The power of freedom, independence & absoluteness
By understanding the absolute, we understand that independence & freedom can only come when we no longer depend upon external objects or experience for our happiness. Discover how these principles come to class this month and how it will impact your experience both on and off the mat.
Svātantrya Shakti
Have you ever felt that a part of your life was a waste?
It’s such a common sentiment in a world that constantly pulls us away from our essence, suggesting that happiness lies solely in external, material pursuits—when that’s far from the truth.
There have been many moments when I wished I could stick to a conventional path and find contentment in a preordained journey, one that gets the societal nod of approval. Yet, every time I created without listening to my soul’s whispers, without pause or pure intention, I found myself weighed down in rumination.
Meanwhile, the expansiveness of my essence would be on the sidelines, urging me to explore, saying, “Hey! Investigate this… come this way.” And I could almost feel Source sighing lovingly, if a bit exasperated, as I denied that intuitive nudge and dragged myself back onto the path of misalignment.
When nudges from the divine aren’t enough
Then Source would think, “Perhaps the whispers and nudges weren’t enough”, and would introduce discomfort, believing that with enough friction, I’d find my way back.
So many times, I thought, “I can’t do this any more; I must listen to that faint voice begging me to shift.” I’d muster some strength, only to slide back due to the overwhelming fear of uncertainty.
Again, Source would conclude, “The only way she’ll listen is through pain.” And indeed, I can verify that most pivotal shifts in my life have emerged from experiencing pain, whether physical, mental, or emotional.
Shakti cannot flow through our lives unless she remains connected to her love, Shiva
This is precisely what the beautiful mythological love stories of this dyadic duo convey. Stay connected, create a space for her to feel that love through silence, meditation, journaling, time alone in nature, or other mindfulness practices where you are united with your beloved.
It’s not enough to practice asana unless approached as a mindfulness exercise with intention and deep listening. The texts refer to this as samavesha nyaya, or illuminative immersion, immersing oneself in the light of divine.
It is not time wasted, it is time blessed by grace
All those nudges of discomfort and the pain you may see as wasted time can actually be recognised as grace, the grace that ultimately nudges you back into alignment with everything you’ve been yearning for.
This understanding brings us to experience svātantrya shakti, the power of freedom, independence, and absoluteness. We become unbound by negativity, letting go of thoughts like, “I wish that never happened”.
Instead, we cultivate gratitude for the lessons and everything that has guided us home to ourselves.
The power of three comes to class this month
Once our container is full, Shakti is ready to flow through our humanity, and she does so via the power of three, which we will explore in more detail each week in class.
- Jnana Shakti – The Power of Highest Knowledge, Knowledge of the Self
- Iccha Shakti – The Power of Will & Desire
- Kriya Shakti – The Power of Action
When we align and channel these powers, we find that our experience of life is always in the presence of satchitananda; truth, consciousness, and bliss.
Ultimately, this world is nothing but free and voluntary expressions of divine light, as long as we continue to immerse ourselves in the arms of the beloved.
Pose of the month
Pose – Pose of the sage Galava
Sanskrit – Gālavāsana गालवासन
Pronounced – gah-lah-VAHS-uh-nah
Type – arm balance
I wanted a pose that was symbolic of arousing pelvic, solar plexus and heart energy. This pose ticked all boxes as we work into external hip rotators, there is definitely a big element of core strength needed and of course it is an arm balance so requires a lot of upper body strength too. This is going to be a very fun month ahead.
Don’t worry!!
In Jivamukti the class is structured so that the body is prepared; stretched, strengthened and opened by visiting the requisite shape and effort in preparatory postures so that our destination posture each month begins to feel more and more accessible over the 4/5 weeks of practice.
Book your first discounted class now! Use the code AUM
Mantra of the month
Devi Prayer
Ma Amba Lalitha Devi
Parashakti Sundari
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
Ma Amba Lalitha Devi
Mahamaye Mangale
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
Ma Amba Lalitha Devi
Mahakali Bhairavi
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
Ma Amba Lalitha Devi
Mahalakshmi Vaishnavi
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
Ma Amba Lalitha Devi
Ma Sarasvati Brahmi
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah
Devi Prayer Translation by Julie Redstone
The Divine Mother is everywhere.
She is in everything.
She is the Divine Essence that lives within all beings.
Her domain is the field of life, for she gives
to all beings the sustenance that is needed for life.
Her beauty lives in the natural world,
and spans the universes in all their splendor.
She has been called by many names,
for all traditions recognise Her.
Into each consciousness the knowledge is given
of the sacredness of life.
This sacredness IS the Mother.
She is the holy generator of the physical world,
joined to the heart and soul of every living thing.
All of the Earth is one with Her.
All beings of the Earth owe their life to Her,
for she is the Mother of all, the One who bestows
all gifts of life.
Her gifts come to the deserving and to the
non-deserving alike, for the sun does not choose
upon whom to shine.
She is the source of Divine blessing, the part
of the Oneness that bestows the graces that fill life.
We have not seen Her because her being is
cloaked in silence.
She emerges now as part of the Oneness where
she has always resided, blessing all, giving to all.
All who bow before Her are sustained by the life
within them.
All who honour Her are sustained by life’s gifts
both within themselves and beyond.
The purpose of existence is to join with Life that lives
in all dimensions and all realms of being.
It is the Mother that creates this evolving,
this unfolding journey,
for she is the fabric of Time itself,
the means by which all things grow.
She is the template for life that exists within Her —
the substance and form of all that shall ever come to be.
May all be blessed by the blessings of the
Divine Oneness.
