Body Dowsing
Today I learned about a really cool concept called “body dowsing”. Martha Beck discusses this method in her book, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World, but I wanted to share it with you all.
Step 1: Plant yourself on the floor with your feet shoulder width apart and your shoulders spaced above your heels. You should be in flat shoes or barefoot while doing this exercise.
Step 2: Out loud, start to say the word “pain” multiple times and note which way your body starts to sway. Is it either forward or backward? Typically, our body has the response to move away from pain (therefore, backwards), but some people might sway forward to run from pain.
Step 3: Next, return to your original position with your feet flat, shoulders above the heels. Begin to say the world “calm” multiple times. Just like before, note whether you sway forward or backwards. Typically, our body would move towards things that are good for us. Your sway might be very large or extremely small. Just try to get a sense of which direction your moving.
Now that you know your body’s response to things that aren’t good for you and things that would serve you well you can use that in your daily life. For instance, if your grocery shopping and wondering if a certain fruit or veggie would be good for you to buy you can stand with your feet flat, shoulders above your heels, hold the fruit/veggie in your hands and ask. See which way your body sways. If it moves forward, get it! If it moves backwards, find something else.
This seems to work on even more than food. I used it today while purchasing some items for my alter to see whether the items served my highest and greatest good. I received a positive response and now I have some kick ass meditations thanks to my new alter space. Try it out for yourself and let me know how it goes!