Shine Your Light

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
— Marianne Williamson (A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles)

Today's yoga class with Judy was about letting our light shine. It was about shining so brightly, from the inside out, that our hearts lifted as we bent back into the unknown. And bend, I did!

The more I study Anusara, the deeper I go--mind, body and spirit. I shone so brightly this morning, I did a drop-back from Ustrasana. I'm not sure how close I was to a drop-back from standing, but I know that I was closer than I have EVER been before. And all because I courageously opened my heart and allowed my light to shine? Really? That's all it took? It's true. Everything I need, I already have. It's in there, I just have to dust it off and let it shine.

The three A's of Anusara were all there: attitude (set the intention--shine brightly), alignment (root to rise) and then the action (trust the Divine and bend back!!). I'm continually amazed that even on a day when I'm not feeling my best (darned sinus infection and sleep deprivation), the three A's can make me as giddy as a school girl, turn my day around and leave a huge grin on my face. Who needs anything more?

So go ahead, shine your light brightly. And just see what happens.