For those of us who’ve had a major trauma as babies and still suffer from post-traumatic stress (PTS) as adults, a ceremony may be in order–a ritual of some sort for the self that says, I am safe now and can live my body without fear. My body is a place of comfort.
Each morning, when I first settle down readying to meditate, I am rigid. I breathe more into the right side of my body, the left somewhat abandoned or lifeless. In order to settle in and receive messages of guidance in meditation, I must relax and establish trust.
Yesterday, once I found a safe space inside and was breathing comfortably and peacefully, I was taken through a ceremony of reassurance and healing. I was in some sort of teepee or tent. It was dark and warm and I was safe. I lay naked on soft blankets and was directed to feel different parts of my body and accept them as good. I felt a soft tap on my back and heard the words, Your back is strong and flexible. A soft touch on my chest, You chest is full with loving breath. A hand on my head, Your mind is loving and joyful.
As babies are healing from illnesses, surgeries, accidents, sexual abuse, whatever has caused trauma, they need support in regaining trust in their bodies. It is important that the hands of care givers communicate love. Loving eyes lower stress and induce confidence. Hands and eyes of faith and trust heal. Fear inhibits healing. A baby or child must be reassured that his or her body is lovable and that, regardless of the circumstances, it is home. Many of the debilitating symptoms of post-traumatic stress will resolve if we are taught to feel comfort in our own skin.
Thank you, thank you. The absence of ritual is in itself a sort of social pathology. Our daily lives are full of ritual. Our major transitional markers in life are ripe with ritual and yet, ritual has been erased from the collective consciousness. Reclamation of ritual is so vital if we are to heal all of our traumas. Thank you for this lovely, insightful reminder!
You put into words–“the absence of ritual in itself is a sort of pathology”–almost exactly what I was thinking about just a few days ago. We need rituals that help us come to terms with the past so we can create the future of our desire. Our modern society is sorely in need of ceremony.
Thank you, thank you. The absence of ritual is in itself a sort of social pathology. Our daily lives are full of ritual. Our major transitional markers in life are ripe with ritual and yet, ritual has been erased from the collective consciousness. Reclamation of ritual is so vital if we are to heal all of our traumas. Thank you for this lovely, insightful reminder!
You put into words–“the absence of ritual in itself is a sort of pathology”–almost exactly what I was thinking about just a few days ago. We need rituals that help us come to terms with the past so we can create the future of our desire. Our modern society is sorely in need of ceremony.
My deep thanks to you for sharing something of your experience of ceremony and ritual for the health of our soul. Western medicine is so much part of our culture which has promoted the physical and marginalised our soul. I have recognised this only belatedly as I reflect on my own journey and think this post is wonderful!
My deep thanks to you for sharing something of your experience of ceremony and ritual for the health of our soul. Western medicine is so much part of our culture which has promoted the physical and marginalised our soul. I have recognised this only belatedly as I reflect on my own journey and think this post is wonderful!
I am so glad that my post struck a positive note for you. I think the physical is an expression of the soul; the soul and the physical are in divine communication. If we are aware of this, we can heal ourselves and help heal others more quickly and deeply, in my view.
I am so glad that my post struck a positive note for you. I think the physical is an expression of the soul; the soul and the physical are in divine communication. If we are aware of this, we can heal ourselves and help heal others more quickly and deeply, in my view.