This week in my 120-day Spiritual Cleanse and in the 21 Stages of Meditation we move to the second leg of our three part journey. The next 7 weeks develops the expressive self. Your expressive self is how you are showing up for others. It includes showing up as a healer for others, delighting in life, being polite, being humble, elevating your vision and perception, becoming gracefully enlightened, and “being your self.” (If you haven’t been coming, you can come! Tuesdays at 8 pm in Montgomery. This is a great stage to get in on.)
The theme for this week is Rasa. In sanskrit, rasa means a lot of things. It is the essence of healing, it is the path we walk, it literally means “taste”, it is an herbal rejuvenative, promoting longevity, and reversing the aging process. There are lots of herbs in the studio that are rasayanas including chavanprash, ginger, guggul, ashwaganda, and shatavari.
Rasa is an essence. It comes from a substance called amrit which is a sweet nectar believed to flow from the fountain of youth. Yogis know that the fountain of youth flows from within and the search for this fountain is an internal search. This honey like substance flows when the perfect storm of meditation happens. It drips from the pituitary and pineal glands. Some yogis believe that there are more than seven chakras. Two of these chakras are in the roof of the mouth. Through sound and mantra, they are stimulated and amrit flows.
When amrit is flowing, your spiritual insight flows as well. You respond organically with no thought from a place of compassion. In this way, you are able to show up for others and the entire world as a healer. You heal others simply by being present.
Rasa also means mercury. We know mercury to be a poison, but in Ayurveda, mercury is part of the science of alchemy. Mercury has been mixed in small doses with herbs and used to heal and reverse disease for centuries. The whole quest for the philosopher’s stone is the quest for perfect health, longevity, and spiritual oneness…gold.
Diet:
I’m going to get really boring this week. Rice and steamed veggies with no spice. I’m giving my taste buds where rasa is first experienced a break. I’m going to enjoy the natural taste of food and eat consciously in an attempt to soothe my over stimulated taste buds. Overstimulation comes in the form of excessive spice, sweet, oily, and unnatural tastes. I’m also cutting back significantly on quantity and skipping meals when not hungry.
Spiritual:
I’ve intuitively moved into the space of rasa a few days ago even before reading about it which has oddly been happening with this journey for the past month. Over the weekend, I started to wonder what would happen if I spent through December helping, promoting, and just being there for others and took a little break from self-study? Honestly, I think I will learn more about myself doing this, than doing what I have been doing. I’m putting me on the backburner. I’m going to take this new model not just into my life, but into Elemental OM as well. When I walk into a room, I’m going to walk in with the intention that my presence is going to shift, to help, and to heal others. I’m going to look for even more opportunities to help and serve.
Om, Pamela
*The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda, yoga, and meditation. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.