Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Open Skies (Wishcasting)


Wishcasting Wednesday is here and today the question is:

What do I wish to experience?

What came to mind was a relaxation/visualization that I often use at the end of the yoga classes I teach. If you've never practiced yoga - and possibly even those of you who have taken classes for years - then it might be surprising to hear that the entire class - the postures, the breathing practices, the sweat and the stretch - is all preparation for the final relaxation or Savasana that comes at the end. Indeed the corpse pose as Savasana is translated is considered by one of the great masters and teachers of yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar to be The Most Difficult of all the poses. It requires one to be completely still, balanced and present. My teacher says it mentors us in the experience of dying to the past and the future while abiding fully in the now moment.

When I guide students into this practice I like to use visualization to help the mind get past some of its busyness while the body relaxes. One of my favorite prompts is to visualize the wide open sky. And in considering what it is I wish to experience, it is that sensation of feeling myself wide open and spacious like the sky.





I wish to experience myself as the sky: vast, boundless, unlimited potential, limitless possibilities.

I wish to experience myself like the sky embracing everything and holding nothing.

I wish to experience myself like the sky completely filled and completely empty.

I wish to experience myself like the sky always present, always changing.

I wish to experience my life like the sky: clouds, storms, rain, wind, sun, heat, humidity moving through me but ultimately never defining or describing me.

When I have had a deep Savasana experience, there is this moment where I am waking up and briefly I do not know who I am. Rather than being frightening, this moment is liberating. For in that moment, I am free of any burdens of who I am, who I believe myself to be and of the weight the circumstances of my life may place upon my shoulders.

Or rather, I am free of the weightiness that is being a finite me. This is what I wish to experience: my infinite Self.

(For an thoughtful article on the lessons Savasana offers us, I just found this article.)

Full disclosure: A very close second to my wish would be: I wish to experience Ewan McGregor ... well, use your imagination ...




... a spin on relaxation pose?


For more wishes (of the G-rated variety I'm sure) check here.

23 comments:

  1. Beautiful, Lis . . . I can't think of anything better to aspire to than the sky, in all its infinite openness.

    Thank you so much for your sweet comment at my blog. It was wonderful chatting with you and the other Lovelies last night! And no pressure at all, but as I was hearing about your experience with the Mermaid Warrior last night, I kept thinking how much you would love The Creative Playground! We explore that same kind of childlike wonder and spirit, and incorporate it into our daily lives.

    Anyway, I'm delighted to be getting to know you better, bit by bit . . . you are clearly a soul-deep woman (just the kind I like to know!).

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  2. As Lis wishes for herself, I wish for her also.

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  3. As Lis wishes for herself, I wish for her also.

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  4. oh beautiful.
    as lis wishes for herself, i wish for her also.

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  5. lovely wish Lis and I am hoping you won't mind sharing Ewan... ;-)
    As Lis wishes for herself, so I wish for her also

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  6. I love the idea of being like the sky! A beautiful metaphor for being in the present. I think you must be a wonderful yoga teacher. I will use your visualization in my yoga class tomorrow. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

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  7. oops....forgot the wish: As Lis wishes for herself, I wish for her also.

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  8. As Lis wishes for herself I also wish for her too. I would not mind a little experience with Ewan either, send him here when you are through with him...

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  9. Lis is a wonderful yoga teacher. I am lucky enough to be a part of her Sunday class.... As Lis wishes for herself, I wish for her also...

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  10. ~morning little lady...as Lis wishes fo rherself so I l♥vingly wish for her too...the sky...such beauty and mystery that lies up there...may all you wish to be come forth in your life...there is something waiting for you on my blog!

    http://tofallorstumbleupon.blogspot.com/2010/05/life-is-good.html

    warm wishes and brightest blessings upon you always~

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  11. As Lis wishes for herself I wish for her as well. LOL - love the Ewan McGregor bit.

    I didn't realize that Savasana was THAT important. That is good to know. Are you an Iyengar teacher? Along with Kundalini that is the type I practice.

    I ALSO didn't realize that Faerwillow gifted you with the award that she also gifted to me... that I just passed on to you! Regardless... there's something waiting for you at my blog as well. Same award... different questions. LOL!

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  12. As this beautiful soul, Lis, wishes for herself, I wish for her, also.

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  13. Oh so beautiful!
    As Lis wishes for herself, I wish for her also.

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  14. Lovely wishes, and who could blame you for wanting to experience Ewan McGregor! Yum. As Lis wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.

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  15. Since I have recently found a new yoga studio who finally gets me in that place , I so get it, great wish and oh, Ewan sure, me too!

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  16. As you so wish in the open blue sky, so I lovingly and with intention wish for you also. With or without MacGregor....but with would be infinitely better.

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  17. As Lis wishes for herself, so I wish for her as well. The Ewan McGregor part, too. ;)

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  18. Lis, I love the sheer beauty of your sky wishes and also the cheeky beauty of Ewan McGregor ;)

    P. S. An unravelling task to say thank you for being you :

    * Thank you for being such a wise lady; your wisdom is so honest, so deep. With every post I learn something new about myself and about the the world surrounding me.
    * Thank you for being such a creative soul. Your artwork and photography inspire me weekly. I aspire to be able to invite creativity into my life with such passion and commitment.
    * Thank you for being such a caring person. It is wonderful to meet someone who cares so sincerely, so mindfully. You create such a community spirit through your wonderful blog and the many e courses you take part in.
    * Thank you for valuing me enough to take the time to visit my blog, You leave such wonderful comments and I really do appreciate the way you urge and remind me to embrace the creative goddess inside.
    * Thank you for sharing so much of what inspires you: you open new worlds for me by sharing the inspiring sites you have visited as well as feeding my e course addiction :)

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  19. As Lis wishes for herself, I wish for her as well. I would love to be able to take one of your yoga classes. I know it would be a wonderful experience. I am off to yoga now and will be visualizing the sky and all that it has to offer.

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  20. As Lis wishes for herself, so I wish for her also. Love the name of you blog.

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  21. Dear Lis-I love the analogy to the sky. And yes...yoga is so powerful-all the metaphors for every single aspect of life. The yoga mat is medicine for the body, heart, mind and soul. I hope that all your wishes come true -especially the one with Ewan McGregor:)... seriously though-I think that you have such a huge heart and spirit...I thank you for being in my life and all your words of support. I missed all of my blog-friends too-seriously:)

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  22. Lovely words and wishes...

    As Lis wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.

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  23. I too would love to feel wide open like the sky. And I wouldn't mind EWan MacGregor either!!

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