Holding someone in their darkest pain
Makes me feel light.
Witnessing what they carry
Makes me feel…
Fully here.
People say,
‘Oh, that must be heavy’
But it’s not when you bring solutions
& the solutions are simple.
They’re holistic,
Embodied,
& Collaborative.
With spirit, plant, earth, body.
They’re open palms,
A steady mind,
Trust in their innate wholeness,
Familiarity with the mud.
Death as transformation
Grief as initiation
Taking them into deep power.
To witness this is only ever a gift.
✨
Recently I attended a class on comfort touch and massage for those at the end of life. The instructor was demonstrating how to communicate with a patient/client who may be non-verbal or unconscious and she demonstrated the power of simply holding their hand before engaging in any other touch. Holding their hand for a long period of time as a way to communicate what you are there to do.
She stated that holding is the most advanced position in this work.
Her statement struck me like a bolt of lightning.
My mind flashed to all of the moments in my life when I moved too quickly to try and alleviate discomfort, either for myself or another, when in fact the medicine needed was… holding.
In holding and being in the stillness we communicate so much. By not rushing to fix something or provide a service, we are actually accomplishing so much more.
We communicate to ourselves and to others that we are not running from the current moment. That slowness and stillness can provide comfort and healing.
The key is discerning when the moment calls for holding and when it calls for movement.
This is my current practice.
Sending you love,
Lisa Marie xx
Amen. So be it. Ameen.