At Home in Our Skin

Journaling reflection practice for today’s passage

Today’s Flow and Yin Yoga class centered around a passage from Mark Nepo’s book, “The Book of Awakening”, which has a unique passage for each day of the year. I chose to read todays passage (April 10th) because it spoke to me so much.

“The Spiritual life is about becoming more at home in your own skin”

Parker J. Palmer

“Anything that removes what grows between our hearts and the day is spiritual. It might be the look of a loved one stirring their coffee as morning light surprises their groggy eyes. It might be the realization while watching a robin building its nest act you are only a temporary being in this world. It might be a fall on ice that reminds you of the humility of your limitations.

As Parker Palmer suggests, the aim of all spiritual paths, no matter their origin or the rigors of their practice, is to help us live more fully in the lives we are given. In this way, whatever comes from a moment’s grace that joins us to our lives and to each other - this is spiritual….

The life of spirit is everywhere: in dust waiting for light, in music waiting to be heard, in the sensations of the day waiting to be felt. “

Mark Nepo’s Meditation - “Center yourself, and as you breathe, realize that your spirit fills your life the way your bones and blood fill your hand”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Now feel how spirit fills your body like your blood fills your whole being. Feel the physical sensation of spirit presence in your body right now, you might call it consciousness or great mystery. Tune in and notice what sensations you feel. Is there a part of your body where you feel more sensation?

If your eyes are closed, open them while maintaining contact with the sensations of your inner being. Notice what its like to look at the world around you, noticing light, shadow, texture, color, smells, shapes. What do you gravitate towards? What intrigues or mystifies you? Spend the next 10-15 minutes journaling about what you are noticing, checking back in with spirit emanating from your inner being several times throughout.

You might follow the journaling with another form of self care for yourself. This might look like resting, lying down, taking a bath, eating food, drinking tea, stretching your body or anything else that calls to you. I invite you to continue feeling spirit essence emanating from your body as you move through the next few hours.

with care,

Maeve

Nourishing your roots this Spring

As the natural landscape unfurls around you, what do you notice about your own inner experience?

Each year as Spring approaches, my heart starts beating faster, ideas begin blooming and bursting inside of me with one hundred bright shades of color, my feet tingle and before I know it I have completely lost my connection to the ground I am standing on. I start tripping over myself and feel like I am floating off into space because I have forgotten that it is just as important to nourish and deepen my roots as it is to spread out towards the sky in every direction. Anxiety and anticipation consume my attention and I have to write myself sticky notes that I place around my house reminding me to PAUSE, feel my feet, and take 10 long breaths while sitting, standing, or lying down.

Remembering to pause helps me to not only keep myself from flying off into space but it helps me to energetically integrate and be present for what I am learning and experiencing.

Here are a few ways I am choosing to nourish my roots this spring while continuing to stretch and grow outward.

— Practicing the Sacred Pause 3-5 times per day! This includes pausing, feeling my feet, and focusing on my breath for at lease 10 long exhale breaths. Checking in with my senses: what I smell, taste, hear, feel and see - looking around to identify at least 3 objects I observe.

— 15 minute daily movement practice for grounding and relaxation followed by at least 5 minutes of seated meditation.

— Morning writing practice for 5-30 minutes. This can be a one page stream of consciousness flow or responding to a writing exercise or prompt.

— Spending time on the earth, lying on the ground literally on or near roots while feeling the density of my bones.

— Offering Therapeutic Movement sessions in my private practice that can be catered to the individuals needs/goals: including meditation, subtle body awareness, alignment, chronic pain, flow state, and somatic learning (connecting to intuition and intelligence of the body).

The last few weeks have been a time of rapid growth and new surprises for me. I attended a workshop a few weekends ago on Yoga and Meditation for Chronic Pain led by three incredible teachers: Libby Hinsley - Yoga instructor and physical therapist, Lisa Sherman - Acupuncturist and Yoga Instructor, and Will Hamilton - Psychologist and Meditation Teacher. During this weekend training - I was brought back into my roots in a very deep way through skillful slow flowing yoga sequences and grounding guided meditations. After this nourishing and enlightening training, I have decided to offer therapeutic movement sessions for individualized experiential learning based on your personalized interests, which can include meditation, subtle body awareness, alignment, chronic pain, flow state, and somatic learning (connecting to intuition and intelligence of the body). During our first session we will discuss and evaluate your interests, goals, intentions and any questions you may have about our process to create an individualized plan for therapeutic movement together. 

Please enjoy this brief grounding meditation to help connect to your roots this Spring.

What are some of your favorite ways to stay grounded during the vigorous growth spurt of Spring Season? I would love to hear your wise words/reminders/practices in the comments below!