Welcome

Yoga minus the asana

Hello there! Thank you for joining me here, in this space—this space of kindness, curiosity, mindfulness, and hopefully, inspiration, and so much more.

A few weeks ago as I was getting this publication ready to go, I woke up saying it’s yoga minus the asana. I had been for a few weeks trying to figure out a description and a short one or two-line way to explain what I was writing about. Part of the problem I guess is that I wasn’t exactly sure how I wanted to present here. When I decided to leave the other platform I was using and start on Substack, it was because (1) I wanted to let go of what I was doing previously and create something new (2) I wanted to share in a way that I use to do in person but online. So when I woke up and that was the first thought, it made so much sense to me.

Yoga is bigger than how it is often viewed. In Western culture, there is a tendency to see yoga as only asana. The postures that we do in a class on our mat. But yoga is so much more involved than this. Yoga, for me, is how I attempt to live my life. Yoga is about how to be the best human I can be and asana is but a small part of that. So, here you will get many of the other pieces of yoga minus the asana.

Long ago when I attended parties or even ones that I hosted, my favorite part was when most people had left. When the noise fell away and a very small core group of people remained. Often snuggled in close to one another, often passing a joint around, soft laughter, quiet music in the background, and conversation. Deep and profound, no one having an answer to anything brought up, but instead we asked lots of questions. Or lots of ideas for creating this or that. Those nights seemed magical. Later, as a teacher or facilitator, whether it’s adults or children, I enjoyed that role so much mostly because I love the discussions that can come about when you give a little bit of something and then invite folks to question. I miss this. Very much.

I am currently the most isolated I have ever been in my life, by choice. Do I get lonely? At times, yes. But the need to have quieter life on the outside of me is strong. I am in the practice of deep listening. Listening to the wind, the birds, the earth, my body, my spirit, and the spirits and personal guides around me. I am no longer in a place of going into a building to teach as I once did, yet I still have things I ponder and want to discuss. Here is a space to do just that.

I was recently listening to a Brene Brown podcast, Unlocking Us, and she was speaking with Father Richard Rohr (I have been receiving his newsletter since 2020 and I love the wisdom I always find there). At one point Brene quotes Anne Lamott (another favorite author of mine): “For all the things that we are finally able to give away, they all have claw marks on them.” I LOVE this! It’s hard to discuss things sometimes while going through it all. Because while you’re going through, you’re in the middle of holding on and letting go. And in that place, things don’t always make sense. Now, able to see the claw marks, I am grateful for them.

Another thought, this publication is not necessarily meant to be a quick read-through. If you read part of it, put it down and come back later and read more or if you pause to journal or ponder thoughts here, or write a reflection in the comments or a question or thought that came to you as you read — then I will be doing what I set out to do.

I am in another deep phase of inner growth (does it ever end? I pray not!). And I want to share and question with you if you are so inclined to join me. Perhaps, together we will discover, learn, laugh, love, dance, and scream along the way.

An invitation

I am turning on the chat feature for this publication. I want to utilize it as a way of creating community. My first invitation to you is to introduce yourself in the chat with a photo of you and 1-3 words that speak to you and your wishes for yourself in 2023. Knowing that new years are arbitrary (many new years happen at different times for different countries and faiths), perhaps a better way to say this is to pick words for the next few months. You don’t have to explain the words unless you want to. My hope is that we inspire one another as we begin this community of kindness and care, growth and understanding, of love. Note: to use the chat feature you need to be subscribed, download the app on your phone, and click the chat button at the bottom. You will then see any and all chats from Wandering and Wondering. Please reach out if you have trouble with the feature.

In my ears

I listened to both parts of this conversation with Father Rohr, but I think the second conversation was my favorite. They spoke about knowing when you are in the second part of your life. And this quote, “Your concern is not so much to have what you love anymore. But to love what you have right now.” struck me. Have a listen and I would love to hear what if anything struck you.

A song

This song by Sarah McLachlan is the Prayer of St. Francis. It speaks to the paradoxes of life. I loved it long ago when it was released, but I think today it takes on more meaning for me. We (universal we) can be quick to speak to what another has done, yet not stop and think or our own actions. We are human, we are flawed. Learning and growth and change come when we are actually able to look at how we are in the world. How do I show up at this moment for myself? How do I show up for others? How do I show kindness, love, and respect? How do I help create the change needed in this world today? Some things to ponder. The words and then the song.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Wisdom of the Cards

After I finished writing this, I decided to pull two cards from two different decks. Curious as to what the cards might have to tell me about this publication I am creating. The cards come from the decks created by Kim Krans - Archetypes and Alchemy. Here is what the cards have to say. You can listen to the description of each. I smiled after pulling each. They speak perfectly to this creation, in my humble opinion. Oh, and a poem at the end - suggested listening by the author. Perhaps you might too, ponder how these cards may speak to you.

I hope (fingers crossed) that you have a slightly better understanding of what this is all about. I hope that you will continue to pop in and read the writings as they come and as this grows, that you feel comfortable including your voice too, via comments or the chat when I open it up.

Thank you for being here. Until next time, be well, be kind, and be love.

PEACE!

Candace