Other Foundational Elements: Embodied Wisdom

My temple is my body

My world around me my altar

My words are spells

Every thought an intention

My action rituals

To manifest all that will be

I am sacred

I am divine

Ara

This affirmation sums up the other foundational elements of the Rebirth Journey: embodied wisdom, connection to nature, the power of words and intentions, and sacred rituals that allow us to co-create with the divine. As we go along, you will see that these foundational elements and all of the guidance in this book align perfectly with teachings from the world’s wisdom traditions and most of the largest organized religions as well. Truth is truth no matter how it is packaged.

Let’s begin with the body and how it connects you with your divine wisdom. The Christian Bible says: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” In exploring that idea from the divine feminine perspective, I invite you to consider the two sides of this truth. Honoring your body as a temple of the divine and also looking to the body for divine guidance.

If you’ve never heard of embodied wisdom, it might sound confusing to imagine looking to the body for divine guidance. But if you can slow down long enough to listen to her, you will find truth there. How? Begin by pausing, quieting your mind and placing your hand on your heart and on your womb space (whether you still have a physical womb or not). This will allow you to drop from your head space and into your heart and womb space.

Why is that important? Because our heads are usually so cluttered with endless looping thoughts that it can be hard to access your truth from that space. We are so often caught up in repeating old stories of the hard years that only serve to keep us down.  Or when we are not stuck in the past, we are worried about the future. As Mark Twain wisely notes, “I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which have actually happened.”

No doubt life is hard sometimes., but more often it is our own thoughts that make it so. We have a voice in our heads that relentlessly talks to our self about our self, and she is usually more cruel than any outside force. Reflect back on some of the thoughts that you have had about yourself lately. Can you see where that voice in your head can be meaner than any “mean girl” that you have ever encountered in real life? Consider giving that voice a name and then recognize her when she speaks.  That will be your cue to quiet her voice and sink into your body.

Then try and tap into what you feel when you drop in to embodied wisdom to look for answers and guidance. A tightness in the solar plexus? A rapid beating of the heart? Pain in your womb space? Or alternatively, do you feel a stirring in your yoni? A sense of anticipation and excitement? A peaceful feeling that transcends all understanding? These are all clues of the truth that you are seeking. Stop overthinking and when you need guidance of any kind, look to the body’s wisdom instead.

Knowing that our body is our temple, we also want to treat her as such. Dress her in the most beautiful garments. Bathe her in sacred waters. Lovingly caress her. Anoint her with oils. Nourish her with delicious food. Allow her to move, wild and free.

For years, my bathtub went unused as I jumped in the shower each day, racing to get on to the next thing. Now I often take time to soak in a bubble bath infused with essential oils and surrounded by candles. I play music that turns me on and move my body to the beat. I buy lotions that feel rich and luscious and rub them on my body. I take time to savor my food. All of these practices and others like them make it easier for me to turn into the embodied wisdom that lies within.

Also clear out negative energy every now and again using techniques that we will be exploring in the blogs to come. If we don’t move negative emotions through the body, they can get lodged there and manifest as pain, or even worse disease, which author Louise Hay wisely recognized as dis-ease. When we feel pain or fall ill, that is the body’s wisdom too. What is she trying to tell you? If you don’t listen, her voice will get louder. There will be more pain, more serious illness, and in some cases, even early death to free us from our torment. But by releasing our negative energy through embodied practices, we can honor her, access her wisdom and live longer healthier lives.

Then try and learn to love her. How often have we hated some part of our body? Our round belly? Our dimpled thighs? Our asymmetrical breasts? You can easily add your own grievances to this list. What if you wrote a love letter to the belly that has the ability to create and nurture life? Or honored those legs that allow you to move through the world? And if any part of your body is less than perfect in your eyes, look for the beauty and the grace of that and choose to love her fiercely instead. She, in turn, will love you back and gently guide you to your sacred truths.

Have you ever tapped into your body’s wisdom? Share your thoughts in the comments below.