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Striking the right balance between our
physical and spiritual aspects is one of the most challenging situations
of existence. We are dual beings by nature, spiritual entities bound to
Earth by physical bodies. In our lifetime, we are charged with the duty
of nurturing and tending both with equal devotion and love. Yet, while
both aspects of the self are deserving of honor and respect, there is a
tendency for people who are more spiritually focused to ignore, avoid, or
dismiss their bodies. Similarly, many individuals are entirely ensconced
in the carnal realm and pay no attention to the needs of the soul. In
both cases, an adjustment is in order. We are whole only to the degree
that we embrace both sides of our beings.
If the soul is the inward manifestation
of our consciousness, the body is the living, breathing expression of
that consciousness. The physical self provides the home in which the
spiritual self takes root and flourishes. Just as we must tend to the
seed of the soul to ensure that it grows strong, so too, must we care for
the protective shell that is the body to make certain it is capable of
playing its role in our development. No doubt, there will be times in our
lives when we feel more comfortable focusing on the spiritual self or the
physical self, but denying the fundamental importance of one or the other
can lead to ill health, emotional distress, and a sense of
incompleteness. Both facets of the human experience play a vital role in
our well-being.
The body and the soul are the yin and
yang of our current reality. They are, at this point of human evolution,
irreparably bound together, and many spiritual teachers agree that the
body is one of the greatest vehicles through which to access the soul. In
fact, many believe that our spirit has chosen to be embodied as an
essential part of our spiritual development. Consequently, it is the
responsibility of each person on the planet to forge a marriage between
the two so that these disparate aspects bring out the best in each other,
creating a vibrant, dynamic, and workable whole.
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