The mantra in third level of Kuji-in (om jitraashi yatra jivaratna swaha) speaks of “conquering the zodiac. Often there is confusion as to what this actually means. Too many of us think of this idea and automatically fall into our fight, flight, or freeze reactions. Incidentally those reactions are inborn, which means we are genetically predisposed to one of them as a modus operendi. This is an interesting thought to ponder when it comes to overcoming our zodiac.

The zodiac in it's many forms describes the basic personality traits of people based on when they were born. I personally never liked the ideas behind them.. first because they all seem so non-specific that they could describe anyone, and second I always hated someone telling me how I am. (that might give you a hint at my basic stress reaction). However, the goal of Toh (kuji-in's third mudra) is not overcoming some metaphysical zodiac sign per se, but in giving us freedom to live in harmony with ourselves and our world.

The first step of this transition, is of course, to be at peace. That is a powerful idea, which requires more contemplation. What is it to be at peace? There are many levels. First, if our breathing is calm, and our heart rate is calm long enough, our nervous system will eventually relax. Meaning our body will no longer exhibit the signs of fight, flight, or freeze. But is this enough? I say it isn't. The second, and more important, idea is to no longer be in a disassociated state. Meaning we no longer are looking at ourselves from somewhere else. But see, hear, feel, smell, taste from our own body. You might say this is a fine distinction, but ask many people who use chakras in their meditation how they view them, the talk about seeing themselves sitting.. and then viewing the chakras externally. This may help initially in learning where they are, but it creates disassociation.



The more difficult part of this, is to turn off the inner chatterbox long enough to allow it to be reintegrated into our senses. Too many of us are constantly “talking to ourselves”. Language is a tool originally intended to be used to communicate with others... and we too often use it to create the “others” in our mind. This has gone so deep, that a large portion of us, can no longer think without the aid of “words”. Language is a valuable tool, but hardly the most valuable. A test used by NASA found that most 4 and 5 year olds were at a genius level when it came to using imagination. 10 years later only a few percent. While the normative influence of the school systems plays a big role, I think the imagination killer of language does even more. Language encourages 2 dimensional thinking. If taken far enough, it will cause disassociation and stress. So many of use to language to “control” ourselves. That to do list, the things I have to remember and still forget. Instead of helping us, it creates a prison, from which most of us will never get free. The higher levels of Kuji-in should result in integration in to all that is... how is this possible if we are not even integrated with ourselves?