Updates!

I woke up from a dream this morning trying to spell the word “people” over and over again. It felt like I couldn’t get it quite right, a foreign word in my mouth and brain. It felt like the remnants of my ancient reptilian brain trying to make sense of what is happening. The word root for people means “she who protects against devastation”. That seems like a fitting way to describe Renee Nicole Good. We are trying our best to protect ourselves and our neighbors from the devastation which has taken the shape of bullet-proof vested humans, dressed up as ICE agents.

Like you, my heart is full of grief. Rest in Peace Renee Nicole Good. If I’m honest, I’ve been moving at the speed of lighting since Tuesday. What I’ve learned about Renee is that she was a queer mother, a solid community member, and someone who had similar sensibilities to you or I.

I was driving and on the call immediately after she was shot, and I was praying that somehow, she would make it through as sometimes victims of gun violence do. The fact that she did not sent shock waves through my body, and our collective nervous system. Now my earlier confrontations with ICE seem more disorganized, scenarios where I felt ok in one timeline, become brushed with the scent of a close encounter with death, or so the body tells me. This is how the post-trauma, post-event timeline seeps into the original timeline. If I knew then, what I know now, type images and feelings get tied up in the moment by moment remembering of things. I’m sharing this because we are all in a collective remembering about something that just happened. How do we stay present, as much as possible, in our bodies now? How do we heal as the wound is still opening? It’s really complicated. Want to hear how?

Sit with each other. Just sit. Listen. Talk. Maybe make food. It’s actually quite simple. If you can notice your body being alive, moving, feeling connected to another human being, holy smokes, you’re doing great. Notice the ways you are alive, the small ways. A tinge of hunger there, the desire to tell someone you love them, air in your chest. We will get through this. The more we can feel into our collective power the better we will be. Take care of the basics of being alive. Write this down if you like a visual reminder: PLEASE (my personal decolonized twist on the DBT distress tolerance skills) skill which stands for taking care of People (your own body and your loved ones), Land connection (get outside and connect with nature), Eat food that is real food, Avoid excessive mood altering drugs if possible like alcohol/nicotine/etc., Sleep as well as possible, Exercise as you would normally to take care of yourself.

Take time to grieve, make an alter, put that rock in your pocket, feel your feelings, all of them— rage, sadness, don’t beat yourself up if you wish you could have done more. The next best time is always now. It’s also a good time to sign up for a Monarca Training if you haven’t already. We need more trained legal observers at this time, it is working, keep honing your skills. Learning is empowering as is remembering that we are here and stronger than ever when we remember our collective power.

Schedule With Me! Yes, Now Is a Good Time!

OTR/L, BA, MHP, LMT,
she/they) Integrative Therapies

I offer individuals and couples trauma informed somatic therapy/coaching, craniosacral therapy, Swedish massage, Thai bodywork, myofascial release, group workshops, and healing through art, play, and connecting to nature. Free 15 minute consultations can be booked on my website if you’re intrigued or have questions.

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xoxo Eiko