Mad4Yoga

"Ukraine has completed more onshore wind turbines than England since it was occupied by Russian soldiers – despite the UK government’s promise to relax restrictions on onshore windfarms.

Only two onshore wind turbines have been installed in England since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, generating 1 megawatt (MW) of electricity in the Staffordshire village of Keele.

Ukraine’s Tyligulska wind power plant, meanwhile, the first to be built in a conflict zone, has begun generating enough clean electricity to power about 200,000 homes just 60 miles from the frontline in the southern region of Mykolaiv, with 19 turbines providing an installed capacity of 114MW."

Ukraine built more onshore wind turbines in past year than England Revelation about war-torn country is ‘terrible indictment’ of UK government, says Ed Miliband

Yoga isn't avoidance but fully experiencing, so l thought I'd share this poem as a beautiful practice

"Once, I ran from fear
so fear controlled me.
Until I learned to hold fear like a newborn.
Listen to it, but not give in.
Honour it, but not worship it.
Fear could not stop me anymore.
I walked with courage into the storm.
I still have fear,
but it does not have me.

Once, I was ashamed of who I was.
I invited shame into my heart.
I let it burn.
It told me, “I am only trying
to protect your vulnerability”.
I thanked shame dearly,
and stepped into life anyway,
unashamed, with shame as a lover.

Once, I had great sadness
buried deep inside.
I invited it to come out and play.
I wept oceans. My tear ducts ran dry.
And I found joy right there.
Right at the core of my sorrow.
It was heartbreak that taught me how to love.

Once, I had anxiety.
A mind that wouldn’t stop.
Thoughts that wouldn’t be silent.
So I stopped trying to silence them.
And I dropped out of the mind,
and into the Earth.
Into the mud.
Where I was held strong
like a tree, unshakeable, safe.

Once, anger burned in the depths.
I called anger into the light of myself.
I felt its shocking power.
I let my heart pound and my blood boil.
Listened to it, finally.
And it screamed, “Respect yourself fiercely now!”.
“Speak your truth with passion!”.
“Say no when you mean no!”.
“Walk your path with courage!”.
“Let no one speak for you!”
Anger became an honest friend.
A truthful guide.
A beautiful wild child.

Once, loneliness cut deep.
I tried to distract and numb myself.
Ran to people and places and things.
Even pretended I was “happy”.
But soon I could not run anymore.
And I tumbled into the heart of loneliness.
And I died and was reborn
into an exquisite solitude and stillness.
That connected me to all things.
So I was not lonely, but alone with All Life.
My heart One with all other hearts.

Once, I ran from difficult feelings.
Now, they are my advisors, confidants, friends,
and they all have a home in me,
and they all belong and have dignity.
I am sensitive, soft, fragile,
my arms wrapped around all my inner children.
And in my sensitivity, power.
In my fragility, an unshakeable Presence.

In the depths of my wounds,
in what I had named “darkness”,
I found a blazing Light
that guides me now in battle.

I became a warrior
when I turned towards myself.

And started listening.

– Jeff Foster 'How I Became a Warrior'"

At this time of year when so many of us are focused on making changes, why not invoke the transformative power of Durga to help you in your evolution with this powerful practice?

Close your eyes, sit comfortably upright, and spend a few minutes focusing your attention on the natural rhythm of your breath.

Silently say, “I invoke the presence of the Goddess in the form of Durga.”

Feel the presence of the Durga Shakti as a shimmering energy around you. You can visualize her lion, or simply intuit her presence. Imagine her with dark hair streaming over her shoulders, with a golden crown, a scarlet silk sari, and golden necklaces, rings, and bracelets.

See her magnificent arms, strong and bristling with weapons: the bow, the sword, the trident, the mace, the discus. See the lotus she carries.

She is watching you with an intent gaze. Her eyes are large and dark.

Silently offer your salutations to her.

Ask her,
“What is the major inner obstacle I have to face now?
What do I need to let go of?
What should I pay more attention to?”

Close your eyes and turn to your heart. Ask the questions in your heart.

Begin to write. Let the writing come naturally, without thought. Keep writing until you feel that there is no more to say.

Look over what you have written.

Now, close your eyes and imagine yourself turning all these obstacles over to the universal power of grace.

Offer the obstacles to Durga, saying,
“I offer all this to the Durga Shakti, asking that your grace dissolve all obstacles,
inner and outer.”

Find out more in 'Awakening Shakti'.
**ra

From crackpot Covid theorists to antivaxxers, hubris and fear haunt the wellness community | Brigid Delaney The randomness of illness is far too frightening for many to contemplate – so they rely on a fiction they’re special and can control their bodies

Really interesting and important article. I was aware that some in the alternative health and well being community were clearly being influenced by right wing propoganda and US conspiracy theories.

From asana to antivax: how yoga is helping to spread conspiracy theories Online wellness gurus are getting rich off ‘conspirituality’, a dangerous collision between new-age philosophy and dangerous hoax theories