Behind the Scenes — sara lynn lashbrook

There is always more than meets the eye….

That is a familiar phrase, one that folks use often. It came to me as I was locating the words to convey my experience leading live guided meditations.

I have shared this previously, when you get the call, you show up. I got the call, the opportunity to be a part of a 12 hour continuous global mediation, a healing ripple being sent out from the foothills of the Himalayas at Sattva Yoga Academy, where I studied with my beloved teacher Anandji.

Had I lead mediation before?

No.

Had I been ‘live’ before?

Yes, if being present with people in the same space counts.

Had I been ‘live’ on a social media platform?

No.

Was I going to allow that to hinder or stop me?

No.

The questions, Is it possible? Am I willing? passed through my mind with speed and vigor. Yes, and yes. So fast I did not even cognize it, it simply happened.

I reached out to my sangha via email, as learned everything was happening via Facebook and I do not have a facebook account (more on that another time) and shared, “I am here, responding to the call. What is it that I am to do?”

The sun surprised me through the window as a I worked with the font and sizing of the script.

Sattva shared the healing mediation and music to our sangha, teachers around the world. I read the script, I listened to the music, I read it all through. I was ready. The morning I was to go ‘live,’ I set up a space, did a test run with my sister, sister and sister, sister, sister and pressed the red button. I was love. (I meant to type I was live, instead I typed love, so I am leaving it). I mean, I am love too!

Just.

Like.

That.

As that is how things continue to appear and unfold for me.

My heart was full, alive, beating with presence, gratitude and pouring out love, lots and lots of love. That morning I lead two, half-hour healing mediations. We, all of us who joined in the space, were a part of a continuous healing ripple that included over 250 teachers in countries around the world and countless folks.

A call came a few weeks later for a second round of the healing ripple. Hearing the call, I responded. I showed up.

I was, I am, grateful that I have a voice. I was, I am, grateful to use my voice.

Grateful to lead. Grateful to guide. Grateful to be me.

As I sat in the quiet stillness that remained after the ‘liveness of being live’ ended, while being live in my aliveness, I shared my gratitude in all directions.

In front of me were screens- my computer (for the sound and script), phone (used for the live feed) and my mom’s phone (used for FaceTime to connect with a family friend who did not have access to Instagram and wanted to join), I bowed my head in gratitude for all who showed up and joined in our collective space, with deep reverence knowing we never know the true impact when we show up.

Behind me was the warmth of fire. I bowed my head acknowledge its light, its heat and its nature to shine and dance.

Above me was Wilson Snake River (a oil painting of a Great Blue Heron that has a remarkable story of coming in to my life), watching over me as he and his fellow GBH’s do. I bowed my head to them.

Below me was my mediation mat that has been with me since my first journey to India, underneath that, folded in sixths was the great blue ocean of bliss (yoga mat) and the orange yogi toes that were with me on this most recent journey to India. All three of these were on the floor, its foundation being held by the great Mother Earth, to whom I bowed my head to.

To the left of me, there were daffodils from the garden. I bowed my head for their beauty and fragrance.

To the right, I turned and there was a paper shredder. Yep, a paper shredder. Of course there is a paper shredder, I giggled. A paper shredder, another reminder to rid myself of all that is not needed, that which I no longer need. Laughing with delight and joy, I bowed my head to the shredder, grateful for the reminder to rid what is no longer needed.

What things look like from one perspective can look different from another. There are always things hidden from us, behind the scene.

Grateful for my ability to show up, to share, to be me, all of me.

In love and light,

Sara