Shine Out

Sutra Sunday 1.48-1.49 . How often or likely are you to S.A.T (surrender, allow, trust)? Being someone who is analytical and tends to get stuck in my head, this is not easy! But in times where I feel so lost, giving myself permission to S.A.T is essential. . The two sutras for this week let us know that REAL truth and wisdom are available to us when we get quiet and tap into our own central goodness. Sutra 1.48 lets us know that in a state of meditation (or sometimes simply g...etting quiet), our truth has space to be revealed. It's not the information that our parents, or society or the media has told us, but a truth or deep knowing that we know in our hearts is correct and right for us. Sutra 1.49 tells us that the wisdom we acquire to get to this truth comes from our own direct experience. Knowledge from books, tradition, and scripture is great and can help direct us on our path, but this knowledge is indirect. Having our OWN experiences creates knowing and this knowing is powerful, reliable and true. . Curious about these sutras and how to tap into your own truth? Go to http://www.shine8out.ca/2020/11/sutra-148-149-you-know.html to learn more. Otherwise, your challenge for the week is to S.A.T Have your OWN experience of letting go, allowing things to flow and recognize that deep down you already know! . Happy Sunday See more

Sutra Sunday 1.47 . Research has shown that "the brain is like Velcro for negative experiences, but Teflon for positive ones" Due to evolutionary reasons, the mind tends to wrap around negative ideas, thoughts, fear based or shameful experiences like velcro, but tends to let positive ideas, thoughts, encouragement or elevating experiences slide off it like butter on a teflon frying pan. Having this awareness, I ask you to work to let the idea of this sutra be one of the rare ...POSITIVE velcro moments. . Are you ready?! !!! YOU are divine, you are magic, you are special! THAT is who you are at your core and it's your true, authentic, divine nature. This is true for EVERYONE. The west sometimes tries to trick us into believing that yoga is a physical practice (and this is what is the most important), but in actuality yoga is a training of the mind. It teaches us that our true nature, value and worth isn’t outside. It’s not something that we need to acquire or something that we need to do. YOU are special for what’s on the inside. The act of simply BEING makes you amazing, and it is getting rid of the incessant chatter of the mind that tells you otherwise and clearing out the excess that will give you the space to see this. . To learn more about this sutra go to (http://www.shine8out.ca//sutra-147-your-velcro-moment.html) Otherwise, you’re challenge for this week is to recognize and acknowledge the amazingness that is you and let THAT be your velcro moments! . Happy Sunday See more

Sutra Sunday 1.46 . This week's sutra (http://www.shine8out.ca/2020/10/sutra-146-start-again.html) is based on a theme that has come up many times in previous sutras. . . . . It can apply to many things in life, but here specifically it's talking about meditation. . Let me be honest . . . . though I haven't develop a steady meditation practice yet, I've experienced the mental and emotional benefits during those short times that I do. Instead of getting frust...rated, I'm choosing to start again! Because realistically, every practice, every time you step on your mat, every time you sit, every time you simply give yourself space to be is an opportunity to start again - an opportunity to feel, experience and notice something new. Sometimes that's the most difficult part . . . . . to start and then to start again. . So, your challenge for this week is to simply start again. Set aside some time to simply be with yourself focusing on one thing. Let every silent moment with yourself be a new beginning, a new start, a new opportunity to explore without thinking about where you'll end up . . . just you, your object and your focus. . Wishing you all the best in your quest and Happy Sunday! See more

Sutra Sunday 1.45 . In the spirit of what appears to be Eeyore, let me just say . . . . it means nothing. Life has no meaning! . How about that for getting your attention?... What kind of bummer is that for a Sunday morning? . But . . . . what if I told you this isn't another 2020 bombshell but actually a statement of power and hope? Stay with me for a moment. . Recently, I've had the word "space" beckon to me. I've been feeling the words "clear out space, protect space, be in space." This week's sutra is all about the power of (aka space!) Patanjali tells us that by focusing our attention, eventually we'll reach the most subtle level where the thing we're focusing on becomes nothing and in that nothing is EVERYTHING. It's in the subtlety of nothingnesses that everything is born. You, your thoughts, your ideas, your beliefs, your habits, your intentions, your commitments, your perceptions, your choices, etc. It's in this nothingness and space that holds the opportunity and power to create and direct our lives. . Jim Fortin says "Your life has no meaning except the meaning you give it." How powerful is that?! Your challenge for this week is simply this . . . . ask yourself and reflect on the question " What meaning am I choosing to give to my life?" And if that question feels like a lot of responsibility (it is), go to http://www.shine8out.ca//10/sutra-145-meaning-of-life.html to find out more about this week's sutra as well as a helpful tip to make this question feel a bit less daunting. . Sending you all the best and Happy Sunday See more

Sutra Sunday 1.44 . Sometimes you just don't know! As someone who feels at the epicentre of "not knowingness" a lot at this time, I DO know well the feeling of not knowing! So, when trying to wrap my head around this week's sutra, I finally got to the point where the only thing I could do was throw my hands in the air and simply declare . . . . I don't know or understand what this sutra is about! . I did eventually come across someone that explained it to the point where I th...ink I kind of get it. They may be a bit controversial, but their guidance led me towards the direction of clarity. If you're interested in the sutra or who I'm drawing upon for help, go to http://www.shine8out.ca//sutra-144-letting-guide-lead.html . Otherwise, your challenge this week is to simply admit that sometimes you just don't know! Notice areas in your life where you may feel completely in the dark. It's not comfortable, or really much fun, but maybe sometimes 'I don't know' just needs space. Maybe there doesn't always have to be a set answer, or a definite way and there just needs to be a bit of time and space for things to percolate. . But then again . . . . I don't know!! . Happy Sunday See more

Sutra Sunday 1.42-1.43 . You've been indoctrinated! Don't believe me?... When you look at this picture of a flag, what name comes up, what thoughts or opinions? Would any of this change if it were a US flag, a flag from Nazi Germany or a Tibetan prayer flag? As human beings, there's no way around it. We are indoctrinated by our social environment, our family, our country of birth, our friends, our religion, the things we say to ourselves, etc. Though the western world sometimes likes to think of yoga as mainly a physical practice, in reality yoga is a training of the mind and a way to work through this indoctrination. . This week's sutras look at the first two out of four stages of taking the mind from filled with "stuff" to clear as a crystal. The first stage involves single focused concentration or meditation on an object until only three things are present - the name of the object, the meaning and the ideas/opinions about that object. In the second stage, with continuing concentration, preconceived ideas and opinions fade to the background allowing the object to shine on its own without any biased opinion. To learn more about these different states of mind and the sutras associated to them, go to http://www.shine8out.ca//sutra-142-143-subtle-perception.h . Otherwise, your challenge for this week is to become aware of your thoughts, opinions and ideas and think about how these have been formed based on where you are from and who you are surrounded by. What emotions are triggered by a picture you see, what opinions do you form about a person you meet for the first time, what memories come up when you eat a certain food, etc. Part of yoga is observing how your mind works as greater awareness aids in the process of working towards more subtle understanding. . Happy Sunday and Happy Thanksgiving! See more