Happy Lunar New Year of the Water Tiger!!!
Chinese mythology says that the tiger is the king of all their animals. As a zodiac sign Tiger symbolizes power, courage, confidence, leadership and strength. It’s a year that will bring new changes and encourage people to overcome all challenges and difficulties. I was born in the year of the Tiger.
Last week I had an interesting dream. I dreamed that I saw two oceans coming together. This meeting formed a straight line from the shore back to the horizon. This was a powerful event. I thought I should go up to a corner of a ledge of a building to see from a higher vantage point. The words “continental divide” came to mind which I thought was curious because of this coming together of two great oceans. They were eye-to-eye so to speak, not merging into one ocean, and yet they were one.
I walked up to the high ledge and as I got closer to the corner, I felt a strong altered state arising in me. The energy felt too strong. I was afraid that I would lose balance and fall into the ocean. So I backed off.
When I awoke I gently chastised myself saying, “why didn’t you go to the ledge and see/experience that power? It’s only a dream!”
Thich Nhat Hanh writes in his book, Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm:
“We have a great, habitual fear inside ourselves. We’re afraid of many things — of our own death, of losing our loved ones, of change, of being alone. The practice of mindfulness helps us to touch nonfear. It’s only here and now that we can experience total relief, total happiness…
…In the practice of Buddhism, we see that all mental formations — including compassion, love, fear, sorrow, and despair — are organic in nature. We don’t need to be afraid of any of them, because transformation is always possible.”
What could be a better practice than transforming fear into love? This practice takes courage, diligence and patience - all aspects of a meditation and hula practice - perfect for the Year of the Tiger!
May your lives be joyous, healthy, and blessed!!!
June Kaililani Ryushin Tanoue
Kumu Hula, Sensei