Given the current state of affairs ... chamomile tea anyone? We would need gallons and gallons but hey whatever it takes. Self care has become very important in the middle of all the things that all of us are going through everywhere in the world. I was visiting a friend over the weekend and he pointed out how essential is to get together ... safely of course. We don't have to get together with one hundred people but we can take a walk with one friend and talk about everything and nothing.

It is finally here, the new year 2021. It never stops to amaze me how January first always feels like arriving to a new chapter which is yet to be written and at the same time I remember there are so many chapters behind it. I think that the most auspicious way to start 2021 would be to pause and focus on the breath. The breath, a natural breath, is an excellent way to calm and focus the mind. If you can recall a time when you were lost in the myriad of thoughts of the mind, you will certainly appreciate the calmness and the focus that the breath can unearth in you.

I have been contemplating what would be a great thought to keep in mind as we close 2020 and welcome 2021. The Sanskrit word Śrī (pronounced shree) keeps coming to mind again and again. This is a beautiful word filled with bright meaning. Śrī denotes: Auspiciousness, Beauty, Sacredness, Abundance, Nobility, Dignity, and Good Fortune.

Throughout the the autumn we have been getting less and less sun light each day. The winter solstice happening tomorrow marks a turning point: The Return of the Light. It is nature's reminder that no matter how dark things get the light always comes back. It is a great thing to remember as the end of 2020 approaches and as the winter days draw near.

On Monday December 14th we will be having a solar eclipse. It will be visible in the Southern Hemisphere and will peak at around 8:30am EST. According to Jyotish which is the study of astronomy, astrology and the science of timekeeping using the movements of astronomical bodies, this is a time to take things easier and for the practices of yoga, contemplation, and meditation. Every one of these events have a particular flavor or energetic imprint. The current eclipse is said to bring the qualities of release and change. These are very timely qualities to contemplate and practice at this time for all of us.

In yoga it is said that everything is interconnected. This is not just about dependency to survive but also to evolve. We can see this at every level in the universe. The way that our sun interacts with our planet has made it possible for life to exist as we know it. We are realizing more and more how our interaction with nature also shapes our lives even if we live in a city.