The Body Knows
The Body Knows
Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically, if we are willing to listen to them.
Many years ago, when I read the above quote from Gawain I was astounded. I had never thought about the body as having any kind of intelligence. Over the years I have come to appreciate the intelligence of my body. This magnificent organism is constantly telling us what is going on and what we need to do. The body’s feedback can be subtle or catastrophic. It is up to us.
When we ignore the body’s messages athrough denial and covering up the message, we invite trouble for ourselves. Then the body will scream out that something is not working. A medical professional told me this in answer to my question as to why one day I was fine and the next I needed surgery for something. She said there are less sudden onsets of illness than we think. She went on to say that the body will keep adjusting to a malfunction until it simply cannot any longer than that body part goes berserk.
I do not know exactly when we migrated from the natural world of medicines and honoring our physical bodies to our current western paradigm of medicine. Please do not misunderstand me here. Modern Western Medicine can be amazing. What I find baffling is the insistence by an awful lot of practitioners and patients that pills, procedures and surgeries are the best way to have a healthy, thriving body.
When did our physical body become our enemy?
While I will still use Western Medicine my heart and trust are with Eastern Medicine. For me the integrated approach of body, mind, and spirit in the treatments of the physical body makes sense. I appreciate the gentleness and respect that I have experienced in Eastern Medicine therapies. I appreciate the approach from the disease paradigm toward a dis-ease approach. I am convinced through my own direct experience that any prolonged dis-ease can result in a physical problem. Catch the dis-ease soon and avoid the possibility of physical suffering. What does this mean? My acupressure person told me my gallbladder was congested and to drink beet juice. I did not. At my next appointment he asked me why I had not drunk the beet juice. The body knows. A skilled practitioner can discern this.
I cannot think of an eastern medicine or approach in dealing with the physical body that did not evolve from a spiritual practice/religion.
Yoga
Because yoga is so popular I want to devote some attention to it. The history of yoga is varied and extensive. I picked this definition below because it adds richness to the practice of yoga today.
“Yoga is derived from that Sanskrit root word “yuj” which means to join or unite. The simplest translation of the word yoga, then, is “Union.” Which begs the question: “Union of what to what?” The simplest answer is that the practices of Yoga are intended to unite the mundane, separate, material aspects of the self, with the divine, connected and ethereal aspects of the self. In many forms of Indian philosophy, the idea that they are not united in the first place is maya, or illusion. There are many different methods of achieving yoga, each of which has its own schools and philosophies about how it is best accomplished. However, they are all, at their core, attempting to liberate the individual consciousness from Maya and in doing so, merge with the supreme consciousness. Or perhaps, to realize they were never separate in the first place.” Source: Siddha Yoga.
Origin of Yoga by Meera Watts. Updated January 5, 2024
I could not get the article to hyperlink. I recommend reading it if you want to get a comprehensive look at yoga’s origins and meanings.
Definition of Maya.
It is impossible to pin down an exact definition of Maya. I have listed a definition that corresponds to what the authors are talking about in the article on yoga.
“Maya, “appearance”, is the powerful force that creates the cosmic illusion world is real…” Source: Wikipedia.
Etheric Body, Subtle Body, and Chakras
What? More bodies?!
I have been a long-time practitioner of working within these systems. I believe we can head off an awful lot of illness and physical body distress by working in this system.
“What is the Etheric Body?
The etheric body is a subtle energy system that is believed to exist in the space between the physical body and the aura. It is often described as a blueprint of the physical body, as it contains all the information necessary for the physical body to function properly. This information is transmitted through the chakra system, which is a network of energy centers that are located throughout the body. (“Beyond the Physical Body: Exploring the Role of the Etheric Body in ...”)
The etheric body is also responsible for the flow of vital energy, or prana, throughout the body. Prana is the life force energy that is necessary for the physical body to function properly. It is also believed to be the energy that animates all living things.” (“Beyond the Physical Body: Exploring the Role of the Etheric Body in ...”)
Source: Blog. Subtle Energy Science
What is the Subtle Body?
A subtle body is a “quasi material” aspect of the human body being neither solely physical nor sole spiritual according to various esoteric, occult, and mystical teachings. (“Subtle body - Wikipedia”) This contrasts with the mind-body dualism that has dominated western thought.
The Yogic, Tantric and other systems of Hinduism, Vajrayana Buddhism, as well as Chinese Taoist alchemy contain theories of subtle physiology with focal points (chakras, acupuncture points) connected by a series of channels (nadis, meridians) that convey subtle breath (prana, vayu, chi, ki, lung). These invisible channels and points are understood to determine the characteristics of the visible physical form. By understanding and mastering the subtlest levels of reality one gains mastery over the physical realm.
Source: Wikipedia
Reiki, Qigong, acupressure, acupuncture, cranial sacral manipulation, meditation, yoga work directly or indirectly with the etheric and subtle bodies.
Be extremely cautious when working with these systems. They are powerful and vastly misunderstood. And do not just go to any person who claims to be able to work in these systems. Look for certifications. Check word of mouth. These are not magical cures nor a substitute for traditional therapies. I am not recommending anyone forsake western medicine for non-traditional medicine. I am not recommending any particular practice. What I am recommending is that we wake up to our own bodies and make friends with our body vehicle.
It is your body. Honor, respect, and love it to as such health as you can. Follow your own body wisdom.
I took this photo of an amaryllis. Looks like it could be a human organ, doesn’t it?