Author: Ki McGraw

I read Isabel Wilkerson‘s book, Caste, in 2020. Last night we watched the movie, Origin, based on the book and the author’s process of writing it. Both the book and the movie are worth the time.

As we explore the “origins of our discontent”which is the subtitle of the book, we gain perspective on the issues plaguing our planet. Personally enlightening, we are each moved to overcome the divisions within ourselves so as to cease from projecting them outward. Yoga which means Union give us tools to overcome the unconscious conditioning of caste and offers a method of finding contentment in connection to spirit, available for all.

Have you read the book or seen the movie? Can you take the time to become conscious of these issues and overcome the conditioning within? Ki to Happiness is content since doing this work through Hatha Yoga.

Our first amendment right brought me to blogging years ago. I appreciate this platform as it gives me a place to exercise that right. In doing so, I encourage you to exercise that right yourself.

In totalitarian societies where censorship reigns. there is no protection of free speech. Without that protection, freedom suffers. Yoga supports freedom to choose what speech we expose ourselves to as well as what we express.

Can you choose consciously what to express yourself? Are you willing to take responsibility to avoid exposing yourself to undesirable expressions from others? Ki to Happiness freely expresses the benefits of practices which support peace and chooses to abstain from divisive expressions.

I awakened this morning from a vivid dream. One of my many teachers and mentors and I were catching up. I told him I heard he died, and he let me know he is very alive in another plane of consciousness.

He had to wear special glasses to be able to see me in this realm. I wanted to share with him a project. I’ve been working on to get his input. Being with him is all the input I needed in order to keep my dreams alive.

Have you been visited in your dreams by others who have left this realm? Who might inspire you to keep your dreams alive? Ki to Happiness dreams of energy continuing beyond this earthy realm.

In working with one of my clients yesterday, I introduced the concept of holding committee meetings with aspects of self. She hadn’t considered doing that before. It helped her let go of the black-and-white thinking, which is common for those of us who were raised in dysfunctional families.

When we acknowledge that we have several different reactions to any given distraction from our inherent peace, we become empowered. Learning to preside over one’s committee of reactions gives us pause to respond from our totality. In doing so, all the colors, shades, and hues become available for us to choose from which frees us to experiment.

When’s the last time you had a committee meeting with your various aspects of self? Can your Higher Self preside over all your internal reactions so you can respond instead of react? Ki to Happiness pauses to choose from a rainbow of responses, coloring her world with playful experimentation.

When our minds are clear, our focus can become one pointed. Fears, doubts, uncertainties all defuse our focus. Processing the information in those hindrances can help us modify our intentions until clarity is found.

One pointed focus gives us the courage to act. Yoga practices help to “calm the perturbations of the mind” as stated in the Sutras. Energy flows in the direction of our intention, courageously acting in alignment and integrity, like my wrist healing in its own time without a doubt.

How clear is your mind? With one pointed focus, what courageous act is called for? Ki to Happiness courageously continues to serve as an instrument of clarity, healing and integration as her body aligns with that one pointed focus.

Tonight, astronomical Spring occurs. This vernal equinox brings us equal times of light and dark in the northern hemisphere at 11:06 pm EDT. In preparation, it’s a good day to do some Spring cleaning and remove some of your winter gear.

Yoga practice gives us tools with which to keep our spirit’s house clean. Our physical bodies benefit through the postures as well as the breath-work, especially when aligned with our spiritual intention. I propose Salutations to the Sun and alternate nostril breathing on this day, to open the way for an uplifting Spring of Spiritual renewal, hope and peace.

What Spring cleaning do you need to do? What are your intentions for this season of light and growth? Ki to Happiness welcomes Spring.

Between and after classes yesterday, I served some Irish treats for our community. The simple fare was well appreciated. I cleaned up in time to prepare for our son’s feast with us.

He arrived with gifts for us, which he brought back from his most recent trip to Bali. We gave him the mail we’d collected for him while he was abroad. After our early dinner we ate outside in the lovely Springlike weather, he said this is his favorite annual feast!

What is your favorite feast? How long can you wait t to hear someone say you make their fav? Ki to Happiness feasts on hearing those words, my favorite!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. As an Irish American, I’ve celebrated this day with my brother, Patrick, throughout our lives. I’ve kissed the blarney stone in Ireland, made Irish Soda Bread annually and played the Irish drum called the bodhran in musical sessions.

I do so, even as I recognize that the story about this day is full of blarney. Saint Patrick was not a saint, was not named Patrick, didn’t wear green, and is not from Ireland where there are no snakes. Like other celebrations that have been shaped for particular purposes, I observe the parts I can and leave the rest.

What part of this day can you celebrate? What ancestry have you descended from? Ki to Happiness loves what she can on this and every holiday.

One of the main issues my students and clients let me know about is the discomfort with uncertainty. When significant relationships, employment, housing, health, and transportation become unstable, anxiety naturally arises. Especially when these things happen in combination or all at once.

Hatha Yoga provides a consistent practice with which to find stability within. The Sutras underpinning the path indicate that the practice calms the perturbations of the mind. When practiced regularly, with serious determination, the mind moves to gracious peace.

Where do you find certainty during uncertain times? How do you stabilize yourself in this constantly changing world? Ki to Happiness finds comforting peace in practicing Hatha Yoga regularly.

I’m a member of a support team for one of our distant community members as she navigates her way through the storm of cancer. It’s an honor and a privilege to participate. When financial assistance was requested, I offered free private services.

As others who have gone through such storms would attest, navigation requires patience. Being present as one waits for results and recommendations necessitates support. Having been through other storms myself, I’ve developed such patience, and I’m happy to provide support at a distance without thought of remuneration.

How do you help someone who is far away? Where did you learn such skill? Ki to Happiness has learned many skills through navigating several storms and helps others at a distance with prayer, Reiki transmission when appropriate and patience.