not alone

You are not alone.  Sometimes my writing serves as a reminder to my Self.  The words coming to life on the screen as I type, reminding me of the truth that I share with you.  How can it be, that anyone is ever alone?  Regardless of your religious beliefs, where perhaps you do not believe in a higher power, you are not alone.
So, even if you do not (believe in a higher power) - take a deep breath in now. Hold it, feel it. Now, let it go - exhaling fully.  We breathe shared air.  You breathe in air that another has exhaled back out into the world.  The plants around us, breathing in and out into the universe, as well.  The air that gives us life, is shared - so you are never alone.  I am with you as you are with me.  
Now, look up. Today, here in Massachusetts the air is crisp and the sweet smell of autumn is upon us. The rainbow that spans the sky after a rain storm is now painted upon the leaves, as they begin to make their descent towards the ground below.  The sun shining bright, its warmth not felt as strongly today as days before, but so it is with the transition of seasons.  Looking up, what do you see?
That which is beyond us, greater than than us - we share it.  The sun I see - it is the one above you too. Perhaps, it is covered by clouds today or perhaps you are looking up to the vastness of the night sky...  And then there do you see it?! - The moon. We share that too.  It effects the waters' tides here as it does where you are.  It transitions through the phases, allowing more stars to become visible or not to the human eye.  And it reminds us that we are not alone -- You are not alone. 
Time spent alone with one Self is just what is needed sometimes though.  A breath away from the rush of everyday life, from the chaotic heartbeat of society.  Even in this space though, the Love that you are - that we all are in our truest essence, surrounds you and is with you.  In this way, yet again you are not truly alone.  For you are loved and you are Love. 

Earlier this week, I went for a hike alone.  I brought no one along with me and aside from a few other hikers that I passed along the way, I was walking the trail alone.  I needed this, time to myself, time to be with my own thoughts and more importantly, time to connect again with the words of my heart and teachings of my Soul.  I go to nature for this.  It is in nature, that even if I do not move through a traditional yoga asana practice that I can effortlessly connect with my yoga. 

You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state - Sharon Gannon. 

You see, the depth of the yoga practice extends far beyond the yoga mat or the yoga studio, as it is a practice that resides within you. It is you.  In nature with the only sounds around being that of my feet upon the Earth, the animals scurrying through the fallen leaves, the wind rustling the branches of the trees, and my breath - carrying me on my way - I am immediately brought to my yoga.  And so there I walk, I hike, alone and yet with all.  My mind calms its chatter and my heart begins to lead the way.  As my breath deepens, my Soul shines brighter and I surrender to the beauty within me and the beauty I know to be within each of us.  I trust that with the Universe residing within me -  I am capable and worthy of all that is to come.  I find myself humbled, in awe of all that is around me - true natural beauty, that which unfolds without concern or judgement.  I am reminded of the words of Lao Tzu here:

Nature does not hurry and yet everything is accomplished. 

And I take another step forward.  Wherever I am in my journey is where I am meant to be.  There is something here for me to experience and to learn.  I am not alone.   With that, I take another breath in and another step forward.  I smile and my heart shines, as I delight in the truth that we are connected, as beings of Love, spiritual beings on a physical journey, together.   What a miracle it is, to be alive; to be in the here and now. Moving forward, standing still, resting, running, breathing all along.  On a journey, all our own and yet connected just the same. 
​As always, thank you for reading. With peace, love and light - namaste.