Remember Sammy Hagar's song, "I Can't Drive 55"? I think it can be agreed upon that he meant, he can't drive as slow as 55 mph. There was a time when I could totally relate to that. Heavy footed, tail-gating, fearlessly weaving in and out of traffic, fueled by adrenalin and loving that fast, stress fix!
Well, that was a different life, prior to embracing the healing and peacefulness of yoga, at which time, "I Can't Drive 55" became quite literal. Driving 55 mph felt almost too fast. I avoided it whenever I could! No longer comfortable in speedy situations, 55 mph felt like a reasonable speed limit on the freeway for me.
Now a new life is beginning, once again. I have left the quiet of my humble abode, my routine, knowing where I am going and never needing to take the freeway. I have flung myself into life in the fast lane and picking up my snail pace in uncharted territory. This week I have begun the crash course in driving in the City of Angels! Last weekend, thankfully, I had 2 co-pilots for my test run. Just this past Wednesday and today (Friday), I was on my own, flying solo.
To many of you, these trials and turmoil may sound silly, but for me, navigating 3 to 4 different freeways in one outing, brings an on-set of anxiety. Wednesday as I set out, palms sweaty and bringing my attention to deepen and slow my breath, I realized this as the perfect opportunity to invoke the practice of mantra.
Feeling myself very much in the physical world, needing to stay grounded, praying for the removal of any obstacles along my path or those in the form of stories in the mind, I began chanting a mantra for Ganesha. The elephant god, is rooted in the 1st chakra, helps remove obstacles, aids in physical world manifestation, as well as prosperity. Invoking Ganesha is recommended at the beginning of any endeavor, which is appropriate on many levels in my life right now!
I began chanting and in no time at all a clear calm became my reality verses anxiety. Continuing for the duration of the trip and home, the power of mantra passed the test of rubber meeting the road! Today as I ventured out to Bel-Air, the anxiety was mild to begin with, but after my return home by 12 noon, I was feeling a wonderful sense of freedom, new born confidence and inner peace.
Once the mantra is established within, I find it has a life of it's own. The pace, the vibration, the length of the words and even the rhythm find their own movement within. The mind remains clear and focused, heart quiet and open. I was able to travel with traffic accordingly, no worries to whether I was flying or at a stand still, no worries about the other traveling next to or behind me. There was no where to be but where I was.
I still have many areas of the city and it's freeways with which to continue this practice. It is comforting to know that there is always Presence whenever we turn toward it. That even in the worldliness of LA's pace and vast array of all walks of life and environments, I can call and be held; trust in whatever is to be; fly with Spirit wings at 70 mph or sit with Stillness even in bumper to bumper traffic!
There is much gratitude for this new chapter, for those who are a part of it and for the new lesson's around each corner ~ Jai Maa
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