Author: Ki McGraw

I know it’s dark. I know it’s cold. And I know there’s lots of reasons to feel afraid, nervous, anxious, sad, angry, and lost.

And yet the light is returning. As is the warmth. Last night’s winter solstice gathering at Hatha Yoga Center brought together 31 of our community members with 31 flavors of hope, joy, happiness, healing, togetherness and love.

What flavor do you choose? Can we help you feel safe and empowered to choose well? Ki to Happiness chooses to behold the miraculous light of healing guidance especially in the darkest hours.

This darkest day is the harbinger of light returning. It’s a day of hope. We have been blessed in the Pacific Northwest with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine during the few daylight hours.

We have been actively preparing for our gathering. Together we made gingerbread cookies in addition to all the other treats ready for our guests. Last night, I even found a left-handed harmonium helper.

What brings you hope? In your darkest hours, what brings you light? Ki to Happiness feels the light returning as our community gathers, pitches in to help and all good preparations in the dark are ready.

Entering into the winter solstice, we experience the greatest darkness in the year. It’s a time of deep reflection within, especially as Mercury is retrograde. As we turn our attention inside ourselves, with practice we are likely to find light.

This light brings with it understanding and healing. Allowing ourselves time to slow down and turn within, we can work miracles of forgiveness and realign body-mind with the indwelling Spirit of Guidance. We may not see the effects for some time, like the seeds we plant underground in faith that they will sprout forth in Spring.

What needs healing? What relationship requires forgiveness? Ki to Happiness sheds light on the darkness as Guided by Spirit.

Here, I’m baking, rehearsing and decorating for our upcoming Solstice gathering. Inspiration moved me brightly toward whomping up the stuffing for our Portabella mushrooms as the Vegan chocolate mint cheesecakes firmed up in the fridge. Soon our darkest night will be filled with the light of music, togetherness, and finding the light within through our Hatha Yoga practice.

Elsewhere, my dear friend is making preparations to accompany her lifelong bestie to a bigger hospital for another heart surgery related to her end stage congestive heart failure. Clients reach out in emergent need as holiday plans fail. Students continue attending classes with us as a respite from the efforts to meet holiday expectations.

How are you doing out there? Are you finding your way to stay centered in your heart? Ki to Happiness shares what she finds in Here with all of you out There.

Getting ready for Thursday’s winter solstice gathering requires that the HYC elves get busy. We have improved our signage, installed hooks for hanging decorations, and baked dozens of vegan cupcakes. All is cleaned up and ready.

Candles are in place for lighting. We have one more musical rehearsal before our live performance 12/21/23 during Bob‘s class 5:30 class. The candle lit offering will be festive and celebratory, bringing light and joyful sounds to our community during this darkest time of year.

How are your preparation‘s going? Do you have enough elves to get all of the tasks accomplished? Ki to Happiness delights in the efforts of the busy elves.

“Where am I going on this fabulous journey?To your house, of course.“ These lines uttered by the Sufi poet Rumi are still prophetic.

Tonight is the anniversary of his death, which his followers refer to as his wedding night. They envisioned him marrying his beloved, who had predeceased him when he exited the flesh. Their love has inspired thousands of poems and millions of readers for hundreds of years.

Who inspires your love? Who does your love inspire? Ki to Happiness opens the door to her heart to welcome all true lovers to her house.

Working away yesterday with my assistant, another helper wanted to come over. I couldn’t pass up the offer. I had to pause briefly with my administrative helper, so I could set up our very handy helper with his tasks.

Now hooks are in place for hanging plants and squeaky hinges are quiet as well as progress on my administrative needs. This morning reveals the miraculous result of team effort. With these two supreme allies, I feel like I could do anything.

Who helps you? What are you able to accomplish with them that you could not do on your own? Ki to Happiness is humbled with helpers, hooks and hinges.

Working in private sessions, I relearn the importance of vital connections. I am blessed to have been companioned along my path with others who were ahead of me. Their patience and loving support continue to stay with me as I offer that to others.

When we stay disconnected, isolated and alone with our process we may become confused, lost and doubtful. Instead when we reach out and share our issues with someone who has been on the path awhile longer, that vital connection shines the light on the way forward. Slow, steady effort toward safety and peaceful certainty brings calm clarity as the pathway reveals itself.

Do you let yourself reach out? Who can you turn to? Ki to Happiness turns to those ahead on the path and overtime, turns into being one of them.

I received an unusual request from a former client. I so appreciated her willingness to reach out and ask for what she wanted. I prepared a small gift box and sent it off to her so she’d have a little holiday ritual to look toward.

When I returned, I found a gift box waiting for me at my doorstep. It’s as if my willingness to send one resulted in my receiving one. The simple coincidence reminded me of A Course in Miracles and one of its core tenets, that giving and receiving are one in truth.

What would you like to receive? Can you ask for it? Ki to Happiness likes to receive gifts and is even happier to give them knowing the giving and receiving are one.

This new lunar cycle encourages all of us to make a wish. Setting intentions for happy holidays and wonderful conclusion to 2023, can set us up for a healthy and prosperous 2024.

Reviewing the year likely will bring you to awareness of how much you have gone through. In doing so, you might harness the strength and growth required in 2023 to temper in into your highest wishes. Like a rehearsal for New Years Day, your review could point the way towards what you need to resolve for your wishes and intentions to manifest.

What do you most wish for? What do you need to resolve in order to align with that desire? Ki to Happiness wishes for peace and unity so resolves her inner disputes with gratitude for life, evolving and forgiving.