The Wisdom of the Neutral Mind

Happy Autumn!

I love the transition of seasons; it's exciting. I know many dread the autumn and winter, and I used to as well, but now I see them as a cycle not only in nature but in my energy, meditation, and yoga practice.

After living out west, where the seasons weren't as dramatic as in the northeast, I missed the rhythm that the seasons provided. When there wasn't a distinct winter, it became an anti-climactic spring. Oh, how I missed the excitement of the sprouting and blooming! When it's always pleasant and the same, the anticipation of the next season becomes flat, which I found boring and slightly disorienting.

And the beauty of the autumn leaves, the last hoorah before letting go and feeling nostalgic, felt empty, like I was missing a crucial part of my cyclical rhythm.

Sadness is perfectly natural to feel when we're letting go of what was. When we allow for grief, we create internal space. We don't want to dwell in sadness and grief but hold it with reverence and give it its due process.

When we can allow difficult emotions to be, there's a sweetness that occurs as it transforms into wisdom by the nature of allowing without resistance.

Following the laws of nature, known as the Tao, the autumn teaches us how to let go.

When we can let go, we create freedom.

When we hold on and can't let go, we suffer.

As each season feeds the next season with energy, the teaching of the neutral mind from the late summer Earth season can help us ease into the autumn Metal season.

The neutral mind is the wise mind. It's easy to be for or against things, swayed by polarities, and become attached to being right.

But the neutral mind has a broader view. It remains centered, can see more possibilities, and considers all the points of view. It's also relaxed - not complacent - but at peace.

This is the time of year to practice going neutral, as we can be subject to the resistance of the darker, colder months ahead.

The neutral mind is one of the biggest boons of meditation. When we cultivate an even long, slow breath, we are brought to a stable, balanced mind that's not so reactive but calm and confident.

The way we breathe affects the way we think.

Research has shown that an anxious mind becomes exasperated by breathing short breaths, only accessing the upper portion of the lungs, which are the smallest.

In yoga class, we begin by setting the rhythm of our breath so it's long, slow, and complete. We breathe into the bottom lobes of the lungs, which are the largest, and where our mental freedom resides.

Breathing deeply and slowly into our lungs calms the mind and increases our Emotional Intelligence. The Dali Lama refers to this breathing as Emotional Hygiene breathing.

Daniel Goleman wrote in his book Emotional Intelligence that our EI (emotional intelligence) determines more of our success in our careers, relationships, and finances than our IQ.

And what's so hopeful is that we can continue to increase our EI as we age by breathwork, meditation, journaling, mindfulness practices, and yoga - whereas our IQs are fixed.

The beauty of yoga is that it not only stretches our muscles but it stretches our lungs, which stretch our minds. We then shift out of the anxious racing mind, which is very inefficient, to a calm, centered, neutral mind that makes better decisions.

Here's a simple breathing technique (pranayama) that helps increase our emotional intelligence and return to a neutral mind.

Box Breathing:

Inhale 4 counts ~ hold 4 counts

Exhale 4 counts ~ hold 4 counts

With the corners of the mouth wide and slightly lifted into an inner smile. Like a Buddha smile. This is a great way to start meditation.

It brings us back to a neutral mindset, where peace resides.

If you'd like to join a group of yogis exploring seasonal meditations, contemplations, breathwork, yoga and qigong, consider joining the Master's Path, starting 10/21 for yogis who want to go further and join a community of like-minded souls.

These trainings will provide inner growth as well as a strong, flexible body and a calm, centered mind.

From my heart to yours~

Namaste,

Maggie