I just got done listening to an amazing speech from Patricia Clarkson from which she quotes Tennessee William's Epitaph "The violets in the mountain have broken the rocks".
She began with those words and then went on. "To me, its meaning is simple. The hard, the cold, the oppressive will--at long last--be broken apart by a force that is beautiful, natural, colorful, and alive.
We're a bunch of violets breaking through the rocks. And it is happening. The rock is cracking away. The rock of hate and falsehood is being broken apart."
I haven't seen the Tennessee Williams quote used in this way before, but I love it.
I am applying those words to my practice this week and allowing what is beautiful, natural, colorful, and alive to break through the rocks in my life and the boulders in my heart, mind, and body.
Most of the time what is needed in practice (much like society) is just a change of heart or mind. The biggest breakthroughs (the sweetest violets) are the moments where perception shifts--this is because the thickest rock is usually a thought through the form of attachment.
How many times do we cause harm to ourselves because we force things too quickly? How many times to we oppress ourselves in the search for freedom because we're attached to freedom meaning something outside of us--rather than in us? Freedom is a state of mind that then permeates the body. The purpose of practice is to find that place and work from it rather than think we have to start from scratch. Freedom is a place that is already in us and yoga is the art of recognition.
There is a gentle strength within us that seeks the light and finds the light no matter what. The violets in the mountains will break the rocks. The light in our soul will break through our rocks--because that's what violets do---from the rich nourishment of the earth they lift up to greet the sun.
In practice nourish yourself with the breath. Feel the mountain that you are a part of and breathe to expand inside it-feel how much space there is. While solid there is still permeability to the mountain--openings for new life from your already fertile seeds to spring forth and cover the mountain top; and sides, and to extend in all directions to the farthest foothills. Be soft as you begin your practice and allow the breath to animate your body. Be filled with a deep strength filled with the support of spirit. That way when you start to engage the muscles they wrap around the spaciousness of the breath and can extend out from that breath. As you begin to move in to the body recognize the violets within you--feel their roots and allow a gradual blossoming to unfold. We don't have to take dynamite to the rocks--our light of transformation is explosive enough.
When we finally recognize the essence of the violent within us than all that is oppressive from outside of us and inside us will fall away. When in reflection of the beauty of the violet within we will become reminded that something that beautiful can only be grown from love--and all hate from outside won't stop our growth, and all hate from inside will be composted into love.
The beauty and aliveness within you has broken through the rocks. Enjoy the freedom.
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