March: Finding the Luck Of The Irish Through Yoga
Not so fun fact: Luck of the Irish is an ironic phrase that was “coined” right here in California.
The Gold Rush brought immigrants from all over the world, including many from Ireland – hoping to escape the famine and poverty with the rumor of fortune. They made the tremendous and brave decision to say goodbye to their homeland forever.
Many died on the voyage over the Atlantic, many more on the trail to California, and of the folks that made it, few found gold at the end of the rainbow. Despite the cheery green beer-ey feeling the phrase might evoke, the "luck of the Irish" isn’t necessarily something you’d want to bring with you to Vegas.
Needless to say, if things had been going great in Ireland in the 1840s, there probably wouldn’t have been such a race to California.
But as in any culture whose experiences have taken root in a place, been weathered by the seasons, been tested by wars and disease; wisdom grew as a companion to those challenges. It might not always be as prolific as the Bhagavad Gita or the Bible. But something simpler, quieter, more practical yet equally elegant.
Nothing more than it needs to be, and nothing wasted. And that they could bring with them as they face the trials ahead.
One of my favorite Irish blessings: “May you live all the days of your life.” (credited to Irish clergyman and author Jonathan Swift)
Such a simple phrase, and so much easier said than done. It’s not asking you to put on a happy face. It’s not wishing the unpleasantness away. It’s not demanding you look on the bright side even if you are having a shitty day. Because for an Irish sheep farmer with a large family, they might all have been more than a little bit shitty.
Rather, it asks you to be completely present with those adversities. The hard moments aren’t something to be fast-forwarded through – I suspect if we did just skip all challenges, we’d find we aren’t left with much. This blessing asks you to find the joy in the hardship – a radical acceptance of what is right in front of you. Joy and heartbreak can exist simultaneously – and this blessing is an invitation to explore that.
This month my challenge for you is to get present on the yoga mat. Like, really get present. Leave your phones off, turn off the watches. The teachers are watching the time you won’t be late for your meters. The to-do lists and the dinner plans always sneak in - put those thoughts aside lovingly.
I promise they will still be right there for you to worry about when you finish the practice. But for that special hour or so that you’re on the mat, focus on living your life right now.
Ask yourself:
What are the challenges in my body? How can I observe them with compassion?
What poses are gifts that I am giving to myself?
What is my experience through my sensations?
And the part where you want to do anything BUT keep going with your yoga practice? There’s a little of the adversity for you, live through that too. And all things considered, it’s probably a little easier than 4 months in a covered wagon hoping you’ll find gold when you get to California.
The luck of the Irish isn’t a blessing of wealth, it’s the good fortune of a life well lived.
And perhaps the real pot of gold is the friends we make along the way. 🌈
