Intentional Solitude

I am an avid reader, and usually read a book quite fast. Nevertheless, I confess I've been "studying" the latest book on my nightstand for quite a while, absorbing every concept I can, as if it were written directly for me. It was during last week's "study" that I learned about an idea that is more than necessary to all of us at the present moment - intentional solitude.

It all starts with a tale about a woman, who is really a seal, forced to live as a human being on land for 7 years by a fisherman who stole her seal skin as she was distracted having fun with others of her kind. She believed he loved her, and considered 7 years to not be such a long time. During the time she spent with him a child was born. The seal-woman was not unhappy at all, and she spent a lot of time teaching the ways of her kind to her little son... but she started feeling the effects of being away from her real essence and environment for too long. It was taking it's toll on her. After 7 years, she was ready to have her seal skin back. However, the fisherman did not keep his promise, and kept hiding her seal skin. Her son, seeing his mother's suffering, decided to go fetch the seal skin for her. Even though she goes back to her kind in the ocean, she visits her son often at the shore, to teach him all he needs to know about his "seal heritage."

The name of this tale is "Seal Skin, Soul Skin," and you can find one of it's versions, as well as a complete analysis of its meaning in the book Women Who Run With the Wolves, by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.

Well, as the author expounds on the significance of this tale, she introduces the concept of intentional solitude, which has been part of my life more and more, although unconsciously.

Simply saying, it means to take time alone... intentionally. How many of us really take time off from the world around us? How many people think they deserve a time off, and don't feel guilty about it? How many understand the importance of that time off for the health of their soul - or, in a more mundane vocabulary, for the sake of their sanity?

Daily activities, for most of people, involve things which bring them more to the outside world, neglecting that soul/spirit inside of them, full of information, advice and love for who they truly are. We neglect ourselves constantly! There are cell phones, and home phones, and internet, and tv, and movies... and, yeah, our friends, and families, and neighbors, and those we don't know but meet somehow... and, school, studies, work, gym, and of course, there must be some entertainment. Wow! No time for solitude here! Now, do you wonder why you feel constantly tired, lost, angry, mad, overwhelmed, stressed...? Being away from your essence is taking a toll on you.

The idea of taking some time to just be with oneself is not a new fad. Meditation is a well known way of taking intentional solitude, and it's been around for thousands of years. It helps one slow down the mind, finding moments of silence between thoughts. It is during these moments that the soul/spirit/higher self - or whatever name you have for it - speaks to you. We could call them moments of clarity. As the mind slows down, breathing improves, and heart rate diminishes, which contributes for lowering stress levels in the body. One can relax more.

As you relax and let go of all external distractions, there is a greater opportunity to truly know yourself, and that is the greatest work of all.

Now, intentional solitude doesn't need to be complicated. Five minutes would be a great start... five minutes that you could sit down and breath, feel your body, feel your emotions. No judgement here, no wordy explanations, no deep therapy. Breath, feel, be... and that is it!

I would suggest the mat as one of the places where to practice this intentional solitude. The mat is your world, your yoga practice the moment to be in touch with yourself. No distractions, no phones, no one calling for you. Make it all about your inner self, give it space to be, a chance to express itself.

As your practice of intentional solitude progresses, you will start feeling the effects of being in touch with your essence again: bliss, consciousness, relaxation, love for all, a sense of knowing... things you cannot find anywhere in this world but inside of yourself.

May you be blessed.

Namaste