Tarot Reading for August 2016
AND
Blog #59: What's So Great About Yoga?
Legacy of the Divine Tarot
THE FOOL: A new path and a fresh start await those
who are adventurous and willing to embrace change. Now is a good time to strike out on a new
course of action, perhaps doing something that you have considered but put on
the back burner because you thought you weren’t ready. Now you are, and now is the time. Maybe you have always wanted to travel to a
special place, but put it off because you told yourself you were too busy, you
didn’t have enough money, or you had other more important obligations. Maybe you have wanted to try a new hobby or
project, but procrastinated for similar reasons. Procrastinate no longer! The energy of change
is in the air, and there is no better time than this month to take advantage of
this spark that could ignite wondrous things in your life.
3 OF COINS: Is there something in your life that brings
you such bliss that when you are working or engaged in it you feel as if time
stands still? If so, you are very
fortunate to have found this, so take time now to engage in this work, play, or
activity that brings such joy. If you have
nothing in your life that matches this description, then use this month as the
jumping off point for you to find something that fits the bill. It could be something as small as going to a
nearby park to spend time in nature, going back to an abandoned hobby that you
truly enjoyed, or spending more time with good friends. Whatever it is, you will feel more energetic
and revitalized if you take time to meet your own needs by doing something that
brings you joy.
JUSTICE: August is the month where truth shall
continue to prevail. More and more
people are awakening to the fact that there is something quite amiss in our
world. Things are not what they seem,
and fear is rampant in some areas. Rather
than giving in to fear of the future or fear of where our country and the world
are headed, focus instead on all that you have to be grateful for. It does you nor anyone else any good to
wallow in the bad news that seems to surround us. Keep yourself in a space of unconditional
love for yourself and others who are going through a rough time or just need
support. We can change the world through
love, and this is a good month to continue along this path. Remember, it is always darkest before dawn,
and we are on the precipice of a new age.
3 OF SWORDS: If sadness, disappointment, loneliness,
anxiety, worry, or fear come your way, the best thing to do is to allow
yourself to experience these feelings in your body and heart, and then let them
go. Don’t try to suppress them, for this
may just make the hurt and pain feel worse.
This is not always easy to do, but if you give yourself a certain amount
of time to feel sorry for yourself and then distract yourself by doing
something different, you may find that you are able to move forward. Pain will happen, but how long we allow
ourselves to suffer with the pain is up to us.
Choose to help yourself heal by releasing the pain or fear, or get the
help of someone else who is equipped to assist you.
TRENDS FOR THE
MONTH: Much opportunity awaits those
this month who are willing to help themselves in a variety of ways. Doing something different, getting out of
your routine, accepting rather than fighting change—these are all ways of
taking advantage of the August energy. Take time to do things that bring you
pleasure, and if faced with worries or fears, remember that “This too shall
pass”, and you can get through it. Don’t
let the fear-mongering going on in the world now affect you, and recognize that
many truths are being brought into the light.
Have faith that things are getting better, for they are.
Blog #59: What’s So Great About Yoga?
Retrieved from www.dailyreckoning.com
Have you ever thought about taking a yoga class to see what
it was all about? And do you wonder why more people are practicing yoga?
In this short article, a history of yoga will be given, as
well as some types/styles and the numerous benefits of yoga. You will find that there is a lot
that is great about yoga!
History of Yoga
The origin of yoga goes back more than 5,000 years to India,
designed as a practice to unite the mind and the body. This helps with a more positive outlook and
experiencing more serenity and peace.
The word “yoga” means union, especially “union with the
divine”, although today the spiritual aspect may not be emphasized as much. The physical aspects of yoga consist of a
series of stretches and poses combined with proper breathing techniques. It is a wonderful way to bring more balance
into your life by stretching and strengthening your body, focusing your mind,
and relaxing yet rejuvenating your spirit.
There are many types
of yoga to choose from, depending on what your goal is. Here is a partial list.
Ø
Hatha yoga—is the most popular in the U.S. It emphasizes physical postures (called
asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama).
Ø
Iyengar yoga—focuses on alignment and uses
various props to help hold various postures. Its movements are fluid and
dance-like.
Ø
Ashtanga yoga—is intense and fast-paced, and
sometimes called power yoga. It helps build endurance and strength; postures
are linked to breathing patterns.
Ø
Bikram yoga—is practiced in a very hot
room. It consists of 26 postures done
twice per session.
Ø
Restorative yoga—is not as active as those
above, focusing instead on relaxation.
Some benefits of
yoga
Ø
It is a
wonderful workout for your body. You can adapt the postures to your own
speed and comfort, whether in a class or practicing using a video.
Ø
It helps
you get more in touch with your body.
As you move your body to increase strength and durability, you are able
to notice when a part of your body does not seem to be working properly.
Ø
It helps
you focus on your breathing. Many
people nowadays breathe too shallowly or not often enough. Yoga helps you pay
attention to breathing, emphasizing deep breathing, which is good for your
lungs and whole body. Proper breathing is also a good stress reducer.
Ø
It helps
you improve your posture by teaching you proper body alignment, such as
pulling the shoulders back, positioning the head over ears, and
sitting/standing with a straight back. You will find yourself walking taller
and more confidently. A wonderful side
effect of good posture is a reduction in back pain, because pain is an
inflammation caused by the body being out of alignment. Yoga helps strengthen back muscles while
teaching proper alignment.
Ø
It helps
your balance and stability. Balancing
poses require core strength and focus; the more you practice yoga, the better
will be your balance.
Ø
It can
develop your physical and mental strength.
A combination of lunges, stretches, twists, and other postures requires
that you use most of your muscles, and while doing so, it is important to focus
on the moment. It gives you a clear mind
because your intense focus does not allow your mind to wander. In fact, one of the most important benefits
of yoga is the quieting of the mind and learning to pay attention.
Ø
It helps
quiet your mind for meditation. Yoga is a form of meditation, because it
requires intention and focus. Poses done
without concentration and thought are just that—poses, not yoga. If you meditate, you may find that a regular
yoga practice helps you meditate more easily.
Ø
Yoga
therapy is on the rise. Yoga therapy includes any yoga technique that systematically
helps alleviate physical injury or pain, or mental and emotional stress or
trauma. Research is showing that yoga
can help with back pain, anxiety,
depression, and insomnia. It can also help to lessen the risk factors
associated with cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
If you want to age gracefully and
have functional strength for your whole life, then you may want to see if there
are any yoga classes that you can attend, just to try out. If you stick with it, you will be amazed at
not only the physical effects on your body but the sense of well-being, clarity
of thought, and serenity you experience as well.
Sources
