Are you spiritually dehydrated?
By Sherianna Boyle, MEd CAGS, Author of The Emotional Detox Books
Your body is a barometer for what is happening inside of you — both physically and spiritually.
For example, dry lips can be a sign that you are poorly hydrated, in need of vital nutrients, had too much sun exposure, or need to protect your lips more (e.g. apply lip balm) before going out in the cold weather.
But conditions like dry chapped lips, dry mouth, or a dry throat also have spiritual meanings. Our skin is a major organ that both protects us and expresses our inner emotions. A recent research study concluded:
“Modern understandings of skin disorders and how to treat them have brought important advances, but healing of the skin continues to have a spiritual aspect and sometimes even today healing is hindered until the spiritual aspect is adequately addressed.”
Your nervous system and skin are connected, so it is worth exploring the spiritual meaning of dehydration.
Emotional Feedback
Your body is a reflection of how you experience your emotions. Dry lips, mouth, or skin can be signs that you are not fully processing (or digesting) what you feel. In other words, you are resisting the energy of your emotions — similar to the way particles of sand make it difficult to absorb water, your range of emotions might be limited.
Just like only certain plants can live in dryer conditions, your emotions can become limited to ones that make you feel reduced, shriveled up or small. An emotional detox to release emotions such as insecurity, fear, and doubt can help heal mind, body, and spirit.
Signs You May Be Spiritually Dehydrated
Aside from some of the physical reactions (e.g. dry lips) here are some other signs you may be spiritually dehydrated:
Chronic Thinking. You find yourself, thinking, analyzing and trying to figure out other people and/or situations in your life. This can lead to a lot of internal drama. An inner world where everything feels chaotic and unpredictable.
Doubt. You find you are second guessing your decisions, doubting your strengths, abilities and life’s purpose. You are unsure about the future and seem to be reliving patterns of the past.
Guilt and Shame. You tend to feel bad or take things personally. You have a difficult time letting things go and tend to put a lot of pressure on yourself.
Negativity. No matter how hard you try to stay positive, negative thinking seems to filter through your mind. You also may find you have a lot negative people around you.
Fatigue. You feel mentally and physically exhausted. This impacts your ability to be creative, go out and have fun and try new things.
Ways to Spiritually Hydrate
Breathe. Take time daily to breathe consciously. Pay attention to your inhale by inflating your abdomen, expanding the sides of your waist and lower back. Notice your exhale, as your navel sinks into your lower abdomen, pressing it back toward your spine. Breathe slowly and deeply several times a day.
Sing. Turn up the tunes and sing your little heart out. Singing opens your heart, lifts your vibration while hooking you up to your life force. Be sure to select music with a positive message.
Pray. The bible states, “Jesus told him, 'Don't be afraid; just believe.'” Mark 5:36. The opposite of fear is faith. When you are in fear your energy becomes stagnant and congested. The key is not to pray from fear. See prayer as a way to strengthen your relationship with your higher power. With that said, don’t be afraid of asking for what you desire.
“Now that I am fully healed I am fully connected to my life force.”
Repeat a Mantra. Mantras are sounds, syllables, words and phrases which are repeated. There are over one hundred you can choose from the book Mantras Made Easy. The word Amen, which means “and so be it”, can be a simple mantra or used in a phrase.
Give a Hug. When you hug someone or an animal you allow your body to release feel good hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. A good long (one minute) hug can significantly reduce reactivity in your body while increasing connection. It is healing to both you and the person you are hugging.
If you are still feeling spiritually dehydrated don't be afraid to reach out and ask for support. Very often this is just your spirits way of attempting to grab your attention so you can begin to discover new ways of viewing your life.
Other Resources
Mantras Made Easy: Over one hundred mantras for emotional and spiritual healing.
You Can Heal Your Life: When it comes to discovering the spiritual meaning of ailments many people turn to the work of author Louise Hay. Her book, You Can Heal Your Life, covers how the skin organ represents protection of our inner world and recommends reciting affirmations as a way to hydrate your spirit.
Your emotions tell a story. Experience Sherianna Boyle’s intuitive readings.
