Let me guide you through a class:
The classes are held in sacred space. Then the Yoga set for
that class is introduced. It could be a specific set geared to improve the
immune system in general or one working on a specific chakra point in the body.
For example, if it was the first chakra, I would share the information relevant
to the chakra system in general. The location of the first chakra is the base of
the spine, at the perineum. The Sanskrit word for the first chakra is Muladhara,
meaning root or support. The parts of the body which are affected by this chakra
are the adrenal glands, legs, feet, bones, and large intestines. The colour
representing this chakra is red. The element is earth. The sense is smell.
When this chakra is balanced and functioning, it will
manifest as security in all the areas of basic survival: food, shelter, physical
health and work. An imbalance could manifest as self indulgence, insecurity,
instability, grief and depression.
The symbol of the first chakra is an inverted triangle within
a square. The square depicts earth and delineates the four directions and the
inverted triangle is an ancient Goddess symbol representing creative energy.
The Goddess of the first chakra is Dakini Shakti, known as
the creator, preserver and destroyer. Her purpose is to help with learning the
lessons of letting go, releasing, death and dying. The way to evoke this Goddess
and connect to this chakra is through the sound created by the word "lang".
Then we would go through the Kyria, the specific Yoga set of
exercises chosen for the class. It would include breathing techniques called
Pranayam as well as body and hand postures called Mudras. Yoga, in general,
helps to balance the energy centers and bring a sense of well being and
connectiveness to one's own inner healing.
Interestingly, Kundalini Yoga has been referred to as the
Mother of all Yogas because it is the original system from which all other yogas
stem.
Following the Yoga set the lights are dimmed and I lead a
guided imagery meditation. Again different journeys are possible, depending on
the theme of the class. This is the time for full relaxation. It could be a deep
body relaxation, releasing tension and stress from each part of the body. Or it
could be a shamanic journey to meet the internal grandmother - crone, wise
woman within - to ask for counsel on a current issue. Or it could be a deep
grounding meditation to connect with Mother Earth, feeling how She is a living
entity nurturing and sustaining you and how you can further learn to sustain and
nurture Her.
Then a meditation is introduced that would be appropriate to
the Yoga set and theme of the class. It could be a meditation to invoke the
Goddess Shakti - primal feminine creative power - usually depicted as a coiled
serpent residing at the base of the spine. Or an ancient Sanskrit meditation
chanted to evoke the elements that are represented by the four directions. Or it
could be a modern affirmation that connects to inner trust and inner love.
By this point everyone is feeling quite different then when
they arrived - more in touch with their feelings and with themselves, more in
their bodies, in their hearts, in their being.
Now is the time to share stories - stories about the Goddess,
stories about ourselves. A time to see, be seen, listen, speak, be heard - sing
and dance our joys, our sorrows, our connections - that which separated us for
centuries - that which connects us now. Tune in to the divine oracle with
Goddess cards or amulets or runes.
Do ritual together celebrating the equinox or solstice,
Beltane or Samhain, or honouring the other ancient feast days as they had been
for centuries during Goddess times. Looking within, finding Her there, looking
out, seeing Her reflected in the eyes of the women in the circle, the woman next
to you and so on and so on.
I feel honoured to be guided by Great Goddess to teach these
classes and I feel blessed to work with every woman who comes.
These are truly challenging and healing times. The tantric
yogic texts talk about the Age of Darkness represented by the last 2,000 years,
as being the time of the sleeping Goddess. She is awakening. Shaking the sleep
from Her eyes. And we are rediscovering Her. Learning to celebrate Her. To heal
that wounded part of our psyche.
As we enter the Second Millennium, the Age of Truth, this
healing is of prime focus.
The poet Marge Piercy wrote in her poem For Strong Women
"Strong is what we make each other until we are all strong together."
As we heal ourselves we heal each other.
Healing always occurs in this moment, the NOW...
As Deepak Chopra states "the whole universe conspires
for this one moment."
My memory takes me back to that special moment in March, 1996
at York University as 40 women with hand on heart chanted the ancient sound
"MAAA" evoking the Goddess within and all around.