Staying connected to your body is the most important work you can do everyday

(Originally published on Substack)

The world is crazy and overwhelming. 

There is so much going on, so much to be heartbroken and worried about, that it has the potential to completely override our nervous systems, emotional capacity, and ability to stay connected to our SELVES. 

And that’s why I’m writing to remind you today that one of the most important things you can do in this era of unprecedented changes and challenges is to stay connected to your body. 

The never ending cycles of news, media and other people’s opinions are designed to get you out of your body and into your mind. Because a person who is disconnected from their body and living in the fear mind is a person who is much easier to distract and control, because they are not centered and safe in themselves first and foremost. That’s what the greater “powers that be” in this world want. Don’t forget that. 

All of our systems are designed to keep us disconnected from our bodies. The medical and pharmaceutical industries keep us disconnected by keeping patients on a hamster wheel of endless medical and pharmaceutical fixes that almost never find the root cause and lead to endless sickness. The educational systems teach us exactly what our governments decide is beneficial for us to know, and it’s on us to search for other sources, viewpoints, opinions, evidence etc. 

(An interesting side note about education comes from my own university experience. One of the most brilliant professors I ever learned from taught classes about how to see through the lies of the media, news, etc. I ended up being his TA (teachers assistant) and once we had a conversation about how frustrating he found it to teach this material to his late millennial/early gen z American students because they were so steeped in widespread media and the internet, it was very hard to break through and teach them to see propaganda. This would lead to students not being able to understand even his simplest lectures. I saw this myself and found it very hard to hold study sessions for these students because most couldn’t critically think about information that opposed their conventional opinion. This was 10 years ago so who knows what it’s like now. He asked me what I did that made it so easy for me to grasp what he was teaching and be interested by it. I told him I wasn’t sure, but maybe it was that I was educated from the 3rd through 7th grade outside of the US and was taught very differently than how US schools teach. It was a shock for me when we moved back to the US and I re-entered the school system here. So I was already trained, in a way, to think differently. That was a lightbulb moment for him, and led to many interesting conversations about education and how the system teaches us to think one way only and how hard that is to break). 

Anyway, back to the systems that keep us disconnected. Our job market/model keeps us disconnected from our bodies because it’s nearly impossible to truly tend to mental + physical + spiritual health and spend potentially hours driving places every day, work an 8-10 hour shift, eat home cooked meals, spend time with loved ones, go to the gym, have time to focus on your interests, and have time to focus on family. Our food system keeps us disconnected from the body unless we make a concerted effort to source healthier foods and cook more at home (not the norm). Our dependence on cars keeps us disconnected because we have to sit and drive around when our bodies would be much better served if we could walk or bike. I could list endless examples here, but my point is that this modern (American) world seems to be specifically designed to keep us disconnected from the body, which points to the conclusion that being connected to the body is PIVOTAL. What we should be aiming for is the opposite of what our broken systems teach us is important, therefore connection > disconnection. 

Another thing: it’s very trendy right now to talk about nervous system regulation, but something that’s often missing from these discussions is the fact that you cannot regulate a nervous system in someone who is chronically disconnected from the body. The nervous system will never regulate in a person who is dissociated. What keeps us dissociated? All of the systems I’ve already mentioned, and I would argue that our voracious media consumption keeps us the most dissociated of all. How can we expect to be able to hear our own bodies when we’re constantly hearing thousands of other people? 

So what do we do about this? Because sometimes it seems like the only solution is to hide away from the world and become a hermit. But that doesn’t help anyone. If you are in my sphere, you are probably someone who feels connected to a higher soul calling or spiritual mission of sorts. In that case you cannot achieve whatever your soul came here to learn, share or experience by hiding away from the world. So what do you do? You come back to the body. Cut out the noise. 

This might look like: staying informed on what’s happening in the world, but when you notice yourself starting to drown in it (or ideally well before then), you put down the phone/computer/device that’s connecting you to the endless void of noise, and bring yourself back to center. Start constantly practicing coming back to your body. When the mind gets loud, breathe back into your body. When the systems get overwhelming, come back to tending to your body. 

I truly believe that being in relationship and connection with our bodies is the first and most important thing that each and every one of us can put more attention into if we want to be part of changing the world. Your body is a temple, but it is also the vehicle from which everything else is born. If you don’t care for your body, you’re not going to be able to bring your medicine or your soul purpose into this world. 

My advice to you is not and never will be to ignore what is happening in the world. Instead, I will always teach to come back to the body and to reclaim your attention from everything outside of you that tries to distract you from having a relationship to your own self. When you are embodied, you can then consciously decide where to put your attention and energy and how to best support the causes and movements you are most equipped to help.

So be discerning about whose opinions you allow into your mind. Be aware of what stories and fears you allow into your psyche. Be discerning about what you give your energy to. Learn how to discern what is truly yours. This is the time to determine where and how your energy and gifts can actually be shared and received. 

And within this, figure out what is your role? I believe that we all have roles we’ve come here to play as we create a new world. Right now, as the old world crumbles, is a great time to figure out what yours is. Why did your soul come here at this time? What are you here to learn, teach, give, or receive? 

For example, from my years of shamanic study and exploration, I would categorize my role as a bridge between the body and the soul. My work revolves around supporting my clients in coming home to their bodies and full-spectrum (mind/body/soul) health while also supporting them as they create a relationship with their soul, truth, and higher purpose. I do this via shamanic journey and energy work, womb awakening and alchemy teachings, biomagnetism and hands-on womb care.

This is my role. What is yours? 

If you’re not sure and you’re ready to find out, I invite you to join me in one of my offerings this year, whether that’s in my 7-week alignment journey (which has just 2 spots left at a discounted price!), my Homecoming mentorship, Womb Continuum Care, or a group offering like Sanctuary. Learn more about journeying with me this year: https://shannonamrein.com.

And if you know what your role is and want to share it in the comments, I’d love to hear and support you! Share below. 

Thank you for reading and being in this space with me. Until next time.