Choosing another Way: An Excerpt*
The
language of the body is the key that can unlock the soul.
--Konstantin Stanislavsky
Much of our current dysfunction, lassitude, and discomposure
is the result of, and can be attributed to, the loss of our
connection with nature, with old-growth forests, with wild streams
and mountains. And it is the result of the loss of our connection
with our own nature, our sexual nature, and our sensate, sensing,
organ of perception--our body.
Edward O. Wilson warned us that "the more we take out of an
ecosystem, the more unstable it becomes." The more we take ourselves
out of the ecosystem, distance ourselves from Nature, and from our
own nature, the more unstable we, and our culture, become. If some
part is cut off, or alienated from the whole, it is no longer whole.
When our sexuality is cut off from the body of Earth sexuality we
are unable to function as whole beings. And Earth is unable to
function as a healthy organism because our relationship is
dangerously out of balance. If we are going to live on Earth, then
shall we be alive and live on Earth? As long as we live on
Earth, we need to be whole; a complete, fully functioning whole.
When
we are in the depths of sacred sex and sexual loving we are in an
ocean of senses, images, and meanings. These images and meanings are
communications that flow between two lovers, between human beings
and Earth. Because everything in nature gives off electromagnetic
frequencies and nature is having sex all the time, the sexual energy
of Earth is part of the sea of communications and meanings we live
in every day.
Let's begin to play and work with the heart field that each of us
possesses.
EXERCISE
Heart Field Meditation
Get comfortable in a cozy chair, feet on the floor, and take
some deep, relaxing breaths. Now, bring your awareness into the area
of your heart. Let your breathing move into your heart, as if you
are breathing through your heart. In the beginning, it may feel a
little tingly in that area, which is a good indication that you're
there. If you don't feel it the first time, don't panic; just keep
breathing through your heart. You're using a new sensing awareness,
one that has been dulled through a lifetime of atrophy. When you
feel that you can hold your attention in your heart, stand up and
notice how you feel. Do you feel more present, grounded in yourself?
Notice that your peripheral vision is expanded, that is, as you look
straight ahead, you can see things to your far left and far right.
With practice you'll be able to feel your awareness move into
different parts of your body.
Take
yourself for a walk outside and find a tree that captures your
attention. Sit down beside it and take a few deep breaths, relaxing
more fully with each one. Let your eyes become soft focused upon the
tree you've chosen. Notice everything about it: its colors, shape,
textures. Now, ask yourself, "How does it feel?" What's the first
thing that comes to you? Where do you feel it in your body? Are
there any sensations that accompany the feeling, images, words? Sit
with the feeling for a moment.
Stand up and walk away from the tree about 20 feet. It's helpful to
pull your shoulders back and hold your arms straight out at your
sides. When you do this, you may feel vulnerable and exposed. You
are, that's why many of us become habituated to rounding our
shoulders and slouching so we feel that our chests, our heart, we,
are protected. It's also a way to feel less noticeable. Pulling your
shoulders back and up really opens up the heart and lungs and can
release emotions we've held there. As you hold your shoulders back,
with your heart open, slowly begin to walk toward the tree with your
heart field extended. Pay particular attention to the moment your
heart field and the "heart field" of the tree touch. This is
nonphysical touching; touching with the invisible, nonphysical field
of the heart. Pause there for a moment and notice how you feel to be
touched this way. Continue on toward the tree, noting if the field
grows in potency as you move closer to the tree.
Now,
ask your (inner) child to come and sit with you. As you keep your
eyes soft focused, ask your child to tell you everything about this
tree. She is the one who has direct access to everything she comes
in contact with and to the world trees live in. She knows how to
talk with them. Notice as well any feelings or emotions in your
body. How do you feel doing this?
Next, ask your (inner) infant to be with you and hold her in your
arms or lap. Infants have no language, but they perceive the world
directly. Notice everything your infant does. If you need to, ask
your child if she would translate for you. Children often translate
for preverbal infants; they understand that language. Whatever
movements, faces, changes in color the infant makes are all
communications to you about the tree.
It's
helpful to keep a journal of your experiences, your "readings." Just
when you think you're not becoming more sensitive you can compare
earlier entries and see how much keener your perceptions are
becoming.
You
can do this with anything, but trees are so generous, have potent
energy fields, and love to play this way. You may find if you do
this with trees of various ages, saplings to very old trees, and of
different species, that each has a very different feeling to it.
Everything in nature has its own intelligence, sexuality, and
personality, and they move through ego states just as human beings
do. Some trees are sexier than others, just like humans.
*Reprinted with permission of the publisher, Destiny Books.
Copyright C 2012 by Julie McIntyre, All Rights Reserved
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Sex and the Intelligence of the Heart
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