The Importance of Space

The world’s population is growing, so are the creative ideas and the unlimited experiences that you can engage in. Just walk around any bustling city and you will be bombarded with numerous cafes, salons, shopping outlets, restaurants, malls, wellness studios, massage parlors, and many other captivating things as well. In fact, many of these establishments may be trying very hard to create an environment of peace and serenity right next to the traffic and hustle-bustle.

Just take a moment to slow down and notice how easy it is to get carried away by all of this. The mind may feel like it is being entertained or even soothed, but there is a restlessness to all of this – sometimes subtle and sometimes very evident. So, what could it be that is so out of alignment in all of this?

While of course, there are many factors. One of them I believe is the lack of connection to the air and space element. In a way, we are trying to avoid the lack of space by engaging in activities that fill the space even more. Feeling restless? Join a fast-paced dance class or scroll social media. Feeling hungry? Grab a “healthy bite” in a noisy restaurant. Feeling unproductive? Let’s go work out of a coffee shop. It happens so automatically that we don’t even realize it, and it’s only getting worse in this digital age with our phones always being available if nothing else.

Yes there are exceptions to this, like taking a walk in the park that could actually slow the mind down. But let’s be honest with ourselves, how often do we actually do that versus just distract from the present?

So coming to the importance of space, we are actually made of 99.99% space. People who have studied science would know that even atoms never touch each other, neither do electrons and protons. It’s all space. The Universe is also known to be ever-expanding and spreading out and occupying more and more space. Entropy (a measure of molecular disorder or randomness) always increases for the universe as a whole – occupying more and more space. If we attempt to increase the information in our system without providing more space for the information, we are inadvertently decreasing entropy – going against the natural order of the universe.

How do we increase space then, in our high stimulus world? Here are a few ideas:

1. Yoga: A wonderful tool, especially the slower styles of yoga such as yin and restorative yoga. It gives us an opportunity to slow down, and focus on the stretch of our muscles, the quiver of our breath rather than get carried away by the thoughts that may be arising. Yoga by definition means “union”, union with ourselves and the universe at large. Basically, it is a form of body work that really helps if you are working towards an embodied awakening journey.

   
   

2. Meditation (Particularly Body Scan): It comes as no surprise that meditation made itself on this list. While all forms of meditation are helpful in this regard, I would like to highlight body scan meditations. Herein, you gently move your attention to various parts of the body and hold it there for a few seconds. You notice the sensations that arise in the process and don’t get carried away by them. I think the body is a compass that reflects our relationship to the world as well as the divine, and deserves a little bit of subtle attention. It is helpful to follow a guided body scan meditation if you are a beginner.

3. Fasting and mindful eating: I think most of don’t even realize how much we use food as a way to distract ourselves from the uneasiness of everyday life. This is why occasional fasting is a great way to understand our relationship to space, the space that exists when our stomachs are empty. It doesn’t require anything extreme, just a break from the usual routine and mindless consumption that we often subject ourselves to.

   
   

4. Alone and quiet time in natural spaces: When there are fewer vibrations coming into our system from man-made systems (cities) and devices, we can sense the presence of something subtle and divine. Quite obviously, natural spaces have more embedded god-like codes which we subconsciously pick up on. For someone who isn’t used to an untouched environment, this can be rather uncomfortable. However, once it catches on, you may never want to leave because of the pure and serene feeling that comes along.

5. Being the witness: This one is particularly powerful and can be done anywhere and at any time. It basically requires you to not get so carried away by the events of the world, and the corresponding emotions that may arise. Allow yourself to step back from it all, and just observe. Notice the thoughts arising in your mind, the sensations arising in your bodies and the ways in which you may want to push against the world or pull away from it. Notice the tendency to do something about the tendencies, and notice that you are noticing. That’s it – stop there and just allow yourself to notice. Do this a few times a day but don’t overdo it because you may become too sensitive to the trials and tribulations of everyday life.