DEAR BODY BODCAST

Dear Body at Winter Solstice
 
Dear Body
In the north, it is the evening of the new moon closest to the Winter Solstice
The darkest night of the year, even devoid of moonlight!
What does this mean?
Food supplies for animals in the wilderness of the north become scarce 
Bears, Ground Squirrels, Woodchucks, Bats, Skunks, Raccoons, Snakes, Turtles, and Frogs have been in hibernation for a month or more
Birds and butterflies have flown south
Many deciduous trees are bare
The nights are cold, especially during dry weather
Rain and snow dampen the color palette of ground and sky
Colds and flus are common
The sun rises late and sets early
In higher latitudes in the north, the sun barely makes it above the horizon
Holidays like Yule, Hanukkah, Diwali, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, and many others, incorporate candles as a symbol of the light within while the external world is cold and dark  
 
I know you know this 
I feel you feel this and sense this
Even if I keep you in spaces with lighting and heaters through out the day
I feel you resting in peace in the dark morning hours
I feel your heaviness and savoring of warmth
I feel you naturally descend and quiet down as if closer than ever to the earth and water elements
I feel you let go and give over to dissolving and the twilight world of dreaming
 
Thank you for your courage and for your love of this season
For your oneness with Mother Earth and Grandmother Water
Your peace in obscurity and quietness
Your acceptance of how the inner and outer worlds align and pulse together
 
Take this time to rest
Let the world rest
Let the land rest
Let the dreams of ‘bigger and better and brighter and colorful’ rest
Let the plants and animals rest
Let the season have the last word of each day
 
Light a candle and know that the river still flows beneath the ice
That the trees don't die, but sleep
That the sun is distant but not gone
Mountain lilac, Manzanita, and red flowering winter currant, offer blooms this time of year Holly and Toyon keep the faith, offering bright red berries 
 
Allow the shorter day to make you grateful for what is out of reach
 
Let this darkest day be the moment at the end of the dance when the song trails off, and only simple breath can be heard
When the body of a passed-on beloved elder or friend is lowered into the ground
Let this be the depth of goodbye that is full of thank you, I love you, I will miss you
Let this darkest day be an affirmation of the light that never goes out
Of ancestors still speaking in our dreams and blood
Let this Winter Solstice be a doorway through The Grandparents and back, soon enough, to The Babes
The Blessed Babies appearing miraculously from the Mystery of the unseen world that this moment honors
Praise the doors still closed that protect the babies and dreams and realities still gestating
Surrender and embody the grace of the plants and animals as they slow down, retreat, quiet, and conserve
Be blessed in depths and silence

Today, we talk with parenting coach, former Special Education teacher, and yoga therapist Yael Sunshine. Yael emphasizes a somatic focus for parents and teachers as we support our children and students in their learning and relating. We talk about ‘the hen house’ of the mind when the nervous system is unregulated. We talk about the unique needs of all children and the unlocking of potential when those needs are met. We talk about music, breathwork, and movement as integral to the stillness and focus that some learning and practices require. Yael can be reached at her website: www.yaelsunshine.com/
 
THE Dear Body BODCAST
 
Somatic stories and wisdom.
 
On The Dear Body Bodcast 
we interview people from diverse backgrounds 
about the body 
in context
in life
in the struggle
in liberation
 
At work
at play
in the systems
in the wild 
 
The Bodcast honors the body
as a voice of connection
 
A portal to the Great Mystery and Spirit
 
A being of deep knowing and truth
 
As a primary ally in the quest for real sanity, sustainability, justice, and truth
 

In Episode 3, we speak with San Francisco Bay Area Poet, Paul Corman Roberts, about his work as a poet and poetry community organizer in the body personal and collective. Paul shares two original works, including his response poem, 'Wild Goose," and curates a poem by Andrea Gibson. Paul can be found via the Beast Crawl Literary Festival which he founded, Caravan Writer's Collective, Collapse Press, and on Substack at The Chapbook Whisperer.
 
THE Dear Body BODCAST
 
Somatics stories and wisdom.
 
On The Dear Body Bodcast 
we interview people from diverse backgrounds 
about the body 
in context
in life
in the struggle
in liberation
 
At work
at play
in the systems
in the wild 
 
The Bodcast honors the body
as a voice of connection
 
A portal to the Great Mystery and Spirit
 
A being of deep knowing and truth
 
As a primary ally in the quest for real sanity, sustainability, justice, and truth
 

This week we are so fortunate to talk with Danielle YS.  Danielle helps women healers and coaches create their own modality so their business stops feeling like a box — and starts feeling like freedom. We talk with her about her journey as a high achiever herself and her deep appreciation for the body as a guide into greater generativity, freedom, grace, and joy.
We briefly touch on 'cat jazz' for a moment too :p
Find Danielle at https://danielleys.com/
 
THE Dear Body BODCAST
 
Somatics stories and wisdom.
 
On The Dear Body Bodcast 
we interview people from diverse backgrounds 
about the body 
in context
in life
in the struggle
in liberation
 
At work
at play
in the systems
in the wild 
 
The Bodcast honors the body
as a voice of connection
 
A portal to the Great Mystery and Spirit
 
A being of deep knowing and truth
 
As a primary ally in the quest for real sanity, sustainability, justice, and truth

Alexis Slutzky is a long time council circle leader, youth mentor, outdoor educator, former psychotherapist, and threshold guide for people and groups in transition. Alexis reads her stunning Dear Body poem and graces and blesses The DEAR BODY BODCAST as our first guest and guide. Thank you, Alexis!!