When we sat down to do our taxes recently, a lot came up. Thoughts and feelings of scarcity, not-enough-ness, possessiveness, victim-hood, defensiveness, avoidance, procrastination….I felt my body tensing up and felt myself holding my breath while Turbo Tax calculated how much we owed in taxes this year. I could feel my energy contracting while the amount kept creeping up.
Like any other relationship, our relationship with money can act as a mirror and give us information about ourselves to use for spiritual expansion. I drop into scarcity, victim-hood, and avoidance in other areas of my life as well -- these are not new or unique feeling states.
In the yoga sutras, there is a spiritual practice and principle, Pratipakṣa -Bhāvana, which teaches us to cultivate the opposite qualities when our energy is stuck or contracted in lower vibrations. For example, when I am stuck in the energy of scarcity, can I do the opposite and cultivate abundance by giving money away to someone who has less? When I am stuck in the energy of victim-hood, can I do the opposite and cultivate empowerment by acknowledging that I have choice and privilege to be self-employed in this country? When I am stuck in the energy of avoidance, can I do the opposite and look directly at what I am avoiding?
Thank you for being here!
With love,
Hana
p.s. I would love to practice yoga with you! Check out my free practice bundles HERE.
Hana, this is so timely and well said. Thank you for the reminders you shared to help others learn and grow!