Using a musical scale:
DO – reproductive/endocrine glands
RE – adrenal glands
MI – spleen/ pancreas
Primal Realm: Sex, Money, Food; relates to Fire, Earth, Water
FA – thyroid
SO – thymus
LA – pituitary
Communal Realm: Ventilating/articulating system, steering and mirrors; my mirrors have 3 angles of perception: acute, right angle, obtuse
TI – pineal, opening up the mind
DO – higher desire, fire of the imagination
RE – higher adrenals, cosmic hearing
Astral Realm: Rise above the personal, see the big picture, map quest, having a transcendental experience
I move forward with my potential in front of me. As the present turn to experiences, it becomes memories behind me. Time is the sun rising from the east to my left and setting to the west on my right. I manage time and space. Knowing where am I? When? A recipe for joy is being in the right place at the right time. A recipe for disaster is being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
When traveling with 12 noon before me, my gaze (dhristi) is set with my heart singing to 2 o’clock on my right and my liver goes around my back, stoking the fire in my heart, to gaze at 10 o’clock. The triangle in front of me is my dhristi of joy. All clock makers set their hands at 10 and 2. This allows me to see clearly both lanes beside me using my side view mirrors, my pituitary, my third eye. To my left is my personal realm and to my right is my environment. If I am too invested in my personal issues, my gaze will be 9 and 1 o’clock. It is rubber necking while driving. Chances are, I am going to be blindsided on my right lane. My work suffers, my relationships fray. If I spend all my time at work or try to please people all the time, my gaze will be at 11 and 3 o’clock. I am not taking care of myself and develop personal imbalances, perhaps get blindsided on my left lane! The best path is to drive to destination with my dhristi of joy. This can be applied to the other notes in my musical scale. For instance, if my adrenals are imbalanced, I can be overly cautious or recklessly daring.
With this, I orient my asana. I set up my image bank using a 3 x 3 grid, the Lo Shu Turtle. With me looking out, I divide myself bottom, middle, top; left, center, right. Moving this tic-tac-toe board in time: potential, present, memory; and in space: front, middle, back.
Up next: The Katonah Magic Square
Glyphs and Maps by Nevine Michaan / Susan Fierro katonahyoga.com
Note: The teachings, metaphors and language of Katonah Yoga as I share in this journey are by Nevine Michaan and her teachers. Any omissions and errors are mine.