Yoga Legislation in NJ

As you know, I don’t usually engage in online political discourse however I am going to make an exception here today.

In our Tuesday am class we discussed the link that I am sending you and as a group we sort of decided that this NJ Congressman needs to hear from us, us being those practicing yoga.

As you will read,  Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts from District 5 (Camden & Gloucester) has submitted a bill to the legislature of NJ that would require yoga teachers and studios to be licensed by the State.  He lumps us in with “exercise facilities” & “fitness professionals”, disregarding completely the uniqueness of yoga.  His ignorance reflects that of the mainstream with regards to what yoga really is.

Now, I do not claim to KNOW what yoga actually is, or isn’t.

I’m still engaged in the practice of knowing who I am or aren’t and we all know how long that can take!  Nevertheless, I feel that it’s my civic responsibility to add my voice to any issue that touches my heart.  This one, ‘got me’……………………………….

I feel that I am doing a part by keeping you informed.  Integrating skillfull mental activity (buddhi) with willfull action (tapas) and a spirited purpose (karma) is tough stuff and needs lots of practice.

My intentions are to join with other yoga/wellness/holistic professionals in NJ in educating our legislature as to the reality of yoga.

Many voices speaking truth at the same time can be ‘transformational’.

Do what you will.

Trust that everything is good.

And, please, share your yoga experience(s) with those around you so that we can bring more people out of ignorance and into the light.

Om shanti.

Om.

All that said, here are some links to check out regarding this issue.

http://esutra.blogspot.com/

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A3500/3356_I1.HTM

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/BIO.asp?Leg=16

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/SelectRep.asp

….more video

I really don’t want this to become a ‘media’ heavy blog site, however some things are just too good to pass up.  Go over to my vodpod on the right side and check out The Girl who Silenced the UN for 5 minutes.

….this made me cry………….

….try to watch the whole thing if you can………..i’ll post it over there on the right with my others asap. …..”14 months in the making, 42 countries, and a cast of thousands”!!

For More Information on the creator of this wonderful clip: Go here.

Statistics can be fun as long as………..

……you don’t get too “attached”.

I was perusing around wordpress today and decided to take a closer look at my stat’s.  Just for fun.

Since my posting is rather random & seemingly scattered, at best, it’s interesting to see just how people get here to this site and what they like to read.

Since beginning this online adventure in Feb07, I have created 157 posts in 29 different categories.

This post has received 3,060 views, way more than this post which comes in second with 990 views.

This post is next with 922 views.  #4 on the list is this one with 715, and #5 has had 687 views.

These numbers may not be enough to impress some of you, but I am blown away by the power & potential of this online medium.

Each of these 5 posts have hovered around the top-5 for a long time.  It certainly makes food for thought.

Have a nice day.

……..wanna dance?

remember what Rumi wrote?  check out this older post in the archives …………..

We’ll be in The Big Apple on Friday, Full Moon in Capricorn.

Hip, hip, hooray - full moon today!

Hmmmm. Not sure that title really works with this Plutonian Full Moon today. Anytime I see Pluto in a configuration it feels a little ominous.

Here’s the chart:

Of course, with Venus over there hanging out with the Sun it does soften things up a bit.

Like kittens do.

This little kitten *appeared in my yard* just about 14 months ago. She showed up at the same time as I was experiencing a sudden and devastating loss. To me, she was an ‘angel’ in disguise. I named her Shadow, because she hid in shadows all the time during our first months.

The other day (she comes around to feed occasionally), I noticed that she had lost a lot of weight? Then she moved aside and I saw, another kitten! Oh my.

Pluto…..transforms us and forces us to grow by reproducing. That’s the essence of why it rules things like AIDS, Cancer, Nuclear & Atomic fission. Nothing can destroy something so utterly and completely like Pluto. The Phoenix represents Pluto well in reminding us that something wonderful can rise up from the ashes of destruction. Pluto is a harbinger of birth, death, & rebirth.

Consider caterpillers. They become butterflies during Plutonion processes, trans - forming from one form of being to another. Pluto doesn’t mess around.

Although violence can be part of a transformation process, it’s not really necessary for ‘a transformation’ to succeed. Pluto happens.

Moving thru Plutonion times peacefully is well-worth the effort. I’ve got another harp gig tonite, which means that I’ll be spending the day feeling anxious & excited at the same time. Looking at today’s transits the moon will be coming into an exact opposition with Venus just as I’m supposed to play. Moon/Venus in Gemini/Sag………….what a great way to communicate……music!

Practice peace with this full moon.

The weather looks great where I am.

Om nimah shivaya.

Bards & Bodies….vibration in action.

I visited Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland a few years back and had what I consider an amazing experience there.

I was standing on steps, waiting with many other people to be allowed admittance into this magnificent space.

I arrived at this moment feeling pretty calm & healthy despite the joyful vibrations of extreme anticipation. Libraries are special places for me and I was about to enter the oldest library I had ever visited.

Suddenly, my heart starting beating twice as fast. My palms became sweaty. My face flushed into a raging shade of red. It was hard to breathe.

I became frightened and witnessed the negativity of those first thoughts. Am I ill? What is wrong with me?

I frantically began to retrace (in my mind) what I had to eat, the level of physical exertion I had been expending, etc., etc., coming to the conclusion that I was still healthy. This was ’something else’.

I watched my mind decide to view the physical symptoms as evidence of karma at work.  No one was around who would challenge my viewpoint, for a change, so I  began to just take some long deep breaths to calm down this body .

Finally, I was allowed into The Room which immediately took even more breath away………..but, at the same time I became infused with a fiery impulse to investigate What Was In There For Me. I gave my feet complete permission to lead me around and within one minute of this absent-minded ‘absorption trip’ I came across this harp in a secured glass case perched on a large pedestal. As I stood there and gazed at this harp my body started calming down to a more relaxed state. My breath returned. It felt as if I had just returned …………………………………. home.

The body is a powerful antenna that picks up signals from a multitude of sources both internal & external. How we interpret these signals has everything to do with how our emotional minds process incoming information. Also, many of us have put ourselves in a position where we have relied on others (family, friends, our culture,) to define us to ourselves thereby weakening our inherent ability to discern reality clearly. Labels become words, and words can be limiting and hurtful. “You’re sick”. “You’re crazy”. “You’re paranoid”.

The information on the harp in the glass case describes it as “the oldest surviving Irish harp”, erroneously associated with Brian Boru, a high King of Ireland who died in 1014.

Before leaving for Ireland I had been practicing Brian Boru’s March. It was the very first tune I learned on my new harp.

Listen Here:

Just for fun!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 13 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I’ll put this over on the sidebar as soon as I figure out how to resize it! Can anyone out there help?

Later………………….

I’m supposed to be packing right now and instead I’ve gotten caught up in this website where you re-create yourself as a South Park character. The choices are many, the decisions confuse me! Anyway, this is what I’ve come up with and you can click on the picture to go there yourself. Have fun!

I need to get myself into ‘travel mode’ now. I’ll probably be offline for a few days until I settle in in sunny southern California.

May all beings live in peace.

Om

Daylight Savings Time - Tonite

DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?

As I was walking down the street one day
A man came up to me and asked me what the time was that was
on my watch, yeah
And I said
Does anybody really know what time it is
I don’t
Does anybody really care

If so I can’t imagine why
about time
We’ve all got time enough to cry
Oh no, no

And I was walking down the street one day
A pretty lady looked at me and said her diamond watch had
stopped cold dead
And I said
Does anybody really know what time it is
I don’t
Does anybody really care
care
If so I can’t imagine why
about time
We’ve all got time enough to cry
Oh no, no

And I was walking down the street one day
Being pushed and shoved by people trying to beat the clock,
oh, so I just don’t know,
I just don’t know
And I said, yes I said

Background Vocal:
People runnin’ everywhere
Don’t know the way to go
Don’t know where I am
Can’t see past the next step
Don’t have to think past the last mile
Have no time to look around
Just run around, run around and think why

Does anybody really know what time it is
I don’t
Does anybody really care
care
If so I can’t imagine why
about time
We’ve all got time enough to die
Oh no, no

Chicago Transit Authority
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
- Columbia Single #4-45264 (November 4, 1970)