Finding Inner Safety: Connecting with Your Body of Light
If you’ve engaged in shadow work but still feel unsafe in your body, you’re not alone. The reality is that inner safety isn't solely found by exploring the darker aspects of our experiences. In fact, over-focusing on these shadowy elements can lead to increased dysregulation within the body.
In my healing journey, I recognized a significant gap in many healing discussions. While addressing challenging emotional and energetic experiences is crucial, it must be done with a focus on safety to avoid overwhelming an already strained system. The phrase “feel it to heal it” is common in many conversations, and while it holds truth, it requires a more nuanced approach.
The Importance of Inner Safety
My clients often understand my commitment to establishing a felt sense of safety, pleasure, or neutrality as the starting point for any inner exploration. By connecting with our ability to feel safe in the present, we create a pathway toward addressing the energy of challenging inner experiences. Cultivating inner safety gradually expands our capacity to engage with these painful experiences, allowing us to hold them with love and work toward their completion and integration.
Regardless of our past, we all possess an inherent capacity for safety. This ability exists within us, waiting to be discovered. In somatic experiencing, this safe haven is often referred to as the “counter vortex,” an enchanting source of strength.
Understanding the Counter Vortex
The counter vortex is the part of us that remains untouched by trauma. It’s where we begin to rebuild our sense of safety. One of my revered spiritual teachers, Sarah Blondin, describes this inner space as our "body of light." She explains that this sacred part of us is governed by love, light, and kindness. It embodies our trust in life, irrespective of our experiences.
If you’re like many of my clients, you might wonder if access to this inner light is available to you. The answer is a resounding yes! I've witnessed—and experienced—the profound existence of this body of light in every individual.
Navigating Disconnect and Sensations
So, how do we access this inner safety when our bodies feel overwhelmed or numbed? Remember, these sensations do not indicate that something is wrong; rather, they signify that your nervous system is functioning perfectly, protecting you from perceived threats.
Through a process known as neuroception, our nervous systems continuously evaluate our internal and external environments for danger. This innate function is essential for survival. Since the nervous system isn't bound by linear time, it may respond to present experiences reminiscent of past threats. This is why orienting to safety is pivotal—it helps us stay grounded in the present, signaling to our bodies that we are secure.
Finding Safety in the Present Moment
Even in states of overwhelming sensation or disconnection, we can reconnect with safety by focusing on external cues that signal comfort, neutrality, or pleasure. By gradually tuning into our bodies, we can reignite that felt sense of safety.
Guided Pendulation Exercise: Reconnect to Your Body of Light
Sensory Orientation: Begin by focusing on an object in your environment through the sensory experience that resonates with you most—this could be touch, sight, or sound. For instance, listen to the sounds of birds outside, feel the softness of a blanket, or admire a beautiful painting on your wall.
Experience the Object: Engage with the object through this sense. Notice the tactile sensation, the auditory nuances, or the colors that capture your attention. What sensations arise in relation to this experience?
Register Your Body's Response: Pay attention to the signals your body sends. You might notice spontaneous inhalation, relaxation of your shoulders, or outward stretching. It's perfectly fine if you experience something different—or nothing at all!
Tune Into Changes: As you continue engaging with the object, observe any shifts in your thoughts or sensations. They may transition from harsh to gentle, or you might even visualize pleasant imagery.
Focus on Sensation: If you feel a sense of safety begin to awaken in your body, direct your awareness toward that sensation. Stay with this feeling as long as it feels safe for you, whether that’s seconds or minutes.
Re-orient: After engaging with that sensation, return your focus to the external object. Notice any changes in how you feel after transitioning back.
Repeat the Process: Continue alternating between focusing on the external object and your bodily sensations of safety or neutrality. Observe any shifts or expansions in your experience with each cycle.
Complete the Practice: You may conclude this exercise whenever it feels complete for you.
By cultivating this practice, you nurture your connection to your body of light, fostering a greater sense of safety, healing, and peace.
