In a Sattvavajaya session, one is able to share and explore one’s inner world within a space of deep listening and cultivate sattva (wisdom and clarity) in the mind. At times the session can become more directive, attending to altering the direction of the flow of the mind, to shift samskaras (mental and emotional patterns). This can be done with focusing on the body or breath, or using imagination in order to interrupt the river of thought and experience and redirect it. This work cultivates awareness of our experience, with attention to compassion and warmth.
In biopsychology, this type of awareness is often called metacognition, and tends to be viewed as being situated in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. In psychology, it is the place of being able to witness our experience: body, mind, and emotions. In Vedic philosophy, this type of awareness is viewed as resting in a larger sense of being, of the Self or spirit; in Buddhism, Shunyata. This awareness allows us to become aware of, tolerate, and make a choice about how we want to work with what is presenting in the mind field. It gives us greater control over the flow of this inner world and our actions that we take in the outer world.
When we are not certain what is in the mind field, we can elucidate the field via meditation, talking in a safe, nonjudgmental space, using art or movement in an exploratory way, journaling, considering our dreams, or turning to our breath or our somatic world. In a Sattvavajaya session, many of these tools can be utilized according to the person and need.
In relational analytical psychology philosophy, it is said that our deepest psychological pain in life happens in relationship with others. Thus our deepest healing can also tend to occur within a supportive relationship. In our relationships, in general, we can choose to pay attention (using our greater awareness) to what is happening to our bodies and minds as we are in relation to others, resourcing ourselves as we can. We can also learn beneficial ways of communicating with others that can help us learn about ourselves and be able to create better relationships with others. This can also be a part of a sattvavajaya session, cultivating sattva in the mind.
Ayurveda involves a wholistic approach to health, and as such, it is important to acknowledge the role of diet, sleep, and lifestyle in the development and healing of psychological issues. Lifestyle is a large area that can include exercise, daily rhythms and balance of activities, and relationships with ourselves, nature, others, and spirit. It is recommended, but not necessary, that a person begin their psychological explorations with an Ayurvedic consult, which focuses on the whole picture, but doesn’t dive into the primary content issues of the mind. Here the first session is devoted to a focus on Ayurvedic constitution, diet, digestion, elimination, sleep, physical health, lifestyle, etc. We begin attending to the foundation of our psychology and consider a wholistic chikitsa (Ayurvedic Therapeutic Protocol) that can support the work that is done in subsequent sessions. This chikitsa can involve an offering of dietary and lifestyle suggestions, as well as an herbal formula crafted in our apothecary. It may also involve pranayama (breathwork practices), meditation, exercise, and ayurvedic bodywork recommendations.
In following sessions, this structural, wholistic support can be adjusted, but the primary focus can shift to the content of the mind and the pathways to explore in reshaping our relationship with that material. One can choose to come weekly, biweekly, once a month, or however often feels supportive. In order to create more lasting change, it is helpful to have consistency with sessions and develop certain practices and changes in lifestyle outside of sessions. This can last for however long you/we feel it is needed for where you are in your life.
If this is something that interests you, I offer 15-minute sessions to answer any questions you may have and see if this feels like a good fit for you. Or you may just schedule a session using the contact information on our website. Read More
Cricket Greer, Ayurvedic Practitioner, RN, MA in counseling psychology, LMBT, Educator