March 01st, 2021

reflecting on change...
   I typed in the word "humble" and stumbled across the picture above. It makes me think of so many things that have transpired over the past year. I am first drawn to the monk's mask. In our yoga classes together, we have often talked about the masks we wear, but I was never referring to a tangible and literal mask. What we once scrambled to find a year ago has become mainstream. And our masks can reflect our personalities, our favorite sports teams, our opinions, our favorite colors.

I see the monk's yellow and orange robes, which are common colors but can be interpreted by the chakras they correlate with. The orange connects to the sacral chakra, and its element is water. This energy center is about flowing along with life, and that has definitely been a necessity over the past year. Some of us, at times, may have felt the flow was more like a tsunami and its devastating effects, perhaps, still linger. The yellow is the color of the solar plexus; the center associated with fire and digestion. This year has felt much like putting out fires and, when I think about the digestion aspect, I think about all the people who have gone hungry and still are. I read a news story just this morning about a little girl who broke down in her Zoom classroom because she and her family were starving. I think of her inner strength to say those words aloud and how the majority of us would jump to deliver food immediately and offer help. We often do not know where help is needed until someone voices desperation....

I look at the bowl the monk is holding. The metal reflects that around it and symbolically offers reflection into what has transpired. There are flags in the picture behind the monk and this makes me feel hopeful...let me tell you why. I have been afforded the opportunity to pop into Zoom meetings/classes around the world. In my Death Cafe meetings, I have new friends from Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, England, and all over the United States. As well, my son and I have been playing a geography game called geoguesser and, boy, does it help if you know your flags! So, I think of all the time I have been fortunate enough to spend with my kids. I still wish they were able to be where they want to be, but I am hopeful they eventually will. So we bond and pass the time playing cards, and trivia, and goofy family games that we make up.

Perhaps the most impactful aspect of this picture to me is that I found it on unsplash.com; it is a free stock photo posted by someone named Tenzin Namgyal (thank you!) and anybody can use it. It was just sitting out there in Internet space, it's meaning hidden until someone stumbled upon it. I had typed in the word humble and this picture found me...
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I am holding my next virtual Death Cafe meeting on Monday March 8th at 6pm CST. Please email me for the link and password. You can also find my meetings on www.deathcafe.com as Death Cafe Western Suburbs Chicago. If you have never been to one, please consider joining me in a safe space to organically talk about death. We have some really great conversations! There is no meeting agenda and the intention is to make this a more comfortable and normal conversation. Space is limited to 20.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Yoga Class Schedule
ALL classes will remain ONLINE on Zoom until further notice. All are welcome to attend any class for free. Please reach out to me for the link and password. Please note the Vinyasa has moved day and time.

*SUNDAY'S: 10-11:15am, Gentle/Restorative 
*TUESDAY's:  2-3:15pm Inspired Vinyasa
*WEDNESDAY'S: 6-7:15pm, Gentle/Restorative
 
If you miss a class, I am posting them to my YouTube page, which can be found by searching my name or by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9b8ULuY6A2uAuoxC2iaO2Q
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FEATURED HEALING STONE: Labradorite
by Maryann Sanfilipp, Crystal Writer Extraordinaire
  
As we enter March, I am inclined to think of green things---grass showing as the snow melts, St. Patrick’s Day, Leprechauns and the proverbial pot of gold.  In this vein, I searched to find crystals for luck.  The one I was immediately drawn to was Labradorite.  I wrote about this particular stone when I first started my monthly column and I fear I did not do it justice.  As my knowledge of crystals and their meanings has grown considerably, I thought it wise to reexamine this wonderful crystal.  So here we go again.
 
As a gemstone, Labradorite became popular in Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.  It was first found in Canada in 1770 and gets its name from Labrador.  It is valued for the remarkable play of color as the stone seems to glow from within---Labradorescence!  Folklore of the Inuit peoples claim that it fell from the frozen fire of the Aurora Borealis. One warrior is said to have even tried to free the light with his spear, but the strength of the rocks was such that this beautiful spectrum of light was crystallized inside them forever.  So, it became a stone of magic used by shamans, diviners, healers and all who travel and embrace the universe seeking knowledge and guidance.   
 
Labradorite is considered to be a lucky stone of magic. The reason comes from the belief that those who used it had access to a range of abilities that seemed magical to others.  Labradorite brings the gifts of serendipity and synchronicity. These two things combined can make amazing things happen in your life. Those little coincidences, where you are in the right place at just the right time, just seem to occur more often once you begin to use this stone.  Sometimes called “the magician,” it is said to bridge the gap between the heavens and physical reality making your dreams always within reach.  It can support your intentions by encouraging you to go after what you truly desire. 
A stone of transformation, Labradorite is a useful companion through change, imparting strength and perseverance.  It balances and protects the aura, raises consciousness and grounds spiritual energies.  Excellent for strengthening intuition - promoting psychic abilities.  Powerful in revealing the truth behind illusions, Labradorite banishes fears and insecurities, and strengthens faith in the self and trust in the universe.  It stimulates the imagination and calms an overactive mind, developing enthusiasm and new ideas.
 
Labradorite is purported to treat disorders of the eyes and brain, stimulates mental acuity, and relieves anxiety and stress.  It regulates metabolism, balances hormones and relieves menstrual tension.  Labradorite treats colds, gout, and rheumatism, lowers blood pressure, and aids in digestion.
 
However you look at Labradorite, I hope you are able to enjoy the luminescence of it and that is truly brings you luck in whatever you desire.

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