meditation on the four directions

How does a practice like meditation help diffuse intense emotions like sadness, anger, or guilt? When a Native American prays to the four directions, it is a prayer to the spirits of the world, to life and the Great Spirit that encompasses the four directions and everything that is. It is direct communication with the subconscious mind - a major clue to the esoteric interpretation of the four cardinal points. The solar plexus chakra is the command centre and source of imagination. God has assigned four of his archangels to be in charge of the four cardinal points on Earth, believers say, directing their energy toward helping human beings balance different parts of their lives harmoniously. . On the shamanic medicine wheel, north is considered to be night and "a place of nothingness where we return to the Great Mystery which will be ignited in the East." The north represents purity, meditation and intuition . Let me move through life ready to take what comes from the north. Clear your space of clutter and mess and open up windows and curtains and allow for clean air to enter. Support me as I see my own fears West is the direction of the Elders, and we honour our Elders as the keepers of wisdom and teachers of patience. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. We invite all Northern spirits of good intent to join us in our ceremony today. Turning toward the east, we look for a fresh start, an invigorating breath, a new idea. Although nothing is certain, the earth element, and its correspondence with the root chakra, gives us grounding and stability. This is how most people live their lives without even realising they are creating their own experiences. Copyright 1996-2023 Unitarian Universalist Association.All Rights Reserved. . During the research for this article, I noticed that other commentators on this subject sometimes provide the same meanings for west and east - most notably new beginnings. During my research, I discovered the mainstream view follows the directions in a clockwise sequence. Great Life-Giving Spirit, I face the West (black), the direction of sundown. Reduced stress. Further, each corresponds to a quadrant in the . For the purpose of this article, I am going to unfold the four directions in the clockwise sequence typically iterated in spiritual practices in mainstream circles. You can use this chakra during meditation to burn away past experiences and attitudes you do not want. Here's a guide to help you get started. North is the color blue. However, the west wind is also associated with lightning - a symbol that connects heaven and earth or the ethereal realm with the physical realm. When you have finished your ceremony, sacred space must be closed. Is it possible that the folktale we know and love about Santa Claus finds its roots in the psychedelic mushroom-eating shamanism of people living in boreal regions of Europe? Directions The Cardinal Directions are another characteristic of the Divine Universe that connects us all with nature and spirit. Red symbolizes the south, black the west and white the north. Unless you cultivate your mind and evolve, you become stagnant, energy dams up in the body and you become victim to illness and "bad luck". Insight into the nature of reality. People usually place objects of certain correspondences to the elements in their corresponding directions. When we enter the energy of the North, we may gain Wisdom. Mindfulness Mondays happens every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at Four Directions Wellness. Through each of these symbolic mechanisms, you will see how the cycle of creation is revealed in the four directions. And they could not be further from the truth. In other words, the True Self which is not polluted by poor information stored in the personal unconscious. Eagle or Condor Oddly enough, the highest or deepest places you can go in meditation, or, in other words, some of the furthest reaches that you can go to in meditation, the greatest levels of joy or peace in the conditioned world, where there is a tremendous sense of peace, well-being, and equanimity, that's where applying the Four Noble Truths is the most . The Buffalo is associated with abundance, with protection, with shouldering responsibilities. When you act on illuminated thoughts (represented by the south), you reinforce it by acting upon it and sending the energy back into the subconscious mind which is represented by the north. The Hebrew here says "yama, tsfona, temana, mizracha.". We have moved through these four directions, given them shape and meaning: East: Air, breath and inspiration. Thank you for bringing me here at this time. One of the major tools given to us are the plant medicines. Shamanic teachings at least try and offer hope by saying the north is related to illumination, logic, discovery and mental wisdom. But they also say that about the east. This journey will be a reconnection to the subtler, potent Earth energies. The element of the south is fire, and in the southern place on our altar the flame of our chalice burns bright. The creation story in the Bible asserts the same thing. Continuing around the circle, we arrive in the west. An epithet in the Cathedral of Paris dedicated to the Mass of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin reads: The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his way. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The Wonderful, Magical, Be Here Now Guru, Mahavatar Babaji: The Eternal, Holy Master of Kriya Yoga, 7 Things That May Block Your Spirit Guides, How to Use the Chinese Magic Square The Lo Shu, Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi: Spiritual Ecstasy, Love and Vedanta, The Minor Arcana: How Numbers and Elements Give Tarot Meaning, Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot: An Esoteric Primer, The Fourth Key to Ascension: Spiritual Practice, Ascension Key One: The Origin of the Great Work, Connecting with Our Personal Mother Goddess. May the four winds carry blessings far and wide. In your head, in your shoulders, in your trunk, in your legsjust heaviness. The west is associated with lightning - a symbol that connects heaven and earth or the ethereal realm with the physical realm. Find a quiet place to sit. The four directions of the Medicine Wheel remind us of many things, such as the need for balance in the world, and the balance we must strive for everyday within ourselves. In the New Testament, the relationship with the southerly direction is given a positive meaning: "The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. ~ Matthew 12:42. The Wind, in its greatest power, whirls. The directions are not seen as separate and isolated, but rather as part of the interdependent system that makes up the world. It makes sense for us to enter in the north-east section also. Bear obviously models hibernation for us. We add to this water each year, symbolizing the way we come together in our community as individual drops join into a mighty river. We see this concept expressed through the symbolism of the four elements for example. The animal often associated with the South is the Lion or the Cougar, which often represents strength and courage and leadership. This is the time of year trees and plants shed their leaves, and nature essentially dies. The four directions help to explain how we do that. From the point of view of self-development, new beginnings for us means a change in beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that essentially generate new energies and subsequently create new experiences. Visualize the earth in all of these meditations. Specialties: Four Directions Wellness is an integrative healing provider, based in Alexandria, VA and focused on connecting body, mind, emotions and spirit. We move now to the North. The ancients considered the sacral chakra to be the seat of emotions. U open the standard "Bible" 2 any page & U have deep food 4 thought! For more information contact worshipweb@uua.org. We plant seeds into the ground and nurture them to fruition just as we have to do with our plans and desires. Members of Masonic orders enter a lodge in the north-east. West is also the direction of our Ancestors, and we proudly acknowledge those who have gone before us, and ask for their guidance so we can live our lives as we should. When you try to grasp water, it escapes from your hands and is so flexible it always finds a path around obstacles. Master Mind Content is a leading authority in decoding ancient symbolism . Not only that, but whilst we sleep, the subconscious mind is hard at work. The west is also associated with the element of water and the sacral chakra, both of which are related to emotions. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made. Let us also consider the qualities of water and compare its attributes with consciousness. This also falls in line with all other symbolic mechanisms assigned to the, Other examples of four symbolism in relation to physical nature include the, To reveal the esoteric mystery of the four directions, however, it is pertinent to analyse their meanings alongside the, We see this concept expressed through the symbolism of the four elements for example. The North is associated with the Earth, which sustains us and holds us from the time we are a baby until we are laid to rest at the close of our Lifes journey. An alphabet book that celebrates life on earth. I pray for the ones who are sick on drugs and alcohol and for those who are now homeless and forlorn. In deep meditation practice with the Brahmaviharas, the experience of metta, karuna, mudita, and upekkha can become, as described by the Buddha, "extensive, expanded, limitless, free from hatred and ill-will." When they radiate outward in all directions of the compass without limit, the four Brahmaviharas are called the "Four . East tells us that it is time to get up, wake up . Its silhouette and its energy pull the eye and the heart. We ask that we always remain aware that we are all interconnected in the web of life, for there are too many who are blind to this fact. In many traditions, the four directions offer a deeper understanding of our place in the world. This knowledge gives me an overview of life cycles and then Reiki can help me understand the personal details. Mental states cannot appear in the conscious mind until they have emerged from the unconscious and becomes a realisation in the conscious mind. We invite all Eastern spirits of good intent to join us in our ceremony today. Although I have much to write about, sometimes the time, energy, and means to write it are not as available. To the four powers of Creation, to the Grandfather Sun, to the Grandmother Moon, to the Mother Earth, and to my ancestors. Animals of the East are birds in flight such as the owl, hawk, and hummingbird. Visualizing an inner light at the heart is a component of loving-kindness meditation, and the other Brahma Vihara practices of compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity. We still use light as a symbolic mechanism to represent ideas; think lightbulbs in a skull. Thank the serpent, jaguar, hummingbird, and eagle for their wisdom. While there is some contention around this theory, there are a number of undeniable motifs connecting Santas yearly. For example, putting water in a chalice on the west side of the altar. Let me soften into your wisdom The North represents the Winter of our Life. I knew all this at a mental level. There is Healing in the washing clean that comes with Water. Royal Hummingbird In relation to consciousness, what you cannot see are the aspects of your true nature that is in your unconscious. They explain the evolution of consciousness by revealing how thoughts shape your personality and create our experiences in life. We use cookies and similar technologies to run this website and help us make recommendations for you. Though it can be deadly when consumed improperly, some cultures eat it for sustenance after boiling away its toxins. The movements we make with the Four Kinds each day of Sukkot are a meditation on bringing our emotions into balanced harmony. Every decision we make is inspired by our vision to empower a community of individuals to come together to build a more conscious world. And never let me be burdened with sorrow by not starting over again. : it symbolizes the cycle of life, without beginning or end, and provides guidance for living. Imagine the birds, turning and wheeling in the air, imagine the breeze blowing through your hair.
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