Evolution of Attunement
One definition of attunement ‘is a kinesthetic and emotional sensing of others knowing their rhythm, affect and experience by metaphorically being in their skin, and going beyond empathy to create a two-person experience of unbroken feeling connectedness by providing a reciprocal affect and/or resonating response’. (Erksine 1998).
I resonate with this definition, and would like to get curious being with our own kinesthetic and emotional sensing, be individually present and connected before we can experience attuning with others. I know the ability to be with our body responses is not new and may be challenging for some. I’d like to pose a key question in seeking reconciliation with our stressful life experiences that may need attuning. Is attunement a skill individuals learn through awareness, curiosity, active listening, exploration? How about understanding its “subtle knowing” in our body because it informs our mind (80% vagal nerve communication).
When flexing/contracting our facial muscles, it reflects in our sensory motor system and allows for emotions necessary for our experiencing them like a smile. Is creating space for the evolution of your attunement something you may be interested practicing?
This is only one of a number of integrated elements we offer those suffering with body reactions and responses; a conscious and unconscious empathic witnessing being seen, and accepted just the way you are no matter where you find yourself in your present experience. As we share our perspective on the evolution of attunement, it comes down to how connected we are in our moment to moment process of renegotiating, and recovering life on our terms before we attune with others. Starting in a slow and titrated way we can engaged in any interventions can result in how successfully we can lean into practicing attunement to create a strong life force, vitality and relative happiness in our harvesting experiences.
The Road Less Traveled
The Road Less Traveled
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. -Robert Frost
The above poem shares the experience of journeying, acting independently, without limitation, or conforming to others wants. This takes courage, authentic heart-filled faith in what you are working towards. Not everyone will share your perspective, no matter how sincere your intention is…this will take courage, faith, and strength that will lead your road to travel on. A journey where you experience those who are ready to join you on this exploration with vital curiosity and support. It will be what it should be…it will make a difference!
We’ve experienced a number of first in our global community within this new paradigm shift living in a pandemic. We’ve experienced beautiful strong men and women reach goodness, justice, and renegotiating outdated thinking bring forth a new way of living in a global community. We admonish and join in this growth with inspired hope, may we as a global community share in experiencing the road less traveled, offering our kindness, goodness, support and fidelity along the way.
Working Through Perceptions To Open Space For More Truth
Typically, when we think of yoga we tend to think of our physical body. We imagine downward facing dog or child’s pose, an arrangement of the body in some form. We think of the breath as we use it in conjunction with each pose. Let’s look at yoga through a different lens as we explore the mind stuff…The Chitta vritti, also known as the fluctuations of the mind.
In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, verse two, Patanjali explains that the restraint of the modifications of the mind-stuff is Yoga. The fluctuations that Patanjali is talking about are right knowledge, misconception, verbal delusion, sleep, and memory.
Perceptions are created by our external experiences as well as our internal experiences. When we are born into this world, we know little about what it is to be a human. We are born without a story and a new beginning open to a world of experiences. We use our eyes to see, our ears to hear, our mouths to taste, our nose to smell, and our skin to touch. We begin to form our likes and dislikes through the senses and this is where our story begins. We remember little about our lives while we are babies and infants. We begin learning from the world around us, and this is where our perceptions begin. As we grow, we begin to create our perceived truths through our senses. Favorite colors, favorite music, favorite foods, favorite smells, and comforting touch. These experiences create attachments, and we begin to create an identity to these things we enjoy. We also create the opposite stories. Stories about what colors are least pleasing, what sounds alarm us, what foods we don’t prefer, which smells are bad, and what pain feels like. These experiences create aversions within our mind.
Perceptions are not universal truth, if they were truth everyone would see things the same way. Perceptions can create a veil of our lived experience through the actions of others we are connected to in the earliest stages of our lives. Our environments in which we live, and experiences in which we have had. When we experience trauma in our lived experience this veil can be overcome with other’s perceptions of ourselves as well. Many of these perceptions were also created through their own personal traumas. We find it more difficult to trust our truths and regulate our nervous systems in order to create more balance and clarity. Other’s perceptions create added layers of barriers which keep us from seeing our authenticity and truth.
We become attached to people, places, religion, traditions, culture, and belief systems. Creating a sense of who we are. We become an extension of our environments through our senses and experiences. Our minds begin to attach to these experiences and give us an identity in which we either feel safe or unsafe. These stories continue to unconsciously or consciously create patterns in our lives. We begin to believe that these stories are truly who we are. Our minds become attached to these beliefs.
When we become attached to these perceptions they can manifest from within as shame, unworthiness, lacking or flawed, and/or disconnection from ourselves. Other’s perceptions and experiences can create resistance in our healing when they are not in alignment with ours. Truth is that most others will not be in alignment because they are not experiencing the same as us.
Let’s work through a particular belief to experience the five fluctuations and how they can be used to find more truth from within. Recently, I began doing mirror work. I sat down with my journal and began the first day. This is what I have observed in just the first sitting.
Sleep: I was asleep to the fact that I rarely look at myself from a different view. From an unconscious level, every day I get ready in front of a mirror. It has become an automatic and robotic experience in my everyday life. With little or no actual awareness of who is looking back at me in the mirror every day.
Memory: Once I looked into the mirror to do the work…Wow. Who was this stranger that I am looking at in the mirror? Wow…that’s me. Hello there! Wow this is weird. I do this every day, but I forgot how to really be with the person in the mirror. On a different level. This is not going to be as easy as I thought.
Verbal Delusion: The story of unworthiness and shame began to play as I stared at my reflection and repeated the words “I really want to love you” into the mirror. I found a story of disconnection to my true self. It felt strange to be in the present moment, with myself and say words of love to the reflection I was staring at.
Perception: This opened up my eyes to a perception that I have been holding onto for a long time. It is the inability to look at myself in the mirror with true connection. Why did I feel so disconnected? Throughout that day an awareness arose from within. I had been taught that it was conceited to appreciate yourself, let alone look in a mirror and say “I LOVE YOU”. Who does that to themselves? Other’s perceptions flooded my mind. I had taken on a belief that I was not worthy and it was shameful to love yourself. From a collective point of view, it’s not really taught to us that we should connect to ourselves on this level. I felt a little conceited for even staring at myself in the mirror. From a personal point of view, others that I have been raised by were unable to connect to themselves on this level. So why would it be ok for me to connect to myself on this level. It felt weird, but it also created a new energy from within. A new perception and ultimately new truth. I began to awaken to the story and the misperceptions that have been created on an unconscious level.
Truth: My view began to shift. What is the truth? I am worthy to receive the love.
I have to admit this is some powerful work that I have embarked upon. I still struggle to sit down and be with that woman who is in the mirror. What would my life had been like if I was taught from an early age…Love yourself? What if we taught every child who came into this world how to love themselves in this way? To look in that mirror every day and show themselves love? What if others gave us the permission to say loving and compassionate words to that beautiful soul looking back at them? Let’s be real here though, we are not taught this on so many levels. As we grow, we begin to take on the perceptions of others, our minds create stories that are meant to protect us from any more pain and suffering, ultimately creating a veil to the truth. The truth is everyone of us is worthy of love and compassion.
At Grace Tree, we are here to help you on your healing journey. Utilizing the tools of Yoga Therapy, Somatic Experiencing and other Neurosomatic modalities to help students, mentees, and clients create a safe space to explore new realizations, easing suffering, and creating more joy. If you are interested in booking an appointment with a Yoga Therapist or Neurosomatic Facilitator, please click here. We look forward to guiding you in your healing journey. -Anonymous Author, Namaste Beautiful Souls
At Grace Tree, we want you to thrive through the changes of every season. We are here to support you during your healing journey. Allowing space for your growth, as we provide the support that is needed to empower you and your highest good. We are here to help others with finding grace and healing in their journey, we invite you to connect with here.
THE GRACE OF TREES
Fall is here again! When fall arrives every year we begin to witness the changes that are occurring all around us. These changes, gifts, blessings, and growth that have been happening since the beginning of time. The changes in every season represent an opportunity to look at grace and explore the ineffable lessons of grace.
Divine Grace, according to Wikipedia it is the theological term present in many religions. It has been defined as the divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation; and as an individual virtue or excellence of divine origin. The are many other definitions, and I believe grace isn’t an easy word to put into one definition or meaning. It is more of an essence, an energy that can’t be seen, but can be felt deep within the soul. It’s a whisper of hope and love. It will bring about a different perception for all. Depending on lived experiences and the individual self.
Looking at a tree through the lenses of grace may help us to understand the meaning deeper within each and every one of us. The gifts we are simply given. Not those that we ask for or demand. Those truths and gifts that are so generously given, without anything attachment or expectations in return. The life force and progression of nature that wants nothing and gives everything. The coexistence of oneness working together with many of the components of the system unknown to man. This is the mystery and awe that grace sparks. It’s the action that occurs in the presence of non-action. The breath that breathes our bodies. It is love…It is illumination…It is presence in it’s purest form, a source that is within us and all around us.
The Human life cycle and the life cycle of a tree are not that much different. The life of a tree begins as a seed. Then becoming a sprout, or a tiny embryo. Eventually moving onto growing into a seedling taking root into the earth and beginning its life here on earth. Next becoming a sapling, which is a tree in its juvenile state. Eventually becoming a mature tree.
During all of these stages the tree instinctively knows what to do to become the tree that it is meant to be. Trees know how to give and receive instinctively. Giving oxygen, nutrients to our soil, and giving life to wildlife. They receive sunlight, water, and carbon to grow. They require a solid foundation and a stable environment to grow and thrive. Giving gifts and receiving gifts with no expectations or perceived outcomes.
Looking at trees through divine grace, they receive the divine influence in which is needed to regenerate and sanctify. This grace inspires virtuous impulses, imparting strength to endure the trials of the seasons. They do not ask where these gifts come from or always seeking more. They just receive what is meant for them to receive. Allowing their beauty to come and go throughout their lives. It’s a flow, a dance with the seasons of change. It’s a surrender to something beyond their physical existence.
The whispers of grace that come from trees:
Trust. Trust in something beyond yourself that supports your journey, and provides you with what is needed in the moment.
Diversity. Trees have no judgement. Trees are all so different. Not one tree is the same as another, they are all beautiful in their own way.
Community. One tree is beautiful…Many trees as one is a beautiful forest of togetherness.
Root. Trees are physically rooted into the earth. The earth is a place of nurturing and grounding. Connect to this earth and receive its healing. Show gratitude for the abundance of gifts it so generously gives to us.
Support. Just like the trees provide shade and something for us to lean on when needed. Accept love and support during your healing journey.
Let things fall away. In the seasons of change, let the leaves fall where they may. Begin to allow the change from within to emerge as you shed what is no longer serving your highest good.
Receive. Receive the gifts from the earth and the sky. Receive compassion for yourself as you go through the journey.
Allow space for growth. Continue to build a strong foundation, along with allowing an opening to grow upward and outward. Whatever that may be to you in your journey. Explore your connection to faith, spirit, and higher self.
Speak words that heal. Did you know that it is proven that when plants are talked to with love and grace they experience more growth? If spoken to with negativity, their growth is hindered? For trees although they may not have emotions…There is energy within the words that are spoken.
Meditation/prayer. Trees, although active, don’t need to force any action. Take time to be still and reconnect with your truth and soul.
Breathe. Consciously connect to your breath throughout your day. Humans have the gift to connect consciously to the breath, bringing us into the present moment. Creating more connection, calmness, and grounding energy. -Anonymous Author, Namaste Beautiful Souls
At Grace Tree, we want you to thrive through the changes of every season. We are here to support you during your healing journey. Allowing space for your growth, as we provide the support that is needed to empower you and your highest good. We are here to help others with finding grace and healing in their journey, we invite you to connect with here.