Personal Reflection on Creative Alignment
It seems strange to think that as an adult I had re-learn how to inhabit my body fully; something that came so naturally to me as a child.
Yet the emphasis on developing my intellect throughout my up-bringing increasingly led me into the penthouse suite of my mind where I took up full-time residence for a while without even realizing it!
Much as I value the contribution of mental agility and all that enables, the deeper I ventured into the creative realms, the more I noticed the limitation of thought-based explorations and the sense of imbalance that produces.
Whole Self Creativity
This was the start of a journey to find a more holistic approach that included all aspects of myself – body, emotions, mind and soul – in order to bring my whole self to the creative process.
The first port of call was remembering the importance of my physical body as the vehicle through which I express myself in the world.
It may be obvious when you think about it now but your body isn’t just a means of transporting your mind from place to place!
Drumming, Dance, Yoga and More
I loved diving consciously into a whole range of activities to reconnect with my body – Ghanaian drumming and percussion, 5 Rhythms dance, mindful walking and ashtanga yoga – all of which are still part of my life today.
It was a revelation to experience the difference these activities made to how I felt within myself and the positive impact they had on opening up the deepest levels of my creativity.
I realized that relaxing and energizing my physical body naturally increased my capacity for positive emotion and left me feeling aligned and connected with Source; an excellent starting point for any kind of original creative work.
Personal Reflection on Alignment
This led me to include Alignment as one of the seven Core Principles of Conscious Writing and to guide others to apply the principle in a way that suits them as individuals in order to experience similar benefits.
When I wrote the book, I felt drawn to include a Personal Reflection that encapsulates my experience for each Core Principle.
Today, I feel inspired to share with you the one I wrote for the Core Principle of Alignment which draws specifically on my experience as a practitioner of yoga:
The purple mat feels cool and inviting;
my bare feet support my standing physique
as total stillness prepares the way.
The open window frames the early evening sun
lighting up the golden wheat field beyond
and casting elongated shadows
from a few tall trees at the edge of the stony track.
Taking a deep breath in,
I feel the exhale carrying my awareness
down through the subtle pathways of my physical form
and deep into the sacred earth below.
Swirling round and gathering strength,
the breath returns
and brings the gift of grounded being,
solid in this conscious space.
Suspended with the tallest reach
yet soft enough to flex and fold,
my body responds to the vibrant flow,
and another exhale soon escapes.
The ‘haaa’ release of audible sound
dissolves the matters of the day;
letting go of empty thoughts,
the out-breath serves to clear the way.
Another inhale takes me up and out
and through the supreme crown,
where high above the layers of cloud
a pristine clarity is found.
Picking up the sparkling light,
my breath retreats,
enriched with more than simple sustenance
all aspects of myself require.
I relish the internal space,
and feel the cogs click into place.
Finally the moment has come
for conscious movement to begin.
I hope this inspires you to take action to align all aspects of yourself to bring your whole self to the creative process and expand your experience into the deepest creative realms beyond the boundaries of your everyday mind.
What are your favourite ways to relax and energize your body, open up positive emotion, clear space in your mind and connect with Source? Please share your experience or ask a question below. Thank you!
Two ways to ground and connect with Source that I find most beneficial are:
* Floor lying for grounding deeply. Work to become as ’embedded’ and ‘fitted’ to the floor as possible.
* Mahamudra yoga. Vertical stance of down to Mother Earth and up to Father Sky. Centre in the Self under Spirit. The move dynamically horixontally from the Self out into the world.
Thanks for sharing those options Peter. Grounding is so important and I love your description of the Mahamudra yoga connection with Mother Earth and Father Sky… it reminds me of the Conscious Writing Mudra Sequence. All good practices.
WOW, this is a lovely photo!
I have always enjoyed rocking chairs. I find that by sitting quietly and rocking I can easily enter and remain in a meditative state of mind.
Then a few months ago I was given a glider. It moves mostly back and forth. I go there more often and remain longer than in my rocker.
When I am in my glider looking out the window on the courtyard of the apartments I find it easy to let go of my mental chatter.
I recently purchased a bird bath with a solar-powered fountain. I look forward to watching birds up close there.
When I close my eyes in my glider I can remain in that state between sleep and awake. There I can meditate and pray. When I need help to fall asleep I go there and release each feeling, worry, and plan. then after a long while, I drift off to sleep and I am no longer moving. That is when I go to bed.
Yes, isn’t it an inspiring photo!
Your rocking chair and glider meditations sound lovely John – good for you. Thanks for sharing.
Shortly after reading this blog post I watched a video about how the body and emotions vary from country to country. It was made by a man that had traveled and done business worldwide. I found it to be fascinating both in terms of his insights and how the many ways humans use their body habitually.
Search for Body Language & World Culture – Different Countries
Aha, sounds interesting, thank you!