Brahmacharya: The Proper Use of Magic Energy

Mar 11

In yoga philosophy, Brahmacharya is often translated as celibacy but what if we looked at it another way? What if Brahmacharya is really about the proper use of our magic energy—our life force, our connection to the world around us? This week in class, we explore what it means to honor and direct our energy in alignment with our highest good rather than letting it be scattered or drained by forces that do not serve us.

Robin Wall Kimmerer, in Braiding Sweetgrass, speaks of the pecan trees and their incredible act of interconnected wisdom. She writes:

"Pecan trees are scattered widely, yet somehow, all across the country, in the same season, the trees know to make nuts. No tree produces heavy crops every year. To produce a bumper crop requires a great deal of energy. So they sync up, saying, ‘Not this year, maybe next.’"

The trees listen—to each other, the land, and the larger rhythm of life. They do not waste their energy or produce fruit out of obligation or expectation. Instead, they move in harmony with their cycles and the world around them. This is Brahmacharya in action.

Too often, we burn ourselves out. We pour energy into things that deplete us rather than nourish us. We forget that our magic is sacred, meant to be honored, tended to, and used with intention. The pecan trees remind us to pause, listen, and move with purpose. They remind us that energy is cyclical, and we are allowed to rest, to restore, to gather strength before we bloom again.

Brahmacharya in Our Practice

This week, we take inspiration from the pecan trees and explore how we use our energy, both on and off the mat. Our peak pose, Camel (Ustrasana), is a powerful heart opener requiring expansion and conservation. It asks us to be vulnerable yet grounded, open yet steady. This pose is a perfect embodiment of our theme, as it demands both awareness and balance of our energy.

This pose demands awareness—awareness of how much we give and receive and how we balance those energies within ourselves. It reminds us that bending backward requires a strong foundation, just as giving of ourselves requires knowing our limits.

As you move through your practice, ask yourself:

Am I pushing beyond what serves me, or am I honoring my limits?
Where am I freely giving my energy, and where do I need to call it back?
Can I listen—truly listen—to my body, my breath, and the space around me?

As Kimmerer reminds us:

"All flourishing is mutual. We survive together or not at all."

Our energy is not just our own—it is woven into the fabric of our community, our relationships, and the earth itself. When we move with intention, we create balance. When we respect our own magic, we can reconnect—to each other, the land, and the deep wisdom that lives within us.

Beyond the Mat: A Call to Reconnect

Spring is arriving early this year. The trees are speaking. The earth is waking up. Can you take a moment this week to go outside and listen? Listen to the wind in the branches, the whisper of the grass, the stories carried by the rocks and the rivers. Let yourself be part of that rhythm. Let yourself be in conversation with the world around you.

Take time to breathe deeply and recognize that you are part of something vast and interconnected. Just as the pecan trees rely on each other to survive, we, too, thrive in community. We, too, must learn to listen—not just to our bodies but to the world that holds us.

This is Brahmacharya. This is magic. And it has always been yours.