I want to be an Avatar!

I just saw the movie Avatar last week. It was truly thought provoking. I've always been a country girl. I love nature! I feel alive when I'm outside appreciating the amazing beauty that Mother Nature offers. I've yet to discover anything man made that can compare to the natural, organic beauty of the Earth. So why do spend so much time manipulating, destroying, and trying to control all this natural beauty?
In October I completed my 500 hour teacher training at Yoga North. We spent our final weekend together at Camp Amnicon. Most of the weekend was spent in silence and nature. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the vast amount of knowledge I had learned over the past year.
Yoga teaches Ethical Practices to live more skillfully. They are called the Yamas and Niyamas. One of the practices is called Asteya or Non-Stealing. The Yoga practice of non-stealing dives deep into the subtle ways we steal from each other, ourselves, and the Earth.
In Deborah Adele's book The Yamas and Niyamas, Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice she says "You wouldn't go to a friend's house for dinner, complain about the food, leave your trash lying around, and walk off with the candlesticks because you wanted them. And yet, this is so often how we treat our world." She talks about the concept of taking nothing without giving something back.
During this retreat I was sitting on the breathtaking shore of Lake Superior in silence and began to engage in one of my favorite pass times...hunting for agates. I had many, many agates that I've collected over the years, little gems I've stolen from Lake Superior. "My agates", nicely contained in pretty jars for my exclusive enjoyment. In my silence I was reminded of this profound concept of Asteya. It might not seem like a big deal. But I live 6 blocks from the lake and can enjoy these agates any time I want to! And they do look much more spectacular all shiny from the water with the sun glistening on them then they do in my dim living room collecting dust. In my own small way I was stealing from one of my most beloved friends, Lake Superior. They're free now. Returned to their home, for all to enjoy.
Imagine what would happen if each time we took something we gave something back. This week act as if you're a visitor to this Earth. Remember how beautiful the Avatar's world is without manipulation, destruction, and stealing.
Jodi Avatar Christensen
Join us at the Spiritual Deli for the Yama's and Niyama's Book Club. It begins March 26th! We will meet the 4th Friday of each month through October from 5:30-6:30p. Your only cost is the book. Deborah Adele will be joining us on the 26th from 5:30-7:30pm to kick of the book club! Live more skillfully and be Free!