There was conversation today on the ideas that Lewis shared and taught us this past weekend. I thought about it and agree that what Lewis shared with us could be viewed as two models of circle. One as ceremony, one as storytelling. The thing is though that the two are not really separate. And healing is part of both, and in my view they are one in the same.
The Women's Circle that meets in our community, in my mind, does the same thing. It has all of the elements. We have sacred space. What is shared in the Circle stays within the Circle, confidentiality and safe space are core. There is a center with a candle and talking pieces. The talking piece is a way to respectfully move us around the Circle so that all are heard and all are listened to without interruption. The sharing of stories, and a topic of some kind brings out the stories. We have an opening and a closing. I know that for myself that process is very healing and has been so for all of the time that I have co-lead or lead Circle over the years. That to me is ceremony as well as storytelling.
We come together, we create a sacred space through our intent. The differences that I see in what Lewis shared with us includes more focus on one individuals story, the use of meditation, dream, visualization, telling a story verses having a topic as the catalyst to healing. All of these things can be incorporated from the model that I shared from our womens Circle in a way that feels good to all. I don't think or feel we need to reinvent the wheel.
Some mentioned that they were really more interested in a healing circle. Well from my perspective this is both. It is neither just story, nor just healing. It is both and that is my take on how I hold space for the circle and what I would like to experience in it. It's a smaller model of what I am doing in my work as a Cantadora (keeper of the old stories) writer, healer, coach and teacher.
Story is extremely healing. It can boost the immune system, increase DHEA, support clearer thinking and actions and so much more. Story can also deplete energy. It can cause your immune levels to drop for hours and increase cortisol which is a stress hormone that can lead to weight gain around the middle, aging, and many other health related side effects. The American Institute of Stress cites that up to 90 percent of all health problems are related to stress. Chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, depression, and sleep disorders. Our "stories" which are thoughts and emotions lead to the way in which we react and feel. What our bodies do and how they react can be seen in our the story-thoughts.
It's all about what story you are telling. What do you believe? What are you living? How can you make changes? Ask for help? What story would you like to pass on to your ancestors?
You can see the effects of a thought, the emotion of it in real time. A coherent, joyful thought (story) can show up as smooth waves on a heart rate variability reading. It can recharge you. An incoherent story-thought, one that is stressful shows up as jagged waves, it depletes.
Which one do we choose? We have free will and we get to choose a new story. One small step at a time. Sometimes there are big aha's and we take bigger steps of understanding. Sometimes maybe we move like turtle towards the new or more true story and that is okay too.
These are my thoughts on this. From years of doing my version of the work, teaching it, modeling it, living it. And it is an ongoing process that I will always be working on. I am by no means, done or perfect or have all the answers. In fact I have no answers for anyone else. Just my own experience to reflect upon and share and perhaps in that, a healing takes place. I fall down and get up just like everyone else. I have excuses that are valid. Just like everyone else. This is what I do as a writer, healer, coach and teacher. This is how I see me in my work. In Story. In Circle.
How about You? What is your story?
Warmly,
Nellie
Comments