Power Mudras Yoga Hand Postures for Women

Nature and You I was born a child of nature. I would look at every tree very carefully. Is it easy to climb onto? Will I break a branch and hurt the tree? I knew that if a tree branch breaks, the tree cries. I could actually feel the pain and tears of a tree. There was no greater joy for me than climbing to the very top of our apple tree and observing the birds for hours. I wanted to fly and be one of them. My family and I would go into the forest on the weekends and walk for hours. The trees were much higher there and impossible to climb. The forest ground was soft; every step would sing with the sound of fallen leaves. At one end of the forest was a large hillside covered with wildflowers. My brother and sister and I would roll down the flower-strewn hill and roar with laughter. Occasionally we would see a deer or a rabbit. We never wanted to leave the forest, and it would take our parents quite a while to get us back into the car and drive us back home. We also had a lot of animals. My mother was always rescuing baby birds that had fallen from their nests and for a while we lived with a special pet: a magpie. Many dogs and cats ruled our household, and I loved to collect snails and observe them for hours as they ate salad in slow motion. Then there was the time my brother and I salvaged fifty frogs from a dry puddle. They lived in our tiny play pool until they were full-grown. Watching them was like a watching a different universe. I tell you this so you know what a fan I am of nature. Simply put, I love nature, and all living creatures. Therefore writing about mudras and nature has been a privilege and the fulfillment of a great desire. Imagine a glorious red rose. See the velvet petals open up to the sun. It's perfect. Take a few deep breaths and let its fragrance permeate your body. The essence of the rose is now with you. You are now the flower, every flower in nature. You have connected with Mother Nature. Learn to enjoy the moment. When you experience the inevitable dormant cycle, keep in mind you will blossom again. The Goddess of Nature is with you every step of the way. She nurtures you throughout your childhood and is with you when you breathe your last breath. Do you remember your days as a little girl? How you enjoyed running outside? You adored your pet (or always wanted one) and could play for hours in the grass, sand-or mud! Would you like to feel that closeness to nature again? Would you like to laugh again from the depths of your soul? You can. . . . Mother Nature hasn't changed; you have. You may have forgotten to listen to the birds, lie in the grass, and look up at the clouds. When was the last time you really smelled a fragrant flower or sat at peace daydreaming and gazing into the distance? I will guide you back to that inspired feeling. I will take you on a journey that will remind you where you came from. You will find the happy childhood laughter that you lost and become a Goddess of Nature yourself. You will travel the sea, hug trees, and become a bird for a day, a week, a month, or a lifetime. You will feel the raindrops on your cheeks and hear the roar of the ocean. You will breathe again, and become a picture of tranquility. You will learn to experience mudras, the ancient hand gestures that unlock the powers within, while you embrace and remember the heal- ing powers of nature. You will remember your essence, connect again with Mother Nature, and regain that glow of the child who played in the yard all afternoon. She is filled with nothing but laughter and joy. She is you. Reconnecting with Mother Nature will also remind you of your Goddess sisters. They are everywhere . . . running about, taking care of families, giving birth to babies, having trouble with husbands, and taking care of their parents. They are competing with you at work, they are looking at your maMesko, Sabrina is the author of 'Power Mudras Yoga Hand Postures for Women', published 2002 under ISBN 9780345445629 and ISBN 0345445627.