(2) Prakriti-Purusha (Duration 4)
Here we rest in the dance, largely unconscious, of what it takes to make something come alive. The push and pull of energy and consciousness here enlivens the process and we are creating even when we may not be aware of what’s happening. In this second stage, these forces—energy and consciousness—begin to particularize and polarize, creating an articulated dynamic tension from the spark of our whim that is geared toward experiencing something new in the world birthed through us. We are offered clues of the goings on through dreams and synchronicities—we might wish to pay attention—but the work of this phase rests predominantly on who we are and what we have done before.
The power of prakriti (the principle of Shakti within and as nature) is the creatrix activating our imagination and intuitive juices. The awareness of purusha (the principle of consciousness within our world) provides connection to soul. Together, they are the initial force required for the birthing to occur. Prakriti and purusha are partners responding to you and to any stimulus in your world as a river would to a rock in its path: they continue their flow uninterrupted. Without consideration of their dance, however, we may lose the impetus toward action or may dwindle our energies in mindless pursuits that do not serve our essence or the greater good. By paying attention here, we gain the ability to see the potentials of the sacred and of evil, of compassion and of violence; of all the ways in which harmony is achieved not by forceful resistance to the flows of the Divine will, but by the application of holistic vision to all life has to offer.
Reflection: Do I allow myself to trust intuition, that sacred balance of embodied knowing and spirit? Can my motives stay pure, as in reflective of a harmony between outer perception and inner experience? How do I reflect the dance of prakriti and purusha in and through my choices, actions, speech and thought?
Ritual: Create a list of all the things that you desire to be in the mix so that your creation will be born whole and perfect. Choose four to be the cornerstones of your birthing process and meditate on these, holding them in your mind and heart as fully as possible throughout your pregnancy or creative endeavor. You may also wish to create a collage or work of art to represent the fullness of your dance with prakriti and purusha. Use this visual representation as a mandala to help strengthen your resolve and commitment.
(3) Mahat Tattva (Duration 5)
Mahat Tattva, the Great Principle, is the expression of higher mind (often called buddhi) within us. It is also the discriminating force of judgment that is unclouded by ego or emotion. Mahat tattva is what guides our motivation toward intention aligned with soul and then action. Here is the space then of deep contemplation, self-reflection, emerging wisdom, and continued release from things that may hinder perception, discernment, and our ultimate ability to make decisions that serve the creative process and its eventual outcome.
As you consider this, know that in mahat tattva we are given room to trust and augment the previous work done toward cultivation of soulful caring; that is, caring not tied to past impressions, habits or other enmeshments in the world. This can be very challenging, and it is in this stage that we spend more time than we have on previous stages of our journey. Often, the word used to describe the stance of mahat tattva is dispassion, but to be dispassionate in this space is again to care infinitely. We do so while remaining clear and free of the things that get us fired up, triggered, or otherwise tangled in the ruts of daily life—whether real or imagined. In mahat tattva, we trust our intuition (not our instinct!) as it has been increasingly refined through the interplay of prakriti and purusha and brought further into waking consciousness.
Reflection: Where and in whom do I place my trust as a provider of information? Do I listen to others before I listen to myself? Can I release myself from the tangled strands of gossip and half truths that surround me in all the spaces I inhabit (work, school, family, friends, etc.)?
Ritual: Meditate on a time in which you were emotionally charged by something or someone (let it be far enough in the past that you can enter this space easily). Go through the instance or episode again briefly in your mind, allowing yourself to feel the experience in your body. Notice the internal landscape of impressions as you relive the moment. Let this resolve somewhat quickly into a natural conclusion. Now, return to heartfelt breath and bring in sakshi, or witness consciousness. This is the power cultivated through mahat tattva of nonjudgmental discernment. Staying aware of a dispassionate stance, allow yourself to notice your reactions from this mental position as you again replay the incident or situation. See what you notice and what you learn.
(4) Ahamkara (Duration 1)
Ahamkara in Sanskrit means I-ness, and we often simply refer to it as ego. Ahamkara is the birthplace of self-awareness in this journey, of that which tells me there’s a “me” and there’s a “you.” It is therefore a starting point for us as individuals (for herein lies our blossoming individuality) to take full responsibility for ourselves. This is the work of this phase of our creative process.
So that the nature of our task is clear, you may wish to think of ahamkara as a point around which both freedom and fetters circle continuously. Stuck in the grooves of past incarnations, of pleasures, addictions, worldly goods or arrogance? We are limited by ahamkara in that it is what ties our soul to this reality. Yearning for understanding to bridge divides of difference, for equity, peace, health and well-being for all? We are liberated through ahamkara in that it provides a focus for our unique soul imprint (called jivatman in Sanskrit) on the backdrop of creation as a whole. In this way, the Divine may experience itself through us and we may in turn experience the Divine. As we increasingly realize this reflection as true, ahamkara is shattered and we are able to take in reality as Reality.
Gaining enough self-awareness to reign in our ego appropriately, however, takes dedication and practice. Still, as we create, a healthy amount of ego presence is required to ensure that we have what it takes to support our creation throughout the birthing and into the world. Ahamkara is necessary but not sufficient for the sustenance of our creative process. We might think of it then as the spiritual equivalent of all that’s involved in fortifying and readying the body so that as mothers metaphoric or actual we can provide healthy and rich breast milk to our newborn.
Reflection: How do I fall into the entrapments of ego? Am I willing to take on the full ramifications of my thoughts, words and actions? What do I need to change or do to make it so?
Ritual: Do sadhana. That is, make a commitment to spiritual practice, and do something every day. Find a practice you can do regularly at the same time even if only for five minutes. Let it be fun and transformational, deepening and enlivening. Perhaps you will chant while doing laundry, or memorize verses while running. Perhaps you will sit in silence or stare at a candle flame. No matter what your choice, understand this dedication as a strengthening exercise, one that will make you ready for all it takes for a strong relationship to ahamkara, one with true humility and open-hearted presence, to emerge.
(5) Akasha / Ether (Duration 2)
An important transition is occurring as we move into the realm of akasha, for here is the final space in which the subtle body fully dominates our creative process. As akasha enters the picture, we begin to sense the world of forms, even if they are still a bit farther down the road. It is here and by this influence that as embodied beings we begin to listen to our spiritual impulses; but during the incarnation process in which we’re currently engaged, it is here that the boundaries of our psychic selves are established and the spaces that hold the physical matter of our bodies together are formed. With this, energy and consciousness as thus far come into beingness are making a lot of noise, as it were, in the subtle realm. As we enter akasha, it is thus increasingly important to be diligent and mindful of the things, persons, and intentions that impact us. For some, readiness to continue engaging creatively means establishing appropriate protections so that inimical influences do not sway or hinder us.
Akasha is the void, space, and blackness. While primary among akasha’s responsibilities is articulation of the psychic centers, called chakras, illumination of the way to understanding through vibration and sound is also a key component of this element. Akasha is thus keenly tied to our hearing sense. As the first of the basic tattvas to arise, it is also the last to go as we dissolve back into Source on our spiritual quest. Thus, when in meditation, you may find that you can focus on the internal landscape, keeping out all smells, tastes, visions, and tactile sensations, but you are aware of sounds arising from outside of yourself almost no matter how deeply you may seem to go into an altered state. Utilize the force of akasha to tune in to the most delicate of impressions as you journey now, and strive for your ears to become increasingly attuned to the sounds of your origins—to those speaking to you from your clan wave (the ancestors). Listen well too to the promises of others, to the whispers of your imagination, and for the sounds of falsehood.
Reflection: What is the substance of my psychic self and how can I cultivate a relationship with my subtle body? Am I willing to truly listen? Do I need to protect myself in any way for this creative process to unfold in alignment with soulful purpose?
Ritual: Give your creation, child or project a spirit name (even a temporary one). Tie a red, black and white piece of cloth to a stick and place it on your altar like a flag. White represents our highest spiritual power, red our activity in the world, and black our latent potential. These forces, known as gunas (qualities of nature) arise with akasha and inform all of our elemental work. Imagine now connecting to the very first vibration of the cosmos; that from which all else arose. Let this inner sound reverberate. As you feel ready, pick up your flag, press it between your palms, and move it to the sounds and rhythms of this vibration, intoning the name you have chosen. You may wish to record any impressions or experiences you have as messages from akasha.
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