rites and what they teach

Almost two years ago - Jen wrote about the Monkey Mind on AFG.

Love that little search box that quickly allows me to find old posts on blogs!

My Monkey Mind was so bad at yoga yesterday that I made myself squat against the wall. It wasn't safe to do Warrior 1 or 3 - even with blocks. Because I could not remember to hang on to my abs to protect my back. And I was not willing to risk complications to my lower back. So against the wall I went - several times.

It was sort of like when I used to put myself in the tub and make myself stay there until I had control over food impulses. Except there was no crying involved. My Monkey Mind and I just hunkered down - quietly - to ride it out - and it did get better - and I would go back "in" to poses. And when the Monkey Mind popped back - back to the wall I went.

I squatted there and thought about the word discipline***. Literally. And I was very aware that I was thinking about the training/teaching parts of the word - NOT the punishment parts of the definition.

I seem to parent myself - right along with my kids. And in many ways I need it more.

There used to be anger in this self parenting - because someone, somewhere should have taught me all these things - long ago. But the anger is long gone - and the woulda-shoulda-coulda's don't take over any more. They make their point and then fade away - I don't get stuck in them (mostly).

What is left is sort of a self realization. I think you will know what I mean. I think you can see it in my current writing.

I looked through my labels to see what might apply to this posting. I saw "rites of passage" and that brought up the thought that perhaps one has to have the rite in order to have the passage - otherwise one can get stuck.


dis·ci·pline (ds-pln)
n.
1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.
3.
a. Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order.
b. A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline.
c. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority: a teacher who demanded discipline in the classroom.
4. Punishment intended to correct or train.
5. A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.
6. A branch of knowledge or teaching.
tr.v. dis·ci·plined, dis·ci·plin·ing, dis·ci·plines
1. To train by instruction and practice, especially to teach self-control to.
2. To teach to obey rules or accept authority. See Synonyms at teach.
3. To punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience. See Synonyms at punish.
4. To impose order on: needed to discipline their study habits.


rite of passage - a ritual performed in some cultures at times when an individual changes status (as from adolescence to adulthood)