3 Jewels Yoga

soul care, liberation + legacy work in 2020

In August of 2019, I discerned it was time to take a sabbatical from community practice to focus on managing my grandmother’s care following a health crisis. Then “life and opportunity” showed up to affirm that decision when I was recruited to work with The Firecracker Foundation (where I am now one of the…

an invitation to reimagine

I’m receiving these reframings from Benjamin Henretig as a beautiful invitation to ground and support us in tending to our fears, anxiety and grief. May we find some peace, release (cry, scream, move energy through our bodies), relief, rest and wellness through this madness. 🙏🏾💜 Image Description: A list with the heading “Five Creative…

the spaces in our togetherness

It’s the second day of Spring, friends! Under ordinary conditions,we’d be inspired into all manner of group outings and activities. But we’re now 7+ days into our collective practice ofsocial/physical distancing to flatten the curve of this new virus,which has demanded a change in how we connectand created a SURGE in our virtual communications. These…

the grace of awareness

From Transformative Love to Taking Ourselves As the Object of Love, Sangha’s inquiry and discernment came full circle in 2018. During our final practices in December, we reflected on our year of learning together, naming what we felt inspired to rededicate ourselves to individually and what we collectively felt drawn to study in the season ahead….

the unforced rhythms of grace

Immensely grateful for the experiences and learnings that steered me to wrap myself up and rest in this wisdom as I approached the new year. Abundantly blessed by all the experiences and learnings that have unfolded since. Clarity. Ease. Holy Listening. Awe. These have been the gifts of aligning in the unforced rhythms of Grace….

invocation

— read at the interfaith thanksgiving service on 19 november 2018 — Inviting of the Bell — The sound of the bell is an invitation to inhabit body, heart and spirit with full and loving awareness. [Sounding of the Bell x 3] Be Aware of the Earth that Supports You — May we remember and…

mutual care | locating needs

Grateful for the collective imagination and wisdom of Sangha! Last Sunday, our contemplation on Mutual Care inspired new queries to support us in identifying our current needs along with practices for honoring those needs. How do we assess when our needs are being met — by asking what fuels, inspires and restores our body, heart,…

refuge, resistance, resilience + radical self-expression

“The Sangha is an island of peace. The Sangha is a community of resistance against violence, hate and despair.” — Thich Nhat Hanh These words of my root teacher Thây live at the core of our sangha’s suchness. They have shaped our evolution into a community of spiritual friends who find sanctuary in journeying together…

embodied prayer | transforming the heart

Through our collective musing last Sunday, it became clear to me that “Transformative Love” is the energy that changes the shape of our hearts and minds. As I become more and more of who I am — and something new — I am contemplating the question: What does this look, sound, feel and act like…

radical bodhicitta | justice is my love language

When I took the test for the 5 love languages years ago, it came as no surprise that my primary love language is acts of service (followed by quality time). Last Wednesday, I was invited to give a dharma talk on social justice at my root sangha and opened with Dr. Cornel West’s oft-quoted observation…

the eightfold path: skillful effort, skillful mindfulness + skillful concentration

Sangha committed several months to the study of how we “live into community” and the purpose of gathering as spiritual friends to build our capacity for skillfulness and resilience. To that end, we’ve contemplated the Eightfold Path as a set of embodied practices that help us develop wisdom, ethical action, and various faculties that support our meditation. The Eightfold…

when + where we enter | abiding in the practice

We closed yesterday’s daylong practice of discernment and self-inquiry by reflecting on how we aspire to show up and carry what we have learned about cultivating radical bodhicitta — what I call the heart and mind of justice, liberation, and healing — into our ever-widening circles of compassionate social action. After everyone departed, I returned to…

the eightfold path: on skillful speech, skillful action + skillful livelihood

Sangha is studying how we “live into community” and the purpose of gathering as spiritual friends to build our capacity for skillfulness and resilience. To that end, we’re contemplating the Eightfold Path as a set of embodied practices that help us develop wisdom, ethical action, and various faculties that support our meditation. The Eightfold Path is the fourth of…

criteria for skillful communication

Last December, I was invited to give a presentation to fellow members of my local Facilitators Guild on the 4 Gates of Speech after referencing them in one of our monthly meetings. As I prepared, I discovered overlapping ideas across various wisdom traditions and expanded my presentation into a list of Criteria for Skillful Communication below. Cultivating skillful…

the eightfold path: on skillful understanding + skillful thinking

living into community: capacity, commitment, contribution

GETTING CLEAR + LOCATING INTENTION Sangha moved into the first month of our new season with an exercise in beginning anew by shining the light on the essential elements that give shape to our experience of living into community and nurturing spiritual friendship (kalyana-mittata). We named our individual aspirations and intentions for seeking spiritual connection within a…

wisdom files

This is a living “library” comprised of suggested readings for Sangha and the frequently-referenced texts used in our practice, which I have also linked throughout my various writings over the years. It is certainly not intended to be comprehensive. Rather it reflects my personal approach to this spiritual path of study and practice — informing what…

breathing beauty into the world: a mindfulness practice for children (who are learning to see with eyes of compassion)

Each day I rise, waking to a world of possibilities. I breathe and smile, happy and ready to learn, grow and share. I see the sky, sun, clouds above me. I see the earth, plants, water below me. I feel the air around me. I breathe and smile, knowing that I am in the world…

What Part of You is Free?

Originally posted on Linda Stone:
This post was written several years ago. I’m feeling great these days and ready to post some of the things written in darker moments… From January 2010 I’m lying in bed and the right side of my body is frozen. I’m right-handed. I want to get up and the thought…

heart, sweetened with intention

toward which direction is your heart stretching? know that this organic force, opening and guiding your heart, is the seed of intention what are you breathing life into? know fully that the breath is the fuel growing into aspirations. connect with and align your thoughts, words and deeds with the seeds of intention blossoming in…

#LoveYouEveryday

Hope y’all are feeling loved, seen, heard, felt, understood, cared for + supported!

hanukkah rededication

Originally posted on dhamma for mama*:
For the holy week, we lit candles each night to rededicate ourselves to practicing values that help us feel cared for and supported as a family. My kiddo chose: LOVE on the 1st night. KINDNESS on the 2nd night. LISTENING on the 3rd night. GENEROSITY on the 5th night.…

winter solstice blessings

Happy Winter Solstice + Full Moon Eve, Dear Ones! For me, it is a time to rest, reflect and enjoy a balance of solitude and authentic connection. In whatever ways you observe, participate in, reframe or abstain from the festivities of this season, may you honor that which has heart and deepest meaning for you….