Sometimes in life, we drift so far from ourselves that we forget who we truly are. We find ourselves caught up in expectations, roles, and responsibilities that feel foreign, as though we're living someone else’s life. This feeling of being lost isn’t uncommon, especially for women who often juggle multiple roles—mother, partner, caregiver, professional, and more. Yet, beneath the surface, there’s always a sense that something more awaits us. That something is us—our most authentic self, buried beneath the layers we’ve accumulated over time.
This reminds me of The Hymn of the Pearl, a story shared in Sharon Blackie’s The Enchanted Life. In the tale, the protagonist embarks on a journey into a distant land, forgetting who he is and why he was sent. It’s only through hardship and awakening that he recalls his purpose and begins the journey home, where he reclaims the pearl—the precious part of himself he had forgotten.
Does this sound familiar?
Losing Sight of Ourselves
It happens gradually, like the slow erosion of a shoreline. We start with a clear vision of who we are and what we want, but over time, distractions, societal pressures, and even our own ambitions cloud that vision. We lose touch with our inner essence—the pearl hidden deep within.
It’s no wonder many of us ask, “How did I get here?” or “Who have I become?”
The good news is that, like the protagonist in the story, we can always begin the journey back to ourselves. We may wander through foreign lands, face obstacles, and forget our way, but the path home is always within reach.
Remembering Who We Are
The practice of yoga, especially when combined with meditation, is one of the most powerful ways to reconnect with our true essence. Yoga teaches us to listen, to pause, and to find stillness amid the noise. In the quiet, we can hear the whisper of our authentic self, calling us back.
In the same way that the story’s hero must overcome challenges to retrieve the pearl, we too must face what we’ve buried or forgotten. This isn’t easy work. It requires time, patience, and a willingness to sit with discomfort. But in that stillness, there is great power. It’s where we remember not only who we are, but why we’re here.
Reclaiming What Was Always Ours
So how do we reclaim the pearl? In yoga, we begin by tuning in to our breath and body. Yin poses, for example, ask us to slow down, to surrender, and to stay present with what arises. The discomfort we feel in a deep stretch mirrors the discomfort we feel when we confront our forgotten truths. But on the other side of that discomfort is release. Through mindful movement, we begin to peel back the layers that have obscured our inner light.
Meditation takes us deeper, offering a space to explore the landscapes of our mind and soul. In Yoga Nidra, we journey inward, visualizing ourselves travelling through water, across islands, and into foreign lands—the imagery of searching for the pearl. It’s through this internal exploration that we remember the treasures we’ve carried all along.
The Journey Home
This isn’t a one-time process. The journey home is cyclical, and we may find ourselves forgetting and remembering many times over. But each time we return to ourselves, we do so with greater wisdom, clarity, and purpose.
If you’ve been feeling lost lately, know that this feeling is part of your journey. Like the hero in The Hymn of the Pearl, you are on a quest to rediscover your inner treasures, and yoga can be your guide.
The video below tells the full story of The Hymn of The Pearl.
Keep this in mind as you move through your practice—whether on the mat or in meditation—the pearl is already within you. The journey home is about remembering where to look.
You can join me to explore this in class from 22nd to 24th October, book all classes online.
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