If You're Gay and You Know it, Clap Your Hands!

First things first.  Hooray!!!  I am very proud to be a citizen in a country whose President is willing to state based on his integrity that the right of two consenting adults to marry should be recognized and protected equally for every person under the law.

But I want to take a look at this particular issue through my own peculiar lens.  This one has been developing for me for a few days, and finally crystallized during a breakthrough session of hot yoga this evening.  But I am very excited to share the results of my latest stew...

Its about the word 'Namaste'

If you are unfamiliar with this word, it is a common form of greeting or parting in India and can be translated to mean "the spirit within me bows to the spirit within you".  It is often used in the U.S. to begin or end yoga classes and between devoted practicers of yoga.  I had learned the meaning of the word early on when I first began practicing yoga in 1998 while attending some classes at Manhattan School of Music.  But I have never had a direct FEELING experience of the greater implications of this word until tonight.

As you may have noticed it is one thing to have the philosophical ideology and agree that you can see that a divine spark exists in each and every one of us, an idea which is shared in one form or another by most of the world's major religions.  However, it is a completely different thing to feel inspired to actually bow to that divine spark in someone who we don't particularly get along with, or agree with.

Since I began writing this blog I had been thinking that once I began a committed path to embodying my own greater vision of FREEDOM that any blocks in my way would surely pop right up to the surface.  As predicted, my very first impulse brought a big block in to my experience.

The first thing that I wrote about was FREEDOM FROM DIS-EASE.

hmmm...

I was stuck.  While I have a plan to carry this out and am confident I will be successful, I couldn't wrap my head around philosophically why, and I was also suspicious that I hadn't quite cracked the nut.  Not to mention that the plan requires an evolving experience over time - and I am operating under the assumption that spiritual FREEDOM is an experience which can be created instantaneously, regardless of circumstance.  So tonight, during my practice, I was focusing on alignment, with the intention to feel vitality, health and energy during the practice.  Well at some point, I ran out of gas.  If you know anything about insulin dependent diabetes, the risk of serious complications is very real when exercising and I have been dealing with this over the past four years, often having to cut short exercise sessions, or wake up in the middle of the night in a panic of sweat and disorientation, consuming whatever form of sugar is directly available at hand, often harboring the fear that not getting it in time could mean the end of me.

So, as I completed a standing bow pose I ran out of gas.  I breathed.  I felt light headed but it was probably the heat and I didn't feel as if I was in any danger.  So I continued standing, breathing and focusing on alignment.  Eventually the teacher mercifully allowed us on to our mats for a short rest.  Then it dawned on me:

In seeking FREEDOM from DIS-EASE I was actually harboring the disease, giving my condition the environment to thrive.  It is my experience and belief that whatever we place our attention on expands! Therefore, I made the slight shift to the feeling of FREEDOM to experience VIBRANT HEALTH.  Wow!  What a difference.  Once I made this shift, my body began to experience a completely different range of energy.  I completed the class and spent many minutes afterward processing the emotional release that accompanied my realization.  Then, I felt GREAT!!!  And not only that, I felt humble, and appreciated many things, from the yoga instructor, to the man who discovered insulin, to my doctor, and even myself for bringing myself into an awareness of FREEDOM through VIBRANT HEALTH by manifesting the condition of diabetes. (I like to take responsibility for all of my creations.)

AND due to my new alignment with TRUTH, I was moved to feel, Namaste.  Suddenly, everyone around me became a benevolent conspirator for my experience of vibrant health.

So how does that relate to Gay Marriage?  Well, my realization was actually accompanied by the following thoughts. (Most of my realizations are block concepts that seem to crash down all at once, taking several different subjects on all at once)

Whether you are for or against same sex marriage, try on Namaste.  If you can bow to someone who seeks to rob you of your human right to commit to another in love and witness under the law.  If you can see that they are probably really scared.  If you can give them the space to learn to evolve at their own pace.  If you can recognize the divine spark in them that is also in you, then you ARE FREE.  If you can bow to someone who seeks to violate the sanctity of your deepest held religious beliefs.  If you can see that they just want to have the same rights that you have.  If you can give them the space to be who they really are.  If you can recognize the divine spark in them that is also in you, then you ARE FREE.  

I already said that the Age of Protest is Ended.

I invite you to try on Namaste instead...

I would also like to take this opportunity to CELEBRATE and CONGRATULATE all Americans who have been looking forward to the day when marriage would be recognized as a human right bestowed in equality, not one granted only to the union of a man and a woman.  There is still much work to be done in this area to attain true FREEDOM, but we are stepping closer.  I believe that Namaste will break down the last wall.  And if you are on the side of the wall that wants to keep it up...

The divine spark in ME recognizes and bows before the divine spark in YOU.  I wish you well on your path to magnificence and brilliance.

AND to celebrate, let's all clap our hands!

ABADDHAM!!