Most of the YTT weekend was getting to know each other, discussing what yoga is, reading the first few sutras together, and doing yoga. It was pretty low key. I like many of the people and Anjali is so very laid back that it helps me be laid back too (which isn't easy for me but oh-so necessary). We even did chanting which i have to say is TERRIFYING to me, but wasn't so bad. If i ever have to lead chanting though... different story i'm sure. I left on Sunday evening feeling like i had immense clarity of vision and what can only be described as an open heart. The week that followed was a bit rough though. I think coming back to the real world from a yoga world is going to continue to be a tough transition for me until i can find my balance between the two, or maybe bring them together is a better objective.
Along with my gangster rap fixation, my new adventure into the world of hunting is another juxtaposition to my yoga world. I took my 3 day hunter safety course, got my license, and went out on opening day of shotgun season with 10 other folks (including my father, mother, and brother) and hunted from 5:30am-3:00pm (I left early because i was pretty tired and coming down with a bad cold). I started the day with sitting a tree stand for 2 hours and watching the forest wake up. It was absolutely glorious (and cold!). I learned how to field dress a deer, how to work deer drives, and how to fire from a tree stand without falling out. I can see why people are obsessed with hunting, every time i close my eyes i can see the forest and the deer running through it. I have to say though, the killing aspect is still marginal to me and may always be. I want to learn to hunt because i love meat. I have tried being a vegetarian, a vegan, even macrobiotic to some degree but my body feels better when it has meat... not a lot of meat but meat. I'm also a firm believer that if you're going to eat meat, you should know exactly where it comes from and it should come from a sustainable source. All that said, i still have yet to kill something. I've always been on the butchering end of hunting season but this year... i'm hoping i can bring some meat to the table from start to finish. Let's hope my aim gets better.
Thank you November for the abundance of knowledge and experience.
