Ever wonder why you are encountering barriers to your somatic and cultural healing?

When we talk about somatic and sensory experiences we tend to focus on emotions. Emotions are valuable and need our attention. Yet, emotions are the result of deeper somatic and sensory experiences we are dismissing ( or just missing) because of how disengaged (severed) our consciousness has become from our bodies. It is this attention, articulation, awareness system where the severance is occurring. Your body is in constant connection with your inner and outer worlds. It is processing data/phenomenon constantly. Your body is processing in RESPONSE to stimuli inside and outside your body. The light. The wind, the smell of a baby, the taste of a strawberry, the texture of your clothes. Food ingested. The nervous systems of other people.

When we give attention to this response our mind begins to articulate (clarify) the sensory information. Usually, its not a formal statement, but a feeling. If we are curious or the experience is novel, or we are on a healing journey, we might formally articulate with language the experience our bodies are having. And, we don’t always need this formal articulation ( it takes too long to be functional for everyday life). However, we cannot have the full everyday articulation experience without the full sensory experience. If we are lacking attention/ability to feel phenomena with our bodies, we are lacking information and we cannot articulate that experience fully with our minds. This is dangerous. We won’t recognize fundamental differences in experiences or which stimuli requires action, we may misinterpret ourselves, others, and our environment. We will be unable to develop full awareness. With hampered sensory awareness we won’t be able to articulate ( clarify/feel) feelings; empathy and resulting compassion are less accessible. For ourselves, and therefore for others.

Awareness happens when stimuli is given attention and is articulated ( clarified) by the mind so that an understanding is reached within the spirit. Attention is given to the texture, smell, appearance of stimuli, the mind recognizes the phenomena and clarifies points about the data; awareness is developed: “This is a ripe strawberry”. When this happens, the chain links CONNECT. This gives our body another sensation, the sensation of knowing. The sensation of Truth. Our bodies gave us sensations from stimuli, and we processed it through the chain of articulation and awareness. In response to those connections our body experiences a sense of calm, contentment. “oh, good, they are aware it is a ripe strawberry”. ( singular presence)

When we do not live life with this attentive devotion to our sensory experience, our bodies act pretty concerned. They are processing stimuli and “no one” is articulating it into awareness. The chain remains open, the body remains seeking. Sometimes the body de-sensitizes to the stimuli. The senses become less attuned, unable to gather as much data from the environment inside or outside of ourselves. 

When we do live life with attentive devotion, little links are made each and every moment connecting our sensory experience to awareness. Each little closed link-system connects with others to inform us. Our bodies are relaxed even in the face of tragedy because “they” know “we” are aware, we understand. (Collective presence) All of these connected links and our relaxed mind/body/spirit state allow us to engage the world with trust and confidence. 
I have been observing this system for decades. I witness clients mending this system within themselves. 

As we start to recognize the severance we have within ourselves, with each other, Nature, and the divine- it is important to clarify your body isn’t telling you how you feel, your body is feeling. Your mind is telling you how you feel, when mind and body make the connections that match, awareness is developed. The body, mind, and spirit are at ease even in the face of challenges. When we feel dis-ease, that is the body asking we give our attention to stimuli.

What sensory data is my body experiencing, what needs clarification/articulation? 

This is all enlightenment is, an experience when all the little links are connected for a brief moment. This is psychic ability, or intuition. Anyone can give more attention to the stimuli and have greater awareness- greater wisdom. We just need to re-tune our sensors and let them feel fully again. It will take practice, but we can mend. The more attention you give your sensory experience, the more sensitive you become to sensory experiences. The more sensitive you become to your bodies response to stimuli, the more information your mind has to clarify each experience, the greater your opportunity for awareness. If we opened ourselves up to our full capacity to sense and respond, our world would look and be very different. 

Mending this attentive devotion system is fundamental to healing Earth or systems of oppression- because it is the disengagement of our attentive devotion which has allowed us to harm Earth and each other. 

Forgiveness: Cultivating a Culture of Peace and Reconciliation, Week 4 Initial reaction:

From UMAINE, PAX 591 Week 4:

Truth. Honesty. How can we have authenticity or connection without them? 

"Agree to disagree" usually means agree not to talk about whatever the conflict is anymore as a way of maintaining a sense peace and connection. We are often told to do this "if we love people."

But, do you know me if we cannot talk or share about what hurts? ME wants to know you and hold you even as we disagree. For me, the very greatest and most painful thing you can do is hold me away. TRY to disconnect. Silence is not peace. And it is not loving. 

"Connection is why we're here" and "shame is really easily understood as the fear of disconnection" ( Brown, 2010), but that fear is already realized when we hold ourselves away from each other. To be a vulnerable and authentic person in a culture of "agree to disagree" and hide the truth is excruciating. That is a really bad marketing strategy for my work. "PLEASE, come be authentic with me its gonna hurt like hell." However, it is required for our freedom, for our connection, for our ability to really Love, giving and receiving. 

Those of us living authentically are usually the scapegoats, we are where people "discharge pain and discomfort" ( Brown, 2010). If you watch, look around your family and friends and all of our culture- you will find that we generally ask the person/group who is not actually the problem to change. It is scary to go talk to the problematic person/entity, the person who will yell loudly or cut you with their words ( or hands). So instead we go to the "nice person" as Oprah describes ( Brown, 2016). We go to the person we know will be willing to bend for us, and we tell them they are "the problem" and they should improve themselves if they want to be connected to us. We collectively ( as a country and a culture) tell the person we've identified as "a problem" ( DuBois, 1903) to become less of a problem ( for us) by becoming less like themselves, less courageous, and able to tell "story of who [they]are with [their] whole heart" ( Brown, 2010). But, really, the whole reason "they" are considered a problem is that dominant culture doesn't want to be authentic and get messy and be real and honest. The fear of being disconnected is already fulfilled, as soon as you cease to be vulnerable. 

'Dr. Brown, we loved your TED talk. We'd like you to come in and speak. We'd appreciate it if you wouldn't mention vulnerability or shame.'

'What would you like for me to talk about?'

There's three big answers. This is mostly, to be honest with you, from the business sector: innovation, creativity and change. (Brown, 2012)

You cannot have innovation, creativity, and change without vulnerability because they require activity in the prefrontal cortex and anyone fearful of being seen will be living with their Sympathetic Nervous System in near-constant activation, unable to access the greatest capacity of their brain.

"Social Justice Folks, we loved your xxx talk. We'd like you to come in and speak. We'd appreciate it if you wouldn't mention TRUTH or ACCOUNTABILITY.'

'What would you like for me to talk about?'

' Love and Unity'

But Truth and Accountability are synonyms for Love and Unity. What is really being asked is for acceptance. Dominant Culture wants acceptance from all the subcultures courageous enough to have withstood this severing of themselves. That acceptance is enabling, and it comes at a cost too high for individuals or humanity to pay. 

This shame and fear of vulnerability, if we unravel it instead, and let everyone out to see their radiant selves- then we can we have Love and Unity. It is not healing to accept anything less than Truth and Accountability. The people who are "the problem" are the solution, in almost every setting. Certainly when it comes to social justice, Black and Indigenous people have the longest and most detailed experience of knowing what is wrong and where we as a country need to change. We should listen to them. To be capable of really, really listening, people have to have the "compassion to be kind to themselves first and then to others, because, as it turns out, we can't practice compassion with other people if we can't treat ourselves kindly" ( Brown, 2012). 

"If you put shame in a Petri dish, it needs three things to grow exponentially: secrecy, silence, and judgment. If you put the same amount in a Petri dish and douse it with empathy, it can't survive" ( Brown, 2012). 

Consider the last time someone offered to help you. 

What reaction occurred in your body and mind? What did you feel in your body? What self-talk did you hear? Were you able to accept? How did accepting help feel?

References 

Brown, B. (2010). The power of vulnerability. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability

Brown, B. (2012).Listening to shame. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame

Brown, B. (2016). Living brave with Brené Brown and Oprah Winfrey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u4J58YUB1Q&feature=emb_logo

DuBois, W.E.B. ( 1903). The souls of Black folk [PDF]. Retrieved from https://courses.maine.edu/d2l/le/content/143228/viewContent/4984183/View

How to align with the Wheel of the Year for Resolutions & Stages of Change

This time of year elicits reflection and dreaming. Some folks say that is arbitrary, a reaction to our imposed calendar year end. However, the end of our calendar year also aligns with the seasonal shifts. In the Northern Hemisphere, the ending of the calendar year coincides with the start of Winter and the end of the celebratory post-harvest season. This is a time of quiet and reflection. As one Earth cycle comes to an end, there is a natural pause which allows us space feel and think.

New Years resolutions are notorious for bold beginnings and fizzled endings, often leaving one with a sense of failure. It is not the resolution which was inappropriate but our method of execution. Big changes require careful attention, not will power.

When we are successful in making changes in our lives we complete a full cycle of the spiral of change.

The stages of change are:

Pre-contemplation: Haven’t thought about it, do not know that change is needed or wanted

Contemplation: Recognize a change is needed or wanted

Preparation: Organizing body, heart, mind, environment, and spirit in support of change

Action: Taking tangible steps towards new behaviors, actions, or ways of being

Maintenance: Learning to sustain these new behaviors, actions, or ways of being

Relapse: Re-emergence of old behaviors, actions, or ways of being

All of these stages can happen at any time of year, and we can use the natural rhythms of life on Earth to support those changes we want to see in for ourselves and our world.

At New Year, or during Early Winter, we want to be gently observing the past year cycle and creating a vision of what we want to manifest in the year ahead. It is not the time for swooping changes or bold action- it is a time of observance. It is a time for accepting what is possible. ( Contemplation)

Late Winter and Early Spring are times for planning. We choose the seeds of change we want to plant and decided which need to be planted where, which will have barriers and what kind of supports our future garden will need. (Planning)

Late Spring and Early Summer are a time of action. Those seeds are starting to sprout and need constant attention and nourishment. ( Action)

In Late Summer and Autumn, we see the effects of our dedication and the manifestation of our dreams/plans. Now we will need to learn new skills in order to engage the benefits from all we have harvested. How will be preserve and persevere? Making changes is followed by learning to live sustainably with our new actions, behaviors, and way of being. ( Maintenance)

Relapse can happen anywhere along the way, and planning for relapse will help us minimize the impact on our forward direction. Change is a spiral, a cycle, just like the Wheel of the Year- when we embrace them they can help us create the world in which we want to live.

No Need to fear Fear.

I am afraid. I’m afraid of covid-19. I’m afraid of the flu. I’m afraid of someone crossing that yellow line. I’m afraid of ice that cracks. I’m afraid of airplanes that crash. I’m afraid of mass shooters. I’m afraid of power tools and I’m afraid of fires. I’m afraid of water, sometimes. I’m afraid of hunger. I’m afraid of misunderstanding. I’m afraid of anything that might create separation ( especially life and death separation)between me and my children, husband, family, community and work. But, I don’t live in fear- I live in love. 

My life of love facilitates fears- they remind me of the miraculous sanctity of life. They foster respect and honor the place of dangers. I cannot love or respect something if I do not honor its Truth. This world is a place that provides one way in and an infinite number of ways out. I snuggle up to my fears, and get to know them well, because they are just tender reminders of what I cherish. 

(Persist as Love is one of my favorite of Paul’s mantras/talks and especially appropriate right now. You can find the recording from The Whole Health Center here )