A few night ago I woke myself up by saying out loud, "Breathe the pain through your heart."
This isn't new for me, ever since I was a young I'd sit up and talk in my sleep and act out my dreams.
Recently, I've been trying to understand the messages coming through as my active dreams often relate to healing.
So I went into meditation and sat with this dream.
What came through was that this specific way of working with pain was meant to he shared with others.
Especially now amidst times of war and heartbreak.
Here's how you can utilize it:
Breathe in anything you've seen, heard or experienced related to the atrocities of our world through the top of your heart. Focus on one image/thing at a time. Truly allow your mind, body and heart to remember what these things were/are.
Hold these images, etc in the cauldron of your heart. Allow yourself to feel the enormity of the heartbreak. This is how we understand. Through this lens.
Say, "I see this. I feel this. I listen to these feelings that are my great teachers so I know where I can sustainably take action."
Exhale and imagine that image/thing moving down through the bottom of your heart down through your body and into the earth to be recycled.
I suggest utilizing this at the end of every day, or after watching/reading the news.
I also recommend practicing this with your kids. They pick up much more than we realize from the news in the background, convos at school, etc.
I also want to acknowledge and recognize that self-care in times of war is a privilege. It absolutely is.
It's also what allows those of us that are removed in various ways to show up when we are needed and called to be the light for others.
May this serve us in meaningful ways as we continue to navigate the uncertainty and heartbreak we face.
Image by Salma K Photography