27 Nov 3 is a Magic Number

Did you ever watch Schoolhouse Rock? Remember “3 is a Magic Number”?

“The past and the present and the future
The faith and hope and charity
The heart and the brain and the body
Give you three as a magic number”

And 3 is a factor of another magical number – 108 (3×36!)

The number 108 shows up a lot in the world, for instance as we look to the Sun and the Earth and the Moon, we’ll see:

• The diameter of the Sun is about 108 times the Earth’s diameter.
• The distance between the Sun and Earth is roughly 108 times the Sun’s diameter.
• The distance from the Earth to the Moon is about 108 times the Moon’s diameter.

The relationship between the Sun, Moon, and Earth is the fabric of our human experience; causing the tides to rise and fall, seasons to change.

And looking at the numbers 1 – 0 – 8, we see one thing, no thing and infinity. Perhaps we can consider the number indicates something, nothing, and everything all at once.

In Eastern philosophies, the sacred number of 108 gives rise to all sorts of ritual significance: 108 names bestowed upon different gods, 108 beads on a mala, 108 sacred points on your body.

And 108 Sun Salutations to honor special occasions – especially the changing of seasons.

Living in a city, especially in a mild climate where there are not 4 distinct seasons, the passing of time and seasons can often go unnoticed but there are significant shifts that we can learn to recognize and honor that occur for our body and energy levels throughout the year.

In 2018 I started to mark the occasion of seasonal changes with a ritual of practicing 108 sun salutations. We honor the changing of the seasons and return of the life-giving light and sustenance of the sun.

I lead a group of hardy (hearty!) souls through 12 sets of 9 sun salutation sequences. I share and encourage modifications to the sequences and I expect you to take any that seem appropriate for you that morning – including sun salutes from a chair or at the wall. You move with your breath and rest as you need to.

The magic is in the journey, not the destination.

It takes a little over two hours. And then after savasana, we share a cup of chai and chat.

It’s a sweet ritual from beginning to end.

In 2019, we decided to hold these practices at each Equinox and Solstice to welcome the change of seasons.

108!? Seems like a lot, right? But remember it’s a magical number.

And it is possible!

It is definitely an invigorating practice of strength and grace.

You just have to build up to it. Here is a 6 week course that helps you do that.

And check out my workshop page to see when the next one is scheduled.