Rooted: Engaging Breath & Movement in Prayer
September Newsletter: A Grounding Practice & Reflection
Upcoming Soul Care for Wounded Healer Events
Soul Care Groups: TWO options!
Second Tuesdays, Sept 10th, Soul Care Group, geared for helping professionals (former or current), rooted in Christian tradition.
Fourth Fridays, Sept 27th, Soul Care Group for DV/SA Advocates!
Silent Meditation:
Second Fridays, Sept 13th, Contemplative Silent Meditation, (optional breakouts).
If your first time, please register so I can get to know you a bit! $15 suggested donation for Soul Care Groups.
Sending Roots Down
In groups and individual appointments, I often emphasize the need to receive and our internal barriers that block us. We are human, not weak, for needing air, water, food, rest, connection, friendship. We have normal human needs.
The Bristlecone pine is the oldest known living tree on earth, can live over 4000 years! Its roots are shallow, but extend wide, providing support. I’m amazed it can live so long, yet it has hardy, tough wood, and roots connected to other trees that help it withstand storms and droughts.
In contrast the Banyan tree has massive roots that stick up above the earth, and aerial roots that extend down from the branches. Talk about rooted! These roots provide ample opportunity for the tree to get the nourishment it needs in dry climates.
Spiritual Practice
(Learned at Soul Formation, School of Spiritual Direction)
Stand with feet on ground, feel weight of floor beneath.
Find your center of balance,
Then sink that center below the earth feel rooted, grounded, connected to earth.
Drink deeply. Inhale, exhale.
If you’d like, extend your arms above your head, reaching out your branches, imagining the sunshine on your face, growing your tree.
Consider what nourishment you need. Inhale, exhale.
Imagine the wind blowing, let your body sway, and find connection to your roots.
In life we feel out of balance, pain of day, minor and major stresses. This is the reality. Our invitation is to notice when feel out of balance, and return to center.
You might continue your reflection by listening to the below song or slowly reading the below quote and choosing a word or phrase to meditate on or for a breath prayer.
“Love makes us real. Love creates us and sustains us in the process of realizing who we already are. Love breathes us into being (Gen 2:7). God is divine breath breathing.
Humanity is divine breath breathed. How do we separate divine breath breathing from divine breath breathed?
They are neither quite the same, nor are they completely different.
Becoming Real is a process.” ~ Martin Laird, Ocean of Light
Journal Prompts:
In what way does ‘Love make you real’, make you more of your True Self?
What tree do you resonate with it? The Bristlecones’ shallow roots that are extended wide, connected to other trees? The Banyan’s roots that are prolific, go down deep, cradle the core trunk, and provide much protection and sustenance.
What practices help ground you?
Take a moment to consider, “Humanity is divine breath breathed.” How do you feel toward yourself, toward the Divine?
As always I welcome your thoughts and response! Deep sustenance to you.
with gratitude,
Bethany Dearborn Hiser
RESOURCES
Recommended External Resources
Somatic Grounding Meditation, by Mark Guay,
Contemplative Prayer Practices
Whatever your politics, navigating US elections can be stressful! Check out this free Made for Pax resource of Contemplative Practices as we near the 2024 election.
Another free resource by Osheta Moore and Made for Pax, 7 embodied prayers to engage in throughout the day.
BURNOUT & RECOVERY RESOURCE LIST (Hay varias en Español también). If you have recommendations, I'd love to hear about them!
INSIGHT TIMER GUIDED MEDITATIONS:
I’ve recorded some of my soul care group meditations for your listening and prayerful contemplation on-the-go. I welcome your rating and sharing of the meditations.
SOUL CARE FOR WOUNDED HEALER: CUSTOMIZED NON-PROFIT WORKSHOPS
Based on the book, From Burned Out to Beloved, workshops integrate discussion questions, grounding activities, trauma research, recovery tools, contemplative practices, and other spiritual disciplines. They seek to improve the overall well-being of individuals, enhance organizational culture, and improve sustainability and effectiveness in work.
Workshop topics can be combined or tailored specifically for your group. Contact me to start the conversation.
Bethany Dearborn Hiser is the Director of Soul Care for Northwest Family Life, a network of therapists trained to work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual trauma.
She is the author of From Burned Out to Beloved: Soul Care for Wounded Healers. For more about her, her book, or workshops she offers, visit: