How to create space for your consciousness

Too much information

In our modern world of marketing and social media, it can feel as if we are constantly being led or guided on every level. We are taught what we should want, what we should buy, what we should think, and even how we should feel. One of the less desirable consequences is that we can lose touch with our own inner guidance and voice. We no longer feel connected to that sense inside of us that has a deeper ‘knowing’ of our truth. We may start to feel like we become reliant upon others to show us the way.

This can happen even in relation to spiritual practice and meditation. From yogic philosophy to guided meditation, all terms and universal phenomena have been spelled out, ‘explained’, and named. As a result, rather than leaning into our own innate knowledge and awareness, which cultivates an embodied sense of understanding, the process of learning can begin to resemble more of the kind of memorising that is offered to us in the school systems. After a certain point, there comes a time when our expansion is well served by turning inwards.

Facilitating intuition

Now, don’t get me wrong. Guided classes, yoga, spiritual texts and other such avenues of learning are wonderful. They can have profound effects on our lives and our awakening. Certainly, my life has been transformed for the better as a result of my yoga practice and teacher training with Esther Ekhart. The issue arises when we give more credit to external voices and ‘authorities’ than to our own intuition. When we feel like we cannot really trust our own knowing. Fortunately, the wonderful thing about well-led yoga classes is that they often actually facilitate the opening of space in the mind and the exploration of internal awareness.

The value of space

For those interested in increasing their consciousness, I have a simple suggestion: supplement your existing guided practices and learnings with the creation of space in silence for your own consciousness to emerge.

Supplement your existing guided practices and learnings with the creation of space in silence for your own consciousness to emerge.

This might seem vague or inconsequential, but understand that true creativity and knowing best arise when the mind is not constantly inundated with outside noise and information. This is one of the main reasons why many people say that they have their best ideas in the shower: it’s one of the places where we are able to leave distractions behind.

Opening up space can look very different according to everyone’s individual makeup, wants and needs. For some, setting a timer for 20 minutes to meditate or even just sitting still can do the trick, while others find their light while running in nature.

The form it takes is irrelevant: it’s the vibrational state and resulting opening that we’re after. Of course, there are also ways in which we can combine some of the guidance that feels safe and supportive, with the creation of silent space. You may find that in the beginning, the mind and/or body need time to adjust to the idea of stillness and receptivity. They might become agitated or fidgety. But as we stick to the practice and continue to lead ourselves back to it, the mind will settle, and beauty will grow in its stillness. It will be a place where spontaneous insights and creative ideas will arise… and you will begin to value and cherish this time to yourself, ultimately leading to a greater trust in your own guidance and a more awakened state of consciousness.

Text: Anne Roos van Ooijen
Source: Ekhartyoga.com
Image: Urban Goddess

Our model on the left is wearing the Mandala Tank top in Urban Black and the Bhaktified leggings in Urban Black. Our model on the right is wearing the Be Here Now tank top in Urban Black and the Bhaktified Anjali leggings in Volcanic Glass.