Manipura Chakra: Week 3

मनिपुर छक्र

  When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid. 

— Audre Lorde

 

Perhaps I am just a coward who loves to laugh at life better than I do cry with it. But when I do get to crying, boy, I can roll a mean tear. 

― Zora Neale Hurston

 

The earth laughs in flowers. ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you.

 ― Langston Hughes

 Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.

 — Abraham Lincoln

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.

 — Leo Tolstoy

  Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich. 

— Lao Tzu 

It is the heart that is unsure of its God that is afraid to laugh.

 ― George MacDonald

If you wish to glimpse inside a human soul and get to know a man, don't bother analyzing his ways of being silent, of talking, of weeping, of seeing how much he is moved by noble ideas; you will get better results if you just watch him laugh. If he laughs well, he's a good man.

 ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky

  Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful. 

— Mary Shelley

This being human is a guest house. Every morning is a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor...Welcome and entertain them all. Treat each guest honorably. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

 ― Rumi

            It is cheerful to God when you rejoice or laugh from the bottom of your heart.

 ― Martin Luther King Jr.

With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.

 ― William Shakespeare

And still, after all this time, the Sun has never said to the Earth,
"You owe me."
Look what happens with love like that.
It lights up the sky. 

 ― Rumi

  I will take the sun in my mouth
and leap into the ripe air
Alive
with closed eyes
to dash against darkness
― e.e. cummings

Be like the sun for grace and mercy. Be like the night to cover others' faults. Be like running water for generosity. Be like death for rage and anger. Be like the Earth for modesty. Appear as you are. Be as you appear.

 ― Rumi

Readings

Manipura Chakra

Song of the Spine

Practice

Suryanamaskar

Variations on Suryanamaskar

Bhastrika Breath-Bellows Breathing