I talk and think a lot about embodiment and embodied living. It’s also my business, my livelihood.
Sometimes this implies my privilege – that we ‘get to’ enhance our physical and mental emotional health, have all our needs (and dreams) met, explore philosophy and daily practices, and celebrate through the freedom of our voices and movement. We use movement practices to remember how to be who we are.
There’s been plenty of talk about privilege in our US news and culture over the past few years, and I hope it continues. At least, I hope that I can use mine for the greater good.
At the root of all other forms of ‘higher’ embodiment is safety.
Our right to be here. To have our basic needs met.
Many people have been made to feel unsafe through comments, assault, violence, discrimination.
Their home, their own body, has not been their refuge and instead stores memories and fear. Conditioning. An experience of disembodiment, that while helping us survive is incredibly wise and useful in the short term, won’t allow us to help move the needle forward in the long term.
Dare I say ‘enlightenment’ as interchangeable for embodiment, because let’s be real – embodiment acts as a tool for transformation, as the vehicle for such integrated, deep change and it is not only personal.
To live a bold, embodied life is inherently spiritual, social, political.
To rise up. To stand strong. To be seen and heard.
To hold the vision for those less fortunate or in pain and to help them stand, too.
Becoming who we are and having an environment in which we feel safe to do so is a luxury that most of us reading a post like this on Facebook, or a blog, well – we probably take it for granted. And how can we not, when we’ve never known the kind of violence and hardship that is commonplace for other cultures and people around the world?
As it’s been said, when we know better, we must do better.
Safety is one of our most basic needs, and comes before all other awakening.
Watching this video, something in me clicked, or sparked today. A new vision for a way in which I can support our global community with more loving action.
In January 2016, I announced that I’d be giving charitably this year for the first time as a conscious business act. I’d like to support refugees in finding safety in our world, and eventually, the deep embodied safety that we feel when we know and trust ourselves fully. When we know our peace and power can never again be taken from us because we did/do our own healing work and fight for the wellbeing and awakening of others.
Embodied doesn’t mean the absence of problems or pain – it means we welcome our full experience and invite curiosity. We aim for wholeness and connection always. We can build skills for being comfortable with discomfort, for showing compassion and holding a loyal vision for ourselves to heal and change.
Our body is our home while we’re in human form.
Please comment with refugee support organizations that are legitimate and using funds wisely. I’ll keep researching too, and we’ll see how many people we can help bring home to safety, love and embodiment. ❤️
Here’s the video that sparked this post. Enjoy.
Namaste,
Cheri