“…I must confess that I am not afraid of the word “tension.” …there is a type of constructive nonviolent tension that is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, we must see the need of having nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men to rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood. So, the purpose of direct action is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation"

AS MLK WROTE IN HIS Birmingham letters, Rattling the establishment is very useful. Its true, you might find yourself a pariah, but to an unrepresented community of people, you are representation, giving voice to those that have been largely voiceless. It requires valor and bravery, as MLK later came to discover, as standing your ground may in fact become the hill that you die upon.

Much like my affinity for drag, I recognize that yoga will never truly be mainstream because it "mocks ego," as RuPaul says. Yoga is very good for marginalized people. It's goodness for the voices unspoken is directly proportionate to its threat to the establishment.

The establishment, the Man, is invested in maintaining its power, and because that power comes from a deified ego, the establishment further marginalizes those that dare question ego.

Anything that mocks ego becomes an inherent threat.

Those vested in the power that comes from the establishment, and for this I say as clearly as I can: especially ONLY from the establishment-- those people will always attempt to (at best) diminish and (at worst) silence (by any means necessary) that which shows that the emporer has no clothes. They will do it with a clear conscience as only those who have made a god out of a toothless tiger can murder guiltlessly.

The very best way to rattle the ego starts by creating tension. Without discounting your inherent value, question your worth. You can't use your privileges for good if you don't admit you have them. We all have god given rights and innate gifts. What are your gifts? Where have you struggled? You can't recognize your growth potential without a sober assesment of where you are. This will help build empathy.

Then, go out and get loud.
Rattle the establishment.
Do yoga.
Fight AIDS.

Make MLK, RuPaul, and this little yogi proud and go out there and color with all the colors in the crayon box.

Are you following Yoga with MJH? That's where I'm sticking my yoga stuff these days. Check it out 😉

In a society that profits from homogeny through anesthesia, being authentic is a rebellious act. Get Woke. Be Proud. 👊🏼

How do we tether a soul to another? What twine or taffy makes them stay? Is it love or god or byproduct of inevitability?

Perhaps there is no real delineation-- all three the same, differently labeled, but effectively borderless. So then too, this is a reflection on both marriage and friendship, both of which can bind so equally and tightly. It seems to me there is no distinction -- both a pact with another to participate in the process of complete cooperation with the inevitable. Sounds an awful lot like enlightenment.

The great sages of the yogic path say that the surest way to the end states of yoga are through love and devotion. They call that path to enlightenment bhakti.

There is no surer way to know God and the self than love.

Till death do we part, indeed.

com·plic·it
kəmˈplisit
adjective
involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing.

"Support of Trump makes you complicit in the dehumanization of woman. "
"Deifying Jois on Guru Purnima makes you complicit in silencing victims of sexual abuse in spiritual communities"
"Eating at chick-fil-a makes you complicit in the oppression of the LGBT community"
"Supporting India with your tourism dollars makes you complicit in radical Hinduism."

How much complicity can you stomach?

The comments give me faith in god above.

creating false dichotomies and clinging to societal standards is further sealing the cracks in the proverbial box where the air can come in. the air the keeps you from pretending that the world isn’t burning and that any kind of exploration on unboxing won’t get you killed. At your church, your synagogue, your discotech, your yoga studio, running up 12th street, or coming home from a restaurant opening in eckington.

I’ve met a lot of polite bigots in my 35 years. I’ve never asked their party affiliations. I do not believe for one second every republican is purposefully engaging in the propagation of bigotry, but in 2018, every vote for a republican is a vote co-signing the continuation of institutionalized white supremacy and the denigration of those near and dear to my heart across a broad stroke of categories.

I find intention setting to be incredibly valuable. Small attainable goal conquering sets you up for big hairy audacious goals. Why not line them up so you can knock it out?