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What is Embodiment?

What is Embodiment?

"Embodiment is the practice of attending to your sensations. Awareness of your body serves as a guiding compass to help you feel more in charge of the course of your life. Somatic awareness provides a foundation for empathy, helps you make healthy decisions, and gives important feedback about your relationships with others. Embodiment in somatic psychology applies mindfulness and movement practices to awaken body awareness as a tool for healing." -Dr. Arielle Schwartz

When I first learned of somatic movement in 2014, I did not want to touch it. In my head-centric ways, I was focused on "moving on" from my past using both spiritual and mental bypassing. When I would meditate, I would initially ground my energy into the earth. But I also loved to explore the universe and astral realms. In yoga classes, I would grunt through the class, always self-conscious. I compared myself to the most flexible yogis in the room. I heavily identified with my inflated animus. At the time, feeling into the body felt very uncomfortable and unknown, so I didn't want to go there.

The Hero's Journey: A Path of Self-Discovery and Universal Understanding

The Hero's Journey: A Path of Self-Discovery and Universal Understanding

Every generation deepens our understanding of the complexities of the human psyche. Two of the most influential thinkers in this regard were Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell, who developed groundbreaking frameworks for examining the unconscious mind. In particular, Campbell's concept of the "monomyth" and the "Hero's Journey" has had a lasting impact on storytelling and culture.

George Lucas famously drew on Campbell's work when creating the epic Star Wars franchise. But the roots of the Hero's Journey go back even further, to ancient mythology. It was Jung and Campbell who provided the modern understanding and structure we use to analyze these stories today

The Power of Synchronicity: How to Embrace Meaningful Coincidences in Your Life

The Power of Synchronicity: How to Embrace Meaningful Coincidences in Your Life

Have you ever experienced a moment where you randomly bumped into an old friend you were just thinking about? Or received a phone call from someone you were just thinking of calling? These types of events are often called coincidences or synchronicities, and they can have a profound impact on our lives.

Synchronicity is a concept that was first introduced by the Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. He defined it as a meaningful coincidence that occurs without any apparent cause. Essentially, it's when two or more events happen in a way that seems to defy the laws of probability and suggests a deeper connection.

Understanding Shadow Projection: How Our Unconscious Beliefs Shape Our Perception of Others

Understanding Shadow Projection: How Our Unconscious Beliefs Shape Our Perception of Others

Projection is a complex psychological phenomenon that occurs when we unconsciously attribute to others the qualities or traits that we cannot or do not want to recognize in ourselves. This can happen in many areas of our lives, such as in our personal relationships, at work, in our communities, and even in our political views.

For example, if someone has an unconscious fear of being abandoned, they may project this fear onto their partner and perceive them as distant or uncaring, even if their partner is not behaving in that way. In reality, the person is projecting their own fear of abandonment onto their partner, which can lead to misunderstandings and conflict in the relationship.