Every Marble Miracles

28 Marbles 
People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle.
Thich Nhat Hanh
 
    I went to a Seane Corn yoga workshop today.  God, I love that woman – what’s not to love about a potty-mouthed yoga guru?  Sometimes I find that yogis can be far too ethereal for my liking.  This woman is open, grounded, and très funny.  Another thing that I like about her is that she creates a level playing field by dressing simply in a black lycra camisole and leggings – no fancy designer yoga togs, no expensive labels.   
    Today’s session was called “Everyday Miracles” and she talked about how Spirit conspires to give us exactly what we need to grow, heal, and thrive.  She shared some stories of flow in her life, particularly at the time when her father was dying.  I recalled the dehydrated flowers that I received after my own father’s death (Marble 272).  I also thought of all the signs that I’ve been given as I’ve grown through these 365 marbles. Every Marble Miracles. 
    After an intense yoga session,  I left the room feeling joyful - my spirit was inspired, and my body was satisfied.  I decided to head into the market area and look around at what the vendors had to offer.  When I got in the large room, it was packed with people hawking their wares to their potential customers. I was offered samples of energy drinks, chai tea, and smoothies, asked if I wanted a psychic reading or a new yoga studio membership.  I came upon a jeweler selling medals like the ones that I used to have growing up as a Catholic but these were of Hindu deities. I overheard a loud woman talking to the jeweler, “I want Ganesh on a gold chain, Vishnu in silver,  and Lakshmi on a leather cord cut so it comes to here on my neck.”  As I stood by slightly amused, she pointed at the exact spot she needed her necklace to fall.  Ching, ching, and $800 later the woman was closer to enlightenment. It was time for me to leave. 
     Sure, I understand that we all need to feed our families but was it a coincidence that in the adjacent room there was a franchise convention in progress?  As I walked by that convention I chuckled – I had just experienced the franchise of yoga.

Can you decipher between a judgment and an awareness? For me, when I feel a judgment about something, there is a charge to it and a decision about rightness or wrongness. With an awareness, it's observing and knowing how things are.  

Check out one of my fave Seane Corn stories: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Seane-Corns-First-Lesson-in-Yoga/1