Those on the yoga path often hear from our teachers that we are human beings on a spiritual journey. However, as that journey progresses and our understanding grows, a greater truth emerges inverting this axiom to read we are spiritual beings on a human journey. And, as spiritual beings, we are of one essence. Given this understanding, as Zach Bush writes, “It is critical that our pursuit of optimal health and longevity begin with an effort toward a collective rise in consciousness such that we would begin to thrive within nature, instead of fighting that nature that is life itself.”
Fortunately, the yoga practices aimed at enlightening and transforming individual consciousness penetrate the collective consciousness in a similar form. Yoga’s eight-limb practices feed each soul who partakes, and the subsequent expansion of physical, energetic, mental, emotional, and spiritual “goodness” is felt by those near to and far away. We all recognize the experience of an enlightened soul’s presence. Although we might have difficulty describing what happened during such a shared moment, at a deeper level we are moved into a different state of being.
My poem below attempts to capture this energetic, expansive experience of our soul’s presence.
Souls’ Presence
Ancient soul mates hold earthly hands.
Never alone, we travel lifetimes together.
Made from earth and energy, we are them.
Lion and deer, warrior and healer,
abuser and divine, we are the same.
Heaven and earth, we are them. Collectively,
we scale up to grow not just one soul but all souls.
All is required for this divine adventure
that beckons us out of comfort into mystery.
Our powerful presence nourishes the hungry
for to do otherwise is death to the soul.
For more yoga teachings, yoga actions, and poetry, click here. Namaste.
