Tuesday August 24, 2010

Regarding Tuesdays, Pattabhi Jois would sometimes say, “Tuesday is a bad day.”  It is related to the planet Mars which is associated with conflict and accidents.  Guruji never gave out new poses, and never shaved on a Tuesday.  Mars is linked with the manipura chakra, the fire center that burns behind the navel, and our desire to assert ourselves in the world.  The symbol for Mars is identical to the symbol for the male of the species, a circle with an arrow emanating from it, indicating the desire to penetrate.  This desire to penetrate one’s world is healthy and innocent in itself, and only creates conflict when done in a clumsy or insensitive way.

In our yoga practice the manipura chakra is the great meeting place of prana and apana (the in breath and the out breath), which generates tapas, the sacred fire that purifies mind and body.  Tuesday is a day when we feel more fiery than usual and would be well advised to channel this Martian energy into our yoga practice to penetrate the density of our mind and body.  In India Tuesdays are associated with Lord Hanuman, the great monkey hero of the Ramayana.  Hanuman represents the ability to transform this primal Martian energy into “tejas”—radiance, strength, courage, and penetrating insight—with which he can serve Lord Rama with unwavering devotion.  The Hanuman Chalisa (forty verses to Hanuman) is traditionally sung on Tuesday to invoke his qualities of strength, intelligence, and devotion.

On Tuesday August 24 the full moon in Pisces invites us to dive into our emotional depths.  Mercury retrograde in Virgo until September 23rd provides a chance for reflection on old thought patterns, feelings, and behavior, and the opportunity to complete unfinished business. 

Comments

[Steve Thompson]

Cool Tim.

On this Tuesday, August 24, I'm sitting in my cubicle! thinking about yoga. Thinking about the Hanuman Chalisa and how awesome it is (all over, and especially at): verse 33, "Janam janam ke...".

Hope to see you in the morning!

--Steve

[Peaceloveyoga]

Yay! Tim Miller blogging. I'm elated. :)

[Regina Nilsson]

So glad to see that you are doing this! Exactly what I was hoping for! Love, Regina

[leowidjaja]

So happy to see your blogs Tim, we can get a bit of your teachings through these. Thank you!

[Roswitha Smale]

what a great way to stay connected - thanks Roswitha

[Suziec3595]

Awesome Tim! Welcome to the yoga-online world.

[Kyrsten Randles]

So glad that you are sharing your wisdom with us on-line Tim! Many thanks.

[Timf]

thank you 'big tim'. all of us ashtangi new-commers thrive from your person and knowledge ... don't stop :O)

[Eira Adeli]

yeah " big Tim" and "little Tim?" for posting this. So looking forward to reading more!!

[Raquel Racusin]

Big Tim! :)