Be Stillness in Motion
By Lisa Templeton, Ph.D.
Published in January 2020 Luminous Wisdom: SOPHIA
In a world that is full of constant change and movement, to be stillness in motion is a foreign concept; a dichotomy that needs to be consistently practiced holding both sides of the whole. So how is it that we can find a state of being that is stagnant and flowing at the same time? In order to be stillness in motion, we must understand that everything in the universe is always in motion. The rhythm of the cosmos is moving to the beat of an incessant drum.
As humans, life can move at a very fast pace, in our minds, in our lives, and even through time and space. Life can seem a whirlwind as the years continue to tumble forward. The energy of stillness can feel so difficult to hold while living on a planet traveling thousands of miles an hour hurtling through space. Even with mindful present awareness, when I open my eyes and go about my day after meditation, I notice my stillness can easily be disrupted by the movement of the world. Stillness in motion can feel intangible and incredibly difficult to hold.
As I sit here in this moment, I can feel my body processing, working, digesting, breathing, and regenerating. Change is constantly happening, whether in our consciousness or not. Yet, the pace and complexity of change is difficult and contributes to a variety of intense emotions, all of which also move and shift constantly. Feelings of fear, anxiety, frustration, anger, guilt, uncertainty, and sadness are prevalent in association with change.
We often keep moving to avoid these emotions. Stillness in motion begins with the courage to lean into the whirlwind of our existence. Take a moment and close your eyes. Notice the movement of all that is around and within you. Set your intention to slow down, gently placing your foot on the brake of life. We have a tendency to get caught up in the movement of our world without taking time for stillness and that brings imbalance and overwhelm.
Stillness offers a knowing, a deep wisdom that silences everything into a peaceful calm. When I am present to this dichotomy, my world slows down and settles; time stops and conscious awareness expands. With this expansion, there is wisdom, connection, tranquility, calm, and peace. We can find insight to see the present with clarity. We are static yet moving gently, as though we are without gravity deep in space floating with no wind.
Maybe stillness is not about a completely inert state as much as an expansion of our conscious awareness beyond the moment, beyond our minds and bodies. In stillness, we learn a great deal about who we are and our deep resiliency. To hold this dichotomy in place takes practice and intention to stay still in the midst of movement. With this practice comes more balance, flow, and connection to ourselves and to the consciousness of the universe.