(The symbol for the Anahata (Heart) Chakra.)

I often struggle with what's appropriate to share with you. I question how much I "should" open myself up and reveal about my personal life and experiences. When I first began this blog, I was so ecstatic to be sharing about all things Yoga related. A friend of mine gave me feedback and said, "I want to hear about you, not about all of this impersonal stuff." So, it seems my blog, in addition to sharing about information that pertains to Yoga, has evolved more and more into an expression and offering of myself. I receive feedback from those of you who read my blog and I am grateful and amazed that what I share seems to strike a chord within you. I do believe in the interconnectedness of all things and each of us. We evolve individually and, yet, collectively. No two souls are separate, because we are all souls in the womb of Life...

So, I have been going through massive awakening and healing in my heart chakra. This awakening has, at times, been extremely painful as I feel the struggle of my ego and it's pride fighting to hold on to old patterns and ways of Being. My heart yearns to increasingly open and be free and yet I find it still can be frightening to express my true feelings. In speaking with a co-worker of mine the other day we discussed this exact thing. She was sharing about her experience with her boyfriend, who happens to be living in another part of the world. She shared her insecurities about their relationship and her questioning of his true feelings for her. In her heart she feels strongly he is the one for her, yet somewhere within her there is an uncertainty that he feels the same. Recently, I connected with a person who I felt drawn to and yet terrified of this feeling. Of course I have the intention of growing on my own for a while, yet, this experience brought to light many of my fears and uncertainties about expressing what's in my heart. So, we offered advice to each other. I shared with her the passage and the quote from the Buddha, which I posted in my previous blog. And she shared with me about a book called, If the Buddha Dated: A Handbook for Finding Love on a Spiritual Path by Charlotte Kas. I haven't read this book, though I intend to soon. One of the things my friend shared with me is that it is essential to share our needs and wants with a potential (or present) partner or love interest, in other words, to risk and lay it all on the line. And, she said we must share our heart, share what we are feeling. Yikes! That's the one where I start to feel fear. So, I found this excerpt on Amazon.com as I was looking for the book. This is really powerful. There's a song I recently downloaded on iTunes called The Subject Tonight is Love by Chintan and Prem Joshua from the album Ahir. It's a Yoga tune, with drum beats but it has a few spoken words in it. The song begins by saying:

"The subject tonight is Love. And for tomorrow night as well. As a matter of fact I know of no better topic for us to discuss until we all die."

Wow, seems we've arrived to the point of our destination, our heart, which is really the true beginning of our Spiritual journey, a journey without end, only Infinite potential. Before I share the book review, I would like to share this bit of information which I found while researching information online about the Heart Chakra.

"Many metaphysical schools of thought espouse or imply that the fifth, sixth and seventh chakras (with some even teaching that there are one or more chakras that are located above or outside the body) are more important to spiritual evolution than the Heart Chakra.

However, it is the Heart Chakra that is the most important chakra for soul development because it is the spiritual center in the body that is utilized for the cultivation of LOVE and COMPASSION, and therefore dictates the overall evolution of the individual. This is evidenced by the fact that whenever we feel COMPASSION for another, we feel it in the heart area of the body."

OK, and now the review from the If Buddha Dated book. Enjoy!

Her definition of a spiritual journey is the path we take to be who we truly are, without pretense or attempts to please lovers, family members, or other authority figures. We come to learn that we can love and be loved best by being who we truly are, showing our vulnerability and our humanity, while still expecting to be treated with consideration, compassion, and kindness.
Early in the book, she states, "on the spiritual path, the purpose of any relationship is to wake up and get to know ourselves and our lover, thoroughly, without judgment or pride." And, "Dating with a Buddhist consciousness means a willingness to confront anything inside that kindles fear or anxiety. When we start wanting to run away, be deceptive, tell lies, or put on a mask, we need to walk right into our fears, sit down, and talk to them until they become our friends. That doesn't mean we have a goal of getting rid of fear; rather we accept it as part of our unfolding journey." I couldn't agree more.

Her lists of behaviors for us to examine in our partners and ourselves are excellent and straightforward. A close examination of what we want and what we have to offer, our values and our desires, all play into what makes relationships work or not. She says, "True commitment is born of knowledge. We can't say yes to what we don't know."

Her list of questions to explore with your partner before becoming sexual (page 126) are excellent. So much worthy of quoting that I suggest you simply BUY this book. A little jewel.

I look forwrad to sharing more with you soon about the semi-private Yoga classes I will be offering from my home space, as well as, about the upcoming retreat to the Adirondacks this summer. It's going to be during the Summer Solistice, June 19-23, which is an intensely powerful time of the year to go through a life-enhancing experience like this. I hope you will be able to join me!Read more