Exploding Trees and Karma
We hope your navigation of ~Aquarium~ season has been, at the very least, sprinkled with some cozy moments so far. Like many, winter is not my favorite season, yet even this warm soul can't help but be in awe of the little snow globe around us--largely in part because I know I have toasty spaces to return to.
At the same time, there's stark awareness of the ferocity of winter. I have family in TN who thankfully only briefly lost power this week, while others were without it for days while trees outside their homes "exploded." Not to mention the challenges houseless individuals faced in the bitter cold and limited warming centers.
Nature serves as a powerful reminder of the great both/and. It can be lovely at times, and sometimes deadly. While I'd argue that nature is arguably sentient, it is not biased--as far as we know?--it just occurs in response to various evolutionary and ecological factors. Similarly, we can acknowledge how humans have dangerously impacted the climate and destroyed the natural world. Nature obviously does not "deserve" to be treated poorly. Humans choose to do that. It's not the Universe or God punishing the earth. Maybe, in part, that's true for us too?
This cause and effect can be related to karma, a term that many people associate with "good things happen to good people, bad things happen to bad people." In yoga philosophy, however, it's quite objectively referred to as "action" and its subsequent consequence. This action is also unbiased. We have to remember, though, that we do not exist within a vacuum. We have personal choice (probably? maybe? that's another conversation) and yet powerful cultural, systemic and socioeconomic factors impact individuals in spite of their moral good standing. And of course the reverse is also true--awful, hate-filled people experience lives of physical comfort and safety.
When I view it this way, I can mildly understand why, perhaps, awful things happen to innocent people—but I'm still mad about it. In my opinion, the perspective that it is only up to us to build our lives is rooted in hyper-individualism. Sure, we can be powerful creators, and we cannot ignore that our actions and other’s actions—both individual and systemic—are intertwined. We are not born to hate our bodies, hoard resources, exploit others and nature, or hate other people -- those things are taught.
While interpretations of karma claim that past life karma follows us into our current lives and others claim we choose this life before we even incarnate, it still wouldn't make sense to condemn people who are struggling or fully blame it on their lack of personal responsibility.
Regardless of whether or not you believe in reincarnation, determinism, or free will, we can probably agree that we will never definitively know why awful things happen. As cliché as it is, all we can do is focus on taking the next right action. It may not lead us to material wealth, but it will likely offer more emotional and spiritual peace.
With all of that, I acknowledge that I, Emily, as well as Kula, cannot fix the world. I am also acutely aware, particularly as a white, able bodied woman, of the superficiality of virtue signaling. Still, I know that by doing nothing, nothing will improve.
So, in the spirit of trying and in solidarity with the 50501 Movement boycotting work/shop/school tomorrow, teachers were offered the day off. Generously, both Dora and Skunk are thrilled to still hold space. Both Pilates at 7am and Yoga for Humans at 9am are donation based. All proceeds will directly benefit Migrant Justice. If you’re unable to donate, you are still more than welcome to take a breath and move with us.
Check out our schedule for our usual rotation of donation-based, free, and affinity classes.
Thank you for entertaining this stream of consciousness and always eager to learn from you if you have responses or reflections!
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