Sublime quote from Campbell
I am on my third Joseph Campbell book, "The Power of Myth." I am devouring it like Kali did the demon Mahishasura. Licking every page, swallowing chapters, imbibing it all. I came upon the following passage and found myself re-reading it over and over as if my eyes were chanting a japa mantra:
Joseph Campbell from "The Power of Myth"
Reading that quote reminded me of Sally Kempton sweetly telling us, her students, to try to meditate every day. Reading that quote also reminded me of something my writing teacher Jack Grapes always says. Jack's writing classes last 8 weeks. Then there is a two-month break and then it starts again. People often ask Jack what should they do when the break comes. Should they write? Every day? Should they work on something, and if so, what? Jack always says: Do nothing. He tells us that this is the time to do nothing; this is the time to rest. To go see plays, movies, museums. To gestate. To just be and so when the writing class begins again you can call forth what was incubating. What a great piece of advice!
I wish we yoga teachers could do that. I wish that studios would close for a month and pay their teachers so that we could rest, take other's classes, and relax. Full-time yoga teachers are literally teaching every single week, some every single day. Yoga teachers have no days off, no holidays, no break. Sure we get to take time off whenever we feel like it, but we lose money. Consequently we are always working, non-stop in a competitive environment. I have learned that I need to gestate often. I try as much as I can to go study with other teachers, to take workshops and even to sit quietly every day and practice on my own. It's a lot of work but it keeps me sane and keeps the sharing more alive.
Today I took Kofi Busia's 3-hour Iyengar yoga workshop at Yoga Works. I had studied with him 10 years ago in Manhattan and found him so similar to that time a decade ago: irreverent, funny and somehow both sweet and intimidating. I took a few things from my time with him but it wasn't my most favorite workshop ever. I am so glad I took it though, and I hope to continue to study with different teachers from different styles. I also look forward to continuing to study Anusara with teachers I know. And lastly, I look forward every day to gestating and to bringing forth what is there.
That is an excellent quote! I find that on the days where I go through the ritual of going into silence things come, new ideas sprout, it gives me access to the field of creativity. Thanks for posting, lovely reminder!
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