To hold, to know, to keep and to share
When I first became interested in yoga more than 25 years ago, I was fascinated with the postures and the flexibility and expansiveness it offered the body. As I began to practice and later teach hatha yoga, the technique became less about the agility of my body and more about the agility of my heart. It was all about the love expressed from the inside out. This was recently reinforced when I came across a book on yoga philosophy. Inside I found a passage by a well-known meditation master that simply read: “The heart is the hub of all sacred places, go there and roam.” As I read his words, my mind began to conjure up all types of images and questions. How can one roam the heart? What kind of shoes does one need to wear during such a journey? What type of map or directions does one use?
The word “roam” stirred my curiosity. As I thought about it, roam, for me, had the energy of traveling off the beaten path, of living with abandonment and seeing vivid landscapes.
As we celebrate February, the love month, many of us will easily express the love in our hearts with such tokens as cards and chocolates. However, for some of us, it may not be so easy. Some of us will experience stop signs that will prevent us from being able to roam about. Some of us will be crippled by our past disappointments, fears, hurts and speed bumps that continually warn us to “Watch for pedestrians.”
No one ever said love was easy, but it is so necessary. It’s what makes us feel connected to ourselves and to each other. It is the glue that keeps things together for us.
There are so many benefits of roaming in love: Our emotional well-being is strengthened. Putting ourselves out there and ready to love positions us to feel love. It makes us more resilient. It makes us feel like we are at the center, the hub of life.
In my book, “The Bliss Principle,” I write about creating a clearing for bliss to show up. We have to do our part for it to show up. We also have to create a clearing to roam in the heart. What I have been guided to see is that roaming in the heart starts with the love inside myself.
I remember when I first met my meditation guru many, many moons ago. She asked me, “Kellye, what’s the most important thing?” As I attempted to answer her profound question with the right answer, she shook her head repeatedly – not the right answers. After several attempts and what felt like my last final chance to answer, I blurted out “love for myself,” and she nodded – yes. We all need love. It is the sunshine that enables flowers to blossom and grow. We are all flowers. In order to blossom, we must love ourselves first. Then, and only then, can we love others. When we understand that we deserve to be loved, we open our hearts, and allow the love to come in, not just in the month of February, but every month.
For more, visit kellyedavis.com.
Roaming in the hub of the heart
Sit in a quiet place where you know you won’t be disturbed for a few minutes.
Gently close your eyes and bring awareness to your heart area.
Imagine that you’re standing inside your heart and there is a long dark tunnel in front of you. At the end of this tunnel, you can see a spot of light in the distance. With ease and confidence gently walk towards this light. As you walk closer and closer toward this spot of light, it gets bigger and bigger, as more and more light floods into the tunnel. Feel the warmth of this shimmering light on your skin.
Allow yourself to be guided by this light with each step you take as you walk towards what appears be the end of the tunnel. As you reach the end of the tunnel, a shimmering landscape of sunshine and blue skies opens up in front of you. As you look out at this expansive sight in front of you, feel a sense of ease, peace and love.
When you’re ready, simply open your eyes …
Happy Valentine’s Day!
