Cultures are different as can be,
but in their souls, women want the same things:
dignity, respect, love, freedom.
No other country can claim to be both mecca and inspiration for the proliferation of gurus as India. Whether the expertise be yoga, business, finances, self-improvement, romance, beauty, etc…, being a devotee to someone who is supposed to know better helps us rise above challenges with the aspiration that “If (s)he can do it, so can I.” Then there is also the convenience of having someone else to blame when things go awry. 😉
Author Meryl Davis Landau (Downward Dog, Upward Fog) writes in Huffington Post about gurus who admit they are only human, too: How Three Top Yoga Masters Find Balance, Both On and Off the Mat.
Seane Corn, cofounder of nonprofit activist group Off the Mat, Into the World: I used to feel envious of people I felt were living their lives fully in ease and integrity. Now I recognize that no matter how I might perceive them, everyone is dealing with issues that I can’t begin to understand. If a shadow of judgment towards others comes up, I’ll immediately come back to me: What’s coming up for me, what does it remind me of, how can I heal it in myself?
John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga: After getting over the feelings of betrayal and violateion when my bookkeeper embezzled all my money, I applied the ‘three As’ from Anusara yoga. Attitude, in terms of first opening myself to the pain without denying what I was feeling, but then being optimistic that I had the capacity to get everything back. Alignment, by, instead of putting all the blame on her, taking responsibility that I had put myself in that situation by turning my finances over to another person. This calms the mind because by taking back control I knew I was reducing the likelihood it could happen again. And action, by creating a plan to get money in the bank to pay the bills.
Ana T. Forrest, creator of Forrest Yoga and author of Fierce Medicine: Never waste a good trigger. Triggers — something someone says that gets you white-hot angry or terrified out of proportion — are horribly uncomfortable, yet they can teach you so much. My own childhood abuse led to two key triggers: my quickness to anger and my tendency to plummet instantaneously into an emotional abyss. A messy room left by my ex triggered my ‘unable to deal’ avoidance feelings and heart stress. He left in March 2008, but I was retriggered by this again just the other day. I intend to clear any and all emotional trash that I find connected to this. I am okay with being a work in progress. My philosophy encompasses growing, making mistakes and learning from them as a lifelong process.
How do you pay attention to your Inner Guru?
© Sharon Birke
Photography for the Goddess in Every Wife & Mother
Powerful Goddess is a trademark of DoubleSmart LLC
Powerful Goddess Portraits 
Jan 22, 2012 @ 13:17:47
It has only been accomplished that the vibrant colors (blue is my favorite) and beauty of this sari could be accentuated by wrapping it around a magnificent jewel, one that is scintillating by its own natural creation.
I pay attention by saying what I feel and not being frightened by the thought that maybe another may not agree or might hold me in contempt. If we hide what is truly within us then it is our fault for being unsuccessful in our endeavors and our loves.
You always make me think….thank you, Sharky!
Mountain