Fall Equinox
Equinox. A sacred time when the day and night are equal and the energies around us are ripe for contemplative practices.
Life is always leading each one beautifully and uniquely to what we may need to see at any time. Balance perhaps is a theme many of us naturally sense at this time.
Balance to me is not about the Mind’s concept of perfection or its insistence to always be at ease.
I recognize more and more how, at a fundamental level, a lived experience of balance is truly possible when we live as and from the presence of our true nature.
We are manifested energy in form.
Identified with only our human aspects and experience, we can easily feel overwhelmed and lose sight of the larger picture of what is transpiring in our lives.
Identified solely with (concepts of) our Energetic/Spiritual self without being in/with our bodies and fully embracing our Human experience can leave us disoriented and ungrounded.
To see with clarity is to have the choice to harness what is available and play our co-creative part in living our most fullest lives.
The breath plays a significant role in bridging these two aspects of us. Breath and balance are intricately connected. Our very natural inhalation and exhalation serve as a barometer of our inner workings.
Breath, Prana, as we say in Sanskrit, is Life itself.
If you can spare a few minutes today, here are two simple breath practices that may help you harness today’s energy and open you to more.
Anuloma Viloma
As and when you have time available, practice this popular Nadi Shodana Pranayama. This breathwork clears all energetic channels and balances our nervous system. Seated in a comfortable position with your spine erect, breath in from your left nostril and exhale from your right. Breath in again from your right and exhale from the left.
This makes for a full round of 1 breath.
Continue and take pauses as needed.
The energies of today especially are highly supportive and conducive to the extraordinary benefits of this pranayama.
Breath Practice
Find a quiet space and relax into your body. Your inner gaze locked at the tip of your nose; observe the natural flow of your breath with complete ease.
An ancient practice of locking our eyes at the tip of our nose is called Nasikagra Drishti or the Agochari Mudra and is a simple and super effective way to perceive beyond what the five senses can sense.
Agochari means unknown, and this dhristi (means eyes and vision) helps the body-mind develop the ability to be at ease with and in the unfamiliar while also offering us the possibility to receive the vision of what yet lies unseen.
As always, never force. Do this without putting any undue stress on your eyes. If you cannot do this gaze, simply relax and focus on your breathing.
Keys to remember – There is nothing we actively need to do, fix or change in this practice.
Be with what is as a witness, completely at ease and peace. Do this as many times as possible through your day and allow what is to unfold through its natural rhythm.
If you are doing both practices, then make sure you do the Anuloma Viloma first and then the Breath practice.
If you are curious about learning and experiencing more, join me for the Pranayama classes at the Mystery school for more on such topics!
I’d love to see you there.
https://mysteryschool-memberscircle.com/
Wishing all of you a very happy Fall Equinox today.
Much love. ❤️☀️🙏
P.D — An pre dawn sighting of the bright moon as I meditated out under an open sky for the first time today. An experience I would definitely like to repeat.
