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Pancha Koshas
Creation begins with a divine spark of spirit, which then moves into more manifest levels until it reaches us as embodied souls. The yogic and vedantic paths provide us with an understanding of how creation manifests from its purest state into something that exists in physical form – like each one of us! By embarking inwardly through these levels, it is believed that we can uncover the essence within ourselves which lies beyond birth and death; connecting to Great Nature at its very heart.
The journey of life is a cycle, as we move from our Source and back again through death and rebirth. While there are many wonderful gifts that living brings us, break the wheel — or swim upstream to find something more powerful: Self-Realization. Seekers know it’s not an easy course; delusion accompanies attachment with suffering at its heels… but those seeking True freedom understand this is the only way out of samsara in order to gain eternal liberation.
Kundalini Shakti is a powerful primordial force that resides in the subtle depths of our inner planes. It’s said to be responsible for creation – from emanating all forms and shapes, both tangible or beyond reach. Yet within each individual it remains hidden beneath five sheaths known as pancha koshas. Unveiling this wisdom can lead us closer on a path of realization towards discovering ultimate truth.
Our body is comprised of the five gross elements found in food, which make up our Annamaya Kosha – our physical food body – forming an outermost protective layer around us that enables us to engage with and explore this world. To maintain a healthy and balanced kosha we should pay attention to how we nourish ourselves through diet, rest & sleep as well as incorporate movement into our lifestyle such as yoga asana or other forms of exercise for better body awareness.
The Pranamaya Kosha is an incredible source of life energy that animates our physical body. This wondrous force forms a network of subtle currents (Nadis) and powerful spinning wheels (Chakras), each having its own unique values which provide the vital strength to sustain organ function. The aura surrounding humans amplifies this Life Force, enabling it to extend beyond one’s being with a greater reach than ever before through something called Pranavayus. It has been said to be the secret power that binds even heaven and earth together!
Our mental sheath, or manomaya kosha, is a complex blend of thoughts and emotions that pieced together create our identity. It consists of Chitta (subconscious), Manas (conscious mind) and Ahamkara (ego). Our samskaras- such as habits, thought patterns & automatic routines – all exist here in this plane along with the guna influences – rajas , tamas & sattva. Together they form an intricate web which gives us insight into our individual make up.
Our inner wisdom is found in the fourth layer of our being, Vijnanamaya kosha. When cleansed from psychological traits such as attachment, aversion and delusion – it can become a conduit for Atman’s divine light to flow through us. This higher function of the mind, Buddhi, yields wondrous qualities like awareness, intuition, discernment, will power and insight. This gives rise to a Wisdom Body that allows for witnessing life with greater clarity through increased presence & self-awareness!
The Anandamaya kosha, often referred to as the Bliss Sheath, is a divine gateway that opens our eyes to Pure Consciousness and awakens us to an ever-present celestial peace. This sacred vessel holds within it Kundalini Shakti ––the spiritual power of dualistic samadhi–– deepened knowing, heightened integration and unbridled love for all things. Seated at its heart lies the Causal Body where truth resides in perfect harmony with wholeness offering you true inner freedom from earthly suffering.
Our spiritual journey is ultimately a quest to rediscover the One true Source, and Kundalini Shakti acts as our faithful guide along this path of enlightenment. As we traverse through each layer or sheath that veils Atman – from Vijnanamaya kosha to Anandamaya Kosha – our lower mind will eventually bow in recognition of its own relativity when confronted with Self-Illumination beyond all layers. Ultimately, it is only by surrendering ourselves fully into divine guidance can we finally return home.
Many Blessings,
Michelle
Dandelion Tonic
Spring is here and my yard is full of the amazing dandelion. Dandelion is not a weed as its health benefits are vast, they include relief from liver disorders, diabetes, urinary disorders, acne, jaundice, cancer, and anemia. It also helps in maintaining bone health, skin care, and weight loss.
It might be a weed to some people but its truly one of natures most beneficial plants!
Dandelion, which literally translates into “lion’s tooth” in French, is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and detoxifiers, which explains its common inclusion in medicines.
DANDELION LATTE
2 tbsp Dandy Blend
1 cup hot water
1/2 cup almond milk
1 tsp ghee
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch ground cardamom
Combine the Dandy Blend and piping hot water into your blender pitcher. Add the remaining ingredients. Blend for 30 seconds on high until well combined and frothy. Pour into a mug and enjoy hot!
Makes one serving
Dandelion Tea
This is a super spring tonic! Its simple and my toddler loves it!
8 dandelion tops
8 ounces of water
1 teaspoon of honey
Boil blessed water and pour over freshly picked dandelions, add a teaspoon of honey and enjoy!
Much Love and Many Blessings!
Michelle
Awakening from the cocoon and sleeping
As we reopen to the outside world, lets remember to sleep.
This month I have been focusing on building strong immunity, sleep is the pillar of good health and strong immunity. Its at night, from 10pm-2am, that our organs get a chance to repair, metabolize waste and rejuvenate. However with stimulating technology and to-do lists on our minds it can be easy to get a second wind at 10pm, and then later finding it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep and wake feeling rejuvenated. Nothing depletes us more than being in a cycle of turning the midnight oil.
To honor your immunity, I strongly recommend creating nighttime rituals that support your transitions from activity to rest. Guided Meditations or relaxing music are a great way to deregulate the nervous system to a more relaxed place. Breathing practices like Nadi Shodhana can be soothing for a busy mind. Another thing you can do is try to use binaural beats to get your brain waves to a certain state.
If your having trouble falling asleep, wear blue blocker glasses in the evening and try turning all screens off by 9pm, dim your lights, sip Golden Milk or Cardamom & Saffron Sleep Tonic before bed. Use tranquil mind essential oils. Transition with an evening meditation and quiet music. Here is a cello, base and singing bowl meditation my husband and I made with a friend of ours.
If your having trouble staying asleep, try taking a hot bath and massage warm oil onto your feet before bed. Grounding heart centered prayers and intentions before or upon awakening at night help.
If your having trouble waking up, a grounding gratitude practice, where you are thankful to Mother Earth for supporting you and creating the beauty all around you before you ever get out of bed. Try waking before the sun and start the morning with mindful movement, Sun Salutations and breathing practices to wake up your mind and body.
Finally, its good to keep in mind to limit your EMF exposure, especially at night. To do this you can simply turn off your in home WiFi, don’t sleep near your phone, if you do, put a piece of shungite stone between you and the phone. You may also want to consider painting your room with EMF blocking paint or purchasing a Lumerian Plug or a Tachyon Disk.
Cardamom and Saffron Sleep Tonic
This Ayurvedic tonic recipe is both a remedy for better sleep and building overall vitality. The combination of soaked almonds, ghee, sweet dates and raw honey are considered to be rasayanas ~~ foods that nourish and build vitality.
This recipe uses ashwagandha, a unique adaptogenic herb that enables the body to reserve and sustain vital energy throughout the day while aiding restful sleep at night. It is considered one of the best herbs for supporting the nervous system, which can often cause difficulties staying asleep at night. Saffron is also a potent medicinal spice with many benefits from supporting the reproductive organs to relaxing the nerves. Make this drink after dinner to satisfy a sweet tooth and to help you wind down after a long day and prepare for a restful night sleep.
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh almond milk (or organic milk of choice)
1-2 pitted dates
1 TBSP Ghee
1 TBSP raw honey
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
2-3 threads saffron or pinch of nutmeg
1/4 tsp ashwagandha powder
In-Joy!