In most yoga classes, the teacher ends with a simple closing, “Namaste.” One translation of this sanskrit term is “I bow to the light (or divine) within you.” During this time of winter solstice, when various religious celebrations honor the light in preparation for a dark winter, this term is especially appropriate. I honor the light within you. Because even on the darkest of days, the spirit within each of us is filled with brilliant light.
But as we know, the holiday season is filled with contradictions. We can celebrate the light while also feeling gloomy and dark. My yoga teacher, Janice George of ShivaShakti Synthesis, likes to close class with a different saying, “Jai Bhagwan.” According to her, it means “I bow to the light and the dark within you.” It acknowledges that there is no way for the light to be present without the darkness. By recognizing and acknowledging both, we are able to expand our presence.
In our house this year, the contradictions have been quite evident. We decorated our tree and hung holiday lights. My mom took Clara to her first annual Nutcracker ballet, and it was magical. We’ve listened to holiday music, eaten delicious food, and visited with Santa. But alas, our whole family has also gotten the stomach flu in the last week. We’re all sniffling and coughing. I currently have a sore throat and no voice at all (good time to finally write something!!!). The weather is gloomy. While we might have been ahead of the Christmas rush before last week, we’re now woefully behind and feeling pressured to get everything done in time (while at the same time just wanting to lay down and take a nap).
So this holiday season, I bow to the contradictions that make life so darned interesting:
Namaste / Jai Bhagwan
Holiday cheer /Bah Humbug
Present / Absent
Give / Take
Joy / Sorrow
Connection / Separation
Smile / Frown
Together / Alone
Awesome / Crappy
Hot / Cold
Relaxed / Tense
Thinking / Feeling
Grounded / Ethereal
Compassion / Anger
Sweet / Bitter
Attention / Distraction
Confidence / Shame
Juicy / Dry
Success / Failure
Right / Wrong
Celebration / Criticism
Wellness / Illness
Acceptance / Resistance
Productivity / Procrastination
Good / Bad
Exciting / Boring
Moving / Stuck
Love / Hate
Emotional / Intellectual
Laughter / Tears
Spacious / Limited
Doing / Being
See if you can find each of these pairs in your own life. Notice where they live in your body. Recognize and acknowledge each. Which words are you drawn to? Do you wince when you read certain ones? Can you make room for the ones you deem “bad” or “wrong” and allow them to be there without judgment? I’d love to hear how it goes!
Here’s to having a holiday season filled with contradictions. Jai Bhagwan.
