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| Nature Story - Turkeys and Yoga!!!! We have baby turkeys |
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June 1, 2008
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Lotus Heart Rising
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Each month we will select a photo of nature; trees, birds, animals, plants, mountains, etc. to honor Mother Earth and all she gives to us!!! If you have a favorite photo, please feel free to submit it to us with a short paragraph about why the photo is meaningful to you for posting in one of the upcoming months. Thank you so much.
Turkeys and Yoga - Honoring the Earth Eagles
At Lotus Heart Rising, we have been blessed with daily visits by a very large flock of turkeys that live with us here on Willow Ridge. On any given day, the turkeys will travel between the Zen Center of Pittsburgh (Deep Spring Temple) and Lotus Heart Rising, gobbling, parading their feathers (males), eating and Zen walking through the fields and woods.
In Native American wisdom, the turkey has a long history of spirituality and honoring of Mother Earth. The turkey is a symbol of all the blessings that the Earth contains, along with the ability to use them to their greatest advantage. The male turkey has a bright red, fleshy wattle, and also a growth on the forehead. This growth is very symbolic and is linked to the “third eye, the Ajna Chakra”. The inner vision, the brow center, is often considered the seat of feminine energies within each of us. Turkeys find strength in numbers, and thus reflect the energy of sharing.
When spring arrives, the length of day, combined with improving weather, kicks mating season into full gear. The male turkeys (toms) gobble at sunrise in an effort to find a hen. Once the two flocks find each other, the toms fan out their tails, fluff out their feathers and strut around doing the “two step in a circle” to be in full sight of the female. The females, unless they are ready to choose a male, will simply ignore the males. The males, however, are never discouraged, and do not give up. The males will patiently follow the females with full plumage, day after day. Despite all obstacles, the mating ritual seems to last for weeks.
It is interesting to note, from a yogic point of view, that the males help each other. The dominant male is the turkey that mates, the other males support the effort, with full plumage, almost like a “back up band”, for the higher good of the species (Berkley University, Alan Krakauer).
What can we learn from the Turkeys, the Earth Eagles?
- We can promote cooperation within the community by sharing together without competing; promoting harmony, peace and balance while supporting Mother Earth and all beings (for the higher good of the species)
- Focus is important on the task at hand, our dharma, with one pointed concentration, letting go of fear of failure and doubt, Can we trust and allow?
- Learning to be patient, overcoming obstacles, surrendering to the flow instead of forcing, striving and achieving
- Honoring Mother Earth, Nature, and each other throughout our days, living the Patanjali Yoga Sutras Yamas and Niyamas from our hearts, instead of self-perceived limitations and conditioning
- After observing the turkey pecking at his reflection in the window, let us learn to be more accepting, less judgmental of ourselves, using the principles of Ahimsa (non-violence), Santosha (Contentment), as well as Satya (Honesty).
- Learning to “BE” and in the “BEING”, residing in our true nature, realize our connectedness with each other, Mother Earth, and the Universe
For the month of May, let us honor the Turkeys, Mother Earth and Nature for the blessings and treasures t
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