Rewilding Ourselves
Rewilding is a concept of bringing something back into its true nature. For humans that is honoring our instinctive and innate knowing (even if we aren’t aware of it) by engaging in all of our senses and being in a state of presence. Think back to being a little kid, marveling at the smallest details of a dandelion, smelling sweet blooms on a warm breeze or feeling the light tickle of a ladybug crawling slowly across the back of your hand. In these moments of presence, we can tap into the bigger and more ancient part of use that KNOWS. The knowing can tell us a lot about our environment (safe/unsafe) and our bodies (balanced/unbalanced).
We may have forgotten that we have this ability, but it’s in our DNA. It’s how our ancestors knew certain plants were edible or could be used as medicine. It’s how they knew an area was safe to inhabit or that there was danger lurking around the bend. Finding the stillness to tap into this part of us can be a challenge in modern times, but luckily we have plenty of resources like yoga, meditation, breath work, etc to help us out.
Here’s something I like to play with when I am feeling like something is off healthwise or emotionally or I’m having trouble making a decision. Try this out….Set your timer for 5-10 mins. Sit in a quiet spot preferably on the ground and get comfy. Close your eyes and inhale through the nose for a count of 5 and slowly exhale through pursed lips for 7-9 counts. Put your hands to your heart and imagine the breath is going directly into that space, filling it up with O2 and goodness. On the exhale you are breathing out what you no longer need. After a few minutes, hold what is bothering you in your awareness and ask this question: “What would feel most nourishing to me right now?”. The answer will drop into your consciousness. It might be in a voice or a vision in your minds eye…Give it time if it doesn’t come right away. Trust that you have the ability to do this and do not give up. Sometimes we doubt the message because we haven’t used that muscle in awhile, so I like to keep a journal of these inquires and have found that there is MUCH wisdom in this practice which gives me a real sense of authority about my body, my experiences and what it is I want and need.
One of my teachers is a Lakota Medicine Woman and her elder/teachers taught that the medicine we are searching for is held in the story told by the person seeking help. I love this for many reason and mostly because it is telling us that in the slowing down and in the witnessing, we can find healing, connection and wholeness. We are the medicine. We are the healers.