Think of yourself as a Tree
A mature tree, was once young. Held under canopy, protected by elders.
The ground, where once you were born, stay supple. Soft. Just like a mothers arms. Here is when you felt your seed bursting, with a thin whisper crack, your shell gently broke.
As a young sapling, you roots would always be nourished- just like your soul.
All the others would chant: reach and grow. Reach and Grow.
Inside you, this became your rhythm.
Reach and grow reach and grow.
Your branches. they would reach with longer. Roots would spread, then grip, and grip harder. Deep into a system, strengthening with trust. Building a collective.
Within above, so is under- a network built out of connection.
Reach and grow. Reach and grow.
Together, we grow stronger.
Reach and grow. Reach and grow.
Growing tall and wide, this wise tree would become known. Space would make space for its presence within the forest. And at night, in the breeze, the tress would dance.
Together, they would make music- the sounds would simple and they would go like this;
Listen for the breeze.
Where do you hear it?
Can you feel any sensations, on the skin?
What do you notice?
Where is your breath?
Have you found yourself searching- Which are you with> BREATH or WIND
(the breath and wind- chant a distant memory. Wind restores breath and breath will always return to wind. simple forms of transformation.)
(Remember the time when your parents first taught you to swim. What would happen?
A baby was picked up- then> (BLOW) air right into its nose. The baby would naturally grasp for breath- then, just in that moment, the head would go under. For the quickest of seconds- then up and out again would come the baby)
Nervous System Check:
stunned
gasping
shock
At the moment of Poly-Vagal Shut Down a person will experience a complete system Pause. Signaling a full body reboot- Then big messages of shock waves of chemicals go sailing throughout the body.
through the lymphatic and limbic system- the youngest parts of ourselves, always are nourished first.
Trauma informed-Somatic Exercise:
Put yourself on the floor, in fetal position. Do not move until you feel completely safe and relaxed. Slowly unwind yourself, until your laying flat on your back- pausing at every moment you feel: unsure.
Breathe here: Inhale 4. Exhale 5. Until you experience a nervous system response (full body twitch, a big inhale, tears, yawn)
Once you are flat on your back- repeat the process, by closing in- making your way back to fetal position.
This retrains the body- as it offers signals it’s time for rest.
And, its safe to do so.
>trust
Here, allow yourself to rest for 3-11 minutes.
Repeat Exercise 3x or more.
Many blessings to the trees and their ever expanding canopies. May they always grow. And, always provide. We thank you for your fire and your bones. We thank you for these walls, which surround us. Thank you for giving us this shelter. My windchimes will always sing for you.
