The Shakti Shine - July 6, 2020

Shakti Love Notes

We are always growing. I love that! And the more I grow, the more I recognize how important it is for us all to share what we're going through-- even (and especially) me.

So these Love Notes are a space for me to share with you each week-- about the studio, my life, how our community is growing.

There's been a softening over the last few weeks for me.

This has looked like deeper breaths. Less pushing. More trust. Frequent breaks.

There's a feeling of being at home with myself.

I put my hand on my heart a lot.

I've spent extra time looking at trees and flowers and water and feeling the hot breeze on my arms.

It's interesting because in some ways this presence feels like a sense of detachment, and I guess in some ways it is. Detached from reactivity, from activation, from needing to prove.

If I'm honest, there has also been an underlying feeling of anxiety about feeling this way because I know I'm learning a new way, but it still feels 'not right' to give myself this kind of space. If I'm reallllyyyy honest, I've been working on *this* for over a year now and it still often feels so unnatural.

This kind of space, though, is what I know I need.

Space. Forgiveness. Acceptance. Humility. Kindness. Care. Holding. Listening. Peace. Presence. Pause. Compassion.

"To be compassionate is to feel deeply for another person as they experience the ups and downs associated with life. To be compassionate is to not just tell someone that you care, but also to show them that you care by being there
before they even ask for it." (Brenna Smith)

To be compassionate is to feel or show sympathy and concern for others. (Google)

And/or for yourself:
To be compassionate is to feel deeply for [yourself] as [you] experience the ups and downs associated with life. To be compassionate is to show [yourself] that you care by being [a very great friend to yourself].
Compassion. Compassion. Compassion.

It feels unfamiliar to call it that, but that's exactly what it is.

This space. This softening.

I'm learning how to show up as a very great friend to myself.

Someone who listens. Someone who is patient.
Someone who holds, sees, and cares.

I think becoming that kind of person requires two key elements:
Mindfulness and Heart.

Maybe another way to say that is: Get present and Care.

Or: Practice Awareness and Allow Yourself to Feel.

Or: Listen and Love.

It can be as simple as asking myself, 'Am I being a very great friend to myself right now?'

If the answer is no, why not?

I've learned a lot about compassion from mindfulness and spiritual teacher Tara Brach. Something I've found most helpful is her RAIN meditation for self-compassion.

RAIN: Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture

The acronym RAIN is an easy-to-remember tool for practicing mindfulness and compassion using the following four steps:

+ Recognize what is happening;
+ Allow the experience to be there, just as it is;
+ Investigate with interest and care;
+ Nurture with self-compassion.
You can take your time and explore RAIN as a stand-alone meditation or move through the steps whenever challenging feelings arise.
--> After the RAIN (realizing freedom from narrow identity)

Compassion. Compassion. Compassion.

Give it a try.

What would it be like to come from compassion this week?

What would it look like to become a very great friend to yourself?

This is where it starts. With me. With you. Today.

Tara says, "Compassion awakens as we allow ourselves to be touched by our shared vulnerability – our own, or that of another. It’s the medicine we most need to bring healing to our world."

May we experience the deep healing we long for as we open up, lean in, and take care.

xx
Ruby