Dear Yogis,

I have been reminded of Shakespeare’s Play of the same name “Much ado about Nothing”.  Shakespeare borrowed the title from a biblical quote.  Jesus said it.  He had been asked to do a healing and in spite of this,  the family were still weeping and wailing.  Although they had asked for a healing, and had seen Him heal before, they were fearful it wouldn’t happen this time and didn’t trust that Jesus was up to the job.  Jesus said the noise was “much ado about nothing”.

I believe that this is a Divine Time – a moment of Divine Destiny, but only you have the opportunity to make it wonderful. You can wander around weeping and wailing or you can trust that all is well.  You can change from fear based living into faith based living.  I am sure you know that as a race we are living longer and healthier than ever before, we have more medical science than ever before, we have more science and technology than ever before, but still many people live in fear. I am not saying we shouldn’t be careful, but we shouldn’t be fearful.  Fear is a result of increased vulnerability.  Don’t let fear push you into denial.  Faith isn’t about pretending something is right when it isn’t. Fear causes procrastination.  Someone said to me that waiting between “Yes sir” and “No sir” is an “Ulcer”.  When you are down to nothing I can tell you that the Universe (God) is up to something.

Some students are making the best of this time, doing “homesteading” (instead of “Home-staying”) projects with their family to great result.  Take Sam for instance who with the help of her family,  has created this lovely raised garden out of old floor boards. You can see how prolific it has become in such a short time.

Without this gift of home-time (this Divine Time) it probably wouldn’t have eventuated.  In the background is the compost heap, boxes, boards and all the bits and pieces that tell me the this is an on-going project, and on-going change.  I am sure it keeps this little family well engaged, and they will enjoy the fruits of this particular labour.  It is easier to get children to eat vegetables if they have participated in growing them!

What are you doing with your extra time? Here are some (serious) questions to answer.

1. WHAT DO I WANT?
2. WHAT DO I HAVE?
3. WHAT WILL I DO IF I GET WHAT I WANT?
4. WHY WILL I DO IT?

Answer these questions above,  and take action, and you will clear much of the confusion you may feel around you.

In the story “Alice in Wonderland” there is this significant dialogue between Alice and the Dormouse.

“I wish you wouldn’t squeeze so,” said the Dormouse, who was sitting next to her, “I can hardly breathe.”    “I can’t help it,” said Alice very meekly, “I’m growing,”     “You’ve no right to grow here,” said the Dormouse.   “Don’t talk nonsense,” said Alice more boldly: “You know that you are growing too.”

“Yes, but I grow at a reasonable pace,” said the Dormouse: “Not in your ridiculous fashion.”

 

Have a lovely Week.  Keep well, keep safe, and remember that this Divine Time may shortly end.

Namaste.  Jahne

Dear Yogis,

This is the last letter of Irrfan Khan, one of the stars of Slumdog Millionaire and many other films.  I thought it was extraordinary, and have put aside my petty ramblings in order to bring this to you.

Irrfan Khan on battling cancer: I trust, I’ve surrendered, irrespective of the outcome

It’s been quite some time now since I have been diagnosed with a high-grade neuroendocrine cancer.   This new name in my vocabulary, I got to know, was rare, and due to fewer study cases, and less information comparatively, the unpredictability of the treatment was more. I was part of a trial-and-error game.

I had been in a different game, I was travelling on a speedy train ride, had dreams, plans, aspirations, goals, was fully engaged in them. And suddenly someone taps on my shoulder and I turn to see. It’s the TC: “Your destination is about to come. Please get down.” I am confused: “No, no. My destination hasn’t come.” “No, this is it. This is how it is sometimes.”   The suddenness made me realise how you are just a cork floating in the ocean with UNPREDICTABLE currents! And you are desperately trying to control it.

In this chaos, shocked, afraid and in panic, while on one of the terrifying hospital visits, I blabber to my son, “The only thing I expect from ME is not to face this crisis in this present state. I desperately need my feet. Fear and panic should not overrule me and make me miserable.”  That was my INTENTION. AND THEN PAIN HIT. As if all this while, you were just getting to know pain, and now you know his nature and his intensity. Nothing was working; NO consolation, no motivation. The entire cosmos becomes one at that moment – just PAIN, and pain felt more enormous than GOD.

As I was entering the hospital, drained, exhausted, listless, I hardly realised my hospital was on the opposite side of “Lord’s”, the stadium. The Mecca of my childhood dream. Amidst the pain, I saw a poster of a smiling Vivian Richards. Nothing happened, as if that world didn’t ever belong to me.    This hospital also had a coma ward right above me. Once, while standing on the balcony of my hospital room, the peculiarity jolted me. Between the game of life and the game of death, there is just a road. On one side, a hospital, on the other, a stadium. As if one isn’t part of anything which might claim certainty – neither the hospital, nor the stadium. That hit me hard hard.  I was left with this immense effect of the enormous power and intelligence of the cosmos. The peculiarity of MY hospital’s location – it HIT me. The only thing certain was the uncertainty. All I could do was to realise my strength and play my game better.

This realisation made me submit, surrender and trust, irrespective of the outcome, irrespective of where this takes me, eight months from now, or four months from now, or two years. The concerns took a back seat and started to fade and kind of went out of my mind-space.   For the first time, I felt what ‘freedom’ truly means. It felt like an accomplishment. As if I was tasting life for the first time, the magical side of it. My confidence in the intelligence of the cosmos became absolute. I feel as if it has entered every cell of mine.

Time will tell if it stays, but that is how I feel as of now.

Throughout my journey, people have been wishing me well, praying for me, from all over the world. People I know, people I don’t even know. They were praying from different places, different time zones, and I feel all their prayers become ONE. One big force, like a force of current, which got inside me through the end of my spine and has germinated through the crown of my head.

It’s germinating – sometimes a bud, a leaf, a twig, a shoot. I keep relishing and looking at it. Each flower, each twig, each leaf which has come from the cumulative prayers, each fills me with wonder, happiness and curiosity.

A realisation that the cork doesn’t need to control the current. That you are being gently rocked in the cradle of nature.

 

NAMASTE.. Keep well, Keep safe.  Jahne

Dear Yogis

WEALTH, I have been there, not something I have to think about now, although I am abundant in so many ways, and gifted by COVID.

Simplicity always calls us to a simple lifestyle (some people imagine it to mean de-cluttering) however it does not often call us to a reduction in income.  This has also been imposed on most of us by COVID.  I understand that this subject of “giving” is dynamite,  especially when we feel we are suffering, or lesser-than..  It takes a special person to correctly handle monetary wealth.  Gluttony, greed, pride, jealousy and anger can creep in whilst we are not looking.  This path is one of great frustrations and great temptations, which those of us who don’t have great wealth will probably never think about. Receiving wealth draws moral choices, and difficult decisions that the rest of us will never have to make.

The most dangerous aspect of a wealthy lifestyle is the false sense of power it gives.  Wealth may give a mistaken sense of control.  People seek us out not because of who we are, but because of what we have.  Once the money goes you will not find them, they are on to the next person.  The the most dangerous thing of all – we begin to believe that we run everything, we are in charge.  The spiritual warriors we need to emulate are those who can receive $30,000 one day and give it away the next.. all of it.  Money is a very demanding ministry, and should never be attempted without spiritual guidance.

To deal with money in abundance you need a spiritual director who is not impressed by money, and will tell you the truth in all circumstances, with tenderness. You will need to be truthful, open, listening and able to be taught.  The gift you have been given, the  work you have undertaken will put you in great spiritual danger.  Although it is difficult, great good can come from it. There are many examples of people of great wealth who have been released from the need to hold on to it.  Who have been able to freely give.

This ministry is not just for the super wealthy.  This work is usually under taken by ordinary people with simple budgets. People with a willingness to be a channel.  There are many ways to approach this however in this time of COVID, are we able to simplify our lifestyle, budget correctly, and what you have saved, give away? I have a largish piggy bank and I put all my spare change in it every day, and this is one way that I am able to give to unexpected small missions.  It is easy, and the money mounts up rather quickly, although,  whilst I have no classes,  am not shopping and have little cash it has slowed somewhat.

The photo shows my lovely piggy bank, and the last empty out…. People who pay me in coin enable this ministry.  Some students get paid in coin, they use this coin to learn yoga and pay me in coin, and I use the coin in donations and missions.  It is a lovely service and a good use of money.

We will tackle the Gifts of tithing, service, and sacrifice in coming newsletters.  In the meanwhile, eat well (look at the blog for recipes (www.wildnweedy.blogspot.com).

Please resubscribe to the videos, Why do zoom classes when this has always been available to you.  A whole year’s learning is available to you in 15 minute grabs – whenever you have 15 minutes which is the usual video unit time, and don’t forget this COVID time is a great opportunity to get up to date with your modules, and check your REGISTRATION.

Keep well and keep safe.  I miss our classes, seeing you, speaking with you…

Namaste,  Jahne