Anger Revisited Part II

 Paradoxically, it is just these feelings that can lead us to understanding our unmet needs and lead us to precisely what we so long for.

 When we feel safe to express, and feel all our feelings, we have the opportunity to learn important lessons about who we  are, what is truly important and what will lead to the rich full experience we all long for.

Also, unexpressed feelings (anger or otherwise) create excess fire in the body and can lead to long term issues, chronic inflammation diseases–autoimmune diseases.

Ayurveda offers not only ways to help the body illuminate this excess “fire”  (Yoga of Purification and Rejuvenation), but suggests specific practices that allow for daily renewal and restoration of balance.  (Yoga of Digestion and Yoga of Exercise)

Now the sales pitch:  This is the gift I would so like the participants in our Sattvic Living Workshops to receive.  Gianna and I hold the intent to create an environment for you to experience this deeper level of yourself, to discover what is really important and meaningful for you and to give you the tools that will enable you to stay connected to this quintessential aspect of your soul.

 When I began my journey into my own healing some 40 years ago, I had not a clue where it would take me.  When I found Ayurveda 20 years ago, the volume got turned up.

Looking back, what has always produced the most profound changes is when I have fully accepted some part of myself that I had believed was unacceptable.  

It this feminine, nurturing, accepting, loving aspect of Ayurveda that has been so helpful to me on my journey.

Gianna and I have created and continue to refine the Sattvic Living Weekend to share with you this most profound aspect of Ayurveda, We hope you will join us in 2013 and start the year off with Sattwa.

With the current planetary shift, it seems it is much easier for myself and others I know to contact their emotions–this also means that it is more difficult to suppress what we are feeling–thus the expression of anger is more common–even though not politically or spiritually correct.  If we are not solid in our own knowing, this can throw us off.  

 For what I am referring to see this article by Michelle Marchildon (yoga teacher & soccer mom; Boulder, CO):   Anger Management Does Not Exist

Perhaps if we were more comfortable expressing and not suppressing anger, we would stay current so that when something requires its expression we did not bring all our past unexpressed anger up and dump it  on the present situation… Thus it is my practice to try to be aware of any little things that hook me into anger and express it on the spot…(I am not always good at this, sometimes it gets messy) example:  “When you do that I feel really angry.”  Depending on the person, I may fully express the anger in their presence or I may chose to leave and do it in an appropriate place and time.  If you read Eat Pray Love, remember the scene in the book  where the Italian guy said Americans are very dangerous because they suppress and do not express their anger. (this didn’t make it to the movie, wonder why…)

When I shared this article with one of my clients she sent me this comment:  

Thanks Richard. It is so fascinating the shaming that goes on around anger, which just adds another level of complexity to the emotion.  It is surprising other parents would say things like “you are a yogi” and “it is harmless fun” instead of having compassion for another parent with a sick child. It sounds like she overlooked it a few times and by the 3rd time Mama bear came out full force!   I think if we could always have an honest expression of anger it would lose its intensity and scariness. I had dinner with a  Greek friend recently who talked about how fighting openly was encouraged in their household.  What a concept.  She mentioned she has a hard time understanding people who are not open about their irritations and opinions. “so WASPY.”   I had to laugh at the truth of her statement. I told her in most households anger is not allowed and as adults we do whatever we can to avoid it.  It came up because a friend approached her about some things she was upset about and it was extremely an emotional experience (lots of tears) for her, but my Greek friend was unaffected. She told this person, “you can be angry with me in any way you choose and I will still be your friend.” This was powerful and deepened their friendship.  

To quote from the article, “there are three Goddesses: Saraswati, who stands for intelligence and culture, Lakshmi who has beauty and wealth and Kali who is kind of mean. But listen carefully: It is Kali who is the fierce protector, who fights off demons and who Shiva relies on when he can’t get the job done on his own. It is Kali who saves the world; Lakshmi is busy brushing her hair.” or practicing downward dog???