The Body is the Barometer of the Soul
Connect to Your Calm
Written by Dr Arien van der Merwe
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a barometer is an instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure, used especially in forecasting the weather and determining altitude.
It also means something which reflects changes in circumstances or opinions. In this instance it is used in the sense of a mirror reflecting our inner thoughts and beliefs, often past trauma, old, unconscious beliefs that keeps us prisoners.
The physical symptoms manifesting in the body, then act as a guide to a deeper soul meaning, or lesson for growth and transformation, pointing to cell memories of blocked emotions, preventing release into healing, the wholeness at the core of our being, that which we truly are.
In this article, I’ll use Gut Health as a practical example. Click here for my article ‘What is Nootropics’ as an example of Nervous System Health.
Stress levels are at an all-time high! There are many reasons.
Most importantly, we are at a point in human consciousness development where we, often unknowingly to our conscious minds, are searching for deeper meaning and understanding about the Source of light and love that we are.
On the surface it manifests, and can be ascribed to, post-Covid stress, uncertainty, FEAR, all changed the whole world, with jobs lost, financial, relationships. The default, ancient survival stress reaction becomes triggered constantly! We have to learn to utilise our neocortex, prefrontal cortex of the brain, and superconscious mind! We can learn to have an inner locus of control – not out there, but within here – mindfulness, alignment, anchoring, breathing, meditation, prayer, soul based psychotherapy, are some of the many ways. Many young people (self-death among young adults are skyrocketing at an enormous unprecedented rate) are feeling a sense of hopelessness – sense of insecurity and safety of old world, in dire need of coping skills.
An ancient inner default mode of bias towards survival fear drives our stress reaction, which ultimately lowers immunity and causes renegade inflammation.
Imagine….feeling transformed, courageous, resilient, empowered and in complete clarity, calm and centered.
Willingness and mind training are essential to find a better way towards healing and wholeness.
3 P’s 1 GNF: Practice, Patience, Perseverance with a dose of Good Natured Flexibility – remembering the key is to TRY and TRY AGAIN!
Amidst all the wild things happening in the world, we all need a new perspective, something to shake us up a little and help us remember how amazing and strong we truly are!
Wholeness is our natural state! We have to elect to access it!
Coping mechanisms for holistic support
Following are a few pointers. For more guidelines, click here for our TRANSFORM Membership
- Become aware of symptoms such as a racing pulse or heartbeat, fast and shallow breathing, a dull feeling in the pit of your stomach, vague nausea and many other gut symptoms (the gut is called the second brain for a reason!) such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, dyspepsia, leaky gut, constipation or diarrhoea or lazy bowel; fatigue, overthinking, overanalysing, feeling overwhelmed. Know that these emotions and feelings can lead to mental health challenges such as dysthymia and depression (also known as inflammation of the brain), anxiety and physical health challenges such as hypertension, insomnia, gut imbalances, diabetes, eczema, auto-immune disease, allergies, chronic infections, and many more.
- Find the many things around you to be grateful Both small and big things. Pick 3 for an immediate way to connect to your calm.
- Become centered and quiet, in a state of dynamic ease and calm, flowing with life effortlessly, even for a short while. Breathe deeply, inhale and exhale to a slow count of 4. Push your belly out as you breathe in, contracting your abdominal muscles towards your spine as you breathe out, holding your pelvic floor in a root lock as you breathe out. Relax and repeat 6 times or more. This will elicit your Vagus nerve, that regulates the parasympathetic, relaxation response). It runs from the brain (10th cranial nerve) down your spine, branching out along the heart, gut, adrenal glands. Sit or simply stand wherever you are, or preferably go outside, feet on the grass, in the soil or sand, close to a tree, literally even hugging it, to earth and ground yourself. Breathe slowly still. Notice your surroundings. Tune into your senses. Feel the love of nature around you and within you.
Never eat when you’re stressed or angry It’s a sure way to dyspepsia and other gut health challenges. The Vagus nerve works best in a state of calm for optimal absorption and digestion of food.
- Have some superfoods: pecans and walnuts that look like the brain, rainbow colours of fruit and vegetables, nutritious wholefood carbohydrates, bananas with 5HTP (precursor of serotonin), fatty fish like salmon, trout, sardine, pilchards and mackerel; raw honey, calming and relaxing teas with chamomile, hibiscus, berries and lavender flower extracts or infusions; seeds like chia, nuts, linseed, poppy seed, and so much more to choose from, to nourish heart, brain and body and simultaneously soothe your soul. And some gut support: drink a ginger and chamomile infused tea before meals. Make your own tea with fresh ginger and crushed mint leaves, with some raw honey to taste, and drink it 30 minutes before meals to aid digestion. Take a daily probiotic. More on this, as well as pre- and postbiotics during the workshop. I’ll also cover natural digestive enzymes and other herbal remedies.
- Burn candles with aromatherapy essential oils to ground (bergamot, sandalwood, tea tree), uplift (peppermint, orange and lemon) or calm and center (rose blend, rose geranium, chamomile, lavender)
- Use crystals like amethyst, clear quartz, beryl, rose quartz, emerald, malachite, jade, citrine, tiger’s eye to balance your endocrine energy centres
- Use colours to balance your mood: lilac, aqua, teal and hues of blue to calm and soothe; fiery colours for drive and more energy.
- Listen to music and dance to soothe your soul: rhythmic, pulsating for energy; flowing, swaying, undulating, soft and gentle to calm your mood.
- Choose to change your focus! NRRN: Not Relevant Right Now! What is? Mindfulness noticing what is there NOW. Take a break even for a few minutes from your own monkey chatter. E.g. upset, angry, unreasonable, rude boss, unkind remark friend – STOP! Focus and choose to notice the finch on the wall, the bright pink bougainvillea in front of the white wall, the gentle chuckling of gardeners connecting.
Imagine an adjacent reality just for short breaks. E.g. stress, drama Covid, Loadshedding, politics. Rather than lamenting woes and drama stories, ask a different question: what happened that is good right now? Such as working from home, can now focus on dream job, more time with loved ones, SA’s now used to online meetings,, courses to further self study, education, self-development, inner growth to benefit self and others. We can now sit around soft candlelight, listen to music, communicating and really talking, with friends and family.
- Attend meditation and yoga classes online or real-time – find something that works for you to connect to your calm.
Ask for help if you find it difficult to cope! Look for a soul-mind-body energy therapist who understands the concept of the body being the barometer, or mirror of the soul
- Support your happy chemicals!. Note that Nootropics work on all the neurotransmitter, hormones, informational substances to calm, optimise and support integration and co-operacy for a happy, whole human experience!
Come find out more about your Gut-Brain-Axis (GBA), and the happy chemicals (serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, endorphin) and how to support them, click here for our TRANSFORM Membership. We also discuss the Vagus Nerve (10th Cranial Nerve), the seat of the parasympathetic system (relaxation response) and ways to support its function
What are happy chemicals and Nootropics?
Nootropics are non-addictive compounds, commonly described as ‘smart drugs’, ‘brain boosters’, or ‘memory enhancers’ responsible for the enhancement of mental performance. They are cognitive enhancers that lead to an improvement in focus, mental clarity, memory and verbal fluency/acuity.
But they are so much more! They support gut health, heart and cardiovascular health, and they are excellent immune modulators and anti-inflammatories!.
Examples: Lion’s mane, Ginkgo biloba, Ashwagandha – COMBINED with Vit C, L-theanine, B-complex vitamins in sufficient quantities.
Click here for Dr Arien’s article on Nootropics
