The concept of the “Jivan Mhukta” describes a state of no-otherness. The Jivan Mhukta is a liberated being who lives soulfully on earth, engaged in the realm of human realities. They are here, now. There is no need to escape from life, because life becomes an experience of presence, curiosity, and harmony.
For the Jivan Mhukta, yoga is freedom.
How To Keep Living When You Feel Like Dying. Period.
So just how have I kept living despite wanting to die? Through all these years and all the attempts and all these failures and all these ups and downs? After all, I did start by saying that the thought still arises, even after so much work, healing, growth, and change.
For me, the key is asking for and being willing to accept help.
The Suicide Blog (Or, How To Keep Living When You Feel Like Dying) Pt. 2
I’ve come to understand that only a small part of my brain is sick enough to crave death. The majority of my mind can become skilled and strong enough to stop the impulse.
Developing these new capabilities requires vigilance and hard work.
Since 2018’s PTSD/flashbacks diagnosis, I’ve been engaged in a new course of mental health treatment that is training me to develop and listen to the greater, empowered, healthy part of my brain.
The Suicide Blog (Or, How To Keep Living, When You Feel Like Dying)
If you met me today, you wouldn’t guess that I tried to kill myself one year ago. You would see me teaching trauma-sensitive yoga, playing percussion at concerts, loving my Metro commutes, inhaling deeply under flowering trees. You would see my near constant smile and note my “spark of life,” my “inner light” and “glowing beauty.” You would ask about the “.02%” tattoo on my forearm and overlook the telling scar on that same wrist. You would listen to my story and call me “resilient.”
Haters Gonna Hate
“Our world is wounded, fractured, broken and burning. We are products of this place and it is our job to heal the world through the healing of our selves.” ~ Chani Nicholas The difficulty of maintaining peace of mind during this world’s current upsets is obvious. On the eve of the U.S. Presidential Election, I…
Remember When I Quit Teaching Yoga?
Forgive me WordPress readers, it’s been…10 months since my last confession. I mean, since my last blog. “Fearless” was a rather brief, mid-winter explosion that came just one month after – in the previous blog and all over social media – I announced that I’d quit teaching yoga. “Fearless” disclosed how unsafe I’d been feeling in…
Fearless
With today’s overcast skies, the shortest day of the year is, indeed, ending early. It’s 4pm and nearly dark. Even tonight’s waxing moon will be obscured by clouds. Call it a dark night – and day – of the soul, if you wish. Winter Solstice hath arrived. (And peaks at 11:49pm EST.) Call me crazy,…
Yoga Focus: Taking Stock
8 November, 2015 This week marks the Indian holiday of Diwali, which is generally known as the Indian Festival Of Lights. Yet, it signifies so much more. Most markedly, the 5-day festival celebrates the triumph of Light over Darkness by recalling the many battles won by virtuous warriors over evil demons. On a social level,…
Resurrection: A 25-Year Journey
I am planting this seed where the pain of my past no longer defines me. I am planting this seed where the wealth of my past most certainly defines me. I am planting this seed where all of my past informs me. From it will grow my next step, experience, thought, breath. ~ from my…
Yoga Class Focus: Gratitude Trumps Adversity
Sometimes, gratitude does not come overnight. Sometimes days, weeks and months can pass before thankfulness finds its way into a broken heart. But from experience (and lots of it), I know there will be a silver lining to every story of challenge, hardship and adversity. If you’ve read my blog before, you are familiar with…
The Urban Yoga Den 