Author: Ki McGraw

My healing journey now includes greater strengthening practices. In addition to my Mudras, I did a little painting with both hands to help beautify the Hatha Yoga Center. I let the right hand do the bulk of the work, then the left hand did the same work more slowly with less accuracy.

Safely using my left wrist gives it the feeling of membership and purpose. No longer keeping it separate, it is included in my totality, a part of my body and my history. Helping the right hand heals the left.

What part of your self do you keep separate? What will help you include it in your totality? Ki to Happiness lets the healing parts help when ready.

My healing now requires that I begin physical therapy. For me, that means resuming my practice of mudras together with mantras. Forming my hand into sacred symbols as I chant is a practice I had to let go of until now.

At our winter solstice gathering, when my injury was fresh, I did my mudras for one last time with chanting. Returning to the practice, muscle memory stitches me back together, strengthening my atrophied tissues. Yoga practices continue to sustain me, as I refine and adjust them to my present needs.

How flexible can you be with your practices? When you let go of a practice, do you let yourself return to it when you are ready? Ki to Happiness uses hands and voice for sacred purposes when handstands and backbends are limited.

I worked with a new person privately yesterday. She and I chose an audio video platform so we could see each other as well as hear each other. At first, we simply sat and beheld one another’s presence.

As she shared her material that brought her to the session, I listened intently. I reframed her issues and mirrored back to her the healthy impulses she openly revealed. We concluded and rescheduled, satisfied with the progress.

Can you simply behold the others who come to you for assistance? What could be more therapeutic than being held in sacred intention? Ki to Happiness holds sacred space to open up and behold another’s truth.

Looks like we’re about to have an early Spring. That’s what the groundhog prognosticates by not seeing his shadow today. It sure feels that way out here in Seattle, far away from his home in Pennsylvania.

I understand that Punxsutawney Phil has a poor track record. The unusual tradition of letting a rodent’s ability to see his shadow of indicating Spring’s arrival needs to be checked. One day at a time, going outside, smelling the Earth waking up and seeing robins and shoots emerging from the soil inform me that this year, he may be right.

Do you trust the groundhog or your own senses? Can you observe traditions yet do your own research ? Ki to Happiness trusts her senses which have a pretty good track record one day at a time.

Last night I placed a shawl out on our deck chair to collect the energy of Saint Brigid’s Eve. On the eve of her feast day this Irish saint from the fifth century is thought to traverse the Earth to offer her blessings to all who leave a cloth out for her, which is called a Brat Bride. All through the year, the Brat Bride may be used to protect and heal the wearer.

Later on, I will serve special potatoes with cabbage mashed together to draw her healing potential into my form. I share this with you in case you didn’t place a cloth outside, but want to participate in this midwinter celebration also called Imbolc. Simply asking for her protection and healing as you intentionally sup on mashed potatoes will garner her blessing.

Can you take a moment to observe midwinter? Can you celebrate the early signs of spring in your area? Ki to Happiness observes bulbs sprouting, robins chirping and Light returning.

Honoring dad on his 1st anniversary of what he called “checking out”, I heard his words coming out of my mouth. I purchased some new bedding in the wrong size. Struggling to put it on, I said “das ok”.

He often mispronounced the expression “that’s OK” on purpose, being silly. We learned to say it back to him when the little frustrations of life would mount. After his multiple TIAs and his stroke, it became a way for us to shift our reactions away from stress and toward responding with acceptance of his detriments which he could do nothing about.

Who’s words come out of your mouth sometimes? What helps you shift toward acceptance? Ki to Happiness breathes and remembers to keep a perspective on what truly matters, which is peace, love and serenity.

Today as I honor my dad’s one year anniversary of his departure from the earthly plane, I’m thinking of it as Freedom Day. He is free from pain and suffering as well as worry and taxes. He is free to allow his essence to pervade all he loves: nature, beauty, balance and Mom.

Synchronistically, I am likely to be freed today from my brace, depending on what my doctor says during our appointment. Since dad also broke his left wrist, I feel his essence is within me in this new way. I hope to be able to put his wrist watch on my wrist, sealing my inheritance from him.

How do you celebrate someone’s life once they are free from this earthly plane? What can you free yourself from that might make your life more worth celebrating? Ki to Happiness is free to celebrate life and its essence.

One year ago, my dad had his last day of life. During this year without him, I have felt comfort in seeing his essence in ducks, hawks, and clouds, hearing his voice in the wind, and dreaming of him free from pain. Mom has survived this year without him and has taken her rightful position as Queen of her castle.

I miss his sweetness, so I’ve become sweeter. He was my step dad, so I learned from him the step dance I still do with my step son. He was an outdoorsman, so I spend more time outdoors, looking up at the sky for clouds and birds, remembering him with sweetness.

Do you still have your folks? How can you best honor their memory and legacy? Ki to Happiness honors her living mother’s choices and becomes sweeter in honor of her dad.

In the aftermath of my birthday celebrations, I reflect on the many smiles, stories, calls, gifts, and love that I experienced. Friends and family, students and clients, cats and one big old dog at my favorite turn-around shop all made for a memorable day. I’m growing in patience and gratitude as I recall the blessings of the day.

Flowers, books, cards, clothes, boots, jewelry, and Epson salt gel all surround my lit candles. I offer them all up as an offering to the great I Am presence within each of us who are living now. We share the Earth for this precious journey of growing into our Higher Selves for a while.

What love helps you grow? Who companions your journey of life? Ki to Happiness grows in loving companionship with those who show up.

After having a fabulous session with my doctor and a great morning of serving my clients, I rested into time off for my birthday. Bob took me out for a special birthday burrito. Then we shopped together for flowers to grace our ramp and deck.

As the evening progressed, I felt the day brought a good conclusion to my 62nd year, despite my broken wrist. Then an energy vampire tried to bring me down by triggering my old kid fears. After all these years, practices and healings, I simply removed myself from the situation and let it right itself instead of leaking triggered energy outward.

How gracefully can you remove yourself from situations that trigger you? Can you redirect you energy away from those who would attempt to take it from you and pray for them to learn to align with their own energy Source? Ki to Happiness celebrates 63 years of practices and healings with which to align with Source.