Waking Up Your Spirit

Waking Up Your Spirit

by Linda Heron Wind, Ph.D.

If you have been paying attention, you may have already begun to realize that there is more to life than the physical dimension. Actually, this awareness is one you had when you first came to Earth and are now rediscovering—at least that was my journey. There was a time in the middle of my life when I got lost in the physical and actually believed my seeing—you know, that old seeing is believing thing. Now I am continually amazed at all that is "here." I would like to share with you some of my awareness of the other dimensions of "reality."

Dimensions of Experience

Even when my mind was steeped in the beliefs of science, I was intrigued with phenomenological questions. For instance, when we both look at the color blue, do we see the same thing? Of course we both call it blue, but how do we know that the experience we call blue is the same? Now I have even more questions but also a better understanding of the dimensions of experience. The physical dimension is experienced through our limited sense organs. This world is an illusion based on our sensory interpretation of the energetic dimension. Scientists have known for some time that different animals "see" the world differently according to their various types of sense organs. This illusion we call the physical dimension allows us to experience the beauty of this Earth walk.

Your body, which is part of this illusion, is experience as physical. In reality, your body is made up of energy. The energy body also exists in levels—from the more "solid" lower vibrations to the more etheric higher vibrations. In fact, everything vibrates within this energetic dimension and it is on this level that we are all connected—there is no dividing line that separates your body from mine. Awareness of the energetic dimension is much more subtle than perception of the physical illusion. It requires some practice.

Energy body awareness is becoming much more important to us as we discover that our daily lives cannot be lived on a purely physical level. Most of us have now realized that which we suspected when we were children—things are often not what they appear to be. You may see something happening or hear someone say something, yet the inner feeling you have does not match the outer experience. Experiences such as these are wonderful opportunities to become more tuned in to the energetic dimensions.

Awareness of the energy body is definitely an inner experience and that is why so few people are adept at living in their energy body. Most of the training and experience in our culture is aimed at living in the outer world of physical illusion. Learning to live in the energy body is a inner journey. Living with awareness of the energetic dimension of experience is being "awake" in your life. It means that your spirit is present in your day to day experience.

Energy Body Basics

Here are a few basics about how the energy body works that are helpful in developing your awareness. First, time and space do not exist on an energetic level. They are both part of the physical illusion and do not exist elsewhere. The importance of this understanding is that your energy body can be anywhere and in any time. Second, the energy body is directed by thought. This is why the ability to focus your mind is so important. If your mind is scattered, your energy will be also. If your mind is focused, then the full power of your energy is directed toward whatever you are focused on. When we put these two simple understandings about the energy body together we can also see that thinking about the past or future sends your energy body off to the past or future, while focusing on the present moment brings the full power of your energy body to the task at hand.

It is interesting how we have an innate understanding of the energy body. For example, if we are with someone who seems to be daydreaming or lost in thought we will say, "Where are you?" When we were teased as children, we were told to say, "Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me." But the names did hurt—on an energetic level. When we direct our thoughts toward someone with anger, on an energetic level it is the same as attacking them.

We have all had the experience of being around a person who is angry with us and felt the daggers they sent with their stare. We are much more aware of the energetic dimension that we realize, but we often do not trust our awareness.

The information which comes from our energy body is sometimes called intuition. You know something, but don't know exactly how you know it. Your energy body is constantly interacting with everything and everyone around you. It allows you to know whether a situation you are in is dangerous or whether a person you are talking with will attempt to draw on your energy. It tells you which way to turn to avoid a traffic jam ahead, even though you cannot see the cars. How many times have you said, "I knew I should have turned there." It is important to learn to trust this feeling level which many times seems to have no grounding in the physical dimension.

Developing Energy Body Awareness

To get a sense of your energy body, close your eyes, relax, and allow your mind to quiet. Focus on the feeling level in various parts of your body until you can feel the "buzz" of your energy moving. Imagine that this movement is a light that surrounds and permeates your physical body. See this light extending from you in all directions. Is it a particular color? Now with your eyes open, see if you can get the same feeling and awareness of the energy within and around you.

As you become acquainted with your energy body, there is a whole new set of questions that arises. Where am I losing energy? Are there holes in my energy body? How do I feed my energy body? You begin to look at relationships and interactions with the world around you in terms of the effect on your energy body. You can lose energy through holes in your energy body, holes that may be the result of childhood wounding. When you have a hole, other people can enter it and take some of your energy. Sometimes we talk of this experience as other people "pushing your buttons." If what another person does creates a negative emotional response in you, you should be aware that you have just lost some energy through a hole.

So what do you do about a hole? You can learn to shield it while you are working on closing the hole by healing the wound. Shields are energetic, although constructing a shield in the physical dimension is a good way to remind yourself to put your energetic shield in place. Imagine that there is a shield in front of your belly or even surrounding your body. If you are aware of where the hole is in your energy body (by where you feel it the most), make the shield strongest at that point. Several times each day check to see if the shield is still there and reinforce it if necessary. Another good practice when you meditate is to check to see if there are any energy lines coming from any part of your energy body. If there are, follow them to the source of the energy drain. Detach them from your body, or cut them, and put your shield in place. Do this as often as necessary or at least once a day.

Walking with your spirit awake and present means that you have a conscious awareness of where your energy body is and that you can direct it by focusing your attention. One exercise which helps develop this awareness is to simply ask yourself several times a day where your energy body is and then find it. While there is always energy present in and around your body, the higher vibration, your spirit, can travel away from you. When this happens there is a loss of present moment awareness as well as a less vibrant experience of life. Some people live most of their life this way, with only brief periods of being "awake" in the present moment. So find out where your spirit is going and call it back when it is not present.

Another exercise which helps to develop more conscious control over your energy body as well as a heightened awareness is done while walking with your eyes open. Pick a spot about 20 feet ahead of you and feel as if you are projecting your energy body from the back of your physical body out to this spot. Imagine yourself standing at this spot in as much detail as possible. Then walk toward the spot. At the point where your physical body meets your energy body projection, pay attention to the feeling. It is very subtle, but the feeling will occur reliably each time the two bodies meet. You will find that your experience of this exercise will change as you practice it over time. Your awareness of the subtle movement of energy will increase and you will become more adept at moving your energy body.

Energy Body Maintenance

If you want your spirit to stay present throughout your day, you must learn to feed and care for it. There are many things you can do to nourish your energy body, raising your vibrational rate so your spirit will want to be there. Reading things which inspire you, being in nature, creating beauty, listening to or making music—all feed your spirit. Emotions of joy, love, and peacefulness are food for the spirit as well. Breathing deeply, yoga, tai chi, energy work, body work, and many other similar activities groom, cleanse, strengthen, and care for the energy body.

The trick is to make these things a part of your everyday life. The physical illusion tells us that these things which feed our spirit are a waste of time—frills to indulge in when the "real work" is done. In truth, feeding and nurturing your spirit so that you can function as a whole person—body, mind, emotions, and spirit—is the only real work.

Living life as a whole being with your spirit present requires a conscious awareness of energy. Thought, emotion, and action all move energy. When you begin to track your energy body, you will develop a greater understanding of your everyday experience and lay the ground work for learning to have more conscious control of that experience. As we evolve in consciousness, we must learn to live our lives awake and aware in each moment.

Page last modified Feb.2, 2002 by RMC