Self-Care: Exploring the 5 Layers - Our Intuitive/Wisdom Body - Part 4
Self-Care: Exploring the 5 Layers
Liz Glover Wilson
Our Intuitive/Wisdom Body - Part Four
Consider a time (recent or in the past), when you were still. Maybe after a walk or a run, or early in the morning when all was quiet in the house. Consider a moment when you felt clear; a connection to your wisdom and your intuition. Maybe you received clarity or release from something that had been bothering you. Perhaps there was a time when you felt a strong intuition about a person or a decision.
Whatever your individual story may be, many of us can agree that there is this aspect of our being which knows Life intimately at the deepest level and from which we receive messages from beyond what our minds could ever understand. Many of us barely interact at this level, because we allow so many distractions in our life.
This week, we continue to use the Pancha Koshas (five sheaths) as I guide you through this five part series. As we worked through the previous layers; manomaya (mind), pranāmaya (energy), and annamaya (physical) we start to come home to our inner knowing and wisdom. We explore the Vijnanamaya kosha.
If you missed previous articles, visit HERE.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THIS WEEKS TOPIC: INNER WISDOM/ SPIRITUAL SELF
The above chart is an overview of the four layers we have examined so far. We start in the physical and now move to the subtle self.
INTUITIVE WISDOM / SPIRITUAL SELF
THE fourth of the five sheaths (wisdom) is Vijnanamaya kosha; an unexpected benefit of yoga for most people.
Vijnanamaya encompasses intuition and intellect. It can be thought of as the witness mind, or that aspect of our consciousness that is not entangled in what we are doing or thinking, but rather, acutely aware of what we are doing and thinking.
Vijnana is a sanskrit word, when translated, means ability to discriminate, intellect or knowing.
Take time this weekend to add a new sacred daily routine to your life.
Tap into your inner wisdom.
Art of the Pause
So as we work to increase our self care; focusing on our physical, energetic and mind layers, we become more in tune with our individual being.
We find stillness and meditation to connect to the subtle awareness. This is where we find the seat of understanding. Here is where we become aware. We can observe our positive and negative thought patterns, and begin to tap into our inner knowing and wisdom; reducing the mental agitation and distractions.
Ask Questions
We often think or believe based on influences from our past, present and the ever changing noise around us. Find time to ask questions about your belief system; what you believe about yourself, others and your world. Evaluate and sit with your values, goals and style of communication. Don't give up if you don't like what you uncover, instead - this is where wisdom will come - sit through and tap into you intuition to find more peaceful paths for your life.
Transitions
Focus on the transitions in your life. When we are in a yoga posture, and start to move to another we often don't think about the journey. Similarly, when we are jumping in our car to take that same drive to the supermarket, we often don't think about the journey.
Take time to experience the transitions. This is an exercise in building your awareness, deepening your understanding and growing in wisdom. Here is where you build resilience.
A Wakeful and Attentive Heart
In A Path With Heart, Jack Kornfield writes "Often we see only two choices for dealing with our problems. One is to suppress them and deny them, to try to fill our lives with only light, beauty, and ideal feelings. In the long run we find that this does not work, for what we suppress with one hand or one part of our body cries out from another. . . Our second strategy is the opposite, to let all our reactions out, freely venting our feelings about each situation. This, too, becomes a problem - and overwhelming." There is a third option, he explains, "The third alternative is the power of our wakeful and attentive heart. We can face these forces, these difficulties, and include the in our meditation to further our spiritual life."
Wisdom and the enlightened spiritual self does not come from avoiding, ignoring or denying, but instead from the strength of a heart centered life.
If you have questions, or want ideas feel free to email me at liz@stonewaveyoga.com
