When mindfulness isn't enough:
The Uncomfortable Truth About What It Really Takes to Slow Down. Berlin Breath Walk on May 17th.
Before I start, you are warmly invited to the next Breath Walk on May 17th. The theme of the walk is presence. We'll engage with breath, senses, and the slow pace of trees and plants to feel the present moment. To get rested, inspired, unclouded. And more.
Learn more and sign up here.
A jar of honey
“Imagine you are in a jar with honey.”
This has been one of the most popular prompts in my breathwork/somatic sessions. People get it. And it feels soothing.
You can try it for yourself. I invite you to start moving your palm at the wrist level in circular motions, kind of on autopilot. Then imagine your hand is now immersed in a jar of honey as you continue the movement. How does it feel?
To many people I’ve talked to, it feels soothing and relaxing.
You don’t need to use thinking to regulate the movement; the honey does it for you.
There is also a whole sensory bouquet that honey adds to the moment - the smell, touch, and taste. There are life stories awakened by the image of bees and flowers.
And there you are, being slowed down. In breath, movements, thoughts. The internal state being the lens through which you perceive the world, shows you a different picture. Of who you are and what matters. And you get a much-needed pause.
A jar swarming with bees
As I started to spend four days at a time in the woods in my Wilderness Educator program, I tracked some of the effects to the prompt of being in a honey jar.
This jar was huge. It held me the whole four days. With arriving at a peak experience by day four.
After three days without any tech, digging the dirt, picking up the smoke from the fire, listening, smelling, tasting, and observing, I would land in a state of peace, freedom, being in the moment, being whole, being enough. Sounds cliche, I know. But feels ecstatic.
If the woods are a jar of honey, life in a city is a jar swarming with bees that feel trapped. There isn’t much honey in many villages nowadays either.
There is only so much peace, regeneration, focus, and clarity that we can get in this jar. With all the meditation and breathwork in the world.
Speaking from personal experience here. You could call me a recovering hack-your-state junkie. I would depend on constant hacking through breath, meditations, headstands, balance board, and more to enjoy life and to high-function.
Managing my state was an itch that constantly demanded to be scratched.
Understandable. Because the swarming bees are always there.
WhatsApp, even without notifications, is waiting to be checked. The news keep breaking as you are trying to enjoy your breakfast. Thoughtful comments are wanting to be made. Funny reels are begging to be watched.
Drunk without realizing it?
You might say that all these temptations do not apply to you. That you’ve got it. I was of the same opinion. Of course, I am aware of the impact my phone has on me.
And yet, again and again, after spending four days in the woods, I realize that it’s as if my phone and other attributes of modern city life make me drunk without me being fully aware of it.
It’s like a dream successfully establishing itself as a reality. And putting myself in a localized jar of honey is not enough to shake it off. A bigger jar is required.
I wonder what would happen if we were all to spend time in that bigger jar?
What dreams or nightmares posing as life would reveal themselves?
That’s it for today; thanks for reading!
This was a short week for me. I spent 6 out of the last 8 days in the woods. Shaking off some illusions and nightmares. And feeling overcome with gratitude for being alive. Warm greetings!
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