A non-Jewish friend used to confuse Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Each fall, as one or the other of the high holy days approached, they'd ask, "is this the happy one or the sad one?" While one is generally upbeat, and the other generally somber, I find a balance in both, which didn't make it easy for my friend to know when to wish me a "happy" holiday.
Same goes for the many celebrations during the month of June: Under the rainbow glow of Pride Month, my heart hurts for generations of people who couldn't claim the basic birthright of being publicly proud of who they were and how they loved. As Juneteenth officially becomes a federal holiday, it stands as a reminder that 156 years ago, human beings were overjoyed to learn they were no longer enslaved, a state of chattel that should never have been forced in the first place. And for Black and LGBTQ Americans in the year 2021, there remain deep pockets of bigotry, misunderstanding, and inequity.
This week we noted the summer solstice, honoring the longest stretch of sunshine, while large swaths of the country across the south and the west wither under scorching heat, a flame lit and fanned by unbridled consumption and disregard for the decades-old warnings of climate science. And for those in yoga's orbit, we now have the 7-year-old International Day of Yoga, a wonderful opportunity to honor and celebrate the rich traditions and profound benefits of this ancient practice in modern life. And yet, the holiday was proclaimed by a nationalistic government that elevates and empowers one culture at the real and deep expense of others, even as the COVID-19 crisis devastates the country [read more here]
Yoga is a practice of discernment. It offers space for boundless beauty, and creates a safe container to hold and process gut-wrenching grief. It's not an either/or endeavor. Just like the messiness of life, it functions far beyond the borders of the binary. So as we roll out our yoga mats or fluff up our meditation cushions, will the session be a happy one or a sad one? A better question is whether the practice help us perceive the nuance and complexity of humanity, and enable us to live out the wisdom it offers.
~ Annie Moyer