And the Body Stubborn
St. Francis of Assisi referred to his body as Brother Ass. Now that might sound just a wee bit derogatory to modern ears. Calling someone or something an “ass” is not exactly a compliment today. However, he was simply referring to his body as his “beast of burden” that got his soul where it needed to go in this physical dimension. St. Francis was still a man of his times, and he practiced self-mortification on occasion. But he never saw the common practice of his age as something that should be done to excess. In fact, by the end of his life, he came to see Brother Ass as something he should be grateful for and extend compassion to, even if he saw his body as stubborn and willful at times.
I’m always surprised at how many people are taken aback when I suggest that if they’re having an issue with their body, that they talk to their body. They have so identified with their body, that it hasn’t occurred them that the body is its own being, with its own consciousness. When I am working with a client on a body issue, I will often hear the body talk. All energy (body-as-dense-energy included) contains information and when you connect with energy, it will “talk” to you. I encourage students and clients to treat your body like you would a beloved pet. Talk to it, listen to it, encourage it, keep it in line when needed with a strong, clear, positive intention, and love it unconditionally. It has faithfully gotten you this far! Thank it with tons of gratitude for the work it does unseen and unknown, keeping your soul hereon Earth. It truly is the temple of the soul.
Having said that, the body RESISTS change, just like everything else in this world. It likes things to stay the same, even if it desires healing. Healing means change though, and with that the need to release resistance. How do you get a stubborn ass/donkey/pet to move when it is making it abundantly clear that it doesn’t want to?
I’m always surprised at how many people are taken aback when I suggest that if they’re having an issue with their body, that they talk to their body. They have so identified with their body, that it hasn’t occurred them that the body is its own being, with its own consciousness. When I am working with a client on a body issue, I will often hear the body talk. All energy (body-as-dense-energy included) contains information and when you connect with energy, it will “talk” to you. I encourage students and clients to treat your body like you would a beloved pet. Talk to it, listen to it, encourage it, keep it in line when needed with a strong, clear, positive intention, and love it unconditionally. It has faithfully gotten you this far! Thank it with tons of gratitude for the work it does unseen and unknown, keeping your soul hereon Earth. It truly is the temple of the soul.
Having said that, the body RESISTS change, just like everything else in this world. It likes things to stay the same, even if it desires healing. Healing means change though, and with that the need to release resistance. How do you get a stubborn ass/donkey/pet to move when it is making it abundantly clear that it doesn’t want to?
First of all, you are the body’s manager. So, you get to set the terms. It might get stubborn like a mule (or two-year old or teenager), but you get the final say. Strong, positive clear intentions are important. Intention heals.
Second, when I hit resistance in the body, it’s usually because of some unacknowledged pain. I try to process with as little to no backstory as possible for myself and clients, because really, does the story matter? The more we attach to story or to the sensationalism of our backstories, the harder it can be to release. So, the first thing I try is just to “release any resistance, release any old energies.” Oftentimes, this is enough.
Third, if simple release doesn’t work, then I go into the backstory. What’s the pain about? What didn’t get acknowledged so that my body can’t release until I learn the lesson it has for me? Once I delve in there, and acknowledge the story behind the pain, my body is usually happy to release. Applying an organic castor oil pack to the particular “issue in your tissue” can help release stored cell memory and give greater insight, too. I applied a castor oil pack to a body area just last night before I went to bed, and during the night, I had the most insightful, funny, and yet also reassuring dream that helped me understand what was really going on, which happened to be something completely different that what I had been thinking!
Fourth, if none of the above works, I’ll ask for help from the universe. What am I missing? What do I need to learn, expand into? Then I look for clues, repeating phrases, and other “messages” from the beyond.
Fifth, call for reinforcements. I am fortunate to have a lot of healer friends who generously answer my questions when I’m stuck. We don’t need to heal alone. The divine is in all, and we sometimes need a divine-human team to help us out. This is one of the reasons I love to do breathwork groups and Reiki Shares and classes. Check out my next groups here. I hope to see you soon!
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If you are so moved and are able, please consider supporting my writing by making a donation (PayPal Donate button in the right hand column) or buying one of my books. Thank you!
Monica McDowell is a dynamic speaker, author, and practitioner in alternative wellness and spirituality. Find her on Thought Catalog here.She is the author of The Girl with a Gift, Confessions of a Mystic Soccer Mom, You are Light (internationally published by 6th Books in over 14 countries) and My Karma Ran Over My Dogma,and has the distinction of being the first ordained minister in America granted civil rights by a federal ruling. She lives in Seattle, Washington, USA, and can be reached at monica@monicamcdowell
Second, when I hit resistance in the body, it’s usually because of some unacknowledged pain. I try to process with as little to no backstory as possible for myself and clients, because really, does the story matter? The more we attach to story or to the sensationalism of our backstories, the harder it can be to release. So, the first thing I try is just to “release any resistance, release any old energies.” Oftentimes, this is enough.
Third, if simple release doesn’t work, then I go into the backstory. What’s the pain about? What didn’t get acknowledged so that my body can’t release until I learn the lesson it has for me? Once I delve in there, and acknowledge the story behind the pain, my body is usually happy to release. Applying an organic castor oil pack to the particular “issue in your tissue” can help release stored cell memory and give greater insight, too. I applied a castor oil pack to a body area just last night before I went to bed, and during the night, I had the most insightful, funny, and yet also reassuring dream that helped me understand what was really going on, which happened to be something completely different that what I had been thinking!
Fourth, if none of the above works, I’ll ask for help from the universe. What am I missing? What do I need to learn, expand into? Then I look for clues, repeating phrases, and other “messages” from the beyond.
Fifth, call for reinforcements. I am fortunate to have a lot of healer friends who generously answer my questions when I’m stuck. We don’t need to heal alone. The divine is in all, and we sometimes need a divine-human team to help us out. This is one of the reasons I love to do breathwork groups and Reiki Shares and classes. Check out my next groups here. I hope to see you soon!
--
If you are so moved and are able, please consider supporting my writing by making a donation (PayPal Donate button in the right hand column) or buying one of my books. Thank you!
Monica McDowell is a dynamic speaker, author, and practitioner in alternative wellness and spirituality. Find her on Thought Catalog here.She is the author of The Girl with a Gift, Confessions of a Mystic Soccer Mom, You are Light (internationally published by 6th Books in over 14 countries) and My Karma Ran Over My Dogma,and has the distinction of being the first ordained minister in America granted civil rights by a federal ruling. She lives in Seattle, Washington, USA, and can be reached at monica@monicamcdowell
