Breathwork
“As each breath goes out, let it be the end of that moment and the birth of something new.”
— Pema Chödrön
Our breath is one of the most sacred, yet forgotten, parts of our daily existence. Breath is life. It is the physical manifestation of chi (qi), prana, or lifeforce energy and we do it 22,000 time a day.
Our breath is our most ancient friend and it is always there to call upon when we need help. Whenever we need a burst of fresh energy, breathe. Whenever we need to process heavy emotions, breathe. Whenever we need to calm down, breathe. We have an anchor, a doorway into immediate meditation within us wherever we go. Learning to consciously work with our breath, whether through mediation, yoga, nature bathing, or simple mindfulness practices can help us to bridge the gap between the mind and heart, body and soul.
The physical benefits of deep breathing are often immediate. By breathing deeply, you can activate your parasympathetic nervous system, and in turn, slow your heart rate and lower your blood pressure, thus creating a feeling of calm as the volume of the mind turns down from the noise of incessant thinking.
Breathwork also can help heal and purge subconsciously held patterns of emotional energy. I have participated in breathwork several times, more specifically Entheobreath. EN-THEO (origin Greek~entheos) translates to filled with the divine. Sessions have given me lasting inner peace and more courage to explore, express and celebrate my unique self.
A few weeks ago, while attending Alchemy Retreats https://www.alchemy-retreats.com/, at the Sea of Cortez in Baja, Mexico, I laid down on my mat in the Shala with a circle of other women to begin Entheobreath. My heart fluttered. I felt unsettled not knowing what would come up and out, but I knew from past experiences that the discovery and release of old trauma would be worth it. As the rhymical vibrations of the music penetrated my mind and body creating feelings of relaxation, the diaphragmic breathing began. The trained guides, Rachelle and Paige, helped us to continue following our breath while creating a very safe space to let go. I had no idea how long I had been breathing. Time was irrelevant. As before I began to have visions. I just happen to be very visionary. However, breathwork is a unique and personal journey for each person with or without visions.
As in a dream, my spirit animal hawk came to me. He flew with me over the Sea of Cortez and into the big sky flying higher and higher. And with great delight I landed in the arms of my mother and father. They were smiling. They were together. My parents divorced when I was 10 years old and had a divisive relationship for decades. My father passed away 6 years ago and my mother 9 months ago. Yet here they were telling me we are here. Our daughter, they both told me, you have the courage and the strength and our love to continue walking your path while on Earth. Tears fell from my happy eyes and my soul soared with a sense of completion and yet, before this breathwork experience, I had no idea just how much my family splitting apart broke my little girl heart all those years ago.
At the end of the breathwork session we were asked to share our experiences. Listening to one another offered a supportive space to be held in a circle of caring.
When I returned home, I hiked into the redwood forest carrying some of my mother’s ashes and spread them there at the base of a special tree that for years I went to hug and remember my father.
Friends, may you have a new year that is open to exploring your intuitive insights for greater peace, potential, and possibilities.
Intention: Remember that your breath can help you heal so you can be more present in the precious moments of your one life.