TREASURE: COURAGE
The word courage comes from the Latin root “cor,” which means heart.  When we have courage, we are living from the heart.  This heart is as strong and fearless as a lion. It feels fear only when the mind creates a false belief of separation from others or the environment.

THE THREE SISTERS - Muslim
Every year Disease makes a visit to the Holy City of Mecca.  Her companions are always her sisters Death and Fear.  One year, Fear went ahead of Death and Disease.  The old gatekeeper, who did not know Fear, let her go into the city.
When Death and Disease arrived at the gate of Mecca, the gatekeeper called out angrily, "So, Disease, you've come again to bring Death and misery to people! How many victims will you take this time?"
"No more than 500 I'm sure," Disease said.
“Ok,” said the gatekeeper. “Promise not to take any more!  And you, Death, how many will you take?"
"Oh, I will take what Disease gives me."
The gatekeeper let them by, warning then not to take more than they promised.
Weeks later, Death and Disease returned and called to the gatekeeper to open the gate.
"Well, Disease, how many did you take?" the gatekeeper asked.
"Oh, I took only 499," Disease said.
"Any you, Death, how many did you take?" the gatekeeper asked.
"Oh, I took more than a thousand."
"But you promised that you'd only take what Disease gave you!" the gatekeeper cried.
"Yes," Death answered, "But most of those who died were taken by our sister Fear, who went unnoticed through your gate.  One day, you will know, old man, that our sister Fear does more harm and causes more death than Disease!"

WORKING WITH THE STORY
Contemplate this story during asana, meditation, and relaxation.

Take out your journal and write about your fears.   Can you think back to any event in your life that made you afraid?  Retell that story.

 What can we do if we are afraid?  Who can we talk to?  Many times we are afraid to do things because we want to look good.  Is fear a choice?

ASANAS
Practice grounding poses, such as WARRIOR I, II and III virabhradrasana I, II, III.  Focus on the feet, legs and hips.  Try PIGEON POSE, eka pada rajakapotanasana and BOUND ANGLE POSE, badhha konasana. Let the lower half of the body come into awareness.  Imagine the energy flowing from the heart, through the body, down to the hips, to the toes, then flowing out and connecting to the universe.  Feel the energy of the body flowing to the floor and to the people in the room.  Feel the connection and support of the universe.  There is no need to be afraid.  Everything is part of you.

Also practice heart opening poses, such as CAMEL POSE ustrasana. COBRA POSE, bhujangasana. UPWARD FACING BOW POSE, urdva dhanurasana, and BOW POSE, dhanurasana.

Try SHOULDERSTAND, salamba sharvangasana.  At first, this may feel frightening.  Take small steps toward the pose, even if it’s just taking the formation of the pose, or being in bridge pose, or rocking.
Try LION POSE, simhasana.  Roar and feel courageous!

 MEDITATION AND RELAXATION
Become aware of your body.  Focus on each body part and how it feels connected to other body parts.  Become aware of energy, pain, and tension in your body.  Now think of something that makes you afraid and talk to that feeling.  Tell it that you understand what it’s going through.  What does the fear say back?

Visualize something that scares you, and replace that image with a courageous image.  Mentally create a badge of courage.  Decorate it with your imagination, and afterwards, create the badge with art materials.

CALMING THE STORM – Christian
One day twelve men and their master got into a boat on the sea.  The master quickly fell asleep in the rocking waves.  But soon, a terrible storm swept up, tossing the boat to and fro.  The twelve men were terrified.

“Master, Master!” they cried. “Please, wake up!  We are afraid!  We will drown in this storm!”

The Master woke up.  He stood up and said, “Oh, ye of little faith.”  He looked out on the storm, stretched out his hands and said, “Peace.”  Instantly, the storm calmed.  All was well once again.

WORKING WITH THE STORY
   Contemplate this story during asana, relaxation, or meditation.

When you are feeling afraid, focus on slow, deep, rhythmic breathing.  Put your hand on your belly, and let the belly be pushed out by the breathing.  What does the belly say?  What is it afraid of?  What do you say to it?  Is it true? Is it happening right now?  Or is it an if?

ASANA
Fear can be dealt with by developing a strong core and trust in the Self.  These poses develop a strong core. Start with BOAT POSE, navasana. Then lower down into HALF BOAT, ardha navasana. Finish up with KNEE TO HEAD POSE.

MEDITATION AND RELAXATION
 Loving-kindness practice is an antidote for fear.  Replace fearful thoughts with those of love and kindness.  During difficult times, practice this mantra for five minutes each day:   “May I find freedom from fear.  May I help others be free from fear.”
TREASURE:  STILLNESS

He that does nothing does everything, says the Tao Te Ching.
Often, we are trying to get something or to get away from something.  Such desire and aversion pulls us from our place of peaceful stillness into the world, and this causes suffering.  Of course, we will always have desires and aversions, but we can temper the way they affect us.   When we feel sad, we can cry, and when we are happy, we can be happy, but we need to understand that these states are impermanent; we can always return to our state of peaceful stillness.

STANDING STILL – Jewish
One day, when the Rabbi was in the marketplace watching all the people rushing to and fro, he grabbed one man’s arm and held him.

“Hey!” the man cried, trying to pull away. “What do you think you are doing?  Let me go! I have important things to do, places to see!  Things to get!”

The Rabbi held fast to the man’s arm and said, “How do you know that what you are looking for is in front of you? Maybe what you are looking for is behind you, and all you have to do is stand still until it all catches up with you.”

WORKING WITH THE STORY
 Contemplate this story during asana practice, meditation, or relaxation.

Make a list of all the things you do in your life.  Is it a lot or a little?  Do you feel rushed?   Does one part of your body feel rushed?  Touch that part of your body and talk to it.  What does it say?  What is really important? How can you take time to slow down and enjoy things more?

ASANA
 Try a resting pose, such as CHILD’S POSE, balasana, and a restorative pose, such as SHOULDER STAND, salamba sharvangasana.   Try to hold the poses for a long period of time before moving into PLOW POSE, halasana.

MEDITATION AND RELAXATION
There is nothing to do; there is nothing to get, nowhere to go, nothing to buy or compete for.  Just BE.  For now, release yourself from the need to DO.  Create an image of this relaxing, free feeling.   Afterwards, draw the image.