what is the MENTAL body?

The mental body is part of our auric field, which is our energy field that permeates out from our physical body. It is a non physical, subtle aspect of our being — yet is an incredibly vital, real and animate part of us and our humanity.

In Vedic philosophy, the auric field is described as sheaths, and these sheaths are layered around us constituting our energy body. Each sheath interplays with our meridians and chakra system, and has a very distinct function which assists us in navigating our day to day lives.

There are 7 main sheaths, playing a profound role in our beingness:

. Etheric Body

. Emotional Body

. Mental Body

. Astral Body

. Etheric Template

. Celestial Body

. Causal Body

The mental body refers to the mind, and is characterised by an individual's thoughts and consciousness. The mental body is dynamic and incredibly active, it responds inherently to our experiences, and furthermore defines our perception of reality.

It enables us to be able to discern, reason and problem solve, and it is the fabric of our belief systems in which we hold dearly, and it therefore governs a majority of the choices we make, and the manner in which we traverse life.

So, for someone who has had some very traumatic and intensely shaping experiences in life, they will hold certain belief systems that convey their mistrust in themselves and in their lives. Their mental body will be readily responding with their reality, in a way in which will try to keep them safe from experiencing the same, or similar traumas again.

These mental processes and our thoughts can keep us in an eternal state of flight or fight, keeping our nervous system activated and on edge, as it is hard-wired to preempt any threat or danger through our conditionings.

This can be extremely helpful if we are in any sort of danger or experiencing grievances — but, on the contrary, it also has the capacity to make us hyper sensitive and vigilant to our surroundings, both interpersonal and environmental. It can really amplify fear frequencies and negative thought patterns that further send us into unnecessary despair, paranoia and disembodiment.  Essentially, when we are in these states, we are unable to fully relax, be present, and trust in life.

It can turn our well meaning friends into villains, and within our more intimate relationships, we can play out unconscious dynamics that are fuelled by fears, triggered oftentimes by a misperception of truth. These protective mechanisms can oftentimes paradoxically further create conflict and chaos within our realities, that could otherwise very easily be cleared through vulnerable, open and honest communication.

Working within the mental body can allow the stories of the past to falter, so our nervous system can come into greater regulation. It allows us to respond to the very real circumstances we are traversing in an embodied manner, whilst simultaneously nurturing us to perceive the overarching truth of our reality.