Author: Ki McGraw

On January 10, I saw the first daffodil bloom in our neighborhood. Yesterday morning, one of our bulbs bloomed. Its sunshiny, yellow face brightens our deck as the other bulbs, prepare a while longer.

This midwinter gift shows us how mild our conditions have been while other parts of the country are continuing to thaw out. We walked in gratitude, seeing other signs of Spring. With our eyes set for beauty, the world reveals Itself.

What are your eyes set for? Are you looking for love, harmony, and beauty? Ki to Happiness looks for signs of Life and is rewarded with blooming daffodils.

I was able to do a posture yesterday that I haven’t been able to do for 14 months. As life proceeds, injuries and accidents happen. Adapting yoga practice means letting go of attachments to particular practices and modifying to support healing.

It also means resuming practices experimentally, gently and consciously. It’s important that we not give up on ourselves and our healing potential. I continue to heal and integrate my many lessons, even after all these years of practicing teaching.

Have you had to let go of some practices? Can you experiment with resuming practices as healing occurs? Ki to Happiness has resumed practicing Reclined Hero as one example.

I practiced an old ritual yesterday of loosely, tying knots in a ribbon, representing patterns of energy. As I untied the knots, I envisioned freedom from those patterns. Then I draped the loose ribbon around in my space as a reminder that that work is done.

This simple ritual symbolizes to my unconscious that all is well. Energy is available to move freely in the direction of my intention. As I free myself, my intention is to deepen my ability to serve others near and far, in group classes as well as privately.

What energy knots would you like to untie? Are you willing to try this simple ritual? Ki to Happiness loosens the knots that bind energy so to freely help others do the same in many different ways.

This morning, the cats did not get me up at 4 AM. As I stirred at 4:20, I called out to them. I placed my feet on the ground without first saying thank you for my life.

I’ve adopted the practice of giving thanks first thing.  Today, it was second thing, as I found sleepy cats and fed them. In the future, even if they don’t wake me, I’ll do better by giving thanks first thing anyway.

What do you do first thing? What might you do better? Ki to Happiness continues to do better, with daily improvements, grateful for the opportunity.

Before there were cell phones, my family used CB in case of emergency on our remote Canadian island. My dad chose “groundhog” as his handle. He let go of the island long ago, and his sweet body, too, but the Ground Hog Day remains.

Today,  the prognosticating rodent in Pennsylvania will let us know if we’re likely to have an early spring or if deep winter will continue. Whatever is the case, I will forever think of my dad on this day and remember our summers in Canada without phones, electricity or indoor toilets. Cherishing the best of times and integrating them into the fabric of my being, whether Phil sees his shadow or not. 

What national day of observation would you like to be remembered by? Which memories of your childhood do you cherish? Ki to Happiness looks for shadows and smiles.

As the new month begins, we have a full moon in Leo. Its light helps to illuminate our emotions and make use of them towards manifestation. Having made the best of the month of January, we observe midwinter as we look for signs of Spring.

Sarcococca blooms in our neighborhood, offering its scent which has lead to its nickname of Sweet Box. Snow drops lower their pretty heads in the wind as early daffodils stand proud. The Ground Hog will prognosticate Spring’s date of arriving in Pennsylvania, while here in the PNW we see it is already on its way.

What emotions are illuminated in this full moon for you? How would you like for them to manifest in Spring? Ki to Happiness feels grateful for the lessons of winter and looks forward to manifesting them as blessings.



As we say farewell to January, it is a beautiful time to be quiet and introspective. Tomorrow’s full moon arrives on Imbolc, which is the midwinter celebration that has turned into Groundhog Day on February 2. My Irish ancestors and others considered this the beginning of the new year.

The full moon will amplify our emotions and highlight the need for stillness as we observe the return of light. Having just come through deep darkness and cold in the northern hemisphere, there may be a need to let go of the lessons. In this way, the lessons may become blessings in the spring.

What have you been learning? Can you experience these opportunities as blessings? Ki to Happiness witnesses the transformation of lessons into blessings, shining the light of intention in stillness and silence.

Today is the three-year anniversary since my dad passed away. I miss his sweetness and his physical presence. Our family dynamics have changed a lot without him.

In his way, I gathered more hyacinths for our humble planting strip. I cut off the brown fern fronds, beautifying our entrance. He is with me as I garden, beautify our entrance, and look to the sky for birds or clouds as we approach Groundhog Day’s promise of renewal.

In what way do you honor the anniversaries of the deceased? Can you embody the best of them and let go of the rest? Ki to Happiness gardens in the dead of winter for the promise of spring.

Yoga helps us to bounce back from stress on any level. Recently more neurologists and influencers have been utilizing aspects of the practice to help us all. I appreciate the way that they demonstrate how just a few slow, deep breaths, or an unusual posture can start to bring us back into our ability to respond and not react.

The traffic in Seattle has become a nightmare again. One student arrived frantic and late last night, and within a few moments she felt the joy within uprisings again. Seeing it in another reinforces for me, my dedication and commitment to this path.

What helps you bounce back? How quickly can you do that? Ki to Happiness bounces back as soon as possible with breath, alignment, meditation, and prayer.

I am forever grateful for all the birthday love showered upon me yesterday. It included the natural blessing of rain returning. This morning I opened the windows to 42° as we let in the moist air and start the day in the afterglow and aftermath of doing 65 backbends.

Gifts, flowers, gift cards, phone calls, DMs, Facebook greetings all poured in as we continued our regular schedule of classes. We are starting to plan our zoo outing for all who wish to attend when the baby lion cubs are a little bit bigger. The Dosen in our HYC community says maybe in about a month, which gives everyone a chance to plan.

What token of love do you appreciate? Can you provide them for yourself? Ki to Happiness can and is especially grateful to have others make their offerings, too, as my life would be nothing without You.