Dear Yogis.

ZOOM THIS WEEKEND:  Saturday 2pm Tarot/Art,   Sunday 10am The Gita Group,  Tarot Readings available by appointment.

RUMI (Tuesday 7.30pm) – The Dervishes.

Last evening at the RUMI CLASS (7.30pm Zoom) we discussed the Sacred Dance.  The Whirling Dervishes.  Many people think that it is just a matter of putting on a white skirt and a turban and rotating to music.  It might be fun, but not entirely respectful of the rituals, probably because of alack of understanding of what is happening.  It is a complex dance,  intricate and rapturous, and can continue for 6 to eight hours.  Not just the “Las Vegas” half hour commercial representation.

This dance echoes the laws of the universe. The planets revolving about the sun, each turning on its own axis.  Three salutations symbolise degrees of faith, the drums evoke the sound of the last judgement.  The circle of dancers divides into two semi-circles, one representing the involution of souls into matter, the other representing souls returning to the Divine.

The Dervishes enter into the room of the TARIQUA, the meeting.  They are dressed in white which is a symbol of the death shroud, covered with a large black cloak which represents the tomb and wearing their unusual felt hats or turbans which represent the stone which was placed on the tomb..  The image they present as they enter is one of death to the world, death to attachment and desire.  The Sheik (in the beginning this was Rumi, and symbolically remains so), the leader (originally Rumi) enters last.  He represents the axis the QUTH, the point where time and timelessness intersect.

Rumi or the Sheik in the centre represents the secret centre of everything, the message, the inspiration.  Rumi is acknowledged in this way in every dance as the centre point and the source of grace of the whole order.    The Sheik wears a high turban which is rolled back to show a black scarf which indicates his stature and dignity – his place in the Order.  He salutes the dancers who acknowledge him in turn.  He sits in front of a red carpet which represents the colour of the setting sun,  spreading its light over Konya as Rumi was dying,  entering eternal union with his Beloved.  Everything in the dance, everything in the ceremony has deep significance – it is not just dancing in circles.

There are three rounds to the dance which represent the three stages that take you nearer to God.  The path of science, the path to vision and the path to Union.  Circling they dance around the room.  The right arm/hand up towards heaven to receive Grace, the left arm/hand down to direct the Divine Grace into the earth – keeping nothing back for themselves.  They are the channel.  At the end of the third turning the Dervishes drop their cloaks which represents dropping their earthly material existence for a second birth.

Towards the end, the flute enters and the SAMA (the dance) stops..  This sound represents a moment of true union with God.  By the time this moment arrives each movement of the dance leads us to understand the sacredness of the experience.  When the flute stops, the singer sings words from the Qur’an and in this way the word of God arrives in response to the passionate energy of the Dervishes dancing.  It is said that nothing in the world can compare to a great Sufi singer at the end of the Divine dance singing in ecstasy from the Qur’an.

“What is the sama? A message from those hidden within the heart,
A message which gives the heart – a stranger, peace….

Ordinary people dance and frolic in the square
Men of God dance in their own blood”   (Rumi) 

Although I did not see the dance, I had the joy of hearing this song from the Qur’an 30 years ago.  I can still hear it in my mind.  Each minute, each feeling,  is still as fresh and ecstatic as it was then – it has not faded from memory.  Even  though I do not understand the Arabic,  the moment of the song is with me,  and will stay with me.  I also remember the profound and wonderful silence at the end, and the understanding that it is from this core the music and the dance are born (and born again countless times).

 

I WILL SEE YOU ON THE MAT ( AND MAYBE AT RUMI CLASS)

NAMASTE.  JAHNE

 

Dear Yogis,

I know, I know it’s Sunday and you wanted a “day of rest”.  Well lets us all, “un-rest”.   I have done class for you, said a Hail Mary or two for you , and now it’s your turn.  LISTEN UP YOGIS.

CLASS TIMETABLE FOR THE WEEK.

Monday. STUDIO CLASS 2pm,  ZOOM 6.30 Teacher Training:  FORGIVENESS PT.4
Tuesday. ZOOM RUMI 7.30
Wednesday. STUDIO CLASS 5.30pm
Saturday.  ZOOM TAROT/ART 2pm

Sunday. ZOOM GITA 10am every Sunday (TEACHER TRAINING TODAY,  2ND MAY AT 2PM – all welcome)

Over the last few days I have had some fabulous feed back from very unexpected sources regarding both videos and the newsletter.  I have just had my video camera serviced, so can once again do some videos…  So thank you everyone who has given feedback – it often feels like I am talking to the wind, which after all may not be such a bad thing.

Without Covid, without you all, I would not have learned zoom, and it is amazing how reluctant many folk are to do this.  I have settled into it, and it is like having you with me.  Thank you.

 

TODAY…

I would like you to pay attention to a couple of items on the MENU.

  1.   TINY TATTOOS.  Yes, I am back at it, and loving it.  (can’t do them on zoom!).  If you would like a Tiny Tattoo – no larger than a 50cent piece and done with a POKE technique (ancient Japanese method – quiet, no machines), then make an appointment.  I like to do them in henna, but I can do them in black (UGH!).  Henna is so subtle and beautiful.  I can also do the ancient Henna designs from India, Afghanistan and Iran… I just love them.  I did a tattoo on myself last week – a word I need to keep in my mind,  “FAITH”.  I have it just below my thumb so I see it all the time. I will do a photo when it has healed little and faded a little – I love the faded look you get with henna.  I have a tattoo I did on my arm in Henna about 15 years ago and it looks BEAUTIFUL!  The price for a TINY TATTOO  starts at $85 because they do take an hour or more…. Email me, or make a zoom appointment to see designs… and then you can visit.
  2. TAROT/PENDULUM WORK.  “I AM LISTENING”  This is not about finding a man for clients although I have had some outstanding success in that area – probably because I totally rely on spirit.  I look at clients who seem to be fabulous,  self reliant females and think “why would they want a man”, but they do, and spirit finds one – usually “THE ONE”.  Mr. Right.  Spirit has been known to inject life back into what could have been dead relationships.   I don’t ask for myself, because I am totally happy and content by myself.  Really.  I am not Beatrix Potter – say one thing do another.  If you are stuck, if you want to turn the page, if you don’t know what comes next, ZOOM WITH ME.  For you, the cost is $85…. normally $125

  3. REGISTRATION:  If you have not registered, are waiting for “the wind to change”, or thinking you don’t need it – you do, if only to acknowledge your lineage.  Even if you did end up doing extra training in India, or the USA – you started out with us.  Without our initial training you would not have been able to become the teachers you are today.  Support your school, support us, REGISTER TODAY.  Remember the YAMAS.  Respect and support your lineage, your school, your training.  

If you need to speak to me about any of the above, email me on yogafirst2@bigpond.com.  SOON.  I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

 

SEE YOU ON ZOOM

NAMASTE.  JAHNE

 

Dear Yogis,

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT TEACHER TRAINING IS THIS SUNDAY AT 2PM IN THE STUDIO ($20 per 2 hour session).

FRIDAY 6.30PM: TAROT READINGS AVAILABLE WITH ME.  ZOOM.  For Regular taroistas and teachers the cost is $75
SATURDAY: 2pm deferred because of the Studio Teacher Training on Sunday in Studio
SUNDAY 10am GITA STUDY – Zoom or Studio –this session may be duplicated during the afternoon Teacher Training to enable everyone to come.  TEACHER TRAINING – STUDIO – 2PM Our regular monthly class – a duplication of the morning Gita Study plus Q and A..

ALL ZOOM/STUDIO SESSIONS.  The Gita,  Rumi, Tarot and Studio Sessions are charged on a session basis.  If you have not caught up with payment recently, please go to www.yogabeautiful.com.au and click on PAY VIA PAYPAL in the bottom left hand corner and catch up with your payment please.

 

THE BARDO THODOL

HOW ARE YOU LIVING – ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT “WHAT COMES NEXT”?

We are almost finished THE GITA FOR OUR SECOND READING, AND AS THERE IS ALREADY SOME INTEREST, WHEN  WE FINISH,  WE COULD START STUDYING THE BARO THODOL (The Tibetan Book of the Dead), or we could explore the Bible.

Whilst the Bible seems the lesser choice of the two, The King James version (called “The Book of Books”) has had a very exciting history.  It has always been a “revolutionary document”.  It has caused the death of kings, started wars, propelled explorers, and instigated revolutions, as well as being the most published (and maybe read) book in the world..  I think it would be a good study, especially as we are all familiar with it although we may not consider we are.  Our government and our legal system are both predicated on its teachings for instance.   We could study the history, and then take on the actual work.

Both texts would surprise you.  In studying one alongside the other we could see what chapters in the Bible sit alongside the preparation for Dying (and living) found in the Bardo Thodol.  This should keep our minds suitably engaged at least until the end of the year.

The bar do thos grol is known in the west as The Tibetan Book of the Dead, a title popularized in the West,   but as such virtually unknown in Tibet.   The Tibetan Book of the Dead was first published in 1927 by Oxford University Press.  Dr. Walter Y. Evans-Wentz chose this title because of the parallels he found with the Egyptian Book of the Dead.  The finest extant example of the Egyptian Book of the Dead in antiquity is the Papyrus of Ani an Egyptian scribe. It was discovered by Sir E.A.Wallis Budge in 1888 and was taken to the British Museum where it currently resides. Budge was a scoundrel of an archaeologist when they all were bent on discovering treasure and repatriating it to England.

Contrary to the general belief spread in the West by Evans-Wentz, in Tibetan Buddhist practice the Tibetan Book of the Dead is not read to the people who are passing away, but it is rather used during life by those who want to learn to visualize what will come after death in order that they can amend their current life.   It is this aspect that we will be focussing on when we move forward in its study probably in late June after we have concluded the Gita for the second time….

For now, we are concluding the Gita, which we have also read alongside the Bible as Yogananda who wrote a very good translation was a Christian as well as a yogi.  One book does not contradict the other, and most stories can be backed up by archaeology – see the National Geographic specials by Roland Lim currently airing on pay TV..

 

SEE YOU ON SUNDAY OR ON ZOOM.

NAMASTE.  JAHNE