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Mudras: The Healing Power in your Hands

Spirituality

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January 21, 2015

“In this respect, Kundalini Yoga assumes that every area of the hand forms a reflex zone for an associated part of the body and the brain. In this way, we can consider the hands to be a mirror for our body and our mind.” ~ Lothar Rüdiger Lütge, Kundalini yoga expert

Practiced since antiquity in combination with pranayama, asanas and meditation, Mudras or Hand Gestures is a practice to improve your physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Our hands define our karma and fingers being the power points, are a link between individual Pranic force and universal cosmic energy.

The subtle hand and finger movements make important connections in the nervous system and stimulate specific energy pathways or nadis. Human body is an amalgamation of 5 elements of nature – Earth, Air, Water, Space and Fire & each finger acts as a representative of one element.

Yogis believed that if one wants to cure any disease, they can tap into the energy of the elements and rectify the imbalance with the practice of suitable mudras. Starting from the thumb, the fingers represent Fire, Air, Space, Earth, and Water.

Mudras redirect the energy flow to the upper Chakras, and gradually establish a link between all the Koshas (layers) of the body.

Let’s explore 7 mudras, their benefits, and duration for enhancing our mental, spiritual, and physical well-being.

gyan-mudra-gesture-of-knowledge — Gyan mudra is the mudra of knowledge

1) Gyan (Knowledge) or Jnana Mudra:

The gesture of knowledge or gesture of wisdom, activates the pineal gland, relaxes the mind and improves concentration. This mudra increases the vaayu (Air) Element within the body. In this mudra thumb represents brahma (Supreme reality) & the index finger is an individual soul, and their union creates eternal knowledge and wisdom.

Method: To perform this mudra, gently join the tip of thumb and the index finger, while the other three fingers are simply stretched out or free & slightly bent.

Duration: You can practice this mudra anytime during the day or while you are performing yoga postures or during meditation.

Benefits: Gyan mudra increases concentration, memory, reduces sleep disorders, helps to release stress and anger, eases depression and headache.

2) Vayu (air) Mudra:

The gesture of air is best for the Vata body types and reduces any constrictions in the body due to excess air in the body.

Vayu Mudra — Vaayu mudra balances the air element within your body

Method: It can be performed while sitting, standing or lying. Just fold the index finger, you would be able to see the phalanx bones. Press the second phalanx bone with the tip of the thumb, and the tip of the index finger should touch the base of the thumb.

Duration: One can practice this mudra any time during the day, whether on full or empty stomach.

Benefits: It eliminates excess gas/air related problems like gout, flatulence, constipation. It helps in diseases like arthritis, neck pain, trembling in Parkinson’s disease, paralysis and cervical spondilytis.

3) Prithvi (Earth) mudra:

This mudra amplifies the earth element of the body. Earth elements is a vital component of bones, cartilage, skin, hair, nails, muscles, tendons, internal organs, etc. Practice of Prithvi mudra builds and invigorates these tissues and strengthens the bones. It produces stability, confidence and strength.

Method: Sit down in lotus pose or easy pose to perform this mudra. Gently touch the tip of ring finger and thumb, while the other three are stretched or free.

Duration: 30-45 minutes every day, together or in 3 parts during the day.

Benefits: It reduces stress, weakness, helps in weight gain, increases blood circulation & Kapha, boosts self esteem & confidence. Also, it increases determination and directs individuals towards spirituality. It improves digestive power, develops vitality and removes deficiency of vitamins.

4) Agni (fire) or Surya (sun) mudra:

The fire hand gesture, is a powerful mudra with significant healing capacity. It increases the fire element in the body and reduces the earth element. The element Agni (fire) is associated with body-temperature and metabolism. Practice of Surya mudra helps to maintain the body-temperature and keeps the metabolism going.

Method: Practice only in sitting position and on an empty stomach every day to reap benefits of this mudra. Fold the ring finger and touch the tip at the base of the thumb while the tip of the thumb presses the second phalax bone of the ring finger.

Duration: Can be practiced 20 minutes every day but avoid practicing when you have acidity or indigestion problem.

Benefits: Dissolves excess fat in the body, reduce cholesterol, quickens digestion, boosts metabolism & immune system, controls low BP and regulates the thyroid gland.

5) Jal (Water) Mudra:

Works on the biggest element of the body, water, by increasing it to an optimum level. It prevents all diseases which come due to the lack of water or any kind of dryness. Helps to rehydrate cells, tissues, muscles, skin, joint-cartilage, etc.

jal-mudra-water-element — Jal mudra balances the water element in your body.

Method: Sit in an easy pose or simply lie down and slightly touch the tip of the thumb with the little finger. The rest of the fingers can be left freely without any stress.

Duration: It is an easy mudra and can be performed anytime during the day.

Benefits: The element water is also associated with tongue and taste. Therefore, this mudra can be used to overcome disorders like loss of taste-sense, dryness of mouth, etc. Jal mudra nourishes the skin, making it glow. Eliminates skin diseases, increases blood flow, and reduces muscle aches.

6) Shunya (Emptiness) Mudra:

The mudra of emptiness or the heaven mudra, reduces the space element within the body. Since this element is associated with ears, it helps in getting rid of ear aches and many hearing disorders. It also helps the practitioner to open their heart chakra, and is suitable for meditation practices.

shunya-mudra — Shunya mudra can quickly heal earaches if held for a long period of time.

Method: To perform this posture sit in any easy pose, bend the middle finger and place it at the ball or mount of the thumb then press the first phalanx bone of the middle finger with the tip of the thumb. Other fingers should either be stretched, and practice the same position with the other hand too.

Duration: Practice this mudra for 15 minutes, three times during the day. If you practice this mudras at the same time everyday, it act as a catalyst in achieving the desired results.

Benefits: Shunya mudra is effective for any ear, nose or throat problems. This mudra assists in listening and speech and cures any numbness in any part of your body. It is also useful in overcoming motion sickness and vertigo. Release the fingers as soon as the symptoms subside.

7) Prana (Vital Energy) Mudra:

Prana mudra can be used whenever you feel drained or tired, and need an extra boost of energy. It helps optimal flow of the prana in the body, activates the root chakra and increases vitality.

Method: Be seated in Lotus pose, Perfect pose, Lighting pose or on the chair (if you cannot sit in any other pose). Place the ring finger and little finger at the tip of the thumb gently and keep the other two fingers stretched.

Duration: There is no specific time duration, one can practice at any interval and amount of time, or start with 5 to 6 minutes three times a day and increase it to 15 minutes.

Benefits: With an innate ability to control the subtle energies of our aura, this mudra cleanses our aura. The magnetic force generated by this mudra creates inner focus, clarity and a desire to delve deeper inside. This mudra is also about vision. It is not just about improving the vision of your eyes, but also to have a vision for your life. It increases vitality, reduces fatigue and nervousness. Pran mudra should be avoided if you are suffering from cough and cold.

Relax, breathe and feel the flow of energy within as each cell gets fully revitalized. These mudras can be done anywhere and integrating this ancient healing tool into your daily life will help you connect with your inner self and the universal energy. Mudras imbue tranquility, balance, and serenity for you and the whole.

How To Do Yoga Mudra | Mudras Postures and Benefits

Image source

Varun mudra
Surya Mudra
Mudra art

Being “Awake” Means Nothing; Acting Towards Positive Change Means Everything

Jeremy MacDonald

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January 21, 2015

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Being “Awake” Means Nothing; Acting Towards Positive Change Means Everything

More and more people are claiming to have awakened spiritually and sociologically, accepting the idea that there is more to life than our physical existence, and realizing that our monetary system and public institutions are subject to significant corruption.

These are evidently realizations which require considerable thought and an open mind. Realizing that our world is screwed up and spiritually void is one thing. Acting to make positive change is another.

Part of acting to make positive change is to embrace humility. Moving in a humble manner through time includes realizing that everyone has had different life experiences, has come from a different sociological background, and has been genetically dispositioned to favor certain tendencies of thinking.

Not everyone, in his or her current mindset, is capable of perceiving our world’s state of affairs and our state of existence like you, or has the same intuitive abilities and critical thinking skills as you.

When the masses are subject to an educational culture which promotes the memorization of facts over creativity, individuality, and critical analysis, and a social culture which values cosmetics, materialism and egocentrism over benevolence and embracing spirituality, it becomes evident as to why some may cling to this regressive identity; it is simply all that they know.

This is a tragic reality. There are many good souls who find themselves trapped in this mindless vortex of thought. That is why it is essential to be positive and embracing towards every soul, and to try and guide him or her onto a better path.

Alexandra K. Trenfor said it best: “The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don’t tell you what to see.” We cannot force anyone to believe anything, no matter how correct that we think we are. We can only point to the facts, and hope that they are embraced.

Action is also doing our best to live a life which portrays the values of a socially and environmentally conscious soul. How many of us who claim to have experienced an awakening still do the following things?

Drive a gasoline car
Heat our houses with electricity from coal or oil
Eat meals derived from animal-based factory farms
Support companies who use child labor and labor slaves
Support companies with atrocious environmental records

And then how many of us act like we are more enlightened than the people who support some of the same industries that we do?

I admit that I am guilty of doing things on that list as well. I would love to live in a solar panel powered house, grow my own food, and be completely self-sustainable. Unfortunately, it is not yet realistic.

So I drive my bike year round, buy clothes second-hand, do not support any animal-based factory farms, and try to live modestly. I know that I partake in some activities which are not good for the environment, but I also know that I am taking action towards a more positive and sustainable lifestyle. As Gandhi’s famous quote suggests, being the change that you wish to see is really all that you can do. And truly sustainable change takes time.

Here are some fairly simple changes that most people can make which will immediately help the environment and humanity:

Walk, bike, run, rollerblade, skateboard whenever you can – Every second you are not in a car means less carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
Stop buying animal-based factory farmed products – From the torture of the animals, to the chemicals used to raise them, and the environmental toll to transport these animals across the globe, this archaic industry simply has no place in any society which deems itself to be ethical. Boycott this industry.
Buy local and second hand – You greatly reduce the probability of directly funding child labor, you significantly reduce the environmental toll of transportation, and you give a new life to something that was taken from our planet which was no longer going to be used.
Grow your own food – Even if you have a few buckets that you can keep soil in, access to water and sunlight, and a small amount of space, you can start to make it happen. No pesticides needed, and more importantly no Monsanto.

Evidently, this is not a comprehensive list. But it is a good start to embracing a more positive existence by reducing our reliance on corporations, most of whom care more about profit than the Earth and its living species.

To get completely off the electricity grid does take a huge commitment. Fortunately, the development of renewable energy technology is accelerating. It will only become more accessible and cost-efficient in the future, making its implementation a more realistic goal as the future approaches.

This is a video by the makers of the documentary “Thrive”. It discusses how to bring up sensitive societal topics with others in a socially appropriate manner, for the purpose of promoting change.

Remember: you are never fully awake; your soul is always a work in progress.

How to Share Difficult Information with Friends Without Losing Friendships

Sources:

Cover Photo
Talk minus action
Trenfor quote
Foster and Kimberly Gamble from Thrive

The Five Spirit Warriors of the Rising Soul

Spirituality

Gary Z McGee

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January 20, 2015

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The Five Spirit Warriors of the Rising Soul

“The path of the spiritual warrior is not soft and sweet. It is not artificially blissful and pretend forgiving. It is not fearful of divisiveness. It is not afraid of its own shadow. It is not afraid of losing popularity when it speaks its truth. It will not beat around the bush where directness is essential.

It has no regard for vested interests that cause suffering. It is benevolent and it is fiery and it is cuttingly honest in its efforts to liberate itself and humanity from the egoic ties that bind. Shunning strong opinions in the name of spirituality is anti-spiritual. Spirituality that is only floaty soft is a recipe for disaster, allowing all manner of manipulation to run amok. Real spirituality is a quest for truth, in all its forms.

Sometimes we find the truth on the meditation cushion, and sometimes we find it in the heart of conflict. May all spiritual warriors rise into fullness. This planet is lost without them.” ~ Jeff Brown

To understand what is involved in the individual experience of archetypes, we need to understand that the experience is more than just psychological, it is extremely spiritual and monumentally existential. We are quite literally manifesting the macrocosm within the microcosm of the human experience. It’s a Promethean act if ever there was one.

We are audaciously downloading an experience that could be considered “the knowledge of the gods,” and then transforming it into mortal power that we can use practically. We are actualizing the divinity of the cosmos through our own individuation. This kind of experience serves as an extremely powerful link between us and the universe.

Each archetype brings forth its own energy, its own quintessence, its own personality, which is simply just an aspect of who we are. Archetypes are both philosophical and spiritual tools we can use to help leverage our unique contributions in an infinite reality.

Like Carl Jung said, “Unless we prefer to be made fools of by our illusions, we shall, by carefully analyzing every fascination, extract from it a portion of our personality, like a quintessence, and slowly come to recognize that we meet ourselves time and again in a thousand disguises on the path of life.”

A thousand disguises indeed. In this article we will uncover one of them: the Spirit Warrior, which has five basic sub-archetypes –and many more if we are willing to do the inner-work, but these five should suffice to get us started.

The White Warrior

“The visionary starts with a clean sheet of paper, and re-imagines the world.” ~ Malcolm Gladwell

White Warriors are the new warriors, the innocent acolytes of soulful intent. These warriors ask: “Who or what will rise up to fill the imagination void?” and they answer: “It might as well be me.”

They have that naïve courage that has the audacity to be a fresh force for progressive change.

They may or may not have heeded Machiavelli’s warning, “There is nothing more difficult to execute than to introduce a new order of things; for he who introduces it has all those who profit from the old system as his enemies,” and even if they had heard it, they would dare to introduce a new order of things anyway.

Their gusto alone challenges any and all outdated and parochial systems. They declare to the powers that be: “Your power is an illusion. Your freedom is nothing more than smoke and mirrors hiding slavery. Peace cannot come from war. I see that now. I’m leaving you behind to create something new; something healthier, something free, something true.” (Meditate on the root and sacral chakras)

The Red Warrior

“You haven’t yet opened your heart fully, to life, to each moment. The peaceful warrior’s way is not about invulnerability, but absolute vulnerability–to the world, to life, and to the Presence you felt. All along I’ve shown you by example that a warrior’s life is not about imagined perfection or victory; it is about love. Love is a warrior’s sword; wherever it cuts, it gives life, not death.” ~ Dan Millman

Red Warriors are full of passion and desire for the crucible of life, longing to learn from the heartaches, soul-shocks, and wakeup calls of life. They wear their emotions on their sleeve.

They have their heart to the grindstone, sharpening it to the quick, and they are always ready to use it with an Eros of the most high.

Should they meet Buddha on their travels, he will be cut. However, their absolute vulnerability is a double-edged sword: on the one side it is wide open and it learns from love; on the other side its openness cuts deep and it learns from pain. Spiritual blood is inevitable.

They practice hard love and they seek to perfect the subtle art of sacred anger. Their spiritual appetite is voracious indeed. But don’t confuse their fury and rage with violence and cruelty, their fire is the fire of non-violence and peaceful resistance.

They won’t fight back with fists or weapons, but they will not be pacified either, for love does not imply pacifism. They are the courageous David facing down the tyrannical Goliath. And they are willing to die bringing water to the wasteland. (Meditate on the solar plexus and heart chakras)

The Black Warrior

“Everyone carries a Shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it becomes.” ~ Carl Jung

The higher the white tower of knowledge, the larger the dark shadow of mystery. Black warriors make an effort to explore this dark shadow.

More than any other warrior (except maybe rainbow) they are in tune with death, and so they are more in tune with life. They understand the power of living between worlds.

Without darkness nothing comes to birth. There is no energy without opposites. And so they strive to shine light on the darkness, not to be sneaky or immoral, but to become more self-actualized and whole.

Their raison d’etre is to force the Shadow into consciousness. Because of this, they are sometimes purposefully contrarian to the warrior spirit. They are heyokas and sacred clowns.

They do this to shake things up, to humble the warrior’s process. They know that in the shadows lies their humility. Indeed, if nature and pain are the best teachers, then the shadow is arguably the third. There are more secrets to the universe in a teaspoon of shadow than in all the sun’s light, and the black warrior strives to discover these secrets.

The black warrior is always tenderly wrestling and lovingly negotiating with their shadow so as to bring these hidden dimensions to light. They declare to the world: “I’ll count coup on my shadow for you, if you’ll count coup on your shadow for me.”

They vow to fight the good fight with their shadow so as to keep from spewing their darkness onto those around them. (Meditate on the throat chakra)

The Green Warrior

“The basic difference between an ordinary person and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary person takes everything either as a blessing or a curse.” ~ Carlos Castaneda

Green warriors are fiercely interdependent and sensitive to interconnected energy. Their third-eyes are wide open to the astonishing synchronicities of life.

They fluently speak a language older than words. Their eco-conscious power arises from spiritual contact with the earth and a sense of awe for the cosmos as a miraculous whole.

They are all about rebirth, synergism, and interconnectivity. They seek to heal all types of nature deprivation where the human animal has become “autistic” or dissociative in its relationship with the natural world.

They understand that this disassociation arises from the apparent psychosomatic split between spirit and flesh. They seek to heal the divide between the microcosm and the macrocosm, by revealing how both are needed to put the whole into holistic. They are eco-warriors, disaster shamans, and the fifth horseman of the apocalypse.

Their eco-moralism trumps any and all outdated notions of morality, and so they have moved beyond good and evil. They are light travelers who travel light, and no longer have the need to own things.

They understand, as Krishnamurti did, that the “earth is there to be loved, to be cared for, and not to be divided as yours and mine. It is foolish to plant a tree in a compound and call it ‘mine.’” (Meditate on the third eye chakra)

The Rainbow Warrior

“When birds fall from the sky and the animals are dying, a new tribe of people shall come unto the Earth from many colors, classes, and creeds. And who by their actions and deeds shall make the Earth green again. They will be known as the Warriors of the Rainbow.” ~ Hopi Prophecy

Rainbow warriors see the big picture through the accumulation of all the different warrior perspectives. With a question mark in their heart and a teacher in their soul, they are walking, talking, breathing Meditations. They have merged their consciousness with cosmic consciousness and they are able to bring forth sacred knowledge.

A rare bird indeed; they have moved beyond the lower vibrations of survival and fear to the higher vibrations of forgiveness and love.

But this doesn’t mean that they cannot still tap into the lower energies, or become the white, red, black, or green warriors at any given time. They are chameleon warriors, able to assume and subsume most masks and channel most forms of energy.

They are the calm in the storm. When the rest of the world is falling apart, they are busy falling into place, in order to be the one who can put things back together again.

They realize that love is the basic building block of the universe, and they are architects par excellence. They plant seeds of moderation and love, and the earth responds with healthy ecosystems, and people respond with happiness in their hearts. They are the sustainable change our unsustainable world has been waiting for. (Meditate on the crown chakra)

“We all want change and great things in our lives, yet most of us just seek to settle and find a groove, there is enough dust to settle in this world, what we need are more fearless warrior spirits to get out there to shake things up in this realm…so the time has come to REACH for the stars, for the stars will not come down to You!” ~ Alistar Valadez

Image source:

White warrior | Red warrior | Dark Warrior | Green warrior | Rainbow warrior

Approaching Infinity: Applying Fibonacci and Phi to the Concept of Enlightenment

Gary Z McGee

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January 16, 2015

15

Approaching Infinity: Applying Fibonacci and Phi to the Concept of Enlightenment

“The law of conservation of energy, also known as the first law of thermodynamics, states that the energy of a closed system must remain constant—it can neither increase nor decrease without interference from outside. The universe itself is a closed system, so the total amount of energy in existence has always been the same. The forms that energy takes, however, are constantly changing.” ~ Clara Moskowitz

Everything is geometric. Everything can be measured on a geometric scale, even energy, light, and frequency. From the void (null set) to the vesica piscis to the seed of life to the flower of life to fractal cosmology, the universe is constantly changing.

As demonstrated in The Truth about Who You Really Are, even your existence is simply one of an infinite amount of transformations of the same energy as the rest of the universe.

The question this article asks is: how do we apply sacred geometry and sacred mathematics (using Phi and Fibonacci as a metaphor) to the human condition and to enlightenment itself.

Let’s break it down with a sprinkle of lateral thinking to get our creative juices flowing.

But first, watch this video. It will help make more sense out of what I wrote.

Phi (thesis, infinite):

“Everything you see has its roots in the unseen.” ~ Rumi

Phi is an infinite ratio: it has neither beginning nor ending. It is a symbol representing the golden ratio, golden mean, or golden number: 1.618033988… Phi is the sacred geometric pool of existence.

It can be seen from microcosm to macrocosm, and it is the root sequence of all sequences. It has been called the math of God, the Divine proportion, and the Primary Source.

According to Giulio Tononi, author of Phi: a voyage from the brain to the soul, it is also a theory that links consciousness to the notion of integrated information.

Phi appears in proportions in the human body, such as the distance between joints in the hand. It appears in plants, DNA, art, architecture, and even music.

Phi is the theory of 0 (infinity/nothingness containing all numbers) becoming separated by I (infinity/somethingness expressing all numbers through fractions or difference), and the result is Phi: Φ. First there was nothing = 0. Then there was something = I. Then there was everything = Φ. Or there was always everything and nothing and something at the same time.

Fibonacci (antithesis, finite):

“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” –Nikola Tesla

Where the Phi ratio is infinite, the Fibonacci sequence is finite, as it has a beginning (1), but it reaches toward infinity (each number in the sequence is equal to the sum of the two preceding numbers), discovering more and more harmony along the way.

It is life’s way of trying to achieve Phi, the golden mean. It is a continuing process that strives toward the Phi ratio, but never quite reaches it since it is infinite. For example: the flower of a plant is closer to the Phi ratio than its seed was.

The Fibonacci sequence of the flower is the closest to Phi that the plant could achieve. Some flowers get closer than others, but all flowers naturally oscillate over and under the Phi ratio through their natural spiral patterns.

All of life begins as a crude process, very basic, developing its finite manifestations within an infinite reality.

If we can imagine a plant having a Fibonacci sequence and the cosmos as the Phi ratio, we can do the same thing with ourselves: The Phi ratio can be seen as the infinite reality (the universe, light, gravity), and we, like the plant, are the Fibonacci sequence, growing into that reality (blossoming and flowering).

Just as the plant grows through its natural Fibonacci sequence, getting closer and closer to achieving the source of Phi and blossoming into the beautiful golden ratio of its flower, we are also growing through our own Fibonacci sequence, attempting to achieve Phi and the ultimate source of enlightenment.

Like the flower, we are living sculptures made of light. We too are growing through our own Fibonacci sequence.

We go from being a single-cell being to having over a hundred trillion cells. We can even imagine our basic Fibonacci sequence being the rise of Kundalini energy through the seven sacred chakras.

The chakras are like a divine plant growing through us, from the root chakra (the beginning of our Fibonacci sequence) up to the flowering crown chakra (the closest we can get to achieving Phi).

Just as a newborn plant breaking the shell of its seed needs to sprout roots in order to survive and to continue its Fibonacci sequence, we must harness the energy of our root chakra in order to survive and continue our own Fibonacci sequence. And the same applies to all the chakras up the totem pole of the human condition.

Enlightenment (synthesis, consciousness):

“We are the cosmos made conscious and life is the means by which the universe understands itself.” ~ Brian Cox

Governing the precept that the cosmos is the underlying infinite golden ratio of Phi and the idea that the Fibonacci sequence of the human condition (or at least the spiritual aspect of it) could lead through our chakras, it stands to reason that human flourishing is the constant and consistent process of meditating on our chakras in order to strive toward enlightenment.

Each chakra can be seen as a spiraling flower with its own Fibonacci sequence, with the flowering of the crown chakra being the closest we can get to achieving Phi.

Seen in this way, we are literally walking, talking Fibonacci sequences who are striving toward enlightenment (Phi) through the constant fine-tuning of our Fibonacci sequence (chakras). It only seems incomprehensible when we put it all together. But Phi, Fibonacci and chakras are all perfectly explainable in themselves.

Maybe by putting them all together in this way we can figure out a new way of seeing things, and maybe even a new way of being in the universe. Like David Deutsche said in The Beginning of Infinity, “Imagining explicable worlds can help us to understand the nature of explicability.”

Approaching infinity is growing towards Phi is striving for enlightenment. We are finite beings circulating and cycling infinite energy. The energy of the universe moves through us, indeed it is us.

This energy vibrates and oscillates and separates and becomes us: walking, talking Fibonacci sequences dumbstruck by our finitude and awestruck by the infinity that surrounds us.

We throw math at it and it responds. We throw music at it and it responds. We throw imagination at it and it responds. And still we are flabbergasted. Still we are striving to figure it all out.

But we will never completely figure it all out; just as we will never completely reach enlightenment; just as the Fibonacci sequence will never completely reach Phi. All we have are the trial and error of our explanations. And that’s okay.

Like David Deutsch said, “If you reject the infinite, you are stuck with the finite, and the finite is parochial… the best explanation of anything eventually involves universality, and therefore infinity. The reach of explanations cannot be limited by fiat.”

And so the reach of our explanations regarding the human condition and its place in the universe should not be limited by fiat. Hence this theoretical inquiry into the correlations between Fibonacci, Phi, and enlightenment has been written.

Image source:

Chakra evolution
Phi-Fibonacci spirals in nature
Fibonacci chakra
Fibonacci New-layman

Doshas – The Connecting Link Between Five Elements of Nature & Our Body

Sonali Bansal

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January 16, 2015

2

Doshas – The Connecting Link Between Five Elements of Nature & Our Body

Ayurveda or “the science of life” recognises that a balanced living is an integration of our environment, body, mind and spirit. We are all part of nature. According to Ayurveda, our inner and outer environment is governed by three fundamental energies or doshas.

The three doshas are known as Vata (Wind), Pitta (Fire), and Kapha (Earth) – these primary forces are responsible for the characteristics of our mind and body.

Each of these energies circulate in the body and govern physiological activity, their differing proportions determining individual temperament and specific mental and physical characteristics.

These doshas are derived from the five elements of nature. Fire element is fierce, dry and sharp as the name suggests, Earth element is grounded, slow and subtle. Water element is the most blending, cool, moist and soft, air element is weightless, cool and mobile and Ether or space element is abundant, light and omnipresent.

When Space and Air meet, Vata is born, when Fire and Water meets, it steams out Pitta and when Water and Earth meets, Kapha is born.

Dr. Svoboda in his book ‘PRAKRITI, YOUR AYURVEDIC CONSTITUTION’ MENTIONED, “Vatta, Pitta and Kapha are called Doshas because the word Doshas means “things which can go out of whack.” When Vata, Pitta and Kapha are out of balance with one another the system is bound to lose its own balance. Vata, Pitta and Kapha are all essential to life, but can cause great harm if they are allowed to fall out of harmony with one another.”

Each body will have one predominant dosha and the other two in wavering quantity. Fundamental to the Ayurvedic medicine form, this tri-dosha theory, if understood, we can experience mental, physical and emotional bliss.

Vata Dosha

Governed by kinetic energy, the Vata dosha is a combination of Air and Space, as stated earlier. Exhibiting characteristics of air, Vata types are highly unstable and enjoy movement.

As per Ayurveda, each body type governs certain parts of the body. Vata governs small and large intestines, feet, forehead, nervous system and movement of the nutrients in the body as well as the expulsion of waste.

Physical appearance:

A dominant vata is characterized by a thin, lean body frame. They have dry skin, a typical Vata may have some dry patches & some oily patches due to the quality of variability. They sweat scantily even in hot weather conditions. Hair is dark/black, less, frizzy, dry and lacks luster & nails too depict brittleness.

Personal attributes:

Fearful and anxious by nature, Vata types when confronted by a stressful situation their foremost reaction is panic due to their dry nature. They are not punctual, love changes, sensitive, flexible and high-strung. They have variable hunger pangs with a considerably small appetite. Low body heat makes them a summer lover. They are light sleepers, often prone to insomnia and poor digestion.

Imbalances in Vata dosha:

Eczema, corns, can be accounted to their dry skin type. They may also face constipation and irregular bowel movement. Vata women have a scanty flow during menstruation and their cycles are often irregular, painful and occur after more than a month. Long term vata imbalance can lead to arthritis, osteoporosis, gas and low muscle strength.

Ways to balance the Vata dosha:

Consuming herbs like Cumin, Ginger, Fennel, Coriander, Cinnamon, Nut-Meg, Basil is also useful due to its hot properties.

Yoga practice is always beneficial and nullifies any kind of imbalances. Add these simple asanas to your practice: Child’s Pose, Wide Angle Seated Forward Bend, Seated Forward Bend, Butterfly and Corpse Pose. Meditation daily can help relieve the mental fatigue and the issue of over thinking.

Pitta Dosha

Pitta is composed of two elements – fire (agni) and water (jal). This dosha manifests itself as energy or the fire we need to stabilize biochemical processes in the body. It controls metabolism, body temperature, nutrition, intelligence, and understanding.

Pitta also controls the psychological feelings of hate and jealousy. The stomach and small intestine are two common sites for pitta dosha to accumulate, that’s the reason they have excellent digestion.

Physical Appearance:

People with a dominant pitta have a delicate, slender body frame and are usually of medium height. Their skin is soft and warm and they have lot of body heat, so they sweat even in cold weather conditions. Hair colour is red, blonde or brown with easy baldness or light, fine and thin hair.

Personal Attributes:

Hot, intense and irritable, the fire in them generates the tendency to get angry easily. They are determined, dominating, forceful and believe in fair dealings.

They have a very strong metabolism, because of which they have huge appetites. Their sleeping pattern is balanced in comparison to Vata, so they get sound sleep for short periods of time and have a strong sex drive.

Menstruation is normal, regular, heavy and occurs in shorter than a month time with no or less pain. Pitta people also have great management and leadership skills.

Imbalances in Pitta Dosha:

Exposure to sun can easily burn their skin and they get tanned easily. Physical problems include rashes or inflammations of the skin, acne, boils, heartburn, acid stomach, nausea, migraine insomnia, dry or burning eyes. People with an imbalanced pitta can be argumentative and short tempered.

Ways to balance in Pitta Dosha:

Herbs like Jasmine, Rose, Lavender, Aloe Vera, Turmeric, Mint, Cumin, Lotus Seed etc. is useful.

Asanas like Camel pose, Extended Side Angle, Fish Pose, Diamond Pose, Shoulder Stand, Corpse Pose etc. are most beneficial to counter the imbalances of Pitta constitution. Wear cool & soft colors, spend time in nature and mediate regularly to keep your cool.

Kapha Dosha

Governed by potential energy, Kapha is a combination of Water and Earth and controls lubrication and stability in the body. A generic pre-disposition to save and store, they are stable, easy going, calm and humble. The body parts governed by Kapha dosha are nostrils, lungs and throat.

Physical appearance:

A larger or broader body frame in comparison to all, they find it easy to put on weight. Their skin is comparatively hotter and is thick, smooth and soft. They are naturally away from any form of skin diseases and they usually do not tan easily but can burn due to overexposure.

They usually have thick, lustrous hair, and are emotionally and physically strong. Eyes are large and soft. The mouth is large, teeth are healthy and rarely needs tending.

Personal attributes:

Cold and sweet in nature, they avoid any harsh conversation and are sensitive, stable and resistant to change. Easily hurt by petty situations, they have great memory. Patience, seriousness and humility, they enjoy a slow paced family life.

They do not desire food as much & have a moderate appetite, but the digestion is slow, regular and with a healthy bowel movement. Women have regular, medium, effortless periods with less or no cramps. Sex drive is steady but they are not so drawn to it as Pitta due to their desire to store energy. They sleep for long hours.

Foods that contain qualities of each dosha. (Or that can aggravate that dosha if eaten in excess.)

Imbalances in Kapha Dosha:

Obesity is a common cause of worry for this type & they also experience extreme lethargy. Congestion, sinus issues with nasal allergies, depression and asthma are commonly observed as well. Because kapha is the slowest dosha, it takes a long time for kapha to go out of balance. It also takes a long time to bring it back into balance once it is disturbed.

Ways to balance the Kapha Dosha:

Black Pepper, Mustard, Saffron, Cloves, Aloe Vera, Dry Ginger, Sage, Rosemary etc. are beneficial for you.

Try Surya Namaskar, Bow Pose, Head Stand, Bridge Pose, Camel Pose, Locust Pose, Plow Pose, and Corpse Pose for creating a balance in your body type. Wake up with the sunrise, avoid binge eating, wear bright colors and meditate everyday for better results.

It is common for people to have a blend of characteristics and usually one tends to dominate. Once you have identified your mind-body nature, you can make the required changes in your life – diet, habits, patterns – and restore the balance using herbs, aromatherapy, massage treatments, meditation, yoga and music.

Ayurvedic Medicine - The Role of the Doshas in the Body - Vata/Pitta/Kapha

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Doshas
Food as medicine
Body types
Ayurveda
Doshas

Fractal Enlightenment

Let’s explore 7 mudras, their benefits, and duration for enhancing our mental, spiritual, and physical well-being.

1) Gyan (Knowledge) or Jnana Mudra:

2) Vayu (air) Mudra:

3) Prithvi (Earth) mudra:

4) Agni (fire) or Surya (sun) mudra:

5) Jal (Water) Mudra:

6) Shunya (Emptiness) Mudra:

7) Prana (Vital Energy) Mudra:

The White Warrior

The Red Warrior

The Black Warrior

The Green Warrior

The Rainbow Warrior

Phi (thesis, infinite):

Fibonacci (antithesis, finite):

Enlightenment (synthesis, consciousness):

When Space and Air meet, Vata is born, when Fire and Water meets, it steams out Pitta and when Water and Earth meets, Kapha is born.

Vata Dosha

Physical appearance:

Personal attributes:

Imbalances in Vata dosha:

Ways to balance the Vata dosha:

Pitta Dosha

Physical Appearance:

Personal Attributes:

Imbalances in Pitta Dosha:

Ways to balance in Pitta Dosha:

Kapha Dosha

Physical appearance:

Personal attributes:

Imbalances in Kapha Dosha:

Ways to balance the Kapha Dosha:

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