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The Brain has no Sensory Nerve Endings
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“When we give our hearts the opportunity to lead, it allows our minds to relax. Thoughts naturally decrease. The same thing occurs with attending to our bodies. Preliminary neuroscientific research indicates that the more awareness one has of sensation, the less one is thinking...we open our hearts and feel the body as a gateway to working with the mind. This eases the inherently delicate and complex task of working with our minds. Since the brain has no sensory nerve endings, we often don't feel when we are treating our mental selves aggressively or even mechanically. We need to lean gently into allowing our minds to open.”
- Susan Aposhyan, Heart Open Body Awake
Thursday, February 9, 2023
There are a number of books and resources I use to create classes and workshops. The book I quote above, Heart Open Body Awake, is one of the many resources I have used for our six week Somatic Interludes series. In our session this week (tomorrow) we are focusing on the heart, much like all of my movement classes (Somos Luceros and Embodied Movement Explorations) are focused on the heart this month. The quote above gave me pause. Right now, I am overwhelmed, overtaxed, overstimulated and all of it is the result of overthinking. My brain has taken me for a ride this week.
It gave me pause when I read "Since the brain has no sensory nerve endings, we often don't feel when we are treating our mental selves aggressively or even mechanically." Well damn!
I know this to be true. My brain has no sensory organs. It does not know my body's limitations. It does not know that I am sleep deprived, fatigued, emotionally tender and in need of gentleness. It won't turn itself off to give me the long overdue break I need. It's aggressiveness is not intentional. It's not trying to harm me. But...when I am spinning in my mind (without awareness), disconnected from my body and completely unaware of sensation - and thus my mind's impact on my body, I get beaten down physically. I don't even realize that the aggressiveness (do, do, do, plan, plan, plan, think, think, think, work, work, work) of my brain is tearing down and weakening my body until I am already on the brink of collapse. When this happens it brings me back to the fundamentals of somatic healing - awareness is everything. And with awareness as a foundation, I can hear and feel my body. And in listening and feeling, I can more easily attune to and respond to what my body needs most.
My awareness has to be the sensory organ for my brain. As long as I am aware of my body, I can synch up mind, body and heart and protect my precious physical health and well-being. Which brings us back to the February theme. In all of classes this month we are giving the heart the spotlight. Nourishing our heart center and inviting our body to lead from this powerful and radiant center. I have noticed that, when I am in my heart and following its lead, my mind naturally softens, relaxes and moves out of the way. And it's a feeling that is both sustainable and energizes. I don't feel depleted when I lead with my heart - unless I over-extend or over-give which almost always happens when my mind is obsessing about doing and being "enough."
Tonight I am feeling the effects of an unaware brain that has been too aggressive with my body this week. So I am taking a rest. I hope this short reflective is supportive for you and I hope that you find ways to bring and keep your awareness alive and your heart front and center.
Classes this week:
- Friday. February 10, 2023 at 7:00AM PST, Somatic Interludes: A Space for Reflection, Revelation, Resourcing and Respite
- Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 9:00AM PST, Somos Luceros – Love and Freedom: A Dance Honoring & Celebrating Black History Month & American Heart Month
- Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 9:00AM PST, Embodied Movement Explorations for Body Wisdom & Wellness, Nurturing our Heart Light
You are still welcome to join us for Somatic Interludes. Our fourth session will be held tomorrow (Fri Feb 10).
Deeply grateful for this community,
Jennifer
Schedule:
- Somos Luceros on Sundays at 9AM PST
- Embodied Movement Explorations in Body Wisdom & Wellness on Wednesdays at 9AM PST
- ArcanaDance - next workshop TBA
Somos Luceros
 Somos Luceros is a somatic dance practice designed to illuminate the wisdom of your body and cultivate deep embodiment of archetypal qualities that offer lightness, depth and joy. The dance moves are simple and guided by the language of storytelling, opening new chapters in our bodies where we can see and feel our most luminous potential. Release the stories in your body that weigh you down and reclaim your light. In Spanish, Somos means “we are” and Luceros means “bringers of light” or “bright stars.” This name honors my father, my paternal indigenous ancestors in South America, my heritage, and our collective oldest ancestor, the stars. We are dancing bodies of light.
With immense gratitude for your continued support,
Jennifer
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Somos Luceros – Love and Freedom: A Dance Honoring & Celebrating Black History Month & American Heart Month (via Zoom)
Date: Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 9:00AM PST
Time Zones: 9:00AM PST | 10:00AM MST | 10:00AM CST | 12:00PM EST
Pay what you can in exchange for the class experience ($5-$25)
Register for class: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtduiurDIsGdPgRmsEmmOq12b0dAV4T9_6
Join us for Love and Freedom: A Dance Honoring & Celebrating Black History Month & American Heart Month
 The month of February is both American Heart Month and Black History Month. The theme for American Heart Month this year is to “take up a heart healthy-habit.” The theme for Black History Month, as set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH®), is Black Resistance.
Last Sunday, when we first did this dance, it was a full moon in Leo and, in astrology, Leo rules the heart and is an archetypal expression of courage, pride, and dignity. It takes both heart and courage to resist past and ongoing oppression. It takes heart and courage to continue to push for accountability, equality, liberty, freedom, and justice. And, it takes both heart and courage to protect, preserve and elevate pride and dignity.
In our dance, we will take up the heart-healthy habit of choosing and leading with love and infuse our movements with courage, the kind that facilitates liberation, freedom and joy.
The dance moves are simple and guided by the language of storytelling. You are invited to receive the choreography, bring it into your body and make it your own.
Somos Luceros is a somatic dance practice designed to illuminate the wisdom of your body and cultivate deep embodiment of archetypal qualities that offer lightness, depth and joy. The dance moves are simple and guided by the language of storytelling, opening new chapters in our bodies where we can see and feel our most luminous potential. Release the stories in your body that weigh you down and reclaim your light. In Spanish, Somos means “we are” and Luceros means “bringers of light” or “bright stars.” This name honors my father, my paternal indigenous ancestors in South America, my heritage, and our collective oldest ancestor, the stars. We are dancing bodies of light.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the class/meeting.
Pay what you can in exchange for the class experience:
Embodied Movement Explorations for Body Wisdom and Wellness (via Zoom)
Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Time Zones: 9AM PST, 10AM MST, 11AM CST, 12PM EST
Class is one hour
Pay what you can in exchange for the class experience ($5-$25)
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIscOqhrzIvHNWXU-pydzFuBe77LlokpE_5
Join us for Embodied Movement Explorations for Body Wisdom and Wellness
Body wisdom is being aware of and attuned to what our body needs to feel well. This somatic intelligence and tending can be accessed and cultivated in many ways.
Every week we will explore a variety of somatic movement practices that include somatic dance, yoga, QiGong, archetypal expression (mainly tarot), and other modalities that emphasize mindfulness and that guide self-knowing.
 Our focus for the month of February is the heart and specifically, nurturing our heart light; bringing mindful luminous attention to the heart center.
Our guiding tarot card for this class is the Eight of Cups/Water and our Embodied Movement Exploration cards are Open, Extension, Backstroke, and Pulse.
The Eight of Cups honors and celebrates the strength of the heart, as well as our innate worthiness to pursue, with devotion, that which ignites and sustains our heart light. We turn our heart center towards greater happiness and the promise of deep soul-level fulfillment.
We will access our heart light with somatic prompts that emphasize mindful attention to the strength and luminosity of the heart center.
We ask ourselves: What is worthy of our passion and devotion? How do we lead from your heart, acknowledging it as a lantern and north star? How do we both deepen and expand our capacity for self-love and love of others? How do we strengthen the heart as an organ, a muscle, and as an energy center?
 It is the heart light of devotion that is the source of energy that allows us persevere even as we encounter challenges to our capacity to love, be loved, and lead with love.
Our movement exploration will be a blend of Shake Your Soul, Nia, ArcanaDance, and QiGong.
Cards in image: top: Eight of Cups/Water from the Gentle Tarot.
bottom: Embodied Movement Oracle deck (in process) by Jennifer Lucero-Earle
In this class we center the experience of living, feeling, sensing and moving in our bodies. We learn practices to know ourselves more deeply, cultivate joy, restore from stress, explore creative self-expression, and ways to nourish the various systems (fluid, muscular, skeletal, organ, nervous, and cellular) of our body.
Come to move your body, develop a deeper appreciation for the intelligence and wisdom of your body, and to learn practices to be well in mind, body, heart and soul.
Wear comfortable clothes to move in. No shoes required. Feel free to have a yoga mat, blanket or towel for floor-based practices.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the class/meeting.
Pay what you can in exchange for the class experience:
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Somatic Therapy with Jennifer!
I am accepting new clients and would love your support getting the word out. Please feel free to take a look at my webpage and if it calls to you, share it with any individuals you think may want to work with me as their Somatic Therapist.
If you or someone you are know are interested, please contact me via email to schedule a 15-minute free consultation where we can discuss your hopes/goals for therapy, any current challenges you are experiences, and any other pertinent information about your current physical and mental health that I should know. It is also during this time the we can discuss payment, including sliding scale, options. At the end of our 15-minute consultation, we will schedule your first session.
You can read more on my Somatic Therapy webpage:
http://jenniferluceroearle.com/therapy-with-me
And....You are welcome to explore somatic therapy practices with this six-week series.
Somatic Interludes: A Space for Reflection, Revelation, Resourcing and Respite via Zoom (live)
Six consecutive Fridays: January 20, 2023 – February 24, 2023
Dates: Fridays, January 20 & 27, and February 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2023
Class Time: 7:00AM PST
Time Zones: 7:00AM PST | 8:00AM MST | 9:00AM CST | 10:00AM EST
Pay what you can in exchange for the class experience:
- Individual classes: $5-$25 each
- Six-week series: $30 – $150
Each class is one hour.
While not required, I encourage you to attend all six sessions so that you can learn the layers of these practices, develop habits of self-resourcing, and build a community of care with other participants.
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZclcu6urTstHtRhBfPPrclAyjvbr9UC1Pmb
Join us for Somatic Interludes: A Space for Reflection, Revelation, Resourcing and Respite
 Somatic interlude is a pause from your day to tend to yourself.
In this six week series, we meet once on a week on Friday mornings for one hour via Zoom to take a break in community. During this hour there is no expectation or pressure to be anything or anyone other than who you are in the moment. This is a no pressure container to get to know yourself, and the voice of your body, more deeply.Together, we will explore introductory somatic therapeutic practices designed to offer space for self-reflection, revelations, resourcing, and respite for our mind, heart, body and spirit.
Practices include journaling, simple drawing, guided movement, mindfulness practices, and nervous system supporting breath and body sequences.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the class/meeting.
Payment options:– Here is the info to make a payment of your choice, in exchange for the class experience:
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Tarot Sessions - Now March through May 2023
 I am now scheduling from early March and into May 2023.
These sessions are my lifeblood and I so appreciate your continued support in scheduling appointments and referring your loved ones and friends to me. As you know, I don't advertise. All of my client work has been via referral. For that I am immensely grateful.
To schedule a session, choose the session type at www.jenniferluceroearle.com/tarot-with-me/sessions and email me your questionnaire.
Tarot Consultation Packages
There are several tarot packages to choose from, including options for multiple one hour to two hour sessions throughout a one year window.
Huge thanks to Brooke Lowe Johnson for the photo (top) above!
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Mary Lenox's Poetry & a Request!
Following is the poem, Seeing, that Mary wrote and shared with us after class this past Sunday. After the poem, see a request to support Mary in publishing her next (3rd) book of poetry!
Seeing
Here we are in the 21st century
Grains of sand in the sea of eternity
Awakening to the hope
Once again
That someday, humanity will choose
Love over hate
Peace over war
Respect over apathy
Life over death
Meanwhile
Every step of love
Renews our faith
Every moment of seeing the face of God
In all life
Offers hope for better days ahead
Regardless of passing circumstances
Hold on!
Change is coming!
©Mary F. Lenox, 2023
San Diego, CA
Notes from Mary:
“There are people who go through life burdened by ignorance because they refuse to see. When they do not recognize the truth that they belong to their community and their community belongs to them … it is because they refuse to see.” - Maya Angelou
To join Mary's email list: mflenox69@gmail.com
Support Mary in Publishing her 3rd Book of Poetry!
Hooray! We are so excited that Mary has completed her third book of poetry, Seeing the Sacred in the Ordinary: Inspirational Poems of Love, Light, Memory, Hope, and can't wait to read it.
Mary is seeking donations that will go towards covering publishing costs.
The estimated cost of design, print, and related book production expenses is $4000.
Mary appreciates our collective generosity and any amount of donations are greatly appreciated.
Mary says that, when published, anyone who donates $100 or more will receive a free copy of the book.
To make a donation, please contact Mary directly at mflenox69@gmail.com OR
You can Venmo her at https://account.venmo.com/u/Mary-Lenox-1
PayPal (send as friend, not goods and services): mflenox69@gmail.com
If you'd like to use Zelle or send a check to Mary, please email her at mflenox69@gmail.com for her address.
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