Get Grounded (Part 2)

Tina Azaria

In space and timeThe ground nourishes our roots. Like a tree, we gain energy, nourishment, stability and growth when we are grounded in the present moment, present in the body and firmly connected to our environment. Without presence, we are separated from ourselves, from nature and from our sources of soul connection in this world. (Read Part 1 for more info).

Grounding anchors us in Time and Space – By excavating our roots we connect to older, deeper, and more instinctual parts of ourselves. We are in touch with the depths of our humanity and what Carl Jung called the collective unconscious – the immeasurable storehouse of human knowledge, experience, and wisdom available to everyone.

When we claim our roots, we connect to our past, our family history and cultural heritage. It helps us know who we are and where we come from. It gives us a center point inside of ourselves, a root to the world tree, of which all people are a part. When we ground ourselves and get rooted we strengthen our natural instincts and can draw from the vast wisdom of our bodies and of the earth.

mapGrounding gives us direction. Cut off from this vital source of connection and wisdom, we can more easily lose our path in life. Many people who have not found their true path may have simply not yet found their ground. Gazing skyward, we don’t see the point (in time and space) where our feet meet the path below and in front of us.

It makes us more effective – When you bring your consciousness down into your body, into the Root Chakra (at the base of your spine) and get grounded (see meditation at the end of this post) you will gain a real anchor. Visualizing and directing your thoughts will literally help you be more grounded. When you’re grounded you’re more effective in the “real” world. (Read Part 1 for more info).

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Get Grounded (Part 1)

Tina Azaria

shoes up highGrounding is essential to growth, to spiritual progress and to real-world success. It’s so important that it’s frequently an emphasis in my work with individuals and in groups. Without a solid foundation beneath us, without deep and sturdy roots, growth is simply not sustainable.

Our ability to ground forms the ground ie. the foundation on which everything in our lives rests – everything we are, everything we do, everything we have rests on our groundwork. To construct a sturdy building, we need a solid foundation. For a tree to grow healthy, strong, and sizeable, it must have secure roots.

So what does it mean to be “grounded” or “rooted” in terms of practical, day-to-day life?

There’s several different ways I look at it and like to approach the topic of grounding.

First and foremost, it’s about presence – presence in the body, presence in the immediate physical environment, and presence in the current moment. Grounding allows us to become present in the here and now, which is the only place where we can truly experience our lives and make real or lasting changes.

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Gentle Expansion

Tina Azaria

lupineIt’s summer in Northern California. All around there are signs of growth and ripening. Summertime often ushers in a period of gentle expansion for plants and people alike. It’s a time when energy organically moves outward toward blooming and blossoming. It’s often a time of opening and extending, as is reflected to us by the natural world. Just think of all the flowering plants and shrubs that share their beauty and bounty during the warmer months. Imagine the inner impulse of those resolute vine tendrils you see, always reaching and stretching to the light during the sultry summer season.

I’ve been findinboatg myself pulled out into the world the past few months, as well. Summer can bring out my social, playful, adventurous sides. The world beckons, and when I’m not working with amazing students, clients and colleagues, I’m called out into sunshine dappled forests, days at the beach, parties, picnics, quiet walks and tea in the park. And, to be honest, the last thing I want to do is sit at my computer any longer than I have to. Even to do things I typically enjoy, like writing and making digital art.

I was starting to feel a little self-critical about taking such a long pause from blogging. I’ve been inundated with messaging, especially aimed at those of us who are self-employed that says: “be consistent, be reliable, be predictable.” Yes, I totally get the logic in that. That can be pretty sound advice. Yet, I have also learned that, ultimately, what I really need to do is trust my own natural rhythms of gentle expansion and contraction, introverting and extroverting, efforting and allowing, even when they don’t match up – to my own expectations; to the imagined expectations of others; or to the recommendations and standards I encounter “out there” in the world.

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Traveling Lightly

Tina Azaria

vintage bagAs I was packing for my latest teaching adventure, the 5 day Joyous Being Retreat, in Kona, Hawaii, I realized that part of my joy rests in traveling lightly. This practical insight, that came as I was trying to figure out how to pack for a 13 day trip (that was part work, part play, and included packing a mini art studio into my luggage for our mask making foray,) has yielded deeper self-realizations. I love when that happens.

With some planning and determination, I was able to fit it all, with a little room to spare, in my regular suitcase that can be carried on a plane (Though TSA frowns upon scissors, exact-os, glue and tubes of paint in carry-on, so I checked it). Traveling lightly has become a powerful metaphor for how I wish to move through the world. And I’ve realized this has been a big part of my personal transformation story. When I thought about it, this little intention / prayer came.

I intend to live lightly on this earth, in my body, heart, soul and mind.
I intend to travel lightly through this world, leaving and giving more than I take.
I intend to hold my work lightly until it becomes the play it was meant to be from the beginning.
I intend to hold others lightly and respectfully.
When I fall short in my intentions, I re-up and stretch my commitment to travel lightly through life.

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Art (&Life) on its Own Time

Tina Azaria

Instruct MaskOne of the things I find mysterious and fascinating about creative work (of any kind) is the way it seems to take on a life of its own, during the creative process (and certainly, after it’s completed as well.) I recently completed a mask that I had started a few years ago, then set aside. Sometimes my life moves at such a pace that it’s hard to keep up with my creative work. I’m sure many of you can relate.

I get inspired; I begin working with the inspiration; I get interrupted; (kids, pets, life…) and my attention is demanded in another area. Life keeps moving. Fast. Times passes. Inspiration comes; I begin…you get the idea.

Sometimes I hit a mysterious point where I suddenly need to complete all open projects, or release them (into the ethers with fire, or into the earth for decomposition) in a decisive, yet ceremonial way. I’m in that phase again.

Yet, at the same time, it often seems that a piece of art is a mysteriously living thing that has its own timeline. Such was the case with this mask.

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Navigating Sudden Change

Tina Azaria

You know how it is. You’re flowing along in life’s stream when suddenly there’s a fork in the river and the current forces you into a direction that’s not exactly of your choosing. It’s moving so fast that all you can do is surrender and hold on for the ride. It’s a fact that Life may, at times, push you in a direction you had not expected or decidedly did not want to go. I know it’s happened to me many times before, and it’s happening to me once again.

So, how do you navigate the surprising and sudden turns in life course?

RiverFirst, stay present with what’s happening.

As hard as it may be to stay in the present moment, it is essential when life throws you those big curve balls. The worst thing you can do is deny, avoid, or try to escape from what’s happening. Stay grounded in your body and be sure to mindfully (and heartfully) tend to your basic needs. It may sound obvious, but in times of heightened stress, it can be easy to forget or neglect proper nourishment, rest, and the tools that keep us in balance such as meditation and exercise. At times of increased anxiety, overwhelm, confusion, etc. these things become more essential than ever. A good practice is to take a deep breath, bring awareness into your body and ask yourself “What do I need right now?” Then listen and lovingly respond.

Next, allow yourself to feel, express, and release your emotions (in a healthy way, of course – no yelling at the neighbors or kicking computers, please.)

It’s essential that you honor your emotional state by simply letting yourself feel how you feel, without judging, analyzing, or fixing. If you feel numb from the shock of sudden events, it can help to talk to someone you trust and feel comfortable with, or ask them for a hug if you can’t find words. Sometimes hearing ourselves say something out loud, or feeling a loving embrace, can thaw frozen emotions. You can also use writing, art, movement, and sound to help you express and release emotions you may not yet have words for. The point is, do not stuff, numb, or push away your feelings. Doing so will increase the sense of pressure and may lead to inappropriate emotional outbursts or somatic complaints such as headaches. If you need help with this, don’t hesitate to find a professional to work with.

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Take Time to Reflect

Tina Azaria

As one year fades into another, it can be helpful to take some quiet time to reflect on where we’ve come from, where we’re at, and where we’re headed.

tea & journalI love to make a hot cup of tea, sit with my journal and review the year behind me, as I contemplate the year ahead. I try to focus on having gratitude for what I have done while acknowledging and learning from what I haven’t (with kindness and self-compassion). I give thanks for my blessings, release the unmet goals, unfulfilled desires, and unlived dreams, and I feel into what my heart and soul wish to dedicate time, energy and resources to going forward.

I look back in time – Where was I at last month, last year, or maybe even last decade?

I examine the present – Where am I right now in my life?

I look to the future – Where do I envision myself going?

Reflecting and planning has become an annual ritual that creates a sense of continuity in my life. Rituals serve an important function for the human psyche. Rituals help establish rhythms and patterns, (like those of nature), in our fluid and fast-moving lives. They give us a way to mark our own movement through the wheel of time. Rituals provide a container that holds life in place on deep and profound levels in the human psyche. That’s why our ancestors have performed them for eons. They create a sense of continuity on the timeline of life. Reflection rituals help us integrate our past and present so that we can move into the future with awareness, balance, and hopefully, a sense of wholeness.

I wish you many blessings for 2015!

My Poetry Book is on its way!

Tina Azaria

After years of false starts, stepping up and then backing down, beginning to create it, then trashing it again and again, I’ve finally finished my first book of poetry. It will be available for purchase soon on Amazon

Sprung by Tina AzariaSprung: Poetry of Emergence 

Poetry can act as a healing balm for a wounded soul. It expresses and conveys the subtleties and complexities of human experiences, and elicits a deep understanding and emotional response in the reader. Poetry can help us to see more clearly and to feel more deeply, and that is its true power and beauty.

SPRUNG, Poetry of Emergence is a collection of poems and prose written over the course of several decades. These writings explore a mytho-poetic journey through modern-day initiatory experiences that transformed one woman from a wounded child into a compassionate guide for others on a healing journey. Some of the work in this book has been previously published in literary journals and has been used by organizations and therapists who work with individuals who are recovering from trauma, as well as in women’s circles and other events.

Sweet Synchronicity

Tina Azaria

HappyI love synchronicities. They give me chills. They make me giggle. They make me scratch my head in wonder. They create a feeling that everything is connected and give me a sense that my life, and all it’s made up of, has depth, richness, and meaning.

Carl Jung first introduced the idea of synchronicity. Basically, it’s a significant “coincidence” where an external, physical phenomenon has a meaningful connection to a person’s internal psychology. There is an acausal connection that, when probed, can yield deep insights into the workings of a particular psyche. Sounds kind of abstract, I know. Here’s an example of a synchronicity that occurred for me today.

Today marked 13 years of love, partnership, and the creative interweaving of two souls on separate yet connected journeys through this world. My sweetie and I spent the day together in Berkeley, brunching, strolling, and enjoying one another’s company as we celebrated the birth of our 13 year partnership.

20141207_151702We were blessed with a simple, yet sweet synchronicity that held so much meaning for us. It felt like an external affirmation of our romantic and creative union, custom fit to our sensibilities. We love to sit and talk and philosophize about the world, culture, the earth, ourselves. We love art, and especially street art, including simple self-expressive graffiti (yes, I know it’s often done illegally, but hey, I see the beauty in it).

We sat for a long time on an enclosed bench on the Berkeley pier, looking out at the bay, watching the white sailed boats, the grey winged birds, the misty green hills as we talked about Life, and specifically, our life together as a creative husband and wife duo.

20141207_144839I glanced at the wall next to him and suddenly saw a spray painted engagement ring that I hadn’t noticed. Then, I turned and looked behind me and saw the word “wife” painted. And here we were celebrating our anniversary. Hee hee. We could’ve sat on any one of 30 enclosed benches along the pier, but we chose this one, the one with street art about the archetypal phenomena we were marking and celebrating at that moment – love, romance, union, marriage, and the archetype of the wife (and by association, the husband), and it showed up in a way that connected us back to our relational beginnings as 2 artists coming together in an inner city art space, 13 years ago. It was a perfect anniversary gift for us.

20141207_145810I’m grateful for my incredibly supportive, creatively inspired and talented husband (check out his music here) and the years of partnership we’ve shared. I know I’m blessed. And I love the reflections and affirmations I see in the world around me, reminding me of my blessings.

Have you noticed any synchronicities in your life lately? I encourage you to begin noticing and tracking them (I do it in my journal) to see what insights you can glean about the patterns woven into your individual, unique soul.

13 years of love :)

13 years of love 🙂

 

It’s OK to Pause

Tina Azaria

girl on chairToday I spoke with a close friend who is in the depths of grieving the sudden death of a loved one. It’s such a poignant reminder of the fragility of life, the preciousness of love and the strength and vulnerability of the human spirit.

As we spoke she shared her deep desire to take time away from her responsibilities to grieve and heal. Yet, she’s experiencing internal and external pressure to “buck up” and keep going when what she really needs is to pause and integrate a significant loss.

During times of difficulty, it’s a natural response to want to withdraw from life’s demands and focus on matters of the heart and soul. We shouldn’t need permission to do this, but unfortunately, we live in a culture that doesn’t understand the importance of pausing (unless we need to pee during our favorite show).

It’s OK to Pause

I am reminding myself, as I’m reminding her, that it’s OK to pause, to step back from keeping up appearances, holding it all together and making sure that everyone else is taken care of. Sometimes we need to shut the world out and focus on self.  I’ve noticed how hard it is for those of us who live in societies that glorify extroversion. Extroversion certainly has its place, but it can’t be center stage all the time without creating imbalance.

Why do so many of us feel guilt about slowing down, stepping back and taking care of deeper, less “worldly” aspects of our selves? We know our time here is precious, yet so often we sacrifice it to an ongoing stream of demands which hold very little lasting meaning.

Take Time to Rest and Replenish

Studies show that slowing down the pace of life helps to lower the risk of high blood pressure, improve relationships and even extend life.We know from research, but more importantly from experience, that it’s imperative to hit the pause button, to make time to rest and take care of ourselves. We have to regularly replenish in order to truly show up and to sustain output. It’s that simple. So why do some people seem so perplexed and even dismayed when we do it? Is it that they too long for a pause, but don’t yet know how to?

Be a Self Care Role Model

When we take time and expend resources on self-care, we’re not only ensuring our own well-being, we’re also role modeling an important lesson to those around us, especially our children. When we openly and unabashedly demonstrate the importance of regular time for introversion, rest and self care, (not only during crises, but on a regular basis) we’re creating a real-time antidote to the stress-inducing frenzy of a results-at-all-costs culture.

When we halt and become fully present in our lives and relationships, we experience more depth and meaning in the string of moments that make up our lives. When we care for our deeper yet more elusive psychological, emotional and spiritual needs, we unwittingly give others permission to do the same. And in the end, everyone benefits.

It’s OK to pause, to rest and take care of yourself when you need to. There’s time. The world and its demands will still be here when you’re replenished and ready to return. I can promise you that.