About Ready to Burst into Bloom
Distrust of the body damages the core of us. Stephen Harrod Buhner in Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm
Sometimes when I’m reading, a few words or a sentence or two will fly off the page and land in that inside place that knows my truth. I experience resonance, sometimes a confirmation, sometimes a sense of ‘aha …’. For sure, the words capture my attention. And Muse generally chimes in that ‘this’ may be a topic for a future musing.
Such was the case yesterday when I read Buhner’s simple truth about the importance of trusting the body. The short sentence was in a sea of scientific, technical language about the role (and importance!) of serotonin in our bodies and in all of Nature. Muse suggests I assure you that we aren’t about to ‘go scientific’. We aren’t! Honestly, I’m amazed that I’ve slogged through 200 pages (so far) of science, but the ongoing journey to deepen my connection to and communication with Nature keeps me engaged, curious, and turning the pages. Unlike the science classes of my college days, the final grade is reflected in my satisfaction with life. No pressure there!]
Take a moment to dance with Buhner’s words: Distrust of the body damages the core of us.
If we don’t trust the body, we damage our very being, our core. Just as certain vitamins support the immune system, trust supports this vehicle we inhabit.
This idea landed deep, evoking heart-felt gratitude as I recognized that I listen to this physical body. I listen because I’ve learned to trust what it knows, having built that trust over years of listening, experimenting, experiencing, adjusting, and generally sustaining pretty darn good health.
Muse seems to be speaking on behalf of body, reminding me that I don’t always honor what I hear the body say. Yep. Truth! Sometimes the body says ‘rest!’. I ignore and push through. Or a craving for chocolate may override body’s warning to avoid.
Listening to this vehicle isn’t a solo journey. I seek out tools and professionals to give more voice to what my body is saying. They help with interpretation. I take and use what seems aligned with the body’s needs, letting go of that which doesn’t resonate.
For the most part allopathic medicine doesn’t resonate with this body. Chinese medicine, in particular acupuncture and Chinese herbs, does. A daily mug of Chinese herbal formula created by my Oriental Medicine Doctor after she reads my pulses and listens to what I share is one of the most nourishing practices of my day. As I reflect on how it is that I have such trust in my body, this experience rises to top.
I’m grateful to Buhner for pointing to trusting one’s body as an important element in creating, sustaining, and maintaining health. And, for opening the door to reflect on that trust. I notice that the awareness and exploration alone seem to deepen the trust I feel.
What about you? Do you listen to this vehicle that you move about life in? Do you heed its messages? Do you trust?
Spinx Moth (Hummingbird Moth) Enjoys the Blooms (thanks to my friend S.T. for catching this beauty!)