Question Yourself, Know Your Roots
“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Rings
Getting To Know You
Earlier this week we got the wheels rolling on journal writing and the pursuit of self-study. It can be daunting to sit down with a blank page and a full head and often times one single question can be contemplated for hours (weeks? years?!). This is the beauty of letting your mind go; a contemplation can turn into a novel that uncovers buried layers.
Recently we reviewed "Anatomy of the Sprit" by Caroline Myss, a book that takes you on a journey through your energetic Self; a healing quest full of knowledge and contemplations. As Myss goes through each chakra, Christian sacrament, and Kabbalah's Sefirots, she presents questions for you to personally explore each area within your own life. Writing and reflecting doesn't necessarily yield a direct answer every time you contemplate or muse; the insights spawned from acknowledging your questions are the medicine.
The following is Myss' introduction to the First Chakra: Tribal Power.
Knowing your tribe, community, family and environment is at the root of knowing yourself.
"The energy content of the first or Tribal chakra is tribal power. The word tribe is not only a synonym for family but an archetype, and as such it has connotations beyond its more conventional definition. Archetypally the word tribal connotes group identity, group force, group willpower, and group belief patterns. All of these meanings make up the energy content of our first chakra. The first chakra grounds us. It is our connection to traditional familial beliefs that support the formation of identity and a sense of belonging to a group of people in a geographic location."
Learn more about muladhara, the root chakra here.
Questions for Self-Examination
1. What belief patterns did you inherit from your family?
2. Which of those belief patterns that still have authority in your thinking can you acknowledge are no longer valid?
3. What superstitions do you have? Which have more authority over you than your own reasoning ability?
4. Do you have a personal code of honour? What is it?
5. Have you ever compromised your sense of honour? If so, have you taken steps to heal it?
6. Do you have any unfinished business with your family members? If so, list the reasons that prevent you from healing your family relationships.
7. List all the blessings that you feel came from your family.
8. If you are now raising a family of your own, list the qualities that you would like your children to learn from you.
9. What tribal traditions and rituals do you continue for yourself and your family?
10. Describe the tribal characteristics within yourself that you would like to strengthen and develop.
After all that writing and contemplation enjoy this grounding, root-based practice from Michele Theoret at Empowered Yoga.