Goddess Prayers & Tears Under The Full Moon

"Momma, do you see the moon? Isn't it pretty?"

Ironically that call from my 10-year-old daughter came in as I was driving miles out of my way to try and get a decent picture of tonight's moon.

"Yes baby I see it. It's stunning."

What I didn't tell her was when I first noticed the big full moon hanging so low in the night sky, it brought tears to my eyes.

I've been doing a lot of energy work, emotional muscle testing and chakra balancing lately. It's left me feeling emotionally beaten up, exposed and drained.  So honestly it doesn't take much lately to bring me to tears.

Before I got in my car tonight, I had a conversation that included me saying "you know for constantly being surrounded by people I'm very lonely." Powerful words to admit out loud.

I've always been drawn to the moon. It calms me and soothes my soul. Based on Ayurvedic science this makes sense. As a pitta dosha type, the moon cools my fiery personality.

But tonight was different. Tonight when I looked up over the trees lining the highway, what popped in my mind was  'you're not alone.' 

As I waited at the rugby field for kid #2's practice to be over, I browsed through Twitter and Facebook. There were numerous tweets and posts from yogi friends all over the country commenting on the moon. The same moon that I was crying over.

It was like an old fashioned Goddess circle of women holding hands and praying under the full moon. Except we were doing it virtually via social media.

But still, it reminded me, I'm not alone. None of us are.

A Little Bit of Woo Woo in my Yoga

The end of day 3's yoga teacher training.

I'm exhausted, my brain is fried and I have hit the point where I am sitting in class staring blankly, maybe some drool escaping down my chin and all I can think is WTF are we talking about?

But I've been through this enough times now I know that tomorrow, day 4 and our final day (for now), it will all come together.

Three days of subtle energy work, chakra assessments, pendulum practice, pranyama and mudras.

Sometimes when I'm teaching my classes and I begin to cue less anatomy and more energy or feeling actions,  I'll say, "now just stay with me here, this may sound a little woo woo but here me out." My class knows woo woo is a term for 'ok, Jennifer's going all tree-hugging yogi on us.'

Well this weekend has had some real woo woo moments. But some very cool woo woo moments.

As a very left brain and linear thinker, I keep referencing Ayurvedic principles in our studies this weekend. Finally, the instructor pointed out to me that Ayurveda is the science and medical side to yoga where subtle energy is the non-medical side. Ohhhh.

Not only do they complement each other but they also prove each other. So I guess by me constantly bringing up what I've learned through Ayurveda it is my way of proving what we were learning about. Of course, there are TONS of scientific studies cited that also give credibility to subtle body work, but this was my way of processing it all.

So even a logical thinker like me can understand and embrace the woo woo.

I'm Difficult - But In A Good Way

Do you remember the scene in When Harry Met Sally where Sally finds out her ex-boyfriend is getting married and Harry tries to console her?

You don't?

OK, well I've seen the movie enough times I can quote it for you:

Sally: What's the matter with me?
Harry: Nothing.
Sally: I'm difficult.
Harry: You're challenging.
Sally: I'm too structured, I'm completely closed off.
Harry: But in a good way.

It's time I admit it, I am a Sally Albright. I'm difficult, challenging and structured.

But, see, I get Sally. I understand her. She can't help herself. Neither can I.

And as I delve deeper into my yoga studies and learn more about Ayurveda, I realize it's true. I really can't help myself. I was born this way.

I'm a pitta dosha and we pittas can be difficult and challenging. But we're also the ones you want in charge because we get things done.

What's a pitta? What's a dosha?

Well I'm not going to give it all away here!  PLEASE click over to my Elephant Journal page to read my latest post Trying Not To Be Such A Pain In The Ass: An Ayurvedic Newbie Attempts to Balance the Doshas.

And if you like that, check out my other Elephant Posts. Just follow the links under the Elephant logo over here on the right ------------------------------------------>

The most popular posts (so far) are How Yoga & Janis Joplin Convinced Me Not To Buy A Bunny and Does My Inner Goddess Look Fat In These Jeans?

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