Connecting With Your Inner Self, Outside Of Gender

Amid soft birdsong, we'll be taking some time to connect with something at the heart of you that deserves some space to be.

There'll be some guided breathing as we put down the stresses of life and go to a place of safety, where you can tune into a vital inner part of yourself and see what's waiting there. At the end, we see what you need from yourself today and how you can hold onto that spark.

How would you be, if you were free from the expectations of other people, and gendered limitations? What would bring you joy, and what would feel right? You might find that it's what you were expecting, or there might be something that's been waiting for you to hear it.

You can do this from any position, and it doesn't require any specific movements. Find a quiet comfortable space, and engage with it in a way that works for you. While this was written with trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people in mind, if you aren't you're still welcome to give it a try... it might surprise you!

Transcript

Hello. It's nice to be here with you. On my end, The birds are singing and it's a beautiful day. Day we're going on a journey together. We're going to tune in to what you want for yourself. Or maybe what you haven't yet allowed yourself to want for yourself. Whether you experience this as a confirmation that you are where you want to be, A reaffirming of something you already want to bring into your life, Or a tentative exploration of another way to be, I'm glad that it found you. There's no right or wrong way to do this. Whatever comes up for you, Expected or not, Deserves space to be, And to be thought of, Without judgement or being dismissed. That being said, I'd recommend doing this when you have a nice, Quiet, Private space to yourself, And you know you won't be disturbed. It might also be good to do it at a time when you know you'll have some space afterwards, So that, If you need to, You can stay with the feelings that come up and be gentle with yourself before having to go back into the outside world. But if you need time to get into that quiet private place, To get comfortable, Pause this track here and then unpause when you're ready to start. Alright, I'm going to invite you to find a position that feels comfortable to you. That might be sitting, Lying down, Or something in between. You might like to have a pillow or something soft to hold or be held by, Or you might feel best on your own. Your eyes can be open or closed, Whichever feels nicer right now. Find that position, Whatever it is. Take a deep breath in and out with me. And as you breathe out, Notice any points of tension or stress in your body. Take another deep breath in. Out. If there's anything that you can do for those parts of yourself, Whether that's consciously relaxing them or adjusting your position, You can do that now. Feeling your lungs and your ribs expand, Let's take one last deep breath in together. Let it go. Keep breathing in a way that feels right to you. With each breath in, You're bringing yourself into this moment, Grounding yourself in this space. With each breath out, You're letting go of the stresses and responsibilities of your day-to-day life. This is your space, Your body. Nobody can see you here. Nobody needs anything from you. You're safe here. We're connecting to something that's yours. This is just for you. And it's time to tune into something that's at the heart of you. Something that's bright and alive, Like a seedling or a flickering flame. Something that can't be extinguished or taken away. It's something that's so precious. It's the will to live and to follow what brings you joy and fulfillment in life. It's always been there, Even if sometimes it's been hidden under other people's plans for your life or overshadowed by things that have happened to you. And that happens easily, Right? Life gets in the way or people make it very clear how they want you to be, Who they want you to be, What you should and shouldn't want. But this space isn't for them, It's for you. If you were free from the expectations of your family, Your friends, Your partners, Your children, Your workplace, Your community, What would you want? What would you want to look like, Feel like, Act like? What would your life be like? If you didn't have to be limited by what you should look like or what people think your gender should be, How would you want to dress to present yourself? Can you picture that person? What kind of clothes would you want to wear? What ways would you want to decorate your body? If your body was allowed to change, What would feel right? In an ideal world, How would people refer to you? What name would you sign cards with, Hear called from across the room? This might not be a word, It might be something more gentle, Like a colour or a feeling. Without the weight of your history, Without expectations and responsibilities. In this moment, Now that it's just you, Who are you? What is radiating out from you? What has been growing inside you, Spreading its leaves? Who is there between your ribs when you breathe? What seed has been in you all along, Waiting? Picture yourself. You might be seeing a person or something else. You might look familiar or new. This is part of you. Hold that image or that feeling as you take a deep breath in. And let go, Knowing that you can keep it with you. Take another breath in. And let it go. Feel whatever you're feeling right now, Let it happen. If you need to move, To stretch, To hold yourself as you start to come back into your body, Do that. You are the only person who gets to decide who you are. That's not for anyone else to do, Just for you. This power, This life that's inside of you, It will always be there for you. Nobody can take it away. Let's take another three breaths in and out together. In. . . Letting whatever you're feeling wash over you. Breathe in. Out you create yourself every day final deep breath in and slowly let it go. You are wonderful, Beautiful. You can hold this space for yourself when you need it. And whatever this has stirred up in you, It's good for it to have had a space to be in. Feel in your body and mind what you'd like to do after this. You might want to rest, Create, Have a cry, Write or journal. It might be specific media that you feel drawn to watch or listen to. Or you might want to do stretches or exercise or have a sleep. You might suddenly realize that you're hungry, Thirsty or that there's something your body needs right now. What kindness could you show to yourself? And how could you honour this part of yourself that you've just connected with? See what comes to mind. Our time together is coming to an end now, But it's been wonderful holding a space with you. You can return here anytime you want. Take care, Be gentle with yourself, And I hope you have a lovely rest of your day.