Exploring Protective Nature and the Path to Nourishment: A Personal Journey
In recent months, I’ve found myself drawn more deeply into the quiet, reflective moments that have become essential for my well-being. This expansion of my need for time and solitude has opened a door to understanding and processing the teachings of Eastern studies. Through a deliberate process of cleansing and reevaluating what I nourish my body with, I’ve embarked on a journey that has not only enriched my life but also connected me more profoundly with my body and spirit.
I am grateful to honor two incredible friends, colleagues and teachers, Sephirah Oshkello and Jillian Abraham, whose wisdom and understanding have significantly influenced my path. Jillian, with her deep love for farm-fresh produce, juicing, and the power of food as medicine, embodies a soulful passion for this work that is both inspiring and transformative. Her commitment to community and the belief that food is a vehicle for healing has resonated deeply with me.
Sephirah, on the other hand, has guided me through her profound connection to the land, spirit, and the power of ritual. Her organic, land-based retreats, which bring us closer to nature, have taught me the importance of grounding practices and the significance of community gatherings. Together, they have shown me how our dharma—our soul’s calling—manifests through us, helping to create beautiful ways for collective healing.
Their teachings have inspired me to reflect on how I nourish my own body, not just through food, but through practices that sustain my well-being. While I’ve maintained a fairly healthy diet and a mindful approach to eating, I’ve noticed that mindless patterns can sometimes creep in, particularly during moments of hunger, fatigue, intense emotions, or illness. It’s in these moments that I’m reminded of my humanity—oh yes, right, I am human, a little voice says—and the unexpected challenges that life presents.
My daily practice of asana, pranayama, chanting, reading, writing, creating, and meditating recently needed an infusion of energy. Interestingly, I discovered that the boost I sought wasn’t from a cup of coffee before my practice. My adrenals had been on overload, and although I’m adept at downregulating, my body rejoiced when I began tapering off coffee. I should clarify: my body eventually rejoiced. Initially, the withdrawal was tough, and I realized I was very much in the addiction category when it came to my daily coffee consumption.
For those who don’t know me well, I understand that addiction often serves as a means to numb something deeper. I’ve always attributed my extra weight to the trauma of my first childbirth and a subsequent brain surgery. While I’ve delved deeply into my healing practices, I recognize that my awareness of my body’s relationship with food has room for growth. My somatic awakening occurred around my coffee addiction, and I was startled by how terrible I felt when I first gave it up. I experienced a profound mood dive into a tamasic (inert and heavy) state for several days.
However, I never felt alone. I was fully supported and surrounded by the community, thanks to Jillian and Sephirah. They had walked the difficult path before me, and I knew I could do it too. I was both inspired and humbled, gaining a deeper understanding of the protective layers we create around ourselves. In the somatic world, we often develop these protective mechanisms unknowingly, without realizing that they might not serve our highest good and evolution.
I asked Spirit to help me feel lighter, to release some of the heavy tamas, recognizing that my tendency to protect myself was perhaps beyond my conscious awareness. The unexpected lesson was that without coffee, I felt exposed—bare, even. But this was a place I could go, knowing I wasn’t alone.
Now, my pants are looser, I’m stepping into longer hikes, embracing more challenging yoga routines for the sheer joy of it, and daring to push my physical limits in ways I hadn’t considered possible before. This journey has been transformative, and I am profoundly grateful for the wisdom and guidance of Jillian and Sephirah, whose teachings have illuminated my path to nourishment and healing. Through their example, I’ve learned that we all have the capacity to lead from our hearts and co-create spaces that foster deeper healing, both individually and collectively.
P.S. Join Me for a Transformative Retreat in Costa Rica!
Are you ready to deepen your connection with yourself and nature? I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be hosting a rejuvenating retreat in Costa Rica in January 2025. This retreat is designed to nourish your body, mind, and spirit through immersive experiences in one of the world’s most beautiful settings.
Learn More and Reserve Your Spot Today!
Jennifer Degen
August 30, 2024
Categories
Select Category...
- Alberto Villoldo
- Ancestral Superfoods
- Art
- Attunement
- Autumn wellness retreat
- Body
- Boundaries
- Breathwork
- Buddhist Tradition
- Chanting
- Community
- Contentment
- Costa Rica
- Creative Expression
- Creativity
- Crystal Healing
- Daily
- Deep Rest
- Diet
- Digestive Health
- Embodied Living
- Food
- Gratitude
- Habit Patterns
- Hakomi therapy
- Hatha
- Healing
- Health
- Health Wellness
- Healthy Diet
- Hypnosis
- Hypnotherapy
- Intelligence
- Intention
- Intuition
- Kundalini
- Kundalini Yoga
- Leaning In Podcast
- Leslie Yerger
- Life Purpose
- Mandala
- Marriage Advice
- Meditation
- Mind-Body Wellness
- Mindfulness
- Morning Practice
- Neuroscience 101
- Nourish Your Radiance
- Nourish and Flourish
- Outdoor Sports
Featured Blogs
