(Madisyn Taylor)
Striking the right balance between the physical and spiritual is one of the most challenging aspects of existence. We are dual beings by nature, spiritual entities bound to earth by physical bodies. In our lifetimes, 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 honour 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. The physical self provides the home in which the spiritual self takes root and flourishes. Though there will no doubt be times in our lives when we feel more comfortable focusing on the spiritual self or the physical self, 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.
My Thoughts:
I think it is safe to say that I favour the spiritual more than the physical. My body is a temple to over indulgence as far as food and alcohol go and it gets no more exercise than is an absolute necessity. However, my mind is constantly being stimulated, challenged and expanded.
I have never been one for exertion, even as a child I was happier with my nose in a book than physical punishment as I liked to term anything that involved excess movement. The most I would run to, pardon the pun was walking and ice-skating, both of which I loved, but sadly have had to be forsaken due to being ploughed-down by a car a few years ago. I do still walk the dogs but nowhere near the distances that I used to. My back has an annoying habit of going into excruciatingly painful spasms if I over-do things but gives no prior warning to tell me to slow down, consequently I regulate distances and impose time limits on everything, just in case. Better to be safe than sorry, as once in spasm it can take days or even weeks to ease.
On the bright side I now have no qualms about sitting on my bum indulging my passions for reading, hand crafts of all kinds, and of course creative writing.