Greetings lovely human,
Self-care is self-love. How’ve you been caring for yourself lately? Sometimes it’s extra easy and some days we need extra…but it’s rarely ever the same!
For me, it’s been extra…as in extra love required. My own personal practice has taken me to the depths of addressing old suffering stored in my energetic and physical bodies. After injuries from 22 years and 4 years ago, respectively, my left shoulder and left side neck are *finally* ready to be tended to in new ways.
Flexible self-care is self-love.
Can you believe these particular body parts previously ’shouted', “NO!" to therapeutics like acupuncture, reiki and craniosacral therapy? You betcha, I visited PTs and chiropractors that wrenched on the left side (I say lovingly) but the subtler bodyworkers followed a quieter wisdom - sensing and respecting the boundary of "no, not yet.”
Honestly, I’ve been feeling pretty well and since November, I’ve been listening to my body’s readiness to address the old stuff and integrate it. I’ve noticed how these old injuries were quite literally congesting my heart, inhibiting lymph waste flow, limiting vitality, and causing familiar but increasingly 'louder’ discomforts. “Why?” I wondered. “What’s shifting?" I inquired. "I’m ready.” I prayed. 🙏
And then…a subtle shift quaked to unearth an even subtler whisper. Spoiler alert: it’s deep and uncomfortable AF.
Thankfully, I believe:
We can do anything with the right supports.
I trust in the wisdom that I hear/feel/sense when I get quiet and connected.
Qualities I dislike in others are disavowed parts of myself.
Both clean pain and dirty pain exist in our world.
I trust that freedom is ALWAYS on the other side of clean pain.
Self-care is designed to be flexible, somewhat structured and yet, fluctuate like the seasons.
Recently self-love, er, self-care has included energy-centric movement like tai chi, thai yoga, craniosacral, acupuncture and other modalities that I’m readying to speak about publicly. I feel immense gratitude for the seasons, the resources and for the other guides. 🙏
Regardless of personal journey, I believe we’ve taken birth to experience love - to see ourself, to see the other and to appreciate the equanimity that exists in the shadows. No bad parts!
Holistic self-care is whole-self love. Please accept this personal invitation to love embodied in a whole new way 💗 Ready to create some heart-sourced ripples? Here is a little love from me to you: 5-minute Heart Centered Meditation
Sent with an expanding heart 💗
Jen
BTW - I treasure our holistic community so just holler if your bodymind is ever interested in a referral to a trusted practitioner.