Hey everyone and welcome to the very first episode of the Mystic Roots podcast. My name is Britt Weseth, I'm an energy healer and a movement therapist. And this podcast is going to be a series of meditations, practices, and insights all around mind-body-spirit healing. I'm very intentionally starting today's podcast with an orientation practice.

00:26

This can work wonders for helping your nervous system return to a state of regulation. Because we're gonna be deep diving into different meditative practices, I think it's really important that we start off by building a solid foundation, which is exactly what orientation practices are all about. When we intentionally focus on the details of our environment,

00:52

We create an opportunity for our bodies to transition from a heightened state of alertness, think fight or flight, to one of equilibrium, rest and digest. The practice itself is really, really simple. It's all about letting your eyes explore what's in your environment. When we do this, it sends neurotransmitters in your brain to signal safety.

01:18

It's super effective at helping your nervous system regulate. Now it can be challenging, so just know that you can make this practice shorter. You may want to start with about 30 seconds of this practice before moving on with the rest of your day. When it comes to nervous system work, it's really, really important that you honor your capacity and you honor your natural urges and instincts.

01:48

So if throughout this practice you get the urge to get up and move around or to close your eyes or to tune in to something different than what I've offered, please honor that. Really this is about you learning to tune into you and that is one of the best things that you can do for your nervous system and to support it. So let me walk you through

02:15

the breakdown of what an orientation practice looks like, and then we'll dive into the actual practice. So the first thing that you do is just tune into your body. Just do a quick scan, notice what you're feeling, where you're feeling tension, where you're feeling ease, and then you'll start by letting your eyes roam around your environment. So you don't want to restrict your eyes, just let your head and your neck and your eyes

02:43

wander as they want to. And you'll just explore different angles, perspectives, pay attention to your surroundings. So noticing things like colors, shape, texture, whatever catches your interest. Again you'll shift your focus back to your physical body, sensing if anything's changed. And then once again you'll come back into your environment. And that's all there is to it.

03:11

The beauty of this practice is that it's so simple and it's so accessible. So you can do this anytime, anywhere, and no one would even know that you are practicing orientation. All right, so let's dive into the practice.

03:32

So start by finding a comfortable position. You may want to be seated with your back supported, your feet flat on the floor, or you may want to be in a completely different position. Just make sure that you are able to let your head and neck move freely.

03:53

Take a second, make any adjustments that you need so that you can be just a little bit more comfortable.

04:01

and know that at any point throughout this practice, you can shift, you can adjust, you can change your position.

04:09

Now bring your awareness, your attention to your physical body. Perhaps you notice the sensations of your back against the chair, or the support of the ground beneath your feet.

04:24

taking a few breaths just to allow yourself to settle into this awareness.

04:33

Now turn your attention inward. Begin to scan your body for areas of tension or discomfort. Taking note of any areas that feel tight or constricted.

04:51

and then scan your body for any areas of openness or of ease. Take note of any areas that feel open.

05:03

and then just noticing if there's any judgment or expectation around what you're feeling. It's okay if it's there, just noticing it helps to release some of it.

05:22

If it's available to you, you can visualize any of the tension softening just a little bit.

05:32

So perhaps you can soften those areas of tension by just about 2%.

05:42

Now allow your gaze to soften and let your eyes begin to wander around your space.

05:53

Notice the objects in your environment. Perhaps you notice the colors, the shape.

06:04

You might become aware of any sounds in your environment or any sensations. Simply allow your senses to connect with the present moment, noticing what you noted.

06:21

letting your eyes focus wherever.

06:27

they want to focus.

06:36

Now bring your awareness back into the internal sensations of your body.

06:43

Notice any shifts in your body. It might be helpful to tune in to those areas of tension and those areas of openness.

06:59

noticing if there's been any changes.

07:07

becoming aware of your body in this present moment.

07:19

Now once again, allow your gaze to shift around your room.

07:29

noticing any objects, any colors, any shapes around you.

07:37

Notice any sounds in the environment.

07:42

simply allowing your senses to connect with what is in your environment.

07:58

Now this time as you continue to shift your gaze around your space.

08:08

Tune into your body, perhaps your breath.

08:17

Notice if you can become aware of your body, your breath, and the objects in your space. It may only be for a short moment that you are able to tune into both at the same time.

08:36

that's okay. Continue to notice and observe the sensations in your body, the rhythm of your breath.

08:47

and the objects in your environment.

08:59

Now bring yourself back to the present moment, to the sensations in your body.

09:11

noticing what you notice. What has shifted?

09:17

What are you now aware of?

09:25

If it feels supportive to you, end this practice with a moment of gratitude.

09:34

for this time spent nourishing your nervous system, cultivating a deep connection to your body.

09:49

Thanks so much for tuning into this episode. If you enjoyed this practice, do let me know. I would love to hear from you. And I'll see you in the next episode.