The War for Compassion
By Alicia Moore Com·pas·sion /kəmˈpaSHən/ noun Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. “the victims should be treated with compassion” Disclaimer: When I say “we” or “our”, I’m not speaking about each individual. I’m merely speaking about society as a whole. I know that there are many, many people out there […]
For Love’s Sake
By Alicia Moore “Love is the only force on earth more powerful than gravity.” -Unknown I have been told throughout my life that I have a wild heart. A heart that is reckless, perhaps. A heart that speaks louder than any other part of me, definitely. A heart that so fiercely loves music, lust, passion, […]
Thoughts on Friendship and Impermanence
By Alicia Moore I was having brunch with an old friend last weekend, and we got to talking about friendship. I had recently lost a dear friend, and I was feeling inadequate. As we discussed the sad ending of this recent relationship I realized that I was no longer capable of forming bonds like the […]
Yoga and Heartbreak
How do you cope with heartbreak? It can feel so debilitating, so consuming and so painful. Everyone always says the same thing, that time heals all. But what do you do in the meantime? How do you wake up everyday and continue on with your life when it feels like its just been flipped upside […]
Yamas and Niyamas of Parenting – Santosha
Santosh/Contentment Children want to touch, taste and experience everything they see. They don’t yet have an understanding of nutrition, patience, or the cost of material goods. If they see something with frosting and rainbow sprinkles on it, they want to eat it now. If they see a shiny red bike, they want to ride […]
Yamas and Niyamas of Parenting – Saucha
Saucha/Cleanliness Saucha/Cleanliness is another interesting reflection when raising a child. I remember that when Jaya was little, the messes were big. There were times when I just couldn’t focus on anything I needed to do until I cleaned everything up. Our environments have an effect on how we feel. Taking Jaya to the park was […]
Yamas and Niyamas of Parenting – Aparigraha
Affirmations for Aparigraha/Non-grasping: At nine years old, Jaya decided she wanted to move her bedroom into the basement. This was a huge separation for me. For years and years, she would only fall asleep with me next to her. I felt like she had finally just started to sleep on her own, and now, so […]
Yamas and Niyamas of Parenting – Bramhacharya
Bramhacharya – Energy Moderation Anything that causes turbulence in the mind and stirs the emotions might be seen as a violation of brahmacharya: overstimulating foods, loud environments, violent movies, multiple-screen usage, etc. As I watch my child, I observe that there is no built-in barometer to indicate when her senses are becoming overloaded. It’s […]
Yamas and Niyamas of Parenting – Asteya
Asteya/Non-Stealing or Generosity: Acting With The Mentality Of Abundance The effect of Satya/Truthfulness, the previous Yama I covered, was profound. My daughter is auditioning for the play Peter Pan. She recorded herself singing the audition song, and then ended up in tears when she played it back. This was on the way to […]
Yamas and Niyamas of Parenting – Satya
Satya = Truthfulness Whenever I focus on the Yamas and Niyamas, it brings light into my life. Yesterday, it got really interesting after I wrote those affirmations on Ahimsa. In particular I kept thinking of the one that said “I’m other-centered rather than self-centered.” It supported me in my interactions with my overtired child […]