A Testimonial

It's always nice to get another person's perspective on how we come across.

I'm now on Plenty of Fish.com, a free dating web site. The following is a testimonial from Joe, a new friend of mine from the site:

"D. is a fantastic lady: a true gem--fun, funny, and up for
adventure. She's got a great sense of humor and really is as
vibrant and alluring as her profile reveals. Grounded, deliciously
witty and smart . . . she's a catch, Gentlemen - make no mistake
about it. Cheers!"

Thanks, Joe! You ROCK!!! How nice is that for Joe to take the time to write about his experience in hanging out with me (some call it "dating"). A third party testimonial is a powerful sales technique. We're more likely to believe what someone else says versus the person themselves say. Like an outside authority confirming that what we're saying is true.

When we're authentic, people see the best in us. When we allow our guard to drop, be completely who we are, we have fun and it seems to be very attractive!

So how can you allow your guard to drop? Where can you allow people to see the real you, the true you? Allow them to see your passion, your enthusiasm, your love of life.

Jason Mraz -I'm Yours (live)

What a great, fun, romantic song! With it's island feel you can't help but move when you listen to it. Love the guy on djembe/percussion/backup vocals!

Following My Dharma

It's all coming clear to me now, exactly what I'm supposed to be doing with my life. My Dharma, or spiritual life path, is coming into focus on a daily basis. Here's what I've been discovering this week as we move into today's full moon in Sagittarius (truth, philosophy, higher learning, foreign cultures).

"Bringing harmony to the planet, one breath at a time." My Dharma is to spread the teachings of yoga, the union of body, mind and spirit. In so doing, I help people come into harmony within themselves. When someone is in harmony on the inside, they can be in harmony on the outside as well. It works for groups of people, too. Community groups, work groups, mom's groups, groups of people brought together for one reason or another. When they are in harmony, their families, communities, everyone is in harmony as well.

How I'm to spread this message of union, harmony, and peace, is though social networking. The big rage these days are the myriad social networking sites. Vehicles like You Tube, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, Digg, Stumbled Upon, Delicious, etc., is what my guidance says the way to reach the most people with the least amount of effort. It's a way for my teachings to be easily conveyed. Instant connectivity, instant access and availability, and instant transmission of this information. It really is the Age of Aquarius, isn't it?! For the good of all, and at warp speed, no less.

I love it when a plan comes together! Stay tuned, and sign up! Go to the "Links" page on www.TheYogaWoman.com, then to "Social Media and YouTube." Send me a friend request and mention this blog!

Peace,

Debbie

Hyper-Dating

How strange it is, the continuum upon which my dating level resides. It reminds me of the Tilt-A-Wheel ride at the carnival. It's either way up in the air, which its resultant stomach lift, or it's about to scrape the ground, sparks flying. Hot or cold, no in between.

Thanks to my meditation practice, I've cultivated the ability to step back from my life and become the observer. Instead of being caught up in the "living-ness" of life, I can watch it as if from the outside when I meditate. Generating an objective view of yourself is quite helpful. It lets you see your habitual patterns and decide if you'd like to keep them or not.

My habitual dating patterns have been changing lately. My guess is that's what's causing the wild "up" portion of this Tilt-A-Wheel ride I'm on. I thought I knew what I wanted (a serious, committed relationship), and now I know that I don't have a clue. I'm shifting in what I want. My view of who and what I'm looking for in a partner just got way bigger. Instead of, "He had to fit into this mold," I'm now able to meet people with the thought, "Let me see who this person is, what they're about, what are their hopes and dreams," like that. That's a huge shift by itself.

I say "Yes," more than I say, "No," these days. Not to everyone and everything, but I'm a lot more open to meeting new types of people than I had been, even in the recent past. There's been some weirdness (don't get me started on the ONE-MINUTE DATE!!), but for the most part, I've met some great guys.

Where can you change your habitual patterns in your life and get a different result? What can you begin saying "Yes," to, and open yourself up to new possibilities?

Peace,

Debbie

Integration

The other day I wrote about broken mirrors and integrating our shadow side into the totality of our being. Here's what's emerging from the shadows in my dating practice.

I've been on a roll lately meeting all kinds of people, both potential romantic partners, business associates, and new friends. Lot's of different aspects of "me" showing up. My practice is to accept is aspect of me who shows up in the form or another person.

The questions I'm learning to ask myself when I meet people are:

1. How is this person like me?
2. What's there to like about this person?
3. Where am I judging him or her? Can I let it go?
4. What does this person need at this time?
5. How can I help them?
6. What are they showing me about myself, like it or not?
7. How can I love them unconditionally?

This type of interaction with people is new for me. It's not yet my habit. But since it's a practice, and I'm new at this, I'm going to cut myself some slack. One small step towards acceptance goes a long way.

What can you incorporate into your relationship practice? How can you begin to integrate all aspects of yourself into a whole being?

Peace,

Debbie

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Artwork "Simple" by Brian. Used with permission.

Amazing Grace

At the end of my yoga classes, I usually chant during savasana (corpse pose or relaxation pose). The Sanskrit language is beautiful to begin with, and the room's acoustics add an ethereal quality to my voice.

Chanting is a way for my students to disconnect from their thinking mind. They are able to surrender into the NOW moment of their breath and be present with the sound, vibration and frequency. The objective of savasana is to observe the breath, nothing more.

As a rule I refrain from singing in English, simply because the students will listen to what I'm saying rather than relaxing and following their breath. I broke my rule the other day and sang in English. I sang "Amazing Grace," a favorite of mine. One of the ladies shared after class that it would have been her mother's birthday that day, and her name was Grace. Man! That's grace for you!

There's an element of grace that surrounds all of us. I'm realizing that everything we need is provided for us, at exactly the right time and in the right way, when we allow it. It may not be what we think we want. It may not show up just as we pictured it. And yet when we look back we see the wake that grace leaves in our lives.

When you do your affirmations, or ask the Universe for what you want, be sure to add a caveat: "with ease and grace." Grace goes before you and eases the way, so to speak. It's a great companion to have.

Peace, and of course, Grace,

Debbie

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Artwork "Thunderstorm_01" by Brian. Used with permission.
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Pluto Transits and Broken Mirrors

Pluto moved into my partnership house recently when it took up residence in Capricorn. Transiting Pluto is the purifying dunk into destruction followed by a rebirth into a new, more true way of being. A Pluto transit is like experiencing an earthquake or volcano in whatever area of your life (house position) the transit occurs. That means that my old ways of approaching partnerships and relationships are changing dramatically, and its coming from deep within. It's my soul's wish that this be cleared at this time, so it's bringing it up.

When I first began writing this blog last summer I mentioned that we are all mirrors for each other, reflecting different aspects of ourselves. When we attempt to integrate ourselves into relationships, those things we don't like about ourselves, our shadow side, begins to show up as our reflection in the others behaviors. Really it's just parts of ourselves we're projecting onto someone else because we don't own it as being a part of us. It's in the shadows, remember, not in the light, so we can't see it. So we project it, thus putting the blame on them. It's really just putting the broken mirror back together again.

When we experience relationship trials and tribulations our shadow side is brought into the light to be healed. Like a frightened child defending it's small turf, it behaves badly, a reaction based on fear. It, too, seeks compassion, empathy, acknowledgment. But what shows up as we begin the reintegrate the parts of us we've kept hidden away? Why its our jealousy, insecurities, little white lies and half truths, manipulations, victim roll-playing, playing the martyr, games we play! Welcome to your SHADOW, folks! Step right up, best show in town! Writers out there, you know what I'm talking about. We seem to be more familiar than most with our shadow. Just look at Stephen King if you want to write about the shadow! Yikes!

In my Roots book I talk about living in a Drama Free Zone. Drama zaps us of our energy that could be used to create the life of our dreams. Drama free, huh? I obviously wasn't in a relationship or dating at the time I wrote that part! Is it me or does it seem like you can't escape drama when it comes to dating, sex, relationships, the push and pull of freedom/commitment? Maybe it's just me.

I'll soon be sharing with you the aspect of my shadow that's been coming up recently. I'm doing this in hopes that my being transparent and authentic will encourage you to do the same. If we disown parts of ourselves we will never become whole.

To wholeness!

Peace,

Debbie

An Aside:

Shamless plug for my donation-based astrological readings! If you want to know where Pluto is affecting your life at this time, let's take a look at your chart. You don't have to understand how it works, just listen for the message. Visit www.TheYogaWoman.com now to learn more. You'll be amazed! For real! (:^D

D.

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Artwork "Moon Tree" by Brian. Used with permission.
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