What’s your relationship with the “need to know?”
Hello again, to all my dear friends and readers! I hope you are well on this side of 2023.
I might have shared here that I facilitate Women’s Circles once a month in Rhode Island. We started out as a group of four women and now have anywhere between 6-10 that meet regularly. For our first full moon Circle of 2023, I asked:
What is your relationship with the “need to know?”
To control? To the illusion of control?
What is your relationship with the unknown?
To the infinite possibilities that lie in the unknown (not the known)?
I asked this question because 2022 was a big fat question mark for me.
For the first time in my life, I really didn’t have a plan.
I just knew I needed to lean into family life and motherhood for a bit.
And spoiler…I was fine. We were all fine.
I hesitate to share the in’s and out’s of my/our decision making because the world is in a seemingly constant state of screaming “privilege!” at people, becoming a puddle of victimhood, or comparing our own life situation to that of another with zero context. So I won’t, but know this…
The choices I made weren’t “logical.” I had all the same fears about leaning into motherhood for a time, rather than into business or anything else for that matter. You know them - money, career, relationships, isolation, creative time, blah blah blah.
And, so I asked this question at the Circle, because I allowed myself to be pulled into the unknown and to just drop the resistance in 2022. I was curious if others needed encouragement on that journey of allowing their hearts to be louder than their heads.
Here’s where there was resistance in my life last year:
Finding childcare for Uma (our now 14 month old)
Outgrowing certain professional roles
Doing private yoga therapy
Launching any sort of mentorship, membership, intensive or training
Showing up on social media
Teaching group yoga classes
And, here’s where there wasn’t resistance:
Being with my children more often than not
Bodhi attending Waldorf school
Eugene’s flexibility at work
Holding small pockets of time for sacred study
Nature walks
Women’s Circle hosting
Podcasting
I share this to get your wheels turning:
What are you attempting to control?
What kind of outcome are you trying to force?
Where is the resistance in your life?
Where does it feel like doors are constantly closing?
Where does it feel like challenges are ever-present?
Where is it more easeful?
Where does it feel more expansive?
Note: Easeful is different than easy. Life will always be full of challenges. Thank God/dess. That means we’re living, yes?
The entirety of our yoga practice points to Ishvara Pranidhana. Surrendering to the Divine. Surrendering to a greater will, a greater plan. Surrendering to the callings and longings of a higher Self, our innermost Self. In Vedic philosophy, it is known that divinity lives within you.
And, to trust that path before you without trying to demand it go the way your mind wants it to go.
Because I know so many of you personally who read these letters, I want to offer little life updates that I’m just thrilled about. Some resistances have eased up, others have not, and still other doors have opened in unexpected and beautiful ways.
After much time in the literal and metaphorical dark, I got curious about re-entering the philanthropy world again (I’ve been working and/or consulting in philanthropy for a decade - just as long as I’ve been teaching yoga!).
And and as divine timing/luck would have it, I’m now working with my first philanthropy consulting client of 2023 - The Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island. It is a nature and wildlife lover’s dream (that’s me). On my first day, I witnessed a barn owl receiving physical therapy on its wing. Swoon! Especially from the perspective as a yoga therapist!
With this new adventure, we have wonderful care for our sweet Uma. And, I am seeing a very small number of clients privately for yoga therapy in-person and online. It’s a great mix in my life that I’m allowing to unfold for 2023.
There is more on the yogic horizon in terms of programs and the like for those who want to study with me (especially maternal health + women’s well-being), but really all of the above is yoga. As I shared with a group of therapists this week, yoga isn’t the asana you’re thinking it is. The asana - the poses - are a tool, a piece of the technology. Those of us who practice yoga are taking it into our home lives, into our offices, and beyond. That’s the yoga.
So anyways, that’s where I’ve been led for 2023. I’ll share more updates as I have them, especially around study.
You can still write me here and share your life updates and lessons from 2022. I read every word and love your emails! You all are like my pen pals. My Insta handle is now private. I likely won’t be using social media that much anymore - it’s not really serving my mental health (or business).
The best way my work reaches people - philanthropy consulting and/or yoga therapy - is from your email forwards, shares, and recommendations and for that I am so grateful! Please take a peek at my website if you’d like to learn more about what I do or to read past blog posts. Thank you for reading my hello again message and for receiving these wisdom teachings from the Vedas.
With much love.
Jai Ma,
Leanne
P.S. I write about Vedic wisdoms (yoga and Ayurveda) applied to modern life, maternal health, women's well-being, and the healing arts. I also share from my own life, work, and journey; and I love hearing from readers of these letters. If you'd rather not receive my letters anymore, this is a perfect time to let go. Warmest of wishes for this new year.
