BodyBeing, Part 1

I want to open - actually to continue - a big topic
one that is as big as life itself
and I'll call it "Body Being"

though it could be called other things
such as "Body Intelligence"
which might lead our thoughts in different directions.

It's easy to take "body" for granted
until something goes wrong
and it doesn't work transparently
the rising of something to consciousness is often
a sign of problem or breakdown
that's what this type of awareness is for

Giving attention to body can bring awareness of suffering
and also be a path to healing and well-being.

To bring positive attention to body
can be a path to growth, joy, vitality, even bliss

Culture brings many attitudes to body
missing its "being" aspects
in esoteric traditions
the body may be a temple, which is pretty positive
though it says the spirit is separate
and the body may be a machine that you give fuel to
and then "drive"
or a factory-like process
that we "manage"
as in "stress management"

But the body-being is a unified thing
in actuality if not in our thinking about it
stress is a body/mind activity.
To ignore it risks well-being, quality of life, even life.

We are exquisite observers of our own bodies
but it's often out of conscious awareness.
Hunches, feelings, intuitions
are bodily knowings.
It's more than "thoughts affect the body".
Body is an aspect of the presence of thoughts
thoughts are an activity of a unified body/mind/being.

And we're exquisite observers of others
more than observers, we participate with them
energetically, on the basis of usually-unconscious insight
into their bodily state
and via that, their spirit
we can't see their words and thoughts
but we know their spirit instantly and unconsciously
by physical proximity.

Science too is discovering and documenting this body/mind unity.
To see an apple
or to imagine one
is to activate everything in the whole body
and in the hand
that has to do with approaching
"picking" the fruit
and maybe even eating it.

Mindfulness practices are often really "bodyfulness" practices
like being present
counting the breath
relaxation, deep physical relaxation, is a foundational practice.

It's not just a metaphor
to say that someone has poise
or a balanced perspective
that their minds are "settled"
or their spirits are "buoyant".
Or that their attention is "scattered" or "wandering".

We can't really say this is all "me" or "not-me".
It's a place where many aspects of reality cross
in a creative mix.
We can be good hosts
welcoming to all that come
to the guest house of body being.

What is the state of your body being?
Your awareness and attunement,
habits and practices.
What are the qualities and details
of  your relationship to bodymind,
of your way of being you?