Meditation

Today I realized how soon my paper on yoga is due, so I got down to writing more of it. I wrote two parts, one which is much more academic and less creative, and one which is more creative, though autobiographical. Here's that one.


I knew yoga was becoming a permanent part of my life when it had me waking up at six nearly every morning and adjusting my class schedule to make sure it would fit in. People had to hear me going on about the ways my body was beginning to open up. I knew yoga was a part of my life when I stopped noticing the looks I got every time I talked about my wishes to open my hips more.

I always arrived to my morning class extremely early. No one was around as I rolled out my mat and sat to wait. Day after day I'd have time alone on my mat. Sometimes that time would be filled with thought, sometimes with meditation, and sometimes with prayer. Sometimes it was filled with all three. That time on my mat became part of my practice as much as any pose I could try to bend myself into. Sitting cross-legged in front of a mirror I could see the physical effects of my practice while I felt the spiritual effects. My hips opened up and my knees fell to the floor as I learned to deal with crises and bad days and to put a little good into them.

As I learned asanas and let them begin to transform my body, I also learned meditation - the most difficult aspect of yoga. I practiced being still and mindful on and off my mat as yoga permeated my life. Meditation takes as much time as training and strengthening a muscle does. I practiced at first for just a minute or two at a time. Sitting cross-legged with my palms open and receptive on my knees. The light was dark and my eyes were closed as I practiced pranyama - control of my breath. Sitting in meditation, if I really let my thoughts go and just focused on my breath, something happened. I felt myself rise above my body, suspended with each breath. This was an amazing feeling - one of cleansing and centering. I would extend the time I was in meditation, and the time I felt like I was floating. Meditation means so much, freeing the worries of the day and connecting. For me connecting to God in a new and meaningful way.

I knew yoga was a part of my life when it became religious, like and unlike it was for the ancient Hindus who began the practice.



If that sounds fun, you should try out meditation.
-Kat

A Night Out

This evening I went to a beautiful orchestra concert. I meant to go alone, but it turns out that isn't easy when you know several people who are much more into music than you. I did take some time before the concert started to write a short scene. (That story in a monastery is still forthcoming)


There's an interesting mix of people at an event on a campus. Young and old, dressed up and down, they're all here. The lobby is filled with chatter and anticipation. Laughter, intellectual discussions, joy, and even questions about grading abound. The lights are bright, allowing me to see everything.

People continue to mill about in pairs or groups. They greet acquaintances and close friends - it's hard to tell the difference in an open public place like this. Introductions are made, awkward small talk follows. Someone walks in, glancing around. She smiles and waves - she's found the person she's looking for. The quality of the murmuring changes. There's an uptick in volume and then things die down, the doors have opened at last. The crowd thins out, but not everyone leaves just yet. A few groups remain, some talking to performers who have joined them and others just lost in their own conversations. these have moved beyond small talk to something worth staying for.

Eventually it's time for even the stragglers to move toward the concert hall. The lights are dimmer, and the noise of the chatter has increased. If I close my eyes it washes over me in waves, an ocean made by people. The orchestra begins to move on to the stage and gather their instruments. At first very few people pay attention, but then the tuing begins and the noise of the audience dies down - only to be replaced with notes over a hundred years old, filling my ears once again.


-Kat

Morning Prayer

Last night I had a dream about writing a story set in a monastery, and it was really interesting, so I decided to write it. Just not today. Today, like all Wednesdays, was a busy day, so I got very little writing done. I do promise a story with a monastic setting in the future though!

What about today, you ask? Well my mind and body have been at church for a good bit of the day, so I decided to make a page of a prayer that's important to me. I enjoy written prayers, and this is one I found recently that I think is very good. It's by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

-Kat

For a Cold Day

I have a cold at the moment, so tonight I needed something hot and spicy to eat. I made chili for the first time in my life!

It turned out quite well and, at least for awhile, it cleared up my sinuses. All in all a good recipe, and in case you want to make it yourself, here it is!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups water
• 1 (28 ounce) can canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 (16 ounce) can canned kidney beans - drained, rinsed, and mashed
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Place turkey in the pot, and cook until evenly brown. Stir in onion, and cook until tender.
2. Pour water into the pot. Mix in tomatoes, kidney beans, and garlic. Season chili powder, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30 minutes.

-Kat

What I Saw

Today I walked across large sections of campus three times, at three very different parts of my day. That and my very busy day inspired this series of haikus.


Many coffee cups,
Last minute paper printing,
A friend studying.

High-schoolers touring,
A store - empty and moving,
Impromptu football.

Welding arcs sparking,
Twilight falling on the pond,
A boy and his dog.


-Kat

Long Day

Today was a longer day than I was expecting, so all I have to give you today is a haiku about my morning walk to church.


The day starts out cold
Church is a mile away
The walk warms me up.


More tomorrow.
-Kat

First Present of the Season

Christmas is still a long way off, but I started preparations for it this evening. Christmas is my favorite holiday, and a couple of years ago I bought a kit for knitted Christmas decorations. I haven't finished it yet, but I decided to make a start on finishing it for this year. This evening I made a present that can be used as an ornament.

That's a ten pence coin (the same size as a quarter) in the picture to give perspective to the size of my little present.

-Kat