An Evolving Poly- Eco- Yoga Humanifesto, from Pegasus at the Balance
Eighth Deep Breath
Yogis of the world unite and take your yoga off the mat and into the wider world!!
Last Friday I attended an Extinction Rebellion meeting for the first time. Because I’m on the email list for the local yoga studio, I received notice that it was happening at their location.
A young woman, Ha, was the speaker. She had brought three huge pizzas (including one vegan one) for us to eat.
We introduced ourselves by saying our names as we went around the semicircle. Ha asked us also to name a favorite restaurant in our neighborhood and to say why we came.
Before attending, I had read “Challenge Everything” by a young British woman (with a Texas grandmother), Blue Sandford, who detailed her “actions.” Taking action is what Extinction Rebellion advocates. Action, as Iyengar noted in an earlier post, is what is lacking in this world of constant movement and distraction.
Eventually I found out that the co-founder of Exitnction Rebellion (abbreviated XR) has written a book as well—Common Sense for the 21st Century. His name is Roger Hallam. I was alerted to his work by a recent interview with him after being released from 4 months in jail. He was charged with advocating the shutting down of major London streets in a zoom meeting. I do not remember the specific charge (obstructing traffic? Inciting to riot?), but he was philosophical about his incarceration.
Ha, our speaker last Friday, was also philosophical. She was careful to say that the power point presentation she showed us might bring up fear or sadness. Being in a public place surrounded by strangers, I felt those emotions but did not express them.
Being at home reading Hallam’s book I find myself hardly able to read too much at a stretch. His vision is very dire. He starts his explanation of how action might happen with an exhortation to his readers simply to “grow up” and “see the truth.” Can’t fault him for that.
Yet I feel the urgent need to take what action I reasonably can without being incarcerated, AND at the same time to find a way to feel not just the urgency of our current “situation” but also the beauty of life.
…to be continued, please weigh in.
