SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 227

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HEAVENLINESS

+ Continuing with our exploration of the 12 styles of the Mandalaprocess, we now move on to the style of the Body. Edward Bastian writes:

The Kinesthete uses physical movement as a primary mode of learning and experiences subtle emotional and spiritual states of consciousness in various parts of their body.

·         Does your need for physical activity make it difficult to sit still?

·         Do you like to explore and express your spiritual insights through movement?

·         Do you feel subtle emotional and spiritual states through your body?

THE KINESTHETE takes pleasure and finds satisfaction in physical movement and ‘listening to the body.’ But when a kinesthetic or somatic learner becomes physically inactive, they can easily lose emotional balance and mental sharpness, and thus also lose confidence and begin to suffer from stress. If your style is the Way of the Body, you learn and practice spirituality physically, kinesthetically, or somatically. You may find it difficult to sit still through long periods of meditation, prayer, study or ritual. You may be drawn to Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Gong, or physical labor, walking, running, climbing, cooking, serving tea, or even eating. You might even find that the focus of physical exercise helps you to achieve a single-pointed, tranquil, endorphin driven bliss, or you’re your greatest epiphanies arise when your body is engaged in just the right form of movement.

If this is true for you, then your job is to combine your prayers, mantras, visualizations, rituals and meditations with physical movement. Physical activity can help you calm your thoughts and emotions and engage in the complimentary mental activities that help us to be receptive to a sacred or otherwise profound experience.

+ When I do the Spiritual Paths Profile tool, the style of the Body comes out as one of my lowest interests.  So, paradoxically, it becomes a priority to pay attention to my body and enjoy my body.  I certainly can’t deny the importance of the body and I really do enjoy what my body can do in so many ways.  I invite you to contemplate the many ways you enjoy what your body does and perhaps “combine your prayers, mantras, visualizations, rituals and meditations with physical movement.”

+ We explored the Journey of the Body practices of solitude, devotion and holiness in SE posts 105 to 160. 

+ The 12 styles of Mandala: Creating An Authentic Spiritual Path: An InterSpiritual Process by Edward Bastian are listed in SE206.

+ The 7 steps of InterSpiritual Meditation by Edward Bastian are listed in SE21 and SE213.  They are described fully in his book, InterSpiritual Meditation.

+ To get inspired and illuminated by Ed Bastian, I invite you to set aside some time for these videos:

·         SevenSteps of InterSpiritual Meditation (11 minutes)

·         15 minute introduction to InterSpiritual Meditation and the Mandala Process

·         2 hour lecture & conversation

+ Spirituality & Practice offers abundant resources on the practice of Being Present and a 12s Gallery on Being Present

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post on this practice or any practice.  And, I have work to do on my Heavenliness page.  Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Heavenliness” or “Guest Post” to John@abundancetrek.com.

+ You can always find a link to any of the Spiritual Explorations posts by going to http://abundancetrek.com/sepostsaccess.html