Niyama Continued
Santosha
The second Niyama is contentment. Being content and accepting things the way they are is not being lazy and apathetic. It is accepting fully what is in front of you and moving from there. It working toward our goals with grace and ease not striving. Contentment is avoiding becoming attached to our successes or beating ourselves up for failures.
Reflection In Action:
- Where are you content in your magic? Where are you discontented? This analysis will help us know our strengths and challenges and point towards where we need to improve.
Tapasya
Tapasya is austerity in living our lives as conjurers. It is living simply and living well. Lots of stuff means lots of worry. As Jeff McBride has often said, “those who do the most with less, wins.” Tapasya is austerity in our consumption of products and not getting seduced by the endless flow of tricks, digital products and the next “got-to-have” item being hyped.
I am not promoting not buying or purchasing anything. I am promoting that we purchase with thought and purpose – not impulse. Impulse leads to a drawer or box full out things that leave you wondering, “what was I thinking?”
Tapasya is mastering our likes and dislikes. Our likes and dislikes are like waves. The crest is our likes and the shallows are our dislikes. These attractions and repulsions are the creations of our mind. It is our thoughts that make something attractive or unattractive. The things in of themselves what they are.
Reflection In Action:
- Am I a conscious consumer? Do I do my homework before I buy? Will I really use it or is it just a passing infatuation?
- What is in my magic drawers, boxes and shelves that might be crying out to be rediscovered?
