“Sacred Feminine Nourishment is the body’s medicine needed to heal our emotions, dis-ease, traumas and spirit by going deep within and reclaiming our essence.” ~ Cindy Hively
Ten years ago, at this exact moment I was on a celebration business trip at Marcos Island in Florida. Marcos Island has the most beautiful beach, not overcrowded and the hotels are spectacular. I looked forward every year to splurging on a sunrise massage right on the beach under a private tent with the view of the ocean.
As with most business trips celebrating achievements for the year, business and play were mixed together. I was always an overachiever, the rush to be successful was my hallmark and I loved being in the spotlight of recognition. This all sounds like paradise, yes?
My second day out in the sun started a spiral down that made me so sick. The next three days I spent most of my time in my hotel bed and barely made it to awards night. I thought I had a flu or allergy to something. I never dreamt what was to come would be a completely new way of living and a wake-up call.
After returning home for the next few weeks I became more ill and by the time I had a diagnosis I was practically bedridden. I was diagnosed with Lupus, CFS, CPS and Cognitive Deficit Disorder. How crazy was this, I was in such denial. I worked so hard doing it all right, achieving, working crazy hours that my body crashed. It is the oddest feeling when a Neurologist tells you, “your health crisis is a wakeup call, you have short circuited your central nervous system.” That completely went right over my head.
It took me almost a year to accept what challenges were ahead for me. I was so connected, and my identity was to my career that no longer existed. I know this is so many women’s stories. It can show up in other areas of life, such as children, finances, relationships or, like in my case, an illness.
I am passionate about sharing hope despite the structures we build in our life that take us out, deplete us, and leave us wounded. When I realized what exactly happened to me at age forty-three, I wanted the handbook that I never received at twenty-one. The handbook that would have told me pushing to hard, trying to be a mom, a wife and have a corporate career would burn me from the inside out. I never read the chapter on “Going Through Adult Life and Not Knowing Who You Are.” Really the resistance we come up against is that we are Sacred Divine Feminine Creatures that aren’t meant to live in a go, go, go masculine state.
Through this experience of darkness and pain I can say with an open heart that I have never been more joy-filled in my entire life than I am now. I am often questioned about staking this claim, it’s TRUTH. The truth of who you are is already stored within you, you must be willing to dust off the shelves. The first five years of this life journey taught me who I truly am, what my essence is, what my passions are and how to weave my own sense of spirituality within this beautiful tapestry. The last five years and onward has been about nurturing, embellishing and cultivating what I want out of my life. You are never finished. Each day is a new beginning to dive into more possibilities that surface.
I want to share 6 ways to help you get started on this journey especially if you are going through life difficulties. Taking care of you and nourishing your sacred body is #1 on the list. It’s not negotiable and it comes from a place of unconditional love and sacred intention. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
- Start by releasing old wounds. What past experiences keep coming up, why are they coming up and who do they belong to? Let go of past hurts. So many times, our experiences and difficulties are not our belief system but someone else’s. When we hold onto the past we can’t nourish our bodies because we need empty space to fill in with creative juiciness.
- Declare the Sacredness of your body. Being a Feminine Creature is magical. We connect with nature, the rhythms of the lunar cycles, the seasons, Mother Earth and nourishment is built within us to care for what we birth. We birth more than babies, every idea and dream you have is an opportunity to birth something amazing into the world. Creative expression is your birthright.
- Embody your sensuousness. As women we have difficulty with this one. We have a hard time especially as we mature and blame and shame our bodies. We start looking at all the parts that we don’t like, and it causes us to shut off our capacity for pleasure. Our sexual sensuous self needs to nourish in self-body discovery on a regular basis. It also keeps our gateway from the vagina to the womb space healthy.
- Nurture as you nourish your body. Do you know what you are putting into your body when you eat and drink? My body feels so much better since I have cut out sugar, preservatives, bleached foods, dairy and high carbs. Inflammation is connected to most all chronic illnesses. Many products we put on our body have chemicals that are poison. Look for ways to use all-natural organic products. When you have your yearly checkup with your physician ask them to check your vitamin D and Magnesian. 75% of women have low counts on both. It throws our cortisol and melatonin off and we don’t get restorative sleep. Sleep is your best friend.
- Have a Spiritual practice. Creating a deeply, personal relationship with the Divine nourishes you. It gives you strength and courage when you hit a rough place and cultivates being deeply grounded in your own belief system. Having Spiritual connection helps you make choices from your heart and from a place of love and wisdom. It diminishes fears and allows you to step fully into your authenticity.
- Create your Alchemy of Nourishment by listening to your bodies messages. Each day when I first wake up I take a few deep breaths to clear away built up toxins. I then start with my feet and work my way up through my entire body until I have reached the top of my head or crown chakra. Just by being so in touch with my body I can immediately pinpoint trigger areas that need extra gentle care. You can create your own formula or body prescription by practicing with different exercises, meditations, healthy green drinks, spending time in nature, calling a friend and so much more. The more you practice the more you can create to keep your body, mind spirit in harmony. Its all about finding your ingredients and mixing the recipe up.
Nourishing our Sacred Body invites us to immerse our self in wisdom for healing. Through consciously engaging with our body and calling upon our feminine we can explore the feminine as mother, healer, beloved and goddess and give voice to our healing. Exploration is fundamental to nourishing every part of our being.
