The fog comes in

on little cat feet

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on. – Carl Sandburg

This poem came to me yesterday as October was ushered in by fog over the mountain. I’ve always loved this poem. It reminds me of growing up in suburban Chicago, not unlike Carl Sandburg. Lake Michigan and its many hues and humors. And of course I’ve always loved cats. And haiku. And this poem is like haiku-short, sweet and to the point.

And it speaks of our yoga journey, which may be elusive at times, or more often than not. We may be reaching for something in our yoga practice, such as attaining a certain pose or being able to hold it for a certain time period. And we reach and we struggle and we’re not clear about what is happening or not happening because we are so focused on that particular goal. We’re in the fog…that place of unknowing. And we have to just sit with it, as the fog “sits looking over harbor and city” until the fog moves on. And then the change we were seeking may come, without struggle.

I remember a friend once who complained severely when we went downtown to the market to walk around, or cruise the Sidewalk art show, or even go shopping. He would drive around the parking lot looking for a spot close to the building, no matter how long that took. One particularly difficult day I spoke to him about his disgruntled-ness. The response I got was that he was in pain—his back was hurting all that time! Out of the fog into clarity. Then I knew for sure what was happening, as did he as he could verbalize his sensations. We then had the necessary information to go about effecting change.

From Thomas Kempis: “You cannot let go of anything if you cannot notice that you are holding it. Admit your 'weaknesses' and watch them morph into your greatest strengths.” So my friend noticed he was holding on to his fear, his pain and even his breath. He began to acknowledge the pain and seek ways to let go of it. He quit drinking Diet Coke, started practicing yoga and breathing into his pain. And he became stronger and later started a healing practice on others.

Out of the fog comes truth and clarity. Today I couldn’t even see the mountain. The sky was one big cloud all day. It makes everything surreal. Trees and leaves were more in focus because of the fogginess, or lack of focus behind it. When that cloud lifts we will be “enlightened”. In the light of day we can tell where we are and what we’re about.

Walking, jogging actually, backwards with sunglasses on…a man was daring to be out in the fog and put additional obstruction in his path…while he played on a misty, rainy day. I saw him. I was impressed. He didn’t seem to mind not knowing where he was going.

In our Foundations classes I really stress (sorry, I mean emphasize!) simply being aware of yourself and what is going on within you and how that affects you. Then the change happens. So we come from this place of not knowing ourselves very well to the yoga mat where we explore sensation while moving and breathing (that’s called “yoga”!). And it pays off. Just this week a repeat beginner told me how she noticed how she stood on her feet, which part more than the rest of the foot, and so now she has shifted, and feels stronger in her back and her body! Another student explored her chronic pain in her back and played with shifting various parts of her posture.  It was wonderful to watch these changes occur as yogis came out of the fog to see clearly what is going on in their own bodies.

Here is a chant often used at the beginning or end of yoga practice. It’s a call for peace, and describes the path of yoga, moving from that place of ignorance to awareness and knowledge. And that brings us to a place of peace, just like my friend that realized he was grumpy because his back hurt.

Sanskrit:
Asato maa sad-gamaya.
Tamaso maa jyotir-gamaya.
Mṛityor-maa-mṛitan gamaya
Om shanti shanti shanti

English Translation:
Lead us from Untruth to Truth, from Darkness to Light, from Death to Immortality.
Om peace, peace, peace

And here’s Ravi Shankar and George Harrison’s version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B52Cx4geas0

So recently I’ve struggled with a situation and could not for the life of me see it clearly. I was in the fog. Finally I was able to take myself out of the equation, drop my ego at the door and then could see the situation oh so clearly and not be in a muddle about it. From that place of awareness came truth and acceptance, even closure. Now I see it from the other person’s perspective and am at peace.

Namaste