Create Miracles in Your Life with Sagittarius-Inspired Yoga

I’m Jilly Shipway, author of Yoga by the Stars, and in this article we’ll explore how you can integrate the beautiful, rich symbolism of the zodiac sign Sagittarius into your yoga practice. We’ll also look at ways of letting go of distractions, setting your intention, and creating miracles in your life. And remember these practices are for everyone, not just Sagittarians.

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Like an archer drawing back the string of her bow, eye fixed upon the target, yoga teaches us to set our intention. When we practise yoga, we consciously direct our intention to a chosen object. Even though our mind might be flitting all over the place, we continue to draw our attention back to a fixed point, such as the flow of the breath, sensations in the body, or whatever we have chosen to focus on during that session. This concentrated narrowing of our attention leads to an expansive, spacious, state of consciousness.

Sagittarius is a mutable, positive, fire sign, ruled by Jupiter. Its symbol is the centaur, with bow and arrow. In Rome the constellation of Sagittarius was associated with Diana, the Goddess of the Bow. Sagittarian colours are purple and deep blue. Key words are widely, deeply, and free ranging.

Sagittarius inspires us to find out more about the skills and discipline of archery, some of which are similar to those we cultivate in yoga, such as balancing effort (sthira) and relaxation (sukha). It can be fun to choose asanas inspired by archery imagery. Try combining the arm movements of drawing your bow and releasing an arrow, with familiar poses such as Lunge Pose (Anajaneyasana) and Warrior Pose (Virabhadrasana). Or explore the tautness of the archer’s bow through the Bow Pose (Dhanurasana). In the Sagittarius practice in my Yoga by the Stars book, the affirmation we use is: My intention is clear, and opportunities arise.

The fire of Sagittarius is the purifying, blue fire at the heart of the flame. In the Northern Hemisphere the Sagittarian dates correspond with our entering into the depths of winter, so this blue-flame image, when introduced into a meditation, can be a way of bringing light into the darkness.

The rulership of Jupiter gives the sign a jovial, happy-go-lucky outlook. The Breathe and Smile Meditation, adapted from my Yoga by the Stars book, reflects the cheerful, optimism of this sign.

The Breathe and Smile Meditation

Find a comfortable position, either sitting or lying. Become aware of the natural flow of the breath. Picture something or someone that makes you smile. Perhaps it is one of your kids, or a grandchild, or pet, or best friend. Allow your lips to relax into a smile; notice how a smile relaxes your facial muscles. Imagine that the smile is spreading through your body; your eyes are smiling; the back of your throat is smiling; the smile expands across your chest; your belly is smiling. If any part of your body needs soothing, imagine that part of your body is relaxing into a smile.

Concentrated narrowing of attention leads to an expansive, spacious, state of consciousness.

Then return your awareness to your breath. Each time you breathe out, feel yourself relaxing into a half-smile. A half-smile is that gentle smile that you see on the face of the Buddha. Inhale: exhale half-smile. Carry on breathing and smiling over a few more breaths and then let it go. Resolve to stay in touch with your inner smile as you go about your day.

Below are some Sagittarius-Inspired Meditation Questions, adapted from the Yoga by the Stars book. The theme is “developing focus, concentration, and setting your intention.” You could integrate the questions into your journaling practice, turn them over in your head on a meditative walk, meditate upon a question whilst in a yoga pose, or read them before bed and trust that your subconscious mind will come up with some insightful answers whilst you sleep.

Sagittarius-inspired Meditation Questions

Are there any areas of my life that would benefit from me having a clear intention of the direction I want to follow?
How can I best place myself to take full advantage of opportunities that arise and so fulfil my potential?
What lights my fire and what am I passionate about? How can I best steer myself in the direction of following my passions?
What are my aims in practicing yoga? Choosing one of these aims, how would I phrase it as a simple intention to use to guide a yoga session?
Which yoga techniques help to improve my focus and concentration?

To explore more Sagittarius-inspired yoga ideas and find inspiration, visit my website: www.yogabythestars.com.

I hope you have fun connecting to your Inner Archer! Take some time to set your intention, decide on a direction of travel, and new paths will open and stretch out to the horizon. Yoga is as wide as the world and as deep as the ocean. Miracles can happen!