pro·pri·o·cep·tion
(prō’prē-ō-sep’shŭn),
A sense or perception, usually at a subconscious level, of the movements and position of the body and especially its limbs, independent of vision;
A good friend of mine was leaving a class in college when a male classmate stopped her and said, “I don’t want to sound creepy, but you are beautiful and you don’t seem to be operating under that knowledge today.” And then he just walked away….?!
The Meditation Mantra of the Month is the word svadhyaya; self-inquiry, self-study, self-observation. This doesn’t mean self-interrogation, self-critique, or fix everything wrong with yourSelf. It implies being a compassionate witness to your life and a non-judgmental fly on your own wall. That whole compassionate and non-judgmental piece might be the most difficult part of the practice of svadhyaya. Is there a way you can pay attention, be curious, and notice your own self with out naming behaviors as bad/good, right/wrong, stupid/smart, etc. Can you be a compassionate witness of your life, without trying to fix anything, just be curious about how you are showing up in the world?
Inherent to this practice of svadhyaya is becoming more aware of how you are showing up in the world. Are you aware of how you carry yourself? Like my friend, who from the perspective of a fellow student, appeared to be totally unaware that she is beautiful. Proprioception is an awareness on a subconscious level of your body and it’s position and movement in space, independent of vision. Awareness of your body on a subconscious level, independent of vision.
Under what subconscious knowledge are you operating? Are you aware of your body and how you are showing up in the world, independent of vision? I can’t get that little phrase out of my head…independent of vision.
Do you avoid a deeper awareness of your body on a conscious or subconscious level? Is your awareness of your body based solely on what you can see? What is the awareness of your body like without mirrors or without looking at other people’s bodies? Yowser. There’s a challenge. Proprioception is the awareness of how you are showing up in the world, in the skin you are in, independent of vision.
That’s it.
The Meditation Mantra of the Month is svadhyaya; self-inquiry. Proprioception. Compassionate witness.
Peace on your beautiful heads,
Rachel
