What is Embodiment

I have been a student of Vedic teachings since I was eighteen. When I turned forty I started to feel a strong pull to my Celtic roots. I kept hearing the name Sanctuary of the Open Heart when I meditated. I finally found out from a friend that she was in a priestess training with that name! I approached the teacher to see if I could train to be a priestess. She asked me about my life. At the time, I was in a pretty abusive family dynamic.

She told me that I needed to embody my knowledge in order to guide others spiritually otherwise it was just spiritual bypass.

I was so hurt that she said this at first. I sat with it though and used her words as a catalyst to change my life. If I wanted to talk to women about their value, I had to value myself. If I wanted to help my clients find freedom, I had to be free myself. If I wanted to teach self love, I had to love myself completely.

Her words made me go more deeply into my practices. I stopped thinking of my prayers as worship to a far off, invisible Goddess and started to think of myself as that Goddess. I started to embody the fearlessness of Kali, the compassion of Lakshmi and the wisdom of Saraswati. I started to visualize that I was these Goddesses. That I was not only worthy of love but I am love.

I massaged my entire body with fragrant oils and finally eliminated my body dysmorphia. I had struggled with anorexia and bulimia as a teenager and though I had over come the eating disorders I still saw my body as an enemy unless it weighed a certain weight.

I began wearing crystals and clothes that made me feel beautiful. I began loving my body

eating with intention to fuel me so I could love more people. I listened when my intuition said no and protected myself from a serial predator!

I said yes to love and joy and pleasure, even when it came in a strange package and I finally feel free, sovereign and joyful. This doesn't mean I have no struggles but it means I love myself and I choose health and peace and bliss.