Self-Knowledge

“Your ears thirst for the sound of your heart’s knowledge.”

~ Kahlil Gibran

In order to connect to our unique beauty, we must explore who we are at the deepest of levels – at our essence. A person without Self-Knowledge will attach to false identities, a false Self, and their attachment to this false Self can become a barrier to developing a relationship with the true Self.

There are many paths to Self-Knowledge… life itself is a path that will clumsily lead you to a deeper understanding of your essence. The following are some of the intentional paths that I use in my own life, with my individual clients and in the Playshop.

Astrology/Tarot

At the end of his career, Carl Jung became interested in ancient tools of self-exploration like Astrology and the Tarot. He coined the term synchronicity – an apparently meaningful coincidence in time of two or more similar or identical events that are casually unrelated – to explain how these tools operate to offer insight and guidance. We are offered symbols and metaphors through the language of Astrology and the Tarot that assist us in making meaning of ourselves and our life’s journey. To get you started:

• Astrology: Find a professional Astrologer in your area and get a birth chart reading. Know and understand the answer to that mysterious question ‘What’s your sign?’ I am a Virgo Sun, Aquarius Moon, Libra Rising.
• Print out your chart here for free. Jan Spiller is a recommended astrological resource.
• Check out Astrodienst for another free resource with tons of information.
• Check out Rob Brezny’s horoscopes at Free Will Astrology. I have been reading my horoscope from him for over a decade and am always impressed by his way of inspiring deeper self-awareness through metaphor.

• Tarot: My favorite books for learning to use the Tarot for Self-knowledge are Angeles Arrien’s The Tarot Handbook: practical applications of ancient visual symbols and Mary K. Greer’s Tarot for Your Self: A Workbook for Personal Transformation. Also check out Mary K. Greer’s Tarot Blog.
• There are a variety of Tarot decks out there. I use the Crowley Thoth Deck the most because it incorporates astrological symbols and is the one I learned through studying Angeles Arrien. The Rider-Waite Deck is the most commonly used so I would recommend it for learning. I also love the Osho Zen Tarot Deck for it’s incorporation of Zen principles into the mix. The most important thing is to find one that visually resonates with you – you will be more likely to use it if you enjoy it’s artistry and beauty.
• Within the Tarot system we have symbols that represent our Personality, our Soul and our Growth Cycle. This has been a very influential tool in helping me make meaning of my journey. Both of the previously mentioned books explain how to identify your personal tarot symbols. My Personality and Soul cards are both III. The Empress – the principle of love with wisdom. Throughout this blog I reference my Growth Cycle card and the ways I work with it on my beauty walk.

Creativity/Expressive Arts

Pat B. Allen, author of Art as a Way of Knowing, elegantly explains how expressive arts can be a pathway to Self-knowledge in this way: “Making art – giving form to the images that arise in our mind’s eye, our dreams and our everyday lives – is a form of spiritual practice through which knowledge of ourselves can ripen into wisdom.” If creative expression is a pathway that interests you, here are some resources to get you started:

• Art is a Way of Knowing: A guide to self-knowledge and spiritual fulfillment through creativity by Pat B. Allen
• Art and Healing: Using expressive art to heal your body, mind and spirit by Barbara Ganim
• Spirit Taking Form: Making a spiritual practice of art making by Nancy Azara
• Soul Collage Evolving: An intuitive collage process for self-discovery and community by Seena B. Frost
• Soul Collage website

Enneagram

The Enneagram is a geometric figure that maps out nine basic types of human behavior and their dynamic interrelationships. Unlike other personality typing systems, the Enneagram does not put you in a box, rather it shows the box you are in and the way out of it. The Enneagram is based on our inner motivations, so it is challenging to guess another person’s type simply by their behavior. The study of the Enneagram has helped me to develop more of a witness consciousness around my “stuff” so that I am more aware and less reactive to it. It has also helped me learn to take myself less seriously and develop a sense of humor about myself. Studying each of the types and their interrelationships also helps to understand the people in your life. My all-time favorite book to learn about the Enneagram is Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson’s The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types. You can also explore on their Enneagram Institute website.  My leading type is Type Four: The Individualist.

IFS (Internal Family Systems)

This approach to therapy has been the most influential in my work because it again helps people develop witness consciousness to their inner world of parts/subpersonalities. It offers a creative way of exploring these parts of Self with the intention of people connecting with their Self and living life from a place of Self-leadership rather than from other parts. Self-led people will demonstrate calmness, curiosity, clarity, compassion, confidence, creativity, courage and connectedness. Sounds good to me! Find an IFS therapist in your area.

From their website: “The Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of psychotherapy offers a clear, non-pathologizing, and empowering method of understanding human problems, as well as an innovative and enriching philosophy of practice that invites both therapist and client to enter into a transformational relationship in which healing can occur.”

Yoga

I can’t say enough about the treasures awaiting a person who regularly shows up to themselves on the yoga mat. There is so much to learn about yourself when you come into relationship with your body in a non-judgmental, present moment type of awareness. It is a practice. Find a style of yoga that resonates with you, a teacher who inspires you and show up to your practice regularly and you will connect more and more to your Self and to your beauty. Personally, I love Anusara Yoga because of it’s heart-centeredness, playfulness and emphasis on alignment. Bikram Yoga is a style I love to hate. I also recommend working 1 on 1 with a Yoga Therapist as a tool for self-exploration and healing such as in Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy. There are so many styles out there, so explore and experiment. Follow the Yoga Beauty Marks to read about other women’s experiences with Yoga and Reclaiming Beauty.

What are your intentional pathways to Self-knowledge and how have they assisted you in reclaiming your beauty?

If you feel inspired, please share with the Reclaiming Beauty community by emailing Heidi at heidi@reclaimingbeauty.com

Follow the Self-Knowledge Beauty Mark to share in the experiences of the Circle of Women.