creating a safe space
Safety has been a big buzzword in the healing community lately. It is often paired with nervous system regulation. What does this mean? Safety is felt in the body first…not in the mind. It might arrive as a soft exhale, a loosening in the shoulders, or the freedom to simply be without bracing or rushing. The body is brilliantly crafted and knows at a cellular level if it is safe. Animals know this, honor this, and live this way. Our animal bodies long for this level of intuitiveness and awareness.
I recently took an art journaling class and we were asked to choose our most important core values. In order to do this, we needed to be clear about what we believe and hold important. We can figure this out through our intentions, words, thoughts, and behaviors that align with those beliefs. I found that “safety” was my ultimate core value. For me, everything else falls into place when I feel safe. I believe safety rose to the top for me because, during my childhood, I always strived to make myself feel safe because my surroundings did not provide that for me. This need for safety continues to be a consistency in my life.
I strive for my clients to feel safe when they visit the farm. Feeling safe allows them to relax, unwind, and fully embody who they are while they are here. It’s a time to find love, joy, and connection in a place where you feel safe. Our recent Grief Recovery Retreat is a perfect example of needing to feel safe in order to process grief that has been held in the body. Those who came for the weekend felt the impact of the space created to allow their healing journey to evolve.
How do you promote safety in your nervous system or create a safe space? It helps to focus on activities that help regulate your body’s stress response and create a feeling of calm and security. You can achieve this through practices like mindful breathing, meditation, gentle movement, spending time in nature, and engaging in activities that foster connection and support. You can always find these things within a safe space here at Alchemy’s Touch.
Much love,
Margo & the Herd