Welcome to this meditation on healing from autonomic dysfunction.
The autonomic nervous system is part of the nervous system that controls involuntary body functions such as heart rate,
Blood pressure,
Digestion,
Respiration,
Temperature regulation,
And endocrine activity.
It has two branches,
The sympathetic nervous system which prepares our body for stress or danger by increasing heart rate,
Blood pressure,
And energy availability.
It also has a parasympathetic nervous system which promotes relaxation,
Digestion,
And recovery by slowing heart rate,
Lowering blood pressure,
And conserving energy.
A well-functioning autonomic nervous system maintains balance otherwise known as homeostasis in our nervous system.
It allows us to adapt and change to the needs of our environment and when we are ill oftentimes the autonomic nervous system isn't functioning optimally and it can create really concerning symptoms.
We can have symptoms such as a fast heart rate or a very slow heart rate.
We can feel like we can't stand for prolonged periods of time or walk.
We get dizzy and lightheaded.
We might have blood pressure fluctuations or feel like we're going to pass out or we do pass out.
There can be cognitive difficulties.
There can be mood issues.
We can have pain.
There can also be abdominal issues.
We might have difficulty sweating or regulating our temperature.
We might have cold hands and feet and in general we might have this fatigue,
Muscle weakness,
And exercise intolerance.
So as you can see,
Dysautonomia or autonomic dysfunction can contribute to a whole host of symptoms.
There are many causes of this from genetic and hereditary issues.
There can be what are known as idiopathic forms,
Which we don't really know the cause,
And there can also be secondary or acquired causes that come from autoimmune disorders such as Sjogren's or lupus or multiple sclerosis.
We can have these post-viral sequelae from long COVID,
Lyme disease,
Or Epstein-Barr.
There can also be thyroid issues or metabolic diseases that play into it,
Neurological injuries from spinal cord or traumatic brain injury.
We can have medication or toxin-induced issues as well.
So with that brief background,
If you're here today,
I'm imagining you are suffering from this in some form or fashion.
So I welcome you and I thank you for being here because I know it takes a lot of energy to show up in this way.
Let's begin our meditation first by orienting ourselves to our space,
Sending a signal of safety to our nervous system from the beginning,
Beginning to orient through our eyes if that's accessible,
Opening the eyes and looking in front of us gently to the sides.
We can look behind us to ensure that we are safe,
Tuning in to sounds in our environment,
Sounds that are close by,
Sounds that are further away,
Even the space between sound.
Noticing if we smell anything as we breathe in through the nose.
Nothing to fix or change here.
We're just becoming mindful of our environment.
Do we taste anything?
What do we notice in our sense of touch?
Can we feel our feet touching the earth beneath us or the body's weight beneath us or the body's weight on the earth beneath us?
You might feel clothes touching skin,
Air touching skin.
Sensing into whatever level of safety is available to us in this moment through our senses.
Right now,
We are here and now together,
Safe in this moment.
I invite you now to find a posture lying down.
This will allow us to more fully relax and receive the healing.
If lying down is uncomfortable,
However,
A seated posture is perfectly fine.
Closing the eyes.
And if closing the eyes is uncomfortable,
A soft gaze will work.
Inviting a few slow cleansing breaths,
Both elongating and slowing down the exhale.
Connecting now to our intention,
Our intention of healing and restoring balance to the autonomic nervous system.
Repeating this mantra a couple of times,
May I restore balance and homeostasis within my autonomic nervous system.
May I restore balance and homeostasis within my autonomic nervous system.
I offer the invitation to place one hand on the upper chest and one on the lower chest.
Take a few moments to feel the rise and fall of the chest into the hand.
Noticing if there is a part that feels more grounding,
Whether it's breathing into the chest or the belly.
Keeping that hand there.
Knowing that if at any point during the practice,
If it feels overwhelming,
Or if the attention is pulled out of this moment,
We gently return and notice the movement of the breath against the hand.
Allow the space of possibility to come into a light,
Forming in front of the heart,
A color,
Maybe even a shape forming.
We may know what is needed on a cognitive level,
And we may not,
And that's okay.
We can trust that our intention for healing will bring in everything that is needed for healing.
It settles into this beautiful light in front of the heart.
I open up our hand as it's resting on the chest or the belly and invite this light into the heart.
Opening the hand as if we are receiving it and then gently placing the hand over the heart as we guide this light into the heart space.
Inviting it into both the physical heart beating and the energetic heart space.
It brings a balanced strength to our next heartbeat.
Infusing the heart muscle and the blood vessels that nourish the heart.
We're infusing all of this with healing energy.
This healing light allows the heart to adapt to our ever-changing needs,
Whether that's changes in our posture,
Changes in our energy expenditure.
The healing light allows the muscles and the nerves.
With each heartbeat,
This beautiful healing light moves out of the heart.
Starting from the large aorta as it exits the heart,
Each branch from larger to smaller,
Smaller vessel and function.
We are receiving this healing into the entire vascular system.
I repeat,
I give myself permission to receive healing into every blood vessel.
My vascular system is healed and balanced.
From the blood vessels,
This healing light diffuses into our cells,
Bathing every cell surface with healing.
So all of our receptors are balanced and in homeostasis.
Inviting this healing light and warmth into the cells,
Moving them up into the brain.
This healing light into two key structures in the brain,
The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland,
Inviting in calming energy,
Allowing a reset and a reassurance to these structures.
To ensure balanced regulation of our stress responses,
Allowing us to mount a stress response and then recover back into a space of balance.
Harmonious energy to course out of the pituitary gland into our hormonal system.
These glands of body,
Such as the thigh,
Down into the adrenal gland,
Sitting on top of the kidneys.
Healing light allows the adrenals to produce important hormones,
Cortisol,
To enable our bodies to handle this form of healing light moves from the adrenal glands back up to the base of the brain.
Perfect communication between the adrenal gland.
These are important nerves for our rest and digest and overall recovery within the autonomic nervous system.
These incredible nerves course from the base of the brain all the way down into the abdomen.
Infuse these nerves with this healing light.
Inviting this light to hug the nerves from the brain stem.
Allowing this light to smooth out and heal.
From this place of parasympathetic balance,
We invite into the sympathetic nervous system,
Which helps us to mount a stress response and adapt.
Might invite this light into what are called the sympathetic chain of nerves coursing along both sides of the spine.
Gently lighting up these nerves from the base of the sacrum.
Both sides of the spine.
Branching out from the central column of the spine to the entire torso.
Practice the more we send a signal of healing to the autonomic nervous system,
Nurturing balance and harmony for healing and for living a fully healthy and happy life.
May this practice support you on your healing path and may it serve to reduce the suffering of all beings everywhere.
Many blessings.
Thank you.
