Emerging From Our Year Long Cocoon! Shaman style.
Shaman wisdom applied to today.
Did you know that in indigenous cultures, the medicine man or woman, known as a shaman, always asks these four powerhouse questions when someone first comes to them. Imagine if our western doctors did this!
What are the questions?
- When did you stop singing?
- When did you stop dancing or moving your body?
- When did you stop sharing your story?
- When did you stop taking time to be silent?
The shamans have known for thousands of years that there is a mind/body connection. They know that our power comes from our WHOLE soul. And when we are fully engaged and actively practicing all of those critical things, our soul will sing and dance too. And our body and immune system will thank us.
I previously wrote about our collective Fear Of Going Out (FOGO) again as we emerge from our year of staying mostly in, not being the social beings we were before 2020. And that trepidation is real. I have had my vaccine, and yet my mind has been programmed to be extremely cautious. I will continue to wear masks and stay socially distant, especially for those who have not been vaccinated. But the time is coming where I can be more out there. And it feels strange.
It got me thinking about this Shaman ritual when someone comes to them with a physical ailment. These questions are powerful anytime. And this last year it seems we have all done less singing, dancing, sharing of stories. And we may have had more silent time, but it has been easy to fill it with Netflix, social media, and even the natural noise and fears generated in our own minds.
As that time comes to fully break out of our collective hibernation, I want to be intentional about following this sage Shaman advice.
After all, singing frees our lungs and voice to express joy. Sing in the shower! Sing along with songs in the car. Sing your child a lullaby.
Dance and move. Dancing frees our body from self-consciousness and opens our heart to receive more love, more joy, and more freedom. Walking, running, exercise of any kind is critical for the immune system. And it allows endorphins to flow freely throughout.
Sharing our story with others frees our soul. Secrets make us contract and almost close in on ourselves. It is harder to breathe when we are contracted. Connecting with others and sharing ourselves, our fears and emotions and stories, open up our souls. We can share our own stories of this last year, and feel more connected.
And last but not least, taking time for silence allows us to open up to ourselves. It allows us to quiet the voices constantly chattering and listen to the only voice that matters, our own soul.
I think most of us have experienced those inner voices even more loudly this last year. Fear has been the other pandemic, fear of the virus, fear of each other, fear and division in politics. It has been easy to get into the blame, shame, and complain mode of operating. All happiness robbers.
Interestingly, science has proved that the questions asked by the Shamans are happiness habits, too. They are the things we can do daily to nurture our own inner peace and joy. And health! That mind/body connection is real. Get up and dance, sing, and rejoice! Spring is here, and there is so much to be grateful for as we are more and more able to connect in person with family and friends.
Betsy Smith, Certified Happy For No Reason Trainer and coach
betsyrsmith@mac.com
For Free Happiness Habits: Gethappy.substack.com
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