THE FOUR DESIRES OF THE SOUL

The soul is a word that some people find hard to connect to or to understand. To lay it out in a way that hopefully all of you can relate to - the soul is your innermost being, the part of yourself that is without labels, judgement or expectations. Your true self.

When it comes to yoga the physical practice is just the tip of the iceberg, as it is most simple explained in texts of the The Bhagavad Gita

"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self."

Your purpose is not a job title, it's an embodiment of your unique individual blue print. From the moment you were conceived you came with an unique imprint of your own special capabilities, talents and challenges as well as inclinations and desires.

There are four desires of the soul and to learn about and explore the four desires is a process of self discovery. At different stages and times in your life one desire may require more attention than the other and to understand what is most important to you within each desire can help you to lead a life that feels more true, complete and balanced. The four desires are

1. Dharma (Purpose)

2. Artha (Skills And Resources)

3. Kama (Love and Play)

4. Moksha (Spiritual Connection)

DHARMA // THE FIRST DESIRE OF THE SOUL

Dharma is our purpose and passion, what drives us and motivates in a way that is fulfilling. It’s our essence or souls desire that is expressed through action. Dharma is the desire to live a life that is meaningful, in a way that expresses your unique essence. It is the drive to become who you were meant to be in a way that serves others. When you are living your Dharma it ignites your joy and gives your life a shine. When we think of our life purpose so often we reduce this to a career but your Dharma is not limited by the job descriptions available in the corporate world. Its bigger and more inclusive than that. It is broad enough to permit the fullness of the expression of your spirit!

ARTHA // SKILLS & RESOURCES

Artha is the means necessary to accomplish your dharma or true purpose. It is not only the material resources, it also includes practices, skills, knowledge and external support we require to help fulfil our dharma. For example an athlete like Kathy Freemans Artha may include material and physical things like the right food, training gear and a place to train. But it would also include things like a trainer and support team, boundless will and determination, and the capacity to overcome prejudice. Artha relates to the energy, support, resources and consciousness to support our dharma and the other desires of the soul.

KAMA // PLAY & PLEASURE

Kama is the soul's desire for pleasure of all kinds including play, intimacy, family, art, friendship, sex, poetry etc. Kama is an essential and healthy part of human life when pursued without sacrificing integrity and from a place of love. Making time in your life to fulfill this desire is so important and can be as simple as taking time to enjoy the pleasure of playing with your dog, or being present and cuddling your partner instead of watching Netflix. For others pleasure comes from painting, or gardening and going on slow walks in nature. What bring you pleasure? Think of how you make more space in your life to enjoy and feel it.

MOKSHA // SPIRITUAL CONNECTION

Moksha is the last desire of the soul and ends our education series on this topic. Moksha is the desire for freedom and liberation. It is the intrinsic desire and impulse to seek out practices such as prayer, meditation, contemplation and mindfulness. Moksha relates to a connection to the divine, the higher self and that creative force that was implanted in you when you were created. Moksha relates to a connection to the universe and to a higher state of living.

We hope you have enjoyed out introduction each of the four desires of the soul. We are set to launch our Re-power Challenge in the near future so make sure you keep an eye out for more info. Throughout the Repower challenge you will work with the four desires of the soul and powerful ancient methodology that will help you become a more powered individual in order to achieve what is most important to you (e.g. health goals, career aspirations, relationships, spiritual growth, travel etc). Feel free to send us through an email to hello@lightenupstudio.com.au if you want to learn more or have any questions <3