BODY (LANGUAGE) GOALS

Photo by Rob Woodcox

Hi Friends! How's the vibe out there? how's everybody doooing as we enter another calendar year on Mother Earth?? I always love a fresh slate, a reason to open my eyes to see a bit clearer! Being on the threshold of a new year, also feels like a good time to have what I like to call the “body talk”. Not talking about fitness goals for 2022 (although those are important too) but hard pass on all that atm. This little ditty is about learning how to listen to the body. Figuring out how to hear it's language. Because on some level, we’re aware that our bodies are in constant communication with us. Mostly quietly (sometimes loudly!) but literally always friends, always. And you have to respect that kind of dedication. Because if we’re being honest, we’re so busy going through the motions of our routines, that we can stay tuned out and disconnected. Even a bit numb. IKYK what I’m talking about.

So, consider this your timely reminder that every sensation you experience is like a DM from your body telling you something. It’s up to you to ignore it, leave it on read, or get in the habit of actively listening. Highly recommending the last one. Because the better you get at perceiving these messages and signals, the more adept you become at operating at your highest, most powerfully YOU self. Leading us to today’s PSA that everyone intuitively knows but still needs to hear: Your body is your pathway to the divine.

Photo by Jessica Chamberlin

HOLY LISTENING

Speaking of intuitively knowing, let’s talk sentience and silence.

We’ve all heard of the 5 senses of sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing, and we pretty much take these for granted. The capacity to have these feelings, to perceive and respond to sensations, is what makes us sentient beings.

When we think of intuition, things get a little more abstract. Because intuition can show up a hundred different ways often too subtle for our liking. We would prefer if it was a real DM, I know. Instead, intuition shows up in the form of a slight pang, a second where your heartbeat was irregular, in shivers, goosebumps, and sometimes it’s so, so quiet that it’s a rapidly passing thought we hardly notice. Then in hindsight, it reemerges as clear as day - “Oh! I should’ve listened to that voice in my head!” This btw is also intuition gently nudging us by saying, next time, listen.

Your intuition is a language particular to your body. It requires deep listening to perceive. In part because it’s a silent language and in part because we are accustomed to dismissing it. But when we manage to offer sincere attention and practice feeling into our bodies this way, it’s a profound shift. With this shift, you honor your sentient nature; honor that every function of the body reveals wisdom. Every time you tune in and practice this holy listening, you are acknowledging that the Universe speaks through your intuition.

Without ever speaking a word – you are declaring a message of love with your whole being.

“Personal love is concentrated universal love – Maharishi Mahesh Yogi”

Photo By Michael Oliver Love

LOVE ANTENNA

How, exactly? By adoring oneself enough to make happiness a priority. 

The thing about intuition that makes it hard for a lot of us is the reverent attention it asks of us.  If you think about the times you’ve dismissed your intuition, what is at the root? There’s a part of all of us that thinks if I hear this I’m selfish. If I listen, it’ll be inconvenient for them. Oh that feeling is just me getting distracted or it doesn’t matter. 

There’s a fundamental turning away from oneself every time we neglect our intuition. And it comes from feeling like our happiness, our highest good, does not deserve our attention. So when we prioritize our happiness by tuning in, we enter a state of balance, compassion, and grace. In turn, we become even more receptive to our inner guide. We stand in the power of knowing we are worthy of self-discovery. 

And gradually, our personal love blooms outward as universal love, just as universal love has found its expression through our personal love for ourselves. This is embodying divine connection.

And real talk, it’s a power move.

Okay, so how do we stay in divine connection?

By honoring our body; by not handing our power away.
When we play into fear-based thinking and behaviors like avoiding new experiences, judging one another, trying to fit into an image rather than embracing our unique qualities, we are turning away from our divine connection. When we look to others to define our path, without considering ourselves and our unique perspective, we are letting ourselves be disempowered.

In contrast, when we treat ourselves with the utmost love and respect in all the ways - creating, giving, mindful eating, joyful relationships, making art, practicing stillness & silliness, levity, and gratitude - these are ways we take back our power. To love and honor ourselves is the embodiment of divine will and freedom; of sovereignty. And this power comes from knowing that the physical body is only a temporary representation of the spirit it serves. It comes from knowing that the body is a divine language.

xx

Michelle J Dean.