Reminder of the Role of Spirit Keepers
A spirit keeper is not only a caretaker, guardian and healer, they are individuals who embody and ground spiritual energy onto Mother Earth. A spirit keeper is one who has direct experience and knowledge of the Divinity of Life. They do not intellectualise spirituality. They are called to be a keeper of faith, safeguard morals and values which promote the return to wholeness particularly in times of external chaos.
Spirit keepers are grounded, centred, aligned and present. They live gently on the Earth, feel connected and guided by the Divine. Spirit keepers intentionally ground higher wisdom and understanding into the thought and emotional fields associated with Mother Earth.
Importance of Self-Care Practices
One of my acquaintances recently wrote about how many of us have become ‘slave to the coin’ and how we will often put financial health over everything else. However, in being slave to the coin, we often lose our physical, emotional and mental health. Spiritual health is often last on the list. Yet when we look at the list of benefits above, we can observe that the spiritual health can provide a strong foundation which supports physical and emotional wellbeing.
Physical Movement as a Self-Care Practice
We have seen above movement when it comes to self-care practices is all about daily activities which prepare the mind, body and spirit to embody the soul which then lead to one becoming the change you wish to see in the world.
In this section I want to focus specifically on physical movement as a self-care practice. In the western world particularly, many of us have grown up as viewing the body as a barrier to the experience of spirituality. Certainly, we would not consider it a sacred pathway to enlightenment.
The path of sacred movement is more well-known to religions in Asia and the Orient. Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong are all physical movements which were part of an overall system of health and wellbeing for the spiritual seeker. However, there are also the Buddhist walking meditations, the Jewish ophanim and ceremonial dance from many first world nations. Common to all these traditions is the focus on the body in specific movements accompanied by chanting or music. The patterned movements shift the focus from the mind into the sensation of the body.
In modern 21st Century western world, many people choose to study these ancient forms of movement for physical fitness rather than an aspect of a greater whole when it comes to spiritual growth. However, as a self-care practice and when seen as sacred movement or sacred pathway, the body will show where one is holding tension and, in some cases why one is holding tension. As Jonathan H Ellerby says, “In your own body, you can find an imprint of your inner world”. Very simply…
Your own life story is imprinted into the cellular structure of the body.
Caroline Myss, a renowned medical intuitive states, “Your biography becomes your biology”.
And if one studies the eastern systems of spiritual pathways, it is clear physical movement is of utmost importance. By embracing different types of physical movement as a daily sacred self-care practice, you can learn where you are fearful, controlling and resistant to being present and in the flow of life.
The physical exercises within Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong are designed firstly to prepare the mind-body for meditation and to awaken the vital energies of the subtle body (aura). They also prepare the nervous system and particularly the brain to fire on both hemispheres instead of just one. The hippocampus is lit up and information can freely flow between the left and right hemispheres. You may ask why this is important. Very simply as one moves and evolves along the path of ‘seeing the light’ of life, one needs to be able to appreciate both the dark and light, the good and bad, the happy and sad of each and every experience, thought, emotion and opportunity. By integrating the two hemispheres of the brain you combine logic and creativity.
How Do You Hold Yourself?
Are you aware of how you move and hold yourself physically.
- Do you stoop with the weight of life’s burdens on your shoulders?
- Do you hold so much tension in your shoulders there is a rigidity to your neckline and upper torso?
- Do you lean forward and fixate upon the future?
- Do you clothe yourself in specific types of clothing to hide your form?
- Do you walk with your head held high or lowered?
- Do you walk with your eyes looking forward or downward?
- Do you walk with eyes that scan the environment around you?
- Do you move slowly or fast?
- Do you feel balanced and centred when walking, running or dancing?
- Is your jaw clenched with tension?
Physical Movement As A Sacred Practice
The physical body is the vehicle of the Soul. It provides the container/form into which the Soul can embody itself on Earth and experience the opportunities available for growth and learning (evolution). Have you ever noticed evolution contains the word love spelt backwards? The key is to keep moving at all levels of beingness.
Physical movement at a purely physical level is about keeping the muscles, nervous system and the digestive system in good health and working order. It also encourages flexibility of limbs and torso so that aging becomes a graceful process.
Physical movement at a mental-emotional level is about releasing the tensions of unexpressed and unresolved traumas from daily living. It is also about integrating the left and right brain hemispheres so there is more ‘brain power’ available for mental-emotional cognition and learning.
Physical movement as a sacred spiritual practice is about dancing with your Soul and ensuring you are fulfilling your Soul Contract for this life. It also offers the benefit of feeling connected to the divine.
Forms of Movement to Embody As Self-Care Practices
Below is a list of various forms of physical movement which can be implemented into a daily sacred self-care practice as a starting point.
Brain Gym
- Lazy 8’s
- Cross Crawl
Yoga (Hatha, Vinyasa, Therapeutic)
- Exercises which focus on relaxation
- Exercises which focus on each chakra
- Breathing exercises
Tai Chi & Qi Gong
- 5 Element exercises
- Breathing exercises
Pilates
- Exercises which focus on relaxation
- Breathing exercises
Strength Training
- Weight training for specific muscle groups
- Posture re-alignment.
Dancing
- Chakra Dance
- Trance Dance
- Free Form Dance
Monthly Research Project
How can movement help you to age gracefully and be a Spirit Keeper. Research the benefits of specific exercises from each of the above suggested physical activities. Decide which ones you can embrace into your daily sacred self-care practice.
Words of Wisdom
“Body practice is the root of spiritual practice. When we calm the body, the mind can expand without limit.”
Next month …
Next month is the start of a new Gregorian calendar year. The focus will be on new year resolutions and whether they can help improve a sacred daily self-care practice.
Until next month. From one kindred spirit to another – be safe, be well, be authentically you.
In gratitude
Kathleen
