Kindle | February at Oasis Studio
Gentle Action · Tending the Fire · Sustaining What Matters
We feed the fire slowly, so it may carry us through the season ahead.
Each month follows a different theme for offering inspiration and guidance on our journeys. The theme for February is “Kindle”: a gentle reminder that, just as a fire needs stoking, our practice requires time and effort to be maintained.
February gifts us the opportunity to reflect on whether we are learning and developing, though we may not be where we want yet. It is a time to nurture ourselves instead of being frustrated with our progress.
Small steps
All great things come from small beginnings. Seeds grow into trees, a spark into a fire, dreams into reality. The potential for what they grow into was always there. We are no different – we have the inherent potential to transform ourselves and our lives.
We have to prepare the conditions needed for staying focused and motivated to reach our goals. The first step is setting our intention – starting as we mean to go on. This is like igniting the spark which lights the fire.
There are multiple steps to reach the goal. Whatever we develop becomes our foundation and is integral to our progress. Breaking tasks down into manageable steps helps paint a more realistic picture of what is required and what we need to prioritise.
We have to pave the way before we can walk the path. Slowly developing the right conditions is a more structured and stable approach than measuring our progress in terms of success or failure.
Yogic wisdom
There is skilfulness in steadiness. There is no use looking ahead if we are missing what is happening right now. In the Bhagavad-gītā, yoga is described as both steadiness of mind and skilfulness in action.
First, we develop the conditions, then we have what we need to succeed: by cultivating the steadiness of mind, we can bring it into our lives, where it is then reflected in our actions. To achieve this, we must learn to have non-attachment (Vairāgya).
Non-attachment means acting without urgency or attachment to the outcome. When we fixate on whether we have achieved our goal, our minds become restless.
Without worry or concern when we act, staying calm, we accept success and failure equally.
A peaceful mind, skilful action and non-attachment are developed through steady practice (Abhyāsa). The Yoga Sūtras define this as practice which becomes firmly established from practising over a long period, without interruption, and with care.
Our practice is the fire we are kindling, and our care is the spark. Through investing in ourselves, we slowly build a sustained practice. Self-care is the vital ingredient, the foundation from which all else grows. Practice ensures we do not lose our focus or faith in the process. Staying grounded, we are undistracted by obstacles such as impatience, worry and preoccupation with the outcome, which deprive us of the self-care we need and deserve.
A little care goes a long way. The more we give to ourselves, the stronger it gets. The more a fire is fuelled, the longer it lasts. If we notice we are distracted from our practice at any point, do not worry. Gently, we bring ourselves back and start again.
Care and patience
Our practice is like any other exercise or training. The more regularly we do it, the more adept we become. The key is not how much we do but whether it is sustainable. We cannot run a marathon without slowly working up to it.
It is better to start off small. A daily routine of 5-20 minutes of practice is more beneficial than striving for longer and beating ourselves up for falling short of our target. How long we are practising for is not as important as how well we are. By prioritising consistency over intensity, and quality over quantity, practice becomes manageable. At first, thinking about our goals can feel daunting. Through all our hard work, slowly but surely, they become more achievable.
We start to see for ourselves that good things truly do come to those who wait. Not by doing nothing while hoping something will happen, but through the patience we cultivate from our foundation of self-care. Our care and patience guide us, helping us get to where we want to go. Once we establish them, we attune to the pace that works best for us. No longer rushing with a sense of urgency, we harmonise with the flow of everything happening at the right time.
Guiding ourselves
Paving the path on our journey begins by looking within. Learning to act in our best interest is more intuitive than we may think. It starts with what feels right, what nourishes and enriches us.
Paying attention to what inspires and uplifts us, the process becomes natural and effortless. We learn to discern what we do not need. What is most meaningful to us cannot steer us wrong. It becomes the rhythm of our life. Our potential is the treasure in us waiting to be discovered. By turning inwards, life opens up to us like a flower blossoming, giving us a newfound joy. What lies within guides us like a boat floating gently downstream.
Inspiration can come from anywhere or anything. As we progress, we uncover new depths we did not know were possible. This is the mystery which unfurls the more we fuel our inner fire.
Change through practice
Our perspectives shape the nature and quality of our experience. Common obstacles we might encounter such as worry, impatience or a lack of motivation, reflect the kind of attitudes we might have when we first start practising that we learn to overcome. Through self-care, our assurance and confidence grow, and our practice becomes affirming. Shaking off a goal-oriented outlook, we see for ourselves that the destination is nothing without the journey to get there.
The value of the wisdom we unearth through our practice is priceless. There is not one area of our lives which does not become enriched by it. From the first spark that is ignited, our joy grows. Proving that we are our own source of happiness.
written by Lewis Gwilt
Enjoyed this blog? This share is a free taster of what is to come… a free offering to you as we launch the Inner Oasis Membership this March! ꩜
In our membership, you will receive our Field Notes: Monthly Guidance, instead of a lengthy blogpost like this one, the theme will be outlined and then elaborated on during our in-person offerings to support you through each month’s seasonal energies.
