Yamas are the ethical principles that clarify one’s relationship to the world and everything in it.
Yamas are broken down into 5 aspects:
-Ahimsa-Do no harm to yourself, to others or to the planet we are here to protect.
Practice: Start with tiny creatures…spiders, ants, and other small aliveness. Do no harm; relocate little creatures while honoring the value to ALL LIFE.
-Satya-Honesty to self and others.
Practice: Use your words to practice honesty to self and others. Slow down your speech and select your words very carefully to both convey exactly what you wish to communicate as well as articulating only the pieces of truth; not story built out of fear, control, denial or self interest. BE A TRUTH SPEAKER.
-Asteya-No stealing (not just objects, dignity, beauty, truth)
Practice: One limited aspect to our life is TIME. How do we steal time from ourselves and others?
How do you honor others time? Are you on time- late, distracted, or unfocused?
How do you honor the value of your own time? Make a point of being on time and focused for yourself and others. TIME IS LIMITED IN THIS LIFE.
-Bramacharaya-The wise use of creative energy.
Not just sexual energy, all energy-do not give your energy away or hoard it…be in balance.
Practice: If you wish to manifest, create and co-create you must learn to control your energy, your life force. Not physical movement- practice watching your energy/life force output…where are you simply spinning wheels, letting your mental gyrations keep you putting out fictitious fires and burning up your creative energy? Pay attention to where your energy is used…which relationships, conflicts, worry, the unknown suck up your energy? Where is it prudent to use your energy? This is all a choice. In spite of the drama around you, you can choose to not let your life force be high-jacked. When we are manifesting and creating, and co-creating, we are energized, not drained.
-Aparigraha-Non possessiveness moving from greed to generosity of spirit, of heart, of love, to self and others. Possessiveness can be a cover for insecurity, sense of unworthiness, or lack in your life. Possessiveness around relationships, food or objects does not translate into Peace.
Practice: Next time you are craving to take, buy or consume something (food) sit quietly for a moment and ask yourself ….do you want it or need it? What loneliness or emptiness are you imagining it will fill? Can you step back for the urgency of purchase/gain and sit with it…detach yourself from the habit/knee jerk/must have of objects, emotions, food, and take a breath, detach, ask again if this purchase, item, craving is really needed in your life. See what is underneath of the desire to possess something? Under the emotional need. Address that emptiness rather than filling up with objects, people, food, or other 'collectables.' Be generous with yourself in truth, love, acceptance, non judgment. This will empower your acceptance of others and their challenges.
EnJOY♥️