FAQs
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The word “depth” is a metaphor for the motivations, dreams, memories, and inner patterns that shape us and that reside beneath conscious awareness. In my workshops, we’ll be using a Depth lens for exploring our inner landscapes and cultivating closer connections with our own intuition.
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Somatic awareness is the ability to perceive and recognize physical sensations within the body. Being more embodied through somatic awareness means learning the many languages of the body: sensations, movement patterns, unconscious habits, tensions, body symptoms, moods, dreams images, and symbols. This deeper connection between mind and body is a powerful tool for collaborating with and modulating our nervous systems.
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Our Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is a network of nerves throughout our bodies that control unconscious processes like breathing and heart beating and works on our behalf to keep us alive and safe.
The sympathetic nervous system activates body processes (sometimes referred to as the “flight or fight" function), and the parasympathetic deactivates or lowers them (with the more extreme reaction referred to as Dorsal Vagal “shutdown” or “freeze”).
Having a balance of both is key to our body's well-being and our ability to regulate our emotions. Sometimes the information our nervous system uses to determine what is needed is based on historical data (past experiences) and we need to intervene with new information from the present moment.
Being able to determine the current state of our nervous system (somatic awareness) is key to choosing to move into the Ventral Vagal state (through embodiment and breath practices for example) where we have more resources, vision, and enough grounding to play, explore, and create.
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Bridging our inner landscape with knowledge of our uniquely formed sensory systems generates powerful access to our own creative content and inspiration. Our workshops combine playful thought explorations and depth processes with embodiment and breath practices.
Participants learn how to nurture creative habits and increase communication between the conscious and unconscious. Building more access to our creative selves and inner landscapes of knowledge encourages more aliveness in our daily lives and stokes the embers of meaningful and edifying artistic expressions in any form.
Helpful Resources
A few helpful resources for information and inspiration in this work.
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Tending & Somatic Awareness
Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory by Deb Dana
Vagus Nerve Deck: 75 Exercises to Reset Your Nervous System by Melissa Romano
The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook by Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer
The Mindful Body by Ellen J. Langer
Body-Mind Centering with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen
Embodiment Matters with Carl Rabke
Body as Wise Healer and Body Songs.Dance with Katriona Ilsedóttir Curry
Depth Practice
Jung on Active Imagination by Carl Jung edited by Joan Chodorow
Sacred Dream Circles by Tess Castleman
This Jungian Life podcast
Inner Work: Using Dreams and Active Imagination for Personal Growth by Robert A. Johnson
Jung's Map of the Soul: An Introduction by Murray Stein
Cultivating Creative Habits
The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
Creative Writing
The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
Tell it Slant by Brenda Miller and Suzanne Paola

