March Insights: On feeding the soul

I remember Tahl Rinsky (from Haum Yoga in Byron) once writing about breastfeeding her firstborn in the middle of the night and thinking, “If I don’t feed this baby, she will die.”

That’s a lot of responsibility. How incredible that life really is so fragile! Yet how simple the solution can be if we want to maintain it.

Some of you may already know that Dean and I are now new parents! We had a secluded home birth with our amazing midwife (Midwife Rach), and chose to keep bub's placenta attached until it naturally fell off (This practice is called Lotus Birth if you’re curious to explore it).

It’s been a few weeks now and as we’ve slowly settled into our new roles sometimes struggling to balance our personal spiritual and self-care practices. There have been plenty of times where rest seems more attractive, and I’ve caught myself thinking, I’ll just rest today and get back into it tomorrow. But Tahl’s words keep coming back to me, and somehow I actually haven’t skipped.

It surprised me, but I’ll give credit to Tahl’s words landing for me in a different light. I realised that 

Just as only a mother can feed her baby, only I can feed my soul.

No one else can meditate for me, do my yoga, or my journaling. Just as our bodies need food and our minds need rest, our inner life needs nourishment too.

If I don't feed our little one for a day, he will quickly start to wither. And if I don’t nourish my inner life, it too slowly fades. As tempting as it is to skip a day or two of practice, I’ve started to see it with the same seriousness as skipping bub's feeds for a whole day. So I’ll leave you with a question: What are you feeding your soul these days?

If you've been feeling a little stuck, or just need a little inspiration, reading can be a simple place to start. If you're looking for some soul food, here are three books I keep coming back to...

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Book Recommendations for the soul

• Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch

  My long-time favourite. It’s an easy read that opens up bigger questions about life, purpose, and the nature of God.

  
  

• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

  Short, simple, and full of practical wisdom you can actually apply in everyday life. Probably the quickest of these three, but a very valuable read.

  
  

• Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahamsa Yogananda

  A bigger, more immersive read, but an unforgettable story of devotion, discipline, and the spiritual path. Great if you’re looking to get into something gripping and inspiring.

  
  
  
  

  Happy soul feeding yogis,

  With love, Christine (and Crystal and, Dean)