Yesterday, while waiting for the mechanic to replace my car's battery, I sat in the lobby re-charging my own batteries through writing in my journal and eating a bit of dark chocolate with almonds. After a while, I decided to write out a page of phrases that described me in that moment. Here's what I wrote... in no particular order...

Teja Shankara: open, fresh, new, bright, healer, star, mystic-to-be, kirtan artist (to be), circle facilitator, magnolia, Govinda Dasi, horse, lion, Raven, green, black, cosmos, space beings, Lalla, chocolate, Amma, Durga, Rama, LOVE, Surya (Sun god), Neem Karoli Baba, Reiki Guides, Shiva-Shakti Namo Namah, Sita Ram, Sita Ram, Sita Ram, Sita Ram.

Writing those images of myself in that moment brought me into a state of Self-Love, Happiness, and Bliss. I often talk and write about Cultivating the Witness, that spiritual practice of simply watching ourselves objectively in each moment. Sometimes the witness part of my mind gets a bit too serious, and so writing down those words helped me to witness myself in a more creative, playful way.

Today the sun is shining bright and I enjoyed a nice lunch out with a friend. We then walked in Lithia Park where the cool water rushed over the stones in the creek, and I reflected on the importance of flowing with life. On our way home we stopped in the Enchanted Florist Cafe for a cup of thick liquid chocolate, like the kind they drank in the movie Chocolat. While enhaling the heady aroma of gorgeous tropical flowers, I sipped that chocolate, and again my thoughts turned to flowing with life.

Although I didn't "get much done" on my grand lists today, I did get something very important done: I stepped out of the way of my usual routine, and allowed myself to flow in a fun and spontaneous way. May we all enjoy the flow of life.

May all beings everywhere know Peace and Happiness.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

Enchanted Florist Cafe and Lithia Creek photos by Teja Shankara.