I know it’s a lame title, but it’s what keeps us on course. The best way to engage with this deep work is, most importantly, with community. The second best way is ritual. I am offering you a way to look at the Creation Equation in a new light, meaning in your life and in practice, every week. We can look at that equation and ask, “What side of the equation am I on?” This helps us move forward and see what is in the way.
Through my own expiration of resistance, I feel that keeping a creative record of where I am is helpful. I often visualize sankalpa work as a treasure map where the treasure (your sankalpa) is clearly outlined. On ancient maps, there are imaginal creatures drawn on the water similar to the resistance that may come up on your journey towards sankalpa, as well as islands marked where provisions and hospitality are available.
With this Creative Equation Mandala you can keep it simply to words, or you can make it more interactive. To experience both of these we will test them out. For today, we will write.
At the center of this mandala is a treasure chest, symbolic of your sankalpa. In this center, write your sankalpa in whichever way is resonating with you most. As an example I will use the Swami Rama approach: “I can find a home by the lake with a fire place, that’s dog friendly and safe, I will find a home by the lake with a fire place, that’s dog friendly and safe, I must find a home by the lake with a fire place, that’s dog friendly and safe.”
Creative Equation Check-In Mandala
The next circle moves you to the resistance. What is your current resistance like?
My resistance tends to reveal itself as “what if” questions, or as the voice that says, “You won’t be able to…” This is just an example, it may come up in a different way for you. When doing the check-in, it’s important to reveal the actual resistance that has come up for you within that week.
For me, it was: “the rent was not worth the place; we don’t have jobs yet; you won’t get it, you don’t even have a dog; these places are not meeting my needs!; what if you don’t find a home; they didn’t want you. :(”
The following circle, gives you a chance to see the resistance’s Miracle Angle. Hermes is the greek god that rules the spaces in between, whom can easily cross over from resistance to assistance. Your ability to cross over and see the resistance from another angle will mobilize your energy towards taking action in the direction of your sankalpa, rather than getting stuck in the pool of resistance, or drowned by their enormity.
Examples
the rent was not worth the place—> there will be better places
we don’t have jobs yet —> you didn’t need a job when you got that great place in Honolulu!
you wont get it, you don’t even have a dog—> you will have a dog, many people get dogs in the middle of a lease
these places are not meeting my needs—> there will be something that you like, be patient!
what if you don’t find a home—> then you will go somewhere that there is a home for you.
they didn’t want you :( —> it’s not really you, it’s you on paper, and perhaps it’s not the place for you
The next circle allows you to take those miracle angles into action. Using my examples, I made it a point to see more houses and to contact the family that we rented from in Honolulu, for references. There may be one or many directions that the angles are leading you towards.
The final circle, is to remember how much you want what you want, the intensity of shakti — a reminder of the feelings in your sankalpa. What does your life look like when you achieve this goal? How close to your goal are you?