Body Image Meditation

By Aluna Michaels

The return of warm weather can be a mixed blessing. If you’re like most people, you’re not at peace in your own skin. Maybe you’d like to lose weight, tone up or generally re-shape your body. Body image problems were commonly seen as a women’s issue, but over the past decade plenty of men have joined the ranks of stressed-out dieters.

Body image is in your mind and actually has little to do with your weight or physical shape. More specifically, body image isn’t based in the conscious mind. Its roots are in the murky mire of your subconscious—the toxic waste dump of your psyche. That’s why everyone can tell you how gorgeous and shapely you are, but you look in the mirror and feel dissatisfied.

One part of you says, “Hey! I can do better than this! I can be healthier and feel more positive about my appearance.” Then the self-doubt begins. Another part of you has a grim outlook and tells a different story. It says, “My body is icky and this is how I’ve looked for years—I always get these ideas and never follow through, so why try?”

In a manner of speaking, the negative voice is true. If you try to make a change on the physical without re-arranging your mental habits, you’ll end up back in the same old behaviors. So you must fully change your mind in order to change your body. Not only do you need to eat different foods, you need to feed yourself different thoughts—healthy, nourishing thoughts.

It’s helpful to use your meditation time to “take out the subconscious garbage.” After you have centered yourself with a gentle environment and rhythmic breathing, try focusing on these ideas:

Focus on the body part that causes you the most distress. Write down your negative thoughts about this section of your body. Do you call yourself names like “Thunder Thighs” or “Elephant?” Write those down, too. Write how you compare yourself to other people. Try to remember if family members had a similar attitude about that portion of their body. See how all these thoughts have become an ingrained mental habit.

Now meditate on how you would feel about this section of your body if it were “perfect.” Exactly what would be different? How would you feel about yourself? Revel in the blissful relief at finally appreciating this part of your physique.

Next, focus on forgiving yourself for years of anguish caused by constantly condemning and criticizing this part of your body! Forgive your subconscious mind for automatically absorbing damaging body image information from society and the media. Forgive the people who may have influenced you negatively, since they are suffering in the same way as you!

To close your meditation, imagine you are looking in the mirror. See yourself smiling as you happily gaze at your reflection. Concentrate on what it feels like to truly love your body and respect yourself. From this state of mind, it is easy to make healthy food and fitness choices, if that is something you wish to do.

In addition, you may wish to note your mental or verbal criticisms of others. Examine yourself for unresolved anger or unforgiveness. Remember, fat cells contain stored energy—and both physical and emotional energy is released as you let go of extra pounds. These things are coming up in order to be healed in a healthy way. Even if you don’t need to lose weight, negative thoughts about your body can mask anger at others.

Finally, don’t forget that everyone loves praise—even the cells of your body! Address your body lovingly and it will respond with glowing health and increased strength and vitality. Positive thoughts make it easier to perform constructive actions which in turn, develop a healthy, radiant form. By changing how you think of yourself inside, you can alter what you look like outside. As you feel mentally “lighter” you might even realize you never looked that bad at all!

Aluna Michaels is a second generation astrologer and has been teaching and consulting for more than two decades. She holds a Masters in Spiritual Counseling. Aluna is available for readings in her home or by phone. Call (248) 583-1663 or visit www.ascension.net/aluna.