Foxgloves

First photo of foxgloves below was taken on November 21.

The second was taken November 28.

Definitely a blooming record for my garden!

Such an exotic looking flower, especially at this time of year.

 

Full Blood Moon Eclipse

The moon was full November 19th (3:59 am), and between 2am and 4am I could have gotten a good look at the Blood Moon eclipse in progress. Not sure if it was too cloudy, because I stayed in my bed while debating if I would get up to see the phenomena first hand or enjoy photographic evidence. I chose the latter. Google image search for Blood Moon eclipse reveals the stunning images taken by lunar photographers.

The Native Americans called the November full moon the beaver moon because the rodents are active in preparation for winter at this time of year, according to NASA. Once eclipsed, the beaver moon morphed into a “blood moon” because of its reddish or rusty tone.

I had attended a yoga class Linda D was giving for charity, and she did a mini moon salutation. It's been awhile since I attempted one but really enjoyed it. There are a variety of different Chandra Namaskar sequences posted online. Maybe I will find one I can make a more frequent night time practice. 

Focused attention

Some notes on wellness

Yoga with Uday Bhosale

Two classes with a new-to-me teacher this weekend really brought home that yoga doesn't need to be rigorous or focused on advanced poses to be effective.

Focused attention can be brought to the simplest of movements. Sitting in virasana in slight variations; observing the rotation in your ankles, feeling and shifting focus of where the weight is placed on the heel in tadasana.

 On Uday's site, a quote from B.K.S.

“Action is movement with intelligence. The world is filled with movement. What the world needs is more conscious movement, more action.”

Notes on pranayama

Continuing pranayama with Marlene through October and November.

One day, such a sense of sadness arising. I didn't stop my practise but said "hello", as in a 'Beautiful Monster' meditation. Not trying to dismiss, conquer or change the feeling; just accepting it. Acknowledging physical sensations of swelling in the chest, tightness in the throat, pain in the right shoulder. Just observing and not trying to fix anything, but also feeling it fade. Keeping eyes open but unfocused rather than keeping them shut.

Breath

Feelings of overwhelm and fatigue... keeping eyes open and focused about 3-4 feet ahead, focusing on the in-breath. Twenty breaths.

Upward Spiral

Everything is interconnected. Gratitude improves sleep. Sleep reduces pain. Reduced pain improves your mood. Improved mood reduces anxiety, which improves focus and planning. Focus and planning help with decision making. Decision making further reduces anxiety and improves enjoyment. Enjoyment gives you more to be grateful for, which keeps that look of the upward spiral going. Enjoyment also makes it more likely you'll exercise and be social, which in turn will make you happier... 

Circuits in your brain are an interconnected... with a couple of tiny changes you can reverse the trend... Don't feel like hanging out with people? Go for a run. Don't feel like doing work? Go outside. Can't sleep? Think of what you are grateful for. Worrying too much? Stretch. The Upward Spiral, Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time

 

Happy Diwali!

As the daylight hours are getting shorter, being able to celebrate Diwali - the festival of lights - is comforting. This is the first year we've celebrated at Alex and Penny's house, and a pleasure to partake as they make a fusion of their own rituals and traditions for their lives together.

It was the first time I got to try my hand at rangoli.

Rangoli is an art form originating in the Indian subcontinent, in which patterns are created on the floor or a tabletop using materials such as powdered lime stone, red ochre, dry rice flour, coloured sand, quartz powder, flower petals, and coloured rocks Wikipedia

It was very tactile, setting the  powders in place and tracing the edges with my fingers. 

Sweets! candles! fireworks!

Amita brought some tasty dishes, and I prepared a few of my own (mattar paneer, pani-puri). The table was set with linens and sliverwear from my mom; but we also enjoyed eating with our fingers in the Indian fashion.

Pani-puri