New Moon

In the Asthanga yoga tradition, there is no practice on Full Moon and New Moon days, respecting the gravitational pull exerted by the moon on the Earth and influencing all its living things. On Full Moon, the force is at its strongest but not very grounded, thus increasing the risk of physical injuries. On New Moon, the energy is grounded but dense, physical activities therefore requiring a great effort. It may just have been a reason for the founders of Ashtanga yoga to get a couple of extra days off on top of the Saturdays which are always rest days, but hey, I’m not complaining.

Anyway, Full Moon periods are the moment one should consolidate what one possesses and not venture into anything unknown. New Moon days are days of new beginnings and it is said that those days and the days shortly after, are a good moment to plant new seeds and start something new. Add a new pose to your practice or initiate a new project…

Today it’s New Moon. Stefano and Ivan left Ubud this morning, concluding a fabulous holiday filled with fantastic diving, delicious food, great company and a lot of relaxing, massages and lazy afternoons. We all went to Seminyak this morning to splurge on a fancy breakfast at Ku Dé Ta and then see them off at the airport.

Darja and I are now back in Ubud in our lovely homestay. My room seems empty and I already miss him. Though after having been together non-stop for six months, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day it’s probably a good thing to spend some time apart, I’m very sad anyway. Above all because we don’t know yet when we’ll be together again. But luckily Darja is still around and we have the best of intentions for the coming month. Daily yoga practice, eat healthy, stop smoking (again!!!!) and think about the future.

Which is where the New Moon comes in. I shall have to start thinking about it at some point, so why not on New Moon day. As of today, the holidays are over and as of tomorrow, our employment contract with Seasplash Maldives is officially terminated – from the day we left until now we have actually been finishing the days off and the annual leave we had accrued in the previous months.

I calculated that if I stick to a budget of EUR 30 a day and keep flight expenses to a minimum, I can last 8 months and keep my “accumulated capital” at a reasonable level. Knowing myself, it probably means I will make it to 5, perhaps 6 months (with a lot of effort) until I have to start generating income again. But I will need that much time at the very least for what I want to achieve, which is focussing 100% on yoga, making it a integral part of my daily life and becoming a certified yoga teacher. Quite obviously Bali or similar places are ideal for that – as they are low budget locations, have excellent yoga teachers and not the least important, have good food and great weather. So for the next 4 or 5 weeks at least, I shall stay here and make the most out of it.

And perhaps in two weeks, when it’s Full Moon, I shall have a consolidated, financially sound, milestone specified, legally compliant and spell checked plan for the rest of the year, including travel costs, accommodation expenses and a detailed list of scheduled visits to friends in Europe, Egypt, Australia and the rest of the world. Or maybe it will be ready on the next Full Moon. Or perhaps I’ll just let go of my manic planning habit and grab the opportunities as they come by.

What a scary thought…

Anyhow, I’ll keep you posted on the progress of the growth of the planted seed. In my head, mind you…

Wishing you all happy new beginnings,

xYx

Pictures of Ubud:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151054208130815.491621.523210814&type=3&l=7b834c4f35