From time to time I enjoy morning Tarot readings to focus my energy and consider possibilities obvious and less so. I don’t let these readings dictate anything but they do give me fodder for thought and action. Two weeks ago I drew the Tower. When this happens I usually pretend it didn’t because who wants to stand around waiting for something to come along and rock your world. Then it happened. The bottom fell out and sudden change, disappointment, and resilience came to the forefront. What happens next will be pivotal to our existence as citizens of this planet and something over which I have very little control at present.
This all came along as I continue to refine the Sattva and Sankalpa theme I’ve been working on for weeks. In earlier posts I described Sankalpa as “structuring personal affirmations for achieving your potential.” Thanks to the subtleties of Sanskrit and yoga philosophy, this is a gross simplification as you might imagine.
If you have ever participated in a Yoga Nidra practice, you may have been asked at the beginning to repeat to yourself a Sankalpa, a deep resolve to invite your highest aspirations into your existence, three times. This invitation, coupled with the Nidra, are intended to sow the seed of this deep resolve within your subconscious in order to manifest it and disrupt your Samskaras (another Sanskrit word to unpack) or deeply rooted, self-sabotaging habits. Yeah, we’re not trying to accomplish anything great with this. At its most basic a Sankalpa is a succinct, positive, consistent statement, spoken in the present tense that supports your highest purpose or dharma. One challenge with this is that within the Yoga Nidra experience the concept of Sankalpa is usually poorly defined, and we are asked to create this on the fly, from a state of consciousness. Sankalpas developed under these conditions are rarely useful.
Sankalpas are long-term and I’ve been working with mine for over two years. I added to my existing one this year for more coverage, if you will. Get to know me and maybe I’ll share it with you. I will say that this writing, my participation as a faculty member of the Brooklyn Flow Yoga Teacher Training, becoming a retreat leader and serving as an Election Inspector are all manifestations of that Sankalpa. Using Yoga Nidra, meditation, and deep noticing, a meaningful Sankalpa should introduce itself to you rather than be developed through active thought. Once it arrives, repetition will allow it to grow over time and guide you. It will if you let it.
So, what does all this have to do with The Tower, change and retreating? Such a sudden and important shift can wreak havoc on your determination, Sankalpa and dharma, forcing a restructuring or reinforcement. For me it has been a reinforcement. I now have greater resolve to see my Samskaras disrupted and my aspirations met. The good parts: I don’t live in a war zone, I have support, the sun keeps rising and setting and as of this writing I am still breathing in and out.
Join me in January to find your resolve using community, asana, meditation, nature, action and restoration. For more information on the Sattva and Sankalpa winter retreat use this link.
http://primulacerebri.com/uncategorized/retreat-finally-👏/
For more information about Sankalpa follow these links and do your own research to invite fresh insight.
https://www.susannabarkataki.com/post/sankalpa-reflections-and-intentions-for-the-new-year-with-yoga