Hello,
And welcome to the fifth and final day of Spring Break.
This is Aileen,
Your guide as you've journeyed through your five senses,
Deepening your connection with your body and the earth,
And cultivating a sense of awe,
Wonder,
Belonging,
And deep and nourishing rest.
Take a moment now to get comfy,
Either sitting or laying down,
Whatever feels best in this moment,
And really allow yourself to arrive.
Feel your body supported and your breath easy in your lungs.
Notice your belly soften and expand on the in-breath,
And your shoulders soften and settle on the out-breath.
I'm so glad you could join me to a place in nature.
Maybe it's the same place you've been journeying to all week,
Or it could be somewhere entirely new.
Wherever you find yourself,
Take a few moments to look around and notice the details.
Now bring your attention to your sense of touch.
Feel your feet on the earth beneath you.
Perhaps you take off your shoes if you are wearing any,
To experience the energy of the earth directly through the soles of your feet.
Feel the breeze gentle on your cheeks,
Lifting your hair softly away from your forehead.
Reach out a hand and touch something nearby.
Explore this world through your fingertips,
The soles of your feet,
And any other part of your body that you desire.
And if your mind has wandered,
Gently bring it back.
Return your focus to the awareness of touch.
Perhaps you feel the rough bark of a tree under your fingertips,
Or the springy softness of moss supporting your whole body as you lay comfortably in its embrace.
Or maybe the silky petals of your favorite flower brush your bare arm.
Keep exploring,
Keep feeling,
Keep touching.
And now gently bring your awareness back to your body and the room.
Feel the support of your chair or cushion,
Whatever surface you are on.
Notice the weight of your clothing draped over you.
Margaret Atwood says that touch comes before sight,
Before speech.
It is the first language and the last,
And it always tells the truth.
Human touch is essential to our well-being.
It can reduce our heart rate and blood pressure,
And helps us deepen relationships and strengthen bonds through the release of oxytocin,
Known as the love hormone.
It also reduces cortisol,
And may have a beneficial effect on our immune system.
Touch can be deeply pleasurable in both intimate and non-intimate settings.
And beyond human touch,
This sense allows us to explore and experience our environment in a rich and connective way.
There is so much pleasure to be had in feeling different textures.
Silky clothing on your skin,
The soft fur of a beloved animal,
Satisfying pop of bubble wrap.
Ask yourself,
How often do you touch things in nature?
How often do you allow yourself to be in direct contact with the living world,
Without the impediment of shoes?
Earthing is the practice of being in direct contact with the surface of the earth,
And by extension,
With the electrons on it.
Preliminary studies have shown that this connection,
Or reconnection,
With the earth's energies improves sleep,
Reduces chronic pain and inflammation,
And lowers cortisol levels.
Today,
I encourage you to get outside and connect nature with your sense of touch.
If you are able to go barefoot,
Please do,
And send me a message so I can live vicariously through you.
If you aren't able to be barefoot outside yet,
Find a tree to touch.
Ask its permission,
And lay your palm on its trunk.
Feel the rough bark.
Imagine the slow movement of sap running upwards inside of it.
Stay a moment and breathe.
If you can't get outside,
For whatever reason,
Commune with your indoor plants through touch.
Feel the different textures of their leaves,
Caress them gently,
And thank them for their presence.
I would like to thank you for your presence here with me this week.
I hope you have found a greater sense of connection to your body and the earth.
You may return to these recordings as often as you like for the next month and a half,
Until the wheel of the year turns again and Beltane greets us.
If you have any questions,
Or comments,
Or just want to chat,
Please do not hesitate to reach out.
Take good care.
