I AM STRONG, SO STRONG...THE DRUMBEAT OF COURAGE

When I came to SC in 2017, I met some folks who were into drumming, which took me back to my "drum circle" days and made me feel like this place might be OK after all. As is the wont of the Universe, it turns out that it was oh so much more complicated than that...these folks were seriously into West African (WA) drumming, which is to say, they treated drumming as craft, and sought to honor the tradition, history, and culture of the music...as opposed to my “just want to bang on my drum all day". Learning the proper way to strike the djembe in order to make the 3 notes of drumming correctly, and learning to apply the correct rhythm and note structure to play traditional songs, turns out to be a bit of a challenge...and as you might expect...requires, like yoga (life)...PRACTICE. As part of the practice, I was taught to use mnemonics to help ingrain the correct handing and rhythms. The basic entry level rhythm is named Passport, as it allows entry into the world of WA drumming, and the mnemonic that we used was "Strong, so Strong, I am Strong, so Strong". If you are like me, and rhythmically challenged, during drumming practice this mnemonic turns out to be best used as mantra, since getting the correct handing, rhythm, and notes to occur in proper sequence and timing is basically unachievable...and lest I fall into despair and become harsh and judgemental with myself, it is best that I just focus on the practice, and mantra enables that focus. In yoga (life) practice, mantra provides the same process, allowing my mind to remain focused on the practice, and to stay out of judgement and criticism, condemnation, competition, and comparison.

My partner and favorite person in this world has a practice involving Tarot cards / readings, and occasionally I am asked to "pull a card". Yesterday, was one of those days, and I pulled the Strength card, number 8 in the Major Arcana. The Strength tarot card is about overcoming inner obstacles by using our inner strength. It is only possible to use our inner strength when we have certain qualities like patience, self-discipline and self-knowledge. The Strength tarot card represents our courage, passions, strength, self-confidence, patience, and compassion. Strength reminds us to follow our passions, to take the time to do the things that make us resonate in our hearts and souls, that makes us strong within ourselves and which build confidence and self-worth. Kindness, leadership, and love are what will get us there. Strength reminds us that we are strong enough to be loving and caring, regardless of the current circumstances in which we find ourselves. While the Strength tarot card is present in a reading, there is no reason for having self doubts, because we have what we need to overcome this situation.

In my yoga (life) practice, this relates to Chakra 3 (of the primary 7 chakras), Manipura, the Solar Plexus / Navel Chakra. Chakra 3, whose Sanskrit name Manipura is translated as mani = gem or jewel, and pura= city, jewel city is located in the energy body at the solar plexus in the center core of the body. Picture at that location a glowing ball of golden yellow. The color of the navel chakra is yellow – a bright golden yellow. This navel chakra is aligned with organizing/directing, and its purpose is to illuminate personal power, self-will, and the burn of inner motivation, and its nature is to illuminate our right to act. With respect to the mental/emotional body, Manipura represents the emotional themes of power, will, control, optimism. And so, with this in mind, we understand that the orientation of the navel chakra is self-definition. Manipura, the 3rd chakra, is all about strength of will, self-mastery, self-esteem, self-control, individuation – the appropriate use of the ego to drive us to manifest our unique selves into the world. This is the place from which we step up and out, where we take the last shot / make the play, go for it…the focus to take the risk and to do.

So, why is this timely and interesting ? Because, as it turns out, at this very moment my circumstances are such that I am making a transition in my life practice into being a Transformation Coach, which involves stepping out into the world in a way that I have not done previously, and which brings with it all manner of challenges. Specifically, I am currently working to develop video content of myself leading / teaching specific yoga / life practices designed to help folks shift out of habits and uplevel into new routines as a path to becoming authentically engaged in their lives. Much like the first (and last) time I recorded myself singing, when I play back what I have recorded, I am faced with the dissonance of "what I think I did vs what is apparent in the recording"....humbling, daunting, and downright fearsome. I am now acutely aware of what I have heard many actors / performers say, to wit; "the camera ADDS 10 pounds !". I am also now even more acutely aware of my perfectionist blocks, as I watch the video and my inner critic loudly proclaims how...my posture is incorrect, my voice is too loud/too soft/too expressive/too unengaged, my cueing is non-directive, my movements are disjointed and out-of-sequence, my hair is too thin on top and that there is way-too-much-forehead-in the-frame, and that no one is ever going to sit through this let alone use it as a guide to aid their own practice...I can attest that it is difficult to ignore and avoid the haters when they are living in your head !

So, I ground into my Navel Chakra, Manipura, and I pull up my Strength card, and I do my best to do my best and avoid self-judgement, self-abuse, and self-regret. I remember one of my favorite mantras; "Each day, it helps to remember that I am always changing. My task for this day is to be honest with myself, to be respectful of others, and to stay open to my Source/Universe/Higher Power. I remain hopeful for the future, because outcomes are in the hands of God." And I return to my practice, turning my face toward the warmth of God/Source/Universe/Higher Power, letting the shadows fall behind me, and fix my gaze upon the next right thing that needs to be done and know that I can do it because I am in the breath.

And then I go back to drumming (or, in this case, recording) while rolling the mnemonic throughout my head and body : "Strong, so Strong, I am Strong, so Strong..."

Stay strong in your practice(s)...Namaste