Throughout the the autumn we have been getting less and less sun light each day. The winter solstice happening tomorrow marks a turning point: The Return of the Light. It is nature's reminder that no matter how dark things get the light always comes back. It is a great thing to remember as the end of 2020 approaches and as the winter days draw near.

On Monday December 14th we will be having a solar eclipse. It will be visible in the Southern Hemisphere and will peak at around 8:30am EST. According to Jyotish which is the study of astronomy, astrology and the science of timekeeping using the movements of astronomical bodies, this is a time to take things easier and for the practices of yoga, contemplation, and meditation. Every one of these events have a particular flavor or energetic imprint. The current eclipse is said to bring the qualities of release and change. These are very timely qualities to contemplate and practice at this time for all of us.

In yoga it is said that everything is interconnected. This is not just about dependency to survive but also to evolve. We can see this at every level in the universe. The way that our sun interacts with our planet has made it possible for life to exist as we know it. We are realizing more and more how our interaction with nature also shapes our lives even if we live in a city.

This week a friend gave me a couple of plants: an orchid which I knew more or less how to take care of; and a Jade plant which I had to do a little bit of reading on. I found out that the Jade plant does not usually like a regular watering schedule. Just like a Jasmin that I have, one needs to check the soil regularly and water it only when the top soil is dry to the touch. I actually like this fact about these plants because it calls for a very regular and conscious interaction with them. Even if one waters them as directed the foliage needs to be observed too for signs of under or over watering.

I decided to create this virtual space dedicated to the many practices of yoga. These practices are conducive to getting to know ourselves in a very practical and profound way. These two aspects of a yoga practice go together. A practice that does not have a practical application in our lives could very easily become just mental or spiritual or physical calisthenics. A practice devoid of its profundity can quickly become irrelevant and shallow.

I took my first yoga teacher training at an ashram near the Yuba River in Grass Valley in Northern California. This was a place in the middle of nowhere. On my first night I was walking through the forrest from my room to the building where dinner was served when I felt the urge to look up at the sky. I stopped walking completely when I realized that I could see the Milky Way. It was such a powerful experience of awe, beauty, fear(yes for some reason fear), and recognition of the immensity of the unknown.