Don’t Yuck my Yum. A few months ago, a dear friend and architect
Michael P Johnson sent me a gift.
He was clearing out things from his home in AZ and sent a
handwoven vest from the 60’s with huge bundles of wool and hair.
A tactile connection. I was touched and immediately put it on.
I sat with it, pondering what to do and
discounting all the fun loving comments by friends,
“not sure you should wear that in public.”
I thought. Ok they have a point.
This week a new phrase came into my life..
a phrase that has been around for quite awhile but new to me.
Don’t Yuck my Yum.
In reading the The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali,
the eight limbs of yoga lead me to the concept of Yama.
Yama (in paraphrasing) is the abstention of harming others.
We are to live so that no harm or pain is caused
by our thoughts, words or deeds to any other being.
In a positive sense, this means
that we must cultivate love for all
and try to see that love within everybody.
Our words and thoughts must
be truthful and not causing harm to ourselves and to others.
In teaching the 4 day course this week,
there is a common concept in beginners thinking:
‘all my thoughts get in the way
and I can’t get a restful deep meditation,
especially in the morning’.
In all actuality, this is untrue.
A thought filled meditation is
a good thing happening,
as we are essentially ridding ourselves of stress.
As we deepen into the least excited state,
thoughts arrive and we simply let them go.
Releasing stress with each thought.
In a way, the critical thinking
we do to ourselves each and everyday
IS Yucking our own Yums.
Turning a positive yummy practice
into something negative.
This leads me to the vest.
I released all notions of what it was
I contacted my favorite cut and sew company
and turned this textile into pillows.
When Michael saw them he muttered
“I knew you would come up with something” .
Loving Life. Letting go.
9.01.2024 Deck Talk available upon request info@fifthfloormeditation.com