{"id":22210,"date":"2015-03-26T11:13:02","date_gmt":"2015-03-26T15:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wanderlust.com\/?p=22210"},"modified":"2017-02-08T17:30:07","modified_gmt":"2017-02-08T22:30:07","slug":"pristine-self-care-a-guide-to-loving-yourself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/it\/journal\/pristine-self-care-a-guide-to-loving-yourself\/","title":{"rendered":"Pristine Self-Care: A Guide to Loving Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"

Embrace your personal journey and learn\u00a0self-care rituals at a Wanderlust Festival this year. More Info<\/a> | Lineup<\/a> | Get Tickets<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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A wise friend recently shared her thoughtful intention with me: \u201cI\u2019m taking pristine care of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lover of words stirred in my bones. Pristine self-care<\/em>. Ohhh. Why did that concept give me chills?<\/p>\n

Pristine (adjective):<\/strong>
\n 1. In its original condition; belonging to the earliest period or state<\/strong>
\n 2. Not spoiled, corrupted, or polluted; pure; clean and fresh as if new<\/strong><\/p>\n

After looking up the definition of pristine, my yogi soul joined the contemplation. Original condition? Earliest state? What if we all spent more time loving ourselves back to that space?<\/p>\n

A Mirror Meditation
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Set an intention<\/a>.<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s a new day. A fresh day. A pristine day. Wake up every morning and remember and acknowledge your intention. Pristine self-care. Look in the mirror as you contemplate the word “pristine.” Feel the power of that word. What concepts float into your awareness? Original. Earliest state of being. Unspoiled. Uncorrupted. Pure. Clean. That\u2019s you. And if you can\u2019t feel it in that moment, that\u2019s OK too. It still exists.<\/p>\n

Believe you are worthy of pristine self-care.<\/em><\/p>\n

Let go of self-judgment.<\/strong>
\nLook at your body in the mirror with fresh eyes, not eyes worn from the world. See a body no longer shadowed by some impossible standard of society. Suspend the critical voice that lives in your mind. Observe with the eyes of love.<\/p>\n

Find gratitude.<\/strong>
\nRemember all this body has done for you. All the years the heart has kept beating\u2014working tirelessly in your favor. Recall the wounds and injuries your body tenderly healed. Thank your body for sensations sent to warn you of pain or danger. Revisit the sensations delivered in a moment of joy. Observe the vessel of being with deep reverence.<\/p>\n

Feel.<\/strong>
\nClose your eyes. Notice how your body is serving you right now. Breathing. Heart beating. Nerves firing. All supporting your life. The body holds your spark of existence in this physical world. This divine machine perfectly and effortlessly carries out all necessary functions and movements.<\/p>\n

Moving Into the World
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After starting the day with this meditative intention, how can we transition pristine awareness and love into actionable self-care?<\/p>\n

By observing the yogic Niyama (discipline) of saucha<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Saucha combines cleanliness, purity, and sacredness. To fully embrace saucha practice with devotion and self-love<\/a>, make the care of yourself a sacred action. This purifying action is a gift to your body and your higher self. Below are some ideas to get you started.<\/p>\n

External saucha:<\/strong><\/p>\n