One of the teachings of Sri Vidya states that the yogini or power that binds us is the same power that will liberate us. I can’t help but deeply feel this concept, and from that very palpable feeling comes an image. In this image, I sense a ball of energy and there are movements from one side to the other, from bound to liberated, from obstacle to opportunity — without judgment on these opposite ends. Truly it’s more movement towards purposeful action. Is there anything else really worth doing?
With that understanding we are going to write a poem to the resistance circling our sankalpa. Look back at yesterday’s recurring resistance: what can you call it? I called mine Distraction.
I share with you the poem I wrote to Distraction, to look at it in a new and curious way rather than feeling shame or beating myself up for not being as productive as I would like to be.
Here are some questions to help you formulate your poem, or to use as a starting point:
- What is the recurring resistance from yesterday’s writing exercise?
- How does its arrival make you feel?
- How does its arrival make you react internally?
- How does its arrival cause you to react externally?
- What is the size of the resistance, or how much space does it occupy?
- What is its temperature?
- What does the resistance sound like?
- What does the resistance feel like? Does it have a specific texture?
- What does it taste like?
- What color is the resistance?
- Does it feel masculine or feminine?
- Does the resistance have a shape or distinct contour?
- What does the resistance look like?
- Is there anything useful to learn from this resistance?
- If the resistance was a cartoon character, what would it look like?
- What is the name of your resistance?
Take a few minutes to write a poem or free verse to your resistance allowing yourself to look at it in a different light, not just as resistance but as the reverse side of that Shakti.
Aim your creative force by honoring the other side,
Chanti
