This week we're diving ever deeper into the June Inner Constellation theme--Refuge. Last week we practiced Taking Refuge in Spiritual Ancestors, now we're exploring Taking Refuge in the Body as our anchor, a solid place to rest in the midst of any storm.
I wish to flesh out what I mean by "body." In my Inner Constellation work, body encompasses three components:
1) Heart
2) Mind
3) Nervous System
If you're interested in Heart and Mind as ways of Taking Refuge in the Body, you may wish to click on the highlighted links for each above. For today, we'll be resourcing number 3--our kick @$$ nervous systems.
When things get rough and tumbly, our nervous systems shoot into high gear as survival mechanisms to mobilize against perceived threats. If we need to fight, adrenaline will shoot through our bodies at lightening speeds, if we need to flee, blood pulls from our extremities to our cores so we can move fast and unencumbered. We are pristine survival machines, however, most times when things get rough and tumbly, it's not a matter of life and death. Taking Refuge in the Body, literally means using one's powers of observation and concentration to self-regulate the nervous system. How to do this? Ah, we possess a miraculous elixir...a supreme regulator--the breath.
Studies show that breathing evenly immediately balances body systems and begins to regulate its myriad of functions. Whenever you wish to change your body--first, change your breath. The technique of breathing evenly immediately balances racing thoughts, transporting blood from the limbic (fight-flight-freeze) portion of the brain into the frontal lobes where we do our most skillful thinking. Breathing evenly turns on the light bulbs for insight and clear seeing. Notice, I'm purposely italicizing breathing evenly, not necessarily deeply, which can be harder than Hades to do when we're in fight-flight-freeze; however, breathing evenly begins initiating a state of flow.
When life gets rough and tumbly and clouds move in, obscuring your North Star, take refuge in the body--your breath--as an anchor. Begin regulating and moving into a flow state where insight and skillful thinking are resourced and initiated. We are powerful beings. Like the outer space with its bazillion of
galaxies, the inner space is just as vast and deep in its capacity. Through the
lens of even breathing (and my personal favorite, self-compassion) explore, explore, explore.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
North Star Ponderings
What if everything you need is inherent in you right now—profuse, abundant and perfectly sufficient.
Categories
- 01 North Star (74)
- 02 Chart Your Course (74)
- 03 Arrival (80)
- Energetic Anatomy (47)
- Freedom Series (48)
- Heart Based Living (112)
- Mindfulness (112)
- Poetry (101)
Meet the Author
I'm a holistic practitioner and writer who owns a private practice at InnerConstellation.com. If you benefit from my blog writings, check out my author's page on Amazon.com
Popular Posts
-
It's 5:00am. I'm up early with candle lit to spend time with you and one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver. If you've not read h...
-
This week I had the opportunity to watch a very moving protocol for trauma care in the Emergency Department where I work. A voice came over ...
-
"Yogini" by Karla Johnston & Punkin It's 20 degrees in the sunshine today, and I decided to do my body practice indoors...
-
I had a morning of technology mishaps, unable to print due to wifi coming and going. And of course it happened as I was preparing to walk ...
-
I came to the blog yesterday and was frankly appalled that I had gone more than three months, just shy of four, since writing an article. Ca...
-
January theme of silver lining is rich with practice material. Firstly, our Tahoe 2018 Winter has been wet and dripping as our pictures fro...
-
Lung Meridan Anterior (Front) Active Time: 3-5am Element: metal Fundamental Principle: yin Season: autumn Next up is Lu...
-
Within a few hours of studying one of my favorite Thich Nhat Hanh quotes on Letting Go, I had the experience of being with someone who tho...
-
Happy 2024, everyone. I spent the day doing the things I wish to increase in my life, which included writing in the new year. May 2024 be fr...
-
Dear Ones, every precious once in a while, you meet a bright light that warms you with the gratitude of their life, the ups and downs, all c...
Followers
Total Pageviews
InnerConstellation.com. Powered by Blogger.
Welcome
This blog celebrates that you are an expression of the Eternal: body, mind and heart are the gateways. Read on if you need reminding....
Inner Constellation Truths:
1) Everything is energy; the body is the interface
2) Energy never dies it just changes form
3) Everything, no matter how challenging, has the ability to be transformed
0 comments/leave a comment:
Post a Comment