A transition in season is a wonderful opportunity to reflect and come into harmony with the rhythm of the universe. But what does this mean? Is it just about a shift in our food habits, leisure activities and clothing, or is there more to it?
When we hear the word rhythm, most of us think of music or sound, a steady beat or the pulse of a song, or the cadence of movement. But we usually don’t think about the rhythm of the cosmos itself, nor how our personal life circumstances are affected by that rhythm.
Rhythm, Rhythmos, Rtam
The English word Rhythm originates from the Greek word “Rhythmos” which is said to share its root with the Sanskrit term Rtam (ऋतम्). In the Vedas, this beautiful word is often translated as truth or cosmic order. My favourite translation is “truth in movement”. It is a reference to the dynamic principles of the universe that guide the movement of the sun, the moon, the planets and galaxies, down to our very lives. In Greek it has a similar meaning, emphasising the characteristics of flow, order and measured movement in the human expression, such as in language, dance and music, and in nature.
This underlying principle of Rtam, guided the ancient Yogi’s understanding of astronomy, astrology, the seasons, cycles of day and night, patterns in nature, the Gunas, and creation itself. It also guided their understanding of Dharma (our purpose and duty), Karma (the principles of cause and effect) and how we can harmoniously live with an awareness of the universal rhythm.
While we don’t need to understand or agree with all the ways ancient Yogis applied these principles, we can benefit from a deeper reflection, svadhyaya, in our own life on this profound and fundamental Yogic principle.
So how does one live in harmony with the rhythm of the universe? How do we even know what that rhythm is when we are so tiny and the universe is so vast? Well the trick is, we don’t need to be boss and know everything, we just need to listen to the messages that are for us.
Step one: Try to listen to what the universe is telling you
Does the universe’s language talk to us in words? Sometimes, though mostly we cannot rely on the chatter in our head that is full of our likes, dislikes and to-do lists. Once in a while when the mind is very quiet, a word, feeling, image or vision may drop in, where we know it hasn’t come from us.
However I like to use a cross verification system to make sure I’ve heard things correctly. The universe usually speaks through multiple channels to make sure its message is heard clearly (like a digital marketing agency haha). So I find it helpful to look out for the message in other ways too. I often find them in books, lectures, bumper stickers, jokes or social media posts. Or it might be through life experiences where certain doors keep closing, while others keep opening. For me, it usually accompanies itself with a feeling in the body, like a deep breath of fresh air, body tingles, and an opening in the heart.
Step two: Synchronise to it’s signals
Once I’ve got a sense of the message, I need to be open and follow what I’m hearing. This is easy enough to do when things are hunky dory and the messages are something I like. But boy does it become tricky when it interferes with my carefully laid plans that I am adamant will bring me happiness.
For example, this past season my family and I kept falling ill, passing sickness back and forth until it seemed endless. At first, I was frustrated. I had deadlines, projects, and ambitions that I was clinging to, activities I wanted to enjoy and people I wanted to see. The illness felt like a thief stealing my time. I grew resentful towards my loved ones for not being more careful, and even let myself quietly harbor frustration at the universe itself for not wanting me to be happy. And while one layer of my mind could see the childishness of these feelings, another part of me clung to it, because I was very attached to the things I wanted.
But eventually, I remembered once again, that my happiness was not in external circumstances but in turning within. And in one of the peak moments of my illness, when I was struggling to feel happy with the world around me, I allowed myself to turn inward. To my surprise (it’s always a surprise! :P) I could feel joy and bliss even in the midst of fever, fatigue and major sinus congestion.
The universe was orchestrating a timing far wiser than mine. In hindsight, I saw the grace: the projects I was pushing hard to launch in winter have unfolded naturally for spring, when the energy of renewal and growth has made their birth so much more aligned. What I thought was a delay was simply the rhythm of the season itself.
And while I couldn’t appreciate the big picture while I was in the midst of it, relaxing into the flow made my life easier, and once I did, I was shown the bigger pattern and grace of it all.
How can we trust the universe?
Trusting the flow of life can seem like a tall order or even impossible when we are exhausted, overwhelmed, or struggling to stay afloat. And yet, these very moments hold the greatest transformation towards a deeper peace and happiness. Can we gently ask ourselves: What exactly am I resisting? Could there be a deeper intelligence at play? What is the invitation towards a deeper alignment with my highest good?
Perhaps the thing that helps me the most, is my love for the universe itself. This magnificent source that has made the incredible stars and our beautiful planet, that is the spark in all of the beings I love, and is the source of love itself. If it’s capable of such incredible and intelligent design, then perhaps those same principles are governing my life as well.
An exercise for you
Since we are at a turn of the season, with spring gently opening its eyes, I invite you to notice your own rhythm.
Keep a space in your mind where you can just observe what’s going on, and suspend judgement for a while. Life often speaks in patterns: recurring experiences, repeated challenges, familiar lessons returning until we finally notice. And these patterns frequently align with the seasons of the year, cycles of the moon or special days of the year. By noticing such rhythms, we are guided towards a deeper understanding of harmony in our life:
- What old patterns did winter expose within you?
- Where do you feel the stirrings of new growth?
- What wishes to emerge in your life right now? In relation to your Dharma and purpose, and life more broadly?
I really encourage you to relax and lean into trusting the intelligence of this rhythm, both in the wonderful and the ugly. And see if you can open yourself to trusting the flow of the season, and where it wishes to lead your heart and body (and hopefully the mind too! But that is a slippery little bugger!).
Feel free to email back and share, I would love to hear from you.
Deepa xox
