Frida Kahlo, The Lotus Flower, and Svadhyaya. A New Year Practice, January 2024.

By Margeaux Candlin DNP IHH, RN, RYT

Frida Kahlo, The Lotus Flower, Svadhyaya

The New Year of 2024

I attended a yoga workshop at Revolution Power Yoga to set my intentions for 2024. Upon arrival, I took a moment to reflect on the events of 2023.

As a collective, we faced numerous challenges in 2023. War erupted in the Middle East, bringing devastating tragedies, while the conflict in Ukraine continued. Additionally, the effects of global warming intensified, resulting in natural disasters worldwide. Despite these hardships, we persevered—building relationships, navigating careers, and forging new friendships.

The transition from 2023 to 2024 feels akin to the symbolism of the lotus flower. The lotus flower represents rebirth. Emerging from the mud each morning, its wax-like barrier keeps it pristine, allowing it to blossom beautifully before it retreats back into the mud each night.

My intention for 2024 is to cultivate greater ease and freedom. Though I will inevitably encounter challenges, I aspire to rise through the "mud" and continue to grow, much like the lotus flower.

A few days after the workshop, I visited family. My aunt and uncle took my parents and me to Mexicana, a restaurant in Wilton Manors, Ft. Lauderdale. There, we admired a series of murals, one of which depicted Frida Kahlo.

In 1925, at the age of 18, Frida Kahlo was severely injured in a bus accident. She suffered a broken spinal column, collarbone, ribs, and pelvis; endured 11 fractures in her leg; and had an iron handrail puncture her abdomen and uterus. Initially bedridden, she began painting self-portraits using a mirror mounted on the canopy above her bed.

Frida’s art captured her solitude, spirituality, and fascination with medicine and the human body. Through vivid imagery, she conveyed her personal experiences, including her husband's infidelity and her miscarriage.

Despite her physical pain and health struggles, Frida's art became a form of self-study, or Svadhyaya. Svadhyaya is one of the Niyamas in yoga. The Niyamas, as described in the ancient Indian sage Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, are ethical observances focused inward. Svadhyaya involves reflecting on one’s actions, thoughts, emotions, motivations, and desires to gain deeper self-awareness.

For yogis, every practice on the mat is an opportunity to engage in Svadhyaya and explore their inner world. Frida Kahlo embodied this principle through her art. Her powerful paintings not only expressed her emotions and needs but also transformed her personal struggles into universally admired masterpieces.

References:

LOTUSLAND BLEND Exotic Dark Roast Coffee | Montecito Gourmet by Village Cheese & Wine. https://www.montecitogourmet.com/products/copy-of-butterfly-beach-costa-rica-la-minita-estate-single-origin-coffee

Dragons Blood Sage – Mystic Soul Ritual Shop. https://www.mysticsoulritualshop.com/products/dragons-blood-sage

Dragon’s Blood Sage 3” – www.zendensanpedro.com. https://zendensanpedro.com/products/dragon-s-blood-sage-3

An introduction to the 5 Niyamas - Ekhart Yoga. https://www.ekhartyoga.com/articles/practice/an-introduction-to-the-5-niyamas

The Fourth Niyama: Svadhyaya - Self-Study - YogaUOnline. https://yogauonline.com/yoga-practice-teaching-tips/yoga-for-beginners/the-fourth-niyama-svadhyaya-self-study/