Freedom to Be - Gemini New Moon
The New Moon in Gemini was/is on June 3 at 3:02am PDT.
This is the night of the Gemini dark/new Moon. It is potent with thoughts, stirring and befuddling or awakening, blocking or freeing. Can you feel it? Are/were you able to sleep?
Gemini is an air sign and so emphasizes the mental body - inspiration, information, vision, communication, connection. I’m very interested these days in the power of clear and honest communication, and not so interested in entertaining the drama and chaos that arise from misalignments and misunderstandings of trying to control or make things or others a certain different way than they are. Do you know what I mean?!
In this, I’m doing the inner and outer work - examining those times where I have been indirect and also those times when others have been unclear in their ways of communication. Take a moment now to think, without shame or blame, on a recent time when you have been the source and also the recipient of shady or even aggressive mis-communication and dis-connection…the mudra below will help with working with, releasing and reseting the the shame, blame, etc. of this inquiry.
This dark moon breeds such reflections. So, let it take you in, but not so down and in that you can’t see the way up, out and all the way through.
Here is where breath, mantra, mudra and asana support us.
One of my favorite dark/new moon mudras is KSEPANA MUDRA:
To practice, bring the flats of your index fingers together, interlace all your other fingers and cross your thumbs. Loosely, lightly hold your hands, so there is space between your palms. Point your index fingers down towards the earth. Take 7-15 deep breaths, visualizing deception, miscommunication, disconnection, aggression, manipulation, obstruction flowing out. After the last breath, rest easily with your palms turned upward to receive a flow of fresh new energy, welcoming intimacy with the divine vision of truth and love.
Kespana Mudra is a powerful practice to do as you contemplate this most lovely Radiance Sutra, translated by Lorin Roche:
Strong or soft, wild or serene -
Wherever breath flows there is song.
Hear its whisper touching behind the face,
Singing in the throat,
Dancing spirals in the sanctuary of your heart.
In this practice of listening,
A moment may come when you just want to lie down.
This is a doorway - surrender.
Fall into the wide-open embrace of life.
You are the instrument breath is playing.
All the meditations you have every loved
Are vibrating in this luxurious hum,
Continuing even in sleep and dreams.
This is your school. Just you and infinity.
The texture of the Self is untamed freedom.
Choose to activate your freedom to be fully embodied where you are, who you are, with thinking mind, descended into heart. Here. Now. There are many paths. Find your way.
And to help you find your way, here’s a very special Magical Ally…
Magical Ally: Lydia Hwang
Lydia is a woman I’ve been blessed to know and teach with for many years. Her weaving of color and sound brings the thinking mind down into the heart in a most beautiful way. She is a healer, understanding and bringing forth the power of vibration to clear away obstructions. Whenever she works with me, I feel a new layer of myself awaken gently and lovingly.
For those of you coming to the Radiant Summer Yoga Retreat, you’ll have the opportunity to bathe in the healing sound she channels. We’ll be together at the next Full Moon! For those of you who cannot come to the retreat, but live in the Bay Area, I most highly recommend a 1:1 sound healing session with Lydia. You can contact her by email: myskiva@aol.com.
And one more thought to leave you with: “Your longing for freedom is one of the most powerful forces in your being” (Lorin Roche, The Radiance Sutras).
With Love and Freedom,
Jennifer
