Hello Reader,

It's been weeks since I last popped into your inbox. I'm not really sure why that is. Time is such a curious thing and I often find myself caught in an inner narrative about 'wasting it'! Does that sound familiar?

Thank goodness you and I know that nothing the mind has to say has to be taken seriously, especially that one.

The moment I remember this, my body relaxes into this now, where nothing is 'wrong' and where no time exists (in other words, outside of thoughts about time, what is it?).

Anyway, I'm here and I'm not sure what to share. It feels that a lot of research has been happening in the intervening weeks since I last wrote to you.

Over the last 6 months there has been a renewed energy and enthusiasm for exploring both the mind and the body. Of course, they are not two separate things even though so much of the narrative we are familiar with (physical and mental health for example), separates the two.

It's been clear to me for many years that there can be no separation. Whatever thoughts are being paid attention to is felt by the body and whatever the body feels, directly impacts thought. It's the perfect loop. Or seemingly very 'imperfect' if not fully understood.

I've been delving a lot more in recent months, into the body again. It's where my journey started when my focus was on nourishing the body with wholesome food and movement (https://freefromfairy.com). Then I came across the Three Principles and Non Duality and my focus moved into all things in the mind. Finally, I'm moving towards the whole, where I can clearly see that all of it needs attention.

Nourishing the body is wonderful but if the mind is still filled with stressful, fearful thinking and negative 'self talk' all the healthy food and movement in the world could not bring about freedom and peace and wholeness.

Equally, seeing the role thought has on creating experience, will never complete the 'puzzle' if the body is still sending signals to the mind that there is danger, or that something is wrong.

In my many explorations I'm particularly fascinated by the fascia; the connective 'tissue' that joins every cell of the body together. It is here that I finally understand what is meant by 'the body holds trauma'.

That statement has never really made sense to me because I didn't understand what happens when the body experiences a trauma (which could be face-planting at the age of 2 or being told you're no good at a subject at school; it doesn't have to be something huge).

In the moment of experiencing a trauma, the body contracts in some way. Imagine it now - you're 6 years old and a teacher tells you your piece of work is awful or you get an answer wrong in front of a class of 30 other kids. Urgh.

Contraction. Embarrassment. Shame. Fear.

The body recoils and the fascia, on a simplified level because I'm simple, grips on to the bone in that contacted pattern. Over time, with every shock or shame or fear or embarrassment, the pattern or habit of the body, grips. Combine that with the force of gravity pulling us forwards (think about it - everything we do is bringing us into a forward position that squashes our lungs and internal organs) and you can see how that body 'habit' sends signals to the brain that we're not safe.

Have a think about when something unpleasant has happened and how it impacts your physiology - you want to curl up. That is telling the nervous system there is something wrong - just simply the body being curled. It's why we're told to stand with our shoulders back, chest out, hands on hips to feel confident. Do it now and notice the difference in how you feel when you're curled up and when you're standing upright and straight.

So it's becoming so very clear to me that although I have a deep understanding of how thought impacts experience, and I pay less and less attention to thoughts, my body still holds patterns that give the brain a different story.

As I slow down more and more, I feel the tension and holding patterns of the body. Those very patterns that are likely feeding signals to the mind that there is something 'wrong'.

One very simple thing I've been exploring, along with some intense fascia work that I'll talk about another time, is walking backwards.

If you're on Tiktok, you'll have seen my invitation to give it a go.

Why?

Well, there are many reasons (if you want to listen to a great podcast about it then click here for a conversation between Dr Chatterjee and Lawrence van Lingen), not least to start reversing the forward pull on the body and resulting compression but also as a way of shaking things up and doing something different (something I'm ALL about in my work. After all, if you want something different, you have to do something different!). When all we ever do is walk forwards it takes no brain input. Reverse that and notice how difficult it is! It's like learning to walk again.

Most importantly, or interesting to me, walking backwards tells the brain there is no threat - it comes back to posture; closed signalling danger, open signalling 'everything's OK'. Walking backwards activates the parasympathetic nervous system (aka 'rest and digest) - try it and you'll notice your body 'opens' and thus breaks the threat 'there's something wrong' narrative in the mind.

Add that, along with noticing and ignoring thought patterns in the mind and coming to know what we truly are, and it seems to me that the mind body can finally rest and experience peace.

And on that note, I need to sign off now because I've a yoga class to get to.

Sending so much love to you.

Go gently and have fun exploring,

Vicki

Upcoming events

Monthly In Person Meetup

We meet on the last Monday of every month to explore living from the 'heart' rather than the 'head', what's true and other such topics.

The next meeting is on Monday 27th April 12pm for a 12.30pm start until 2pm. Nancy Potter House, Topsham, Devon, Exe-ercise Meeting Room, upstairs. £8 per session.

Book and pay using this link.

Mindful/Intuitive Art Retreat: 15th - 18th May

Again I'm joining Lucy Sheffield to create a long weekend of connecting to nature and following intuition to paint and create in a field in Devon. There are a couple of spaces left. If you'd like one you can find out more here.

Nature Wellbeing Walk - Listening For a Feeling: 25th July 10.30am - 12pm

I'm teaming up with Rebecca Abrahams, a qualified therapist who has experience of connecting and restoring both nature and human health and wellbeing, to deliver a 90 minute guided walk on Woodbury Common, Devon. We will be encouraging a connection to both intuition and nature through deep listening and creativity.

The session is free but places are limited to 16 so if you'd like a spot reply to this email and I'll put you on the list before it is widely advertised.

Ways To Work With Me

The Intuition Experiment Community

This is my supportive monthly membership that you can join and leave at any time, to explore living more from intuition (or 'true self') than from conditioned, habitual thoughts. It's where I'm most active in supporting individuals to live a free-er life outside of my 1:1 work. If you find yourself wanting to live life differently, then join this lovely small community to transition to a new paradigm. One where more ease and flow is available, more of the time. Full details here.​

1:1 Coaching/Mentoring

I have space for a couple of people in my 1:1 work. If you'd like more personalised support to live a life of freedom then book a free exploratory call to see if we might be a good fit to work together. The call itself may be enough to move you forward...

Vicki Montague

​Founder Free From Fairy | Free From Limits​

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