This past week in yoga class we learned about the third chakra; Manipura, the lustrous gem, the solar plexus, the center of personal power. We talked about our inner fire being a gold, bright light, and our teacher said the most amazing thing: “throw your limitations into the fire”. Whoa. Just throw ’em in. Let them go. Let your golden, inner light burn that junk up!

All those things that hold me back, now I can let them go. What a brilliant thought. I’m gonna try it! I want to see the country, but I am really afraid of flying, maybe I can let that go. I want to expand my art knowledge, but I always tell myself that I don’t have time, maybe I can let that go, too.

I have to report, that the rest of the day, post yoga epiphany, was one of my most best days in a long time. I was given permission to look at things as exciting opportunities. The possibilities of where you can go without the thought of limitations is kind of awesome.

At the end of class, our teacher shares a poem to emphasize our lesson for the day. This week, the selection was from Martha: the Life and Work of Martha Graham by dancer and choreographer, Agnes de Mille. De Mille retells the story of asking Graham how to accept success, when she didn’t believe in herself. Good old Martha tells Agnes to burn those limitations!

“I confessed that I had a burning desire to be excellent, but no faith that I could be.

Martha said to me, very quietly: “There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. As for you, Agnes, you have so far used about one-third of your talent.”

“But,” I said, “when I see my work I take for granted what other people value in it. I see only its ineptitude, inorganic flaws, and crudities. I am not pleased or satisfied.”

“No artist is pleased.”

“But then there is no satisfaction?”

“No satisfaction whatever at any time,” she cried out passionately. “There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”

https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/10/02/martha-graham-creativity-divine-dissatisfaction/

I love yoga class. I love the way that these life changing thoughts reveal themselves during a twist, or a meditative moment. What would you be able to accomplish if you burned your limitations, if you allowed your inner fire to support and guide you? I can’t wait to found out!