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Will Doran Yoga
Newsletter - May, 2007 ________________ <<< ☼ >>> ______________
Dear friends, Greetings once again. This newsletter focuses on amping up your perception of who you are on a grand scale. If we shift our perceptions toward a higher view we can shift the world around us. I also invite all those who expressed interest in my summer yoga retreat to take action now to register or you may miss this wonderful 4-day escape to the bliss of fun-in-the-sun ranch living and a lot of yoga with Will (that’s me!). The awesome night sky and unfathomable quiet of the high hills is worth the trip in itself, let alone the joy and fun we have playing together as light-hearted yogis. In this issue: Yoga Philosophy: As Above, So Below Applied Yoga: Tools for Creating Learning and Inner Peace Notices:
____________________________________ Yoga Philosophy: As Above, So Below This being human can be quite a challenge; our bodies are vulnerable to the elements, physical injuries, and a seemingly never-ending demand for care and maintenance. Our emotional bodies are subject to the circumstances and conditions of our relationships, the state of our physical health, the input and judgments of others. There seems to be a limitless number of things that can rock our world and put us into a state of disequilibrium. No wonder there is such a prevalence of disharmony and a scarcity of peace in our world, and often, within ourselves. So what can we do about this? Where is the learning and the reason for so much discord? I believe the answer is complex and beyond a simple explanation. What I have learned, though, is that within the chaos and turmoil is the opportunity to experience something higher; the existence of the discord is a counterpoint that motivates us to seek out harmony and transcendence. One of the most powerful tools to shift our perception away from our tumultuous life towards a higher experience of our being is to explore the energetic nature of ourselves and the material world in general. We can easily get stuck in a perception that our physical bodies and material existence is all there is. Their demands upon us can overwhelm us to the point that we can’t see the proverbial forest for the trees. My solution is to become a master student of "forests" and from that effort we will come to know the nature of being "a tree." Metaphysics and Eastern philosophy give us insight by focusing our perspective and perceptions on something bigger than the details of our personal being. They guide us to place ourselves in the stream of existence that is both infinitely smaller and infinitely larger than ourselves. Our sciences have journeyed to both polarities of the micro and the macro of the material world. At both ends of the spectrum – downward through atomic structure and the most miniscule of elements up to the cosmic expanses of the heavens – is the void, the emptiness so vast that it paradoxically contains everything. This study of the far reaches of nature is what brought me to a place of deeper knowledge and acceptance of God. There was a time when I was so disgusted with religions that I rejected my earlier teachings of God. They all seemed tainted with cultural biases and parochial perceptions filled with judgments and the absence of a concept that we are all bound together by a loving higher presence. Some fifteen years ago I came upon a spiritual teacher, Dennis Adams, who introduced me to a new concept that "the world below is a mirror of the world above and the space in which it all resides is the essence of God." He simplified this to state that God is space, the ever-present vessel that holds everything. In my later years of studying yoga I learned a similar set of terms that held the same concept: universal consciousness (Shiva) is the vessel in which the energy of nature (Shakti) dances and plays itself out in limitless expressions of creation. This macro perspective serves me in a way that takes me away from focusing solely on my finite human existence and moves me into a receptive awareness of my existence within a larger setting. Like staring up at a star-filled sky and being moved by the immensity of it all I come to a place of awe at my very existence in the presence of such grandeur. Rather than being overwhelmed by my insignificance I am touched to know that "I AM," and by that humble fact belong, for the space above is a aspect of the space within. I am not the end of the line, just a particular boundary, a pattern or swirl of energy, within a sea of connected consciousness and manifestation. ____________________________________ Applied Yoga: Experience Your Higher Nature How then does an exploration of the macro aspect of our nature serve to make sense of the here-and-now of our being? I contend that we often loose our perspective of the "big picture" due to the demanding nature of our earthly existence. Our personal matters, relationships, fears and attachments all act as blinders to our perception of our higher nature, our existence as spirit as well as body/mind. When we stop to entertain a perspective that the "doings" of our life are simply the conditions we create through our actions and thoughts, we can settle into the exquisite peace that exists beyond those conditions. We can come closer to the underlying blissful nature that is the universal consciousness of the divine, and ultimately ourselves as aspects of it. More basic still we can use our comprehension of the higher energies to make a deeper connection to the forces that link us to all aspects of nature – human interrelationships as well as relationships to the physical world in which we live. Our increased awareness can deepen our associations with the realities that surround us, and from this, lessen our sense of isolation. Beyond the basic identification with the body and the mind are other layers to our being: the energetic body, the higher mind, and the bliss body. They represent a network of energy fields that vibrate at a higher rate than that of the material world. They are more easily comprehended when we look at gradients within nature such as that of color or the transformation that water goes through due to its change in temperature. The spectrum of colors represents a difference of vibratory rates of light, as does ice differ from water vapor due to its different atomic motion. Our human differentiations come from our material separation of form as well as our varying degree of comprehension of our connections in the field of Universal Consciousness. If we were able to see the layers of energy that surround our bodies and how they interlink with each other we would have a much different view of who we are as differentiated individuals. We would see how thought creates certain realities and how fears perpetuate unhealthy behavior, both on the individual and grand scale. So what does this have to do with our ability to find inner peace and harmony? How does experiencing one’s highest nature have a practical effect on the here-and-now of our earth-bound lives? I contend that the more sensitive we become to the interchange of energy between us on the subtle planes of interaction and thought the more adept we become at living through our heart and propagating love. Qualities such as compassion, empathy, patience and grace come from our ability to see beyond our own circle of experience. If we live wrapped up in our own chain of cause and effect – fears, sorrows, limitations, self importance, etc. – we miss the opportunity to see how we can grow and evolve as a whole. This shift of perception from the single mind to the group mind is what I believe to be the next crucial step of our evolution. Can you imagine a world without the conflict of nation states competing for limited resources? What about the absence of cultural, racial or gender biases that cause us to see ourselves as "better" or "more deserving" than another? These short-sighted limitations on our perception of who we really are as a species and as part of a divine order have created untold sorrow and have stilted our progress on an evolutionary scale. They have held us back from mastering the use of energy to create health and abundance on a wide scale. They have blinded us to the power of the laws of attraction and karma (cause and effect). I believe that by the simple act of de-sensitizing ourselves to the well-being of others through the sophomoric perceptions of popular media, religion and governmental propaganda we have stopped, or at best greatly abated, our progress into higher evolved beings. What is worse, most of us don’t even hold an image of how much better being a human being can be. This is where we who seek to understand more and strive to find a deeper connection between ourselves and the higher nature of the universe have a role to play. As each of us begins to slow down and explore the higher dimensions of our being through meditation and selfless service we will have a growing effect on the world at large. Seeing ourselves as energetically and karmically connected we will think twice about our responses to and treatment of each other. The ripple effect of a kind word or a patient act has immense power, as does the flip side of being egocentric and disconnected in our manner. We are always at a place of choice and the more aware we are to the power we wield the more constructive we can be towards shaping the reality we want for ourselves. Our efforts as individuals to improve our personal lives and relationships is critical for our total wellbeing. Each of us exists on planes of being more subtle and interconnected than most can imagine. Simply experimenting with how we think and perceive can produce profound examples of this. We can attract abundance or we can continue to live in shortage, whether it be material wealth, love, acceptance, or any aspect of our creativity. We can hold an image of our health and wellbeing and greatly increase its manifestation. Unity Consciousness is more simple than it may appear for when we stop to explore our personal power we learn that we are truly connected as individuals and as humans living in a sea of connected consciousness. My invitation to you is to allow yourself to strengthen your feeling/empathic nature and journey inward to explore your connection to the greatness of your being, of your Self. From this journey you will gain insight that goes far beyond what is taught through our popular conceptions of who we are as limited beings. There is a world of joy to be experience and a healthy way of living that reflects our ever-growing level of awareness that who we are as individuals is only scratching the surface of who we truly are as one organic being living as countless expressions of the Creator. The joy of discovery awaits us if we only will let down our guard and open our doors of perception to grace. ____________________________________ Notices: The time is drawing near to this wonderful opportunity to practice yoga and cultivate new friendships along with me and my band of merry yogis. My family’s ranch in Twisp Washington in the Methow Valley is truly an awesome place for a retreat. Our itinerary includes a hike up to a crest of a small mountain top to a place we call "heaven." The high ponds and glens are abundant with wildlife and the stillness will bring you closer to God. The food and community meals are a treat in themselves. I’m even going to hold a small class on making sushi rolls! Do yourself a favor that you will cherish for the rest of your life and register for this special event at www.ranchyoga.com. Follow this link to learn more and see the picture gallery from past retreats. It is now time to send in your deposit of $150 to hold a space, or you may miss out. Total cost is $395 including room and board.
My teaching schedule: Monday: 12:00 noon to 1:15 pm at Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard Tuesday: 10:45 am – 12:00 noon at Gold’s Gym on <<Aurora >> and 97th Tuesday: 7:30 – 8:45 pm at Phinney Center on <<Phinney>> and 65th Thursday: 7:45 – 9:00 pm at Gold’s Gym on <<Aurora >>and 97th Friday: 12:00 noon to 1:15 pm at Olympic Athletic Club Saturday: 10:00 – 11:15 am at Phinney Center on <<Phinney>> and 65th Sunday: 11:15 – 12:30 pm at Olympic Athletic Club in Ballard Yoga at the Phinney Neighborhood Center Schedule The following classes will be cancelled when I will be out of town: Saturday, May 10th Saturday, June 2nd Tuesday, June 5th Tuesday, June 19th Saturday, June 23rd I will have substitute teachers at Olympic Athletic Club and Gold’s Gym for many dates in June. Will Doran, Life Coach and guide to connecting with your highest aspirations In a world of disconnect and external focus we frequently get separated from our highest vision for ourselves. We experience isolation and powerlessness. If you feel there is a part of your life that is beckoning you but you can’t seem to get there – be it career, personal relationships, connecting to Spirit, or defining your life purpose and journey – I can help you move into your next stage of personal growth and fulfillment. Knowing how to get there isn’t always an easy thing and working with a trained specialist such as I am can make all the difference. If you are interested in seeing what coaching can do for you give me a call and we can set up a free trial session. Call me at (206) 789-2321 or go online to www.TheYogaCoach.com for more information. May your days be filled with peace, joy and light. Namaste, Will PS. Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends. Also, if you are interested reading inspirational material and seeing some of my art check out my web site: http://www.expressionsofspirit.com . I just added a new painting entitled "Sparks."
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