Prana Pages

I am not one to get involved in political debates.  I don’t claim to be a Democrat or Republican or Independent.  At my own fault, I tend to pay less attention to government and politics than is probably healthy.  This is all a disclaimer to state that what you are about to read is purely an energetic read on Obama’s redesign of the Oval Office, not to make any political statements or to support or refute the current or any past administration.

That being said…  I find the following facts about Obama’s redecorating of the Oval Office rather interesting.

First of all, the timing of the redecoration is no accident from an energetic and spiritual perspective.  The redesign was unveiled on the same day that President Obama announced the end of military involvement in Iraq.  While most presidents choose to do some sort of redecoration of the Oval Office, Obama waited some eighteen months or more to put his own flavor on his office.  My personal energetic read on this is that Obama needed to invoke some energy of George W. Bush (the man who initiated the military actions in Iraq) in order to bring the military action to a close.  He left the Oval Office much like Bush’s office as he continued the job that Bush started, one which Obama openly and vocally opposed.  Now that that job is complete, Obama is claiming the office and the power within it as his own.  I would not be surprised if we see Obama stepping into more ownership of his role as President and taking more of a stand on issues he supports since this re-design of his work space.

Secondly, the look and feel of the Oval Office is geared towards Obama’s campaign promise of Hope as well as his intent to be of service to the average everyday American.  The new rug as well as the artwork of Norman Rockwell and mechanical items all represent the American Dream, Hope.  While at the same time, the furniture has taken a more relaxed feel, speaking to the average American living room.

Finally, it is a little known fact that President Obama carries in his pocket a tiny statue of Hanuman, the Hindu Monkey Deity of Devotion, a symbol of Selfless Service.  Obama carries this keepsake as a constant reminder to himself that he is in service to the American people at all times.  The redecoration of The Oval Office is no exception.  According to the New York Times “The makeover was not done at taxpayer expense; the White House said the costs were covered by the White House Historical Association, a non-profit group, through a contribution from the committee that paid for Mr. Obama’s inauguration.”  ’Tis no surprise as the Obamas paid for the remodeling of their White House Private Residence out of their own pockets.  Maintaining a very clear boundary between his personal life and his responsibility as a public servant.  On another level, the new rug in the Oval Office spouts quotes from many of American History’s famous and respected public servants:  Franklin D. Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

On an energetic level, it could be surmised that this redecoration of the Oval Office marks the turning point in Obama’s administration, from one of continuing the work that Bush left unfinished (something every new president must do) to one of stepping into action in his own goals and ideals of the job at hand.  It’ll be interesting to see what happens.

Like most Americans today, I was caught up in the activities of the inauguration today.  I watched on cnn.com while on facebook simultaneously reading the comments of thousands of my fellow citizens respond to the broadcast.  What caught my attention more than anything throughout the day, was how often and how powerfully the essence of Spirit and God was evoked.  From the initial invocation to the “so help me God” of the swearing in, to Obama calling on the ancestors in the first line of his Inaugural Address to the humorous benediction and the closing Amens, the power of the invisible was present and omniscient.

The power of prayer only grew from there.  As Ted Kennedy fell into seizure, the facebook posts were overwhelmed with prayers and thoughts of love for Kennedy and his family.  So much so, that I was not the least bit surprised to hear reports just a few hours later that he was smiling in his hospital bed.  So, when President Obama decided to walk much of the parade route, the facebook prayers only multiplied.  I had no doubt that the invisible shield around our Nation’s President would keep him safe as he walked and waved to the people he represents.  He holds within himself, an aura of confidence, of strength, and of stability that will protect and serve this country as he has promised.

As a side note, many facebookers credited Michelle Obama’s Chicago lifestyle for her ability to walk confidently in the cold without a hint of discomfort.  This exemplifies that our First Lady has an internal warmth, a motherly flame as powerful as the Divine Goddess, that will nurture and nourish this nation in the years to come.

I ask you all to keep the prayers coming.  In this time of transformation, our President and his family face a daunting task, and he cannot do it alone.  He requires the invisible support of God and Spirit as invoked by the power for prayer from every voice who will call.

In 2008, a Nature year, we have endured a great year of transformation, change, and coming into the truth.  Now, as we step into the Mineral year of 2009, we will connect with the element of Mineral which holds the deep memories of who we really are, the light of the sun as we hold it inside ourselves, our life’s purpose.

As we draw very near to the winter solstice, Christmas, and the end of 2008, many yoga practitioners are reporting drastic changes occurring in their bodies and their lives.  As 2008 has been a year of transformation, of great change, of growth, we have been challenged by many things such as the economy, the political elections, the ongoing wars, the crashing of the housing market, and now the downfall of many big businesses along with the revealing of some pretty nasty scandals across the country.  As we emerge toward the end of the year, the energy is calling for the last bits of change to take place so that we can step into 2009 with the right energy and into the right space.

As yogis, we may be experiencing  injuries, illnesses, aches & pains in our bodies, but we also may be discovering ourselves landing poses that were seemingly impossible before.  As we are challenged by poses that were easy before, we are now able to find strength and flexibility in ways we never have before as well.  This is to be expected as we near the end of the year of change.  On a cellular and energetic level, our chemical make-up, or our energetic DNA is changing, resulting in some dramatic effects.  These changes are necessary as we prepare for 2009, a year of remembering our life purpose and living in it.

In the Dagara Cosmological Medicine Wheel, 2008 represents the element of Nature –  Change & Transformation to reveal the Truth & Authenticity.  2009 represents the element of Mineral  - Wisdom & Memories to express & communicate our purpose that lies within our bones.  It is no accident this year at the winter solstice that yogis across the globe will perform 108 sun salutations to celebrate the Nature number of 8, while numerologically 108 (1+0+8)=9, we will also be celebrating the Mineral number of 9.

Whether you plan to participate in 108 sun salutations, or some other winter solstice celebration, or you just plan to step on your mat this weekend as you normally do.  I invite you to reflect upon the changes that have occurred in 2008 and how this transformation has helped prepare you to connect with the deep wisdom within your bones in order to express your true calling.

To help facilitate this process on our mats, now is the time to focus on the transitions between poses more than the poses themselves.  For vinyasa yoga practitioners, 2/3 of our practice is actually transitions between poses, so it only makes sense to bring more awareness to those spaces in between.  It is that space between poses, that subtle pause between breaths, that stillness between the actions where we will find the deep truth that resides within our bones.