Energy in Motion
Brunch centrepiece recipe, compassion teachings, fire element exploration and upcoming offerings
The Fire Element
Last night I taught my first in person yoga classes in I don’t know how long! I was nervous, but it felt good - and for the rest of the evening I had a little strut in my step because “I did a thing!” I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive first group, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who joined me.
As I was preparing for the evening’s Yin class, I spent some time read about the Chinese wisdom tradition of the five elements. In particular, on this occasion, the Fire element which is associated with summer. Just like a flame, the fire element brings with it a sense of expansive, bright energy. Our Hearts are the Yin organ of the Fire element, and in John Kirkwood’s book The Way of the Five Seasons, he shares that the nature of the heart is to be rather than to do. It served as a reminder for me to rest back into the steady seat of my heart.
John also shares that our small intestines are the Yang organ of the fire element - that they’re responsible for the process of discrimination. We’re subject to so much stimuli and information in our modern world, it’s worth remembering that we have the power to choose what we let in.
And then a wonderful synchronicity occurred:
Before everyone arrived, I placed a pack of Pema Chödrön’s Compassion Cards full of lojong teachings amongst the mats for people to pick if they wished, and at the end of the last session I pulled the card below:
Rest in the nature of alaya, the essence
On the back of the card it reads: There is a resting place, a starting place that you can always return to. You can always bring your mind back home and rest right here, right now, in present, unbiased awareness.
I’m away for the next couple of weeks, but classes are available to book from July again. There’s also a four week beginner’s course starting at the beginning of July if you’re feeling a little rusty (like me!) and would like a supported reintroduction to moving on the mat.
Sunday Walk & Brunch Club
Last Sunday marked the first Walk and Brunch Club. We had strawberries coming out of our ears (we almost all brought strawberries 😂 🍓) and it was a beautiful and delicious success.
The most wonderful group of women came together. We shared food, laughter, stories and even a few tears. It’s here that this newsletter title came into being as we spoke of energy in motion. For many of us, these last months had felt to be a time of change and challenge. Things are in process.
Energy is in motion.
And we’re all here to support each other. The experience echoed the Ram Das quote I had chosen for the walking page of my website a month or so ago:
We’re all just walking each other home.
I promised to share the recipe for the honeyed labneh with roast rhubarb and strawberries so here it is:
I used this Ottolenghi recipe as my base, swapped the mixed berries for strawberries and rhubarb from the garden (which I gently roasted), omitted the orange olive oil and simply used orange zest, and stirred some honey (and more orange zest) through the labneh before serving.
Join an Upcoming Walk
There are a few further afield walks in the calendar over the summer with more local adventures to be added soon.
Here’s a little reminder of what’s currently on offer:
On the 29th June we’re headed to a secluded rugged cove on the Jurassic coast for some sea swimming and fossil hunting.
On the 12th July we’re off to the South Devon coast for a night and a day. This bit of coastline became a regular haunt of mine during my time in Dartmoor.
On the 20th July the Welsh Hills are calling us for a picnic brunch, walk and wild swim.
Life share available.
We certainly ARE all just walking each other home ☺️..I feel so blessed to have found you as a companion on the path, dearest woman. Xx