Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Take some time as we come together, and if you would like, you can have your candle or a bowl of water back there, or you can have your water that you wanna drink.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): But once you've got those those supplies. we'll just take a moment and invitation to drop in the chat
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): how you are. We're in a very auspicious time, a time of Navratri, the 9 Nights, and the 9 celebrations of the goddess
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and Durga puja. And so I wanted to offer a little bit of a practice connected to to those elements. And so as we're just getting
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): getting situated, an invitation to get cozy, to get comfortable, to find yourself in an easeful place, you know, even as the world is
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): really challenging and and uncomfortable, and maybe your world is as well. And so, if you'd like just dropping 2 words how you are in the chat, I'll play a little music, and then we'll get started on our ritual.
Oh, no!
Oh.
oh.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): welcome, welcome! Welcome for those who just arrived! You're welcome to drop how you are in the chat if you would like.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): I see a sad, cold, domestic, grateful busy bee
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And I dropped in the chat also the Durga mantra, the seed. This is sort of the simplest form of the Durga mantra, which is own doom Durga Namaha!
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And this is a time we're in this very very auspicious time. And my family where my family is from. We wait for another 3 the whole year. It's like a big big celebration for us.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and it's a 9 night. Never a tree means 9 nights. It's a celebration of 9 different forms of the goddess Durga, and she also, like Shiva, is, you know, in her many forms, the energy of creation, of preservation, and of destruction. And
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): often, I think, we we sort of glorify goddesses as nurturing or or just kind of connected to like certain aspects of what it means, the the divine feminine. But Durga is a wonderful example of the expansion of that to
protection.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): strength, parenthood, but also destruction, and combating anything that stands in the way of peace or of prosperity, or us living our Dharma or living our purpose.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And she's known also as the Triumba Cam, or the Trioamba Khay, because of her 3 eyes and her 3 eyes represent fire and knowledge.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): the sum which is like action.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and the moon just like passions, or the continued drive, that kind of balance of action and and steadiness, or like clarity of intention.
And so I wanted to invite us into a practice
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): to connect to these energies whatever kind of face of the goddess is calling to you now, and if you're like, for folks who are feeling like sad or cold or tired, you know, allowing the quality of the goddess that is protective, that is nurturing, that is, you know, going to be there and kind of at your back and have your back
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): to support you, and for those who are feeling maybe more energized or enraged, or wanting that stimulation into action and clarity in your life, in terms of ways to manage
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): or address injustice or things in your life that you want to change. Then calling in her her protective energy, her strength building energy, her
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): fierce, you know, sword wielding energy.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And that's
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): that son, the son of action. And then also she's got the solar and lunar, the lunar quality of nourishment. And you know insight as well.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And just looking at your yeah. Hmm.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): hmm! Very grateful that you're here, Karen, and I'm glad that you had a successful
court case in which you practice that staya mantra and meditation while waiting for the judge to call on you. Wow! Talk about Yoga
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): in daily life. That's huge. That is huge. Yeah.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): thank you for bringing that in. And it's like, you know, the quality both of of like doing the action and doing the practice, and then also, like the surrender and the letting go and the letting be in the allowing the time and the space. Yeah.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): save the day. She lost the case for seeing versus me fighting to win. Wow! So peace and surrender. That's incredible. That's really incredible.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Yeah, I once had a situation maybe somewhat similar, where
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): there was like a yoga festival. It didn't pay me. They hired me and gave me a contract and didn't pay me. and
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): I decided to take them to Small Claims Court, and they just didn't show up, you know they didn't. They didn't come.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And so it was one of those like really being in the practice. I still haven't been paid but but I wanted to try to prevent them from doing that to other teachers. Cause so exploitative to tell people you're gonna pay them for something, and then not
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): so it's like, in these moments, right? These very real like nervous system activated high intensity. And also, like, you know, maybe you're just tired. Maybe you're heartbroken, and you're grieving. Maybe you're
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): wanting to feel more joyful about something than you do right, or you are feeling joy. And you want to just be with that joy. Right? It's the the possibility of practicing
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): for all of these things, and that is what Madurga supports us with.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Hmm. Feels good to practice a parta and trust the energies. I say, trust the goddess. Yes, so wherever you are, you can find useful way to be.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and I will invite the bell, and we'll do a little bit of movement and then tune in in meditation, and I also wanted to bring in some relaxation. So some guided relaxation. I just have been feeling like
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): we're so overstimulated, and there's so much happening that some time to just receive and to rest together might be very nourishing for us.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): So really, take the time, you know, as I'm talking and giving you a little bit of time to to get comfortable, to maybe make the choice, to shift into a comfortable seat or a comfortable space. And if you're listening, or you're live in office to maybe close the door. There's anything that can bring you.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): more ease, more comfort, more support.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and please bring that in now.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): we'll begin. If you have other applications or other things open just an invitation to let those go, allow yourself the grace of this time for practice, and I'll invite the bell in a moment, and light a candle for us.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): So with this camel we invoke and honor Turkish E.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): The sacred fire of knowledge of light
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): the triple goddess.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): a fire, knowledge, sun, action, moon, desire.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and intention.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and you can allow your shoulders to roll back and down. spine to lengthen. Eyes can be gently closed or softly focused on something in front of you.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): We'll listen to the bell
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): full breath out.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): We will practice Durga Pranayama to begin breathing in 3 parts.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and the first part of the breath into your belly, expanding your belly out in front of you, behind, next part expanding your ribs out to the sides.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and final third of your breath up under your collar bones and the top of your back in full. Exhale
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): so deep breath in one third to your belly.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): expanding your ribs.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): top of your throat, collar, bones, and upper back
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): long, full exhale.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): We'll breathe like this one more time together into the belly.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): sides.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): top.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and exhale.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and allowing your breath to return to its own natural cycle.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): we'll begin to move in connection with the qualities of madurga
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): of the lunar and solar qualities.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): moon and the sun. and our left side is often connected with the lunar side
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and our right with the solar.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): But if for you it feels different than just tecking him with your body
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): adjusting that accordingly.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): So we'll begin with the nourishment with the connection to the lunar, and so option here to lift up your hand and to start to rotate your left hand around
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): on your wrist.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and then begin to rotate at your elbow
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and your shoulder. Maybe there's some cracking or some, you know, shifting, and you can move any amount. This could be very subtle, or it could be very, very wide circles.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and then you can let your whole body kind of circle around to the left.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Your head and neck move in that direction
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): connecting to the energy of the moon, the receptive, the supportive.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): the nourishing.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and one more circle here, if you'd like, you can circle in the other direction. I like to to circle one way, but your option to if you've been rotating backwards or in a counterclockwise way than to circle the other direction, or continue in the same. So just checking in another option would be to begin to circle your leg, so rotating your foot.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): then your knee, and then your whole leg, either in your seat or lying down or standing, and if you're standing just checking it on your balance, perhaps holding onto a wall or a chair and or
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): finding that core and center within yourself.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and we'll do 3 more circles. I'm moving my leg around on my chair, my arm around.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and then gently, slowly
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): coming into stillness on the left side, and as you come down you can bring your hand down to rest on your leg, whether sitting, standing, or lying down.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Notice how it feels to have honored and acknowledged and activated this sign.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and then we'll neck
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): our left and right hands together, transferring the lunar and the solar energy into one another.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): so bringing the light of the moon to connect to the light of the sun and the solar through your hands.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and from that foundation of the reflection of the lunar energy we can open, our right hand, can let your left hand come down, and then right wrist begins to circle around.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): knowing that just like the sun and the moon are not the same. We're not symmetrical. Our our experiences, the active side. The generative.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): more heated side may feel different than your lunar side. Also, life experiences body.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): you know, nuances. There's no one way to do this, and so, as you like, you can stay there, or, if you'd like, begin to circle around at your elbow.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and then through shoulder.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): allowing your breath
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): to help deepen this movement.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and you can let head come into this body, come into this, or maybe a very subtle movement, subtle motion that no one would even perceive.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): But you're subtly activating
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): the solar side.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And then one more circle this way, and if you'd like, you can keep going or spiral the other way, circle the other way, bringing the earth
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): but
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): knee, circling at the knee, joints thigh into this.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and then one of the Yoga schools that I trained in in nds fiasa. We would do this every day. When we would come into practice.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): We would always do some warm ups physical warmups like this before we practice Yoga as an heating the lunar and the solar activating lunar and solar sides of our bodies.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Few more circles here. and exhaling and releasing everything down
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): moving to stand so option to.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): So
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): so you can be in use here. But I'm seeing some of you standing, and so I wanted to also join you and you can be on the ground standing or seated. We're going to allow our body to twist left and right. And again, this can be a very slow or subtle movement, or, if you would like to work with that momentum, like to ball my face and let my hands
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): bump into my lower back and lower torso
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): once again.
stimulating the left and the right side.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): solar
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and lunar energies
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): as you move, perhaps making some sounds.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): releasing energy through your breath.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): perhaps inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth a few times
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): beautiful. allowing your momentum to gently and softly attenuate, and then come to
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): a kind of stillness and take your time. There's no rest.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): So we're in our mountain shape, our Tadasana, either seated
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): mountain, standing mountain lying down, or any other shape. and really finding
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): like, okay, where is my solidity? Right? Maybe there's a bend in the knees. Maybe there's a hand placed on a support.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): walk a cushion, a table wall.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): maybe there's a hand placed against your own hand or on your hips
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): finding
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): the warrior in the stable mountain.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): So, however, you would like to take this strong, fierce mountain.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): ours might look different. Right? Yours may be fluid. You might be moving in your mountain, others might have their hands on their hips. I do.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Maybe our hands are together.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): We'll take a few breaths in your mountain shape.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Inhale, lift your arms up towards the sky any amount. Palms meet. hands come together at the heart, and we'll do a few half salutations, your choices to how you would like to engage with these, so you can inhale. Lift your hands up.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): back, then towards the sky. exhale, fold forward the new chair of standing
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): inhale runs back up, or another option to move your arms. But keep your torso upright.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Moving with your own breath. Rhythm
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): proceeded. About 4, so we'll go for about 9 for the 9 nights of Navratri you can count about 5 more
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): last one.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): We'll all find our way into Tavasana.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Hands can meet at your heart. and we'll chant to Durga together, and your option to listen, or to chant aloud, if you would like.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): where you are
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): bringing in the essence of this goddess, and receiving her qualities, whether it's protection or strengthening nurturance.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): fierceness, peace. and allowing that to fill you as we tant, and we'll tant 9 times
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): so you can find an easy way to be, and for those who would like to stay standing and your Tadasana you can, or you can sit or lie down.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and deep breath in and full breath out.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): oh.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): oh, da gay la la!
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): In our own way, vowing to acknowledging the power, unknowable beyond our imaginings, of
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): this goddess, and the energy that she represents.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and gently shifting, if you would like, into a
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): supportive and nourishing shape for some relaxation time that might be lying down.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): maybe supporting yourself with some cushions or pillows.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): It might be turning down the sound.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): turning off your camera if you would like, or just finding any supports that allow you to be
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): really in a receptive place.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): feeling energy of Durga supporting you. filling you.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): nourishing you.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): the sun and the moon
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): solar light coming down and filling up every cell.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and the lunar light.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): white, golden gold glow
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): touching your mind, your heart.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): your body.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and wherever these lights flow.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): allowing your body to receive your soul, your spirit. your heart
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): letting in the light and the nourishment.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): the crown of your head.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): the front of your body.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): the back of your body.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): your left side.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): your right side.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): feel your front, your top for your body, drop back and down into your back, body
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and your back body drop into the earth. held and supported as if the earth is coming up to meet you.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): You can release even just a little bit more.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): We'll rest here
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): infinite space and time together. and I'll guide us back with my voice when it's time.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Breathing deeply.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): inhale
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and exhale.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): May I be free from attachment and aversion.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Let go of expectations.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): May I allow the fruits
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): of my karma, my actions
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): to nourish my dharma? My purpose?
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): May I remember that impermanence is part of life.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): that change is constant.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): May I find freedom?
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): May I cultivate the insight of intervening interconnectedness and compassion?
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Honor the goddess within me and all around me.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Sergei Namaha!
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And gently running your fingers and thumbs together.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): starting
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): out through your arms. Legs
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): like you're waking up again, or like you're a cat.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Hmm!
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And if you would like, you're more than welcome to stay as you are. and a restful. please one.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): You can roll to one side if you're on the earth.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): come up to an easeful seat.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): taking some time to look around you.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): taking in form and shape.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): color.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and noticing the qualities or the energies of
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Goddessurga around you.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Any solar, any sunlight, any lunar, reflective, cool.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and fire any fire like an electricity around you, or that allows us to connect.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): We'll come together
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): thinking about to one another
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): into each of our intentions
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): for this practice today.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Thank you so much for your presence. Thank you so much for your practice.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Like you could rub your hands and place them somewhere on your body to give yourself nourishment, energy.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Hmm!
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And to take a little bit of time. Leave some time for for any questions, any sharing
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): anything that's on your mind at heart, and could be a reflection
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): or something that arose in her practice together today, or it could be just anything in your practice
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): within your class. Curator, just in your life. With applying Yoga.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): You're welcome to share in the chats or out loud.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Hmm!
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Maybe just noticing how feel any different than when we first gathered?
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Suppose open
pīkake she/her: Blah Hakako over, O Picaka I use sheer pronouns.
pīkake she/her: and in Naka culture and Hawaiian culture
pīkake she/her: the left side of the body is the Hina side.
pīkake she/her: and Hina is another Enola another name for the moon. She's our moon goddess
pīkake she/her: and is considered the feminine energy. Who is
pīkake she/her: the director?
pīkake she/her: And then the Ku side is the masculine side, the sun side, and he follows the directions of Hina.
pīkake she/her: And so I really liked Kumu teacher, Susana, how you were talking about all that similarity of
pīkake she/her: the left side being considered for
pīkake she/her: maybe your culture. The moon side and the right being considered the sun. II liked that inter cultural resonance of Mahalo for sharing.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Okay, thank you so much for sharing that while this cross cultural connections are so like awe-inspiring to me.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): I've been thinking a lot about, like the universal elements
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and the ways that so many of our traditions connect. And yet also how we can, you know, support like
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): not appropriating and really deeply caring for each kind of lineage and unique expression. And I think we can do both. You know, I think just because we we
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): we honor the roots of a particular practice doesn't mean we can't also hold that universal
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): spirit. And
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): I just I'm feeling so much gratitude to you for sharing, and for this this insight, because it's like
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): it's so
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): indicative of how we are one. And yet it transmits in different ways. And there may be different cultural expressions right where it is different. Or for some of us here we may experience our own expression in different ways.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): I also wanna say, sometimes the sides are gendered.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): I try to not use gendered connections for various reasons. One is because, like I do experience my feminine energy as very.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): you know.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): active, right? And so I actually experience the gendering differently than how some people will, you know, explain it.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And because I like to stay away from gender essentialism. So focus more on the qualities, the elements, the solar, the lunar, the heating, the cooling right. And
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and for me, that's been a way to be more inclusive with with these qualities, and then also acknowledging like in the traditions, they change, too, like shaves, is
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): masculine and and feminine, and has all of those traits. And then Durga actually holds a lot of the weapons that are typically attributed to often God's not goddesses. Right? So there's a lot of play even within the traditions with with gender and the weight. So so I would say that
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): the takeaway for me is that in Yoga gender is not essential. Right? There's no essentializing of gender. It's not one way or or another. It's very fluid to bringing that forward too great
Rachel (she/her/hers): thanks. This is such an interesting, rich conversation, and the the cosmology of my ancestors is Celtic cosmology, and we're entering into Sauron, which is the Celtic New Year
Rachel (she/her/hers): this upcoming week, and that is ushered in with the Culloc, the Hag, the crone. And it's a fascinating
Rachel (she/her/hers): time to be ushering in darkness and darkness is something to be comfortable with, not feared and defined. Our refuge in home and darkness is really blessed in the Celtic cosmology.
Rachel (she/her/hers): And so and I think it's interesting when you look at like like various cosmologies. And there's like you were saying you were. Both were saying. There's like cross
Rachel (she/her/hers): referencing in some of these things that's really rich. There's this sort of like the collective
Rachel (she/her/hers): consciousness that makes its way through cosmologies, you know, regardless of location. Perhaps even pre trade routes, you know. So that's so fascinating. And I just want to comment aside in the northern hemisphere. Here we are entering into the full moon and the lunar eclipse which is
Rachel (she/her/hers): on top of everything that's happening in the world. It's just a time entering into Scorpio, so it's a time of like
Rachel (she/her/hers): intensity, darkness, and it can be rich richness in that as well. But that revelation of the full moon and the eclipse is also present, regardless of our cosmology that's here.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Hmm.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): thank you, Rachel. Yes. in passing to Karen, let me see your hand.
Karen McMillan: I'll make it quick. I was just thinking about what the Cocky was saying so. Thank you. That was so beautiful, both of you.
Karen McMillan: and I'd love the way I not only do I feel connected to the saga, I feel like there were really one mind, because, as we were practising that universality was what the message was for me.
One of the reasons is because several of the movements
Karen McMillan: are also present in Tai Chi.
Karen McMillan: So you begin to realize how ancient wisdom is it like an absolute? No, it's just like these universal truths. And it's so beautiful, so like. When we swing and do this, we do something with close fist, but it's very gentle. At the end of the practice called beating of the drums. That's Tai, chi.
Karen McMillan: yeah. And then at the end, we also do this at our meditations, when we would have our meditations and then share the energy, and I hadn't seen anyone else do that. So
Karen McMillan: just came up for me just the similarities in the
Karen McMillan: oh, the other thing I was going to say for Rachel. the other oneness is
Karen McMillan: that, and and also Pataki, I should say, for both of us the whole feminine concept in my business. I speak yin and yang, and in the yin and yang, and Yin and Yang people think there's a feminine and a masculine, but that's the yin and the young. There's a little feminine, the little white and a black.
Karen McMillan: the feminine, and the little black in the white, the feminine, and the masculine.
Karen McMillan: So that always made me feel like, really, isn't that absolute definition that we speak up? It doesn't exist. And ancients know that
Karen McMillan: so just wanted to share that.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Oh, I love this so much, all of these shares. And I was just gonna say, too, I feel like it's mirrored in the helix, right? That helix that we see in the caduceus. And also, you know, in like what science has
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): has identified even in every one of ourselves. Right? We've got this kind of energy lines moving and in Vedic understanding, we've got
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): noties that are like the the lunar, and then the solar, and then they cross, and everywhere they cross is a Chakra point or an energy point which is a point of realization. Right can be a point of of inquiry and a point of realization. And
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): there are some systems, some Vedic systems that see these lines, not just in each of us, but in the world right out in the world. And so
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): so that that universality is like the points where our cosmologies and our understandings cross energetically. So it's like the as in the micro is also in the macro.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Yeah.
Stacey D. (She/Her): I'm looking at Stacy. Were you gonna share something
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): you're unmuted. So I thought, maybe
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): if you've ever been in ytt with me, you know. I know. I don't think there's accidents sometimes. Yeah, since we're muted. Maybe there's something to share. Yes, I'm sorry I accidentally pressed that button. I'm actually eating
Stacey D. (She/Her): my breakfast right now.
Stacey D. (She/Her): I love being here, and you know, listening to
Stacey D. (She/Her): so many beautiful people from across
Stacey D. (She/Her): wherever you are. I don't even know. But I know you. You're far away from me and I can relate to
Stacey D. (She/Her): what you were saying about the
Stacey D. (She/Her): cross cultural references in Yoga. I'm
Stacey D. (She/Her): Cree, which is indigenous. It's actually a 4 directions people and I'm in a language class right now to reclaim my language which was stolen from because of colonization
Stacey D. (She/Her): and So
Stacey D. (She/Her): I've taken the 300 h training with Susanna, and it was life changing.
Stacey D. (She/Her): It's it gave me
Stacey D. (She/Her): pimitisoin, which means life
Stacey D. (She/Her): truly. And it was so. There was so many obstacles for me.
Stacey D. (She/Her): And I'm still seeing like the the fruitation. I guess you can say
Stacey D. (She/Her): from my experiences, and just all the
Stacey D. (She/Her): beautiful knowledge that you shared in the training has
Stacey D. (She/Her): positively affected my entire
Stacey D. (She/Her): direction in life, and there's just so much
Stacey D. (She/Her): I mean, you know.
Stacey D. (She/Her): into my life at this moment that I've dreamt of, and, you know, still have the challenges, and I still need support. And I really appreciate this class curator, even though I believe I've only come here 2 or 3 times.
Stacey D. (She/Her): I feel like I have food in my mouth. I'm talking kind of funny.
Stacey D. (She/Her): anyway.
Stacey D. (She/Her): Nice meeting you all. And I'm just gonna go off camera and continue listening. If that's okay with everyone.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Of course, I'm so grateful. Yeah, so good to see you. And
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): yeah.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): hmm.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): want to read out what Justine shared trust in myself trust, and in others.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and trust in the process is my biggest challenge.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): My mind understands the concept that everything is constantly changing. Another part of my brain is not on board the fight, flight, fight, fight, fight, freeze, fall on part.
I'm always inspired to hear about other people's journeys on surrendering, and I look forward to the day when I can experience this
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): at the moment I am accepting my system as is, I'm also, I also appreciate relating to the elements helps me remember the connection to Earth.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): We're part, not apart from the earth. Yeah.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): that's a beautiful way to put it, Justine. And you know, I don't know.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): I'm not a realized being, but I certainly have moments of realization. But
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): I don't know
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): if anyone really is okay within permanence, you know. Really, really, maybe maybe some people are. But for me it's like moments and circles and spirals and
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and in a way, it's like the practice. Yeah, just look at on paper, right? It's I was writing about and thinking about reading about the Sanyasen stage, which is, you know, in the stages the 4 stages of in Yoga Practice studentship, you know, and householder, and then, like forest Dweller, and then renunciate. And I think of
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): again, I've had moments of renunciation, moments of letting go moments of non attachment.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): II don't know, and I'm not at that stage age wise, anyway, but I don't even know if that's the goal. I think of them as not absolutes, but more like
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Mike.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): things to spiral in, in and out of, and there's wisdom to be taken from each part right? So there's wisdom to from the attachment. There's wisdom to from the the ways we, we, the things that we are so wild up by or connected to or attach to. You know it's it's not.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): It's not just
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): one way, even though I do think in yoga particularly, we get sort of sold on the idea that it's better to be
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): detached. It's better to be, you know, and of course it's a practice. It's a value. We're practicing Apari Graham.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): but there's so many ways to hold that, and even to not be too attached right to the to being unattached, but just being like you said like it is what it is for you. What for? Now that for me feels like it right like in this stage, in this moment, in this place in my life, like I'm practicing.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And I have things that I care about and things that I'm attached to.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Yeah.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): I think we don't have many examples of healthy attachment. Right? I so agree with that, Rachel. It's like, when I was especially in the my twenties and thirties and thinking about relationships and in relationships is like codependents, right? Complete independence.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And what does it look like to be interdependent? It's almost like a like that. Like we don't. We're we're trying to not be codependent on the things in our lives, but also not be like, you know, in reaction to that, like, I am so independent, and I will do it all my own, you know, not text anyone and anything. And then there's this third way.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): I'm looking to see if I have my one of my favorite analogies is.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and somebody has heard me share this before. But I'll just bring it back, and my hair is dark, so you can't even see this. But the rubber band of we're holding the tension between the thing and and maybe not attachment. And if we hold it too hard. What happens? The rubber band? It snaps right, and if we release it, just kind of collapses. But if we just hold that with our practices
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): that forms a new way.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And so for me, that was the the practicing of your ethics, the Karma of the right, the actions of the Yamas was holding that tension, and particularly around relationships, kinda came up as an example.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): was not rebelling against being a relationship, but also not being codependent. And then finding this other way of creating an actual, healthy relationship. And we don't have a lot of models of that in relationships or in spiritual practice.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And I think we're modeling that right, we're kind of exploring that together in our various ways and in our lives and with our examples and with our communities.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And so this helps me a lot to remember, like part of it is just hold the tension like hold, the practice being the practice, and a new way will come, even if I can't see it from here. And then, of course, what happens when you get to that new way right like. Well, my, it's it popped off. But what happens is
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): another hair time. So you're holding the tension. Here's the new way. That new way becomes a poll in the next right that you then hold that and that that's growth that's like spiraling and learning right? And and maybe when did we get to realization?
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Sign me up for the forest feller. Yes, that I have the so great. So
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): So with that, we're we're at time, and I just wanna
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): want to kind of leave us with
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): 2 things, and one is the energy of Zurga through this time, and the goddess and the ways that nourish you.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): And then, also, if there's anything you're taking with you to support your practice. And for me, it's definitely gonna be the reminder of of this and not attaching either to non attachment.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): So you can drop that in the chat if there's anything you're taking with you, and or just kind of acknowledge it in your heart, and then we can unmute and say goodbye
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): and thank you to another.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Hmm! So grateful.
Rachel (she/her/hers): Thank you. Community.
Aviana Xochitl (she/her/ella): Thank you. Thank you all for sharing who shared. It was very nourishing to this year.
Stacey D. (She/Her): Yeah, next time. Thank you. Thank you.
Karen McMillan: Thank you.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Thank you.
Karen McMillan: Be well.
pīkake she/her: Mahana.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): hmm!
Karen McMillan: And you look so beautiful in your sorry and whatever else you have on. Oh, thank you so much. It's for me, it added to the feeling, the ambiance, the culture, and the ancient. So thank you.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): So beautiful. Thank you. It's so good to see you.
Susanna Barkataki (she/her): Many blessings.