This thread takes up where the last one ("soap opera") left off:
http://www.aypsite.com/plus-forum/index.php?topic=12517Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement! This sangha is so precious to me.
Here's the latest: As mentioned previously, my town is economically depressed and the for-profit yoga studio just wasn't really working out now that the price of yoga classes in town has dropped from $15 in 2009, to $5 or free at present. But I still want to teach yoga, as that is why I am here on earth, and I've had so many potential students contact me who simply could not afford it (as well as those who had to drop out due to losing their jobs, etc.) So I decided to form a non-profit organization to teach yoga on a donation basis.
As it turns out, the easiest and cheapest way to do this is to be a church, which does not require formal paperwork in the U.S. (If I were going to pursue the federal 501c3 formal non-profit corp. status I would need a lawyer, which I have not been able to find one yet.) As a church we can legally accept donations and run the non-profit out of my house. I am already a minister (a Sister in the Community of Francis & Clare) and my ministry has not been very active the last few years.
I have begun working on the website, and last night I dug up our liturgy from Francis & Clare which is a "transdenominational," "creation-centered" approach which is kind of a mixture between Anglican and pagan. I haven't had the opportunity to do ritual/liturgy in a while and am really looking forward to it, once the house becomes available (in June), where we will also offer yoga/meditation classes and spiritual retreats.
I was encouraged recently when I received a VERY generous donation from someone here at AYP (THANK YOU!!!
)
Since I won't have a salary from the non-profit (unless/until it really gets rolling) there remains the question of how to make a living, and it looks like "psychic" (tarot reading) is it for now. I guess I had hoped to find a more "respectable" job that did not involve playing "fortune teller," although apparently I am good at it, and I DO enjoy the job. Psychic Source and Hollywood Psychics are going pretty well but low-paying. I also plan to give Keen another try, where there is a much greater income potential.
Meanwhile, good news, a friend who is boarding her (now 3!) horses on my property wants to buy the 2.5 acre parcel and become my neighbor. She could not get a loan, but her grandfather, who also gave her a third horse, has offered to co-sign. If that happens I can pay off all my debts, including the mortgage on the house, which would free up a lot more of my resources. If not, she will still need to board her horses which will be enough income to pay for food for my horses.
Also my husband was able to qualify for food stamps, and his child support case was reviewed and they decided to lower his payments, which gives him a better chance of paying his taxes, a big relief.
So it appears that my feeling "everything will work out somehow" is validated despite what appeared to be overwhelming odds against us. It's neat watching all this unfold from the Witness standpoint.
More importantly, however, the incredible Love of God continues to blow me away and fill me with unfathomable Bliss no matter what else is going on. I look forward to being able to teach more people yoga so that they too can experience That!
Will let you know when the website is finished.
Again, many thanks to all my dear friends at AYP for your help and encouragement, I love you so much!
xoxo