Another thing I learned in qigong class - the point in the middle of your palms is a great point for releasing emotions. As I work with it I realize that "hand-wringing" has a solid physiological basis - it really DOES disperse stress. the people that say "hand-wringing is a waste of time" are wrong.
I've been thinking about this all week. Qi gong has been helping me with this, as have some specific supplement (ashwaganda and l-theanine). In Chinese medicine they call it "harmonizing" the energy. As I'm learning in qi gong, before you can harmonize, you have to break up the stagnation/blocks and disperse the chaotic energy. So there are movements like shaking, using pressure points, tapping on the body, healing sounds, etc. to break up and clear. Then, slow, rhythmic movements aligned with breath are very helpful in harmonizing. They incorporate many of the elements you listed - simplicity, safety, oxygen, brain-shifting, cross-body movements, grounding, smiling and laughing (they call it "playing qi gong" not "doing qi gong", but I have to remember that)!
Thank you for the fotos at Blowing Rock. Having loved Florida since my first visit back in '53 and furthered by our near 3-year sojourn residing in Juno Isles, I continue to feel so fortunate for the time so close to the Atlantic shoreline. Soon, I'll return. BB
Yesterday I read about unhealthy levels of PFAS in deep water wells in Iowa. Combined with the climate news of the day, I was reminded of the line from 16 Tons. One fist is iron and one is steel, if the right one don't get you then the left one will. We're DOOMED. I will carry on as always with the intent of this ground sustaining 7 generations. But I will no longer share, post or mention this eminent threat to my children or grandchildren...at least for awhile, lol.
As always, bless you for your work. I do have an aluminum water bottle, but it's old and water tastes weird in it. I need a new one, so thanks for the reminder. Always remember that it was YOU who sent me and so many others on the writing path of environmental writing, and you continue to be a guiding light in these frightening times.
I've been dealing with a variety of health issues this spring and summer as well as stress associated with activism for a state park, and I have been spiraling too much. I've purposely avoided much of the latest climate news because I knew it would make things worse.
Things that have been working for me have been: trying to untether from social media as much; using Insight Timer to meditate several times a week; and turning off all the noise. No music, no podcasts, no audiobooks. Just me and the sounds of life in my house or if I'm outside, whatever life is making noise. All of the inputs overwhelm my nervous system so fast.
oh, and slowly letting go of the "must do" goals I thought I needed but realize they were placing an undue burden on my life.
Blowing Rocks is such a delight! I'm glad you got to experience it!
Janisse, after reading this I felt uplifted. I am about to enter into one of the most difficult periods of my life, placing my husband of 63 years into an Alzheimer's facility is quickly approaching. With that constantly on my mind and then the nagging fear of our climate situation I am not sure how I will cope with it all. I like your ideas, and I think I will start a journal. Maybe by writing and maybe even drawing out my thoughts will help me with self regulation. I thank you for helping me understand this💖
I too raised a child with early trauma. The skills I learned with him help me SO MUCH with my scary and complex feelings about the climate crisis and coping with a devastating, record-shattering flood I was in last year. I love your suggestions. I also find that intentional grounding helps immensely, as in I literally push my feet into the ground. Ideally this is bare feet on the earth, but it also works in shoes on the floor if you are somewhere (work, car, etc) this option is not available
I also have a question. I looked at the Eventbrite registration page because I really want to do the 5-week journal thing, but I can't tell if we are signing up for one session at a time (that's how it looks to me) or all five.
Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom with the world
I just spent more than an hour on my front porch doing little more than watch the birds and drinking coffee. The Rufous male is really being a jerk today defending the feeder but he brought me pleasure. A heron flew over. A sandhill crane was raising a ruckus in the next field over. So I would add watching/listening to animals is worth adding to the list, no matter where you find them. I have so many options for this and I try not to take it for granted.
How about petting dogs? Petting cats? Petting goats? Petting yourself or, even better, someone who might pet you back?
Heartfelt, real, and practical communication. And lovely photos.
My remedy for confusion, anger, and all feelings-up-to-no-good is to watch a film. I checked out Popeye and again delighted over watching Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall tell a wonderful tale.
Jenks, yes. Shifting your brain from the primal part to the rational part. It seems so much easier than it is, right? When those deep fears get triggered, man, even when you know they're irrational, getting back to balance can take some work. It means calming down, more or less. What do you do to shift out of anxiety & worry and into a calm, receptive state? I'm sure hard labor is part of your strategy. Probably working with the plants, as well. xoxo
Jul 17, 2023·edited Jul 17, 2023Liked by Janisse Ray
for self-regulation: writing poems/ haiku/ lunes. taking photographs. playing the piano. practicing mindfulness. deep breathing. exercises to calm the parasympathetic nervous system.
For self-regulation- I, like you, stay busy doing whatever I can do to help the planet and other people. It does not matter if it is small. The ocean was filled one drop at a time.
On the radical sustainability idea, I recently went to the Southface Summer Solstice celebration in Atlanta. I kept seeing little aluminum cups (I'll send a photo). Soon I discovered that they were fulfilling drink tickets with local brews in the little 10 oz. cups Printed with the words INFINITELY RECYCLABLE. Everyone was carrying them around and then tossing them in a recycling bin. Each new drink was served in another cup and the bin was soon filling up. I nested mine together and saved them. I have been a repurposer and even dumpster diver from way back. It was all I could do not to rescue more of those cups to reuse rather than recycle them. There is considerable energy required for each 'infinitely recyclable' cup, despite the fact that many will simply end up in a landfill anyway. To me, radical sustainability comes from using less, making your own, and reusing/repurposing to the height of your inventiveness!
I know another excellent self-regulating activity. Hang out with animals (pets or otherwise). They live in the present and help us to live there too, even if just for a little while.
So much of the American mindset has to change. I can't believe that people were using a new cup. Let's spread the net wider to help people fall in love with sustainability for the earth. Also, Mark, I haven't sent your package. It will go out soon! It's just a bit larger than the normal packaging I use, so it takes a hike upstairs, which I will do soon. LOL.
Oh - one more great one - humming! Singing, vocalizing sounds, etc. as well. But just humming can be very regulating!
Another thing I learned in qigong class - the point in the middle of your palms is a great point for releasing emotions. As I work with it I realize that "hand-wringing" has a solid physiological basis - it really DOES disperse stress. the people that say "hand-wringing is a waste of time" are wrong.
I've been thinking about this all week. Qi gong has been helping me with this, as have some specific supplement (ashwaganda and l-theanine). In Chinese medicine they call it "harmonizing" the energy. As I'm learning in qi gong, before you can harmonize, you have to break up the stagnation/blocks and disperse the chaotic energy. So there are movements like shaking, using pressure points, tapping on the body, healing sounds, etc. to break up and clear. Then, slow, rhythmic movements aligned with breath are very helpful in harmonizing. They incorporate many of the elements you listed - simplicity, safety, oxygen, brain-shifting, cross-body movements, grounding, smiling and laughing (they call it "playing qi gong" not "doing qi gong", but I have to remember that)!
Thank you for the fotos at Blowing Rock. Having loved Florida since my first visit back in '53 and furthered by our near 3-year sojourn residing in Juno Isles, I continue to feel so fortunate for the time so close to the Atlantic shoreline. Soon, I'll return. BB
Yesterday I read about unhealthy levels of PFAS in deep water wells in Iowa. Combined with the climate news of the day, I was reminded of the line from 16 Tons. One fist is iron and one is steel, if the right one don't get you then the left one will. We're DOOMED. I will carry on as always with the intent of this ground sustaining 7 generations. But I will no longer share, post or mention this eminent threat to my children or grandchildren...at least for awhile, lol.
Decision and prayer
As always, bless you for your work. I do have an aluminum water bottle, but it's old and water tastes weird in it. I need a new one, so thanks for the reminder. Always remember that it was YOU who sent me and so many others on the writing path of environmental writing, and you continue to be a guiding light in these frightening times.
I've been dealing with a variety of health issues this spring and summer as well as stress associated with activism for a state park, and I have been spiraling too much. I've purposely avoided much of the latest climate news because I knew it would make things worse.
Things that have been working for me have been: trying to untether from social media as much; using Insight Timer to meditate several times a week; and turning off all the noise. No music, no podcasts, no audiobooks. Just me and the sounds of life in my house or if I'm outside, whatever life is making noise. All of the inputs overwhelm my nervous system so fast.
oh, and slowly letting go of the "must do" goals I thought I needed but realize they were placing an undue burden on my life.
Blowing Rocks is such a delight! I'm glad you got to experience it!
Janisse, after reading this I felt uplifted. I am about to enter into one of the most difficult periods of my life, placing my husband of 63 years into an Alzheimer's facility is quickly approaching. With that constantly on my mind and then the nagging fear of our climate situation I am not sure how I will cope with it all. I like your ideas, and I think I will start a journal. Maybe by writing and maybe even drawing out my thoughts will help me with self regulation. I thank you for helping me understand this💖
Vonnie, holding you in my heart. j
I too raised a child with early trauma. The skills I learned with him help me SO MUCH with my scary and complex feelings about the climate crisis and coping with a devastating, record-shattering flood I was in last year. I love your suggestions. I also find that intentional grounding helps immensely, as in I literally push my feet into the ground. Ideally this is bare feet on the earth, but it also works in shoes on the floor if you are somewhere (work, car, etc) this option is not available
I also have a question. I looked at the Eventbrite registration page because I really want to do the 5-week journal thing, but I can't tell if we are signing up for one session at a time (that's how it looks to me) or all five.
Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom with the world
Laura, it's for all 5 sessions. Let me go back & see if I can make that more clear.
I just spent more than an hour on my front porch doing little more than watch the birds and drinking coffee. The Rufous male is really being a jerk today defending the feeder but he brought me pleasure. A heron flew over. A sandhill crane was raising a ruckus in the next field over. So I would add watching/listening to animals is worth adding to the list, no matter where you find them. I have so many options for this and I try not to take it for granted.
How about petting dogs? Petting cats? Petting goats? Petting yourself or, even better, someone who might pet you back?
Gawwwd, yes! Let's add all of these to the list! YES.
Heartfelt, real, and practical communication. And lovely photos.
My remedy for confusion, anger, and all feelings-up-to-no-good is to watch a film. I checked out Popeye and again delighted over watching Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall tell a wonderful tale.
You are the elder we have heard about, with wisdom and the courage to speak such wisdom. Thank you.
As I read your list, my breath slowed and I felt calmer. Copied this list into my journal.
I’m not familiar with ‘brain shift’ - does this mean refocussing or?
Jenks, yes. Shifting your brain from the primal part to the rational part. It seems so much easier than it is, right? When those deep fears get triggered, man, even when you know they're irrational, getting back to balance can take some work. It means calming down, more or less. What do you do to shift out of anxiety & worry and into a calm, receptive state? I'm sure hard labor is part of your strategy. Probably working with the plants, as well. xoxo
for self-regulation: writing poems/ haiku/ lunes. taking photographs. playing the piano. practicing mindfulness. deep breathing. exercises to calm the parasympathetic nervous system.
Yes! Love this! I can see from this list that self-regulation is part of your path as well.
For self-regulation- I, like you, stay busy doing whatever I can do to help the planet and other people. It does not matter if it is small. The ocean was filled one drop at a time.
On the radical sustainability idea, I recently went to the Southface Summer Solstice celebration in Atlanta. I kept seeing little aluminum cups (I'll send a photo). Soon I discovered that they were fulfilling drink tickets with local brews in the little 10 oz. cups Printed with the words INFINITELY RECYCLABLE. Everyone was carrying them around and then tossing them in a recycling bin. Each new drink was served in another cup and the bin was soon filling up. I nested mine together and saved them. I have been a repurposer and even dumpster diver from way back. It was all I could do not to rescue more of those cups to reuse rather than recycle them. There is considerable energy required for each 'infinitely recyclable' cup, despite the fact that many will simply end up in a landfill anyway. To me, radical sustainability comes from using less, making your own, and reusing/repurposing to the height of your inventiveness!
I know another excellent self-regulating activity. Hang out with animals (pets or otherwise). They live in the present and help us to live there too, even if just for a little while.
So much of the American mindset has to change. I can't believe that people were using a new cup. Let's spread the net wider to help people fall in love with sustainability for the earth. Also, Mark, I haven't sent your package. It will go out soon! It's just a bit larger than the normal packaging I use, so it takes a hike upstairs, which I will do soon. LOL.
Thank you! No problem at all!