Namaste, Yogis.
I’ve been starting at this blank e-mail screen since early Monday morning trying to figure out what to say. Starting these e-mails with a ‘how are you?’ or, ‘I hope your week is off to a good start’, seems so trivial and meaningless compared to the mass amount of issues we are experiencing as a collective each and every day. Some of you are juggling kids being back in school and the inherent difficulties that come with homeschool. Some just lost an additional $600/ week of unemployment benefits and are worried about providing food and shelter for their loved ones. Maybe you’re just trying to keep calm and grounded amid a global pandemic when everything around you seems like it’s either crumbling to the ground or appears to be in a clouded state of false ‘normalcy’. Life is changing and evolving around us, as it always has and as it always will. Though we may not be able to decide what happens to us, we can always decide our actions in any given situation (go deeper: Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning).
Something in my bones was telling me this needed to be more than a, “hey, this is when I’m teaching e-mail’ (but if that’s all you’re here for, please feel free to skip ahead to the bold letters). I turned to my Archetype deck this morning for help with guidance on what message to deliver to you. The universe gave us, ‘The Flame’.
First, an explanation of what an ‘Archetype’ is. An archetype is the original of its kind, or a first image; it’s an inherited emerging pattern and the initial and eternal energy. They insist on imagination, multiplicity, and most importantly, the collective. At their core archetypes tie us back to one another, to the collective, and encourage us to step outside the drama of OUR story to better see THE story. This builds an understanding and compassion for the world as we build it for ourselves. You can think of it as an infinite win-win.
This morning I pulled ‘The Flame’, which falls into the ‘tool’ category of archetypes, a category that carries great weight. They represent the objects, concepts, skills, or moments that need attention in the narrative of your life. There are no good tools or bad tools, they rely solely on the person wielding them. The following comes directly from Kim Krans’ Archetype Guidebook,
“In Sanskrit, the word for fire is agni. The ancient yogis saw this flame at the center of the abdomen and believed it to be responsible for our vitality. When it is lit, we are connected to our purpose and sense that life is a sacred gift. It is said that those who cannot see the sacred around them have let their inner flame go out. Think of this card as a call to reignite that fire, to cup your hands gently around these things you’ve forgotten and protect the flame, no matter how harshly the winds around you blow. It could be an inner archetype that legs you to light its wick. It is likely that The Poet, The Mystic, or The Shaman would call to you with the language of The Flame.”
Fire is at the beginning of all transformation, purification and manifestation. Even in yoga, we begin every class by connecting and focusing on our breath to light that internal flame and build the heat from the inside out to allow that transformation and purification to flow throughout our body. It’s quite beautiful that the universe chose this card for us. After all, yoga is but a way to connect deeper with our inner fire and a meditative dance, to allow its flames to consume us. Practice trataka, or candle-gazing to tap into this energy more. Notice the magic a single flame can give to an entire room. Join me for a yoga class this week to feel your own inner flame burn within you. It’s there, and you get to decide how potent that flame becomes.
Yoga Classes + other offerings
Saturday mornings at 10AM have become such a refuge for me during this time, thank you to everyone who has been showing up and made that time and space so magical. I will continue to offer this Saturday morning class indefinitely. Suggested donation is $10, but please give what you can. Sometimes all you can give is your commitment, and that will always be enough for me. You can send me a DM on Instagram, e-mail me back, or venmo me @ashleyedanford to register.
I will also be teaching Wednesday August 5th at 7:30AM to make it up to you for last Saturday. I had a friend who needed help on a project and I forgot to double check the times when I committed to that. Thank you for your understanding. Same as above to register. If this goes well, I’ll consider making it a weekly offering. :)
Yoga Teacher Training
As some of you know, I have launched a GoFundMe to raise money for my 300HR YTT with my teacher Jonny in October. I made completing this training my goal back in January but unfortunately have not been able to secure the funds as I was hoping due to COVID19. As such, I made the hard decision of asking to help and I still have quite a bit to go to reach my goal. I want to complete this training so I can better serve our community and continue to create space for self exploration and hopefully help teach teachers to become the best healers they can be. I am offering tarot readings, private yoga sessions, and various other items as a thank you for your support. You can access the GoFundMe page here. I truly feel leading people on the path of yoga is part of my dharma here on this earth, and your support helps me do that to the best of my ability.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. For your trust, your support, and letting me do what I love to do. It means the world and I am thankful for each and everyone of you. Please never hesitate to reach out with questions, comments, feedback or requests. I am always open to a discussion.
The light in me honors that beautiful, bright, incandescent light in you,
Ashley