What a difference a week makes? We’ve switched back a season despite springing forwards an hour with the clocks.
However, despite the cold blip, the blossoms are such a cheery sign of Spring. I saw a spectacular tree on a road near me. (See photo). Adorned with dense white clumps of flowers which looked stunning against the dark aged bark. It stopped me in my tracks. A mass of beautiful pure white petals.
Our natural world is full of surprises. A bit like the white flutters of snow that appeared from nowhere yesterday. Both of these elements of nature are fleetingly perfect in their own right, bright white in colour, light and floating.
This reminds me of Sattva. Sattva is one of three energy forces, called gunas, which are present in every living thing. The idea is that one is more dominant at any one time and that dominance is influenced by everything around us. Here’s a good article about the gunas (not the north london football club)! https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/yoga-philosophy-101-3-gunas/
Despite the longer hours of daylight, this little u-turn in weather seems to have caught some of us out. If you’re like me you’re already feeling a bit tired adjusting to an hours less sleep. The onset of cold weather can make us feel lethargic, heavy and less motivated too, with a desire to stay in and do less. It can make you crave warming, comforting food.
Not surprisingly, several people I’ve met this week have said they’re feeling the same, more tired, sluggish and less motivated. (This is tamasic black energy).
What can help shift this is a bit of fiery, vibrant, energy, which is called Raja. The colour associated with this red. In other words, if you’re feeling a bit sluggish - doing something which makes you hot and speeds your heart rate up can start to burn, transform and shift that negative energy out of the way. We've been trying this our daily morning classes.
The result is a sense of feeling lighter, more content and in control. This is Sattva which is described as white, light, harmonious and clear.
You may have come across Ayurveda (known as the science of life) which is a massive subject I don't profess to know a lot about, but this practice also identifies three basic types of energy, or functional principles, that are present in everyone and everything. This goes much deeper into understanding our constitution and imbalances.
But maybe for this week we can all think of those white blossoms and snow flakes, floating around and take 'Sattvic' inspiration from them as we navigate through what feels like 4 seasons in one week.
Namaste
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