Last night we had an extended class in order to learn how to create and personalize intentions for our Yoga Nidra practices. While it seems simple enough to come up with what we are desiring to move toward in our lives, the process last night helped us to get a deeper understanding of the layers found in creating an aligned intention. This alignment is imperative to manifestation.
The first area we discussed was the difference between 'goal' and 'intention'. The qualities are very different. For instance Goal holds the characteristics of a)having an end-point; moving from here to there b)it works only on the material plane and c) creates expectation. It is staged in the plane of duality, which means we will be subject to disappointment, judgment, self-conflict and the stress of success or failure if we fall short or miss the mark completely of our goal. This orientation of goal, keeps us trapped in the ego process of "I/it will be better when . . .I get there, I have, achieve or become this or that." It automatically carries the message that something is lacking. Intention carries the message of fullness.
Intention, on the other hand, can seem a little more illusive: a)it has no end point b)the seed we plant may be 'known', but the final result is 'unknown' c) creates alignment in our feeling, thoughts, speech and action d) it promotes relaxation e) it allows the truth of the moment to show up all along the way.
The example I used for this was from my own experience recently of teaching Yoga Nidra. What I shared was that I hadn't planned on teaching YN classes. I thought I was just going to integrate private sessions into the rest of my work. The intention I had set early on was something like, "I embrace my path of right livelyhood." The 'known' was that I would be open, receptive and moving into the work I love-ie, working with people one on one. However, Spirit had a whole different idea in mind, hence I am teaching classes too. Intentions hold the flexibility to flow with the Universal rhythm rather than stay fixed or rigid, as if to say, it must be this and it must be this way. As the ideas or talk of classes began to surface, I felt the alignment and rightness of that guidance. I planted the seed, but I didn't know, and still don't how it will all play out. I trust.
We also talked about the integrative power to our creating an intention. Examples of this are: a) we will experience less internal conflict b) we will find more calm within c) channels our mind in the direction of our highest self/potential d) nurtures qualities like compassion and kindness e) we withdraw from acting out in self-negating ways. The power of this stems from the way in which the intentions work WITH the practice of Yoga Nidra.
We all have had affirmations that we have memorized, repeated as we are driving,working, going to sleep etc. The question is how well do they work? This isn't to say they don't, but I think the odds are not as celebratory as we'd like. For me, at times it has felt like I am trying to convince myself of something that doesn't quite seem to fit. When we work with the affirmations/intentions in this normal waking state, ego is also present, alive and well. It is most happy to interrupt our fantasy with all the reasons I can't, won't or shouldn't believe in what I am affirming.
But AHA! Yoga Nidra allows our intentions to be planted while ego is 'asleep' and disarmed, because we are in a deep meditative place and ego is NOT present! So, the magic begins, works behind the scenes with our Highest Good, and WALA! New ways of being are manifested!
We don't get a complete free ride though! Sometimes the creation of the aligned intention means that if there are issues in the way of our Highest Self, they need to be addressed. This is an on-going process of self-reflection, self-study and self-inquiry. All the rowers of the boat need to be rowing together and in the same direction, or else the boat is not going to reach it's destination. It'll just spin in circles! An example of this has been my process of teaching in general! I love to learn and share what I have learned, what inspires me and the ways in which I have found freedom. Teaching is what I do whether I mean to or not. It's how I communicate. And yet it hasn't come easy in formal settings. Fortunately, I have been picking away at this for many years, gaining ground little by little finally leaps and bounds! However, I have worked with it with YN as well. An intention such as, "I step into my dharma with enthusiasm, confidence and joy." The story I had listened to has been the voices of doubt and fear. Outwardly, I had expressed disclaimers as to my abilities. Simultaneously I had been in the position of wanting to teach, but terrified someone would show. Self-defeated if no one did and not surprised when this was the outcome. And in the midst of all this density, it was easy to loose track of the light of inspiration that called me to begin with! Now, it certainly doesn't take too much time to see clearly what I had been creating for myself. My story created the circumstances, which in turn affirmed the reality I had created! It's easy to see now, but as we all know, when we are in the mishmash of our stuff, we can be pretty blind. This is why, if we are serious about transformation, we have to keep a close eye on our selves, our thoughts, habits, and our actions. Because no matter how much we want to change or rather to let the false fall away to reveal what is true, wanting needs to translate into the necessary actions to dig in that dirt and pull out the weeds!
When we begin to create our intentions, often times they will show us where we need to begin the inner work. We may come up against resistance to seeing our selves in the highest place, fear of creating what we really want, realizing that the alignment is off because we have a message that questions our worthiness. Sometimes help is needed to learn how to dig in that dirt. Over time and with the practice of this process, we learn how to see the falsehoods, how to chip away the old and create a new vision, plant that seed in the YN session and over time change out our seed stock!
Last, but not least, Intentions work with the grace of Spirit. There is a force that is always present and aiding us. As we become to willing to release that old baggage, we become more aware of the ever present Presence. With Amrit Method Yoga Nidra, we begin to sense that we are not this personality but 'something much bigger'. And that 'something' already holds all we could wish to manifest. It's all there waiting. It is in the journey, not the destination. Come join us!
Peace~
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