The Power & Subversiveness of Beauty

"Beauty is subversive. Why? Because it is powerful. It's powerful because it makes us dream. It makes us think. It makes us imagine a world that's bigger than the one we know and one that's worth taking a risk for. Even in a brutal world, beauty exists and its power leads us to hope, faith, and love."
-Michael Fryer

Autumn is a time of change, release, beauty, and abundance. It's a time of paradox- so much of the plant life is dying away, and yet in the process, it shares its exquisite beauty and colorful artistry. As we see so much of our structures and supports dying away, can we also look for the helpers, as Fred Rogers used to guide us to do. There are so many people and groups creating beautiful acts of communal care, community support, acts of kindness and upleveled visionary ways of helping the world.

As we take comfort and inspiration from nature at this time, our yoga can help awaken our awareness to the simple yet profound beauty of our everyday:

• the first moments we wake up in that half awake, half asleep;

• the smell of our morning beverage;

• the morning light on the leaves;

• the crispness of the air;

• the steam wafting from our soup;

• the early showing of the bright moon;

• the coziness of the blanket as we sit on the couch.

May our yoga help us refine our perception so we can savor and delight in these small but powerful acts of beauty and resilience.