Trauma, grief, pain, hurt, loss, joy, love, are all emotions we have been conditioned to consciously process through thought and sometimes feelings, yet we seldom focus on how much is stored and manifested in and through the physical body. Our body does not forget. It stores and aches until the alarm bells of pain are set off to get our attention. The westernized way of life has encouraged a reactive, quick-fix, ‘bandaid’ approach where we find ourselves in a space of survival mode. We become so disconnected that we feel like strangers in our own bodies, separated from the wisdom of healing that that we already house in the body. This also results in an inability to fully connect with others on a deeper level because we are not fully connected to self.
Although indigenous communities differ, there are many commonalities with regards to a deep relationship not only with the physical body, but with the land, the tribe, the cosmos, the ancestors and the sacredness of our health beliefs practices. Drawing on my own experience as an African traditional healer and complimentary therapy practitioner while working with indigenous women and men from all over Africa and Aotearoa, I found the thread of release , trauma and soul retrieval a commonality; release through the body and its unique ability to communicate its stored trauma and retrieval/ recalling of the soul from places of trauma. These aspects of connection, healing and growth of tradition and spiritual practises have been sidelined. This presentation looks at these elements needed for reconnection of self with the body in order to not only be present but to align the body/mind/spirit. We must remember...we must reconnect.