om family
T
hinking about ways to protect
my children, I sometimes
fantasise about wrapping them
in giant sized cotton wool, and
hiding them away from danger.
I vacillate between feeling overly protective,
and other times wanting to send them far
out into the world alone, while I stand back
and recuperate. I waver. Sometimes I am
so fully involved that it takes exhaustion to
remind me to slow down, and let go a little.
And I do, I step back and beg the universe
to do the protecting for me. This to-ing and
fro-ing can be confusing, so I search for
balance, but balance can be hard to find.Venturing Out
As my children navigate their adolescence,
I try to help them embrace their
independence, in preparation for adulthood.
I encourage them to use public transport,
to walk or cycle to friends and how to
manage a situation if it feels unsafe. I
remember feeling slightly overwhelmed
when my daughter asked to go London
with friends to explore ‘cool places’ that we
don’t have in the village. I asked a friend for
advice. She told me to encourage the desire
for freedom, to instil a strong sense of
responsibility and to prepare her in the most
practical way possible for the adventure.
Armed with this sound advice, I gave her
permission to embark on the journey,
offered ground rules to keep her safe, and
covered the practical side of the travel so
she was prepared. I asked the angels to
watch over her... thinking it will all contribute
to her safekeeping.Learn to trust
Years later, with many adventures under
our belts, I realise that the projection and
protection I find in my yoga and meditation
practice can be transferred to this parenting
journey. I am cautious not to step into fear
regarding my children and the life that they
choose to lead. If I step onto that road, and
trust me I do, I am filled with worry, sleepless
nights, tight shoulders and grey hair.
Instead, I try to live in trust, with an open-
minded approach, leaning on my skills as
a grounded and practical Montessori yoga
teacher to cope. My approach is to
be proactive, prepared, practical and then
to pray!
Sharing an alarming situation once at
a school parent conference, given by a
theosophical nurse, I opened up and asked
for help. After the talk, she came over toRaising young ones, we
need as much help as
we can get. Sometimes
the invisible kind is
best. By Siri Arti
me and offered support. I asked: ‘What
happens when a situation feels too big to
handle?’ There was a pause and then she
answered thoughtfully: ‘You find a quiet
place to sit and holding your child in your
heart, recite a protective verse.’ She closed
her eyes, and softly recited the verse below.
It was powerful and I felt the effect. I love
this image of sitting somewhere and silently
reciting a beautiful verse for my children. I
instantly understood the energy projected
from this verse, and the invisible protection
that would cloak them wherever they might
be. In that moment, I stop holding on so
tight, release the worry and give it away in
trust. Try it anytime. It could be when you
are settling your young children down at
night, or sending your older ones off into
the world without you. Close your eyes, and
hold them close, recite your verse and let
worry go. Feel the energy projecting out
and send good vibes to your sweetie pies.
As the energy embraces all of you, let the
protection envelop and hold you in truth.
You may still get grey hair, and have troubled
nights, but your heart will feel lighter as you
are filled with a little more grace.Powerful verse
There are many verses to try; here is the one
I was given:
‘Create within you a new concept of
loyalty. What people call loyalty becomes
so easily meaningless. Try to make this your
loyalty. You may find that there are fleeting
moments in your experience of your fellow
man when he appears filled and illumined by
his true spirit being. Then other moments will
come, possibly long periods of time, when
his being is as if clouded. At such moments,
you must learn to say: “The spirit makes me
strong, I remember my friend’s true being,
which once I was allowed to glimpse. No
outer delusion or deception can ever take
it from me.” Struggle ceaselessly to uphold
the image of the other’s true being which
once you saw. This struggle is loyalty. In the
effort to be loyal in this sense, man shall be
close to his fellow man, with the strength of
a guardian angel.’ – Rudolf Steiner.Siri Arti will be delivering the updated
Starchild Yoga training to the northern
community of parents, teachers and yogis
in January 2018. Training will be held at
the new, inspiring Love and Light Shala in
Stoke-on-Trent. Details on starchildyoga.
org. Also watch this space for her
Kundalini Yoga for teens coming soon.