Metamorphasis

Metamorphasis

Without change, nothing would ever grow or blossom

Fall is such a splendid time of year, full of rich scents and sights. Autumn is a time of year where we can look at what has taken root over the past year and what has not. It is a time that we can look deep inside and become new. The entire world before us gets ready to sleep in preparation to morph into something new and rich in spring. This little word morph has a long history. It actually comes from a Greek word, morphoo which means 'the inward and real formation of the essential nature of a person'. Through Metamorphoo, from which comes the English word metamorphosis, a caterpillar is transformed into a soaring butterfly. As children of God, we are to undergo a change that makes who we are today or who we were without God, barely noticeable. We need to take that inward journey, dig deep, and root into our faith, our belief and what it is we were authentically created to be and do. 

If you have the choice in whether to believe in what you want or to believe in the popular logic, yoga asks you to believe in yourself. You have to care more about what you think of yourself than what others think of you. The knowledge gained from reaching a place within yourself where no limits apply, makes yoga the transformational practice that it is. In a way, we need to approach the impossible to give us strength and determination to learn how to believe in it. Through practice you slowly shift the notion of impossible to possible through concentrated effort and steady practice. The posture is not the end result, but you do get to learn the movement along the way. The end result is a strong, steady and peaceful mind that when aligned and set at a goal can achieve anything.

We all have conceptions of what yoga is that limit our experience. For example just believing that it is a timeless tradition rich in history has its benefits and disadvantages. Krishnamacharya, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar all discarded the tradition of only teaching yoga, Sanskrit chanting and other esoteric techniques of spiritual realization to men. In the end, the result is that women have become the majority of yoga practitioners worldwide. The strict adherence to this tradition would have impeded yoga's growth and ability to reach and heal more people in the world. There are aspects of each of our paradigms that unnecessarily restrict the innovation of new ideas and growth. The key to riding the edge of impossibility involves finding all areas where stubborn attachment to the past inhibits the free flow of energy and ideas.

There is a delicate balance between irreverent disregard of tradition in favor of the new and shedding attachment to the past that is necessary for renovation and growth. Sometimes new ideas are controversial when viewed from the perspective of tradition. Yet, if you have a dream you must believe in it, even if no one else does. You will need to be strong enough to remain steadfast amidst criticism that your idea is flawed or wrong. If you alter your course to please the peanut gallery of voices, you may lose your focus. If you have a dream, you must face your own doubt squarely and believe in the goodness of your own idea. Against all odds, you must be willing to take a stand for it, working hard for the result and even sacrificing things to stand for what you believe in. Eventually the truth wins out and if you are carrying out God's will, doing good, and adding value to the world, then it will be validated. But you have to accept from the beginning that not everyone will like what you do if your ideas are on the outer limits of what is popularly accepted. You can either try to please others or you can tune in and follow your own inner truth (the voice of the Holy Spirit).

The practice of yoga gives you access to both the highlights and the lowlights of your being and in doing so carves the path toward connecting with God and as a result of that, ultimate freedom. There is no successful trajectory towards final liberation that does not involve the hard work of shining the light of your own awareness on all the sleeping places within your consciousness to ultimately carrying out your dream, making your passion a reality, even if it does not resonate with the status quo.

The practice of yoga is about finding that inner connection with God and giving yourself the inner resolve to do whatever it takes to get the job done, even when no one else shares your faith, enthusiasm or belief. So how is your inward journey? As the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers say "It's morphing time." Are you ready to morph?

The longest journey is the journey inward. Dig deep!!

Namaste

Trish