Happy National Day of Loving, Loving-Kindness, Sincere and Abiding Love toward Ourselves and then Others…

Yes it’s Valentine’s Day and we get to choose how we perceive it, choose our perspective, as always. We can be cynical and say it’s just a commercial hijacking of love and romance, or we could be riding solo right now and feel we are left out, or we could sneer at those who are so stupidly trying that thing called love again…and then there is the yogic approach:

We get to choose what we think and how we frame our lives and our minds. May I suggest that we do as Hafiz counsels:

Cast All Your Votes for Dancing

I know the voice of depression
Still calls to you.

I know those habits that can ruin your life
Still send their invitations.

But you are with the Friend now
And look so much stronger.

You can stay that way
And even bloom!

Keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From your prayers and work and music
And from your companions’ beautiful laugher.

Keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From the sacred hands and glance of your Beloved
And, my dear,
From the most insignificant movements
Of your own holy body.

Learn to recognize the counterfeits coins
That may buy you just a moment of pleasure,
But then drag you for days
Like a broken man
Behind a farting camel.

You are with the Friend now.
Learn what actions of yours delight
What actions of yours bring freedom
And Love.

Whenever you say God’s name, dear pilgrim,
My ears wish my head was missing
So they could finally kiss each other
And applaud all your nourishing wisdom!

O keep squeezing drops of the Sun
From your prayers and work and music
And from your companions’ beautiful laugher.

And from the most insignificant movements
Of your own holy body.

Now, sweet one,
Be wise.
Cast all your votes for Dancing!

And it’s no surprise that the manifestation of Shiva as yogi is the DANCING royal icon, dancing with yoga, Nataraj.

Join me on the mat and cast all your votes for dancing, on the Love day and all days.

BTW we now have locations for all five classes I teach, both evening classes in Nob Hill. April 2012 will begin a very local community time for YogaNow on the Move.

Sending hugs, smiles and lots of votes for Love,

Meta.