth.

I woke up in the depths of my field of consciousness this morning. Not thinking, or dreaming, not from dreamless sleep either. Beyond those 3, the Upanishads defines the 4th, which is what Turiya means, as it is otherwise indescribable.

I first had this kind of experience in Bali over 20 years ago. I am glad to have had that so that I could understand better this morning. Without awareness of my name, age, occupation, marital status, or whereabouts, I simply was awake to my beingness.

Are you familiar with the different levels of consciousness? Have you checked out the map of consciousness that yoga offers? Ki to Happiness navigates with the map.