April showers bring May flowers. While this statement is a well known truth in the most literal sense, the aphorism is quite fitting and symbolic of our current circumstances. Many of us may not feel as though the showers have passed. We may be wondering when, and if the May flowers are coming at all. If there is one thing that I have learned from my own practice, itās that change is the only constant. We must stay strong and know that the sun will rise again. Therefore, our sanskrit word for the month of May is padma.Ā
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Padma means lotus. The lotus is an aquatic plant native to Asia and Australia and is known to grow in murky, muddy, and sometimes shallow waters. The lotus flower is held sacred in many traditions not only because of its beauty, but because it is a symbol of purity, prosperity, grace, serenity and resilience. Even though the seed of the lotus is planted in mud, it is still able to rise up through the murky waters to reveal its beautiful flower in full bloom, seemingly untouched, above the surface of the water. The seed of the lotus can even survive hundreds of years without water and still maintain its ability to bloom, under the right circumstances. The stem of the flower is known to be flexible, but difficult to break. The lotus flower just might be one of theĀ
ultimate symbols of resilience and is certainly a favorite among yogis.
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As we move into this month, consider how you can use the image of the lotus to bring forth your own resilience and grace. During yoga practice you could practice half lotus in your tree pose, embodying the flexible, yet sturdy stem of the lotus plant. You might also choose to sit in padmasana (lotus pose) or half lotus pose (ardha padmasana) in centering or meditation. Another way to bring this symbol into practice is to simply bring forth the image of a lotus in your mindās eye and repeat āI am resilientā as a mantra for your meditation. However you choose to evoke your resilience and grace, do so with the knowing that May has arrived and the flowers will soon be here.
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With Love,
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Mercedes