A classic practice in meditation is to learn to witness our thoughts. Witnessing helps us take a step back and realize that thoughts are not all of who we are. “Who” experiences our witnessing of thoughts? Even deeper, there is an “I AM” that is ever pure, ever wise, ever free. There is a Consciousness that is unaffected by our changing experiences of human life. In deep meditation, we might t lose awareness of the present moment and rest in deep stillness.
A classic result of trauma is that we disconnect from our body. We might dissociate from the present moment, especially from traumatic experiences as they are happening. We may be zoned out and lose awareness of time.
Trauma is stored in our body, with associated thoughts and memories. Flashbacks may intrude and we re-experience images, thoughts, and body sensations. We naturally try to avoid that and our body becomes contracted and tense. We have trouble living in our body, and escape into a numb disconnected state or we think about our feelings and experiences only in our head. We can’t afford to be in our body.
Imagine being in nature. If you don’t have physical access, visualize being out on the earth. Like many of us, I’ve always enjoyed being in nature and have turned to nature when I’m stressed. We take a big sigh and our body relaxes. We let our eyes rest on a spiderweb sparkling with dew in the morning light and we soften. Some days we are able to be present with the wonder and deeply nourished.
Do you have an intimate relationship with Mother Earth?
That might look like gratitude for the bounty of food as we sit down to a meal. It might be protecting Earth’s water, trees, and animals from pollution and exploitation. When we go for a walk, we might turn off the podcast and attune with the silence and pulse of nature. These are all helpful as ways of being in caring relationship.
Is Earth conscious? Nature is a complex, highly developed set of processes that we can understand and honor. That is one level.
Many Indigenous people have a full immersion relationship with Earth Mother and the elements. When a tree is harmed, they feel the loss in their heart and body. There is an honoring that comes from connection and love. People speak of asking Earth Mother for help when they feel overwhelmed and need support and love.
Do you feel like you are alone in the universe? We all have some feeling of connection, perhaps with people, a favorite tree, music, a dog or cat, or to wild places. With trauma that connection may have been disrupted. People are unreliable and that makes us uneasy. It might be the people we rely on have disappointed us or they are sick or die. Where do we turn when we feel alone?
In meditation, we may experience the vast stillness of Consciousness. That may be or may not be something we feel in our body, as in the strong bliss energy of kundalini awakening, or the quiet joy of stillness.
In healing trauma, we come back into connection with our body, breath and mind. We deepen our experience of life in a human body. We are more aware with a stronger ability to be present within a warm, loving connection.
To nurture a relationship with the Consciousness of Earth Mother, we can offer our time and attention. We sense into the energy of a tree as we approach. We lean into the support or the pleasure of a swim. We cultivate gratitude as we feel the cool sweetness of water on our tongue instead of mindlessly hydrating to ingest our daily ration. We experience sacredness and reciprocity.
I began meditating 33 years and know Consciousness, I AM.
I’ve deepened into healing PTSD, Complex PTSD and my nervous system over the last twenty years.
I have always loved and felt supported in nature. This connection nourishes me, I feel joy and belonging in nature.
Reaching into awareness of Earth Mother as Consciousness feels immersive and a deeper connection. I actually am Nature. This is true in that I am made of the same elements and there is so much more! Explore with me in this guided practice.
Earth Mother Mu: Remembering, with Nukumi Selina Mu
For the next two Sundays, Nukumi is joining our Sunday community class to help guide us deeper into relationship with Earth Mother. You are welcome! Details here.