THE NINE "MASKS" OF EMOTION – THE NINE RASAS I wanted to give you a bit more context about the "Rasas" in our current Yoga for Emotional Balance Immersion. The nine rasas, or primary emotions in Tantra, are often depicted as nine different masks we wear to symbolize the interplay of emotions we endlessly navigate. I love this iconography – often represented in classical Indian dance and drama – because it implies that the emotions are cyclical and separate from ourselves. "Masquerading" – we can choose to put on the mask of a certain emotion or take it off. Each rasa (emotion) is more like a character (with specific characteristics) that we choose to inhabit – than an emotion we are driven by. We can also begin to identify the attributes of each particular rasa, its associated (secondary) emotions and the physiology, posture and psychology resulting from each. To develop your EMOTIONAL LITERACY, here are some questions to ponder as we continue our journey through our "Yoga for Emotional Balance" Immersion – The Nine Rasas of Tantra: • Which "character", mask or "emotion" (rasa) are you most prone to play? • Which 2-3 are most dominant emotional themes in your life? • What emotional patterns do you get "hooked in"? (ex: sadness, joy, wonder/awe, love, peace, anger, fear) • Which emotional states are you most addicted to or are the easiest for you to access (your default/go-to)? • Which emotional states are the hardest for you to get in touch with or access? • Are there any emotions you tend to avoid? Not want to discuss or express? Why not? • What tools are most useful to help you shift out of certain emotional states? Why? • Pay attention to your personal psychographic. What is the landscape of your psyche? The weather pattern? • If your psyche had a topography...what would it be? Hilly, steep and mountainous, gentle rolling hills, tranquil waters, peaceful plains or fiery embers ready to ignite? Journal the questions above and post your biggest take-aways below! WIth great love, Ashley

Posted by Ashley Turner at 2024-04-03 22:16:57 UTC