The Marianne Williamson Quote

Last week I used this well known quote in my classes.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” 

— Marianne Williamson (A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles)

As I see it right now, the project of Yoga is about revealing inner light, and yoga practices are an opportunity to begin to clear all that might be blocking your light, maybe for the first time in your life.  We all have limiting ideas about ourselves, ways we disrespect ourselves, ways we engage in behaviors that are not life enhancing. Over time our light can become a lot, or a little dull.  It takes courage and strength to begin to shine again.

As Marianne points out the light is always there, and it’s the challenges, the sometimes steep slopes of our lives, that compel us to tap into the light, the strength and power within us.   

In yoga class you’ll never hear us say, “dim your light”, that’s for sure.  As we move all forward in our practice, over time we gradually become liberated from fear, and move into a place of more freedom and light.  it’s then we give others around us “permission to do the same”—- that’s so radical.  And our presence can liberate others, it’s totally a reason to practice.