I very much enjoyed Sat Charan's recent workshop, it was such a pleasure to see so many people there. I was really touched by the story she told 'The three dresses' by the brothers Grimm. The part of this story that touched me the most was when our heroine was desperately trying to cover up her shining self with a cloak of old smelly fur and soot, she wanted to hide her true identity, afterall her true beauty had already brought her such misery and suffering already. (being forced into marrying her own father the king) It touched me that she was so reluctant to show herself as she really was. I often battle with being 'seen' ....which as a yoga teacher can be tricky!! I often have attacks of nerves or feelings of being unworthy. I learned from Sat Charan that the 'fur' in the story is made up of so many different animals, like a patchwork quilt of skins. She likened it to all the limiting, untrue indentities and perceptions and beliefs that we take on, these furs cover our true self like a second skin. It is a painful process to realise that these furs are not who we really are. The fur begins to stick to the skin and become part of us and it takes time, patience and courage to begin to peel back the fur and reveal what lies beneath. In my own journey I have faced many false furs and everytime I begin the process of peeling back and revealing what is real I get scared and shaky and wonder why I'm even doing it
But, sure enough as the new skin gets some fresh air and the scars of removal begin to heal, the beauty of the skin 'as it really is' reveals itself. There comes a time when we can no longer hide who we really are and our own revelations touch the hearts of others and encourage them to throw off the old furs too.. Hurrah!..
Thank you
Akal Dev Elaine x
Our Deepest Fear
By Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.
We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
But, sure enough as the new skin gets some fresh air and the scars of removal begin to heal, the beauty of the skin 'as it really is' reveals itself. There comes a time when we can no longer hide who we really are and our own revelations touch the hearts of others and encourage them to throw off the old furs too.. Hurrah!..
Thank you
Akal Dev Elaine x
Our Deepest Fear
By Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.
We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
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