I feel better when there is more space in me and around me. Having a clear and steady mindset, a strong and supple body and a clean house sounds like bliss to me. When I am in space, I feel lighter and happier and I want to cultivate living in this state more often in my daily life.
The yogis have been talking about this concept for thousands of year. They call my intention of creating space, aparigraha, or non-hoarding. This is the practice of letting go of old stuff, old habits and old thoughts.
There are many simple ways to practice aparigraha over the next few months. The easiest place to start is in one’s physical surroundings. De-cluttering is one of my most favorite pastimes and I have already set out two bins in my garage for Goodwill donations and library donations. Clutter be gone!
The physical body needs to be kept spacious as well. Yoga is the perfect tool and I feel extremely blessed to be able to practice yoga several times per week. By moving my body in many different ways, I am able to clean out pockets of tension and tightness, detoxify and basically de-clutter my vehicle. Ahhh!
Next and much more challenging, is the emotional house cleaning (I am due for some hardcore work here). Thankfully, I look to my daily meditation practice to help me with the huge process of letting go of thoughts and attachments that clutter my mind and drain me of energy.
Rolf Gates writes in Meditations from the Mat, Aparigraha applies to our own thinking as well. Aparigraha is about letting go of our most cherished pain-producing beliefs. It is about the end of all attachment: letting go of our fears, letting go of our desires, becoming free.
I recognize the scale of my Fall intention but I feel that I am ready for the challenge. I will keep you all posted on my progress and invite you all to comment and share your Fall intention or how you find ways to practice Creating Space. Namaste
