Our First Relationship: the Body we live in
Our lives are made up of a web of relationships. We are connected with the outer world — with people, work and the challenges of daily life.
We also have a relationship with ourselves — with our thoughts, emotions and the choices we make.
We also have a deeper and more intimate bond that we often ignore: the relationship we have with our own body.
These three relationships — with the body, with the world, and with ourselves — define the way we live and feel. When one of them gets out of balance, every aspect of life is affected.
That is why understanding and taking care of these three forms of relationship is essential to achieving inner harmony.
In this series, we will explore each one in turn. We begin with the most immediate: our relationship with our body — the foundation of wellbeing and the starting point of self-knowledge.
Is Our Relationship with our Body in Balance?
We live within our body, yet we have little understanding of it. We move, eat and sleep without realising how each action affects our inner balance. The body becomes a neglected instrument, worn out by mistreatment and lack of attention.
Master Samael Aun Weor, in Revolutionary Psychology, writes:
“It can happen that we are wrongly related with the physical body and, as a consequence of that, we are ill.”
This wrong relationship is far more common than we think. We push our body beyond its limits without adequate rest, feed it without any consciousness of this act, and punish it through too much or not enough exercise. The state of health of our body reflects this disorder.
We need to remember that our body is not a machine that we can run into the ground without any consequences. It is the vehicle through which our consciousness expresses itself.
Our Ego deceives us into believing we can ignore the body’s signals. In its pursuit of success, pleasure or comfort, it imposes demands that violate our natural balance. We sleep too little, eat unconsciously and demand constant performance. Over time the body becomes ill or simply breaks down.
Listening to our body with respect and attentiveness opens the path to a more conscious relationship with life itself. So, how can we reconnect with our body in a conscious way?
Our Planetary Body: How to Listen to and Care for It
When we become aware of how disconnected we are from our physical body — our planetary body — we recognise the need to rebuild our relationship with it in a conscious way. The body is neither a prison for the soul nor a mere instrument of labour; it is the temple through which consciousness manifests. Every breath and every sensation are gateways to self-knowledge.
To listen to the body is a practical form of self-observation. It goes beyond simply eating well or resting more; it means understanding the emotions and thoughts that accompany every physical impulse.
For instance, real hunger is not the same as a craving, and physical fatigue does not always arise from physical effort but also results from too much thinking.
Self-observation begins the moment we interrupt our mechanical impulses and listen to what the body is trying to tell us. In that pause, self-remembering arises — a simple yet profound way of returning to the present and beginning to heal our relationship with the body we inhabit.
To care for the body consciously is to respect its natural rhythms. Sleeping adequately, eating in balance and moving with awareness are acts of reverence towards our Being. Each mindful gesture — chewing slowly, breathing deeply, stretching with presence — strengthens the connection between body and soul.
In this process, self-remembering is the key. Remembering oneself while in the midst of our daily activity brings light to the automatic processes of the ego. The body ceases to be a mere object of use and becomes an expression of consciousness — a sacred vessel through which the soul learns to live awake.
Simple Practices to Transform Your Relationship with your Body
Reconnecting with the body does not take great efforts, only conscious attention in everyday actions. Each moment offers an opportunity to practise self-observation and strengthen self-remembering. The key lies in acting with awareness, free from mechanical habit.
Here are a few simple practices that can transform your relationship with the physical body:
- Upon waking up: Before getting up, take a few seconds to feel your breathing and acknowledge the body you inhabit. Notice any tension, cold, fatigue. This brief moment of awareness sets the tone for the day ahead.
- During meals: Eat with attention. Notice the aroma, texture, and flavour of your food. Chew slowly, observing how the mind wants distraction. When you eat with presence, the body assimilates nutrients more efficiently and consciousness learns to master the impulses of the ego.
- While walking or moving: Do not rush. Feel the contact of your feet on the ground, the alignment of your spine, and the rhythm of your breathing. Each step can become a reminder of the here and now.
- In moments of tension: When the body tightens or the breath quickens, pause. Observe without judgement. That moment of conscious attention dissolves part of the ego’s automatic reaction and restores inner balance.
- Before sleep: Thank your body for its service throughout the day. Consciously relax each part, from the feet to the head. This simple practice promotes deep rest and strengthens the link between consciousness and the dream state.
Although these practices are simple, they lead to the awakening of consciousness. The body ceases to be an unconscious instrument of the ego and becomes a vehicle for the consciousness.
Each time you remember to observe yourself — even in ordinary moments — you are building a bridge between the physical and the spiritual: the body at the service of your essence.
A Conscious Relationship That Begins Today
Understanding and caring for our physical body is the first step towards a more awakened life. Through self-observation, we learn to distinguish genuine needs from the impulses of the ego. Self-remembering invites us to be present in every breath, every meal and every movement. When we live in this way, the body ceases to be a problem or a mere source of pleasure and instead becomes an ally in our inner development.
This transformation does not occur overnight, but each conscious act creates space for serenity and balance. When listened to, the body teaches us to live with attention and gratitude. Cultivating a conscious relationship with our physical body prepares us for the deeper dimensions of existence.
The Next Step on Your Path of Self-Knowledge
This article is part of a series dedicated to harmonising the three fundamental relationships of human life.
In Article II, we will explore how to improve our relationship with the external world — understanding the value of circumstances and learning to act with balance amidst daily challenges.
Finally, in Article III, we will delve into the relationship with oneself — the deepest level of gnostic inner work, where self-remembering becomes the true solution to internal conflict.
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