VIBHATSYA RASA - Disgust
August has arrived and with it the mark of seasonal midsummer. The middle point brings the recognition that more is ahead for us and at the same time we have lost half of the summer beauty. For those who are still dealing with school sessions it may be the end of your summer vacation. As the sun shifts and the earth tilts, we do move into shorter days, longer nights and all the colors of summer bounty. This shift can bring up a lot of emotions, including disgust, known as Vibhatsya Rasa.
When we feel uncomfortable inside we create disgust, aversion, dissatisfaction and depression. Our body chemistry is off balance and our minds begin to see the world around us from the emotions of Vibhatsya.
Disgust is often misunderstood as something negative that should be pushed away, yet it can also be a messenger. It tells us where we feel overwhelmed, where something no longer feels nourishing, or where the body and mind are asking for a pause. In this way, Vibhatsya Rasa invites us to notice what we reject and to ask whether that rejection is protecting us, limiting us, or pointing us toward a needed change.
As the season begins to turn, we may notice this rasa in small ways: irritation with our routines, resistance to change, discomfort in the body, or a desire to clear away what feels stale. Rather than judging these sensations, we can meet them with curiosity. What is the body refusing? What is the mind tired of carrying? What is ready to be released before the next season arrives? How or why am I feeling off balance?
Key to the practice of Vibhatsya is to recognize how we are off balance and whatt is raising the feelings of disgust, distain, or discontent within us. Let Vibhatsya be an awakening and a questioning moment. When we are off centered we do not see things clearly, so take the moment to recenter and clear your awareness. What can you let go of that may be tripping you up? Are you dwelling on negative thinking? What other perspective can you rally to uplift your viewpoint?
A simple practice for Vibhatsya Rasa is to pause when aversion arises and take three slow breaths before reacting. Let the sensation be present without immediately naming it as bad. Then gently ask, “What is this feeling showing me?” Through awareness, disgust can shift from rejection into discernment, helping us make clearer choices about what we consume, where we place our attention, and how we care for ourselves during seasonal transition.