by Donna Quesada: This is the ninth piece in my series on Kundalini Yoga’s 10 Bodies—it focuses on the “Ninth Body of Light,” which is The Subtle Body.

According to the teachings of Kundalini Yoga, the Self is not just one “body,” but rather, 10 Light Bodies, which include the actual physical body, six energetic bodies, and three mental bodies. The Subtle Body is one of the energetic bodies.

The 10 Bodies are different aspects of our consciousness, all of which work together to cultivate who we are as people. Our unique bodies develop with us, and ultimately form our personalities, our health, our approach to the world, and our entire way of being, including our capacity for fulfillment and joy. To put it simply, when our 10 Bodies are aligned, we feel at ease, we feel healthy, happy, and capable of fulfilling our purpose here on earth.

The Subtle Body lives in the hidden realms… beyond the physical, beyond the ruminations of the active mind, and beyond the observable flurry of our consciousness altogether. The Subtle Body is the silent witness… the presence behind it all, the intuitive awareness that is tuned into the divine essence that forms the interconnected web of life.

It is the unseen that sees all, without judgment.

In the western world, we typically aren’t taught to explore the deeper levels of intuitive awareness… yet, all seekers and Yogis of all persuasions, have always sought to go beyond the surface and to tap into the hidden realms of awareness, where the material laws of physics begin to bend… where we can communicate without words and without regard to distance. Have you ever thought of someone you haven’t seen in years, and then all of a sudden, they call? That’s The Subtle Body on cue.

While The Neutral Mind (4th Body) provides perspective that goes beyond the common levels of discernment, especially with regard to the usual pronouncements of “positive” versus “negative,” The Subtle Body goes even deeper. As the second highest body in the ten-body system, the ability to access it, rests on our commitment to our own self-exploration. My teacher used to always remind us that “we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Remembering this is the key to awakening The Subtle Body.

You might wonder… what is the practical benefit to remembering and waking up to our divine nature?

When we awaken The Subtle Body, we tend to relate differently to the things that would normally cause us aggravation, stress, depression, and anxiety. In this finer realm, we are able to access our spirit guides… the angels that are always trying to pull us up, above the chaos and the turbulence of the world, and closer to God.

From the position of The Subtle Body, we can talk to our fears and traumas, and ask… what do you need?

I remember a time in my life when I was terribly distraught. It was a time when a heavy work load, final exams in university, general overwhelm, and a grand heartbreak, all coincided. In a quiet, tear-filled moment, I realized I had not been talking to God lately… not in a true and intimate way. It was a cleansing and healing moment of surrender… not surrender to… but surrender of… surrender of ourselves to a larger force that we may call God.

But as a note… by speaking of “God,” I am not referencing “religion.” God is beyond religion, just as Love is beyond any singular relationship, and Beauty is beyond any singular artistic medium.

When we surrender in this way, we let go of the illusion of control and something within us dies. You can call it an “ego death.“ And in its place, miracles appear. When we pour our energy into controlling, we miss the opportunity for Grace. We waste so much energy trying to “hold on” to everything… and we are always trying to figure everything out. But when we let go, a quiet presence of a force larger than us makes itself/himself/herself, felt. This heals us because it fulfills us in a way that the other nonsense of the world never could. This is where we encounter our true self.

Our true self is in total alignment with the infinite. In this space, we are able to be a clear and ready channel for God’s grace, like Krishna’s flute… He blows the sacred breath through the empty vessel. We no longer fret because we know and trust in the infinite. This trust and surrender of control enables us to enjoy life because as long as we’re worrying and controlling, then we’re not enjoying.

All forms of meditation and regular contact with nature strengthen and bring us in touch with our Subtle Bodies.