“Teja, tranquility,” I said when it was my turn during the introductions part of last night’s Radiance Rising Circle. Each week, after we chant the sacred syllable OM three times to set sacred space for the circle, we each say our name and a quality that we would like to call into our lives. After we say our name and quality, the group then repeats our name and quality out loud three times. Hearing our names and qualities voiced by others helps to bring those vibrations into our beings. As the Universe hears our intentions, we witness the power of the spoken word.

Before going to last night’s circle, I was contemplating what quality I wished to call in. I thought of surrender, acceptance, and patience, but those didn’t quite capture what it was that I was needing to bring into my being. Over the weekend, my energy was zapped by some sinus stuff passing through my physical body, and my system was challenged by some relationship issues affecting my emotional body. Even as I felt exhausted on several levels, I also witnessed a certain jittery feeling, similar to anxiety. I called a dear friend and we had a good conversation about spiritual purification.

What does it mean to purify ourselves spiritually? I think it means that we firmly decide to be willing to BE with whatever is arising in our beings, in each moment. When the storms come, instead of running for shelter, we stand firmly, right in the middle of the storm, and allow it to purify us. Most importantly, we cultivate the witness in each moment. The more we practice watching ourselves, the more we come into intimate relationship with our inner beings. Through that intimacy, we begin to experience true Self-Love.

We have to go within to really experience the Love that we already are. This means going within no matter how we are feeling physically and emotionally. This means being willing to accept ourselves unconditionally. Cultivating the witness is a spiritual practice that gradually trains us to love ourselves no matter what is arising in our beings. (I describe this practice more fully in my new book, Radiance Rising: Spiritual Practices for Daily Living. This pocket book will be discounted on this website store through April 10^th, 2010.)

After my crazily challenging weekend, before going to the Monday evening circle, I experienced the calm after the storm. So when I was considering what quality I needed to call in, suddenly the word “tranquility” popped into my brain, and I laughed out loud, alone in my cottage. Hearing the word “tranquility” amused me somewhere deep inside. It was like remembering a good, old friend from the distant past. As I shared with the circle last night, “Tranquility is a word that I hardly ever think of, but I really should think of it!"

What quality do you need to call into your life right now? Say it out loud three times, and witness how you feel when you hear that word. Then watch yourself throughout the day, and notice the vibration of that quality coming into your being. Sometimes when we affirm an intention, such as feeling tranquil, the opposite quality will come up in us, so that we can clear that quality out. If you notice the opposite quality arising in your being, then simply witness it and accept yourself exactly as you are in each moment. Once the opposite quality is witnessed and cleared, then your original quality can manifest in your being.

I am most grateful to the beautiful beings who sat in the circle with me last night and said these words: “Teja, tranquility. Teja, tranquility. Teja, tranquility.”

May all beings everywhere know Peace and Happiness.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

After the Rain photo by Stop.Imagine – CC license