Our own physical body possesses a wisdom which we who inhabit

“Our own physical body possesses a wisdom which we who inhabit the body lack. We give it orders which make no sense.” These words by Henry Miller pierce the veil of human arrogance and pride, revealing a truth that echoes through the ages: the body is not merely a vessel for the spirit, but a wise and ancient being in its own right. It moves, heals, and functions in ways we cannot fully understand, guided by a knowledge that transcends our conscious will. The wisdom of the body is a force as old as life itself, yet we, the mind and spirit that inhabit it, often act as though we control it with ease, as though we know better than the very source of our being.

In ancient times, the wise philosophers understood the deep connection between body and spirit, but it was the mystics and healers who spoke most intimately of this wisdom. The Greeks, who celebrated the mind’s capacity for reason, also revered the body as a sacred temple. Pythagoras, with his understanding of numbers and harmony, spoke of the body as an instrument in the great symphony of the universe, one whose functions were not to be tampered with by pride or ignorance. In their wisdom, they knew that when the body speaks, it is the voice of something ancient, something beyond the reach of human understanding.

And yet, what do we do? We give the body orders that make no sense. We push it to exhaustion in the name of ambition, fill it with food and drink that cloud its natural wisdom, and subject it to stress and strain that tear at its very essence. This is not a new phenomenon. The ancient Romans, in their great civilization, often neglected their bodies in the pursuit of conquest and power. The great orator Cicero, despite his intellect, fell prey to the tensions of his time, his body suffering in ways that his brilliant mind could not prevent. He learned, too late, that the body speaks with a wisdom all its own — a wisdom he ignored at his peril.

Consider the legendary healers of old — the shamans of indigenous cultures, the Ayurvedic doctors of ancient India — they understood that true wisdom comes not from the mind, but from listening to the body. They knew that the body was not a machine to be commanded, but a sacred force to be respected. When a healer spoke to the body, it was not a command but a conversation, one that began with deep listening. They understood that illness arose when the body’s wisdom was ignored or overruled by human desires.

It is this same wisdom that we must learn to honor. The body is not a tool for our whims, but a partner in our journey through life. It moves us, sustains us, and gives us the very breath of existence. To ignore its messages, to override its natural rhythms, is to stray from the path of balance and health. The teachings of Miller remind us that, like ancient sages, we must learn to listen to the body, to trust in its wisdom, and to honor it as the sacred vessel it truly is.

Thus, let us walk forward in harmony with our bodies, listening to the quiet wisdom they offer. Let us no longer give orders that make no sense, but learn to co-create with our bodies, allowing their wisdom to guide us toward a life of balance, health, and vitality. For in doing so, we honor the ancient truth that the body, in its eternal wisdom, holds the key to our well-being.