Black Lives Matter. Channeling Fire & Taking Action

Channeling Anger about Social Injustices...

We are witnessing a planetary shift in consciousness.

A time when violence and brutality against our black brothers and sisters is no longer tolerated.   A time where other nationalities and countries across the planet are at long last reaching out their hands, their voices, their pocket books, and their creative minds in support of creating a new path
of equality.

In the yoga world we've confused yoga as a self-preserving life raft. That's true. But it starts with helping others. That's part of why we begin to feel better. The first step of yoga is called AHIMSA. 

Ahimsa is often translated as "non-violence". On a deeper level, Ahimsa means "doing good". In other words, it's not enough to hang out in mountain caves meditating on peace for all beings.
We must allow our body to express
what is within our heart,
so that what is within
our heart
becomes our reality.

How we respond in this moment will be different for everyone. Please do not judge yourself or others for it. Your precious prana has much better uses when channelized towards the light. This is not to say that anger doesn't have a role. Anger is medicine when it's used at the right place at the right time by the right person (or people) in the right way. No different from a powerful herb.  You must know how to wield the medicine, and use it wisely.

We learn in Ayurveda that the most powerful poisons have the potential be be the most powerful medicines. But they must be processed properly. Anger is the energy of fire. It has the power to burn. Thus, anger - channeled properly - transforms. This requires us to keep our fire focused on the mission, not to attach it to a specific person or group.

When we attach to and personalize the anger, that anger burns like poison within our hearts erupting as hatred and violence, which is poison for the giver and receiver. This type of anger is destructive rather
than transformative fire. This is war and disease,
individually and collectively. So let's channelize our anger wisely and get about the business of transformation.

For those so inclined, (perhaps they're pittas =)...
You're already "fighting the good fight", taking action, on the front lines, protesting peacefully, donating, educating yourself and others,
we salute you! Carry on. You may find the below resources helpful.

Those feeling overwhelmed, shell shocked
and unable to move, you're not alone. That's the "freeze" variety of the "fight, flight, or freeze" model of how the human body responds to threats and emergencies. It's got a kapha quality, of waiting,
witnessing. We'll be waiting for you.

 Perhaps you've found yourself hiding away. Wanting to be anywhere but here. Maybe eating sugar, drinking alcohol, smoking cannabis,
changing the channel, it's got a vata quality of "flighting". With all love and compassion, we see you. We feel you. This is BIG. This is scary. We'll be here holding down the fort for when when you feel ready.

6 Ways to Take Action:

Begin Communications
Have the hard conversations.
Listen deeply.

Watch:

Michael Wood Ex-Cop Exposes Police Culture & Solutions
TEDex: "How we can make racism a solvable problem and improve policing" with Dr. Phillip Goff

Read: 
Book: "The New Jim Crow: 
Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness"
by Michelle Alexander
Article: "The New Era of Public Safety:
A Guide to Fair, Safe & Effective
Community Policing"

Take a FREE online Course:
offered by University of Illinois
with James Anderson on
"Race and Cultural Diversity
in American Life and History"
Join me and 11,500 others already enrolled!

Donate:
Official George Floyd Memorial Fund - Go Fund Me
Support George Floyd’s family, his children and their education

Sign:
Color of Change Petition
to End Violent Policing Against Black People

 Let's Stand United with Our Black Brothers and Sisters, Taking Action Until the Dream Becomes Our Reality,

Traci Webb