Somatic Inquiry - Relationship Circle Practice

Caught in the back-and-forth of not knowing whether to stay in your relationship?

The Circle Relationship Practice is a gentle guided meditation from Somatic Inquiry for anyone struggling in their primary romantic relationship, especially those torn about whether to stay.

You will imagine a circle that represents your relationship, sense how much of you is really inside it, then explore moving further in and further out, all the way to each edge, simply noticing what each position feels like in your body.

It is not about making a decision or figuring anything out. It is about feeling, clearly and without pressure, what more in and more out truly feel like, so any choice can come from a grounded, sovereign place rather than from fear or exhaustion.

Nothing is forced, there are no right answers, and you stay fully in charge throughout.

Transcript

Welcome to this Somatic Inquiry Relationship Circle Practice. This practice is for anyone struggling with their primary romantic relationship. Especially for those going back and forth on whether or not they want to be in it. Before we start, Let me tell you a little about what we're going to do, So you know what to expect. This is a gentle, Imaginative practice for exploring your relationship. The one you've been carrying and maybe going back and forth about. In a few minutes, I'm going to invite you to picture a simple circle that represents your relationship. We'll notice how far inside that circle you are right now. In other words, How much of you is really in this relationship? And then we'll experiment a little, Letting you move more in and more out. And even all the way to each edge. Here's the important part. The purpose of this isn't to make a decision today. And it isn't to figure out anything with your mind. The whole purpose is simply to feel. To notice what it's actually like in your body to be more in and more out of the relationship. That felt sense is real information and is yours to trust. So there are no right answers here and nowhere you have to end up. We're just going to explore and notice what we notice. Go ahead and let yourself settle into a comfortable position. You can let your eyes close or keep them softly open. Whatever feels right for you. There's nothing you need to figure out here, Nothing you have to decide. Just notice what it's like to be here right now. You might let your attention come to where your body is making contact with the chair, The floor, The bed. Just feel that contact. And maybe wiggle your toes a little. Notice you have a body. Notice your breathing. If it feels okay, Place one hand on your belly and one hand over your heart. And just breathe. In through the belly and out through the heart. And then in through the heart. And down. And out through the belly. Just gently a few times, Syncing up the heart and the belly. Before we begin, Let's just set a simple intention. Everything we do here is in complete support of your healing, Your freedom, Your safety, And your connection. Including your connection with yourself. And whatever comes up as we do this, Any thought, Any feeling, Any sensation, It's only arising to be felt and to be cared for. There are no wrong answers here, We're only curious. And you can stop at any time, You are always in charge. Now, When you're ready, I'd like you to imagine a circle. This circle represents your relationship, Your primary relationship. Just let a circle appear however it appears for you. It might have a color, A size, An edge that's clear or soft. However it shows up is fine. And somewhere in relation to that circle is you. Now, I want you to just feel into this, Not think about it. But feel it. How much of you is inside that circle right now? In other words, How much are you in this relationship? Not how much you think you should be. Not how much you wish you were. Just right now, How far inside that circle are you? It might be that you're mostly in. Or maybe 75%. It might be halfway with one foot in and one foot out. It might be that only a small part of you is inside. Or something else entirely. Just let a sense of it come. How much of me is in this circle? There's no right number, Just notice whatever feels true. Okay, So you've got a sense of where you are. Now, And this is the heart of it, Just notice what that feels like. To be exactly this far in and this far out. What is it like in your body to be right here? Does it feel open or closed? Connected or disconnected? Does it bring a kind of peace or a kind of stress? Is there any place in your body that's holding something as you feel this position? You don't have to change anything. Just let yourself feel what this particular spot, This much in, This much out. Actually feels like. And give it full permission to feel exactly the way that it does. Now we're going to experiment a little. In a moment, I'm going to invite you to move. To let yourself move either more into the circle or more out of it. You can go in whichever direction you like. There's no right way to go. Just notice which direction you feel drawn to and let yourself move that way. So go ahead now, Let yourself move either more in or either more out. And when you've moved, Just notice, Where are you now? How much in or how much out are you? And now notice what this feels like, This new position. Does it feel more open or more closed? More connected or more disconnected? Does it feel lighter or heavier? Just feeling it, Giving it permission to be exactly what it is. Now let's keep exploring. This time I want to invite you to move in the other direction. Wherever you didn't go before. If you moved in, Try moving out. If you moved out, Try moving in. Go ahead and let yourself move that way now. Where are you now and what does this feel like in your body? Just noticing. More open, More closed, More connected, More disconnected. Does it feel more expansive or more contracted? Now. Just as an experiment and only for a moment. I want you to see what it's like to move all the way out of the circle, Completely outside, 0% in. You can always come back, This is just for a moment. So let yourself step entirely outside the circle now. And notice. What's it like out here fully outside the relationship? What happens in your body? What feeling is here? It might be relief. It might be grief. It might be fear or spaciousness. It could be loneliness or freedom or several things at once. Whatever's here, Just let it be here. Give it full permission. We're not deciding anything. We're just noticing what all the way out actually feels like. Now, When you're ready, Again just for a moment. I want you to see what it's like to move all the way in. Completely inside the circle, 100% in, Fully in the relationship. Let yourself move all the way in now. And notice what is it like in here, Fully in. What happens in your body. Does it feel warm or tight? Safe or trapped. Is it like coming home or disappearing? Again, Whatever's here is welcome. Give it permission to be exactly what it is. We're just feeling what all the way in. Is actually light. Okay, You felt a lot of positions now. Where you started, More in, More out, All the way out, All the way in. So now, Just let yourself settle wherever feels honest in this moment, Not where you think you should be, Just where you actually are right now as you sense the circle. How much in or how much out are you now? And what does that feel like? You might notice your sense of it has shifted a little, Or a lot, Or not at all. Any of that is fine. We're just gathering information. Now, Let the circle gently fade, Knowing you can return to it whenever you like. And let's come back to right here. Feel the contact of your body with the chair, The floor, The bed. Wiggle your toes. Take a slower, Fuller breath. Notice anything that feels even a little bit good or settled or simply real here in this moment. You didn't have to decide anything today. You just let yourself feel what it's like to be more in and more out. All the way in and all the way out. That felt sense is yours now. It's information you can trust, And you can keep listening to it. Whatever you discovered, Even something surprising, Even something unfinished, It's welcome. And you get to keep moving at exactly your own pace. When you're ready, Let your eyes open. And let yourself come all the way back. Thank you for practicing today.