What about those emotions?

“Every tear not shed is a stoppage, every protest not voiced sits in you and makes you express it where it is inappropriate”

-pl 190

Photo by Nik on Unsplash

Hi everyone!

I shared this quote in one of our ALIGN sessions a few weeks ago. Then, we did a drawing practice to really see what was up and in our energy field, what was alive yet unexpressed. Collectively we shared about it, danced with it, connected to it.

But also-I have to own, when I first read this quote I was like.. REALLY? EVERY SINGLE ONE!? Every tear not shed, every protest not expressed? It is overwhelming- I am looking at 52 years of who knows how many unexpressed impluses of my emotional body. 52 years of probably swallowing grief and rage in an often unconcious response.

It is intense.

So I am chewing on it now (notice lots of throat metaphors), and the guidance that comes is- not every single slight, hurt, memory, needs to be dissected and unpacked in order to be released. In Core Energetics we learned how memories combine, energy attaches to like energy, so unpacking a sticky ball of grief, or a firey center of rage will move a lot of the past at once. Thank goodness.

If things are not in the conciousness how do we know they are there? Well, I also hate to admit how true this part of the statement is, but unprocessed emotions do come out in ways that are inappropriate, often hurtful of ourselves or others. And it is very human, who has not had the experience of their emotions flying out sideways? Of hitting against something or someone that you really dont actually feel that strongly about, but they somehow shook the little tendrils of the held feeling.

When it is misdirected and unexamined it causes a lot of trouble, but this is also the same process that provides the map to examine what is underneath, as well as the catharis of art. For instance; that movie that makes you cry, or laugh, or rage, that music that makes you shake it out. We crave catharis becuase it helps move stuck emotions.

And I have found, even more direct at clearing the old emotions is working on our own creative process. To access the deeper, more unconcious material we often need a process that bypasses our concscious and critical mind. We can draw, sound, MOVE- express, create. And then sit back and say, wow-what was that inside of me? What did this creative process reveal about what I was hiding from myself?

We move forward and embrace our shadow work, accept our emotions, and also— turn our gaze so that we are not trapped in endless cycles of analyzing (a mind process) every hurt, but instead having the courage to feel ( a body process) the intense emotions we were avoiding to begin with.

And then? Then what? Move through, move on, but move on with a drop of the courage to keep things expressed in the moment, to feel our feelings, cry our tears, voice our protests as they come up, not tuck them away for later processing. We can try at least. We keep creating, we keep learning and growing.

At least, I hope so! For my own sake and for yours.

Photo by Ardian Lumi on Unsplash

WAYS TO ENGAGE FURTHER:

Community:

As I write this I am remembering my friend Tsuyuno is offering an online workshop called the Hearth of Rage- starting this Sunday, dealing specifically with fire and anger. Creating container for it to be felt, understood, honored and moved. I have been in several of her containers and they are potent and kind. You can ask her questions here: Tsuyuno at wandersensedream@gmail.com

Work with me:

ALIGN Spring Session- April 7th through June 12th.

For the spring series our theme is the energy of spring- fertility, growth, expansion, storms. Our short and potent practices are magnetized around this theme, with room for adjustments and evolutions. Movement, Meditation, Teachings, Journal prompts.

Tu/TH and sometimes FRI. 8-8:30 am PST, a few bonus times.

EARLY BIRD pricing- register by March 28th, $190/series. Can be made in two payments $95 now, $95 by June 1. After March 28th, $240/series.

QUESTIONS about ALIGN, SESSIONS, AND OTHER SMALL GROUPS EXPERIENCES: contact me directly by replying to this email.