brahmacharya: honoring my energy through boundaries and balance
brahmacharya
the right use of energy. not less of everything -- but enough of the right things.
Nikki does an excellent job of explaining how brahmacharya works in her life.
Let's talk about energy. No, not the kind that comes from your afternoon iced chai (though, this is vital), but the kind that fuels how you show up in your life.
Brahmacharya is one of the five Yamas in yogic philosophy, and while it's traditionally translated as celibacy or self-restraint, the interpretation I connect with most is this: the right use of energy. Moderation. Not pouring yourself out until there's nothing left.
And honestly? As a millennial working mom, this one hits different.
Growing up I saw 2 options: be a stay at home mom, or work outside of the home beholden to a rigid schedule. I never saw an example of the life I chose for myself. And here's the thing nobody tells you about working from home as a parent: the boundaries between you and everything else get blurry fast. Your laptop is always there. The laundry is always there. The emails, the dinner prep - all of it, always there. I spent a long time saying yes to things that drained me because I thought that's what "showing up" looked like. I was wrong, it actually looked like burnout with a smile.
Brahmacharya invited me to ask a different question: Where is my energy actually going, and is that where I want it to go?
Learning to say no was the first act of real self-care I practiced. Not "no" wrapped in apology or unnecessary explanation. Just a clear, kind no. No to the obligation that wasn't mine to carry. No to the commitment that sounded good but felt wrong. No to the scroll when I needed stillness.
Practicing Brahmacharya has taught me that moderation is not just about withholding. It is about recognizing that my time, attention, and energy are finite resources. It's equally about learning when to say yes, and meaning it fully. Yes to the morning walk. Yes to the conversation that actually matters. Yes to showing up for myself the way I show up for everyone else.
Maintaining a sense of self while tending to the people I love is not selfish. It's sustainable. When I protect my energy, I have more of it — more for my son, my relationships, my joy.
That's what moderation looks like for me. Not less of everything, but enough of the right things.
And that, I think, is exactly what this Yama is asking of us.
light your lamp & you light the world —
june and the moondog team