What in your internal world is needing more nourishment?
Perhaps it’s a body system, perhaps it’s an energetic quality like compassion, self-acceptance or clarity. Perhaps it’s a part of your home or work or family life.
What do we mean by nourishment? The dictionary says “to sustain with food or nutriment; supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth.” From the Latin nutrire “to feed, nurse, foster, support, preserve.” That seems to fit. We know when we have it because we feel fed, full and satisfied. We know when we have it because it feels like that area of life can grow something, perhaps even something beautiful.
So again, take a moment – what, for you right now, is needing more nourishment?
How does it feel in your body to name that?
Is it nourishment that is best supported by adding something or is it best supported by subtracting something?
Sometimes it’s both. My body is asking for naps when sleep has been interrupted. It requires to stop forward momentum and trust that I will be able to work more cleanly after resting.
At our Movement as Medicine: Exploring Nourishment workshop in March, we danced with these questions. We spoke them into the supportive group, we journaled, we spoke about what gets in the way and we danced with that. We drank nettle and oat infusion. We took time out of our lives to slow down and bring the quality of nourishment into our very bones. And we left with a plan for next steps. Not big dramatic goals, but simple things that we can bring into our world one nourishing step at a time.
Next month we are Exploring Healthy Boundaries and I do hope you’ll join us for this rich somatic practice (if you’re not in the area, please inquire about online options).
Perhaps boundaries have felt harsh to you, but we learned by walking through our exploration of nourishment, we can’t support what we don’t protect. Boundaries are not separate from nourishment, it’s all a part of a bigger path to wholeness.