Author: Ki McGraw

Independence requires great responsibility. I celebrate my independence daily by taking good care of myself. I celebrate your independence as you take care of yourself.

Then when we meet, on the street or in a class or a private session we can compare notes on how it’s going so we can best support one another. Interdependence acknowledges that we need each other’s support, help and attention. We each are responsible for our participation in everything including our interactions.

What do you need to take care of yourself today? How can you best support others with whom you interact today? Ki to Happiness celebrates her Independence and Interdependence responsibility.

Lounging on the grass in the sun with my folks, I read about Walt Wittman in Lewis Hyde’s book, The Gift. Doing so heightened my appreciation of each leaf of grass as WW’s enthusiasm is contagious. I was born in the “show me”state of Missouri, so I am a natural empiricist, but never realized I was also an Enthusiast.

My body has been the instrument of my awakening into higher consciousness, like WW. When I practice yogasana, I open my body to that higher consciousness. I think of this as my Higher Self reclaiming the Real Estate of my form, so that this embodiment guides me.

Have you experienced Higher Consciousness? If not in your body, then where? Ki to Happiness practices embodiment of her Higher Self on the broad path of yoga which has space enough for all others to do the same, uniquely in each person’s own way.

My trip begins to turn homeward. I left my alma mater and drove down memory lane past my old house, my first office, and campus town. As we prepare for relocating, I look at the inexpensive and safe options near my family of origin.

Then I heard from Bob the good news. He has a foot in the door of a potential spot for us back in Seattle. While not perfect, perhaps it provides greater safety at less expense than our present circumstance.

Can you celebrate the small steps? Are you able to detach from outcome and celebrate progress? Ki to Happiness loves having a foot in the door whether the rest enters or not.

As my travels begin to turn homeward, I am reflecting on attraction and repulsion. As if I am magnetically drawn, I follow after that which attracts me. Equally, I am repulsed by some people/things/places like a magnet, repelled by an invisible force.

Instead of resisting these natural forces, I am witnessing them while revisiting old friend, teachers and mentors at my Alma Mater. In this process, I observe my growth and change without judgement of others. Honoring the information I’ve gleaned, I pack my bags for further integration on the road ahead.

How aware you of magnetism? Are you able to witness this natural force and let it move you accordingly? Ki to Happiness magnetically draws abundant love, peace, joy, health and light.

My old friends and I went to the One and Only Hippie Memorial in Arcola, Illinois yesterday. It is situated in the midst of Amish country. I love the contrast between those two social groups, and yet the way that they happily share the same small town.

The friends I traveled with also have conflicting beliefs systems and yet they both resonated with the memorial. With the new moon, I’m walking the path of integrating the past with the present. My direction is ever toward the future where we all live in peace as one family.

How do you relate to the hippies? Can you overcome the political divides and move toward peace? Ki to Happiness keeps walking in peace toward harmony.

As I looked at my schedule for this part of my trip, I felt conflicted. I organized things in advance to accommodate the various peoples and activities only for all to shift. At first I felt resistance to the required changes.

On this day of the new moon in Cancer, I recognize the need to be fluid. I choose to flow with the forces upon me. The feeling of conflict has resolved itself so I can set my intentions for this day which will influence my whole next month.

What do you need to resolve for your next month? Can you choose in alignment with that intention? Ki to Happiness intends to fluidly flow.

Traveling often brings up stressful situations. My effort is to use them toward building my resilience. Slow and steady breathing, keeping my head held high, taking things one step at a time, and focusing on my truest intention helps.

When my phone died in my rental car, instead of freaking out about not having directions to my destination, or any way to access information, I simply changed plans. As my phone resurrected, I changed them back and arrived safely, even a bit earlier than necessary. Overall, I passed the test of that stress in a way that will build confidence in my ability to do so again in the future.

What stress is testing you? How can you pass that test? Ki to Happiness meets the stress tests with a long tall spine, free and deep breathing and my heart set on the Everlasting, like the Yoga Sutras say.

My stepbrother called his dad yesterday and asked him to put me on the phone. That’s a family first in nearly 50 years. My mom and brother witnessed the simple blending of our families with ease.

Later, my brother asked me what it was like. In sharing with him my simple delight, he started considering plans for our next visits. Another first… looking forward to future firsts.

How blended is your family? What firsts would it take to invite such blessings into your life? Ki to Happiness blends the blessings toward One Human Family with time and space for firsts.

My brother arrived safely with my good friend driving him here. After his retinal reattachment, his eyes are healthy enough for daily activities and work, however long distance driving is too much. Thanks to Jill we are all together now for the first time since his surgeries.

Jill and I met it freshman year of High School. She is an honorary family member, who’s had my folks in her life longer than her own. My brother and I are fortunate to have this sister.

Who do you consider family? What’s it like when you are all together? Ki to Happiness feels the union of our soul family.

Deep rumbling in the night stirred me into wakefulness. Loud crashing thunder and lightning displayed the powers of nature as I witnessed with sleepy eyes from my yurt. This morning, gentle rains continue to wash away the dirt and grime of the heat, all flowing back toward the streams, rivers and oceans.

This mirrors the political environment. Last night was to be the “night of rage” as some referred to the predicted reaction to the results of the Supreme Court’s decisions. May the rage, once safely expressed, become a natural cleansing ever toward the One.

How are the storms in your life? Can you behold natural processes and allow yourself to become one with these cycles? Ki to Happiness flows through each storm.