Sunrise, Sunrise

I find myself recollecting about my days living outdoors in nature. My body became very in tune with the natural cycles of the day. I especially found this to be true in the winter months when the night appeared earlier. With the restriction of light and cold temperatures, it made you retreat to your bed just so you could snuggle up in those toasty blankets. I would heat up a hot water bottle for additional warmth. Let’s face it, that’s what got me through long winter months living out of a tent.

Nature in a way forced me to temper my Night Owl sleeping behavior, and I began to succinct myself with the natural rhythm and flow of the rising and falling of the Sun. The darkness would throw its blanket over me, and then I would arise with the natural movement of nature before sunrise. And what a beautiful landscape to see and witness the coming of the dawn. The transition from night to day as the morning twilight brightens the sky.

I was reintroduced to this pattern from an Ayurvedic perspective. As the theory is, the most productive time to awaken in the morning is about 1hr and a half before sunrise. In Sanskrit, the daily routine is called as Dinacharya. ‘Din’ means ‘day’ and ‘acharya’ means ‘to follow’ or ‘close to’. This practice sets the tone for the day, aligning you to more mindfulness and productivity.

Ayurveda recommends this auspicious time called- Brahma-muhurata which means ‘the time of Brahma…the pure consciousness – for rising up in morning. This time is also noted to be in the Vata time frame, from 2-6 a.m. This is a time indicative of natural movement in the atmosphere, aligning oneself to the time animals are most active. Like catching a wave of energy to ride through the day. Perfect time for meditation, observing nature with a sit spot practice, or maybe using the time to tap into your creative energies. In these recent days, I witness this time to move inward. A time to be of witness to my body. As the twilight shifts, I experience a subtle inner awakening down to my core. It is an opening or expansion of the light within me awakening. I realize I am filling my cup with the energy of the Sun.

In comparison, the period between 6-10a.m is Kapha time. This energy can be dense and slow. So, arising before this period will help to avoid the feeling of heaviness even after getting restful sleep. Give it a try! 😉

xo,
Donna