The Yogic Writer

Introduction: The Sky Inside Beginnings—Puraka Writing with the Whole Body The sheaths of the yogic body Born to Write Not seeking external validation Set Your Goats to Roam Art as the externalization of the internal Breathing to Write Breath practice: intentional breathing Effortless Effort Allowing your attention to be called to what you love Form the Circle and Step Inside Creating a sacred writing space Don’t Wait for Cadaver Gums Importance of daily practice The Portable Altar Flexibility in your practice Casting Language Keeping a writing notebook X Always Marks the Spot Writing prompt: mapping childhood Picture This Writing prompt: writing from a photo I’ll Never Writing prompt: writing into the difficult Inhale the Stars Breath practice: focus on inhalation Fiction Doesn’t Exist Finding compassion for yourself On Fire Writing prompt: sparking intuition Archives Aren’t for the Dead Writing from primary materials Trust the Treasure Staying with a memory No One Blames the Baby The importance of becoming The Spellwork of Others The practice of daily reading Writers’ Eyes Seeing as reception The Muse is a Myth The labor of craft Fullness--Antar-kumbhaka Fullness Breath practice: retention at the top of the inhalation Dander and Fluff Start small Everyone Gets Naked in a Scene Writing scenes Designate a Driver Writing summary There is no Beethoven The musing voice Breathing with Caesar Breath practice: keeping the breath sacred Enter the Snake Significant detail No Dead Grandmothers Creating characters Whose Line is It? Creating dialogue What to Bring to Show and Tell The power of both showing and telling What Piano? Pursuing organic metaphors The Body is Your Swing Breath practice: somatic movement Creating Our Own Obstacles The myth of writer’s block Research and Laundry Archival and living research Two Towers Crafting voice It’s Not about Cake Finding deeper subject Drop the Knife Breath practice: loving kindness No One Stands Outside Writing and trauma Finding Form Linear and non-linear structure Distillation--Rechaka Winnowing Breath practice: exhalation See the Wolf Understanding fundamental attributes Collecting Language Precise diction Choose Your Wand Verbs as energetic channels Heart Holding Breath practice: holding your own heart Word by Word by Word Focusing on syntax Taking Refuge Forming a writing group The Public in Publication Alternative Types of Publication Rejection as Protection How to keep going Void—Bahyu-kumhbaka Entering the Void Breath practice: retention at the bottom The Alchemy of Writing Connections between yoga, alchemy and writing Surrender Ritual Epilogue Index